Thoughts on Treating Your Customers Right and Getting Them to Buy MORE

Everybody always seems so concerned about traffic building opt-in lists and finding new customers. Don??t get me wrong, these things are very important?? but in the process, sometimes it??s easy to forget our most valuable asset:

Our existing customers

A satisfied customer is highly likely to buy again, so take the time to nurture this relationship and encourage repeat purchases.

Here are some ideas to do that:

1. Provide great customer service: This is quite obvious, but is the cornerstone to making our customers happy and more willing to buy again.

2. Provide and honor satisfaction guarantees: Whether you offer a digital or physical product, given your customers some recourse should your products not meet their needs. A company that ensures customer satisfaction is one that is going to get repeat sales.

3. Follow-up! Everyone is always so concerned with following up with their opt-in list, but forget about their more valuable customer list. Make sure you stay in touch with your customers.

4. Go beyond what your customers expect: Provide them with extra bonuses and goodies (these don??t have to be expensive?? digital goodies are well received) and wow them where you can. You can automate this process by making it part of your customer follow up autoresponder.

5. Give Advanced Notice and/or Customer Discounts: Treat your customers better than the general public. Give them first chance to buy a product and ever give them a special discount for customers only.

When you get a great customer…hang onto them. It’s always easier than hunting down new ones.

KISM – Keep It Simple Mom

As a busy mom, no doubt, you have enough on your plate. Add a business to the mix and things can get pretty wild.

The Internet and technology provide so many ideas for our businesses. From website functionality to personal connections with other online business owners, the opportunities are vast. I’m guilty of this myself. I have often created elaborate projects and had so many ideas to implement. But when I sat down to look at it, it was the basics that made me money…so I’m back to the basics now.

Do yourself a favor – if you want an easier life – keep it simple mom. Remember KISM, at all times!

Keeping it simple means LESS:

• Workload
• Pressure
• Obligations
• Upkeep

Here’s a few tips to keep things to a minimum (and there’s no need to sacrifice profits…complicated often creates more busywork than anything else):

1. Keep your website and business plan simple. When it comes to business, it’s the basics that still work -> marketing, copywriting and selling.
2. You don’t have to network with everyone. Be selective of where and with who you spend your time on forums, Twitter, Facebook, etc.
3. You don’t have to take every JV (Joint Venture) offer, freebie, interview, review…etc, etc. New opportunities come along all the time, so be selective. In fact, don’t feel guilty if you don’t have time to respond to everyone. Put a policy on your site stating you don’t respond to all requests.
4. Hire a small to team to manage day-to-day stuff under your guidance. I’m not talking about hiring a huge staff and making things complicated. Just a virtual assistant to answer emails and do administrative tasks. Then a ghostwriter, tech person and whomever else is key to your business activities.
5. Maximize your opportunities, instead of constantly trying new ones. Make sure you give each project the full attention it deserves in all aspects from development to marketing. Constantly starting over again just gives you more work.

For More Help

Here are some additional resources that you might find handy:

• Free copywriting tips: Receive weekly tips for writing to sell.
• Free advice for outsourcing: Build your team, even if you’re on a budget.

Mommy Blogging: Beyond Influence & Onto Profits

There is a lot of talk these days about how Mommy Blogger exercise a great deal of influence – and it’s an undeniable fact. From last Autumn’s Motrin Moms battle to a more recent boycott of the Marriott (due to boneheaded statements made by the company when a mother was sexually assaulted in their parking lot), moms certainly have a voice in cyberspace. In fact, moms have long had a huge influence on buying decisions and what happens in the marketplace.

The new breed of mommy bloggers have a force to be reckoned with – they’re armed with a power and reach of the Internet and just can’t be stopped.

And while that influence can be used for worthwhile causes, many mommy bloggers hope to use their blogs as a profit center to support their family or to earn a little extra income. You might be one of these moms and if you are, this post is for you.

Let me you this one IMPORTANT thing before I begin. If you forget everything else, I say…please remember this. This will make all the difference in the world to you.

FACT: An influential or popular mommy blog is not necessarily a profitable blog.

WHAT THAT MEANS TO YOU: If you are looking to earn a nice steady income from your blog, modeling yourself after an influential blog is not likely going to get you where you want to be. Instead, model yourself after profitable blogs that have the same goal as you.

