Yes, the economy is lagging and budgets are cut. Yes, we have competition. Yes, clients are postponing buying decisions.

So what?

If you focus on building relationships and implement the sales strategies I reveal here, you’ll be able to close more deals and get more sales now. People will buy from you even in a lagging economy — no matter what your price point.

3 Ways to Get In, Get Started, and Close More Deals

Sales Closing Tip 1: Recommend New Approaches

Good salespeople have always talked about creating value. Now we need to put ourselves in our clients’ shoes and be creative. We must get in and get started. Think smart, not big. It’s always smarter to have a smaller piece of something, than a big piece of nothing. Begin with a smaller project, a reduced order, or a regional, rather than global, implementation. Get in, and get to know the client. Let them get to know you. Get to know their business.

Sales Closing Tip 2: Create Metrics

Sit on the same side of the table as your client. Work together to determine the best way to get started. Always, always, create metrics with your client. How do you, together, define success? Get agreement that once this project is successful—according to the metrics you’ve agreed upon—that the client will work with you to identify other sales opportunities within their organization. A successful project breeds a successful relationship, which leads to successful referrals. This means more sales leads and more money for you!

Sales Closing Tip 3: Negotiate or Walk

Yes, the client will want to negotiate on price. That’s their job—to build business while watching the bottom line. How many times have you submitted a sales proposal to a client, and had them say, right off the bat, “Great! Where do I sign?” It doesn’t happen. We always want to get the best deal, so why wouldn’t our clients?

If you must adjust your price, then adjust the scale of your project or the deliverables as well. Always get something in return and write it into your agreement. Maybe the client agrees to write a testimonial or promises to refer you to another business unit in their organization, or to someone they know at a different company. Maybe you barter some of your services. Bartering is an age-old way of doing business, and it makes sense in many cases if you want what they have and they need what you have. Perhaps the client has software that your company needs, or a consulting methodology that could propel your business. You get the picture. Work it out.

If you can’t work things out, be willing to walk away. It’s a tough decision, but it may be your best strategic sales decision. You’ll be off to the next client who values what you offer and is willing to pay for it.

If you follow my advice in this article and in my book, No More Cold Calling™, you will build lifetime customer relationships with clients who want to buy from you over and over again even in a lagging economy. You will get more referrals. And, you will close more sales.

So, what are you waiting for? Get in and get started now!

About the Author:

America’s leading authority on referral selling and founder of No More Cold Calling®, Joanne Black helps salespeople, sales teams, and business owners get more referrals and attract business fast without increasing the cost of sales. Discover how to turn prospects into clients more than 50 percent of the time even in a lagging economy with her No More Cold Calling sales programs at http://www.nomorecoldcalling.com.

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Young Entrepreneur: Word-of-mouth is certainly the best form of marketing available. In a recent study by the authority site emarketer.com, it was shown that fully 53% of online traffic comes from word-of-mouth – recommendations and referrals made by others.

The growth of the Internet has certainly enhanced the potential for positive results from word-of-mouth referrals. News used to take a lot longer to spread when the telephone was the most effective means of communication. News can now travel at lightning speeds through the many forms of e-mail, instant messaging, SMS text messaging and the Web 2.0 children – Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter, etc.

Nowadays, in Internet marketing terms, it is relatively easy to prompt people for a recommendation. “Tell a friend” scripts are easy to promote and these messages stand a great chance of reaching their proposed recipients, due to the fact that they are coming from a trusted friend or acquaintance. Recognizable e-mail addresses normally sail past those pesky spam filters.

There are many ways to generate valuable online publicity through the use of press release services. You should have a clear strategy, defined and regular, and strive to incorporate different tactics. A series of written press releases should aim to show your product or service as relevant and “hot”. Create a buzz around your product. Inject some controversy and color and always aim to establish yourself as a credible expert in your niche.

One of the beauties of the Internet as we know it today is its ability to provide viral exposure. Whilst aiming to brand yourself as the credible expert, consider giving something of value away for free. Make sure that you research this well, however, so that your intended audience feels that you truly are giving away something of value and that this is not just your opinion!

Find out what value and what kind of information your target audience is looking for. Are they looking for inspiration, or simply a lighthearted message of some kind? Use the many Internet distribution channels to provide something of perceived value at little or no cost. Never employ the hard sell – but do make sure that you include subtle links so that interested people can find you.

Why word of mouth is still the best form of marketing [Young Entrepreneur]

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Marketing to Women Online: You want to reach moms? You want word-of-mouth advertising? You want moms to get on board with your brand or product and to tap into the influence they have with their friends and family?

Meet the mommy blogger.

Companies small and large are trying to climb on to the mommy blogger bandwagon. Advertising Age recently did a story about the phenomenon - Inside the Mommy Blogger Business.

Despite their lightweight moniker, mommy bloggers have become marketing business heavyweights. Now said to number in the millions, these online women have cobbled together content networks that rival some mainstream media companies. And they're clearly a force that retailers underestimate at their own peril. In this "About Digital" report, we talk to a retail giant, an analyst, major publisher and a PR agency to better understand how various segments of the industry are adjusting to this phenomenon.

There's a reason why mommy bloggers are gaining the attention and respect of advertisers.

eMarketer just published the results from the 2009 Social Media study from BlogHer, iVillage and Compass Partners. The study found that:

Of the female social media participants, 75% took part in social networking and 55% used blogs. Nearly 23 million of the social media users read blogs.

But many women went beyond merely reading: 12 million posted to blogs and 8 million published them.

In fact, women who used blogs were more than twice as likely to do so when they were seeking information, advice and recommendations than were women who participated in social networking.

When providing advice or contributing to a community, more women also turned to blogs than social networks.

“The scale of social media usage among US women continues to grow, and blogs remain the go-to resource for those who want to gather information, share ideas and get reliable advice,” said Elisa Camahort Page, COO of BlogHer.

There's another reason why advertisers are reaching out to mommy bloggers.

In her book Too Busy To Shop, Kelley Skoloda talks about the importance of the "messenger." Women listen to messages from trusted sources. An advertising message in a commercial is one thing. But that message delivered by a trusted credible source carries a lot more weight.

With the bombardment of consumer information, a more transient society, and significant time constraints, more women are turning to less conventional sources, such as blogs, social networking sites, and Web sites, to get trusted information and recommendations.

In fact, these interactive sites are becoming extended networks of friends and family. These virtual neighborhoods give women access to many other women who are in the same life stage as they are, making the topics and discussions very relevant to what they want to know and where they are in life.

