Archive for the ‘Marketing’ Category
Friday, March 5th, 2010
The Retail Advertising and Marketing Association (RAMA), a division of the National Retail Federation (NRF), yesterday unveiled the results of a survey on the habits of social media users, at NRF’s Retail Innovation Marketing Conference in San Francisco. Comparing social media users to the average U.S. adult, RAMA’s survey, “Social Media: An Inside Look at the People Who Use It,” examined differences in demographics for each group, including male and female usage, as well as age differences in social media users vs. other adults.
Highlights of the survey include the following:
- Seven out of 10 social media users between the ages of 18 and 34 regularly use Facebook more than such other sites as MySpace, Twitter and Classmates
- 71.8 percent of social media users said that after an online search, they tell others about a product or service through face-to-face communication
- More people who use social media prefer to give advice about a product or service rather than receive it
- Social media users are more likely to use other new media, compared with average adults age 18 and older
- 70.6 percent of female social media users regularly use Facebook, vs. 61.0 percent of males
- More men than women like to communicate with others via cell phone conversation after searching for a product or service online
Click here to review the full report. This is interesting stuff, social media is changing the way we market ourselves. For more information on how you can use social media in your business, check out our Social Media Teleclasses. These classes, which feature will answer your most common social media questions for both new and seasoned users. We had a Facebook expert, a Twitter expert, a LinkedIn expert and an expert to talk about time management and social media. We wanted the goods, no fluffy stuff; if you are a social media beginner or Tweeting several times of day, you want to learn how to maximize your social media results through questions, examples, case studies and tools, you can start using immediately. No one needs one more thing to do; but everyone wants and needs new clients. By listening to our social media audio recordings you will finally understand how this marketing phenomenon can expand your clientele to a place you have not imagined.
Tags: Professional Organizer Business, Professional Organizer Courses, Red Bench Program, social media
Posted in Marketing, social media | No Comments »
Friday, January 8th, 2010
Jason Meserve, an associate for Constant Contact wrote a spotlight article on A Red Bench and how we use Constant Contact to reach our audience. Read on to find out how we use this e-mail tool to help us with marketing and reaching our clients.
A Red Bench Effectively Uses Email Marketing by Jason Meserve, Constant Contact
A Red Bench is a continuing education and resource organization that targets service-based businesses, such as designers, wardrobe consultants, professional organizers, and interior decorators. Founders Christa Wagner and Angela Ploetz started the company in 2007 after recognizing that small business owners don’t have a place to turn for continuing education and business development tools. (Christa herself owns another consultancy, called Savvy Solutions, and has experienced these challenges personally.) The duo host fee-based teleseminars featuring interviews with topic experts, and they also publish a monthly newsletter and an ongoing blog on topics ranging from work/life balance to pricing your business.
For the A Red Bench team, since the entire business is online, being able to promote their various e-books, live seminars, audio recordings and membership offerings — while cutting through the inbox clutter — is a challenge. “Everyone is overloaded with information,” Christa says. “We’re trying to communicate to them and do so effectively.”
As little as four years ago, that communication took the form of a PDF newsletter that was emailed around to customers. That is, until someone pointed Christa in the direction of Constant Contact Email Marketing. Now, the monthly communications go out as professionally-designed HTML newsletters. Christa and Angela also send out weekly email reminders about upcoming seminars and send customers directly to 1Shoppingcart for payment.
Christa and Angela continue to build A Red Bench’s database by collecting email addresses when clients register for their free audio magazine and other information available from the company’s Web site and blog. “They receive free, valuable tips in exchange for giving us their info,” Christa explains.
In an effort to save time and be more efficient, the duo also combines their blog writing with their newsletter production to ensure the content that gets mailed out is fresh and well thought out. “This way, I don’t have to sit at the computer and come up with a topic right then and there,” Christa says. “I blog on a frequent basis and always have relevant content available making the newsletter easy to get out the door.”
