7 Simple things can make a huge difference to / for your brand

Yesterday I went out looking for a dog micro-chipping company as it is now compulsory in S.A to chip all registered puppies / dogs. I had a quick look at their PDF map and thought I am pretty familiar with the street and area so I would drive down the road and find a board and just turn in. I mean how hard can it be...? right...wrong!. We drove up and down, up and down and up and down again without ever seeing a board. We then tried to access the website via a map but we were in a bad signal area so the internet was slow. We did notice a cat sanctuary close by and thought – “Well surely that has something to do with animals so that would be it or at the very least know their neighbours...right”?  Wrong again.

We decided to drive into a farm next door but by now we had lost confidence.  The farm resembled nothing of the place we were hoping to find. We reached the farm gate but thought we are not at the right place because there was no indication of micro-chips, animals, or veterinary (any visible signs of the brand). I was busy turning around when I noticed a small gate buzzer on the farm gate. I  decided  that I would not hurt to have a quick look at what this farm does... low and behold in the middle of nowhere on down a dusty farm road on a very tiny buzzer there was the company we were looking for – eureka!

But it got worse – inside we were greeted not as customers but it felt like a FBI interrogation

“What are you doing here?”

“Did you fax through an order?”

“Take the paper home and fill it in and bring it back?”

Wow!

 

What did we learn from this?

1.       A board outside would have made a big difference in finding the place

2.       A board outside on the busy road would be great for extra marketing

3.       A Google maps – would have worked better (it would have given us a map to the meter)

4.       Internet access can have poor signal areas  - so be clear from the start

5.       A Mobi website would make a huge difference in download time

6.       A brand depends on people’s willingness to go the extra mile (You may have all the above but  your staff can still have a negative effect on your brand)

7.       Go the extra mile and help – especially first time clients.

 

Conrad Kruger
www.bizzsolutions.biz
Marketing Manager

 

 

 

Why you need social media?

Why do you need social media?

Social media is a great way to network with other people or business. They key is to network with the right people in your industry. Building networks or circles of friends, circles of acquaintances and/ or networking with business is done much more easily and effectively via social media platforms. Not only is it easier but it is also possible to network with larger players in different industries like Bill Gates, or Sir Richard Brandson etc. that would not normally be impossible to meet in real life. These industry leaders often interact with great blogs or social media posts that you would generally have to pay thousands of dollars for in real life if you had to attend one of their conferences. Joining industry leaders on a social platform should then (if only for this reason) make complete and utter sense. Free tips from great leaders …why not?

Networking helps promote your brand

On twitter for example you can gain a great deal of followers in quick time. True many of them will never buy from you but you can promote your brand to literally thousands of people for free (except for some time WELL spent). These people are linked to other people who are linked to other people and they know people and so blogs, tweets, Facebook posts etc. get spread to large amounts of people – promoting your brand across large playing fields. One of our clients only had 40 odd likes on his Facebook Business page but his weekly total reach was over 500. My simple question to you is this – Can you see 500 people per week? Probably not – so social media can be extremely effective in promoting your brand. Even a few likes can go a very long way in spreading your brand / product / service effectively. Not only is it very effective but it’s also more cost effective than other methods of marketing your brand.

You need social media because 

• Creates networks – word of mouth effect
• Its effective
• You can get great advice for free from great leaders
• You can reach more people quicker than you ever would in real life
• It’s usually free or a very cost effective way of marketing your

What is a business system?

What is a business system and why should you have one?

A business system is similar to a business plan – but differs from a business plan because its deals more with general operations of the company rather than the planning of a company for example like changing leads into sales. Don’t ever underestimate a good business system because  without a good system a company can never function properly.

A good system will work around certain key elements for example

Building a website, professional e-mail, social media, customer service, generating sales, and turning leads into sales. Many clients are fooled into believing that a good website, branding and corporate image etc is the be-all and end-all of a company.

 Obviously a good website, branding etc. is vitally important but I always say that a good website is meaningless if you can’t convert clients into sales. Great companies succeed because they have good business systems. Think of a company like McDonalds the person owning the franchise does not actually have to be present at all times because the business is fully operational thanks to a good business system and this is the very reason why people buy into franchises  - they buy into systems that are working.

Some good system ideas

A good system would be - Turnaround time when responding to a client.

Turnaround time when you received a enquiry via telephone, e-mail, sms etc.

One of our clients www.marriagergistrar.co.za tells us that they respond with information within minutes and not longer than 8 hours or a working day. They feel that the first quote in will probably be the one clients opt for because they have now already made contact. People begin to feel less stressed when they received a quote because they now armed with some information that they can use or give to their superiors. If clients don’t have anything to offer their clients or superiors they feel pressured to start using someone else.

