Small Business Marketing Ideas
65
Ideas, inspiration and how-to for small to mid-sized businesses
Follow
Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus onto Small Business Marketing Ideas
Scoop.it!

3 Very Bad Business B Words

3 Very Bad Business B Words | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it

Sometimes businesses hurt themselves through bad business practices that might seem effective on the surface. So I came up with these 3 “B” words that should never be part of your social media, blog, and content marketing or communications strategies; in fact, these three Bs should never find their way into your marketing, at all.

No comment yet.
Elizabeth Kraus is also curating
Salon and Spa Marketing DDS Practice Leadership and Marketing New Homes and Real Estate in King County New Homes and Real Estate in Pierce County
Discover Topics Elizabeth Kraus is following
Social Media Content Curation Internet Marketing Strategy 2.0 Marketing Strategy and Business Content Marketing Chronicle SEO Strategies & Tactics Business Support Network
and 3 others
Your new post is loading...
Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus
Scoop.it!

12 Ways to Cheat at Marketing: The 2013 Small Business Marketing Calendar

12 Ways to Cheat at Marketing: The 2013 Small Business Marketing Calendar | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it

In this 2013 marketing calendar for small business (or any size business!), you’ll find these 12 marketing “cheats” plus 12 full months of content marketing ideas, event and promotion ideas, merchandising tips and how to get employee buy in for your marketing campaigns, mission and vision.

No comment yet.
Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus
Scoop.it!

Financing Options for Small Businesses Facing Foreclosure

Financing Options for Small Businesses Facing Foreclosure | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it
This week the Wall Street Journal noted that small companies with commercial mortgages could be facing balloon mortgages this year.  Without working capital, small businesses could be foreclosed up...
Elizabeth Kraus's insight:

The WSJ article titled, “Warning: Property Foreclosures Ahead” predicts that more commercial property loans will come due in 2013 than in any prior year.

No comment yet.
Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus
Scoop.it!

Simple (Offline!) Social Media Acts: Recognition + Reciprocation = Win Fans for Life | Business 2 Community

Simple (Offline!) Social Media Acts: Recognition + Reciprocation = Win Fans for Life | Business 2 Community | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it
When’s the last time a person or an organization made a genuine, personal and most importantly, a lasting positive impact on you that you remember? Can you
Elizabeth Kraus's insight:

Want customers for life?  Simple recognition doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate, and it’s best when it simply becomes a habitual part of your process.

No comment yet.
Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus
Scoop.it!

2012 Social Media Marketing Industry Report | Social Media Examiner

2012 Social Media Marketing Industry Report | Social Media Examiner | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it
2012 Social Media Marketing Industry Report: learn from more than 3800 marketers on how to focus your social media activities and what the rewards are.
No comment yet.
Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus
Scoop.it!

If You Want More Ideal Customers, Get Greedy

If You Want More Ideal Customers, Get Greedy | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it

Have you heard of the Pareto Principle?   In business, it’s the origin of the idea that 80% of your sales come from 20% of your clients.  But what if you could have more?  You can, but you have to get greedy.


http://365daysofmarketing.wordpress.com/2013/03/14/80-20-rule-in-business-ideal-customers/

No comment yet.
Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus
Scoop.it!

Are You Trying to Cut Hair Without Scissors?

Are You Trying to Cut Hair Without Scissors? | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it

If we’re agreed that we need the right tools to cut hair or color hair or curl hair or blow dry hair, why is it that we don’t see the need to do so in other areas of business?  Say – something like – just pulling a topic out of thin air – marketing?  

http://365daysofmarketing.wordpress.com/2013/03/01/use-the-right-marketing-tools-in-2013/

No comment yet.
Rescooped by Elizabeth Kraus from Internet Marketing Strategy 2.0
Scoop.it!

Top 30 Business and Marketing News Sources by Forbes

Top 30 Business and Marketing News Sources by Forbes | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it

 

 


Via Robin Good
Robin Good's curator insight, February 28, 5:27 AM


Michael Brenner has put together a useful list of the top 30 news sources you should be following if you are interested in online business and marketing news.


Useful, resourceful. 7/10




P.S.: In my humble opinion, this list is tainted by the author placing the magazine he writes for (Forbes in this case) as the top one in the list. As a curator this is something I suggest to avoid like the pest as it instantly taints your supposedly impartial collector skills with a way too evident marketing effort, which dents significantly into the credibility of the overall list and the on the reputation of the writer.


