All Posts by Christina Littrell-Williams

The Power of a One-Page Business Plan and Continuous Updates

Welcome to the Make It Happen Podcast, brought to you by Strategies for Small Businesses.

In today's podcast, we will delve into the significance of a one-page business plan and how consistently reviewing it and if needed updating it can benefit you in various ways. Many entrepreneurs may think that once they've created a business plan at the outset of their venture, they're finished with that aspect of planning. However, over time, the dynamics of your business can evolve significantly, making it crucial to revisit and revise your business plan periodically.

At the end of each year, we recommend that our clients review their business plans to align them with their upcoming goals and strategies for the new year. However, we also advocate for more frequent reviews, such as quarterly assessments. Regular reviews not only ensure that your plan stays relevant but also contribute to enhancing clarity and focus in your business endeavors.

One of the key advantages of a one-page business plan is its simplicity and accessibility. It serves as a concise roadmap that can be easily referenced and shared with stakeholders, including potential partners or investors during networking events. This document contains essential aspects for you to keep in mind while building your business, such as your business goals, target market, products or services offered, and financial projections.

Flexibility is another crucial aspect to consider when working with a business plan. Recognize that your business environment and strategies may evolve, requiring adjustments to your plan. Embracing this flexibility allows you to adapt to changing market conditions and opportunities effectively.

Decision-making becomes more streamlined and strategic with a well-defined business plan. It acts as a guiding framework, helping you evaluate new ideas or opportunities by assessing their alignment with your core business objectives. This process aids in prioritizing initiatives that contribute most effectively to your long-term vision.

Effective communication is facilitated by a clear and concise business plan. When you have a well-articulated plan, you can convey your business goals, strategies, and value proposition more confidently and persuasively to stakeholders, clients, and team members.

I invite you to go over to StrategiesForSmallBusinesses.com and download the Branding and Purpose Checklist. This will help you work through the questions you need to answer and really helps you have a focused dive into all of your Branding.

If you have any questions, remember we're always here for you. Just utilize the question button on the website and will get back to you.

Thank you

if you want more from Strategies For Small Businesses, #SFSB, stay connected by subscribing to our list and connecting in Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sfsbagency

We provide a simple one-page business plan template that is easy to fill out and encourages clients to craft a narrative around their business goals and strategies. Whether you prefer a structured format or a more narrative approach, the key is to have a documented plan that guides your actions and decisions throughout the year.

As we approach the end of the first quarter, we encourage you to review or create your one-page business plan. Additionally, consider participating in our "Have-Need-Do" Business Check-In. This is a 5-day business check-in program designed to help you align your actions with your business plan effectively. We look forward to assisting you in refining your business strategies and achieving your goals. You can register for the 5-Day Have-Need-Do Business Check-in HERE

ALSO, if you want to start on your one page business plan before we start, you can request your download HERE

By Opting in you are agreeing to receive communications from Strategies For Small Businesses. You are welcome to unsubscribe at any time you feel we are not a good fit.

(Register to get text reminders is recommended but completely optional)

We’d love to work with you in building your support team, whether it's SFSB or another company. We specialize in working as part of a team and building those relationships.

We look forward to hearing from you so you can work with an expert to help you grow your business!

Strategies for Small Businesses is an agency with a laser-focus on strategies supporting small businesses both online and offline. Our support ranges from Brand Strategy to Marketing Strategy, to Task Implementation Strategy, to Team Management Strategy.

Is Your Brand on Target?
Do the programs/products/services you offer reinforce Your Brand and Purpose?
Does Your Brand and Purpose Speak To Your Target Market?
Does Your Brand Spell Out What You Want to Be Known For?

We ALWAYS Respect Your Privacy!

Engaging With Your Audience it is Rewarding For Everyone!

Engaging With Your Audience
it is Rewarding For Everyone!

Building a strong and engaged audience is crucial for the success of businesses, content creators, and organizations. Here are some tips to help you build and grow your audience effectively:

1. Define Your Target Audience:

Before you start building your audience, you need to know who you want to reach. Define your ideal customer or follower by considering demographics, interests, and behaviors. This helps you tailor your content and marketing efforts to appeal to the right people.

2. Create High-Quality Content:

Consistently produce valuable and high-quality content that resonates with your target audience. Whether it's blog posts, videos, social media updates, or emails, content should be informative, entertaining, or inspiring. Quality content keeps your audience engaged and encourages them to share your content with others.

3. Leverage Social Media:

Social media platforms are powerful tools for audience building. Choose platforms where your target audience is most active, and consistently share content there. Engage with your followers by responding to comments, participating in discussions, and running contests or giveaways.

4. Utilize SEO Strategies:

Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential for content discoverability. Optimize your content to rank well in search engines, making it easier for new audiences to find you. Research relevant keywords and incorporate them into your content, meta descriptions, and titles.

5. Email Marketing:

Collect email addresses through opt-in forms on your website and social media platforms. Use these email addresses to send regular newsletters, updates, and exclusive content to your subscribers. Personalize your emails and make them valuable to encourage engagement.

