Yesterday I met with Mandy Vavrinak. Mandy owns Crossroads Communications. The reason for our meeting? We wanted to find out if our two companies could help each other grow. Both of our businesses help small business owners grow their business.
Mandy is very active in social media. She Tweets. She’s on Facebook. She blogs. She’s a PR professional in Tulsa, Oklahoma and is well connected in the community.
We talked about small business owners and how the internet is changing. We talked about how many don’t have websites yet. Or they have websites someone built for them a few years ago that are stale and out-of-date. The person who built the website doesn’t work for the business anymore or the website “designer” disappeared. Or a relative built a website for them and it just didn’t take off.
What Business Owners Really Need to Market Their Business Online
We also talked about how the internet has changed since many business owners built their website. We talked about what small business owners really need . . . and 99.99% don’t know it yet. We also talked about how great the need is for websites that are easy for small businesses to update and promote themselves. We also talked about how small business owners “need” to move in this direction. They need to learn how to promote themselves on the web “in house.” But most small business owners are light years from making this kind of change. They know they need to do a better job on the internet to survive. They don’t realize that the tools and the training are ready for them now.
Why A Few Small Businesses Are Successful Online Now
Last week I talked to a manufacturers’ representative about their customers. They work with small business owners too. One of their customers is having incredible success right now. While other customers are barely keeping their doors open.
The reason? This small business is promoting their business well online. They are getting professional advice. They are getting featured in national magazines. They’re featured on the local news. Other small businesses from nearby towns are calling them and asking for advice. Other businesses are “stealing” their web materials. But these other businesses aren’t duplicating their success. Why? Because they aren’t hiring professional help.
Maybe they don’t think they can afford professional advice. Maybe they think they can get the expertise and help by spending a few hours copying what the winners are doing. They don’t realize that “the winners” have been working their internet strategy for 5-10 years now. They don’t realize that “the winners” may be doing a lot of the work themselves, but they hired professionals to guide them and help them plan their success. “The winners” also invested in software and training. “The winners” made smart investments in their future and continue to invest in their future success.
If You’ve Been Burned, Don’t Give Up
I know many business owners were burned by fly-by-night internet firms. They spent a lot of money and got little or nothing in return. Now they don’t want to make the same mistake again. I understand.
That’s exactly why business owners need to take control of their internet materials and their online marketing plans. They need to bring it “in-house.” Stay tuned to this blog, because I’m on a mission to help small business owners dominate their space on the web. I want you to control your own online marketing destiny. Stay tuned. More solutions to follow.
Sincerely,
Doug Stewart
“Giving You the Power to Fight the Big Boys!”
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- PR in the Real World (mandyvavrinak.com)
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Wow where to start. I actually have three segments of my business that all tie togehter in my grand plan of things. The problem is I am not exactly where to start. I have checked and rechecked and rechecked and everything and everyone (customers, friends, family, strangers and competitors) see that I have a very good competivive advantage. The problem how do I get the message out
You asked about getting the word out, and where to start. I answered your question in a new blog post, http://bit.ly/bjbCdP
Thanks for asking. I hope this helps.
Doug, I think many businesses really struggle with online promotion because they don't use an integrated marketing approach. Building a good site doesn't guarantee traffic… As you point out, businesses must take responsibility for successful promotion. I love that you're advocating for businesses to educate themselves along with utilizing professional guidance.
Thanks Mandy. Most small business owners think, “I just want someone to take care of this for us.” But technology has changed the way a business gets their message to the world. It requires a more personal approach now. It requires a constant stream of content and instant follow-up. Someone inside your organization needs to be in charge of integrating your business more into the community. But your message needs to be refined. Your strategy needs to be in place. A systematic approach needs to be in place. Professionals help small businesses craft a professional, planned, and more methodical approach.
Exactly…! Many business owners I work with don't think they have
anything to offer, or the time to “write a bunch of stuff.” Once we
help them plan when to blog, for instance, and what topics make sense,
it becomes much less frightening. We sometimes edit or polish, but the
content comes from the business owner or management… The original
“Subject Matter Experts.”
–Mandy
–
Mandy Vavrinak
Crossroads Communications, LLC
Tulsa, Oklahoma
E-mail: mvavrinak@mac.com
On Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/Mandy.Vavrinak
On Twitter: @Mandy_Vavrinak
918-633-4397
On LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mandyvavrinak
Thanks Mandy. Most small business owners think, “I just want someone to take care of this for us.” But technology has changed the way a business gets their message to the world. It requires a more personal approach now. It requires a constant stream of content and instant follow-up. Someone inside your organization needs to be in charge of integrating your business more into the community. But your message needs to be refined. Your strategy needs to be in place. A systematic approach needs to be in place. Professionals help small businesses craft a professional, planned, and more methodical approach.
Exactly…! Many business owners I work with don't think they have anything to offer, or the time to “write a bunch of stuff.” Once we help them plan when to blog, for instance, and what topics make sense, it becomes much less frightening. We sometimes edit or polish, but the content comes from the business owner or management… The original “Subject Matter Experts.”
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