The bottom line for advertisers and brands is this - women, especially moms are reading and interacting with blogs in record numbers. It's where they are at.

Mommy Bloggers - Why Advertisers Want Them [Marketing to Women Online]

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Almost everyone associates the telemarketing industry with outbound call centers. You know, the gigantic room full of people with headsets on, “cold calling” customers to make sales, generate leads, or collect information for surveys. There’s another kind of telemarketing, though- think customer service 1-800 numbers, customer help desks, or order processing over the phone. Inbound telemarketing is becoming a popular way to outsource processes that businesses might not have the staff capacity to handle. Here are a few ways you can use inbound telemarketing to benefit your business:

Order Processing
Inbound call centers can take customer orders over the phone and even process sales when customers pay with credit cards. Any business with time restrictions, such as those whose employees only work during business hours, can take advantage of this extended availability- the more you’re available to customers, the more sales you’ll make. You can also use inbound call centers for order processing for their language capabilities. While you might not have the resources to hire sales representatives that speak Spanish, Japanese, or Tagalog, an inbound call center does- this allows you to reach and communicate with more potential customers in a language they’re comfortable speaking.

24/7 Customer Service
If your employees can’t be available for customers at all hours of the day, inbound telemarketing offers a solution. Many businesses assign a 1-800 number to a telemarketing firm for in order to give customers around the clock access. Businesses like banks, hotels, and insurance companies that need to provide constant access use inbound telemarketing companies to fill the gaps when their own employees aren’t available to answer questions, fix billing errors, or file claim reports. If your company could benefit from offering 24/7 support to customers, telemarketing is an option you should consider.

Helpdesk and Customer Support
If you sell a technical product, such as software, it can be a good idea to use dedicated telephone service representatives- telemarketing company employees trained by your business that only answer calls on behalf of your company- rather than employing a full-time helpdesk employee as a member of your own staff. You can also reach more customers- telemarketing companies keep longer hours, employ representatives with different language capabilities, and are able to stay open to customers in different time zones more easily.

Lead Generation and Appointment Setting
Inbound telemarketing is often used for lead generation and appointment setting. You can direct sales leads to call the telemarketing company directly to set up a sales appointment, or gather sales lead information when customers place calls for more information about your products or services.

Inbound call centers can be used for several purposes in addition to those mentioned above. Inbound call centers can assist with promotional contests (such as radio call-ins) can help collect survey or donation information, or for any other service you can think of that might benefit your business. It’s always a good idea to speak with at least a few different companies before making a decision about which company to choose.

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Have you ever known someone who could immediately make friends with anyone? You know they type. They can build instant rapport and it doesn’t matter about race, age, or gender. They can walk into a room and befriend everyone from a priest, a mechanic, and the CEO. Afterward you are scratching your head wondering…how did they do it?

In most cases it is because they have mastered several key skills. Sometimes it is something they learn naturally. For most people they have just spent the time improving their skills.

There are four basic personality styles that vary based on the type and amount of information needed to make a decision. Pragmatics and analyticals base decisions on facts and data while amiables and extroverts make decisions based on emotion and feelings. Pragmatics and Extroverts need just enough information to make a decision (and no more!) while analyticals and amiables just can’t get enough.

You can learn more about personality styles in my article Mastering the four personality styles.

Brandt Smith is a sales, marketing, public speaking, and professional development expert. Learn about achieving wealth and life balance through entrepreneurship at Wealth and Wisdom, where he is cofounder and senior editor. Their advice on wealth building, personal development, and life balance can help take you to the next level. You can also read more of his thoughts on his blog.

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There are thousands of forums on the web ranging from any subject imaginable. Forums are a collection of people interested in specific subject collaboration with one another. Forums even have top experts in those fields answering questions and offering advice at no cost. Forums allow for user interaction through question and answer boards. These boards have moderators to prevent spammers from ruining the forums goals.

Forums are becoming more popular every day as people want to communicate with one another via the web. Forums are a great place to find an answer to technical questions or get some expert advice. Larger forums receive thousands of visitors a day, bringing together a community of experts in a specific field or industry. Besides helping you find answers, forums can be a valuable tool for site promotion (search engine optimization), increasing traffic (search engine marketing), and proving that you really are an expert in a specific field (building credibility).

The more exposure you and your business receives, the better off your company will be in the long run. As more and more web users see your company they will be inclined to view your website and learn what you have to offer. This can ultimately lead to increased sales for your business and higher search engine rankings. You must remember that every customer has the potential to negatively impact your business with a negative rating or feedback, so be sure to treat each customer with the upmost respect and courtesy so they will recommend you to others.

Search Engine Optimization Benefits

Forums are a great way to get a new site indexed by the major search engines. Since the search engines require a listing fee and have extremely long waiting periods to be indexed in their results, forums make a great alternative. Forums can get a new site indexed in the search engines at no cost and in as little as 3 days. All you need to do is find a high traffic forum that is indexed frequently and place a link of your new site in a post or signature. Signatures are a place at the bottom of every post you make that is reserved for customized note, saying, or link. If you want to utilize the signature for Search Engine Optimization purposes then you want to find forums that do not have the No Follow tag and place a link to your website in the signature. You will get a one-way link to your site, which is very good. To make the link even more valuable, make sure you are posting in a forum related to your website and you have keyword rich anchor text in your signature.

I have compiled a list of some of the top forums that currently do not use the No Follow Tag. Posting in these forums will get you a back link to your website, which is very helpful for search engine optimization.

techsupportforum.com/
v7n.com/forums
webproworld.com/
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/
webhostingtalk.com
forum.mambo-foundation.org
simplemachines.org

Search Engine Marketing Benefits

Forums benefit Search Engine Marketing plans as you can easily market your company and build up positive feedback for yourself. There are hundreds of forums you can post in. You want to look for forums that are relevant to your industry. Do not sign up for comic book forums, when your company is selling medical equipment. Sign up for the comic book forum on your own time with another user name. You want to build up your company’s reputation through forums that are related to your line of business.

When you post frequently in forums you begin to build up a reputation for yourself. Building up a positive relationship with your fellow forums members can establish a positive feedback towards you and your business. As we all know in this Web 2.0 world where users can interact with one another it is imperative to have positive feedback. Even one bad complaint can have irreversible negative ramifications upon your business. To avoid this be respectful to each customer and treat them as you would expect to be treated.

Posting new threads and responding to questions posted by members can build up your reputation and make you an authoritative figure, assisting with your search engine marketing. Make sure your posts are relevant to the thread. Do not spam every thread trying to build up your reputation.