6. Collaborate with Others:

Collaborations can expand your reach. Partner with other businesses or influencers in your niche for co-branded content or promotions. Cross-promotion exposes your brand to their audiences, and vice versa.

7. Engage with Your Audience:

Building an audience isn't just about broadcasting messages. Actively engage with your audience by responding to comments, questions, and messages. Show that you appreciate their feedback and input.

8. Consistency is Key:

Consistency in posting and messaging is essential. Create a content schedule to maintain a regular presence and keep your audience engaged. Irregular posting can lead to audience disinterest or loss.

9. Incentives and Offers:

Offer incentives to encourage people to join your audience. This can include discounts, free e-books, webinars, or other valuable resources in exchange for email sign-ups or social media follows.

10. Track and Analyze

Use analytics tools to track the performance of your content and audience growth. Pay attention to what works and what doesn't, and adjust your strategies accordingly. A data-driven approach can help you refine your tactics for better results.

11. Live Streaming and Webinars:

Live video can be a powerful way to connect with your audience in real-time. Host webinars, Q&A sessions, or live product demos to engage and interact with your audience.

12. Paid Advertising:

While organic growth is valuable, consider using paid advertising on platforms like Facebook, Google Ads, or Instagram to reach a wider audience. Target your ads to reach people who fit your ideal customer profile.

13. Community Building:

Create online communities or forums related to your niche or industry. Engage with your audience on these platforms, encourage discussions, and build a loyal community around your brand.

Building and maintaining an audience is an ongoing process. It requires patience, dedication, and a willingness to adapt to the changing needs and preferences of your audience. By following these tips, you can steadily grow your audience and cultivate strong, long-lasting relationships with your followers or customers.

We LOVE questions so please feel free to use one of the two modes within this website to reach us!

1. There's a “questions” form right here, use it and send us a question. We will get back to you within 24 hours!

2. You can also use the button and set up a quick call with me. It's absolutely free. I'd love to talk with you if you have questions about anything.

Schedule your info call today!

Are you doing all you can to build your email list? Are you doing all you can to nurture and build loyalty to you and your brand with your sharing content and marketing efforts? Are you staying consistent with your messaging?

You will get

A one-on-one initial sit down with Christina
A FULL written report breaking down a complete review of your marketing efforts containing not only the review results but also strategies to make improvements.
A one-on-one sit down to go over the findings and answer any questions

Limited time offer - we only have 3 spots available left through the end of the year.

Regular Price $997 Special Price $497

REGISTER HERE!

Remember you are not alone! The team and I are here to help you. If you have any questions, please use the link to get on my calendar and let's get your business plan filled out or updated!

Use this link to schedule a complimentary session today.

So, what are you waiting for? Contact us today to get started!

Connect with us on Facebook as well:
https://www.facebook.com/sfsbagency

The Power of Building Your Audience: Collecting Email Addresses and Phone Numbers for Effective Marketing

The Power of Building Your Audience:
Collecting Email Addresses and Phone Numbers for Effective Marketing

In today's fast-paced digital world, the importance of building and maintaining a strong audience cannot be overstated. Whether you're a small business owner, a content creator, or part of a nonprofit organization, your audience is your lifeline.

One of the most important tools at your disposal for staying connected with your audience is collecting their email addresses and phone numbers. In this article, we'll dive into the importance of this practice and how it can help you develop meaningful relationships with those you've come into contact with.

1. Direct Line of Communication:

One of the most compelling reasons to collect email addresses and phone numbers is the direct line of communication they provide. Unlike social media platforms or other third-party communication options, email and text messaging allow you to reach your audience directly. This means your messages are more likely to be seen and, therefore, more effective. Whether you want to share exciting updates, announce a sale, or provide exclusive content, email and SMS are highly effective channels. You just need to be sure not to abuse the ability to connect with people. Please be sure your message is of use to your audience.

2. Personalized Marketing:

The more you know about your audience, the better you can tailor your marketing efforts to their needs and preferences. Collecting their interests and the where/why they connected with you along with their name, their email addresses and phone numbers enables you to segment your audience, creating targeted marketing campaigns. By delivering content and promotions that are more relevant to each group, you enhance engagement and conversion rates. For example, you can send personalized product recommendations, special discounts, or event invitations based on the individual interests and behavior of your contacts.

3. Building a Community and Trust:

Building an email list or a phone contact list is not just about pushing your products or services. It's also an opportunity to build a community and establish trust. By regularly communicating with your audience through email newsletters, text messages, or phone calls, you can create a sense of belonging and loyalty. Share valuable content, offer helpful advice, and demonstrate that you genuinely care about their needs. In doing so, you'll build trust and strengthen the relationships you've established.

