Pinterest is Open for Business!

Earlier in the year we did a post on how effective Pinterest can be as a marketing tool for your business. However, just recently Pinterest offered a new set of terms targeted specifically to businesses. These new terms now supply specialized provisions separate from those of a personal account.

For instance, Pinterest has made the "pin it" and "follow me" buttons, as well as the "profile" and "board" widgets very easy to incorporate into an existing business website. These buttons increase pinner traffic to your website by engaging users to link to things they like while they are there.

But one of the best resources we have found with these new offerings is Pinterest's case studies and best practices examples.

In one case study offered by Etsy they explain how adding a business account increased traffic to their individual shops and has outperformed the "like" button on Facebook in referral traffic. While business accounts usually have boards that are curated and maintained by specified users and not the general public, Etsy shares a strategy in their study of how allowing "guest pinners" diversified the content of their boards and drove more traffic to their actual site.

Etsy is just one case study offered to get your creative Pinterest juices flowing. There are several others including Jetsetter, Allrecipes, Organized Interiors, and Petplan Insurance. Additionally there are tips and tricks on how to make your business become successful through Pinterest marketing. So check it out. You can convert your existing account to a business account with the click of a button, or you can create a new Pinterest business account in just a few easy steps. We just set up our own Kalico business Pinterest page—check it out at www.pinterest.com/kalicodesign!

Keys to Effective Self Promotions

As mentioned in a previous post, a few weeks ago I participated in International Freelancers Day, an online conference exclusively for solo professionals. Here is another recap of some of the insightful information I gained during the webinars.

Next up, is a recap of James Clear's session "The 10 Keys to Effective (and Ethical) Self-Promotion for Freelancers" (but, I'm just going to highlight a few of the primary concepts). James focused on some of the fundamentals for self promotion—not the tactics, but more about the strategies. Here's a list of some important things to consider when considering your next self promotion campaign:

1. Value First. This is a very key point to make. Be sure you provide value to your target audience before you promote your work to them…otherwise, it's kind of pointless, huh? Don't wait until money exchanges hands before giving something of value. This way you'll create fans and then you'll have a much easier time selling your services. Examples are: samples of product, blog posts or white papers of information, coupons, etc.—be sure it is something relative to your field that is  thoughtful and/or useful.  "Giving is better than receiving because giving starts the receiving process".

2. Build Relationships. Effective self promotion never starts with the pitch, it starts with the relationship. Build relationships with the right people that can help accelerate your growth. Everyone is valuable, but try to find relevant people to you and your business. So, get out there and network! But, remember, it is about making relationships, not just making the sale. Be sure to be genuine and just get to know someone, don't bombard them with sales tactics…nobody likes a pushy salesman (or woman)!

3. Research. A more, specific, targeted audience is usually more effective than a blanket pitch the everyone. Research your target markets, and cater or tweak your promotions to them. Research gives you the content to make connections, and also will allow your promotions to create a maximum effect in a minimal amount of time.

After you've worked on the above three tasks, be sure to make your self promotions simple, yet powerful—and, focus on being consistent! And remember, this is a cyclical process that you will have to do over and over again throughout the course of your business, it's not a one time thing and you're done. In order to grow your business, you need to grow with your business!

Do you have any advice on good self promotion? I'd love to hear it!

Girl Power: Online Resources for Women Business Owners

There are exciting things happening inside the world of women entrepreneurs—women are not only starting businesses, they are staying in business! Women are opening businesses at twice the rate of men, and, according to the Center for Women's Business Research, three quarters of all firms are either half-owned or majority-owned by women.

Personally, I love networking with other women business owners—there seems to be an instant camaraderie, and a willing desire to support and share with each other. But, as we are all extremely busy balancing work and home, sometimes it's hard to meet and network face-to-face. So, I've put together a small list of online networking tools for women entrepreneurs.

1. Savor the Success: Savor the Success is a PR Co-Op and a niche social media network for women entrepreneurs both online and offline. I've been a member of Savor the Success for the past two years and have truly enjoyed all the suggestions, feedback and support from fellow members.

2. Ladies Who Launch: The nationally acclaimed Ladies Who Launch program has enabled thousands of women across the country to break out of 9-5 and thrive in entrepreneurial enterprises that reflect their true passions, skills, and desires.