In my effort to help others recognize effective curation from simple-minded content marketing efforts I feel quite important to highlight such small details, as even though they may appear of no relevance to some people today, they will have enormous importance - in my opinion - in the near future.



Full list: http://www.forbes.com/sites/sap/2013/02/27/curate-this-30-sources-to-keep-you-updated-on-business-and-marketing/



Gaurav Pandey's curator insight, March 6, 5:38 AM

Here's what Robin Good (the original curator) has to say about the article, so you know why no 1 is missing from the list. He's spot on, I'd say : 


Robin Good's insight:

 

Michael Brenner has put together a useful list of the top 30 news sources you should be following if you are interested in online business and marketing news.

 

Useful, resourceful. 7/10

 

 

P.S.: In my humble opinion, this list is tainted by the author placing the magazine he writes for (Forbes in this case) as the top one in the list. As a curator this is something I suggest to avoid like the pest as it instantly taints your supposedly impartial collector skills with a way too evident marketing effort, which dents significantly into the credibility of the overall list and the on the reputation of the writer.

 

In my effort to help others recognize effective curation from simple-minded content marketing efforts I feel quite important to highlight such small details, as even though they may appear of no relevance to some people today, they will have enormous importance - in my opinion - in the near future.

 

 

Full list:http://www.forbes.com/sites/sap/2013/02/27/curate-this-30-sources-to-keep-you-updated-on-business-and-marketing/

 

Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus
Scoop.it!

The 13th Way to Cheat at Marketing: Don't Make People Wait!

The 13th Way to Cheat at Marketing: Don't Make People Wait! | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it

Whether I’m spending $3 on a coffee, $30 on a bang trim and brow wax, $300 on an eye exam, $3,000 on major dental, $30,000 on a car or $300,000 on a house, you tell me, by making me wait that you believe that you are more important than me.

http://365daysofmarketing.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/marketing-cheats-2013-marketing-ideas/

No comment yet.
Rescooped by Elizabeth Kraus from Marketing Strategy and Business
Scoop.it!

8 Ways to Instantly Improve the Quality of Your Marketing Content | HubSpot

8 Ways to Instantly Improve the Quality of Your Marketing Content | HubSpot | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it

Excerpted from article on HubSpot:

"The need to create high-quality content, however, has put many marketers in a difficult situation: high-quality content takes a long time to create, and many just don't have the time to do it.

While it'd be nice to say, "tough noogies, find the time," that's neither realistic nor helpful. So instead, I've opted to brainstorm a list of very quick things that don't add on much time to your content creation process, but will instantly elevate the quality of the content you create.

 

1) Fact Check:
While being accurate may not actively add anything to the quality of your content, inaccuracy in your content deals a mighty blow to content quality. Set yourself apart as the industry standard for unbiased, factually correct content -- the stuff your readers can always rely on. That kind of reputation is how thought leaders are born, and it elevates you next to your competitors.

2) Include Data That Backs Up Your Points:
When you're trying to convince your readers of something, data is a quick way to build instant credibility and convince your reader that -- to put it bluntly -- you know what the heck you're talking about.

3) Find Examples That Illustrate Your Points:
Just like supporting data points can help you strengthen your case, using examples -- whether you're coming up with hypothetical situations or, even better, using real ones -- can lend a lot of clarity to confusing concepts for your readers.

4) Use Visuals to Illustrate Points:
A picture's worth a thousand words.

5) Get Quotes From Thought Leaders and Subject Matter Experts:
No one is an expert in everything. But the content creator's dilemma is that they're often asked to create content around subjects they only know only a little bit about. That poses a problem for content quality, to be sure. But the best way to get around this -- and this will make your life so much easier when writing about things you don't fully understand -- is to reach out to a subject matter expert or thought leader in the space.

6) Remove Any Jargon:
High-quality content is easy to understand. Jargon, however, is decidedly not easy to understand. Remove any gobbledygook from your content before publishing it to ensure any of your readers can easily understand what you're talking about.

7) Do Some Formatting, and Incorporate High-Quality Visuals:
Add some bullet points, some numbers, some bold headers, and some images to make your content look much more palatable, and much more high-quality. Not only does formatting and images make your content higher in quality, but it also makes it more engaging and shareable, too.

8) Have Someone Edit and Proof:
A proofreader will look through your content and correct minor errors, like misspellings, misplaced commas, that sort of thing. This is important, sure, but it's no replacement for a good edit. An editor will actually work with you on the storyline, the phrasing, the order of your points, and help identify what's missing. If you want to instantly increase the quality of your content, hire a freelance editor..."

