Get Your Social Media Efforts Back on Track

When the social media boom hit, businesses small and large flocked to the many popular networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. However, unsure how to navigate this new form of media, many businesses let their pages go stagnant and soon fell off their consumers’ radars.

It was easy to get caught up in the appeal of social networking. Social media includes a variety of free tools that put you in front of a large audience of users. However, many businesses didn’t consider the time and resources that would need to go into maintaining an active presence on these sites. Get your social media efforts back on track and start seeing real results by following these tips.

Make social media a priority. In today’s marketplace, social media can really set your brand apart from your competitors – if done right. If you are going to delve into this medium, you need to make social media a priority for your business. Sure, social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter are free, but the time an employee spends logging on to update, monitor and cull an online community costs your business money. Don’t waste employee time or company dollars on shoddy results. If it makes sense, consider hiring someone solely for the purpose of cultivating your social media presence or hire an outside resource that specializes in building online brands.

Make a plan. If you’ve chosen the DIY route, make sure you are armed with a social media plan. This will help the person who is charged with monitoring your social media sites keep these efforts on track. Depending on what type of business you operate and how you want to utilize social media to your benefit, create a daily, weekly or monthly editorial calendar. This will give you predetermined prompts for posting and help spark ideas for future discussions.

Fine-tune your message. All of your social media sites should support the same brand and message. Before you log on, fine-tune the message you want to spread to your audience. And, while you are at it, be sure you settle on a target audience that you want to reach so you aren’t throwing darts in the air.

Measure your results. Create goals and devise measurement tactics to determine if your social media efforts are working. Keep tabs on the number of “likes” you get on a weekly basis, and monitor how many conversions your website gets from social media sites. These efforts will help determine if social media is worth your time and resources.

The Next “Big Thing” in Marketing

The marketing game is continuously evolving to incorporate new technology and applications. Failure to keep up could result in a failure of business. Consider the impact social media has had on the marketing landscape. Many businesses and even communications professionals balked at its usage as an effective marketing tool; however, it is one of the leading consumer touch points utilized by companies today. Well, the next big thing is here. And, you need to be sure not to waste time refusing its place as an effective marketing tool in order to gain a head start on competition.

QR Codes, which stands for Quick Response Codes, have recently burst onto the scene as an interactive marketing method to connect and engage with consumers as the boom of smart phones accelerates. Many businesses have already started using them on business cards, brochures and advertisements as a way to enhance their messaging with additional, targeted content.

QR Codes are essentially a bar code type system that acts as a portal to new content. Smart phone users simply take a picture of the QR Code and, using a QR Code application, are directed to targeted content of your choosing. Their effectiveness is wide in scope. From accounting firms to real estate agents or law firms, every industry can benefit from the use of QR Codes.

ProMoter Inc. has worked with several clients on initiating QR Codes into their marketing plans. Contact us today to find out how we can put them to work for you!

Navigate Social Media for Your Business

The effect social media – particularly Facebook – can have on your business’ bottom line is undeniable. If you haven’t already joined Facebook, it is time to crawl out from under that rock, log on and get connected with current and potential customers alike!

Having a stagnant Facebook page just doesn’t cut it in today’s marketplace. You need to have relevant and fresh content daily to keep fans engaged. SIGNARAMA Downtown – a ProMoter client for over five years – has had its own Facebook profile for several years, and they are seeing a real pay off. In fact, over the past several months, SIGNARAMA Downtown has generated more solid website conversions from their Facebook page than any other method. And, SIGNARAMA Downtown’s fans are engaged and active on their Facebook page thanks to daily contests and giveaways.

You, too, can have a quality and valuable presence on Facebook. Take a look at some best practices in order to give your Facebook account a boost!
· Build a fan base. To have a successful Facebook page, you need fans! Be sure to promote your social media presence on all customer touch points including your website, advertisements, staff Facebook pages, direct mail, Internet campaigns, etc.
· Keep your page active. Nothing is worse than an inactive Facebook page. Not only does it give the impression that business is slow, but it is nearly impossible to build up a fan base. It isn’t enough to make company-related announcements every other week. You need to really offer fans valuable information that is useful to them and their businesses on a daily basis. Dig around for some industry-related news bits to post when company news is slower. Offer contests and giveaways that keep fans coming back to your page for more!
· Get your fans talking about your page. Word-of-mouth is a great way to go viral. By maintaining an active page, fans are likely to start talking up your page to their friends. The more fans you have, the more impressions you make, which could lead to more business.