Forums display the number of posts a member made next to the user name and avatar. The more posts shown by you, the more respected you become. Members with certain amounts of posts receive badges given out by the forums. Basically, the more you post in the forum the higher badge, deemed as credibility, you will be awarded.

In essence, forums are a strong marketing place. Not only do forums benefit search engine optimization, but they also help with search engine marketing. Any webmaster should take place in some sort of forum posting, whether it be for building links or obtaining a positive reputation for your company, forums are imperative to a websites success.

About the Author:
Brandon Leibowitz is an expert search engine optimization and marketing consultant. For a complete list of do follow forums visit his website at http://www.SeoOptimizers.com. Read his SEO and SEM Blog at http://blog.seooptimizers.com

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Get BACK IN BLACK (BI-B) and back in business by gathering- and using knowledge of your lost business - lost trades. The 5 step program for sales managers and directors shows you exactly how. And you'll see what a difference it could make to your profits if you start to convert lost trades to future actual trades. For more information on Business Intelligence Systems handling lost business visit: http://www.lost-trade-systems.com or you might want to read a newly published book: The Lost-Trade System.

Step 1 - Decide on strategic use of using knowledge of lost trades to improve future performance. Making a smart strategic decision to change your workflow and your daily sales work starting by converting your lost trades to future won trades is now critical to the success of an organization; however the management of sales leads is often very haphazard. If you're spending a great deal of time and money acquiring sales leads only to fail to maximize on their potential. If you are losing countless deals and money you need to make a strategic decision and act now. And some of the most successful sales organizations in the financial sector have been doing exactly this for years.

Step 2 - Capture your lost trades (leads) effectively. Registering lost trades should be as natural as capturing an actual customer trade. Start capturing your lost trades in an Excel spreadsheet posted on the company intranet or by using a relational database and a web interface. About 75% of sales managers are using Excel spreadsheets - So Excel could be a core base for lost trades or enquiries that did not result in margin and revenue. Although using Excel spreadsheets should be a popular method for handling lost enquiries and storing this information, 68% of those who use it on a daily basis are unhappy with its performance. In order to move business forward, sales organizations should - on sight - find a solution to modernize and streamline their daily processes in a way. Believe me; the value of this lost trade database will only grow over time.

Step 3 - Start benchmarking your looses versus your actual trades. To drive business forward, retain customers and create sales, it is essential to understand what business you did not have - your lost trades - and compare it the business you did had, and visualizing long run loosing trends, using appropriate metrics. Using this ‘two ledger' approach will give sales reports detailed analysis of what needs to be done, this will allow you a detailed insight into the strengths and weaknesses of your teams performance, and to make informed business decisions. Ex: You will spot leaving customers before it happens

Step 4 - Create knowledge of lost business data to create new business. Use the information supplied by the graphs of long run losing trends to create knowledge about which of your customers are about to leave, which product are underperforming and which competitors are stealing your business to identify future areas to improve upon. Use this knowledge to take action to get back in black in step 5.

Step 5 - Take action daily based on your new knowledge to maximize your sales revenue and even reach for higher sales targets. It's easier to maximize existing opportunities if you have an accurate record of all enquiries from customers - Both your actual trades and your lost trades - You will in light the ‘dark side of the sales moon ‘and use these as sales leads that have reached a positive conclusion, retaining customers and cross-selling or up-selling. Manage these opportunities effectively using the right methodology and technology in your daily work in sales, and you'll see what a difference it could make to your profits.

About the Author:
Jesper Thorlund is an economist, BI advisor and systems developer. He has been working with business intelligence and data warehouse solutions for more than 12 years as a consultant in major financial and govermental institutions. He publishes and lectures on the strategic use of business intelligence and founded Lost Trade Systems - A BI Research Company, which specializes in bringing new insights and value to businesses by working methodically with lost trades. He co-authored the bestselling book Business Intelligence, From Strategy to Data Sources (2008), available as Business Analytics in English in the SAS Press Business Series, August 2009.

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Every time I turn on the news I feel like screaming. I am sick and tired of hearing about how bad the economy is. Unemployment is up and is only going to get worse. Banks are in trouble and going under. Real estate is a mess and there is no end in sight. Major corporations are going bankrupt - heck, even the big three automakers may go under.

I hear about how this is the next great depression. I hear about the collapse of the dollar, the collapse of the western world, and the end of society as we know it.

It Isn't As Bad As It Sounds
The sad part is that it isn't all that bad. Yes the economy stinks, but this is only when compared to the amazing boom we experienced in the last decade. Companies have been able to go after the low hanging fruit-heck, there was more lying on the ground than you could pick up!

Just because the ground isn't littered with business anymore doesn't mean that there isn't business out there. You just have to work for it. And the past decade of easy business means that most companies have not made the connections and built relationships. Now they pay the price.

And at the end of the day, now is the time where entrepreneurs can really shine.
No, I'm not crazy. Think about what a true entrepreneur does.

• He connects with his customer


• identifies his needs and problems


• then creates products and services to fill those needs or problems

In other words, he gets paid to solve problems

Now more than ever companies are in trouble. Your customer desperately needs you. No, he isn't spending indiscriminately. But if you solve his problem and help him survive (or thrive) in this downturn he will be your customer for life. And you solve your "slow business" problem at the same time. Only an entrepreneur can do this, and you finally have an advantage over larger companies.

Simple, but Hard to Do
This is a simple concept that is hard to do. I've written several articles that are aimed at this:

• Recessionproof your sales


• How to Thrive in a Recession


• How to Thrive in a Recession - Ignore the News


• How to Thrive in a Recession - It’s All About the Customer


• How to Thrive in a Recession - Working for Someone Else


Brandt Smith is a sales, marketing, public speaking, and professional development expert. Learn about achieving wealth and life balance through entrepreneurship at Wealth and Wisdom, where he is cofounder and senior editor. Their advice on wealth building, personal development, and life balance can help take you to the next level. You can also read more of his thoughts on his blog.

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Inventor Resource: Selling a new invention is a specialist activity. Nonetheless, there’s no reason why an inventor shouldn’t become involved in marketing. After all, the better an invention sells, the greater the business interest in future ideas.

Use this checklist to see whether your business or licensing company is using every means to sell your invention. Some sales techniques may be more suited to your invention than others, of course; but in marketing you have to look at every angle.

Please note that if you consider but reject some of the items on the checklist, ensure you have good reasons for the rejection.

Budget
There should be a marketing budget in place with accurate figures for each part of the marketing process. If you need help creating a marketing budget, consult an accountant.

