Our clients are now able to make payments online! That's right, we've added a "Pay Now" button from PayPal that allows our clients to pay all or part of their invoices on line. The make a payment link is located in the footer of our site for your convenience.
In the future, we will be adding a client area that will require a log in by each client. We will then move the online payment function to each client's personal page. We will be sure to notify all of our clients when this area becomes available.
Stay tuned for more from Virtual Business Concepts!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Free SEO Tool
I stumbled across an interesting online tool yesterday and feel I have to share it. Website Grader allows you to receive a grade on your web site based on different criteria. If you're just starting your business online, this tool is great to keep in your arsenal.
To use this tool, simply visit the web site and enter in all of the required information. Once you've completed this step, your report card will be generated and you'll see where your site can improve. You will also be emailed a copy of your site's report card so you can review it and make corrections at a later date. Once you've updated your site to include the recommendations of Website Grader, you can start the process again to see if your grade as improved. Once you're satisfied with your site's grade, you can download a badge to put on your site.
I can't say enough good things about this tool. If you're just starting your own web site, this tool should definitely be one of the most used tools to which you have access.
To use this tool, simply visit the web site and enter in all of the required information. Once you've completed this step, your report card will be generated and you'll see where your site can improve. You will also be emailed a copy of your site's report card so you can review it and make corrections at a later date. Once you've updated your site to include the recommendations of Website Grader, you can start the process again to see if your grade as improved. Once you're satisfied with your site's grade, you can download a badge to put on your site.
I can't say enough good things about this tool. If you're just starting your own web site, this tool should definitely be one of the most used tools to which you have access.
Marketing a Start-Up Business
Now that you're a little more familiar with the definition of marketing and the marketing process, it's time to move on to marketing your start-up. Before you can create your marketing process, you should ask yourself the following questions.
1. What kinds of clients do you want to attract?
2. How can your products and/or services compete with already established products and/or services from other companies?
3. What is your business image? How will you gain attention, interest and trust from your prospects?
All of these questions are important when beginning your marketing process. Determining the types of clients you want to attract is often referred to as finding your niche market. This means that you target specific clients, such as those in accounting, real estate, construction, and so on. You can't market to everyone so don't even try to. Be sure to choose your niche market carefully and be certain that you can succeed and compete in those markets.
Once you've determined your niche market, you now have to determine what makes your products and/or services stand out from the competition. Knowing this will help you determine how your products and/or services will compete in your niche market(s) and you can estimate your level of success within those markets. When working on this part of your marketing process, be sure to think realistically. It's not uncommon for start-ups to think too broad or overextend themselves, which can often lead to business failure.
Now that you've answered the first two questions, it's time to determine your business image. Many people may have already completed this step first because it's how your business appeals to prospective clients. To start this step on a strong note, try to define your target clients' profile and tailor your communications to fit those profiles. What this means is that you simple define the types of people you believe your prospective clients are and communicate to them in a way that appeals to them. For example, if your start-up is a consignment shop for children's clothes and toys, you want to target only those prospective clients with children. Targeting clients who are single won't get you much business. Be sure that your marketing messages are suited for your target markets.
1. What kinds of clients do you want to attract?
2. How can your products and/or services compete with already established products and/or services from other companies?
3. What is your business image? How will you gain attention, interest and trust from your prospects?
All of these questions are important when beginning your marketing process. Determining the types of clients you want to attract is often referred to as finding your niche market. This means that you target specific clients, such as those in accounting, real estate, construction, and so on. You can't market to everyone so don't even try to. Be sure to choose your niche market carefully and be certain that you can succeed and compete in those markets.
Once you've determined your niche market, you now have to determine what makes your products and/or services stand out from the competition. Knowing this will help you determine how your products and/or services will compete in your niche market(s) and you can estimate your level of success within those markets. When working on this part of your marketing process, be sure to think realistically. It's not uncommon for start-ups to think too broad or overextend themselves, which can often lead to business failure.
Now that you've answered the first two questions, it's time to determine your business image. Many people may have already completed this step first because it's how your business appeals to prospective clients. To start this step on a strong note, try to define your target clients' profile and tailor your communications to fit those profiles. What this means is that you simple define the types of people you believe your prospective clients are and communicate to them in a way that appeals to them. For example, if your start-up is a consignment shop for children's clothes and toys, you want to target only those prospective clients with children. Targeting clients who are single won't get you much business. Be sure that your marketing messages are suited for your target markets.
Intro to Small Business Marketing
As many of you may know, marketing is essential for all types of businesses. From conglomerates to mom and pop stores, marketing plays a vital role in the success of a business. However, many of people may not be fully aware of the true concepts of marketing. I will be addressing some key concepts here and in future blog posts. For now, I’ll begin with the definition of marketing and how marketing is used in small businesses.