There isn’t a science to Facebook or other social media sites. Consider what you’d like from a Facebook page of which you are a fan and try to provide that to your fan base.

Fundraising Made Easy

Fundraising. For most people working or volunteering for non-profit organizations, fundraising is a nasty word. Few enjoy it; most dread it and even more fear it! Nevertheless, it is a reality of all non-profit organizations in order to maintain their programs and general operations. Whether you are hosting a big event or a year-long campaign, take a look at the following keys for success. They just might help quell your money-asking fears and turn your next fundraising initiative into a great success.

1. Develop a plan. All great successes start with a well-devised plan. Think strategically and consider all players involved in order to capitalize on organizational talents and connections.

2. Cultivate a “circle of friends” – aka prospective donors. Your organization has an inherent circle of friends that will likely support your fundraising initiatives simply because they believe in your mission. And, you don’t need rich friends either. (Wealth is the least reliable indicator of a potential donor).

3. Make the ask. As part of your strategic plan, you should identify the key players in your organization who would be the best representatives to ask for donations. If you are a smaller operation requiring all involved to solicit donations, devise a value proposition for donors to make it easier to ask. Don’t make it about money but rather the continuation of a cherished service and/or institution.

4. Think and act positively. Keep your head and spirits up throughout the fundraising initiative. A good attitude is contagious and your bottom line will show the effects of that!

Need help spreading the word about a specific fundraising event or generating PR for a campaign or drive? Contact ProMoter Inc. today to learn how a strategic PR plan can help your organization reach its goals.

Is Your Company Missing Its Brand?

BRAND – it is a funny, little 5-letter word that leaves most small business owners scratching their heads with a perplexed expression on their face wondering, “Where is my brand?” It is an easy case to crack, really, and you don’t have to look in the trees or through the big budget catalogs of “brand enthusiasts” to find where your brand has been hiding. In a sense, it is what your company is and has always been. However, there are ways to make that brand more attractive and fresh.

What is a brand? According to the sources at Wikipedia, the word “brand” began simply as a way to tell one person’s cattle from another by means of a hot iron stamp. Today “brand” has evolved to acknowledge the identity of a specific product, service or business. While it is visible through a name, logo, slogan or even color combination, your brand also encompasses the personality and culture of your product, company or service.

What does this means to you? Brands are often a key selling component for a product and/or service. So why does this word affect your business’s bottom line and how can you use it to your benefit? A recognizable brand creates loyalty among its consumers, who are likely to continue to buy from a company with a “brand” they trust. Additionally, a solid brand gives your business credibility in the marketplace.

How do I better my brand? If your business is facing a brand deficit, action is necessary. From a company name change to a logo redesign to the creation of employee brand ambassadors, whether you consider a brand overhaul or a simple makeover, steps taken towards stimulating your brand will have a positive effect on your bottom line. And, once you have your brand in shape, don’t waste any time getting it in front of your target audiences. Many techniques can be very cost effective. For example, a solid social media campaign providing discounts to fans or followers is a free effort, which can build an online community with immense loyalty to your brand. Additionally, Internet marketing such as enewsletters can be done at a low cost with the same effectiveness as direct mail. Furthermore, brand ambassadors (your employees) are an in-house resource that can be cultivated into a vital part of any brand.

Want to do your own brand overhaul? Give ProMoter Inc. a call at (502) 562-1969 or email us at promoter@promoterinc.com to see how we can help turn your business into a brand powerhouse! (And, not to worry, we’ll leave the hot iron stamps on the fire.)

Social Media Etiquette Part 3: Three Traits of a Social Media Expert

Everyone claims to be an expert when it comes to social media these days. However, there is more to navigating the social media space than knowledge of a few tools. If you are considering hiring a “social media expert” to help you with your Internet marketing efforts, you will be interested in Chris Nerney’s blog on Webnewser. In it he outlines the five qualities of a good social media manager. I’ve summarized the best three below for quick digestion.