Marketing budget in place.
Individual amounts within the budget approved.

Branding
Consider using a brand name for your invention. Brand names are useful marketing tools – look at the success of Virgin, for example. Brand names can create brand loyalty among customers and make the sale of future products easier.

Media Kit
It can be helpful to pass a media kit to any journalist who makes enquiries about your invention and company. The media kit can contain product details, your biography, company history, and even a product sample, if appropriate.

Market Research
Market research can tell you how successful your invention is likely to be, and if you need to make some changes.
Although market research essentially consists of asking questions and collating replies, it may be best to contract a specialist to do this. A good market research company knows who to target and exactly how to phrase questions.

Product Evaluation
Inventors and businesses sometimes neglect product evaluation. Evaluation tells you, however, how much your product will cost to produce, and how much you need to sell it for to cover additional costs and make a profit. In the marketing context, product evaluation can therefore help you decide how much money you can use for sales and promotion.

Public Relations
Public relations companies can launch and promote your invention to gain it maximum media and public exposure. It can be worth talking to PR companies to see what they can do for you.

Advertising Media
The nature of your invention may dictate the advertising media you employ. Consider advertising with the following.
TV, Radio, The Internet, Newspapers and magazines, Direct mail.

Product Placement
Product placement is particularly effective for general consumer goods, especially when linked to a brand name. Generally speaking, it involves placing your product in the public eye by sponsoring conferences, radio shows, TV programmes, and even films.
On TV dramas and films, your product may also appear in some camera shots.

Trade Fairs And Conferences
Running a stand at a trade fair or industry conference is a good way of promoting your invention, and networking with possible wholesalers, retailers, and consumers.

Abroad
Always consider the possibility of selling abroad. You need to address issues such as currency differences, export regulations, and local laws; nonetheless, the UK government can give expert advice. Contact the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR).

Focusing On The Benefits
Ensure that your advertising focuses on the benefits of your invention. The benefits are what potential buyers want to read about. They need to know what problems your invention solves, and what it can do to help them.

Advertising focuses on the benefits of the invention

Flexibility
Marketing, like other aspects of business, needs a flexible approach. If sales are poor, those responsible for marketing your invention must respond quickly and positively.

Everyone involved in marketing has a flexible approach

Offers
Consider using promotional offers for your invention. You don’t need to reduce the price – you can add something free of charge, for example. If you think a promotional offer is worth looking at, try testing it first with some market research.

Marketing Plan
A marketing plan focuses attention on how to sell your invention. It should also encompass every relevant point made on this checklist. Your local business advice centre may be able to give you assistance with creating a marketing plan if necessary.

Plan written
Plan regularly reviewed

Marketing Checklist: Will it Sell? [Inventor Resource]

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Article Contributed By Robbie Kellman Baxter

I'll admit it-I'm a Facebook junkie. I also have accounts on LinkedIn, Twitter, and my college and business school communities that I diligently keep current. But I love Facebook. I love playing WordTwist with my dad, my sister and my college friends. I love reading status updates and knowing who's organizing their sock drawer and who's inspired by Thomas Friedman's latest article. I love looking at photos of people's vacations and scanned images from camps and bar mitzvahs of the 80s.

I also believe that my time on Facebook is about more than just fun. It's actually a way of building deeper relationships with people in my professional community. People ask me all the time why I spend so much time on Facebook-and I tell them that it's good for business. Look at who's using it most-people just out of college and people on the cutting edge of technology-VCs, entrepreneurs, industry analysts. It's obvious that it is the way we will be communicating in the future. So you might as well figure it out now.

Below are the top reasons my professional colleagues are staying off Facebook-with my rebuttals.

1. It's a time-sink.

You can spend the whole day playing on Facebook. Some of my personal favorite time wasters include browsing the photo albums of acquaintances, clicking on the pages of friends-of-friends to learn about their interests, playing WordTwist, and watching funny videos. Robbie says: there are so many ways to waste time-you can waste time watching TV, or chatting on the phone-but that doesn't mean we give up TVs or phones. Treat Facebook the way you might treat any other type of connecting activities-phone, face-to-face etc. First, make sure you only participate in ways that are enjoyable for you. Second, be disciplined about how, and how much, time is spent on Facebook.

2. It infringes on my privacy.

This is a big concern with my colleagues. What if my boss saw that my status said that I was in a job interview, or was nursing a hangover? What if a prospective client saw the photos of a girls weekend-what happens in Vegas should stay in Vegas. Do I really want my grandma to know that I'm politically liberal? Certain status updates could lead to some uncomfortable conversations that never had to happen. Robbie says: Facebook has many ways to protect your privacy. You can limit your entire presence on Facebook, down to your name, to your network or just your personal friends. You can choose not to post comments or photos that might conflict with the image you choose to project. It should go without saying that posting "...hates her job" or "...is soooo wasted" should not be posted (or emailed for that matter) anywhere public.

3. It could be dangerous.

The privacy issue can go one step further into more dangerous territory. For example, there are probably dozens of scams that are based on information that is easily obtained on Facebook. We don't know exactly what those scams are, but it is easy to imagine unsavory activities that take advantage of having our contact information, photos of loved ones and all-too frequent status updates. With all the issues around identity theft-it just seems safer to avoid unnecessary publicity. Robbie says: it is interesting to note that the Facebook vanguard, both younger generations and the older VCs and business execs working in social media, seem comfortable keeping their entire profiles available to the public-maybe we are all a little overzealous about protecting our security on Facebook-given that we leave doors unlocked, hand our credit cards to teenaged shop clerks and our car keys to valets we don't know.

4. I prefer to stay in touch in other ways

A lot of great networkers have avoided participating in any of the social networks because, they say, they just don't need another channel to communicate. They prefer to get together in person, or on the phone, or stay current via email. They send long newsy holiday cards and host annual pool parties-so why do they need another way to keep in touch with the same crowd? Robbie says: everyone has their preferred way to communicate-if it is important to you to be connected, you need to respect the preferences of your friends and colleagues. In addition, Facebook is a really efficient way to reconnect with people from your past-it's quick and easy to search specific names, and you can find other friends by reviewing the friends of your friends. I've "found" some great old friends I haven't seen since junior high school on Facebook.

5. It doesn't help me professionally-it's just for fun, and I prefer to have fun in other ways.

I do not like to network, and do not see any value in Facebook. I can't see any professional results from Facebook. Robbie says: the value of networking goes well beyond work. If you accept that people help each other succeed professionally, and people are more likely to help those they know well, then Facebook is actually an efficient way to maintain and grow relationships with a broad group of friends and acquaintences across the globe. And knowing people's personal and professional lives gives you a level of intimacy that strengthens the bonds.

