Today, it’s not whether businesses would want to be on Facebook. It’s when? If you are already on Facebook, are your doing it right?

While many users including businesses have adopted to the ever flowing stream of messages from businesses on your  Facebook stream,  there is still a lot of gap in how Facebook can be leveraged.

Here’s something that we came across which can be avoided by most of small businesses and professionals.

Recently, a dentist couple advertised their service in a local English newspaper about their newly introduced teeth whitening services. Well written advertisement with their website and Facebook links. Since, it was interesting to see such commitment to use internet, it did drew my attention.

When I visited their website, I got a feel-good factor. Well done and had an interactive Facebook profile. I was surprised why they had not opted for a Facebook page, and instead were doing it through Facebook profile.

So, here’s a list of  7 online marketing tips for local businesses and professionals that can be easily integrated into your local online marketing efforts.

7 things that can improve visibility and response for small local businesses and professionals:

1. Optimize for local search by listing in local directories. A quick search will provide you insight on where you can list your service
2. Use Facebook page instead of Facebook profile as Facebook Pages allow for lot of customization using apps. Especially, the most important being the ability to capture the visitor details like Name and Email id.
3. Initiate coupons for promotion through Facebook page and Google Places listing
4. List on Google Map
5. Get a few friends and customers to review your service on Google places
6. Provide insights on the new product or service like the dentist couple could provide teeth whitening information which will attract the readers to check out the services
7. Ask subscribers to SMS a code to win a free product / service coupon like a free dental check up. This provides a list of mobile numbers that can be used for further marketing / promotions

These are a few inputs that all local businesses can do to promote their service or offering.

Have you taken care of these simple yet effective local internet marketing tips? What other problems or challenges on internet or mobile marketing are your facing in your business or profession? Do leave your comment below. We will let you know the solutions.

I was in a frame of mind to share with you a story of a year old baby, you would love to KNOW.

The new look of Business Marketing System

You can see it flashed everywhere at her place the website.

BMS as we sweetly call her is a New Age Baby. She is generation “X” who comes as an enthusiastic and quick learner. I will not be wrong if I may introduce her as the next Assistant who will help you build your lifestyle, who completed a year and has become strong to take on new challenges.

I am sure you are now eager to see her new avatar. Don’t be shocked..I am warning you. Well as I know she may not be a normal child you usually see (other websites) she is somewhat unusual and she loves it.

So come join her 1st birthday bash in all its glittery. She is an Angel with a magic wand. She is Business Marketing System.

The New Identity of Business Marketing System

I was in a frame of mind to share with you a story of a year old baby, you would love to KNOW.

You can see it flashed everywhere at her place the website.

BMS as we sweetly call her is a New Age Baby. She is generation “X” who comes as an enthusiastic and quick learner. I will not be wrong if I may introduce her as the next Assistant who will help you build your lifestyle, who completed a year and has become strong to take on new challenges.

I am sure you are now eager to see her new avatar. Don’t be shocked..I am warning you. Well as I know she may not be a normal child you usually see (other websites) she is somewhat unusual and she loves it.

So come join her 1st birthday bash in all its glittery. She is an Angel with a magic wand.

Hi,

It’s been an exciting start. Why ? Because of the sequence of activities when I started this venture. Let me tell you about it.

1. Signed up client,
2. Got the payment,
3. Registered a Company,
4. Deposited the cheque,
5. Signed the second client – pretty big.

And, THIS IS RECESSION. Mind you.

That’s why it’s exciting. I will be sharing my thoughts here. Welcome again.

In my sales career, I have approached prospects and have spent a considerable amount of time educating them. Most of them were quite impressed with my presentation, enthusiasm and the benefits for the career opportunity. But, but, but…the need may or may not have been there.

Of course we would many a times create a need by fact finding (doing a financial health check) a financial doc… all that my employer thought. Ofcourse, we had some of the world’s best training programs, and I was privileged to have attended it.

It went like this: build a database of people who would refer us clients or advisors. Educating these people about the present scenario of the industry, further growth, how they would be a part of growth of this industry, etc.

But.

The missing link was, I went on meeting a lot of people, I was working with the best of companies which had laid down processes, systems and educated us to use the system and monitored the same……but still…… I felt something was missing…. It was hard job getting new people each time….Made some efforts to engage the warm prospects now and then by sending festival greetings cards, birthdays etc, but there was no consistency. Being alone, it seemed lot of hard work than smart work, Lot of human error, compliancy, pressure to get the immediate job, multitasking and guidance only to follow the process laid down-results will follow.

My conversion ratio from inviting the prospect over the phone to the career cell was good by any standards. I never, never, never went to any prospect place to sell a career opportunity.  Ability to get referrals was good… great going.. the challenging task was to engage the referrals and the warm prospects. Hats off to any person who could do it in a smart way.  Always wanted to reduce the unnecessary work overload you see !

Always felt, if only I had a secretary to help me in my administrative tasks. What a privilege…not all of us can afford one. But there is light at the end of the tunnel……..What are systems for? IT revolution is one of the best things that has happened.

A click of the button and there you are…I have a personal secretary…

I will write more on this in Part II.

It’s been an exciting start. Why ? Because of the sequence of activities when I started this venture. Let me tell you about it.

1. Signed up client,
2. Got the payment,
3. Registered a Company,
4. Deposited the cheque,
5. Signed the second client – pretty big.

And, THIS IS RECESSION. Mind you.

That’s why it’s exciting. I will be sharing my thoughts here. Welcome again.