1. Must understand the technology but love people – Face it, the social media world is full of applications, tools and networks with more popping up every day. And while a basic understanding of these tools is necessary, it is important to focus more on the fact that these tools are being used to communicate your brand and company’s message to your customers. Therefore, be sure you hire someone who is outgoing and can communicate effectively. Social media provides them with the platform to do just that.

2. Must possess intellectual and emotional curiosity – Your social media manager needs to know the details of your company, your products and your brand. However, they must also know how to effectively look at things from another person’s perspective – empathy. This will allow them to create better messages in which your customers can relate.

3. Must think strategically (and communicate the strategy) – If you are thinking about outsourcing your social media efforts, you obviously believe in the strategic potential of this move. Therefore, be sure to find someone who shares in your belief and knows how to communicate that strategy to your customers. This person must also be able to measure the results to determine whether your strategy is working.

Internet marketing is the fastest growing segment of the advertising industry and can produce fast results. However, be weary of self-described “gurus.” Be sure to ask for references and examples of successful campaigns they have implemented to ensure you hire someone with the right skill set.

Social Media Etiquette Part 2: Social Media Goes Great with Your Morning Coffee

When I stumbled upon Nathan Hangen’s blog titled “How to Manage Your Social Media Marketing in 10 Minutes Daily,” I had to reread the title a few times. Is it really possible to effectively manage the plethora of social media tools a company may be linked in to in just 10 minutes a day? This means generating unique content, posting on fans walls, putting out customer fires and tweeting the latest industry-related clippings? It’s true! Read below for some of Nathan’s tips to conquering your social media marketing while you take in your morning coffee.

1. Take One Platform Bite at a Time. According to Nathan, all social media sites are not created equal and, thus, you should not try to divide your time among all platforms as such. Nathan suggests for social media beginners to master one platform at a time before moving on to the next one. Remember to keep branding consistent among all platforms. If you are comfortable among the various platforms, Nathan suggests alternating between platforms on a daily basis. Don’t try to cram all of your social media efforts into these 10 minutes.

2. Respond to Your Fans. Nathan says it point blank in his blog. Your customers (fans in the social media world) aren’t listening to you. They’re waiting for you to respond. But rather thinking this is a negative aspect to social media, realize it is an opportunity for you to create an excellent customer relation experience and add to your company’s narrative. According to Nathan, a bulk of your 10 minutes should be spent responding to your fans.

3. Reach Out and Help People. Social media sites are a great way to discover new customers but Nathan warns against blatantly using these tools as such. Instead genuinely seek out those needing help using searches. It could lead to an invitation to join you on Facebook, Twitter or your blog, but don’t make that the goal. According to Nathan, the goal is to get on people’s radar.

To read more on this topic, visit Nathan’s original post at http://fwww.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-manage-your-social-media-marketing-in-10-minutes-daily/.

Big Picture PR Part 2: Become a Community Institution Through Corporate Philanthropy

Text books will tell you Public Relations is the practice of doing good things and getting credit for it. Sure our mothers always told us we shouldn’t be driven by recognition for the good deeds we do, but this is business. The truth is the strategic use of philanthropy can ultimately help a corporation’s bottom line. It is a real opportunity to garner both community attention and support as corporate philanthropy is one area where a company’s interest and those of the public can intersect. By contributing to local charities, sponsoring an area little league team or hosting a fundraiser for the city’s hospital, you are building a reputation as a community institution.

So what’s the first step towards harnessing the power of philanthropy? You should work with your marketing team to establish a contributions program by doing the following:

• Determine objectives.
• Establish measurable results.
• Assure the budget is sufficient to achieve your objectives.

While press releases and media exposure can result in recognition, these results have a short range of impact. However, corporate philanthropy creates a long-lasting, positive relationship with the community and your customers.

Big Picture PR Part 1: Harness the Power of Brand Ambassadors

When thinking about a long-term public relations plan, it is important to think “big picture.” How can you keep your company’s name and/or brand top of mind with your key audiences even when there is no “news” to announce? Part 1 in this series will focus on leveraging the power of brand ambassadors within your company.

