ReVamp Your Social Strategy

Consider your current strategy. Did you take into account the following?

1. First thing's first: What's your goal? If your goal is just to get more Facebook fans or Twitter followers, are you working towards that? Or is your goal to increase contributions from your followers? These are goals that require a unique thought process. Bottom line here is know what you're working towards, make sure it's measurable and make sure you're measuring it!
2. Have a personality, define it, and stick to it! Another way to think of this is "brand voice." As a self-employed professional, you have a brand and it has a voice. Keep your language and style consistent. It will built trust in your followers and they'll know what to expect when visiting your pages. 
3. On which channels do you want to be present? If Pinterest is your bread-and-butter social channel, do you also need to have a business presence on LinkedIn? It's smarter to be on fewer channels and manage them well, than be everywhere in small spurts. Having trouble figuring out what's best for you? Think about who your customers are and where they're hanging out in their free time. You can also use a tool like Google Analytics to see which social channel is driving the most traffic to your website.
4. Determine your time and resources *before* you start. If you're planning to spend money on social advertising, determine a budget before you get started. This will force you to think critically about your results. Also, budget your time. Decide how much time you will spend on social media each day or each week. Social media management can turn into a major time suck, so be vigilant. You can always make adjustments later!
5. Get help! If you're creating content, posting manually and tracking all the results by yourself, the time you budgeted for social media will quickly vanish. There are numerous tools available to help you schedule and post your content, so you can get back to what's important – your business!

What's been most helpful to you when developing *your* social media strategies?

Creating Buzz: Small Business Marketing

On Demand, available until December 31 (Register Here)

The objective of this course is to help you understand how marketing activities are actually conducted in a small business. This course will convince you that buzz and word-of-mouth does not just happen, instead it must cultivated and strategically crafted with an underlying architecture. After going through this course you will become a master of self-organized customer networks by leveraging hubs and connectors. This course will help you to choose and maximize the right marketing weapons for your message. Overall this course will help you to achieve a high return on imagination as opposed to return on investment. Topics covered by this course include: What is buzz and how does it spread? Understanding networks Hubs and connectors Your positioning and message Choosing your marketing weapons Word of mouth tactics Return on imagination From message to action Public relations and publicity Creating a marketing plan

Location: Online (FREE)

Are you looking for ways to Take Your Business to the Next Level,Increase Brand Awareness & Your Bottom Line?

Join this 90 minute online seminar to Learn Marketing Strategies Guaranteed to Grow Business

June 21, 2014

12pm - 1:30pm EST

 (11am - 12:30pm CST, 10am - 11:30am MST, 9am - 10:30am PST)

Register via Eventbrite or http://www.thebizknows.com/seminar.html

MARKETING MASTERMIND PANEL

Tips On Managing Your Business' Social Media Brand 

Asia Martin, Owner of Rising Dynamics, will provide simple methods business owners can use to get a better grasp on how to use social media to sculpt a more engaging personality. Asia will review finding your target audience, addressing negative reviews, the proper social media sites or apps for your business, social media tools and or services to assist your efforts, how to measure your engagement and more. 

Brand Psychology: Making an Emotional Connection with Your Target Audience

Mitch Dowell, Founder & Creative Director of Branding Experiences, will discuss the psychology behind visual branding and why consumers are subliminally drawn to certain types of marketing and branding. Most importantly, Mitch will discuss how businesses can leverage this to their advantage - regardless of their specific business sector or target audience.

 

Public Relations Tips for Your Business 

Raven Robinson, Owner of PR2Politics, will help business owners understand how to properly position their brand to acquire print, radio and blog placements. Business owners will be educated on how to successfully create partnerships with other brands to help increase media visibility.

WHY participate in Expos. The Word Stands for EXPOSURE 

Patsy Anderson, Founder of Women's Expo Forum, will share secrets to using expos as an incredible marketing tools. Learn how to use expos to your advantage. Showing UP works, but knowing what to do once you SHOW UP, makes the real difference. Expos allow the customer to see and feel your product. Expos also set you up to network with other corporations, non profits and media, - businesses that you may not meet networking. Every industries in the World participates in Expos, learn why.

