Small Business Marketing | Marketing for Entrepreneurs | Realtor Marketing » marketing for small businesses

How To Pick New Small Business Opportunities

Tara Jacobsen — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:34:31 +0000

This month’s second small business marketing newsletter was about having multiple streams of income, which got me thinking about how we should choose those streams for ourselves. I have a confession to make…I am a huge proponent of multiple streams of income and I have an entrepreneurial spirit so I spend lots of time considering new things I COULD do to increase my business opportunities. This post is about what I (and you) SHOULD do to maximize my time and effort and minimize pain!

John Jonas gave the best description I ever heard about how to pick what to do. He said you should never get more than one step away from what you do now or more than one step away from the kind of customer you serve now when deciding new things to try.

Here is my one step approach for Marketing Artfully. The three main things I do for my business are blogs, information products and speaking. Because information products often have affiliate programs, starting my own or joining someone else’s is a good fit for me and makes sense to add to myÂ resource page. Also, doing internet masterminds involves speaking (which is one of my things) so it is okay also.

Some other things for me that would be a good fit are things that provide services to entrepreneurs and small business owners, social networking items and other business related items.

Now here comes the brilliant part – when I get a great idea of something to do that is NOT one step away, I can drop it quickly. Instead of spending time and energy on researching something (or more likely diving into something) that will not help my business, I can easily determine if it is a good fit and, if not, move on!

This system works for ANY business! My buddy Deb Ward of Deborah Ward and Associates is a realtor in the Tampa Bay area. You can see from her blocks that there are some things that match well with her business model and some that don’t. She does coaching, sells real estate and owns a team of realtors. Getting referrals and owning shares in a title company are great for her, she could also add speaking to realtors easily because of her coaching focus. BUT, adding non-real estate related items would dilute her message and efforts.

So, to all you entrepreneurs out there considering new ventures…make sure that you are checking your blocks and keeping on track for success!!

Eyejot – a free email marketing tool!

Tara Jacobsen — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:21:45 +0000

There are SO many free tools on the internet to get your marketing message out – Eyejot is a winner! One of my absolute favorite marketers – Brian P. Forrester of Mortgage Communication Spot sends out an eyejot most Mondays to tell his sphere important information about the mortgage industry. It takes him less than a minute to record and he reaches many realtors and home buyers with his message!

[HTML1]

If you want to get great updates from Brian, email him to get on his eyejot list…:)

Marketing Planning Seminar for Real Estate

Tara Jacobsen — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:07:28 +0000

BE PART OF THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO
GROW YOUR REAL ESTATE BUSINESS!

This one-day Marketing Planning Seminar for Realtors, Title Companies and Mortgage Professionals will help you focus on the activities that will help you establish your brand, grow your business, get new clients and generate leads for your business.

Marketing Guru Tara Jacobsen will take you through the steps to take to make a marketing plan that works with YOUR business. Some topics we will cover include:Â Â Â

Finding your perfect customers
Developing a mission statement
Building your brand
Online and offline marketing ideas
Lead generating ideas

You WILL leave the class with a detailed plan for how to grow your business!

SEATING IS LIMITED TO 25 ATTENDEES – Don’t miss your chance to change your business!

PLUS – As a bonus, everyone who attends will get a FREE copy of “How To Service Your Listings” AND the special report “100 Things To Do To Sell Your Listings” (A $30 Value)!

When: February 6th from 9-1
Where: Integrity First Funding Group
1237 Lady Marion Lane
Dundedin FL 34698
Cost: $25

Small Businesses – Doing What You Believe In!

Tara Jacobsen — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:50:11 +0000

So I have been able to talk to a BUNCH of new people lately (Hi Emily of Mind and Body Enrichment and Jacksonville Realtors!!!) lately. I have heard that small business owners are getting ready for a GREAT new year. I have heard that they are PASSIONATE about servicing their customers well AND they are ready to take care of their clients EVEN better. I have heard that they are EXCITED about growing their business and helping even more people have great lives!

Every small business owner feels that they are not doing enough for their customers. They have missed following up on a lead. They have not done every single thing that they could ever possibly do for their clients. They have missed a call or an email. They have not prospected enough, they have not done enough trade shows, open houses, seminars, emails, postcards, etc.

What they have done is BELIEVE in their businesses and their customers! They have tried very hard to do a GREAT job in a market that tells them EVERY day that the sky is falling!

If you are a small business owner you are doing a good job (I know – no one ever tells you that, so I am telling you right now!) You are doing the best that you can, with what you know how to do, with the time that you have.Â

Keep it up and continue to do what you believe in! I realized lately that I believe in a lot of things that I am proud of:

You SHOULD buy American (when possible)
I like mom and pop stores
I respect businesses that have customer service centers in America (I grew up in Western Pennsylvania – I buy American cars, I try not to shop at Walmart, I think we should encourage Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners)
I AM proud that I am working with people who are excited about their small businesses

The Power of Your Lists – List Building for Businesses

Constant Contact – Let’s Play Hide and Seek!

Tara Jacobsen — Tue, 06 May 2008 02:36:47 +0000

While I was an active realtor I was VERY good at keeping in touch with my clients and prospects. It was my favorite part of the job (which is why I am now helpingÂ agents and small business owners with their marketing instead of actively working with clients)!