3. The Heartlink Network: Heartlink is built on a unique business networking model that provides safe, intimate, non-threatening, women-only business networking opportunities for professional women, and is dedicated to showcasing, advertising, enriching and empowering professional women in business.

4.  eWomen Network: eWomen is a great resource for connecting and promoting women and their businesses worldwide. It's a membership-based professional women's networking organization, committed to helping women and their businesses achieve, succeed and thrive in the new economy.

5. Women Owned: WomanOwned.com was founded by one new business owner, who shared her journey through business start up, incorporation, accessing funds, and hiring professionals so that other woman entrepreneurs could benefit.

6. InterviewHer: InterviewHer.com focuses on interviewing women-business owners in a wide variety of industries, from artist studios, food adventures, breathtaking boutiques or even a great little hole in the wall that they’ve discovered and had to share.
 
Hopefully one, or several, of these online resources may help you network with other women busines owners. If you join one, or are already and existing member, I'd love to hear your feedback. Or, have another online networking resource? Please leave it in a post below!


PS – No Boys Allowed! : )

Start NOW: Your 2011 Marketing Plan! (Part 3 of 3)

So, last week I shared some key points I learned from a webinar hosted by Ilese Benum, co-founder of Marketing Mentor, entitled "Start NOW: Your 2011 Marketing Plan!" First, we focused on key factors that should be determined prior to developing a marketing plan. Next, we discussed marketing tools and tactics to consider as part of your overall plan. Now, let's move on to how we'll carry-out our marketing plan—we'll break it into daily, weekly and monthly tasks.

Daily Tasks:
1. Prospecting Hour: Set aside an hour each day to reach out to a few of your prospects.
2. Social Networking Break: Set aside time to network via your social media channels, 30-60 minutes per day is suggested by Ilese Benum.
3. Research: Spend a little time each day researching potential prospects.


Weekly Tasks:
Weekly tasks are divided into two groups—beginner and advanced. See the handy-dandy chart I made for you below…

1. Marketing Monday: OK, this could be any day, really, but "Marketing Monday" has such a nice ring to it. Basically, set aside a day each week to work on your own marketing efforts.
2. Networking Event: Try to attend one in-person networking event each week.
3. Follow Up: Follow up with any outstanding proposals or projects.
4. Online Discussion: This is a great opportunity to write your own blog posts, comment on other posts, or join a group forum.
5. Thought Leadership Efforts: Work on ideas for articles, speaking engagements, white papers, etc.


Monthly (or Quarterly) Tasks:
Finally, we come to your monthly (or quarterly) tasks. Again, these tasks are broken down into a Beginner and an Advanced section. You determine where you should fall. Another handy-dandy chart to the rescue…

1. E-Newsletter: Some may opt to send a monthly newsletter, while others prefer quarterly. Pick a time frame that works best for you and stick to it. (Ummm, I'd better take my own advice here, my enewsletter is WAY overdue!)
2. Web Updates: Make sure to update your website on a monthly basis so your information is current and up-to-date. This is also a great opportunity to check your web stats through programs like Google Analytics
3. Direct Mail: If your business permits, send out a direct mail campaign on a monthly or quarterly basis. This could involve a special coupon or promotion, or just a basic self promo piece.
4. Case Study: Chose a specific topic to write a case study about. For instance, in my profession, a case study may entail a detailed description of a client's overall branding and identity system. What would a case study mean for your business?

There you have it! These past three posts should give you most of the insight, tools, and tasks you need to write (and stick with) a successful marketing plan for 2011. Remember as a business owner, NOW is the time to start focusing on next year! Good luck and please let me know how you do!

Start NOW: Your 2011 Marketing Plan! (Part 2 of 3)

Earlier this week, I shared some key points that I learned from a webinar hosted by Ilese Benum, co-founder of Marketing Mentor, entitled "Start NOW: Your 2011 Marketing Plan! We first focused on three key factors that must be determined prior to event starting your marketing plan—goals, target audience, and the tools you'll use to keep you on track. Hopefully over the week you've thought about these factors.