Christa loves Constant Contact’s reporting features, which allow her to track what customers opened in the newsletter or clicked to. They use the tracking information to better target those interested in a seminar offering, sometimes following up with a phone call. “Plus, it allows us to see what posts and articles are of most interest to our clients – that is extremely helpful.”
A Red Bench saves money and increases its reach by using Email Marketing, as opposed to another advertising media. “Our list is large — to advertise to that many people six times a month, I’m not sure how we would do that affordably,” Christa says. “That’s a huge cost savings. Our entire business is advertised through Constant Contact.”
If you would like to use Constant Contact, e-mail us at info@aredbench.com and get a $30 credit for your account with them!
Tags: Constant Contact, email, Maximize your marketing, Professional Organizer Business, Professional Organizer Education, Professional Organizing Training
Posted in Marketing | No Comments »
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
We hope you and your families had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Now it’s off to the races during December which is often a very busy and stressful month. It’s hard to believe the year has gone by so quickly, but so much has happened. We hope you take some time to review your year; what made you happy? What would you change?
As we look back at our year, we are thrilled with all we accomplished. We strive to bring you the best experts we can find on business and organizing-related topics. Our job is to help you manage your business a little easier. Here are some of the highlights:
- We kicked off the year as a finalist in the “Most Valuable Educational Resource” category of the 2009 LA Organizing Awards.
- We hosted our first booth at the NAPO Conference.
- We hosted our first Social Media Event where 8 trailblazers from this new phenomenon shared their tips and tricks on how to make the most of this amazing technology.
- We kicked off our Become An Infopreneur Program and have a class of organizers creating their very own information product.
- Christa presented, “From Organizer to Infopreneur,” at the POC Conference.
- Angela was selected as a panelist for the 2010 NAPO Conference “Ask The Organizers” Panel.
- We were once again nominated in the “Most Valuable Educational Resource” category of the 2010 LA Organizing Awards. Cast your vote here.
What a year! Sure, there are things we would change, but overall we are pleased. We want to thank you for all your support. We love working with you and look forward to what may come in the new year.Happy holidays!
Tags: A Red Bench, Angela Ploetz, Christa Wagner, Embrace Social Media, experts, LA Organizing Awards, Teleclasses
Posted in Goals, Information Products, Marketing, Organizing Skills | No Comments »
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
The holiday frenzy has officially started and it’s easy for people to get caught up in buying fever. However, as a professional organizer, this is typically something we advise our clients to beware of. During the frenzy of the holidays here is a simple quote to keep in mind:
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. Wishing you happiness.”
- Helen Keller
What a beautiful quote to remind us of the real meaning of happiness. Simple acts of kindness can often take us further than an over abundance meaningless items. Feel free to pass along this quote to your clients by inserting it in an e-mail footer, your newsletter, blog, or even on your holiday cards. It may be just what someone needs to see right now.
Here’s to all the happiness you desire this holiday season.
~Angela
Tags: A Red Bench, Angela Ploetz, Christa Wagner, Professional Organizer Business, Professional Organizer Courses, Professional Organizer Education, Professional Organizing Classes, Professional Organizing Training, Red Bench, Red Bench Program
Posted in Marketing | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
Its that time of year again and we wanted to revisit a great article from our newsletter last year. By Marny Lifshen, Author of Some Assembly Required: A Networking Guide for Women:
No sooner is the Thanksgiving turkey digested when the Holiday Party Season begins. Many dread the often hectic schedule of December, as seemingly every company and organization hosts a lunch or cocktail party for their customers, clients, employees, suppliers, members and friends.
It’s true that this annual ritual of party hopping can add inches to your waist-line while stealing precious hours of down-time. But it can also be a great time to meet new people and solidify your existing business relationships. While part of you may wish to hide behind the craziness of your own year-end work and personal schedule and avoid this revelry altogether, staying away from holiday soirees is a networking mistake.