6. I don't want to know so much about other people, it's creepy.

I can go on Facebook and see my cousins chugging beers at college or in-hospital photos of my client hours after giving birth. A friend of mine was uncomfortable to stumble upon photos of her rabbi partying on a Saturday night. Even if people go to great lengths to keep their Facebook page private, they have little control over what other people post. For example, I know several psychologists who are invisible on Facebook to everyone but their close friends-and yet many of them are tagged in other people's photos. Robbie says: once you get on Facebook, you will find some people more interesting (or more creepy) than others. And you can decide whose profiles you want to follow more regularly and set preferences accordingly. Just as in real life there are people we can't get enough of and people we've already had enough of-on Facebook, it takes all kinds!

7. I like to keep my personal and professional lives separate.

I spend enough time and energy at work. I don't want to know about people's feuds, toddlers and household projects. If I cross the line with my boss or direct reports, the relationship might get too intimate in a weird way. Robbie says: Fair enough. If you don't want your colleagues to know you as a person, then you probably shouldn't be on Facebook. I can virtually guarantee that as soon as you set up your Facebook profile, your colleagues will try to friend you. There is really no polite way to ignore them-because ultimately, the only reason you can give is "I don't really consider you a friend...and FB is only for my friends". But why would you want to keep your colleagues from getting to know you? I know so many people who carefully avoided working with friends or crossing the "colleague" line with folks at work. Once it happens, people generally find that friends are great to work with. Friends have an extra incentive to cover your back, and help you succeed. The Great Places to Work Institute has found that the single most important factor in being a great place to work is having a "best friend" at the office. And, if you have friends at work, you'll never have to eat alone.

8. It's too hard!

I don't know how to post photos and don't have any idea how to come up with the clever status updates that everyone else seems to have time to do. Robbie says: My parents and in-laws are on Facebook, as are my teenage cousins. If you're smart enough to get online, you're smart enough to set up and use a Facebook profile. Trust me on this one.

9. My kids will think I'm spying on them.

Facebook is for the younger generation. It was started on a college campus and was designed for students. I will look ridiculous on Facebook, and embarrass my teenagers. Robbie says: It may be hard for the teen set to believe that adults are finding tremendous value in using Facebook, but it's true. As of February 2009, about 45% of all Facebook users were over 25, with the fastest growing demographic women over 55. And, by the way, seeing what your kids are doing on Facebook is an important part of parenting in today's world.

10. It might send the wrong message about me and my level of seriousness.

Facebook is an activity for people who share too much about themselves and aren't hard workers. Robbie says: some of the most intense people I know are on Facebook, including most Venture Capitalists and Tech Company executives. These people often are part of the vanguard of new technologies-the first people to use laptops, iPhones and other indispensible modern conveniences. Facebook isn't popular with all professional communities yet-but it soon will be-at least among the professional communities where relationships give you a competitive advantage.

Facebook has been a great way to build more relationships with clients and colleagues. By using Facebook, I'm also current on careers of old friends and colleagues-in some case leading to great professional conversations and partnerships. If you have relationships with people already, wouldn't it be nice to have an easy way to know what they're doing professionally and what's on their mind?

Take a chance. Establish a profile and connect with 10 friends who are already on Facebook. See if it is for you. If you don't try, you'll never know!

About the Author
Robbie Kellman Baxter (rbaxter at peninsulastrategies dot com) is president of Peninsula Strategies, a consulting firm that helps technology companies analyze market opportunities and risks. She has worked with industry leaders like Netflix, Yahoo! and Oracle, as well as dozens of venture-backed startups. A popular speaker on market strategy, social networking and entrepreneurship, Robbie has been quoted in the New York Times, eCommerce Times and SF Examiner. Learn more at http://www.peninsulastrategies.com

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If you’re starting a business right now, marketing can be one of the first efforts to take a hit. After all, why should you market products aggressively to customers who aren’t ready to spend?

Cutting back on marketing efforts right now is actually a pretty risky move- studies show that companies who increased or maintained marketing budgets during lean times are rewarded with more sales as the economy begins to pick back up. According to McGraw-Hill research, companies who increased or did not change marketing budgets during the ’81-’82 recession saw significantly higher sales growth within five years- over twice as much as those companies that chose to cut back.

So how do you design and implement an online interactive marketing strategy on a shoestring budget? What can you save on when contracting for services? Here’s a quick primer on choosing an online marketing company and forming the contract you want- at a price that’s within your budget.

Evaluate your requirements.
Do you already employ online marketing strategies such as email blasts, customer follow-up emails, or search optimization strategies? If you’re already working with an online marketing firm and are unhappy with the services you’re receiving, the price you’re paying, or both, figure out exactly what you need before you switch or begin to negotiate. Do you want to build relationships, increase brand visibility among certain customer groups, or stay in touch with existing clients? Evaluate your needs before choosing- or choosing to stay with- a company: List the services you want and how much you’re willing to pay.

Re-negotiate.
If your current online marketing firm is meeting your needs, you can still negotiate on price. Most of the time, this means contracting for additional services or a longer term- a better deal in the long run if you’re working with a reputable company. You may be able to get discounted services simply by asking, especially if your contract is about to expire. Trying to re-negotiate your existing contract- if you have one- is a step you should take before looking for a new provider.

Use smart bargaining tactics.
If you’ve narrowed down the field of providers to a few worthy contenders, try to negotiate with each to get the best deal for services. Most vendors are a bit more flexible and open to bargaining near the end of the month or the end of a sales quarter. You can ask for more services, an extended agreement, a payment plan, or any other compromise that reduces your out-of-pocket-cost. Up-front payments (retainers) are usually not negotiable- most vendors will require some monetary outlay before beginning work.

Get a written estimate or service quote.
These usually serve as previews for the final contract. It should be specific, but not too specific- it can be a good idea to split projects into phases if you’re using several different strategies. You should have access to all necessary information (graphics, advertising agreements, affiliate information) in the event that you ever decide to use a different company for later efforts. Make sure that you compare several different service quotes to get an idea of the “going rate” for services- this places you in a better position to negotiate.

Make sure you can track efforts.
Make sure you know how results are tracked. Will you be able to monitor key information (web traffic, conversions, etc.) yourself? Make sure you know how results of the marketing strategy will be measured.