Now that we have that out of the way, here are some tips that will help you generate more profits from your blog:

• Sponsors Should Pay: Avoid the path of seeking sponsors who offer free product with little else in return. If you’re looking to monetize your blog with sponsors, sell advertising and ensure sponsors pay in CASH for time on your blog.
• Get Paid to Talk about Products: If you decide to do reviews or giveaways, at the very least, use an affiliate link to the product (i.e. you get paid for every sale that is generated from your review / giveaway). Depending on the reach of your blog, you may also decide to charge for reviews.
• You Don’t Have to Accept or Even Consider Every Offer: I’ve talked to a lot of moms who say they hate missing an opportunity to share a great product or resource with their readers. The result is a lot of writing and work for the mom – ending up in more burnout than payout. Be selective in what offers you accept and feel absolutely no guilt for responding to only a few select ones.
• Start Tracking: If you’re displaying advertising from an advertising network, test different ad positions and track how it’s working. Dump the ads that are using up valuable real estate and aren’t earning their keep.
• Sell Your Own Products: Consider creating some valuable digital tools for your target market. Whether it’s a special report, ebook, software or other handy downloadable, it’s a cost-effective way to break into selling your own products.

We all want to create a valuable resource from our blogs…and popularity is always great for an ego-boost, but what pays the bills is being more selective and focusing on profit-generating activities. Blend your valuable resource blog with smart business decisions and you’ll be well on your way to blogging for profit.

Resources:

• Internet Marketing Blogging Bootcamp: An intensive 4-week coaching program to help you generate profits with your blogging. Registration deadline is September 25, 2009.
• Contentrix: Free tips and strategies for better content marketing.

When You’re All Out of Ideas

Trying to figure out what to do next is one of the biggest challenges to online business owners. Sometimes it’s a matter of choosing from the many options available…but more often than not, it’s being unsure what to post to our blog, what product to create, what to send out to our newsletter list and so forth.

In fact, I’d venture to guess if you run out of ideas, it can be one of the most time-consuming (read: time-wasting) things you do. Because when we run out of ideas, we get distracted, we tend to wander. We read other blogs, forum jump, Twitter under the guise of working, start checking web stats and aimlessly wandering…without a real plan to solve our dilemma. If you’ve done this – you are NOT alone.

I’ve talked to a lot of moms who say their online business is so time-consuming and they aren’t sure how they can handle it all. But when I ask them to break down their day, they spend a lot of it doing the precise things I mentioned above. Break out of this habit and suddenly you’ll see you have more time than you previously realized.

Next time you run out of ideas, arm yourself with a plan instead:

• Start by turning off the computer. Sure, the Internet can be a source of research, but when you’re completely drained, you’re in no condition to let yourself ride the wild waves of the world wide web.
• Get a notebook and paper and start writing stuff down. Write it all down, no matter how silly or dumb it might seem. You’ll probably end up with more ideas than you know what to do with. But good news, you have them written down and you come back to the others later.
• Give yourself another break and think about what you wrote down. Trust me, a break is more productive and rejuvenating than staring at a computer screen, clicking this way and that. Go watch a movie with the kids, take a walk, cook a gourmet meal – whatever you enjoy.
• When you’re ready, start making your plan. Whether it’s a plan for your next product or you just have to get your newsletter together…you can do it much better with a clear head.

Of course, once you have ideas to start taking action on, you probably have to get back on the Internet – but this time you’re ready. You have a plan and you can start taking those steps you need to.

More Resources:

• Content Writer’s Fatigue? Banish It With These Tips
• If They Aren’t Listening, Are You Listening Back?

Prioritizing Your Internet Based & Mom Life

An online business is an amazing blessing for moms…they get to earn an income, feel a sense of personal accomplishment and [insert a reason for running an online business] – all from the comfort of their own home.

Prior to the Internet, not many true home businesses existed. Think about it. The Tupperware lady had to go out and do home parties. The at-home accountant usually had to get out to try to find clients, visit client offices, etc. Now don’t get me wrong. It’s not a bad thing to get out and about, but with a family to care for, it isn’t always easy to get out for business purposes.

So in comes this great virtual universe called the Internet where all selling can be done online, new clients can be found, partnerships can be made and projects can be delivered. That means setting your own schedule and building your business – even if your home is a complete zoo. On the Internet…nobody cares or even knows. :-)

But there is a downside:

The Internet has so many opportunities, it can become overwhelming. Everything from business opportunities, to promotion and networking events. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and feel like you’re missing out something.

Well, get over it (I’ve been there…I know it’s tough to “get over it”, but you’ll get there). You are only one (GREAT) person and I assume that your family is THE reason you’re doing this online gig anyway. Make them the priority. Be sure in your decisions and always keep your priorities in mind.

That business opportunity can be explored at another time…focus on what you’re doing right now and do it well.

Passing up on that joint venture isn’t going to crush your business.

Missing that seminar or convention isn’t likely to hurt one tiny bit (if you can get past that longing feeling).