Public relations can be a complex tool involving research, campaigns, analytics, etc. Used effectively it projects a positive image of your company and/or brand to the public. It can require much time, effort and dollars to produce the right results. However, there often lies a large, untapped resource within many companies that can potentially become your most effective company mouth piece – employees. By creating brand ambassadors from your employee roster, you create positive, personal touch points between your company and its customers. Think about it. No matter how much press coverage you garner in a particular month or the amount of dollars you donate to a local charity, a customer’s most revealing impression comes from their interactions with employees. If it is positive, they are likely to think the same of your company. However, if it is not, the reverse is often true. So how do you turn employees into effective brand ambassadors?

Some ways include:
Internal Marketing Efforts
Ask yourself these questions and honestly answer them. Do your employees know the mission of your company? Do they actively strive to follow it while on the job? Do your employees know what your brand stands for and promote this brand? If you answered “no” to the above questions, it is time to think about ways to educate your staff about your company. Hold monthly staff meetings, develop an in-house newsletter or make use of intraweb services. Your first PR priority is to start making stronger connections with your employees.

Promote a Positive Employee Culture
Internal marketing efforts will not only will help your business in the long-run, but it will allow you to cultivate a positive employee culture. When employees feel they are part of something bigger, they have a shift in attitude and work performance often improves. So how do you go about creating a positive employee culture? I’ve already mentioned some ways including in-house newsletters. Use these newsletters to highlight employee anniversaries, after hour accomplishments and other company news. Encouraging your employees to learn more about each other will lend to cohesion within your offices.

Tap Individuals with Strong Personal Brands
Face it – with the dawning of the many social networks your employees have created their own online brand. Sometimes employees are able to keep that brand separate from their professional brand – in most cases they are not. Recognize those individuals with a strong personal brand and use it to your advantage by asking them to promote your company through their networks.

Coming soon: Corporate Community Outreach

Social Media Etiquette Part 1: Is it OK to Reuse Old Content?

This entry marks my 30th post to ProMoter Inc.’s Smart Marketing blog since December of 2008 when we jumped on the blogging bandwagon (around the same time social media came charging down the information super highway.) I’ve covered a broad spectrum of topics aimed at helping you market your business smarter. And, behind every keystroke was the thought that I had fallen upon the latest trend, hot topic and buzz word of the moment. But, what comes of these old blog entries? Would they spend the rest of their Internet days archived amongst the other lonely and dated Internet information?

In an ever changing industry, the basics to smart marketing remain the same. So, is it ok to reuse old content for future posts? Surely there is some type of social media etiquette one should follow while traversing and participating in the online world. According to Rob Birgfeld, there are highly effective ways to give old content new life.

1. Update the post with a forward explaining its relevance today or how times have changed.
2. Reference the post in a new blog regarding a similar subject matter.
3. Add a new comment to the post. This may spark a new conversation.
4. Check the tags to ensure your blog entry is categorized correctly for organic Web searches.
5. Refresh! Perhaps you were off target when drafting your post the first time or even ahead of the curve. Take the entry and revise to fit with today’s social media environment.

By using these guidelines provided by Rob, you can dust the cobwebs off your old blog entries and keystroke new life into them!

Be sure to check back soon for part two in our social media etiquette series.

A New Year Means Resolutions. Make the Most of It!

It’s a new year and that means resolutions. I’ve never been a fan of the tradition myself as I am in the opinion that there is no time like now to change for the better. However, it could be said that there is something almost romantic about starting fresh once the clock strikes midnight and a new year (rather decade) clicks over. Perhaps the resolve to improve is stronger with the idea of a clean slate.

That being said, ProMoter Inc. is very excited about the many opportunities abounding in 2010. But, we aren’t leaving it to chance. We’ve made specific plans (a much better word than resolutions) to ensure our success. How are we plotting our year ahead? You may want to take note.
1. Established measureable goals with start and finish dates
2. Made note of obstacles that may stand in our way
3. Identified key resources and people to help in achieving our goals
4. Drafted an action plan
5. Set up monthly meetings directed at measuring our progress

Our goals for this year include ways to nurture new collaborations, discover innovative ways to help all our clients and partner with our suppliers. Now get your goals on paper and start this new decade off with a great start!

