What Parts of Your Business are Automated?

There’s a good chance that you receive questions and requests for similar information each week.

In the past I’ve sent newly-created Emails to each prospect or site visitor. How much time do you think it takes to form and send those Email responses?

Marketing-related information is added to the response, but a lot of time is spent writing something from scratch rather than setting it to automation.

Perhaps, like me, you’re unable to be totally automatic, which is the ability to have a computer program send a response that’s customized for each subject (outsourcing the task also helps). That’s unfortunately impossible for marketers who’d rather send information that relates to the query instead of a canned response that totally misses the mark.

What I’ve done is create a “Responses” folder. Each file within that folder is named according to the questions I receive most often.

When a question arrives, I open the folder and look at each file’s name to choose a response. After copying and pasting the answer, I add the person’s name within the salutation and press “send.”

There are times I feel that this is a lot of work, and you, too, may see it that way. However, this part of marketing has turned prospects into customers more times than I can count. Canned responses send the prospect straight to a competitor, or at the least, they won’t return to you.

In the past I’ve talked about creating a frequently-asked questions area on your site to respond to certain queries, but even with this, you’ll still receive numerous Emails from people who may not see that section or simply want to speak with someone at your firm.

I’ll continue to look for better ways to automate responses and other parts of business. For now, the ability to answer quickly by typing less streamlines this task.

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April 17, 2008 | Filed Under Problems & Solutions, Solo Housekeeping | Leave a Comment 

Marketing Planning 101 - A One Year Update

One year ago I talked about marketing planning and shared insightful excerpts from the book, Multiple Streams of Income, by Robert G. Allen.

I’m looking back at that post because I like to measure what I’ve planned versus how much I’ve progressed through my own advice.

It’s very easy to take market planning for granted, doing whatever task floats to the top without considering the long-term benefit of unglamorous projects that automate business in order to enjoy a more-fulfilling life.

My score card from one year ago? About a B-.

I’ve planned many of my business projects throughout 2008, and I’ve also created a streamlined process for organizing my receipts to make monthly reconciliations less taxing. That’s a huge change for the better, but it’s not enough.

One task that I will soon complete is automating more of the predictable marketing dilemmas. Not doing so has wasted a lot of my time.

There’s more on my agenda, but I’m still searching for the right solutions.

How has your marketing plan progressed since last year? What grade would you give yourself?

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April 10, 2008 | Filed Under Solo Housekeeping | Leave a Comment 

Finding Solutions Outside of the Office

Talk with a trusted friend to find business solutionsYesterday, I took the advice from chapter two (Network Marketing, Solo Style) of my book.

I’m facing a business dilemma and left the office to discuss it at a tea room with a good friend.

We ordered tea, chose a table, and immediately began discussing my problem. Within five minutes she presented a solution. It’s one that was in front of me all along but needed to be revealed by her.

Why didn’t I meet with my friend before the problem overwhelmed me instead of stay in my office cocoon? There’s a simple answer to this: I thought I could handle it on my own. Isn’t that what you think, too?

Family members and corporate employees rarely understand our unique problems. Talking to them can be frustrating. That’s why it’s best to turn to a like-minded person.

I invested two hours of time and $11.99 for tea and cookies to remove the problem, and even if there was no solution found during that time, getting out of the office invigorated my day.

What dilemma are you facing? I bet that help from a trust source will end your madness.

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April 3, 2008 | Filed Under Networking, Problems & Solutions, Solo Housekeeping | Leave a Comment 

Refresh Your Marketing with a Web Site Update

Keep your Web site updated for marketing opportunitiesIf you look at old versions of your Web site through Archive.org’s Way Back Machine, I’m sure you’ll notice that its appearance has changed for the better. Or does it look the same as it did when it was first launched?

Improvements make a big difference to increase industry status, client attraction, and referral business. Here are some changes to consider.

  • Template - Pre-made and custom versions run the gamut to update your Web site’s layout and color scheme.
  • Video - If you cannot or have not yet created a visual welcome or similar content, choose a clip from You Tube or another source (with permission) to show until you make your own.
  • Podcast/Audio - Are industry participants more interested in hearing your welcome rather than watching a video? There are many options to add this listening device.
  • Newsletter - Let visitors know about and subscribe to your Ezine on the home page. Offer a subscription incentive, if possible, and let subscribers know about its frequency, length, and content.
  • Blog - Keeping visitors aware of industry changes is often conveyed through this writing tool.
  • Social Media - I’ve seen LinkedIn, Facebook, and other community tags on Web sites to announce participation.

    • Sometimes it’s best to go outside of your industry to consider new ways to make your Web site a destination. For example, I’m not part of a musical group, but some bands’ Web sites are my muse while updating my own. I also visit legal, wedding, and licensed merchandise sites.

    Web site updates are critical to the marketing process. I plan to make specific changes to my online real estate to attract new and current visitors. Is this a plan that will make dollars and sense to you?

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    March 13, 2008 | Filed Under Customer Connections, Solo Housekeeping, Technology | Leave a Comment 

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