One of the greatest thing about the web is that it has opened so many doors for businesses of any size to increase their sales nationwide – even globally. But the whole “if you build it, they will come” theory isn’t necessarily going to have your customers knocking down your cyber walls to give you their hard earned money. There are certain things you must do to improve your online sales. Good news! We’ve got a few helpful tips to get you started…

Create demand, even if there isn’t much. Think about Amazon. How many times have you added an item to your cart only to see a little indicator that says “only X left in stock”? Strategies like this give the impression to the customer that they must act now or they’ll miss out on the item or sale price, and it’s something that you can leverage as well to improve the chances of closing the deal with your online customers.

Don’t just tell them – show them. Quality content is great, and the better you describe your inventory, the better. That said, research has shown that using video to relay product information is much more effective if pushing a maybe to a yes when it comes to sales. Get creative and put yourself in your customers’ shoes to figure out what type of video marketing would get the best results, such as product demos or helpful how-to’s.

Leverage reviews and feedback. You can shout to the rooftops how fantastic your products are, but when it comes from your customers who have actually bought and used your products, it’s much more powerful. Let your satisfied and loyal customers do your marketing for you by providing them with the opportunity and encouraging them to complete surveys and write reviews. You can then leverage those good reviews by sprinkling them throughout your website to encourage new prospects to buy from you.

Use upselling and/or cross-selling techniques to give buyers more options. Set up your site so that when your customers are shopping, they’ll see either a similar product that is of higher quality and slightly more expensive (upselling) or they’ll see another product that complements the product they’re considering buying (cross-selling). Both of these techniques can boost sales in some instances, so it’s worth a shot!

With the technology available today, the possibilities for businesses of any size to market online are virtually limitless. Doing so successfully, however, takes some work. By employing these techniques, you’ll have a much better chance of grabbing those online sales and increasing your bottom line exponentially. What are you waiting for? Get out there and get selling!

With hundreds of millions of registered users logging on and viewing YouTube every single day, it’s no surprise that more and more businesses are tapping into this powerful resource as part of their online marketing strategy. But as with anything, there’s a right way and a wrong way to handle video marketing and if you’re doing it wrong, you may very well be wasting valuable time and resources. Here are 4 common video marketing mistakes and tips on how you can avoid them for your business.

Failing to See the Value of Video Marketing – First and foremost, the biggest mistake a business can make when it comes to video marketing is not using it at all, or treating it as an afterthought. Given the fact that the need for fancy equipment and editing work no longer exists, and the massive worldwide audience of video sites like YouTube, there is really no excuse to not participate in video marketing. 

Assuming Every Video Will Automatically Go Viral – Virality is the goal of any social campaign, but it’s something that rarely happens all on its own. The “if you build it, they will come” concept doesn’t apply with video, especially with some 72 hours of video footage being uploaded to YouTube every minute. If you want your videos to be seen, you have to do some legwork. Promote them on your other social media channels, add them to your website and include them in your email newsletters. The more you get the word out, the better results you’ll get.

Not Paying Attention to the Metrics that Really Matter – Many businesses that embark on a video marketing campaign make the mistake of focusing only on the number of views when they’re assessing their results. The more important thing to consider is the social aspect. It’s more important that you get people talking and sharing your video than simply viewing it. That’s why it’s so important to create dynamic content – because that’s what will ultimately get you the results you want.

Not Approaching it as a Long-Term Endeavor – Just producing one or two videos isn’t going to do anything for your business in terms of successful marketing. Just like any other type of marketing tool, video marketing should be approached as a long-term endeavor that you continuously develop and build upon. The more you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it and it’s something that takes time and patience. 

Video marketing is no longer an option for businesses – it’s becoming a necessity. But if you don’t do your homework and approach it from the right direction, you could find yourself wasting valuable time and resources. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can incorporate video into your overall web marketing strategy to make it much more robust and successful.

