Launching Your Online Presence

With the large diversity of online resources, one can get lost not knowing where and how to get started.  You also want to make sure that you are aware of who is saying what about you and keep it all under control.

Googling yourself would be a good place to start.  Find out what kind of information is out there about you and what people can find out about you when looking you up.

Also look up yourself on other search engines such as ZoomInfo and Wink. In addition, you need to be aware of the hundreds of online resources that contain information about you, some of which won’t be accurate and might be mixed with someone else’s information.  MyPrivacy is a great tool that helps you locate where you are listed especially in some of the Internet white pages. It also allows you to remove your data from these websites.

Create a separate email address for your online/social media inquiries.  Once you sign up with a social network, you will be bombarded by Alert notifications, Direct Messages, Add as Friend, Events Announcements and more… And believe me, you don’t want all of it mixed with your professional/business email correspondences; or do you?  With all the Free Email providers out there, chances are, you will be able to find one that meets your needs and expectations.  Check out Gmail, Yahoo or Live, for example.

Furthermore, you need to stay on top of the discussion and be aware of what is being said about your, your brand, your services and/or company.  Use Google Alert for daily notifications on conversations happening about you.  Simply you will be notified automatically when you are being referenced on a website.

Manal Richa

The MarCom Network – Communications, Branding & Advertising Solutions
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Do you have a strategy for your Newsletter?

For those who are considering launching a weekly or monthly newsletter and for those who sometimes find it difficult to come up with a new topic – Here are some tips on how to make this process easier and faster:

MAKE A LIST OF TOPICS

The worst thing that could happen to you is if you are tight on time and you need to get your newsletter out but you are running out of ideas.  Keep a notepad and a pen within reach because the best and most inspiring ideas come when you are doing something else.  Take notes and brainstorm these different thoughts because they will come in handy when that writer’s block hit and you are running out of time.

REACH OUT TO YOUR READERS

After all, you want your newsletter to appeal to the recipient, correct? So why not give your readers what they are looking for?  The best way to approach this is by providing the recipient with your contact information and opening your doors to any and all questions.  Soon you will be receiving emails from your readers asking for your advive on various and specific topics.  Answer their questions in one of your upcoming newsletter – A great source for ideas while responding to the need out there! isn’t it?

WRITE A HOW-TO PIECE

People like and enjoy reading the how-to posts because they are short, right to the point and easy to read.  Include a step process where, for example, you explain How to Write a Newletter in 5 Steps.  Put an outline together and develop on it, one step at a time. You will be surprised at how quickly you will come up with content!

Keep in mind that a newsletter can be a great marketing tool but always concentrate on what the recipient is looking for so you are answering a need while adding value to their day.

Manal Richa

The MarCom Network – Communications, Branding & Advertising Solutions
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Blogging – One Step at a Time

Blogging is becoming a must.  It is a tool you can use to build credibility and reputation while reflect the image of source of knowledge.  In addition, you can score higher page  rankings when it comes to Search Engine Optimization efforts for your website.  Having a blog on your website means continuous activity by posting messages and comments; and that is exactly what web crawlers look for when they work on your ranking.

On the other hand, having a blog exposes you to different and new business opportunities.  Use your blog in a way to share your knowledge and expertise with the reader.

Furthermore, you can create additional buzz about your services and products through your blog.  Do not turn it into a purely promotional tool though.  Provide tips and advice so you can strengthen your relationship with your network.

Also, read others’ blogs and comment on them.  Build on your education and show interest in what others have to say.  Learn from their knowledge and reciprocate.

Types of Blogs

Here is a list of the possible types of blogs:

• Instructional
• Informational
• Entertaining
• Reviews
• Analysis
• Opinion
• Diaries 

My advice to you would be to choose the type that works best for you and helps you accomplish your goals faster.

How to Blog

Here are the steps you need to take to get started:

• Decide on a Theme
• Identify your audience
• Brainstorm Name
• Secure Domain
• Choose Platform (WordPress, TypePad, EBlogger)
• Subscription Option
• Comment on other blogs
• Promote and Publicize

 Happy Blogging!

Manal Richa

The MarCom Network – Communications, Branding & Advertising Solutions
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Marketing and Online Communities – A Joint Effort

Social Media is shifting and changing the definition of marketing.  Companies and businesses have now access to different new tools to reach out to prospects, influence decision-makers and spread the word about their brand.  Keep in mind though that using one tool, alone, might prove to be unsuccessful. Check out the power of the online marketing presence that Starbucks created – a joint effort and a bundle of different tools and strategies all geared towards the success of one brand.