4. Staying Connected Beyond Social Media:

While social media platforms are excellent tools for reaching new audiences and engaging with your existing followers, they come with limitations. Algorithms can change, limiting your organic reach, and platforms may lose popularity over time. By collecting email addresses and phone numbers, you have a backup method to connect with your audience even if your preferred social media platform changes or becomes less effective. This diversification is essential for long-term sustainability.

5. Data Ownership:

When you collect email addresses and phone numbers, you retain ownership of this valuable data. You're not subject to the whims of third-party platforms that may restrict your access to your followers. This autonomy allows you to maintain control over your marketing efforts and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and trends in the digital landscape.

Building your audience and collecting email addresses and phone numbers is a crucial strategy for effective marketing and staying connected with those you've come into contact with. These contact details provide a direct line of communication, enable personalized marketing, help you build trust and community, and offer an alternative to social media channels. By harnessing the power of email and SMS, you can create stronger connections with your audience and ensure the longevity of your brand or organization in an ever-evolving digital world. So, start building your audience and collecting those contact details today; it's an investment in the future of your success.

You will get

A one-on-one initial sit down with Christina
A FULL written report breaking down a complete review of your marketing efforts containing not only the review results but also strategies to make improvements.
A one-on-one sit down to go over the findings and answer any questions

Limited time offer - we only have 3 spots available left through the end of the year.

Regular Price $997 Special Price $497

REGISTER HERE!

Remember you are not alone! The team and I are here to help you. If you have any questions, please use the link to get on my calendar and let's get your business plan filled out or updated!

Use this link to schedule a complimentary session today.

So, what are you waiting for? Contact us today to get started!

We LOVE questions so please feel free to use one of the two modes within this website to reach us!

1. There's a “questions” form right here, use it and send us a question. We will get back to you within 24 hours!

2. You can also use the button and set up a quick call with me. It's absolutely free. I'd love to talk with you if you have questions about anything.

Schedule your info call today!

Connect with us on Facebook as well:
https://www.facebook.com/sfsbagency

Organization Removes Stress and Brings Success

Welcome to the Make It Happen Podcast, brought to you by Strategies for Small Businesses.

Hi, I’m Christina Littrell-Williams and today I am going to talk about how easy it is to get overwhelmed working ON your business; setting up marketing plans, communicating with your database, creating content, and building out products/programs/offers.

Each of those areas need your direct focus, and when you are trying to juggle them all at once it can become messy!

ORGANIZATION is key!

To create a strong sense of organization in your business you should have the following:

A business plan. A focused document with a format describing what you want your business to look like and some of the paths you plan to take to get there. (If you don’t have one you can download a copy here)
https://www.strategiesforsmallbusinesses.com/you-have-your-business-in-place-now-what/

A marketing plan/calendar in place that reflects the paths noted in your plan focused on achieving the goals you set for your business. In creating your marketing calendar, begin with a big overview for the year, indicating where you are starting and where you want to end up. Then you will break it down by quarters, where you’re starting that quarter and where you want to end up at the end of that quarter. All of this will lead up to your year-end goal. THEN… detail out one quarter at a time focusing on your starting point and your ending point. You will create paths to reach each “end of the quarter” goal. When you start the next quarter you might have to adjust the starting point based on the results from your prior quarter but you’ll have guidelines in place for action to be taken.

Maintain records of all of the places your business appears, all of the tools you have collected, all of the marketing paths you have taken and are taking now, and results from those efforts.

It sounds like a lot of “stuff” to put together and I won’t kid you, it is, BUT once you have the notes in place and processes setup, moving forward will be A LOT EASIER and less stressful. You will feel more in control over what is going on IN your business allowing you to work with clients and customers.

If you have any questions, remember we're always here for you. Just utilize the question button on the website and will get back to you.

Thank you

if you want more from Strategies For Small Businesses, #SFSB, stay connected by subscribing to our list and connecting in Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sfsbagency

I want to invite you to join us for our upcoming 5-Day Challenge, “Have, Need, Do” This challenge is focused on helping you organize all of your business assets.

By the end of the Challenge you will know what you HAVE, what you NEED, and what you should DO to move your business forward. It’s best to attend live, but if the time doesn’t work for your schedule you will have access to the replays. There will be handouts to help you organize and plan! There will also be a Q&A day where you can join LIVE or send in questions. We look forward to seeing you there!

By Opting in you are agreeing to receive communications from Strategies For Small Businesses. You are welcome to unsubscribe at any time you feel we are not a good fit.

(Register to get text reminders is recommended but completely optional)

We’d love to work with you in building your support team, whether it's SFSB or another company. We specialize in working as part of a team and building those relationships.

We look forward to hearing from you so you can work with an expert to help you grow your business!

In Your Business… Do You Take Action or Do You Make Excuses?

In Your Business... Do You Take Action or Do You Make Excuses?

If you're like most small business owners, you're probably always looking for ways to improve your business. But sometimes it's hard to know where to start or what steps to take next. If this sounds familiar, don't worry – you're not alone! Many small business owners find themselves stuck in this situation at some point or another. But the good news is that there are steps you can take to get out of this rut and make progress toward improving your business. So what are these steps? And more importantly, which one should you focus on first?