Lesson – be quick to respond to clients.

Set up a meeting.

If you are required to meet with the client then set up a meeting soon as possible. People feel more comfortable with people they have already met. Modern day living has made people lazy and the more convenient it is for a customer the more likely they will use you.  They don’t want to meet new suppliers all the time, they would rather use the ones they know. Think back when you are really busy and you urgently need a supplier – you not going to now try and find one, learn their product and meet with them – you probably just going to use the ones you know that are convenient.  Pamela Kruger a Snr Procurement manager says “that a good price is meaningless if you don’t have customer care, delivery time, stock on-hand and you convenient”

Think of McDonalds when you rushing home late on the weekend – will you stop at a restaurant that you don’t know and order take outs or will you use a brand you familiar with -That is convenient, that has good delivery time, stock on hand (prepared)?

Lesson

Set up an appointment as soon as you can. Give the client as much info as you can and always leave a business card with the client. From time to time send the client valuable information – especially specials.

Call handling

The person handling the calls can change your business from zero to hero. You can’t afford to let anyone who is not familiar with your product give client’s poor information.  Rather let the reception put clients through to sales personal or people who are familiar with the product – even if you are the owner of the company. We witnessed the downfall of a great company because the CEO’s wife was trying to run the show instead of letting the real sales people handle clients. If your sales teams can turn your current 2 clients into 4 clients you have doubled your business.
 

Introduce your product and its value for money.

Many clients shop around good prices but it’s your duty to let them know why you selling your product at a certain price. If you in the tyre industry for example your product may be more expensive than your competitions but you might have a better brand – Don’t ever forget to mention why your brand is great value for money. It may not be cheaper but certainly worth the buy because you can get 2000 miles more with your brand than your competitions and therefore in the long run your brand may be less expensive. Never forget to mention the quality of your brand. Yes, we all have bought cheaper products before but we have also all learned that it may have not been worth the buy – Let clients know that they getting good value for their money.

The way forward

Think about ways to incorporate good business systems into your business

We have just given you a couple of ideas that may inspire you to pursue and incorporate your own systems into your business.

Why content is King?

The saying “Content is King” remains true for all websites and blogs who are serious about business.

What is content?

Content is the wording of your website and why people need to use your brand, product or service.

Content also deals with relevant product or service information for example specifications of products, warranties etc.

Why is content important?

Content is important because people are continuously looking for reliable information

For example a good website (South African website) on content will be www.marriageregistrar.co.za

Why?

Because they have relevant information on weddings and especially on the laws and regulations on legalizing a marriage. These laws and regulations are hard to come by and although people can get married in a court of law, courts don’t have a website that deals with wedding info. Therefore the information will eventually be sought by people looking to get married whether or not they are getting married in a court or at a wedding venue. This information draws clients to the website and eventually leads to business. This is what makes good content relevant – people will search for good information sooner or later.

What’s the difference between a Content writer and a copywriter?

In essence not much a writers of content are copywriters but people dealing specifically with website content may be referred to as website contend writers (content writers). Content writers deal more with research based on website keyword analysis and will then incorporate keyword search words or phrases into a website making the content of the website relevant for internet searching.

Should you hire a content writer for your website?

Most defiantly yes! Content is king and the money spend on a good content writer will be invaluable to your website.

How often should I update my content?

Content may be changed regularly in the infant stages of a website. This is simply due to the fact that great content writers will write and re-write information until the website flow through the website is of good standard. Content may change from time to time as information or products change but you don’t want to change your information to often as you want to create a stable brand that people rely on.

For more on content writing you can e-mail us on info@bizzsolutions.biz

Keep your social profile professional

As a website design company (www.bizzsolutions.biz)  we often get requests to link client’s websites to their social sites.

More often than not clients struggle to keep their business and personal social sites separate.

It’s is highly advisable to keep business and personal social activities separate unless of course your selling yourself as a brand e.g. motivational speaker e.g. John Doe.  

Why keep them separate?

The greatest challenge that we find is that many clients lack social etiquette that may have a negative impact on their business. People often display to much of  their personal social life e.g. drunk photos , half naked pictures, hundreds of self love pictures, childish behaviour etc . on their social sites forgetting that tomorrow they might deal with some business associate on the same social site. There is an old saying; “The first impression is a lasting impression” Malcolm Gladwell’s brilliant book “Blink” describes how our very fist “gut feel” is often very right and you don’t want clients to get the wrong first impression of you.
I think we all have a couple embarrassing moments in our past and we wish we could turn back the clock and undo those stupid moments and that’s where we must be careful with social sites – Be careful not to embarrass yourself to an extent that you may regret it later on in life

The idea is not to remove all the fun from your social site but there is a certain professional etiquette you want to display on social networks especially if you going to be serious about business. Social sites can be a fantastic networking platform and that’s what you want to build on.

