Twenty years ago, the dot-com bubble was still expanding and social listening did not yet exist. That’s how quickly digital marketing strategies have evolved and will continue to evolve. With so many frequent changes, how do small business owners keep up with social media and various trends? You can start by knowing the difference between social media monitoring and social media listening and how they can be advantageous for your business. Social Monitoring vs Social Listening Most businesses today, regardless of size, do social media marketing in some way. From […]
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Tips for Setting and Tracking Your Business Goals
Goal setting is not a new concept. As business leaders, we buy into the importance of goal setting, but we need to be careful to avoid a common misstep—failing to accurately track these goals. Let’s explore a few reasons why the tracking step is overlooked. Solid and measurable goals were not set, making tracking impossible. Tracking mechanisms were too complicated and cumbersome, so the measurement is not sustainable. The metrics don’t sync up with the overarching goals you’ve set for your organization. Other common factors can include lack of training, […]
Your Guide To Winning At Customer Engagement
In a world where customer acquisitions costs are skyrocketing, and competition is fiercer than ever, businesses of all sizes, across all industries, are looking for ways to engage with their customers. Customer engagement, in fact, is a key metric for those in the green industry. The art of customer engagement is nuanced, and to succeed in this important area of your business, it’s key to have a firm understanding of the Who’s, What’s, Where’s and (of course) How’s. So, let’s drill down on everything you need to know about customer […]
Always Be Closing: The Answers You Need to Close the Sale
The iconic Alec Baldwin famously coined the phrase, “Always be closing,” in the 1992 film Glengarry, Glen Ross, where he tried tough tactics to motivate his sales team. As easy as it may sound, closing the sale is the essential part of any sales technique, and sometimes the most elusive. The art of closing the deal with your customers, both large and small, directly impacts and, ultimately, the success of your business. Covering the most frequently asked questions on sales closing techniques, we’ve got you covered with these easy guide […]
Lead Generation Techniques For Small Businesses
Continually growing a small business can be quite a challenge. Think about this: Even a business with a proven system had to invest time and money into proving that system. This is usually a matter of trial and error. People seem to dwell on the error part, but the path to a successful marketing strategy is exactly that, a process. Lead Generation Tactics for Small Businesses Here are some considerations that may help minimize the pain of getting leads and maximize your results for sales. Understand the Process of Leads […]
Database Marketing: The Power of Targeting
Consider for a minute how your business finds potential customers. Do you send the same mailer out to your entire service area? Are you making scores of cold calls? Or do you target your marketing messages directly to each customer? If the last sentence rings true, you’re one of the growing number of businesses using database marketing. But if the first two sentences are more your speed, you may be missing out on all the advantages database marketing can offer. Not quite sure what the difference is? Read on to […]
How Trade Shows and Local Events Can Grow Your Business
There are so many different ways you can market your business, so when a trade show is announced in your area, you’re probably wondering: Is it really worth the time and money it takes to participate? Pre-registering for a booth is usually free, but not always, and if the trade show is in a different city you may have travel and hotel costs. Then there’s the time lost either to training staff members on how to run the booth or to manning the booth yourself. Despite the costs, however, attending […]
5 Tips to Help Convert More Customer Leads into Sales
Did you know that your customer service is key to converting more leads into sales? Think about it: If a person who answers the phone is curt and responds to potential clients in grunts, you’ll lose out on leads. However, if your staff answers the phone with a greeting and friendly tone of voice, your chances of getting a sale increases. Answering the phone is only the first step of excellent customer service. Whether you answer the phone while you’re out on the road or you have a team member answering, you […]