Wrap-Up the Year with Cost-Effective Holiday Gifts

While we are in the midst of Chanukah and Christmas is mere 11 shopping days away, time to purchase gifts for your favorite clients is running out! And, although many consumer surveys report a tightening of the purse strings this holiday season, there are creative and cost-effective ways to spread holiday cheer and say “Thanks!”

Skip the Traditional Holiday Card for an Egreeting
Is your company known for crafty holiday cards? If so, you know that the cost of producing them can really add up once you consider photography, costumes, printing and postage along with the man hours put in to create a clever message. Cut the cost by creating an egreeting. Not only will you save on printing and postage, but you will do your small part in being more eco-friendly this holiday season. Besides, aren’t enough trees cut down for Christmas? At ProMoter our holiday cards were always a hit with our clients and served as a yearly touch point with past clients reminding them of just how good we are at what we do. However, like many small businesses facing a down economy, we recognized the production cost of these greetings was superfluous and avoidable by crafting an egreeting. And, I must say, this year’s egreeting is just as clever and effective as our previous, traditional holiday cards.

In Lieu of Gifts, Offer Discounts on Services
Many businesses like to treat their clients to a personalized gift during the holidays to show their appreciation for continued business; however, for many, funds just aren’t available at year’s end to shower clients with gifts. Instead give clients the gift of discounted services in 2010. Many of us foresee an improving economy and growth in the year ahead. By offering discounted services, you are creating an opportunity for a continued relationship in the new year when cash flow has improved.

Start thinking outside the box when it comes to corporate gift giving and wrap up the year with a bang! Need help designing an egreeting? Contact ProMoter Inc. at promoter@promoterinc.com for quick turnaround with a lasting impression!

Generation Gaps Create Challenge for Marketers

In 2010 we will be traversing a very tricky marketing environment –catering to no less than three generations whose spending habits, styles and influences are as different as night and day. As a smart marketer looking for the clearest path towards consumer dollars, you must do one of two things. Either recognize which generation represents your top target customers and exclusively market to this group or try to tailor unique marketing messages to each generation in hopes of garnering a larger pool of customers. Your first task is to determine which of these options is better for your bottom line.

I recently fell upon an article in the October issue of Lawn & Landscape magazine that breaks down the different generations and provides go-get-em tips for marketers. Below is a rundown.

Baby Boomers
Baby boomers are very concerned with retirement and savings especially during our recent economic crisis and most often pay with cash – not credit. Therefore, if you are going after their dollar, you’d better be prepared for a hard sell that incorporates relationship building and avoids sales tricks. Advertising Age recently reported messages suggesting advantages including guarantees, safety and experience are most effective with this generation.

Generation X
This tech savvy, highly educated customer base wants to evaluate their consumer choices and make their own purchasing decisions, yet easily cave to peer pressure. While brand loyalty is often lost on them, convincing a Gen-Xer that other Gen-Xers are doing the same thing makes for an easy sell.

Generation Y
Gen-Yers are the largest and most influential consumer group of the three and, thus, are the most attractive customers for many marketing professionals. Why? They are making the purchasing decisions and have (and are willing to spend) the money. They grew up in a pure consumerism culture and respond well to marketing messages. However, although they are young, it is important for marketers to treat them with respect and listen to their opinions. In some cases, big corporations have created branding around the input of this generation. (Think Apple.)

Take a good look at your marketing messages. Who are you targeting? Is the right message coming across for the intended audience? If not, it may be time to rethink and retool your marketing campaigns.

Surveys May Provide Kick Start Your Business Needs

With the economy recovering at a very tentative pace, you may feel as if your marketing efforts have stalled dead in the road, and you aren’t quite sure how to kick start back into gear. If that is the case, it may be time to consider the power of consumer surveys.

Surveys are a great means of getting a firsthand read of your consumer base in relation to your business. How has their spending habits changed? What products are they now shopping for? What attracts them to a business? By asking consumers direct questions, you eliminate the guessing game often associated with developing marketing campaigns. Using the data compiled from your survey, you can accurately target your consumers and increase business accordingly.

