Ask the Experts! Archive and Blog.

Cross Marketing Through Social Media

Audretta Hall — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 19:29:45 +0000

So you have a website. How many people KNOW you have one? You can build an audience through social media and drive traffic to your site. Which social networking sites? That depends on what’s right for you and your business lifestyle. Twitter is good for quick notes (first thing in the morning to increase your google rating), Facebook has over 500 million people–if you need VOLUME then build your contacts there. If you wish to start close business relationships…linkedin is the format you might want to explore.

No matter which one you choose be sure to be consistent with your message…give information. Information is the new currency! Be sure to give useful tips and hints in several different areas that you are passionate about. People don’t want to be sold…but they will BUY from people they have established a relationship with.

I am a Small Business Marketing Coach and I do a ton of volunteer work in the area of health and wellness. On my facebook pages and twitter accounts , I give tips on getting healthy and throw events that are health related that allow small business owners the opportunity to meet potential clients.

October is breast cancer awareness month so I am hosting a Pink Tie Pink Pancake Breast Cancer Awareness Brunch (Sunday October 24, 2010) that will focus on the MEN talking to women about the importance of being healthy! It will give local business owners the chance to network as well as meet new business contacts. I use facebook and twitter to invite people to the brunch and to talk about different health tips to keep the interest in the event going!

Build your audience the way you want to build your business…around the things that you are passionate about!

Audretta L. Hall

Small Business Marketing Coach

www.support4yourdreams.com (visit the site for more information about the brunch!)

Cause Marketing–Give and Get Noticed

Audretta Hall — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 17:41:24 +0000

CAUSE Marketing

Positive associations to something that you are passionate about! I join causes that promote health or prevent hunger. I, for one, have never gone to bed hungry unless I was on a crash diet, so it is hard for me to imagine anyone being hungry because they don’t have access to food. I spent most of my life trying to avoid over eating. But one visit to the Urban Ministries in Greensboro NC led me to see the need to help others. How did I end up at the Urban Ministries? Well, I have lost over 60 lbs and was hosting a seminar to help others to do the same. I had asked a local doctor (Dr. Roosevelt Smith) to give his thoughts on losing weight and other health issues. He told me he would do the event for free IF the attendees would bring canned goods. Well the participants brought the canned goods and we had a great time learning new weight loss tips.

When it came time to deliver the food I proudly took my box of canned goods over to the Urban Ministries. I was led to the back where they stock the shelves and the site of those empty shelves changed my life forever!

In 2008 I sponsored Stepping to Fill the Food Banks and charged canned goods as a part of the condition of admission.

Now, I am working with Sears Portrait Studio and the Salvation Army and other Local Food Banks to create the largest food drive in the History of NC! Fotos to Fill the Food banks. Free 10 x 13 enhanced wall portraits to anyone that will bring canned goods to the portrait studio from October 1 to November 12, 2010. Even if you don’t take a photo…bring the food items! The need is great!

Look for a phone call to your organization SOON! If you would like to help please send an email to auhall@cpicorp.com. Just put HELP in the subject line.

Looking forward to working with you on this worthwhile project.

Audretta L. Hall

The A, B, C’s of Marketing YOUR Small Business

Audretta Hall — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 18:40:17 +0000

The A, B, C’s of Marketing

Always market your business

Whether it is with a car magnet on your car, the logos on the clothes you are wearing, to the personal business cards and brochures you hand out to the people you meet, as a small business person you should ALWAYS market your business. You should let people know what your business can do to help them and their needs in a simple easy to remember manner.

Be mindful of your image

Your business cards, brochures and, even the clothes you wear should speak volumes about your business. Have a logo that is uniquely yours. If you have a professional business use professional grade paper and make sure everything matches! Use the same person to do the graphics on your cards as you used to do the graphics on your website and brochure. A consistent message is key to making sure that your company is memorable.

Consider the needs of your customers

The easiest way to stay in business is to make sure you take care of your customers needs. Be sure to ask them what they need, why they use YOUR business and what you can do to help them even more. And have a customer loyalty program. Reward your customers for staying with you. Know that the competition is trying to tempt your customers to try them…coupons, by one get one free offers. You name it. Be sure that your customers are happy with you. Ask them if they are happy. Then listen and act on their suggestions!

For Unique Marketing tools (Pens, T-shirts, Banners and more) to help people to remember YOUR business contact Carla Bluitt at www.uniquemarketingtools.com.

For a crisp consistent business image contact Kristen Eckstein of Imagine Studios at www.artsimagine.com

For More information about marketing your business attend our next Marketing Seminar May 1^st, 2010. Join our email list by writing to Audretta@support4yourdreams.com and we will keep you posted on the locations and times of upcoming events and marketing classes.

Next Article: Customer Loyalty Options and Rich Referral Bonus Plans.

Marketing–Simple Effective Solutions

Audretta Hall — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:42:03 +0000

You want to get the word out about your business but you have very little time and even fewer resources. So what do you do? Go out of business before enough people KNOW you are in business? No. Use effective ways to get the word out about your business while investing your time and your finances in the most effective manner.

If someone is paying to gather a crowd—Be there! With your flyers and information and, hopefully, product samples or unique marketing tools customized to your business (pens, key chains etc).
Offer your services to a worthy non-profit organization. When they have events make sure your information is included in the print materials.
Find a person that is opening a new business and partner with them to help them with their Grand Opening!
Create a hurricane of activity, with the help of your friends and family, by posting your information on social media sites, passing out flyers in your target market area.
Speak at an event! All eyes on you, your product and your information.

You can get the word out about what you are doing. If you have products, goods and services that you are absolutely passionate about then gather your strongest supporters and ask them for your help in getting the word out about you do.

A rich referral bonus will help you in this regard as well. Referral bonuses—that will be the topic of next weeks marketing blog. To find out about the rich referral bonus provided by Support4yourdreams email Audretta@support4yourdreams.com.

Support 4 Your Dreams Sponsors Quarterly Marketing Classes. For dates and times visit the events calendar at www.support4yourdreams.com

Audretta Hall — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:19:49 +0000

looking back at would could have been will never get you where you need to go!

Audretta Hall — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 02:41:36 +0000

Found the secret to having an awesome day. Laugh until you cry first thing in the morning. The rest of the day will be FINE!

Number 2 Rule–Follow Up for Feed Back!

Audretta Hall — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:32:46 +0000

When you have products, goods or services don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and ask your clients for honest feedback. Large companies do it all the time. It is called focus groups. There they can get honest opinions from the consumer that is either trying or buying the products. Companies know that the board room is not always the best place to get an honest evaluation. Who’s going to tell the CEO that his idea is for the birds? The same can hold true for family and friends. Some times friends and family can be TOO critical or not Critical enough. Ask those that have no particular interest one way or the other!

For more helpful marketing tips attend one our MONTHLY free Marketing Classes. And bring a friend. They are often a good place to store and back up YOUR knowledge!

Top Marketing Rules

Audretta Hall — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:52:51 +0000

There are 10 top stead fast rule of Marketing

Have Samples is one of them

Come Sample the All New Support 4yourdreams.com

Sunday September 27, 2009

6 pm to 9 pm

Coffee at the Summit

623 Summit Avenue

Greensboro, NC 27405

Networking

Prizes

To Get the other NINE

Attend the Re-Launch of

Support 4 Your Dreams

RSVP

Audretta@support4yourdreams.com

Audretta Hall — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:42:06 +0000

taking a nap before starting part two of my day! Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate. 17 hour day Saturday and STILL trying to recover!

Audretta Hall — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 20:07:17 +0000

Dinner Party is AWESOME…This IS SOCIAL Networking!