Today we'll explore three key steps that you as a small business owner can take to get started on your journey toward improvement. We'll also talk about which step is the most important and why it's vital to take action rather than make excuses. So, if you're ready to start making progress in your business journey, keep reading!

As a small business owner, you are always looking for ways to improve your business. But where do you start? You hear “do this”, “do that”, “use this tool”, “you have to have this in your business” all around you. There are so many suggestions of musts and have-tos that you can get overwhelmed. You start implementing all of those suggestions at one time and find none of them are actually getting done. What happens? You burn out. You find yourself making excuses as to why things are not happening and you stop taking action.

Stay focused and make sure you have a plan in place. A Business Plan and an outline for your Ideal Client is a perfect foundation to build on. With a plan in place you can evaluate if those must haves and have tos are right for you, your business, and most important, YOUR CLIENTS.

Here are three key steps that you can take to get started on your journey toward a continuing successful business:

Set Some Goals

What are your plans for the future of your business? What do you want to achieve in the next year, or even the next five years? Once you have set some goals, you can start planning how to achieve them.

Take Action

Once you have set some goals, it is time to start taking action to achieve them. This might involve making changes to your products or services, changing the way you market your business, or anything else that will help you move closer to your goals.

Measure Your Progress

As you take action and make changes, it is important to measure your progress so that you can see how well you are doing. This will help you adjust your plans and stay on track toward achieving your goals.

These three steps can get you started on the journey toward improving or opening your small business.

So what are you waiting for?

Remember, a well-executed business plan is the foundation for any successful journey.

SFSB is on duty and ready to serve. If you have questions about how to get started, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us for assistance. Success takes hard work but it is definitely attainable if you put forth the effort! So what are you waiting for?

I invite you to join me for the upcoming #SFSB The 5-Day “Have, Need, Do”Business Challenge!

Remember you are not alone! The team and I are here to help you. If you have any questions, please use the link to get on my calendar and let's get your business plan filled out or updated!

Use this link to schedule a complimentary session today.

So, what are you waiting for? Contact us today to get started!

We LOVE questions so please feel free to use one of the two modes within this website to reach us!

1. There's a “questions” form right here, use it and send us a question. We will get back to you within 24 hours!

2. You can also use the button and set up a quick call with me. It's absolutely free. I'd love to talk with you if you have questions about anything.

Schedule your info call today!

Connect with us on Facebook as well:
https://www.facebook.com/sfsbagency

Message Marketing Series – Direct Mail

Message Marketing - Direct Mail

Welcome to the Make It Happen Podcast brought to you from Strategies for Small Businesses (#SFSB). We are continuing with the Message Marketing Series. Through this series I have covered an introduction to Message Marketing , Email Marketing, Text Message Marketing and Social Media Message Marketing. Today we will focus on our final piece in Message Marketing, Direct Mail and using it for Marketing Purposes.

YEP, Direct Mail ... Snail Mail… Pony Express… it is still valuable and it does increase revenue along with expanding your email marketing lists & text messaging lists.

In this digital age, people look forward to messages and notes in the mail. Of course not the junk mail, but an actual meaningful message.

You can send flyers or promotional offers that resemble advertisements you currently receive, but they don’t generate an increase in response or engagement.

Break the marketing mold!

You can change it up and create heartfelt, useful information, special content postcards and greeting cards to your current clientele and even prospects. They become GAME CHANGERS, I promise!

Response Rate

The response rate for direct mail is 4.4 percent, compared to a 0.12 percent response rate for email (Dec 2020), and you can increase this percentage with heartfelt messages.

What is a “heartfelt” message?

A Heartfelt message is one that contains a true investment with the receiver.

Examples:

Happy Birthday
Happy Anniversary
Sympathy
Congratulations–not only on their successes but also when you see successes in their families since people share moments in Social Media freely.
Reminders about services clients and prospects might need to come back for. Hey have busy lives. Help them out, but don’t be too pushy.
Check in just to say Hi, and remind them you are there if they need anything.
On-boarding steps to be taken for new people to your business.

These are just a few of the reasons for sending heartfelt messages to your list.

What businesses can benefit the most from Direct Mail? The simple answer is ALL, but some businesses can see a greater exchange in engagement than others.

I recommend the following small businesses use direct mail to connect with their current clientele, and I would even risk saying it is a must:

Insurance Offices
Realtors
Personal Care Providers, i.e. Massage Therapists (privately owned and also massage facilities)
Hair Care Specialists
Estheticians

Home Cleaning Technicians
Sales Offices
Locally Owned Restaurants
Food/Supplies - private supplies, i.e., local farms to their buyers
Activity/Event Locations, i.e. Dance Studios, Play Places, Golf Courses, and so on.
Coaches and Consultants

If you have any questions, remember we're always here for you. Just utilize the question button on the website and will get back to you.