Online marketing is one of the most effective methods of sales generation. Make sure you shop around for a company, compare price quotes, and ask for references. A good firm won’t ever “guarantee” a certain search engine result or output, but will be able to accurately track the results of their efforts. Spending on marketing is effectively investing in future sales- make sure you invest wisely.

Merrin Muxlow is a writer, yoga instructor, and law student based in San Diego, California. She writes extensively for Resource Nation, a company that provides resources for business owners, and is a frequent contributor to several sites and programs that offer tools for entrepreneurs, including Dell and BizEquity.

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Article Contributed by Guy Kingston

The Amazon website is a master class in the dark arts of selling.

However, be warned, like the other Amazon, it is a dangerous place to be: those who go there thinking they are in control, and that they are there to observe and possibly exploit it, end up being trapped by it.

What follows is the confession of an Amazon-addict – but one sufficiently skilled in the dark arts himself to know what is being done to him, and to admire it, even as it is being done.
To begin with, Amazon provides a neat illustration of the difference between Marketing and Selling.

Marketing is everything that Amazon does to get you to visit their website – advertising, banners on other websites, links, direct e-mailing, and so on.

Selling is everything that Amazon does to get you to part with your money once you are there.
Amazon owes much of its success to its ability to lead a customer, who came with only a specific product in mind, on to other purchases. This is, of course, the equivalent of a shop display that tempts someone who came out with a definite shopping list to consider buying items he never imagined.

Having no shop window beyond a home page, Amazon makes the most of it by using affinity marketing.

In the case of a returning customer, this means Amazon try to customise his home page by plastering it with products that have been bought by other customers who have also bought things he has bought in the past.

Where nothing about a customer is known, Amazon try the scatter shot approach and fill the home page with the most popular items in general.

However, on the pages relating to specific products, Amazon zero in on the individual customer again, by references to other items in the form of “those who looked at/bought this item also looked at/bought X, Y, and Z” – with an easy one-click link to each.

Of course, one imagines that in about 99% of cases those links are ignored – but the other 1% is where Amazon makes its money.

This manipulation could be scary, but Amazon counters that by encouraging the customer to feel he is in control. The customer is invited to treat Amazon as a personal space, like a “social networking” site.

He can post a profile, rate and review products on-line, make lists, and join discussion groups. He is even made to feel part of a “community”.

The whole point is to give him the impression of a safe environment – so that he keeps coming back.

However, while it is a necessary first step for the customer to keep coming back to the website, it is not enough: the whole point is not for him to keep looking but to actually buy.

Here is the real genius of the Amazon system: they make it very, very easy to buy.
If buying each item involved filling out a form on-line, Amazon would never have survived. Amazon owes its survival and its success to the unsung Einstein of Selling who invented “One-Click ordering”.

It is so easy that it becomes addictive. It makes no difference to the sale of an item a customer really came to buy in the first place – he would have bought that anyway – but its effect is devastating when combined with affinity marketing: the customer who came to buy X decides he might was well buy Y and Z while he is there – because it takes only two more clicks of a mouse.

If any further encouragement were needed to get the customer to make those extra clicks, Amazon is the master of “artificial scarcity”: stating that only a limited number of items are left in stock can panic a customer into an immediate one-click decision to buy, rather than risk postponing until none are left.

Finally, if all this sounds frighteningly cynical, it must be said in Amazon’s favour that its after-sales service is usually – emphasis on “usually” – very good. However, this too is good salesmanship: Amazon’s strategy is not to sell to a customer once but to sell to him again and again until he becomes an income-producing asset over the years. Amazon is one of the minority of businesses who understand the great truth that keeping a customer is as important as attracting him in the first place, and that the art of selling is not selling once but selling for life.

About the Author:
Guy Kingston produces and presents the Mind Your Own Business podcast, offering free business advice to entrepreneurs and business owners. As well as audio podcasts there are more articles like this, compelling videos and a must-read blog. All at www.myobpod.com or you can network and join in discussions on the MYOB Facebook group.

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One way to gain recognition for your community and build visibility for your business is by earning business awards. Many are self-nominated and fairly easy to apply for. Here’s a quick guide to a few of the best business awards for 2009:

Businesses that have helped jump start our economy by maintaining growth over the past three years are eligible for the Inc. Magazine 500/5000 award. Winners are invited to attend the nationally recognized Inc. 500/5000 conference, and are featured in future magazine and online stories. This award is a great chance to gain visibility for your company and to represent your community- past winners have included social mission companies, tech startups, and beauty product lines- companies in all industries with over $2m in sales for 2008 are encouraged to apply.

For those still working on breaking the $1m mark, the Make Mine a Million $ Business contest, sponsored by Count Me In, is a great way to gain the support you need to meet this benchmark. The contest operates as a “race” to the $1m sales mark, and most participants see sales increase at least 40% over the duration of the competition. The M3 race is open to women owned businesses in one of 15 categories.

Businesses already on the fast track to earn $1m- those with $500,000 or more in sales for 2008, are eligible to enter the Entrepreneur Magazine Small Business Contest. Similar to the 500/5000 conferenceInc. contest, businesses are featured in a future magazine issue or online story. Entrants are also featured on the contest website- a great way to increase visibility for your business even if you aren’t chosen as a winner.

The Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award is given annually by international accounting and consulting firm Ernst and Young. Award recipients may attend special conferences and are invited into a network of past winners and prestigious entrepreneurs. The award is internationally recognized as a great achievement- check out the website and contest rules for more details.

If you don’t have the time for a lengthy application, or don’t have the sales revenue to qualify for one of the larger contests, consider Business.com’s “What Works for Business” contest. Applicants write a quick essay about a challenge they’ve overcome. Any small business owner that has overhauled their website design implemented a new online marketing strategy knows that the small things can sometimes be the toughest to take on- here’s your chance to let other entrepreneurs learn from your success. Prizes for the top essay are awarded monthly.

Finally, Ideablob.com allows you to test out business ideas for the chance to win a $10,000 award. Award money goes toward the costs of implementing the idea- if you need to purchase inventory, equipment (such as a credit card terminal) or business software to get your business off the ground, here’s a great place to get started. Awards are given monthly, and are determined by votes from members of the site’s online community.

Whether you’re a brand-new business or a seasoned business owner, there’s a contest out there for you. Most of the above have spring deadlines, so get going- apply for the award you deserve. Good luck!

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Article Contributed by Paul Rakovich

There are two paths that you can take when it comes to managing your pay-per-click advertising campaign online. You can learn it yourself and make Google's stock rise higher while you figure out the learning curve, then spend a lot of time keeping it running smoothly. Or, you can hire a professional pay-per-click firm to handle it for you.