People do business with people they know and like; you need to take advantage of holiday get-togethers to build closer relationships with others in your business community or industry. Think of it this way; when someone invites you to a holiday gathering they are announcing that they like you. When you make the effort to attend their event you are returning the gesture. And try to remeber that most of these parties are a lot of fun!
Marny was our guest expert speaking on the topic of Turning Networking Into Actual Business. If you missed the call, click here to purchase the audio.
A Red Bench offer continuing education for professional organizers and small business owners.
Tags: A Red Bench, Maximize your marketing, networking, Professional Organizer Business, Professional Organizer Courses, Professional Organizer Education, Professional Organizing Classes, Professional Organizing Training, Red Bench Program
Posted in Marketing, Teleclasses | No Comments »
Thursday, October 29th, 2009
Public speaking is a powerful business development tool, yet it’s a common source of stress for nearly everyone. I love speaking in front of a crowd. It’s what I feel I do best; for some reason I feel really comfortable and in my zone. Public speaking is a great way to promote your business, get in front of potential new clients, have an audience to sell your products to and for people to get a taste of the solutions you offer.
One thing that really irks me is when someone gets up to speak and says something like this:
- I am really uncomfortable
- I am really out of my element
- I am so nervous
- I have never done this before
The reason this bothers me is since nearly everyone is afraid to speak in public, there’s no reason for you to announce your insecurity. If you are standing and speaking, don’t let people know you may be a little nervous. Nine times out of ten, they will think you are awesome and would never know otherwise.
If you would like some help public speaking, purchase our audio recording called Take The Fear Out Of Public Speaking and learn how to create powerful presentations that turn attendees into clients.View more of A Red Bench’s teleclass recordings here.
Tags: Audio recordings, Maximize your marketing
Posted in Marketing, Sales | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009
It is proven, the more contact you have with your database the more likely you are to turn them into a client. But are you doing it? The key is consistency and getting in front of your database on a regular basis. You can decide what that means for you and your business. For us, we are in touch at least three per month and we use our Constant Contact newsletter and email postcards to share information, add value and solutions to our database as well as promote our products and services. Sometimes its tough to get out the door, but you know what, every time we send it, something happens. We get a call, a client, a purchase or a member.
We want to challenge you to pick a tool and decide how often you will communicate with your database. Here are few we recommend:
- Monthly Newsletter
- Blog updated at least once per week
- Tips or inspirations – These can be available on your website, but you can email your database to let them know they are available.
- Provide articles on your website (must enter their contact info)
- Create an audio course (like on the A Red Bench bench home page)
- Teleclasses
- Marketing style workshops
Marketing is scary to a lot of people, but it doesn’t have to be and you don’t have to be an expert marketer to be successful. You do have to be consistent and constantly focused on growing your database. Pick one of these tools and start growing and staying in touch with your database more often.
A Red Bench offers business training to Professional Organizers and small business owners.
Tags: A Red Bench, Angela Ploetz, Christa Patchen Wagner, Christa Wagner, Professional Organizer Business, Professional Organizer Courses, Professional Organizer Education, Professional Organizing Classes, Professional Organizing Training, Red Bench, Red Bench Program
Posted in Marketing | No Comments »
Monday, October 5th, 2009
(Prefer to LISTEN to the audio version of this article? Click here and turn up your speakers.)
Potential clients and prospects are everywhere. But what should we do after we meet them, how do we follow-up? Consistent follow-up and communication is key to growing your database, but is so often forgotten or just simply not done well. The fact is with each contact follow up you make, you increase the odds that a client will act on your offer. So get in front of them on a consistent basis.
To get the ball rolling, here are three tips you can use right now to stay in better touch with your clients.
- Create a newsletter: I will be the first to tell you a newsletter is time consuming, but every time we send our newsletter we get a new client, a product purchase or inquiry. Use a tool like Constant Contacts and start communicating on a consistent basis to your database. Consistency is key here. For more information on creating your own newsletter, purchase our audio recording called Launch and Sustain Your Newsletter.