Thank you

if you want more from Strategies For Small Businesses, #SFSB, stay connected by subscribing to our list and connecting in Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sfsbagency

Several businesses I have worked with have increased their revenue just by taking a moment to reach out to their clients and prospects.

“Yes,” you might be saying, “but this is so time consuming and I’m already short on time or Where will I find the time to send cards/postcards?”

The brilliant part of this is using an automation tool to do it for you. Using an amazing tool that you can set up and let work for you is another way to leverage your time, while also building your engagement and revenue.

I recommend Mailbox Power

It is a tool I use and also recommend to my small business clients. MailBox Power has plans that can get you started on the right foot using their tools to build your business. Theory system helps you automate communications and still retain the personal feel with your prospects, business connections, and customers/clients while spreading positivity and joy!

Create a card, insert a personal message and the tool will then merge in your recipient’s info–such as name and key other points you know about – to complete the message.

The next step is to personalize by designing the cover image including pictures inside, along with your message. You can even create a QR Code if you want the recipient to see something. Personalize your message even more by sending gifts along with your card. Choose your gifts from a well-stocked catalog. Larger businesses can have your own swag stocked to ship with your messages!

Some recommendations for business specifics:

Insurance Agents:

Stay in front of your clients, reach out to them to see if they would like you to review their current policies to see if there is anything that can be updated or changed to benefit them.
Do a check-in before summer asking, “Hey, did you get any new toys for the summer that might need to be covered so your investment stays safe?”
Check in if you have any new services you offer - like you started offering health care along with other insurance policies you write.
If you know your customers have a small business,send a card asking if they have small business insurance. If they do, ask if they’d like you to do a complimentary comparison to see if you can save them money. If they do not have a policy in place, explain why such coverage is important.
Business personalized swag

Realtors:

Connect with people when they are going through the “pending sale/purchase” process, consoling them that it is a waiting period and reassuring them you are here.
Congratulate your new buyers with a perfect 5x7 frame-able image of them in front of their new home, memorializing the moment.
Congratulate your sellers on the move they made to sell their home wishing them well in their new adventure and ask if there is anything you can help them with in the future. Again, remind them you are there for them.
Check in with your buyers and sellers telling them you would love to hear what they are up to these days.
Connect with your sellers and buyers asking for referrals and testimonials.
Ask satisfied clients for Yelp reviews
Business personalized swag.

Local Small Businesses/Restaurants:

Thank customers/clients for visiting
Offer Birthday Specials during their birthday month
Discount for special meal or buy one-get one
Ask for testimonial/review with a link or QR code in it to a form page to take the testimonial/review
Invite a friend to join you to shop or eat here discount for the meal (this will add to your list)
Business personalized swag.

Auto Repair:

Welcome new customers to your service center
Send out 6-month reminders for oil changes
Specials on tiles/oil changes/other services
Introduce prospects to all you do at your service center
Invite new customers to give you a review
Business personalized swag.

Online businesses will benefit just as much from this form of connection with prospects and current clients. This brings the “virtual” relationship to a more personal friend level.

I can remember back when I started my business, I was taking a training class on 1Shoppingcart to expand my knowledge. It was a great class! We had to take the training then do the homework and turn it in so the instructor would make sure we were getting what she was teaching.

It was a 6-week class. I made every class until my sister fell ill. It was sudden and within 3 days she passed. I missed a session and two homework turn-ins. The instructor noticed I was not there. It was out of character and so she reached out to me to “call me to the carpet” for being MIA… I apologized for not having time to reach out to her and explained what happened and she extended my training BUT she also took it further. he sent me a card with a heartfelt message and peaceful thoughts for the loss of my sister.

This was 15 years ago and I STILL remember this and it is still an emotional moment that someone that I have never “met” took the time to support me. Still today, I fully support her business and training and recommend her to those who might benefit from what she teaches.

No matter what business you are in, these small gestures go a long way!

Take the time to invest in those that support you and your business no matter what that is. You have the chance to build relationships, loyalty to you and your brand, and create a buzz that leads to building your database.

Just remember the key to success is a heartfelt message! If you would like to try using MailBox Power for Direct Mail please go here and register for $24 ($14 monthly and $10 to get your wallet started to send)

The amazing part of this program is this: not only can you send a heartfelt message, but also personalized gifts.

If you need help with integrating direct mail into your personal marketing plans/funnels, reach out to us. We at Strategies For Small Businesses look forward to helping you build and support your community/tribe/database.

We’d love to work with you in building your support team, whether it's SFSB or another company. We specialize in working as part of a team and building those relationships.

We look forward to hearing from you so you can work with an expert to help you grow your business!

To gain access to more free strategies for small businesses, or to stay connected, visit our website at StrategiesForSmallBusinesses.com. Connect with us on Facebook. https://web.facebook.com/sfsbagency

If you have any questions, need any support, or you need any ideas, feel free to reach out to us on the form provided HERE. We're here to support you.