2014 Maryland Business & Community Expo

Attend - Exhibit - Sponsor

Networking, Business Workshops, Shopping, Prizes, Music, Free Chair Massages & More

This is going to be a great event!

EVENT SCHEDULE
Saturday, March 22, 2014
11:00 am – 3:00 pm Exhibit Hall Open
11:30 am – 2:00 pm Business Workshops
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Mix & Mingle
Schedule is preliminary and subject to change. 

Last Day to Take Advantage of Vendor Early Bird Rates!

Sheraton Baltimore Washington Airport Hotel - BWI 
1110 Old Elkridge Landing Rd
Linthicum Heights, MD 21090

Click Here to Register

The Smartest and Funniest Marketing Campaign I've ever seen

You have often heard us say that as a  Business Owner it is important that you market and advertise your business. As a Small Business Owner its even more important that you do so. You don't know a SUCCESSFUL company that does not advertise today in some form or fashion.  They simply don't exist. 

That's why the big boys still send you coupons, commercials, postcards, etc.

Check out these small business owners who got CREATIVE about how to raise the level of their business. And to do so they used 4 very well known companies to do it from the comfort of their garage.

And a result they gained revenue raising business with a NATIONAL company.

(Having trouble view the video, click here)

How are you doing it? 

Share some of  your best creative marketing ideas by commenting 

or send us an email at info@yvisa.net

Attract Your Audience, Stand Out In The Crowd

Every business owner knows that without advertising, a business is not going to grow very much. A lot of time, imagination and money has to go into discovering new and exciting ways to attract customers. It has been proven that owning a website is the cheapest form of long term advertising that a business owner can have. Buts that's not enough.

Do you still receive advertising from companies like Walmart, Target, Burger King, Gee Law Firm, Various Schools, McDonald's, etc.? Why, they have already made millions of dollars?

                 As rich as these companies are, to maintain that Million or Billion Dollar status continued advertising is mandatory. Your business growth requires no less.

Get creative! Your efforts must be something that you can maintain on a monthly basis for a period of time to truly measure the value of your efforts. One time won't do it.

One of the most tried and true ways of advertising, especially for the smaller business owner, has always been business postcards/flyers. They are effective and relatively inexpensive ways to get the word out about your services. In order for your postcards or flyers to accomplish this purpose, however, you must ensure that they attract an individual's attention in the first place.

Creating eye catching business postcards/flyers.can make a huge impact on attracting future customers. Custom designed postcards/flyers can easily be purchased from YVISA and printed for you at the lowest prices available in your local area.  Below you will find several tips to make sure that your flyers grab the customers you are after.

Appeal to Your Customers' Concerns

It is not just enough to advertise your services. You should develop the text of your flyer so that it appeals to your customers' emotions, needs and concerns. Instead of simply advertising a Mother's Day sale on flowers, you might try wording it such as "Make Mom Feel Loved This May!" The text you choose as your headline will be crucial to the success of your postcards/flyers..

Choose Colors Carefully

Whether you are choosing leaflet printing or brochure printing services, you will have a vast array of colors to choose from. Your color scheme needs to be attractive without being overwhelming. Also, regardless of the colors you choose, you should always opt for text to be printed in traditional black.

Enhance With Images

Humans are visual creatures. Pictures are still worth a thousand words. Even newspaper printing services will offer the option of adding images to enhance your business postcards/flyers.. Choose an image that will cause an individual to look twice. You want to cause curiosity. Make them ask themselves, "What is that all about?" Make sure images you choose are clear and not grainy, blurred or distorted in anyway. Let the headline and image do most of the talking. You do not need to print an entire paragraph about your services. A business postcards/flyers. should have just enough information to make an individual seek more information.

Contact Information

You should make all of your contact information available on your business flyer. If there are multiple ways to make contact with your business include each one. You would hate to lose business simply because someone could not contact you. Contact information should include your company's address, email, and all contact phone numbers. If you are advertising an event, be sure to list the event date in the most easily understandable way. Also include specific event times or business hours.