Read full original article here:
http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/34104/8-Ways-to-Instantly-Improve-the-Quality-of-Your-Marketing-Content.aspx

 


Via Giuseppe Mauriello
Smart And Smooth's curator insight, February 8, 4:12 AM

very helpfull 

Robin Martin's curator insight, March 30, 10:46 AM

Thank you! This is quite helpful!

 

Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus
Scoop.it!

What to do when your Marketing Comes to a Grinding Halt

What to do when your Marketing Comes to a Grinding Halt | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it

Even when you love marketing, if you’re a single shingle, small business owner or a business with no bench players when it comes to small business marketing, sooner or later, your marketing may come to a grinding halt. 

Elizabeth Kraus's insight:
Whatever the reason, rather than throwing in the towel or berating yourself for shortcomings, here’s what to do if your single shingle or small business marketing comes to a grinding halt, and a few things that you can do to make sure it doesn’t, or minimize the impact when it does:
No comment yet.
Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus
Scoop.it!

When Stalking Your Customers is a Good Thing

When Stalking Your Customers is a Good Thing | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it

This stalking is always creepy and wrong?  Not so.  January is National Stalking Month, and here's how to do it right:

http://365daysofmarketing.wordpress.com/2012/11/28/when-stalking-your-customers-is-a-good-thing/

No comment yet.
Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus
Scoop.it!

Are You Bringing Value to the Hour?

Are You Bringing Value to the Hour? | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it

No matter whether you’re the boss or the person in the entry level position on the job, we all get paid by the hour in one form or another.  We often do spend more time thinking that we’re not getting paid what we’re worth than we do evaluating whether we are bringing value to the hour.  We often spend more time doing busy work to make the hours pass quickly than we do in making the hours count when it comes to the success of the organization or even our own businesses. But if we focus more on adding value to the hour, we set the stage for our own success, and send very strong messages.

Elizabeth Kraus's insight:

Are you bringing value to the hour?

No comment yet.
Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus
Scoop.it!

Why Your Marketing Won’t Work Without Wonder Woman | Blogging Bistro

Why Your Marketing Won’t Work Without Wonder Woman | Blogging Bistro | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it
Our customers don’t have bat signals. We aren’t always the first experts they turn to. Our marketing won’t work without wonder woman. (Guest post)
Elizabeth Kraus's insight:

We aren’t always the first experts customers turn to in order to improve their lives by solving their problems, satisfying their wants or meeting their needs. And so I’m going to tell you, your marketing won’t work without wonder woman. Here’s why.

OH YES -- ALSO read to the end for your chance to win a 2013 Small Biz Marketing Calendar! 

No comment yet.
Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus
Scoop.it!

18 Fresh Stats About the Current State of Social Media Marketing

18 Fresh Stats About the Current State of Social Media Marketing | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it
Discover 18 new social media marketing statistics to help improve your inbound marketing.
Elizabeth Kraus's insight:

The answer is: 30 minutes.  The question?  How long the half-life of a Facebook post really is - 18 Fresh Social Media Stats -

http://blog.hubspot.com/18-fresh-stats-about-social-media-marketing

No comment yet.
Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus
Scoop.it!

Renovate to Rebrand: 3 Ways to Remodel Your Business to Align With Your Brand

Renovate to Rebrand: 3 Ways to Remodel Your Business to Align With Your Brand | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it
Whether you are designing the brand identity of your small business for the first time or retooling elements of your brand identity to move your business forward, it’s never been more important for...
Elizabeth Kraus's insight:
If the interior of your business and the overall experience they receive (or perceive)  doesn’t match up with their preconceptions about your business or expectations, you can kiss word of mouth recommendations – and maybe even repeat visits – goodbye!
No comment yet.
Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus
Scoop.it!

The Biggest Dirty Little Secret in Business

The Biggest Dirty Little Secret in Business | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it

Can you handle the truth?  In many organizations, the people at the top say they want candor, but what they really want is for people to agree with everything they say and go along with everything they do.

https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130423113813-86541065-the-biggest-dirty-little-secret-in-business

No comment yet.
Rescooped by Elizabeth Kraus from Marketing Strategy and Business
Scoop.it!

13 Essential SEO Power Tools

13 Essential SEO Power Tools | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it

Excerpted from article by Search Engine Watch:

"Looking for a nice selection of SEO power tools that will help diagnose technical issues and optimize your website, or perhaps gain insight on what your competition is doing? Below are 13 SEO tools (many of them free) to do just that.

 

Even if you have little to no budget, you will still able to get the job done with this selection of search marketing power tools.