The concentration lately is being geared towards the use of social networks. Ranging from mirco-online-communities to global-online-communities, Social Networks offer a diversity while helping companies to expand their market reach through market research, brand affiliation and lead generation.

Some of the common elements of an online community include, but are not limited to, attractive and apealing home page, member profile, photos, videos and more… Blogs and forums (allowing members to interact with you and with each other.)  Remember, you want to monitor and listen to what your members have to say. Get their feedback and provide tools and services based on their needs.  Basically, OFFER A SOLUTION TO THEIR PAIN and be the resource to their needs!

Get out there, build your brand and grow your customer base.   It is all in your hands to increase web traffic, generate Word-of-Mouth campaigns, and boost revenue through sales.

Best of luck.

Manal Richa

The MarCom Network – Communications, Branding & Advertising Solutions
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Social Networking

Social networking is not about technology or what you had for lunch.  And it definitely is not about wasting time!

While creating a major shift in messaging and communication, social networking is literarily changing the way we look at the world. It is about building a global network while having access to instant information and exposing your message to viral growth.

Social networking can drastically create  an increase in your access to information while handing you the power to create opportunities on a global level, therefore increasing your reach and exposure… creating MORE SALES!  Keep in mind though that social networking is a two-way street.  You need to engage in the conversation and be part of it.

Here are few of the social networking benefits:

• Lead Generation
• Targeted Messages and Advertising
• Higher Ranking with Search Engine Optimization
• Two-way conversation
• Ability to listen and monitor

Keep in mind though that social networking needs to be an integrated part of your existing strategy.

Wikipedia did an excellent job listing the major active social networking websites… and the list keep on growing day in and day out!

Manal Richa

The MarCom Network – Communications, Branding & Advertising Solutions
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Engaging Your Audience

The great thing about marketing is the fact that it is all based on creativity. The more creative you get, the better response you will receive.  And while tailoring messages and content, make sure that you are leaving room, plenty of room to engage and interact with the recipient.  What is the purpose of sending a message out, if in return you receive NO response?  While putting your marketing message together, or if you hire someone to do it for you, make sure that there is always a call-to-action, a question… a hook that will encourage recipients to respond back which will open the line of communications with them.

Here are few methods to get your prospects engaged:

- Include a Call-to-Action such as “Call now for your free kit!”  and make sure someone is available and ready to pick up the call.  Remember, you only get one chance to get your target market to respond to your messages.  So be ready to help!

- Conduct polls and surveys: educational, instructional, humurous… whichever way you decide to go, make sure that the content is appealing enough to the recipient and do share live results… people love to see numbers!

- Launch a contest; something that relates to your services and products.  Stay true to your brand. Offer a fun experience to your target audience while giving yourself the opportunity to learn more about your audience, their needs and how you might be able to help.

- Put together an Educational/Informative Video; we all love putting a face on the name/business.  Provide useful information that would add value to the recipient’s day and teach them one or two new things.  Allow recipients to share while commenting on your post as well.

The point here is to always ask a question at the end, so you can get the other party to engage with you by responding.  Come up with something creative that would induce a reply while helping you build on your target database and needs.

Manal Richa

The MarCom Network – Communications, Branding & Advertising Solutions
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A new year… a new resolution

With the beginning of a new year, we tend to set and re-set resolutions hoping that we will be able to meet and achieve our goals. It is always a good idea to do so in order to stay on track and have a plan. I know that, personally, having a plan helps me wake up in the morning excited and looking for new challenges on a daily basis.

And when it comes to setting resolutions, make sure you include networking in your plan. Remember that it is a numbers game after all. The larger your network, the bigger your changes are to meet someone who can help and connect you with who you are looking for. On the other hand, it should be a number of quality. Be selective about who you want to connect with and define the relationship… meaning, when you meet someone and connect with them, try to find out if you can and how you can help. On the other hand, you will be able to figure out if they can help you and how.