Basic Survey Terminology to Consider:
Quantitative Surveys are based on measureable results.

Qualitative Surveys allow you to explore issues with respondents and allow for open-ended responses.

Samples should be at random and reflect a true representation of your population (or in your case, consumer base). The larger the sample size, the smaller the margin of error. If you are looking for quantitative results, a rule of thumb is to sample at least 100 people. Qualitative surveys are less dependent on sample size as you are looking for an exploration on a topic.

So, are you ready to start surveying? Here are some simple steps to follow to get your market research off to a running start!
1. Select the type of research you need (Quantitative/Qualitative)
2. Design a questionnaire
3. Collect your data
4. Analyze data

Experiential Marketing – The Art of PR

During a recent marketing seminar I attended geared towards women business owners and the cultivation of their brand, I learned of a new industry buzz word – “Experiential Marketing.” The speaker defined this term as a means of inviting the customer in to become an active participant in your brand. She also noted that it is important to engage all of the senses in order to promote the full brand experience and to focus more on the psychographics of your target audience rather than the demographics. A little more outside research turned up this definition, “an art of creating an experience resulting in an emotional connection to a person, brand, product or idea.”

While these definitions make the practice seem lofty and rich, the root of experiential marketing is essentially the basic principles of effective public relations. By connecting to your audience on an emotional level, you can foster positive relations and total brand engagement.

Social media has quickly risen to the zenith of public relation channels (and experiential marketing) because of its effectiveness at connecting with a target audience on a personal level. In an Internet driven world, people have essentially created their own personal Internet real estate that is open to marketing touch points – free of charge. Whether through Twitter, Facebook, YouTube (the list goes on), smart marketers can infiltrate the personal space of their target audience with marketing messages that don’t appear to be such.

Fostering experiential marketing behaviors in your marketing efforts is essential to creating a brand in which people connect and trust.

Drive results with email marketing; Don’t drive away customers!

Email marketing can be the easiest, most cost efficient way to reach large segments of your target market and leave quality impressions about new product and/or service offerings, company announcements or special deals. However, it is important to follow some basic guidelines when communicating with your audience in mass. Merritt Colaizzi with SmartBlog on Social Media outlines some tips to get the most out of your email marketing.

• Keep it short. Your message should fit in one preview pane. If your viewer has to scroll down or across to view the rest of the message, you will likely lose their attention and, thus, business.
• Have only one “ask.” Don’t confuse your audience with too many messages. Target your email marketing message to one “ask.” For example, “Sign up for our newsletter,” “Click here for instant discounts,” “Learn more about product A.”
• Offer several “calls to action.” This shouldn’t be confused with an “ask.” A “call to action” is a line explaining to the viewer how they can respond to your message. It is important that you give them several opportunities to act. And, be sure not to bury your “call to action” at the bottom of the email. Sprinkle them throughout the email for full effect!
• Include graphic elements. It is important to make your email message visually pleasing. Viewers get lost with too many words. Tailor your message so you can tell your story with a good mix of images and text.

Looking to initiate an effective email campaign but don't know where to start? ProMoter Inc. can help! Contact us at (502)562-1969 or promoter@promoterinc.com

Get Ready to Add Social Media Monitoring to Your Morning Routine

What makes up your routine when you get into the office in the mornings? Grab a cup of coffee, check voice messages and emails, review the day’s to-do list, etc.? Better get ready to add another task to your list. In an online world of 24/7 tweets, facebook status updates and daily blogs, social media can wreak havoc on your company and brand if you aren’t monitoring what is being said. So, set aside 10 minutes to check the online activity happening while you’ve been away.

1. Check Twitter for company and brand chatter – estimated time: 2 minutes.

2. Scan Google Alerts – estimated time: 1.5 minutes.

3. Check Facebook stats – estimated time: 1 minute.

4. Answer industry-related LinkedIn questions – estimated time: 3 minutes.

5. Use Google Reader to check Flickr, Delicious, Digg and other social sites – estimated time: 2.5 minutes.

Where is MY piece of the stimulus pie?

There is a big chunk of the $800 billion in funding up for grabs via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), but getting your piece of that proverbial pie may be more difficult than the government has let on. Consultant and author Mark Amtower recently wrote an article outlining an action plan to land government contracts for your business (at all levels of government – local, state and federal.)