2. You can also use the button and set up a quick call with me. It's absolutely free. I'd love to talk with you if you have questions about anything.

Schedule your info call today!

The biggest thing to make note of and always remember is this: don't hesitate to reach out when you need support! You don’t have to do it all alone, or become an expert on every working item, marketing plan, nurturing cycle, and tech piece in your business. Focus on your clients and get help with the rest!

Connect with us on Facebook as well:
https://www.facebook.com/sfsbagency

We are here to support you! Schedule below to have a Marketing & Client Care Analysis completed on your business. Receive a full detailed report with the findings in consistency across your marketing platforms. You will also receive several suggestions you can take action on to improve what you are doing now and increase engagement and revenue.

Register Today for Your Marketing & Client Care Analysis

SCHEDULE YOUR ANALYSIS

You Have Your Business idea or in Place, Now What?

You Have Your Business idea or already in Place, Now What?

Businesses are challenging on many levels....

Finding clients/customers
Marketing Platforms - which to use
Finances
Advertising
Getting Referrals
Creating Programs/Materials
Having Current Content to Post
Website
Social Media
and the list goes on...

When people go into business they usually fall into one of two categories:
1) Obsessed with all of the "details" and lose sight of the big picture
2) Hang up a sign and start selling before they have a plan in place

Success comes from a combination of the two! You need to have the details together. You should have a plan for your business. This plan should include the BIG picture, where you want to be and what that looks like and it should also include some milestones to hit as you are building your business. Do you have one of those written out yet? IF you do not there is a download below for you to use.

In addition to the business plan, you should have already started researching for the right place for your ideal clients. When you researched a bit about what you have to offer with your program/product/services, where do you see the biggest group that need you? Is it online or at live networking events? Will you benefit from joining your local Chamber of Commerce or have you already started online relationships in groups that will welcome your program/product/services solving problems they have?

Most people go into business because they love doing the "thing" they are planning to do.

They have a talent that we can benefit from and they just know it and that is what they focus on. This can slow the building of the infrastructure of the business and distracting from the details that need to be in place to handling building for growth and success.

Working with business owners, I always make sure these foundational elements are in place.

Without these elements in place it would be like trying to live in a home without a foundation and framing done to hold up the walls. Those elements bare the weight of the growth of your home just as the infrastructure in place will bare the weight of your business growth!

Even if you already have your business running it is not too late to do your Business Plan, download it ]below and fill it out.

IF you did a business plan when you started your business and it has been a year or more, it is time to revisit it and update it! As we know, everything will take-on slight changes and you want to make sure your plan in writing reflects those changes. Most importantly about reviewing your past Business Plans is to make sure you did not "squirrel" and lose focus on what you were working towards!

Not sure what to do?

Start with this Business Plan...

Remember you are not alone! The team and I are here to help you. If you have any questions, please use the link to get on my calendar and let's get your business plan filled out or updated!

Use this link to schedule a complimentary session today.

So, what are you waiting for? Contact us today to get started!

We LOVE questions so please feel free to use one of the two modes within this website to reach us!

1. There's a “questions” form right here, use it and send us a question. We will get back to you within 24 hours!

2. You can also use the button and set up a quick call with me. It's absolutely free. I'd love to talk with you if you have questions about anything.

Schedule your info call today!

Connect with us on Facebook as well:
https://www.facebook.com/sfsbagency

A full communicative report about your current marketing efforts.

Need Support? Take The Guessing, The Hoping, The Unknown Out Of Your Marketing!

Are All Of Your Marketing Efforts Working Together And Creating Your Intended Results?
Are You Doing All You Can To Nurture Your Current Client/Customer Base And Keep Them Looking To You For Products & Services?
Do You Know What Tools You Need And What You Don't Need For Your Marketing?

Get The Big Picture Of Your Current Business!

Register Today for Your Marketing & Client Care Analysis

SCHEDULE YOUR ANALYSIS

Message Marketing Series – Social Media Messenger Platforms

Message Marketing - Social Media Messenger Platforms

Welcome to the Make It Happen Podcast brought to you from Strategies for Small Businesses. Hi I’m Christina Littrell-Williams and we are continuing with the Message Marketing Series. Through this series I have covered an introduction to Message Marketing , Email Marketing, and Text Message Marketing. Today we will focus on Social Media Messaging for Marketing Purposes.

It seems that just about everyone is on one Social Media platform or several of them. Social Media started out MANY years ago with just a couple platforms and has grown to include a wide variety of places to "be" and "things to do".

It can be confusing which platform is better than the other, which one should you focus on, or which one is the easiest one to use.

My first piece of advice is don’t force it! Don’t force yourself to be on a social media platform just because it is the “trend” and it seems like that is where everyone is at. You need to be true to who you are! Though you do need at least one social media platform, it needs to be one you are comfortable on.

Two very important questions to ask yourself:

Where do you currently “social” interact with your prospects?

Where are your current clientele spending their time on Social Media?

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Truth: Social Media is not going away!