As a small business owner, you know that being successful is all about cutting costs and reducing overhead wherever possible. But sometimes business owners find themselves scratching their heads, trying to figure out where the money is going and why it seems to keep mysteriously slipping away. It’s not a mystery – in fact, there are several common ways that a business may be losing money without even realizing it. Here are 4 such ways, and how you can correct it if you’re one of the victims.

Office Rental and Equipment – If you currently rent office space, it may be time to take a step back and examine a couple of things. First, do you really need that space, is its size appropriate, or could you downsize, and would something like sharing an office with another business be a more affordable option for you? In terms of equipment, you should also be sure that what you have is only what you need, otherwise you are probably wasting money. Consider such cost-effective alternatives such as cloud computing and virtual phone systems (we happen to know someone who can help you with this one!). 

Insurance – Ever heard of the term “insurance poor”? It basically means that you’re spending way too much on a “what if”. Of course insurance is important, especially for a business, but it’s also important to conduct an audit from time to time to make sure you’ve got the right amount and type of coverage, and whether there’s a chance you could be saving money, either by combining multiple policies or switching providers. Just be sure to check any potential new insurance companies out to make sure they are financially sound before switching.

Marketing Activities – You need to market your business, but are you really sure the money you’re spending is getting the type of return it should? Marketing is a funny thing – what works for one business may be a disappointing failure for another, and there are so many different methods and techniques. That’s why it’s so important to consistently measure and analyze your results. This will help you to quickly learn what’s working and what isn’t so you can stay on top of your marketing spend.

Networking or Trade Events – It may seem like a great idea to attend these types of things to learn about your industry, how to become more successful and to network with other influential people. Before you do, however, make sure the costs associated make the outcome worthwhile. Often when you add up expenses such as registration fees, airfare, hotel stays and food, what you end up getting out of these events isn’t worth what you spent to attend them. 

If you’re going to make it in business, especially given today’s economy, you have to find ways to cut costs. More importantly, you have to make sure that the activities and investments you’re currently involved in are not costing you more money than they’re worth. These are just four such things to watch for. As long as you are diligent and ever-aware, you’ll be able to stay on top of your expenditure and manage it in a way that is always profitable.

Did you know that of the nearly 30 million small businesses in the US, almost half of them are home-based? That’s a pretty impressive number, yet there are still a number of myths and misconceptions that deter people from this type of venture. We’re here to quell those untruths and show you why starting a business from your home can be highly successful and worth taking the chance.

You need a lot of capital. The answer to this really lies in the type of business you are thinking of starting. Not every venture requires a lot of money up-front, and some don’t require much overhead to run. You don’t have to break the bank or look for investors right away. Just determine how much you need to start off slow, and see where it takes you.

It’s going to take up all of my time. Many would-be entrepreneurs put off starting their own business because they are under the mistaken impression that it has to be a full time operation right from the get-go. This isn’t true at all! Some of the most successful home-based businesses started out with just a small investment of time each week. Once things begin to take off, then you can begin to devote more time to making the business flourish.

You need a lot of experience. Not every successful business venture was started by an expert or even a professional. The key is not experience as much as it is passion. If you have an idea and you feel it’s something that can be turned into a money-making venture, go for it. If you’re really not sure where to begin, do a little research first. All it may take is getting your feet wet and then, with time, the experience will come.

You’ll get bombarded with taxes. Home-based businesses are subject to the same taxes as other small businesses, but keep in mind that they’re also eligible for a number of tax breaks and deductions on expenses such as accounting software, office equipment, licenses and insurance. Before you write off the idea of a home-based business because of tax reasons, check with an accountant to learn the truth about what to expect. It may be much less of a burden than you’re anticipating.

Too many small businesses fail. While it is true that nearly half of all small businesses don’t make it past the first five years, that doesn’t necessarily mean that yours will be one of those statistics. Passion, determination, dedication and hard work can help you overcome these odds and achieve success. Remember, it’s better to take a chance than regret never trying.

Home-based businesses don’t have to be scary endeavors, doomed to fail and cost you tons of time and money. If you plan accordingly, play it smart and take your time, you can beat the odds and emerge from the rubble a smashing success.