Of course, I’m not suggesting you let opportunities that you should take pass you by. I’m just saying we all need to stop worrying about how green the grass is on the other side. If we tend our own lawns and stay focused on our ultimate goals…we’ll find all the green (pun INTENDED) we’re looking for.

Here’s a very brief conversation I recently had with a Twitter friend (I just love the brevity of Twitter!). Melanie posted to all her followers:

To which I replied (yeah, butting my nose in…can’t help it. :-) ):

And then Melanie said:

I think she’ll be all right. It’s just like with everything in our busy mama lives. We’ve got to learn to say no…and we can’t feel guilty about it. We gotta do what’s right for us. Period.

It’s Easy To Lose Track

You know, sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have a store or a restaurant or some other types of brick and mortar business.

Put aside the start-up costs, overhead and the loss of freedom, but it almost seems sooooo simple, doesn’t it?

You run a store that sells women’s clothes.

You sell sushi.

Period.

Running a business online comes with a whole new set of challenges. There are so many distractions, so many opportunities and sometimes you can lose track of it all. Case in point, it’s been months and months since I’ve posted here. How shameful, but I do plan to correct it.

If you feel things running away from you, here are a few tips that might help:

• Be realistic about how much time you really have. Schedule less rather than more.
• Don’t take on every opportunity for free promotion when labor is involved (i.e. guest posting, etc.)
• Crunch your numbers regularly. Shave of the least profitable activities and projects.
• Restructure things so they are less labor-intensive and more profitable.
• Keep an inventory. Domain names add up, so do all your online business holdings. Keep an at-a-glance inventory at your fingertips at at ll times.

I want to thank Mila for realizing that the writers on the blog here may have over-extended themselves. We enjoy posting here and we know Mila’s readers enjoy reading the posts. She took the time to restructure things and make it easier for us to participate. A win-win for all. :-)

(PS I know the running a brick and mortar store is not simple or easy…just imagining the reduced distractions.)

Lessen Your To Do List & Still Get Things Done

If you are like most work at home moms, your daily to do list seems endless. You probably finding yourself wondering, “Will I ever get ahead?” or “Will I ever get it all done?” Sure you can – but not alone. It’s time to start outsourcing and shaving away things on your list that are not necessary to run a profitable business.

First, it’s time to admit there are things on your list that you feel you must do that really aren’t necessary. These types of things can be adjusted or removed completely so you can be more productive in your day. Some common culprits include:

• Checking your email repetitively
• Logging into a social networking site daily
• Chatting via instant messenger while you work
• Doing all of your own article writing or submissions
• Continuing to do tasks that you dislike (such as bookkeeping)

Next it’s time to make the changes. Take time to decide if these tasks should be eliminated completely or outsourced to someone else. This will shave down your to-do list and increase your productivity. Here are some examples of ways to shorten that list and still get things done.

Instead of checking email every time you get a notification that you’ve got one, set aside 2 or 3 times a day to check and reply to all emails. Are you addicted to Twitter and keep it open all day long? Change your routine and only hop on to chat a few minutes in the morning while drinking that first cup of coffee and in the evening once your work is finished for the day.

Now for things that can be handed off to someone else. Does it take you an entire day to complete monthly bookkeeping? How about article writing, do you dread writing and struggle with doing so to the point it takes hours to turn out one article? If you find yourself taking tons of time to do certain tasks such as these, start looking for someone who specializes in those areas and get some help.

As work at home moms, we may THINK we can do it all, but the reality is we can’t and there’s really no reason to try! It’s time to stop trying to be Super Mom, Super Business Owner, etc. In order to be truly successful we need to learn that this requires allowing some things to go by the wayside, while obtaining assistance with other things. Only then will you be truly able to handle the extra long to-do lists.

More Resources:

Stay focused and on target by signing up for your free Internet Marketing Prescriptions

Google Documents – Free Time Management & More

Most of us struggle to find affordable time management tools that we can use as work at home moms. With limited funds it is absolutely essential to find tools that will be both useful AND affordable.

Google offers many valuable tools that are better than just affordable, they are FREE and they can also be a valuable asset to your business. They can help you manage your time wisely and assist in planning, collaborating and connecting with those you work with, including clients, partners or assistants.

One of these tools is Google Documents, which gives you a way to save documents to the web giving you the ability to access them from anywhere. This is one of its best features. Now, when you are out of town, you can have access to your important documents without having to worry about copying your files to a jump drive or worse, not having access to them at all.

