Do You Practice These Success Tips?

Information Strategies, Inc. recently released the results of a survey that asked 200 home-based business owners what it takes to run a successful enterprise.

You can read the results here written in a 10 commandments format.

The two that I practice without fail are:

7. Thou shall make friends with all delivery, service personnel. Treat them as valued suppliers and earn extra services and support in times of need.

I receive many packages from the major shipping carriers. The drivers know me by name and treat my packages with care because of the manner in which I greet and share information with them. They know a lot more than delivery routes, and their insights can lead to new clients.

9. Thou shall dress for business every day. Many home-based business owners become lax in their dress and that can lead to lax practices.

When I started working for myself, I vowed to dress every day because my office environment deserves the same respect I once gave to an employer. I admit that I slip on some days because I’m anxious to get the work done. Yesterday was one of those days.

All of these tips lead to establishing smart marketing practices, as they all focus on growing successful businesses. Is there a commandment you’d add to this list?

Technorati Tags: small business marketing, solo business marketing, solo entrepreneur, Information Strategies, Inc., home-based marketing, home-based success tips

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July 11, 2007 | Filed Under Solo Housekeeping, Surveys and Statistics | Leave a Comment

Tips to Get Your Emails Delivered

www.SoloBusinessMarketing.com Sending online mail directly to clients will continue to be an important marketing method. That’s why it’s crucial to stay informed about the latest techniques for your mail to be identified as “good” rather than “spam.”

Sales & Marketing Management’s July/August issue features an article about Dot Email, a Web site where marketers gather to share their Email marketing experiences.

“…the site has message boards where users can vent and exchange ideas, as well as file-sharing applications that allow users to upload their own white papers and read the white papers of other users.”

Community sites such as Dot Email is a place to network with like-minded people trying maximize their efforts in minimum time.

Another place is the AWeber.com blog. I use their service to publish my online newsletters and special reports. Their blog posts help me to identify the words and phrases in my communications that may trigger a false spam alarm. Hopefully, the Email distribution service you use provides the same type of tutorials.

Even if you do everything right, an Email host can still ban your messages. Verizon.net recently barred seven of their subscribers from receiving my Email. It happens to the best of us. The bottom line is to continue being proactive by applying the lessons learned through resources like the two mentioned above.

Technorati Tags: small business marketing, solo business marketing, solo entrepreneur, Email delivery, Email marketing, Dot Email, Sales and Marketing Management

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July 10, 2007 | Filed Under Customer Connections, Marketing News, Online Ideas, Problems & Solutions | Leave a Comment

Vacations are Instrumental for Success

All of a sudden, newspapers and televised media are talking about workaholics. Is it because summer is the traditional vacation season? Perhaps. I believe that whether planned or spur of the moment, getting away from the office produces a more healthy and productive business focus.

The Record, one of New Jersey’s largest newspapers, recently featured a story about owners who don’t take vacations. Do you see yourself in the article? Some of us feel that our work is a daily vacation because we enjoy what we do. I feel the say way, but why would a “calling” exclude you from living?

I’ve just returned from a four-day trip to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. It was worth every minute of food and fun. Most of all, I’ve returned energized and ready to proceed with new and old projects. So while some solo owners pride themselves on never going away, the rest of us seek downtime to clear our minds and move forward with a renewed vision.

I admit that my laptop was in tow. When you work for yourself, it’s impossible to have 24 hours of downtime. I settled for 22 hours of daily fun. I’ll take that rather than none.

Have you added a vacation to your schedule?

Technorati Tags: small business marketing, solo business marketing, solo entrepreneur, getting away, take a vacation, closing shop

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July 9, 2007 | Filed Under Offline Ideas, Solo Housekeeping | Leave a Comment

Gimmicks Work if They Don’t Backfire

Can marketing gimmicks be so outlandish that they backfire when competing for an account? I bet you know the answer.

An article about job hunting in The Wall Street Journal’s July 3rd issue reminded me of the lengths some people will go to impress a headhunter, or in our case, a potential client.

The article gives details on how job candidates wear gorilla suits to deliver resumes, attach resumes to homing pigeons, and “offer recruiters free tickets to concerts and other events.” Some gimmicks embarrass the receiver while others border on bribery.

How far would you go to get an account? Innovative methods do work, but only when you know the potential client’s preferences. Such information is revealed in their blog posts or through interviews featured in reputable publications on or off the Web.

Here are three methods I’ve tried in the past, all with great results. Keep in mind that I researched the person’s background before sending all of them.

1. A cable show producer received a personalized notecard expressing my appreciation.
2. A person born in the United Kingdom received a tea cup and saucer filled with teas and cookies.
3. A bank manager received a chocolate box (chocolate molded to resemble a box) filled with chocolate-covered expresso beans.

There are also marketing methods I’ve tried that did not work, but each of us continues doing our best to get our foot in the door without going so over the top that we have no chance of getting the account.

Before you add a gimmick to your marketing campaign, consider the receiver and your reputation. Is what you’re about to send an item that best represents you?

Technorati Tags: small business marketing, solo business marketing, solo entrepreneur, marketing tactics, marketing gimmicks, incentive merchandise

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July 5, 2007 | Filed Under Customer Connections, Marketing News, Offline Ideas | Leave a Comment

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