 

1. Your Eyes
2. IIS SEO Toolkit
3. Screaming Frog
4. Majestic SEO
5. Adobe Site Catalyst
6. Google Analytics
7. SEMrush
8. Google Webmaster Tools
9. Bing Webmaster Tools
10. SEO Tool Set
11. Google Trends
12. HitWise
13. You Get Signal."

Each tool is analyzed with more information and external links.
Read full article here:
http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2199683/13-Essential-SEO-Power-Tools


Via Giuseppe Mauriello
Elsie Whitelock's curator insight, April 6, 7:10 AM

Very useful info to help you with your website.

Ali Anani's curator insight, April 12, 1:53 AM

A relevant and timely post highlighting the benefits of many new tools

NUMBER 1 FOOD TESTING CERTIFICATION SERVICE INDIA's curator insight, May 13, 12:45 PM

13 THE LUCKY NUMBER  IN SEO 

Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus
Scoop.it!

Is This Disorder Derailing Your Marketing ROI?

Is This Disorder Derailing Your Marketing ROI? | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it

There is a serious but all-too-common disorder that could be derailing your marketing ROI. Many visionaries, including a large number of entrepreneurs and small business owners suffer from BSNT disorder. Is this Disorder Derailing Your Marketing ROI?

No comment yet.
Rescooped by Elizabeth Kraus from Marketing Strategy and Business
Scoop.it!

15 Important Tips To Help You Keep Your Customers

15 Important Tips To Help You Keep Your Customers | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it

Excerpted from article:
"According to the Harvard Business School, increasing customer retention rates by 5 percent increases profits by 25 percent to 95 percent.
In order to help you increase your own retention rates, we’ve compiled a list of our 15 favorite tips (backed by academic research and case studies) on increasing customer loyalty, divided into five easy-to-browse sections.

- Communication
It’s hard to create loyal customers if they aren’t paying attention to you. Given this fact, below are our favorite bits of research on clear communication with customers.
1. Stand for something;
2. Utilize positive social proof;
3. Invoke the inner ego;

- Selling
If customers don’t enjoy your selling process, they’ll likely never do business with you again. Thus, selling to customers the “correct” way is an integral part of creating customer loyalty. Below are a few studies to help you improve the process.
4. Use the words they love to hear;
5. Reduce pain points and friction;

- Reciprocity
Reciprocity is the social construct that makes the world go ’round… or in your case, keeps your customers coming back. The premise is simple: Go above and beyond for customers and get rewarded with repeat business. The execution, however, can be trickier, so below is a compilation of interesting research on how to improve reciprocity with your customers.
6. Realize that budget is negligible;
7. Utilize surprise reciprocity;
8. Make it personal;

- Support
This one is a no-brainer: You can’t create a tribe of loyal customers without an exceptional customer service experience that keeps them coming back. In this section, we’re going to bust a few customer service myths wide open, as well as tackle some important things you need to keep in mind when offering support online.
9. Speed is secondary to quality;
10. Customers enjoy businesses who know them;
11. Choose the right platform;
12. Make it a communal effort;

- Loyalty Programs
The key to creating customer loyalty programs that work is to know why customers use them and what gets customers to keep using them. Below you’ll find consumer research that answers these questions.
13. Get people started;
14. Get ideal customers to be VIPs;
15. Label your customers..."

Each tip is analyzed with more information. Read full article here:
http://www.convinceandconvert.com/social-media-marketing/15-important-tips-to-help-you-keep-your-customers/

 


Via Giuseppe Mauriello
Rim Riahi's curator insight, March 14, 1:56 AM

According to the Harvard Business School, increasing customer retention rates by 5 percent increases profits by 25 percent to 95 percent.
In order to help you increase your own retention rates, we’ve compiled a list of our 15 favorite tips (backed by academic research and case studies) on increasing customer loyalty, divided into five easy-to-browse sections.

Gaurav Pandey's curator insight, March 14, 7:42 PM

Excellent post.

 

I'd like to add a few thoughts here: 

 

Customer retention is all about value creation and engagement. Don't make it all about your brand, some fun and entertainment such as polls, infographics, sweepstakes, pictures, videos etc. go a long way in retaining interest in your brand.

 

With the overload of one-dimensional posts on social pages of brands, it's even more important for marketers to go that extra mile  to gauge the pulse of your community. That said, you have to build a community first.