This is the perfect time to jump on board if you have not fully implemented networking in your daily routine. Look up organizations by industry, discipline… and decide which one might offer you the best. Attend one or two of its events and then decide if and how deep you want to get involved. Do you want to join as a member? Do you want to join a committee or the board? Or simply keep visiting as a non-member? Regardless of which way you decide to go, make sure that you have a goal and a plan on what to do, who to meet and be ready…

If you haven’t done so already, craft and refine your 30-second elevator pitch. As a matter of fact, prepare multiple ones depending on your needs and audience. Keep in mind while doing so to craft a pitch that is memorable spotlighting your uniqueness. Also, remember that most organizations are cutting down on time when it comes to elevator pitches… Now you are expected to do your pitch in 10 seconds or less! So have a catchy message… a message that will generate conversation to get the other party to ask more questions about you!

Every few weeks, revisit your networking strategy and decide what is working/not working for you… Change the part that is not working for you and move forward building more connections and relationships.

Best of luck for 2010…

Yours in Networking,

Manal Richa

The MarCom Network – Communications, Branding & Advertising Solutions
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Marketing Mistakes to Avoid

In a difficult and challenging economy, small businesses tend to cut back and eliminate staff in order to keep their financials on track.  2009 was difficult for most of my client, but I was glad to see that the small businesses I dealt with knew better than cutting back on their marketing budget.

While most of the small-business market decrease, even eliminate, their marketing efforts due to finances… we need to keep in mind that this is the perfect time to actually increase budget pushing your marketing efforts even further.  Your competition is pulling back from the market, therefore giving you the opportunity to actually STAND OUT and GET THROUGH the clutter – getting more results and response from your target market.

Also, a crucial point to keep in mind is the fact that marketing is a combination of resources through a combination of media.  Although placing an ad in a newspaper for example might give you some results; we cannot ignore the fact that the combined efforts and presence on multiple media, such as newspaper, TV, Radio and online, give you better exposure therefore increasing your chances at better results.

We all know that it takes a lot more than one message to get consumers to take action.  It takes more than one message to get through and have your message register in your target’s brain.  Repetition is the key!  Doing it over and over again proved to be successful. 

Also, make sure that you keep track of your results.  Which message is getting through? How? Why? and what kind of response are you getting from your target market?  On the other hand, analyze why other messages are not getting through and find out how you can rectify the situation.  Marketing is not a one-time shot. It is a continuous constant process!

Manal Richa

The MarCom Network – Communications, Branding & Advertising Solutions
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Getting Ready for 2010

This is the perfect time for business owners to look back at what 2009 had brought to the table, evaluate results and plan ahead for the new year.

By looking back to the past few months, acknowledge your successes and what you did well.  Ask yourself questions such as “what was great about 2009?” ”What was your biggest success?” “What skills did you develop?”

Tap yourself on the back and acknowledge what you have accomplished so far.  Regardless of how you feel, I want you to realize that chances are that you learned something throughout 2009, you met new connections and grew your network…  you closed sales and proved yourself one more time!

Now is the time to look at where you are in terms of goals and accomplishments.  Evaluate what you have achieved and where you are still lacking.  Concentrate on how you can make adjustments and revamp your 2010 strategy to develop even more on your success and accomplishment.

And remember, THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!

Happy Holidays!

A Holiday Strategy for Email Marketing

It is officially the Holiday season! And as a follow up to my previous post on Holiday Networking, I wanted to write a bit on how to use email marketing to leverage your holiday messages and connect with your network of partners, clients and prospects.

It is well-known that email marketing is more affordable than direct mail pieces and can be used by small businesses to get in front of their prospects and target market.

While planning for your email marketing campaign, decide on what will make your offer/promotion stand out and how it will add value to the recipient. Make sure that you craft your message in a way that projects the “What’s in It For Me?” very clearly. A simple easy message usually does it. You do not need complicated sentences to relay your offer. A “Buy one, get one Free!” or “Order Online Now and Receive Free Shipping” will do it!

Choose the subject line that is clear and appealing in a way to increase the curiosity level to get the recipient to open and read the email. Don’t forget to include in your message a Call to Action: “Call before December 10 and you will receive 15% off!” “Limited time offer, Act Now!”… In addition, keep in mind that graphics never fail. Have a nicely professionaly designed newsletter that includes images of the products you are offering. Also, do not forget to make those images clickable routing back to your website.

On a side note though, don’t make your newsletter a pure sales pitch… Add some spices to it by offering FREE tips, information, and advice to the recipient. Use a topic within your expertise or throw in a holiday gift idea in there… Even a recipe for a special holiday dish would not hurt!

Manal Richa

The MarCom Network – Communications, Branding & Advertising Solutions
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