Google Documents allows you to create both folders and labels which will help you to organize your documents to be found easily in the future by both you and those you might be collaborating with on a project. Yes, it even allows you to share your documents with others via file sharing, with the option of allowing them to edit the document or just view it.

There is even the option to chat with the person you are collaborating with in the same window where you are doing the edits. You both view the document simultaneously and can see the changes that the other person is making instantly.

You can also email the documents to others as an attachment right from the screen where you are editing the document. No need to open email in another window to quickly send one file.

Other valuable options include the ability to save documents and spreadsheets as Microsoft Office, Open Office, or PDF files. You can upload and download files to and from your computer as well. You can also star files for quick locating or even hide them if necessary.

More Resources:

Stay focused and on target by signing up for your free Internet Marketing Prescriptions

Beware of the Social Networking Trap

Social networking, though very popular today, can become a trap that can actually decrease your productivity and suck up hours of valuable work time.

So be careful!

A few of the more common culprits include Twitter, a micro-blogging tool which allows you to communicate with followers (friends) instantly. Another is Facebook, a social networking site that allows you to join a network by geographic location, create a profile and add friends. Of course we all know about the infamous MySpace as well.

There are also other social networking sites, all which are useful in their own right and do offer some valuable opportunities to network. But if you don’t value your time and approach your networking wisely, they can have a negative affect on your business.

If you are like most online business owners, it’s not uncommon to long for a connection with the outside world. These social networking sites offer this adult interaction making them like magnets we can’t seem to get away from. If we aren’t careful we can easily spend hours or in some cases, entire days chatting away with our new found friends. This comes at a cost to our business, Moms!

Instead of putting in valuable work time, that for many of us can sometimes be hard to come by, we waste it away chatting. It’s best to use these sites wisely, by scheduling into your day specific yet limited times to chat.

Just like other areas of our business, we must have a plan for networking too. Ask yourself, “What is my purpose for joining and interacting on these types of sites?” Some people choose to use Twitter as a way of announcing new and exciting information about their business and keeping their customers abreast of what’s going on.

Others may use them for catching up with online friends and as a truly social connection. That’s perfectly fine. However, you’ve got to limit that time if you want to be productive in your business. A virtual water cooler is definitely a plus for us work at home mamas, but even in the real world, a boss wouldn’t let you sit in the break room all day long chatting it up with your co-workers. We shouldn’t allow ourselves to do it either.

Either way, use of these sites can be beneficial to business owners if used for the better of our business or our sanity. Always allow yourself as much focused worked time as possible each day and throw in a little chit-chat but don’t let your business suffer because of it. After all, we all know there will be plenty of distractions in our day without adding another one to the bunch.

More Resources:

Stay focused and on target by signing up for your free Internet Marketing Prescriptions

How Outsourcing Can Affect Your Retirement

As work at home moms, we are responsible for our own financial futures, which includes our eventual retirement. This can have its positive and negative points. It can be a good thing in that we can decide how we save for our future and be truly in control of that savings. It can also mean that we may not have enough put aside if we do not make the right choices in our business now.

The good news: We are in control of this situation! We can decide when we retire, how much we will have set aside and how our business will continue once that time comes. After all we don’t want to be a work at home moms forever. One day it will be nice to be a foot loose and fancy free, grandma, without the worries and stresses of work.

One way we can accomplish this goal is to outsource in our business. Whether you want to continue working doing only those things you enjoy or just want to be able to take a break whenever you feel like it to vacation with the grandkids, it’s time to start thinking about retirement. It’s never too early to start planning how you want to retire.

Here are some things you can start doing right now to ensure a smooth retirement when you’re ready for it.

1. Determine when you’d like to retire.
2. Determine how much money you’ll need to make when you do.
3. Make a list of the things necessary to keep your business running and profitable.
4. Create a manual of how to’s for your business. Put detailed instructions on how you do things and update this manual as things grow and change in your business.
5. Begin outsourcing certain tasks that can be completed even if you’re not around.

Outsourcing is the key if you want your business to continue at its current pace or growing even more when you’re ready to retire. You’ll need help. You can’t do everything by yourself forever. Think about other businesses, when their owners retire, does the business just close up shop? Nah, they hire other people to run it and your business can do the same.

Side Note: Even if you plan to sell your business at retirement, following the above steps will make your business even more attractive to the buyer and make it easier for you to command a great price for what you’ve built up.

Do you want your business to continue making you money, even if you are retired? It can with some forethought and planning. By creating a plan now, you can easily reach your retirement goals as a work at home mom. How will you plan for your retirement?

More Resources:

To make outsourcing for your business a snap, join us at Outsourcing Sweetie. Learn how to train and hire the right people, quickly, easily and without all the guesswork.

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