Always try and remember

From a personal perspective you should keep your social sites professional and realize that you are knowingly or unknowingly portraying and image to the world.  You want to send out a positive and uplifting message about yourself and your brand so keep it professional and keep it separate.

Arte non Impetu

Photo: Conrad and Pamela Kruger -

 www.bizzsolutions.biz

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5 reasons why you should have a website

24 / 7 / 365 Salesman

A website should be seen as a medium that markets your product, service or brand 24/7/365

Websites remain relatively cheap and have a far reaching audience. If you consider printed media and its limitations you will quickly realize that a website is a far better way to spend your money and still have a good Return on Investment. Brand representatives (although vitally important) can never cover large demographical areas as effectively as a simple website can. Websites can easily be advertised by just using your domain name e,g.  www.yourdomain.com . This is a simple yet effective way to speak volumes without paying an arm and leg for advertising.

A website is descriptive of your brand

Brand representatives can never remember every single detail about a brand or product. Think for example of a car salesman and how impossible it is for them to remember all the features on one vehicle. A website can easily display many products or services and include most if not all of the features of your current stock. Enquiries and orders can be done easily and effectively online with minimum time and effort as your website has already done most of the talking for you.

Your competitor has one

In today’s competitive market there are literally thousands of people trying to offer the same product of service as yours.  Analytics show that more and more people are shopping online. When I look at my own teenage daughter I realize that even a desktop has become a dinosaur –like object to her. The new generation is growing up differently and using smart phones and smart apps. You should be constantly trying to stay one step ahead of your competition and regularly make them aware of your brand by using online marketing. You should start your online campaign with a website.

A website is your shop front

See your website as your shop front and place where you would display your services or products to your clients.  For service providers you can cut a great deal of cost by working form home and having a website displays your services or products. Wedding photographers for example don’t have to have a office as they mostly shoot at venues or botanical gardens. A website can be set up at a quarter of the cost of an office yet still be as effective in producing clients for your business

A website is your word of mouth

A lady whom was struggling as a kitchen cupboard installer told me she was struggling tremendously. I recommended that she starts with a website but she argued that she did not have money for a website and that she relied on word of mouth. There are a few points I want to make here – Word of mouth works for massive networking companies but a small business like a kitchen cupboard installer will never get enough business from word of mouth with the little work they do.

Secondly without marketing people will never know your business exists and therefore don’t expect any knocks on your door. A website is the modern day word of mouth. You should rather say “I can’t afford not to market my brand” the truth is great companies like McDonalds still market their brands and have websites why? Because they know it works!

 

see http://www.bizzsolutions.biz for more info on website designs

5 ways to attract customers free or very cheaply

Have a good business card

Often I come across business cards that are not descriptive enough. Although the they have  nice business card with a logo, visible contact info and a stunning photo they often forget to describe what business or product is they  are promoting   After a couple of months people forget what the business card was representing an throw it away.

If your business card does not have a description in the business name then always make sure your business card has a descriptive heading in the front.  You can also maximise advertising space by describing some of your products or services at the back of the business card. Always leave a couple of business cards at companies or places your visit, in their community boards or at company representatives.  Your business card is more valuable in someone else's hands than on your own desk.

Use free marketing space.

There are many free online directories that allow companies to advertise a basic business listing for free. Utilize these free directories and they will also increase your online rankings and expose your brand to more potential customers. If you feel a certain directory works well (and the will be those that work well) for you then you can always bump up your add to a better listing with the directory
Some free directories are
www.olx.co.za
www.gumtree.co.za
www.junkmail.co.za
 

Use Google maps

Google maps for business is free but it also offers valuable search results showing you where clients are visiting your website from. This can help you to establish where marketing is working more effectively thus allowing you to spend quality time and money on directories that actually work.

Google maps also make it easier for clients to find you and will expose your brand well in your area. Google is currently working hard on improving these area related searches. So in a nutshell if you on Google maps in your area - you likely to pop up when others may not.

 Use social networks

The modern day word of mouth is social networking like Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest etc. Not all of them will work well for you but will be others that generate a great deal of interest. When we started our business we only had 45 Facebook “Like” but a massive 500 plus weekly views. This interprets to the fact that over 500 people in some way or the other met with our brand. That is 500 plus people that viewed your product and it cost you nothing except some time – but time well spent. Some Twitter profiles have thousands of followers – no given not all of them are interested in your brand but again its free marketing of your brand.