What is marketing?
The term “marketing” will have a different definition for each person you ask. The actual definition of marketing is – the process of how you create and keep your clients. Marketing contains all of the necessary steps you take to tailor your products and/or services, messages, customer service, and all other business tasks to satisfy your clients. Marketing is only successful if it contains two-way communication. Without effective two-way communication, your marketing process has not been successful and your business could suffer.
How does marketing work?
Think of marketing as a circle - there's no beginning and no end. Each time you or your company introduce a new product and/or service, your marketing process begins. This process is followed through to the client's purchase and begins again with the next client. There are 8 functions or deliverables of the marketing process:
1. Customer, Product and Competitive research
2. Product development
3. Pricing
4. Labels and packaging
5. Distribution
6. Advertising, promotions, and public relations
7. Sales
8. Customer service
Each of these deliverables are equally important and it's not wise to skip 1 or 2 to move through the process quickly. If steps are skipped, your business will have to deal with the consequences. These consequences could be that your products and/or services aren't selling as you expected them to or your list of clients isn't as established as you would like.
Common marketing misconception
If you ask 10 people to define the term marketing, you may find that about half of those people will tell you it's just a fancy term for sales. This is a common misconception. Marketing is not sales. Although sales is part of the marketing process, sales alone can never replace it. Sales is the act of communicating your marketing message. For example, if you see an advertisement for a large furniture sale, you've just received the company's marketing message. However, when you walk into the furniture store and purchase a new cocktail table, the salesperson effectively communicated the company's marketing message, offered the product and then you made your purchasing decision. That's sales - not marketing.
This is just the tip of the iceberg for marketing. I will be posting more entries in the future regarding the rest of the marketing process so stay tuned.
What is marketing?
The term “marketing” will have a different definition for each person you ask. The actual definition of marketing is – the process of how you create and keep your clients. Marketing contains all of the necessary steps you take to tailor your products and/or services, messages, customer service, and all other business tasks to satisfy your clients. Marketing is only successful if it contains two-way communication. Without effective two-way communication, your marketing process has not been successful and your business could suffer.
How does marketing work?
Think of marketing as a circle - there's no beginning and no end. Each time you or your company introduce a new product and/or service, your marketing process begins. This process is followed through to the client's purchase and begins again with the next client. There are 8 functions or deliverables of the marketing process:
1. Customer, Product and Competitive research
2. Product development
3. Pricing
4. Labels and packaging
5. Distribution
6. Advertising, promotions, and public relations
7. Sales
8. Customer service
Each of these deliverables are equally important and it's not wise to skip 1 or 2 to move through the process quickly. If steps are skipped, your business will have to deal with the consequences. These consequences could be that your products and/or services aren't selling as you expected them to or your list of clients isn't as established as you would like.
Common marketing misconception
If you ask 10 people to define the term marketing, you may find that about half of those people will tell you it's just a fancy term for sales. This is a common misconception. Marketing is not sales. Although sales is part of the marketing process, sales alone can never replace it. Sales is the act of communicating your marketing message. For example, if you see an advertisement for a large furniture sale, you've just received the company's marketing message. However, when you walk into the furniture store and purchase a new cocktail table, the salesperson effectively communicated the company's marketing message, offered the product and then you made your purchasing decision. That's sales - not marketing.
This is just the tip of the iceberg for marketing. I will be posting more entries in the future regarding the rest of the marketing process so stay tuned.
Pro Bono
Virtual Business Concepts has always had special pricing for non-profit organizations and the Silver Oaks Homeowner's Association of Leesburg, VA made use of that last month. I was contacted by the President of the association to revamp their website. This project was a success as all of the members are thrilled with it!
I had spoken with a member of the association a few months ago about working on their site. The board of directors had to vote on changing the website and the previous webmaster had to be contacted. In January, I was contacted by the President and was given the go ahead on this project. Everything was emailed to me and I began immediately. The site was up and running within 2 days.
The President was thrilled with the layout, colors, and the time it took to complete this project. I will also be making the updates to the site, including the meeting minutes and other content. Stop by their site to see it for yourself!
I had spoken with a member of the association a few months ago about working on their site. The board of directors had to vote on changing the website and the previous webmaster had to be contacted. In January, I was contacted by the President and was given the go ahead on this project. Everything was emailed to me and I began immediately. The site was up and running within 2 days.
The President was thrilled with the layout, colors, and the time it took to complete this project. I will also be making the updates to the site, including the meeting minutes and other content. Stop by their site to see it for yourself!
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