There is arguably nobody that works harder than a work at home mom. Juggling a career while also managing a household with small children can feel like two full time jobs – you need all the help you can get. The good news is, today’s technology has created a number of tools that are designed to make life easier. A virtual phone system is one of them. Here’s how these innovative systems are a must for busy working moms.

You Get a Dedicated Phone Line – Regardless of whether you work from the comfort of your own couch, you want to be able to handle your business in the most professional manner possible. Giving out your personal phone number – and one which is shared by your whole family – can give the impression that you’re running a hokey operation. With a virtual phone system, you get your own dedicated line, with either a local number or a toll-free number, to give out to just your business contacts.

You Get Professional-Sounding Features – It really doesn’t matter if you run a one-woman show – a virtual phone system provides you with all the features you need to project a professional, bigger business image. Custom greetings, voicemail, robust phone trees – your callers will never know it’s just you pulling all the strings!

You Get an Easy-to-Use System – With all of the other duties you’re juggling, between being a mom and running a successful business, who has the time to figure out complicated telecommunications systems? Virtual phone systems are simple to use, and can be up and running in literally seconds, saving you hassle and the precious commodity of time.

You Get Mobility – Being a busy mom and business owner means a lot of running around. You can’t be expected to sit in your home office, just waiting for the phone to ring. Virtual phone systems provide flexibility and mobility so you can manage your hectic schedule while always staying connected. Simply have your calls forwarded to any number you choose and get going!

You Save Money – Now, if that isn’t music to your ears, I don’t know what is! Being successful in business involves finding ways to cut costs in as many ways as possible. Virtual phone systems are extremely cost effective – you just pay one low monthly rate. No expensive equipment to maintain, and you get all the features you need to stay connected and remain competitive.

Being a work at home mom involves a lot of dedication, tenacity and tireless effort. Having tools to help you stay in contact and on top of your competition can mean the difference between becoming a raving success and burning out. A virtual phone system provides you everything you need to stay ahead of the game and come out on top.

When it comes to being successful in business, regardless of industry, closing the sale means everything. Unfortunately, not everyone is a master salesperson, and not every small business owner has the budget to hire an expert sales team. The good news is you can actually leverage your virtual phone system to help reel in that big client and seal the deal – and for much less than it would cost to pay salaries for a sales team. Here’s how.

Superior Customer Care – What better way to endear a prospect to your brand than by providing them with the utmost in care and attention. A virtual phone system allows you to give your callers all of the options they need to reach who they want, when they need to, helping you to score a home run when it comes to customer satisfaction. When prospects see how well you treat them, they’ll want to give their business to you!

Access to Information – If a potential customer has to jump through 20 hoops and sit on hold for 10 minutes just to find out what your address is, chances are slim you’ll be hearing from them again any time soon. With features like IVR and custom greetings, you can provide your callers with important static information quickly and easily. Customers love hassle-free transactions!

Personalized Service – The truth is most consumers prefer personalized service from one, trusted salesperson. Virtual phone systems allow you to set up extensions for every member of your team, so that customers can always reach exactly who they want to speak with, without having to go through a slew of other people first, or having to talk to a new person every time they call. This personalized service will create brand loyalty and may even lead to some valuable word of mouth marketing as well!

Mobility – Any good salesperson knows that in order to truly be successful, you can’t be tied to a desk all day, just in case the phone rings. The mobility of a virtual phone system will free you up to focus on growing your business while also keeping you connected. Features like advanced call forwarding and find me / follow me let you make and receive calls anywhere, any time so you never have to worry about missing that important call.

Closing that big sale can be challenging no matter what industry you’re in. Successful salespeople use all of the tools available to them to get the job done. One such tool is a virtual phone system. Ready to see for yourself what one of these innovative systems can do for your business? Start your free trial today!

Being a successful entrepreneur takes tireless effort, thankless hard work and never ending determination. You need all the support you can get. It also helps when you have technology on your side. Virtual phone systems have opened the doors to so many opportunities that were once only available to large enterprises. Now anyone can harness the power of cloud telecommunications to stay connected and remain one step ahead of the competition. Here are just a few of the many benefits a virtual phone system can have for an entrepreneur.