I did both.

See, I know the position you're in right now. I've been there. I've hired and fired 2 pay-per-click management companies. I was forced to learn on my own and spend tens of thousands of dollars.

My Experiences with Outsourcing My Pay-Per-Click Needs

The first pay-per-click management company that I hired kept raising my budget and jacking up my costs-per-click. Yet, I wasn't getting any conversions!

So I decided to fire that PPC firm and manage my own pay-per-click campaigns. I studied under the top gurus like Perry Marshall. I bought all the ebooks and coaching programs. And, I spent more than $10,000.00 figuring everything out on my own until I grew a no name business into $50k per month in sales all from pay-per-click advertising.

But, I worked day and night on my pay-per-click campaigns. I spent a ton of time, money and effort on it. I couldn't handle it anymore so I hired another pay-per-click firm to take over the accounts again. They did a nice job and are still around today, but I saw some holes in their approach.

Now, I don't want you to make the same mistakes I did. I want to help you choose a pay-per-click management company that's actually going to help you turn clicks into clients.

Here are 7 Questions You Need to Ask Before You Hire a Pay-Per-Click Management Company:

1. This is going to piss people off: How many accounts does an account manager handle? Just because you have a "dedicated" account manager doesn't mean he/she isn't dedicated to 50 other accounts. This is not uncommon in some of the larger pay-per-click firms out there. If they work 40 hours per week that's less than 1 hour/week they are spending on your account, provided they do nothing but work on accounts every minute of the day.

2. Can I peek in and have access to my Google & Yahoo accounts? There's a new breed of PPC management that keeps everything secret. They are basically buying a click for $1.00 then charging you an undisclosed markup on the click. That's why their setup & management fees are low. They're making money on marking up your clicks.

3. What constitutes an improvement? You need to put in your order with the pay-per-click firm just like you would order a steak medium rare with a side of truffle fries to a waiter. Don't be afraid to ask for help and don't be afraid to speak up. For example: I want to increase sales while keeping my cost-per-sale under $50.

4. Do you track phone calls? If you are doing any part of the business offline then your pay-per-click management company should offer a way to track where your calls are coming from. Tracking calls back to specific keywords helps eliminate waste and will reveal high response terms you'll want to dominate.

5. What are your prices? Now, don't be cheap. There is no such thing as a Mercedes Benz for Honda prices. I'll admit some people don't need the Mercedes, but if you are spending $2,000/month or more, chances are you at least need a certified, pre-owned BMW.

6. What is your experience? I'm all for giving the new guy a try. I was the new guy at one point. Nothing, I repeat nothing can replace experience. Experience comes from long hours of hard work. There are no magic formulas. Good solid basics and some creativity will always win in the end.

7. Will you involve me in the project? No one knows your business as well as you. Get specific on how often you'll meet to review the results and plan next steps. A good pay-per-click firm will welcome your input. It is invaluable.

Now, it's up to you. But, if you fail to ask the above questions, then you're risking hiring and firing new pay-per-click management companies when things go south or spending tens of thousands of dollars learning how to do it yourself like I did. Learn from my pay-per-click outsourcing experiences.

About the Author
Pay-Per-Click Expert Paul Rakovich grew a no-named business selling Tony Robbins CDs to doing $50,000.00 per month in sales with PPC advertising. Today, he manages PPC campaigns for plastic surgeons, dermatologists, clothing companies, dentists, lawyers, Internet marketers, a famous copywriter and more! Now get his FREE 5 PPC Fixes That Could Save You Thousands at http://www.clicksandclients.com & learn how to turn your clicks into paying clients.

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Article Contributed by Guy Kingston

Here is a truly horrifying thought: there is actually a specialist graduate degree of Master of Marketing Research, with the post-nominal letters MMR.

Nor is this a gimmick or a cash-cow for one of those otherwise unknown “universities” that offer to send you a degree in return for your “lifetime experience” and a large fee.

No, this is a proper degree offered by over a dozen serious universities, mainly in the USA.

You wonder what sort of eager young scholar, with all the mind-broadening opportunities of a university education spread before them, would choose to dedicate one or two of the most fertile years of their life to such a narrow subject.

Of course, if anyone developed a scientific system that enabled them to predict market responses with a high degree of accuracy, it would be worth the effort. It would open the doors to success not only in business but almost every other aspect of life. The world would belong to the market researchers. Not only a year or two but a decade or two would be well spent in its study.

Indeed, some of the finest minds in academia have been attracted, both by the cross-disciplinary intellectual challenges and by the potential rewards, to the study of customer behaviour.

It is a favourite subject at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, who dole out the Nobel Prizes for Economics. Several Laureates, like Professor Daniel McFadden of UC Berkeley, who won the Prize for his theories on “choice modelling”, have specialised in aspects of econometrics which, whether or not they liked to put it this way, provided a theoretical basis for market research.

There is only one drawback to all this formidable academic output: it is useless.

The test of the validity of any scientific theory is not only how well it explains the past but how well it predicts the future.

If these academic theories of consumer choice were of any use, they should be able to provide models to predict future consumer choice.

We cannot help noticing the absence of such a model in the business world.

If such a model existed, Professor McFadden and his ilk would be very wealthy. While some do indeed make a tidy sum from consultancy, it is difficult to see how their clients are better off for their services.

For the bottom line on market research is that all the greatest failures in marketing history have been preceded by intensive market research using the most advanced specialist techniques available.

This is because big failures can only come from big product launches, and big product launches can only come from big corporations, because only they can afford big products and big launches. The big corporations usually spend lavishly on market research before the launch. This is not because they really believe the market research but so that the junior executives can cover themselves with the senior executives, the marketing managers with the general managers, the management with the directors, and the board with their shareholders.

Then, if something goes wrong, everyone can say, “Well, it is not my fault – I employed the most respected market researchers, who used the very latest methods, and they told me everything was going to be fine, so how was I to know?”

This means that every big product launch has been approved by advanced market research – and since a lot of big product launches end in failure, all these failures have been endorsed by market research.

Perhaps the great problem with market research is conceptual. It puts a great deal of thought and analysis into studying consumer decisions, but consumers put very little thought or analysis into their decisions.

This is why the focus group is a bad idea: it gets potential customers to spend an hour talking about decisions they would usually make in a second. This is artificial as a method and so any conclusions it reaches will be equally artificial.

As ever, wisdom is found not in academia but in The Simpsons. When Homer’s millionaire brother asks him to design the car that average Americans like him would want to buy, Homer puts in every fantasy element he can imagine and ends up designing a monstrosity that no one would want to buy.