 

Social networks and communities are different, although there may be some overlap. It's these communities which will really provide momentum to your campaigns. By brining like-minded people together as part of these communities, businesses come across as more transparent and supportive than agressive. This is because in a community individuals come together and that gives them the power to decide collectively, to spread the word and take actions which are not forced on them.


If brands recognise this, they will understand that building communities and not just social networks is the way forward. Community building takes more than a few promoted posts and luring customers in with discount coupons, it takes sustained effort at building trust. And if a company manages to achieve this, the rewards are plentiful as their customers will then act as their brand ambassadors helping spread the message organically.

 

So my advice to marketers is be open, be responsive, be socially responsible and build trust through sustained effort. 

Please let me know your thoughts.

 

Cheers! 

Steve Bosworth's curator insight, March 27, 12:47 AM

Excellent piece - read Convince and Convert #leadership 

Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus
Scoop.it!

What’s So Special About You? Finding Your USP

What’s So Special About You?  Finding Your USP | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it

Whether the product you sell lists at $3 or $300,000 and lasts for 3 minutes or 30 years, differentiation is the key to growing your business, gaining market share and besting competitors. 

No comment yet.
Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus
Scoop.it!

Tipping Points and Starting Points in Small Business Marketing

Tipping Points and Starting Points in Small Business Marketing | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it

Have you read The Tipping Point? It talks about ideas that catch like wildfire after hitting “tipping points” that propel them into motion.  No tipping point happens without starting points.  And it can be harder to find the right starting points, and more difficult to get started, than to find the tipping point.

No comment yet.
Rescooped by Elizabeth Kraus from DIY, Sustainable Small Business Marketing Plans & Strategies
Scoop.it!

6 things every customer wants

6 things every customer wants | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it

Contrary to popular belief, customers are less interested in price than in these six things.

 

All customers want the highest quality at the lowest price, right? Well, sort of. That stuff is important but, surprisingly, the quality vs. price formula is not usually on the top of the customer’s list of concerns, especially when it comes to selling B2B.

 

According to numerous surveys, B2B customers want the following six things from the people who sell to them.....


Via paulgreen, MAX that Marketing
No comment yet.
Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus
Scoop.it!

"Marketing Bites: 2013 Marketing Calendar for Restaurants Bars and Caterers" by Elizabeth Kraus

"Marketing Bites: 2013 Marketing Calendar for Restaurants Bars and Caterers" by Elizabeth Kraus | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it
Marketing Bites, the 2013 Marketing Calendar for Restaurants, Bars and Caterers breaks down some of the most effective means of attracting, engaging, motivating and retaining patrons for individuals in the hospitality and food industries.
Elizabeth Kraus's insight:

Marketing Bites, the 2013 Marketing Calendar for Restaurants, Bars and Caterers breaks down some of the most effective means of attracting, engaging, motivating and retaining patrons for individuals in the hospitality and food industries.

This marketing calendar for restaurants, bars and caterers provides small business owners and managers in the food hospitality industry with fresh new ideas to help them build a bigger role in their community and in the lives of their patrons.

In addition to laying out a schedule for social media, email and other internet and offline marketing tasks, this calendar also includes hundreds of new ideas written specifically to help you build your restaurant, bar or catering business in 2013 and beyond.

No comment yet.
Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus
Scoop.it!

How to Make Your Employees Care About Your Business

How to Make Your Employees Care About Your Business | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it
Few business owners knowingly hire people who really don’t give a damn about the type of work they’ll be doing or the type of business they will be working for.  In fact, most new employee/employer...
Elizabeth Kraus's insight:

Employees aren't paid just to perform tasks, they are, in fact, paid to CARE about the success of your business. Find out how you can help them make the connection.

No comment yet.
Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus
Scoop.it!

4 Things to Tweak in Your 2013 Marketing Calendar

4 Things to Tweak in Your 2013 Marketing Calendar | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it
4 Ways to Tweak Your 2013 Marketing Calendar In these last weeks of 2013, I hope that you’ve found a few moments to sit down with your business plan for the new year and map out your own 2013 marke...
Elizabeth Kraus's insight:

Tweak your 2013 marketing plan in four ways so that the time and money you spend on marketing activities actually helps you get more customers.

No comment yet.
Scooped by Elizabeth Kraus
Scoop.it!

The Secret to Getting More Customers in 2013

The Secret to Getting More Customers in 2013 | Small Business Marketing Ideas | Scoop.it

You can get more customers in 2013, but it will cost you. You can get more employee enthusiasm in 2013, but it will cost you. In fact, you can get just about anything you want in business, if you are willing to pay the price.

No comment yet.