While a lot of money is out there at all levels of government, Amtower doesn’t want you to get your hopes up. If you have no experience selling your services to the government, he doubts you will land a significant contract. But, “significant” to the government is often a seven figure sum. I’m sure you’ll settle for less! If time is on your side and you are ready to do your homework and be persistent, then other stimulus monies may be at your grasp.

Here is Amtower’s action plan for small businesses looking to benefit from the giant stimulus.

1. Decide where you fit. What products or services do you sell that are truly germane to these projects?

2. Decide what level of government you want to sell to. Are you going to stay local to your business? Can you ramp up to state or federal business? Target the government agencies you wish to target.

3. Go to Government Express Resources (http://www.governmentexpress.com/resources.html). Scroll down to "Doing Business with Links" (for Cities, State and Federal). Each of these provides direct links to the procurement websites for all states, all federal agencies and many major cities. What you will do here is start your education on how each level of government procures goods and services. You need to understand this before you proceed. Browse and bookmark this site while you are there, as it has lots of free information on doing business with the government.
4. Next, go to Recovery.org. Government contract tracking firm Onvia created this site to show on a state-by-state basis where the money will be spent. You may need to subscribe to Onvia's bid tracking service to get details on each emerging opportunity.

For more steps to Amtower’s action plan, check out this article on Entrepreneur.com (http://www.entrepreneur.com/money/article202570.html#ixzz0LAVC1gN5&D). Your local government offices should also be able to provide resources to help you along in this process.

Business Cards are Not an All-Access Pass

Contrary to popular (or at least common) belief, networking events, conferences, expos, etc. are not a business card collecting free-for-all aimed at building your marketing distribution list and boosting your online network.

In order to not turn connections – and potential clients – off, build a relationship first before you add them to your mass marketing distribution list. Or, upon taking their business card, simply ask if they would like to be added to your monthly newsletter list and be sure to give them several solid reasons as to why your newsletter would be of benefit to them.

Why should you be concerned about this? Obviously, you don’t want to annoy the people who you would like to turn into clients with unwanted emails. But, more importantly, do this and your email marketing efforts could garner spam complaints creating a big headache for you in the future.

Get Connected in Your Community!

For small businesses owners, successful marketing strategies extend beyond effective SEO, social media dominance and expertly crafted ad messages. To gain credibility among your immediate target market – your local audience – it is imperative you cultivate a strong presence in your community. While you may know of many community groups, organizations and associations, it is wise to ensure they know you!

Lisa Barone recently blogged about the importance of building awareness in your local neighborhood through community involvement. Here are some easy ways Lisa has suggested to become an active member of your community.

Offer to host a class – Does your business provide a unique service that can be incorporated into a learning opportunity and, thus, a networking opportunity? Offer to host a class. A client of ProMoter specializes in helping people own their own business through franchising. To build their network of contacts and turn prospects into customers, the company hosts free monthly seminars with expert speakers and topics of interest to their customer base.

Join your Chamber of Commerce and other area groups – Local Chamber of Commerce meetings are a great way – an emphasis on great! – to meet and network with other business owners. ProMoter is an active member of a variety of local city organizations including Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI), One Southern Indiana and the Jeffersontown Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, ProMoter staff members are active members of the Louisville chapter of National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and the Young Professional Association of Louisville (YPAL). Joining local affiliates of nationally recognized organizations can do a lot for your business reputation.

Donate your services – Huh? And, how is this supposed to bring in revenue? Well, sometimes smart business decisions don’t necessarily do a lot for your bottom line – in the short run. But, profits can be found if you are patient. Check out this example – a local Louisville photographer is often called upon to donate or drastically markdown her services for major group events. However, because she is known as this group’s unofficial photographer, many members call upon her services at full price creating quite the customer base. It is all about exposure – no pun intended!

Go local – As a local business you should be supporting other local businesses. Use them whenever you can. Next time you stop in at a local shop, ask to speak to the owner or manager. Brainstorm ways each business could benefit from the other’s services.

Click here to check out the complete article by Lisa: http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/06/build-awareness-in-your-community.html.

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