Visit some eye catching samples of our work  that has raised the level of business for our clients at http://www.yvisa.net/graphic-design.html 

Share with us one of your creative marketing ideas that has helped your business grow!

Georgia Chapter of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (GANIGP)

27th  Annual Product Exposition & Reverse Trade Show 

March 23-25, 2014 

Americas Mart & Hyatt-Regency, Atlanta 

240 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 2200, Atlanta, GA 30303-1327

Click here to learn more and/or Register

Henrico Business Council Meeting: Networking Breakfast 3-05-14

Date:	Wednesday, March 05, 2014	Remind Me
Time:	7:15 AM - 9:00 AM

Reynolds Community College
Workforce Development & Conf. Ctr.
1651 E. Parham Road
Richmond, VA 23228-

This is a FREE Event

Bring your business cards and join us for food, mingling, updates from the Henrico Business Council, and spotlights on Chamber members at this networking-only breakfast!

Pre-registration closes at noon on Tuesday, March 4th.

 

Register online below or call the reservation line at (804) 783-9368.

 

Questions? Call Mark Hickman, Program Manager, Government & Community Affairs, at (804) 783-9316.

2014 VaHomeschoolers Conference and Resource Fair

Invitation to Vendors

You are invited to exhibit and advertise at the 2014 VaHomeschoolers Conference and Resource Fair being held March 21-22 at The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen located at 2880 Mountain Road, Glen Allen, VA.

Click here to learn more.   Click here for an Application 

Are you and enterprising entrepreneur who is DONE with struggling with your business and chomping at the bit to make BIG money and win?

FREE Call September 12,  2013 at  9:00pm!

You have the drive. The heart. Hell, you even have invested thousands in your business via mentors, coaches, workshops, books—the whole shebang.

But the truth is cold and hard: you are struggling to make this business thing work.

You feel like you are robbing Peter to pay Paul. And if something doesn’t change soon, you are seriously considering throwing in the towel. You are sick of boot-strapping your business and are hungry for big paydays, recognition, and peace of mind.

Here is the good news: you are one call away from boot-strapping it to Big bucks baby!

Join me, and George Fraser, for a breakthrough training where he will share the top 3 secrets that launched Lisa Nichols and Les Brown’s into multi-million dollar businesses  and others over the last 26 years. Just like he taught Lisa and Les these secrets,he will show YOU EXACTLY how to turn the tide on your struggling business.

Click here to learn more and register!

Business After Hours

Do you want to increase the visibility of your company? Are you looking for ways to connect with potential customers? Would you like to share your company's products and services with a wide network of business people? Business After Hours is a casual, after-work social featuring tabletop exhibits, refreshments and door prizes. The event is held twice yearly at various member locations.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS presented by United Healthcare FALL 2013 Thursday, October 3, 2013 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Stony Point IV 8720 Stony Point Pkwy, 3rd Floor Richmond, VA 23235 > map Parking: Free, on-site. Click here to learn more.

DMBE's Business Matchmaking Event at Virginia State University

You will have the opportunity to discuss your company’s capabilities and meet with procurement officers who are eager to meet new firms and hear about the latest expanded services of existing businesses.

This event is expected to sell out quickly.  The vendor booth spaces are sold out, but we are still accepting vendor registrations to attend the event.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Click here to learn more.

Business Matchmaking Event

The Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise

with

Virginia State University

The first home of DMBE in 1974

and the Virginia Minority Supplier Diversity Council

The Landmark Opportunity Conference 

“Together We Can Make A Difference”

TALK to representatives from regional government agencies and businesses LEARN how to bid for state and local government contracts

Who is Coming?

• State Agencies 
• Municipal and Government
• Representatives
• Major Prime Contractors  Economic Development Offices 
• Bonding Companies
• Banks & Financial Institutions
• Over 100 SWaM & DBE Firms

To learn more and register, go to http://www.dmbe.virginia.gov/pdf/DMBE_VSU_Matchmaking_Event_Flyer.pdf  

Vendor Opportunity

You will not want to miss the 7th Annual Halifax Jazz and Blues Festival(2013).
  