Get a website and domain related e-mails

Top procurement manager and snr buyer for mining equipment Pamela Kruger stated that she never took a company seriously that did not have their own website with their own domain related e-mails. She further said she distrusted free e-mail accounts as they can be more easily used by fraudsters. She said that she liked to see a website as a point of contact and read a couple of reviews before they actually considered sending a request for a quote. As a business owner you should get a proper website with a domain related e-mail account.

Remember a website may often be potential customer’s first point of contact with your brand.
So keep it professional
Conrad Kruger
www.bizzsolutions.biz

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who to give your business card to

Marketing your brand?

Who to give your business card to

In the last two years I have given away 2000 business cards

Given that sales are a numbers game we also have to be smart make sure our marketing efforts are not done in vain or ineffectively. Try making your efforts count by being smart about who you give your business cards to. I have realized that many front desk people are not always the correct person with the proper authority to deal with your request, product or service.

Are business cards still a good marketing tool?

Yes, I believe that it is as many companies still have business card holders and it’s easier to go to a business card holder in your desk drawer and deal with companies in your field than to look around on directories. Problem is, as I mentioned in my previous blog, that many business cards lack a proper description of what a product or service is about thus making their marketing efforts ineffective.  After a couple of months your business card may end up in a bin because people are not sure what product or service they are dealing with.

Target your brand

While I was in the wedding industry I learned that many weddings or wedding venues had a wedding coordinator. I realized that by giving my business card directly to them (Wedding planner, wedding coordinator, wedding director) it had a more positive impact on my business. Not only did I give my business cards to them but I also made an effort to give it to other service providers that where at the wedding and in the wedding industry e.g. photographers, planners, coordinators, singers, musicians and so forth. The simple reason for this was networking with the right people in my industry targeting my brand more directly with others that may recommend my business. I also believe that once that first personal contact has been made people are more likely to recommend you because they had an opportunity to see your product or service personally. It’s easier to call someone you have met that to make a cold call.

Giving your business card to the wrong people

I wouldn’t have helped me much to give my business card to the wrong person e.g. to a construction companies foreman unless of course he was looking to get married.

Another common mistake is just to leave it at reception and hope that he or she would pass it on to the right person rather try and make an appointment with the right person and give them your business card personally.

Give your card to the right people

Give business cards out as sales still remains a numbers game. Make contact with the right people and give your business card to them personally.

Network with the right people in your industry for more positive referrals.

 Have a magic day

http://www.bizzsolutions.biz

copyright 2012 - CB.Kruger

What is website funneling?

What is website funneling?

A funnel is an instrument that helps us spill less. A funnel is a pipe with a wide, often conical mouth and a narrow stem. It is used to channel liquid or fine-grained substances into containers with a small opening. Without a funnel, spillage would occur.

Website funneling works pretty much the same many clients may be visiting your website but few are turning into clients. This is called a drop of rate. People may visit your websites home page and not find much interesting and then leave the page (Drop off). Others may visit and click on another page that interests but then drop of without taking any further action.

Via many different programs it easier these days to see visitor patterns, when and where they dropping off. If you have a high first (Home) page drop of rate it means that your front page is ineffective and must be revised. When selling a product or service your sales will depend on people talking a certain action. Companies send out sales executives to try and persuade clients to like or buy your products or service. Great companies will spend a great deal of effort in winning over clients. There are obviously different methods implemented to win over clients by sales executives e.g. the dress well, they are well spoken, they know their product well, they use marketing materials and they will even entertain or reward clients and buy them drinks or tickets to a game etc.

They same strategies should be used on your website. A website is your 24/7 sales executive. It must look good (great first impression), It must have good content (know product or brand well). It must reward clients.

Funneling then is directing clients to follow a certain pattern or take certain actions. There are many strategies that can be implemented to find the right business system for your website. Often pages have to literally be revisited 100 times before you find that right pattern. If you have a high drop of rate from your Home Page then you will need relook at the page and see what can be done better to have people visits the next page,  and so on and so on until they happy to take action (Funneling).

Funneling can also be used to remove the bad from the good, Think of a chimney were  a funneling method is used to direct the bad smoke away from people but keep the warmth of the coals. The idea then is to remove bad pages from the overall website or replace the page with a better one.

I often say when I go fishing that “I give the fish worms, I don’t like worms but the fish do... I like pizza but the fish does not like pizza, they like worms...” My point is that you may like your website to have a certain look and feel but your clients (fish) may not like your bait at all. If your want to win over customers you will need to give them what they looking for and not just what you looking for. Then you need to lure (funnel) them toward a goal and bring them into the boat.

Copyright 2012 - CB.Kruger