In fact, Homer’s car is curiously reminiscent of one that was designed in response to a great deal of market research into what the public “really wanted”... the Ford Edsel.

About the Author
Guy Kingston produces and presents the Mind Your Own Business podcast, offering free business advice to entrepreneurs and business owners. As well as audio podcasts there are more articles like this, compelling videos and a must-read blog. All at www.myobpod.com or you can network and join in discussions on the MYOB Facebook group.

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Article Contributed by by David Gruttadaurio

One of the most reasonable approaches to surviving an economic downturn is to slash all unnecessary business expenses.

In their panic to save money, wild-eyed and frothy-mouthed entrepreneurs begin looking suspiciously at their marketing plans. On the surface, advertising cutbacks would seem to be a logical choice.

Why Entrepreneurs Make the Mistake of Cutting Their Marketing Budgets

If you have taken a close look at the magazines that arrive in your mailbox every month, you may have noticed they've been down-sized... and it wasn't the publisher's idea.

Advertisers are running for hills in droves as they pull back and slash their marketing budgets - in many cases by half. The result is formerly burgeoning magazines that are now a shadow of their former selves.

It's a tempting… but very dangerous strategy. Especially when you consider that your company thrives on both client retention and new growth to survive.

To stay out of economic harms way, you need to keep your marketing momentum at full throttle even during a recession. And now is the BEST time since your competitors are hiding from potential customers. Your marketing will really stand out even more!

But, if you think that "hunkering down" through an economic storm is the way for your business to survive a recession...

Here Are the Top 10 Sure-Fire Ways to Kill Your Small Business

1. STOP MARKETING and pretend everybody knows who you are and what you have to sell.

2. STOP MARKETING and fantasize that you have more important worries than promoting your business.

3. STOP MARKETING and make believe your customers won't notice that you discontinued your monthly client newsletter.

4. STOP MARKETING and keep telling yourself that your customers would never abandon you.

5. STOP MARKETING and ignore the potential new clients that would buy your products or services if they were contacted by you.

6. STOP MARKETING and stop thinking about your competitors and the fact they want your customers.

7. STOP MARKETING and keep telling yourself it costs too much to market.

8. STOP MARKETING and disregard the fact that marketing is not a business expense but an investment.

9. STOP MARKETING and make-believe your established customers don't need to be reminded that you appreciate their business.

10. STOP MARKETING and forget that now is the best time to market since all of the idiots are cutting back on doing it.

Certainly the choice is yours. You can follow the above practices and drive your business into the ground. It's up to you. But do you really want to bury your business forever?

If the answer is 'no'…

Here Are 3 Reasons Why You Should Relentlessly Market Your Business Today:

* Prove to your clients that you really do value and appreciate them – market to them using a print newsletter.

* Show your customers that you are a successful entrepreneur willing to invest in your relationship with them – send a monthly print newsletter.

* Instill trust, credibility and confidence in you and your company as well as your service or product – publish a customer newsletter.

The Bottom Line

If asked to list their company's most valuable assets, many would include buildings, equipment, inventory and accounts receivables.

Very few would even think to include their customers.

Your clients are the most valuable asset you have. When you use attentive, relationship-building marketing strategies like distributing a print newsletter, you create a bond that will allow you to weather any type of economic environment.

About the Author

When Print Newsletter Marketing Expert David Gruttadaurio discovered the power of consistently writing and distributing print newsletters to attract and retain clients, he instantly tripled the sales of his cleaning business. Now, David is revealing his bullet-proof plan to survive this new, emerging economy with his Profit Exploding Newsletter Secrets Report at: http://www.NewslettersMadeForYou.com

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Article Contributed by Greg Gaskill

Social networking was once the domain of people looking for friendship on the internet, but savvy businesses have also begun to realize the value of linking up with others through the wide variety of networks that are springing up almost daily. They have learned to enjoy the ease with which they can keep in touch with clients, suppliers, and a host of others. In fact, there are now sites that cater specifically to businesses. Social networking benefits to business are many; here are just a few, and how they can help you.

Why Social Networking?

When you develop a page on a social networking site, you are setting yourself up to connect with everyone else who has signed up on that service. So if you sign up on a service with millions of members, you are instantly able to connect with that many new people. Although you would not generally be able to send out a global email--that would be spam--you could search for those who are interested in your product or service. In other words, you could do a targeted search for your perfect customer or supplier.

Which Networks are Best for Businesses?

Although the ever-popular services like Myspace and Facebook have quite a few businesses with well-developed pages, they are mostly for social contacts, artists, social causes, and bands. Those who want more professional connections often turn to LinkedIn, Tribe, and Ryze.

These services will work best for those who create the most complete and targeted online identity. For instance, if you are a professional freelance editor but have a page full of information about your accomplished children, you may miss a lot of opportunity. Of course you are proud of your children, but they probably will not get you gigs. So stick to business.

One of the ways to make the most of your social networking page is to hire an online marketing company to create and maintain it. That way it stays professional, up to date, and has enough of the right material on it to make an impact and improve your search engine rankings.

How Do Business Social Networking Sites Improve Search Engine Rankings?

One way is that you can choose your own URL. With some services you start out with one their system gives you, then you enter your own. If you enter your business name, you have increased your internet exposure--the search engine spiders will find you more easily. Important tip: Make sure you link up to your company home page; backlinks count in search engine rankings. If you have multiple pages, provide a link to your company's page in each one.

This brings up the idea of multiple pages. Some services allow you to have multiple hubs, but some do not. Social networking benefits to business are best when you find a way to use more than one page, so it might benefit you to use multiple email addresses so you can have more than one page with the same service. Then link them together. Having multiple pages will increase your exposure on the internet.

You can also use your blog space to provide informative articles to your contacts--make sure the article bears your business name and uses keywords related to your business. This is called SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, and you will rise in the rankings when potential customers use your exact keyword phrases as a search term. Again, an online marketing company will know the best keywords to use and will have professional writers available to perform this optimization.

Social networking benefits to business are enormous, and a business that takes advantage of this tool will see better exposure often in the same day they create the page! These days, to ignore social networking is to do so at your own peril.

Article Contributed by Greg Gaskill

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Article Contributed by Mark Sneider

Whether an insurance agency, manufacturing firm, a law firm, or some other professional services organization, if you are like most other professional services organizations, your team may not be too well equipped to do what you need to do best to generate lifeblood leads.

Simply having your sales team drum up leads when they'