It is one of a kind event!!!!  Adjacent to Downtown Petersburg in the 
Historic Halifax Triangle.

July 12-14, 2013 Fri- Sat from 5-12 PM, with a mix of gospel on 
Sunday from 3-7 PM located at South Avenue and Halifax Street. 
Great music, food  and fun.....

Interested in being a vendor? Email _HalifaxTriangle@aol.com for an application.

Boom or Bust Part 2: Racing to the Finish of FY13

Don't miss this interactive panel discussion about what small businesses can be doing to win government work in these last few months of FY13.

Panelists will include representatives from SBA and GSA, and several small business leaders in government contracting.

The event will be held in the Tower Club at Tyson's Corner, VA on Friday, June 28th from 7:30-9:30am

RSVP HERE 

Big Results with a Small Marketing Budget

Efficiency  and Consistency is the key to getting big results from a small budget. Prioritize your dollars by choosing marketing channels that deliver the highest ROI. Clearly identify your target market and the best channels to reach them. Integrate social media and email for an even bigger boost.

How do you continue to grow your business when you feel forced to cut back on marketing due to economic adversity? Well for starters, you never want to completely cut back on all of your communications with customers and prospects because they are the very people that can get you through tough times.

Taking important steps to spend wisely can make the difference for a feast or famine season. Here's a quick guide to evaluating some common marketing expenditures:

Print Advertising: First determine whether your print ads are actually working for you. Ask your customers how they heard or read about you either online or in person, then track the number of times a specific ad or referring site is bringing you the most business. If you aren't sure the effect cutting your advertising campaign could have on your business, consider a simple change like reducing your ad sizes or renegotiating positions with publications. Inquire with a custom graphic designer who help you get the biggest bang your bucks.

Email Marketing: You don't have to cut here at all and it's not just because you might be a customer of ours. Many email marketing firms, including VerticalResponse, let you send email for a fixed monthly fee and even pay as you go. This enables you to increase your email sends to your list and continue to grow your business. Reducing the frequency of your email communications actually can lead to an increase in your list members unsubscribing. This occurs when they lose the emotional connection to your communications: It doesn't arrive when they expect it, or they assume you've lost your commitment. The loyalty loss also hurts your best source for referrals and viral marketing.

Tradeshows: Instead of cutting tradeshows out of your budget altogether, you might be able to reduce your presence. Why not share a booth with another complementary business? Do you really need three people to go or can you do it with two? Maybe you can have a smaller table or booth? Make sure you don't skimp on printing business cards, but use the back of your card for a promotion instead of printing on a larger datasheet. There are simple ways to reduce show participation while still getting your message heard.

Start a Refer-a-Friend Program: Ask your customers to refer their friends and share a discount or free gift every time their friends purchase. This only costs you a percentage of revenue or gift and it's a fantastic way to spread word of mouth.

RABE Luncheon: “2020 Game Plan; What Tomorrow’s Winners Need to be Doing Today”

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
June 10, 2013701 East Byrd Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Location Map

Guest Speaker

Matt Thornhill 
Founder & President 
Boomer Project

Matt conducts training and workshop sessions at corporate events to help organizations better understand today's older Boomer Consumer.

Matt partnered with SIR to bring the Boomer Project to life in early 2003, after a 23-year career in the advertising agency business with Ogilvy, Bates and The Martin Agency. Besides overseeing research and consulting work for clients, he also is the co-author of the acclaimed book, "Boomer Consumer: Ten New Rules for Marketing to America's Largest, Wealthiest and Most Important Demographic Group," and he writes the Boomer Project's "Viva the Vital!" column.

COST: $15 for RABE members, $25 for guests, $10 for full-time students

RESERVATIONS: Advanced registration is required. Deadline is noon on Tuesday, June 4. Register online at our website,http://www.RABEva.org. 

This event is open to members as well as guests and press. 

Contact Name: Darrell Tyler
Phone Number: 804-873-0556
Email: darrell_tyler@msn.com