Stay Productive While You’re Mobile – One of the most common complaints of busy entrepreneurs is that they feel they are being pulled in a dozen different directions, making it hard to stay on top of everything. A virtual phone system alleviates some of this craziness by allowing you to take and make calls from anywhere. Have calls transferred to your home or mobile phone and stay connected no matter where you happen to be.

Remain Professional When You’re Unavailable – Nobody wants to miss a call, especially an important business call. But, the truth is there will inevitably be times when you simply cannot pick up the phone, like when you’re in an important meeting or on another call. One of the nicest features of a virtual phone system is the option to record a professional, customized greeting. This will assure callers that they’re important to you, even when you’re not available at that very moment.

Project a Big-Business Image – Another challenge most entrepreneurs face is competing with bigger organizations. Virtual phone systems allow you to portray a much more professional image with things like toll-free numbers, robust phone trees, advanced call routing and more. Give your customers the same service they’d get from your bigger competitors but with much more personalized service and stay in the game!

Scalable to Grow with Your Business – While you may be a one-person show right now, chances are your goals include future growth. You don’t need to worry about how that growth will affect your telecommunications because virtual phone systems are completely scalable to suit all your changing business needs. Add unlimited extensions at no extra cost as you expand your team and create new groups at the click of a button.

Get the Most Bang for Your Buck – Any small business owner knows that time and money are the two most important commodities. With a virtual phone system, you’ll save on both! Enjoy a variety of advanced features for a low monthly price and deliver professional phone handling to your customers every time without breaking the bank. Save time with advanced call routing and IVR so you can focus on more important things – like making your business a success!

Technology is one of the entrepreneur’s most powerful tools, and a virtual phone system is the perfect example. Stay connected and competitive while always maintaining a professional image and superior customer service. Ready to see for yourself just how beneficial virtual business phone systems can be? Give us a call and start your free trial today!

We all know the importance of networking, right? You know - shaking hands, schmoozing and rubbing elbows at various events. But while doing that might get you a list of potential leads, it’s the follow up you do after the fact that will actually get you results, which is to reel them in and hook them as paying customers. So what are the best techniques for reaching out after that first contact and keeping communication going? Here are a few pointers and best practices to make your follow up activities more successful.

Strike while the iron is hot. Don’t wait too long after your initial meeting to reach out to your new leads. Whenever possible, tell them precisely when you plan to do so and stick to it. For instance, when telling them how great it was to meet them, let your new prospect know that you’ll be following up on Monday to discuss XYZ with them. By specifying a timeframe you are much more likely to stick to your guns. And, as an added bonus, when you follow through with your promises your prospects will be impressed with your professionalism.

Determine the best method of communication. Sometimes an email is enough to touch base and can count as enough follow up to keep someone interested. More times than not, however, if you really want to keep your leads hot and your prospects engaged, a phone call is much more effective. Take a look at my article from a few months ago which goes over why sometimes email just isn’t enough for the many reasons why. Of course, if your new lead specifically requested that follow up be done via email, respect that and do so accordingly. Or, consider sending an initial email requesting a date and time for a phone call, which will give you more leverage and better your chances of landing a new client.

Keep at it. Just following up once won’t necessarily win over those prospects and get them to take the next step. Sometimes it takes several attempts to finally close the deal. In fact, there’s a marketing theory called the “Rule of Seven”, which suggests that it can take up to seven interactions with a brand before a potential customer takes the leap and makes a purchase. Be consistent and stay in touch with your leads through a variety of different methods, including emails, phone calls, and newsletters and do your best to keep your brand at the top of their mind without overdoing it and being too pushy. Your hard work and persistence will pay off in the long run.

Gathering leads is the easy part. Successfully turning those leads into paying customers is the challenge, and good follow up is the key. By employing these three simple techniques, you can stay in contact with your prospects and improve your chances of converting them into loyal clients.