Each of the social media platforms have a public connection along with the ability to private message people. You want to use all methods of connecting with the right people, methods that are available to you. Having said that, you will also want to not overdo it! There is a thin line here: be sure you have your boundaries set before you start.

There are 3rd-party programs out there that can assist in automating your messages within different social media platforms. Be very careful using any 3rd-party program, the different social media platforms have set up strict rules to “messaging” people to avoid spamming and I respect that, I know personally I do not want to end up on someone’s spam messaging list, do you?

What are some of the rules we have to adhere to?

First and Foremost, you have permission to message them
Limit the number of messages you send to a receiver in a specified amount of time
Be sure the content of the message is relevant to the receiver
FB/IG has a 24 hour rule, to send an automated message there needed to be an exchange between you and them within the last 24 hours
NO SPAMMING

If you have any questions, remember we're always here for you. Just utilize the question button on the website and will get back to you.

Thank you

if you want more from Strategies For Small Businesses, #SFSB, stay connected by subscribing to our list and connecting in Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sfsbagency

Some of the platforms are:

ManyChat - they are great to use to start an engagement from your website or an offer or event. They do a great job at educating you on best practices and give you suggestions on how to best use this tool. They also teach you to engage people in messenger through Email or Text if you needed to get people back into an automated series.

Hyperise - is a platform that has tools that work with your LinkedIn account, website, and some other social media platforms.

If automating is not in your near future, you can manage your social media exchanges personally or have a team member dedicated to managing/watching it for you. Though if you have a team member managing it, I recommend that they give you what messages/posts/comments came in and YOU give them a reply to those to post on your behalf. You do not want to be removed from your Social Media altogether - it is supposed to be PERSONAL one-to-one.

Suggestions for using Message Marketing:

Ask a question about how they are doing and start an engagement and then bring them to a platform that is easily managed to give them the information that best fits what they need based on how they are doing.
Share new content you posted - a short blurb with a link
Suggest connecting with a link to a calendar scheduling application. Only do this if you know the person/people and can give them a reason why they should schedule to meet with you.
One simple message announcing a new free event/training/offer you are doing.

We’d love to work with you in building your support team, whether it's SFSB or another company. We specialize in working as part of a team and building those relationships.

We look forward to hearing from you so you can work with an expert to help you grow your business!

If you have any questions, need any support, or you need any ideas, feel free to reach out to us on the form provided HERE. We're here to support you.

2. You can also use the button and set up a quick call with me. It's absolutely free. I'd love to talk with you if you have questions about anything.

Schedule your info call today!

Connect with us on Facebook as well:
https://www.facebook.com/sfsbagency

Register Today for Your Marketing & Client Care Analysis

SCHEDULE YOUR ANALYSIS

3 Marketing Strategies You Can Use to Grow Your Business

3 Marketing Strategies You Can Use to
Grow Your Business

As a small business owner, you know that growing your business can be tough. But it's not impossible! Several different marketing strategies can get your name out there so you can start seeing results. These three methods are highly effective in growing your small business...

1) Be sure you have a CRM system to communicate with your community/tribe/database. Staying in contact with your group and sharing relevant information builds relationships and trust.

2) Utilize social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to reach new customers. Platforms like these offer great opportunities for not only communicating with your current following but reaching your potential clients/customers with building awareness, creating a following and posting promotions

3) Consider conducting offline marketing efforts as well, such as print advertisements, direct mail campaigns. When personalizing direct mail to a targeted audience you are showing the receiver you are vested in them. Again, this builds trust and strengthens relationships.

By reaching potential customers through a variety of channels, you can dramatically increase the probability they’ll do business with you. So don't wait—start implementing these strategies today and see the growth in your small business!

Making your small business thrive is no easy task. But with a little creativity and some outside-the-box thinking, you can certainly grow your company and attract more customers. So, avoid cookie cutter marketing plans for reaching your people. Customize a plan that represents your business and attract people that fit with that.

Not sure where to begin? You don’t have to figure this out alone!

Begin perfecting your marketing plan today! If you need help getting started or want to make sure you’re doing everything possible to reach your target market, be sure to schedule a Marketing and Client Care Analysis with a SFSB tactician. During your analysis, we will take a look at all the ways you are currently reaching clients as well as brainstorm new and innovative ideas that will set your business apart from the competition.

So, what are you waiting for? Contact us today to get started!

We LOVE questions so please feel free to use one of the two modes within this website to reach us!

1. There's a “questions” form right here, use it and send us a question. We will get back to you within 24 hours!

2. You can also use the button and set up a quick call with me. It's absolutely free. I'd love to talk with you if you have questions about anything.

Schedule your info call today!

Connect with us on Facebook as well:
https://www.facebook.com/sfsbagency

Need Support? Take The Guessing, The Hoping, The Unknown Out Of Your Marketing!

Are All Of Your Marketing Efforts Working Together And Creating Your Intended Results?
Are You Doing All You Can To Nurture Your Current Client/Customer Base And Keep Them Looking To You For Products & Services?
Do You Know What Tools You Need And What You Don't Need For Your Marketing?