- Use Send Out Cards: I would be lying if I said I could get a card in the mail on time and that’s for my Mom’s birthday. So the thought of actually coming back to my office and sending thank you card, or nice to meet you card, to a potential client is just not going to happen. Then I discovered Send Out Cards and all that changed. I absolutely love this product!!! I’ve created campaigns and can send a thank you card in a few seconds. It’s just that easy. For more information on staying in touch using note cards, purchase our audio recording called Rise Above the Rest with Relationship Marketing.
- Free Information: A great way to grow your database is to offer free tips and information on your website. The key is to have the person enter their contact information in order to get the tips. A simple and effective way to increase your database.
Every touch point is an opportunity to grow your business and increase profits. Get back in touch with potential clients today and consistently stay on top of your database.
A Red Bench offers business training to Professional Organizers and small business owners.
Tags: A Red Bench, Angela Ploetz, Business Training, Christa Patchen Wagner, Christa Wagner, Marketing, Maximize your marketing, Professional Organizer Courses, Professional Organizer Education, Professional Organizing Training, Small business training, Teleclasses
Posted in Grow Your Business, Marketing, Teleclasses | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009
(Prefer to LISTEN to the audio version of this article. Click here and turn up your speakers.)
Just a quick post to say you never know where opportunity is hiding. Last year on the plane to the LA Organizing Awards, I sat next to a wonderful couple who took an interest in my paper organizing eBook called Conquer Paper Clutter. We started talking and they were so interested in organizing their new apartment. I returned from my trip and followed up a few times to no avail.
Then I took the liberty of inviting her to a workshop I was offering. She would be my guest and this would give her a chance to get a further sense of my style and for us to get back in touch. Long story short, I have now worked with her and her husband, her son in his office and her daughter called me yesterday to film a news segment on office organizing for a local TV station. How great is that?
Opportunity is everywhere. Be persistent and patient and good things will come.
Tags: A Red Bench, Christa Patchen Wagner, Christa Wagner, Professional Organizer Business, Professional Organizer Courses, Professional Organizer Education, Professional Organizing Training, Red Bench
Posted in Grow Your Business, Marketing | 1 Comment »
Thursday, August 20th, 2009
A question we get all the time is should I have a blog or a newsletter. Well, you may not like the answer because its both. The good news is you can use these two amazing tools together to help you stay in touch with existing clients as well as increase your visibility on the web. And no joke every time we send out the newsletter, traffic increases to our website and we experience a boost in sales to our professional organizing classes, our audio recordings or our eBooks and forms.
During our social media event, called
Embrace Social Media, we learned the first step to using social media and online communications is to have a blog. Using Word Press or Blogger you can have a free blog up and running in no time. This is an important first step because this allows you to own all of your intellectual property. When you post on Facebook and Twitter, you don’t own that material. So having a blog gives you real estate online and its all yours. Also a blog increases your web visibility with well done search engine optimization.
I know what you’re thinking I don’t have time for both a blog and a newsletter. But these tools can easily work together for you. Blog a few times each week, or write all your blogs at one time and schedule them like I do, and then use the blog posts for your newsletter articles. Now, you are not recreating the wheel, but rather leveraging the same information in multiple formats. Brilliant! You can use the posts as an article, a tip series or a promotion. Get create and leverage what you already have on hand. If you would like to receive our newsletter, email us at info@aredbench.com with “Add to newsletter” in the subject line.
A Red Bench provides training and classes to professional organizers and other service based businesses.
Tags: A Red Bench, Angela Ploetz, Christa Patchen Wagner, Christa Wagner, Embrace Social Media, Professional Organizer Business, Professional Organizer Courses, Professional Organizer Education, Professional Organizing Classes, Professional Organizing Training, Red Bench, social media
Posted in Grow Your Business, Marketing, social media | 1 Comment »