Lead generating is like a really neat game of hide and seek with the prize being someone calling or emailing you with an opportunity! There is nothing more fulfilling than preparing a well thought out marketing piece, generating the content, doing the sticky-sticky of the labels and stamps, then sending it out into the world and having someone notice it and contact you! (I KNOW – I really need help with this, like a marketing 12-step program)

What I have found is that not everyone loves this part of owning a business. It can sometimes seem overwhelming and can fall by the wayside while you are busy doing your “real” job. It can seem really pointless to get MORE business when you are feeling swamped by the business you already have BUT… if you wait until you are less busy then you have lulls in your work (and income).

Some tips to make your marketing less intimidating:

Do what you like to do (Part 1)! If you like to talk to people then do it more – join a small business networking group, go out for dinner at the same place and get to know the clients and staff (tell them what you do and they WILL refer you!), visit businesses and tell them about your service and how it can help them.
Do what you like to do (Part 2)! If you like to talk on the phone do it more – call your friends and remind them that you give great service, call your prospects, call your past clients. Make it a part of your daily routine and it will get easier – I promise!
Do what you like to do (Part 3)! If you are an online guru do that more – send emails with a signature line from your business, have a great website to capture leads, comment on blogs with a link to your site. Internet marketing is a VERY affordable way to go!
Mail stuff out – Don’t wait until you have the “best” direct mail piece or the most extensive marketing plan finalized, send something. Send just listed or just sold postcards, send your brochure, send a market snapshot or a great article you found, send out helpful tips for your industry, just do it!
Start an email list – Find out how to set up an email list subscription on your site (I use www.feedburner.com) OR call everyone you know and tell them you are setting up a GREAT mailing and need their email address. DO NOT SPAM them! Make sure you send relevant content and not too often.

Marketing is fun and anyone can do it (remember that at the end of it you will have new clients to work with!) I have one realtor friend who gets a new client EVERY time she sends out her newsletter! It takes her a little money and a while toÂ send them, BUT knowing that it gets her results makes it all worthwhile. While you may never be a marketing nut like me, think of it like a game of hide and seek or an Easter egg hunt and it may seem easier!

PS – If you are a realtor and would like to hand off some of the work to us visit our 33 Touch page for more info!

Eyejot – a free email marketing tool!

Weird Stuff….Small Business Owners Who Don’t Want More Business

Tara Jacobsen — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 14:33:22 +0000

I have never understood business owners who don’t want more business. Now I am not talking about doubling their staff or making them increase their inventories by 50% – just easy tips for more business!!!

I had pizza on Thursday at my friend John’s pizza parlor (Nick’s Pizza on 19 in Palm Harbor) and I suggested he put up a sign saying add garlic knots for $3.00. Everybody likes garlic knots, right? Well come to find out John doesn’t like garlic knots. You have to cut the dough, twist it up, add the parmesan and herbs and then not forget to take them out of the oven.

The royal pain of garlic knots not withstanding, he didn’t want to add salads or garlic bread or anything else to your order for a couple of bucks more profit. He likes to sell just pizza. Not fancy California pizza, just cheese or pepperoni. (I am a fan favorite because I get two PLAIN slices with a soda!)

This amazes me. He has done all the work to get customers in the door which is the hard part and doesn’t want to make a couple of extra bucks on each person. Weird!

What do you have in your business that you can throw in to get more money from people who are already doing business with you? If you are selling products, figure out something to value add and then suggest that to each customer. If you are a service provider, provide extra services. If you are a realtor, take a page out of Brian Buffini’s book and ask EVERYONE you talk to if they know anyone else who is looking to buy or sell a home right now.

Keep your eyes open for opportunities to help your customers more with something that will add to their experience of working with you and everyone wins!!!!

Niche Marketing – Business Writing, Ink.

Tara Jacobsen — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 02:16:53 +0000

So it was a great day in marketing! I spent some time with a wonderful woman today figuring out what her business model would look like and helping to pick a name and position for that business. I thought you might like to see what the process looks like!

FocusingÂ On Her GoalsÂ - We spent some time looking at what kinds of work she would like to do. She wants to do writing projects for businesses (go figure with a name like Business Writing, Ink.) including documenting systems, blog content, technical or how to manuals and other specific writing assignments. We figured out that she DOES NOT want to write for consumers, no resumes or other end user type documents.

Brainstorming Names – We then hit the thesaurus to try and figure out words that would convey her message. We looked at “composing” as in composing documents and thought that we could maybe incorporate a musical theme. We looked at write and pen and script and ink. When we got to ink we had a revelation! Ink sounds like Inc. for incorporated. It was a very exciting time for us because when we paired that with Business Writing it sounded like a winner! Then we found that http://www.businesswritingink.com AND http://www.BusinessWritingInc.com were both available. I felt that it was important to find a url that would be creative enough to be interesting, but also to be able to point the correct spelling to the main site in case someone was sounding out the business name.

Logo Design – Now that we had a name we looked for images that would convey the writing aspect of the name. We checked out pen looking brackets, a document scroll and a couple of different kinds of inkwells. As of now the final inkwell has not been established, but I like the one below the best! We also looked for a font that would convey an old world look but was still creative. Below is the final look that we finished today. There may be some tweaking to do yet but it should be something like this:

What I love about this logo is the punctuation and how it makes total sense with the business that she is in. The fun part is that it is technically correct, but also helps to make humans recognize that Ink. represents Inc. in this example.

We finished a couple of more housekeeping issues like registering the urls and setting up her email address. We will be working on getting her blog / website set up soon and then she should be off to the races! Like I said to start – a very good day in marketing!