Get The Big Picture Of Your Current Business!

Register Today for Your Marketing & Client Care Analysis

SCHEDULE YOUR ANALYSIS

Message Marketing Text Messages

Message Marketing - Text Messages (SMS)

Welcome back to the #SFSB Podcast - Message Marketing Series. Today we will be discussing Text Message Marketing.

In the past two podcasts I have shared what Message Marketing is and shared tools along with best practices in detail for Email Message Marketing.

To recap, Message Marketing is marketing using any and all messaging tools available. The most familiar and used set of tools consists of:

Emailing
Social Media messaging
Text Messaging
Direct Mailing

In the next few podcasts, I will continue to break down these different tools and share “best practices” you should be using in your marketing efforts in order to achieve the best results.

In the last podcast I went into detail about Email Marketing, still the most effective marketing tool to date, and I listed best practices along with Spam triggers to avoid.

Today we are moving on to the next tool, Text Messages, or SMS - Short Message Service.

Text messaging became mainstream around 2002 though it actually started around 1992 with the very first text being sent. The popularity of texting grew with increased mobile phone sales and texting limitations lifted from the phone service providers. These messages are delivered instantly (for the most part), they have less to compete with in reaching your audience, and they are relatively easy to create and send.

There are roughly over 6 billion text messages sent every day throughout the world.

WOW! This number includes text messages sent by both adults and kids.

Most people own a mobile device that is on their person all waking hours. This makes it the most used implement around by far. In a report it is noted that out of those polled, 70% of customers say Text Messages (SMS) marketing is a good way to get their attention. Text message marketing works for both Business to Consumer and Business to Business marketing efforts. It is quick, easy for the consumer, and makes that needed connection.

The downfall to Text Message Marketing is the limited number of characters allowed in a single text. They are great to use for awareness of something you sent via email or to send a message about an offer expiring with a link they can click to take action. Text messages can be great reminders of an upcoming event people are registered for, and if you have an image that outlines your special offer you are not limited to characters. Fragrance.net, Harbor Freight and other companies use the image method with a link noted as the text. I recommend using the image method only if you have a well known brand and relationship with your audience.

Like email marketing, text message marketing has a list of best practices…

You MUST have permission.
Be courteous to your database and do not send TOO many messages.
Be consistent with the number of texts you send for a specific reason
Make sure you have a way to respond to any replies to your text messages and be responsive, even if you have a team member monitor this aspect.
Incorporate personalization in your messages (most services have merge fields).
You MUST add any disclaimers.
You MUST add directions about how people can opt out of receiving messages from you

If you have any questions, remember we're always here for you. Just utilize the question button on the website and will get back to you.

Thank you

if you want more from Strategies For Small Businesses, #SFSB, stay connected by subscribing to our list and connecting in Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sfsbagency

When assisting SFSB clients set up a Marketing Plan we work through marketing strategies that fit their business along with the personality of the business.

Here are a few tactics that will support a good text message marketing plan:

Offer Incentives
Have CLEAR CTA’s (Calls to Action) in your message. Include links for the recipient to use or a phone number can be clicked on.
Keep your messages short and easy to read.
Have a sense of urgency in your message, giving it more of a purpose.

Though text message marketing is very successful as far as delivery and interaction, remember, you don’t want it to be your only marketing outlet.

Use this method alongside other tools like email message marketing and social media message marketing.

This is another place you do not want to be using your private phone to manually send out messages to your audience. You want to use a tool made for this! There are several on the market today and many of them integrate with your CRM/Email Marketing platform. Some of the text message marketing tools are: Twilio, Simple Text, PlusThis (used with Keap/Infusonsoft alongside Twilio), FixYourFunnel (used with Keap/Infusionsoft for texting). Each of the systems will provide you with a specific phone number to send and receive from, and they walk you through the setup and any integration you might need.

As always, we at SFSB are here to help! If you are not sure whether you should be using text message marketing, or wondering which platform you should choose, or what kind of strategy you should start to implement, we are here for you! Set up your complimentary “meet and greet” meeting here and we can support you!

If you need help choosing which platform would be a better fit for you, your needs, and your wanted growth, reach out to us and we can help you choose one in a complimentary “meet and greet”. You can get on our appointment calendar HERE.

We’d love to work with you in building your support team, whether it's SFSB or another company. We specialize in working as part of a team and building those relationships.

We look forward to hearing from you so you can work with an expert to help you grow your business!

If you have any questions, need any support, or you need any ideas, feel free to reach out to us on the form provided HERE. We're here to support you.

2. You can also use the button and set up a quick call with me. It's absolutely free. I'd love to talk with you if you have questions about anything.

Schedule your info call today!

Connect with us on Facebook as well:
https://www.facebook.com/sfsbagency

Register Today for Your Marketing & Client Care Analysis

SCHEDULE YOUR ANALYSIS

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