Now, lets focus on some of the actual marketing tools or tactics you should consider as part of your overall marketing plan. Ilese Benum suggests the following:

1. Networking: Some may not consider networking as a marketing tool, but it IS, it actually is a BIG one! If done correctly, networking can set you up to build lasting working relationships. Try to include both online & in-person networking as part of your plan. Personally, I try to attend at least one in-person networking event per week, plus utilize social networking tools such as Facebook or Twitter, or even more specific social/business sites such as Savor the Success (a business networking site for women business owners).

2. Website: If you don't have a website, you may want to think about getting one to use as possibly one of your most effective marketing tools. (If you don't have a site for your business, um, call me!) Your website is where potential customers can learn more about your company, it's a place to include all the pertinent info about your company...the meat and potatoes of your business. 

3. Email Marketing: Consider sending out an email newsletter on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis (whichever works best for you!). I recommend using a company such as MailChimp to host and send your email campaigns.

4. Direct Outreach: This includes direct contact with potential customers, such as phone calls or in-person meetings. Don't disregard how important some direct face-to-face contact with a potential client can be.

5. Thought Leadership: Ilese Benum defines thought leadership as speaking and writing outlets. It's a way for you to present yourself as an expert in your field. Speaking engagements can include your local civic organization or a national conference (and anything in-between). Writing gigs may include your own blogging, or guest blogging (or both). White papers that you include as resources for your existing and potential clients will also help define you as an expert.

For a well-rounded marketing plan, you really should utilize each of the above tactics. How will you use the above 5 marketing tools for your business? I'd love to hear some of you ideas!

Also, be sure to tune in next week as we conclude this 3-part blog topic with a list of suggested daily, weekly and monthly tasks of your marketing plan.

Gettin Down with the Monkey!

I've mentioned it once or twice before in various blog posts and eNewsletters— MailChimp rocks! If you currently are using a different email marketing provider, I highly recommend making the switch. If you haven't started your email campaign yet, do it soon and be sure to MailChimp it up!

OK, why do I love MailChimp? Let me count the ways:

1. Organized, non-confusing interface
2. Easy to customize templates
3. Great customer service and resources right on their site! (Here's just a few)
4. They're funny and fun to use
5. Data tracking is a breeze (see for yourself)
6. They provide so many ways to network with your social media accounts (seriously!)
7. List management is to the point, and (again!) easy to use! (ahem)
8. Oh, and did I mention you can get a FREE account!?

Need help with your eNewsletter campaigns? Kalico Design can create a customized newsletter template to match your existing brand. Mix up some great design and a little MailChimp magic, and viola, an eNewsletter campaign that YOU can update (or we can do for you, it's your call!). You can't beat that!! Contact us for more info!

My Online Marketing Plan

Ok, so most business owners have heard of the importance of a marketing plan. This is where you map out the different types of marketing efforts you'll take part in to promote your business. For me, I actually create a marketing calendar, which highlights what I will do each month to market Kalico Design, as well as what costs are involved. Making the plan is the easy part...it's the sticking-to-it part that's hard!

Recently I have been using more and more social media marketing tactics to promote Kalico. These online marketing tools were not included on my original marketing plan, and most are daily, not monthly, tasks. Luckily, I ran across another talented graphic designers blog post, which focused specifically on devising an online marketing plan. Genius! Thanks Angela at 13thirtyone!

So, here goes. My brand spankin' new online marketing plan and goals:

Goal 1: Spend 2-3 hours per week of online networking. I am going to try my hardest to schedule this in, just like regular client work. This networking can include:
• Updating the Kalico Facebook and Twitter accounts daily
• Brainstorming & Researching ideas for future blog posts weekly
• Commenting on online articles for some of my online networking groups including Savor the Success and Biznik (once per week)

Goal 2: Blog on a Weekly basis. My goal is to keep a balance with my blog posts, including both Kalico office-related News as well as pertinent tips and tricks for clients

Goal 3: Send Kalico eNewsletter out on a quarterly basis. Hmmm, guess this means I'm due for my next newsletter...I better start brainstorming!!

Goal 4: Continue Face-to_face Networking. Ok, so this isn't technically online. But, I find that my face-to-face and online networking tend to overlap. The more people I meet in person, the more people I network with online, and vice versa (for example, after meeting someone at a networking event, I may connect with them through LinkedIn or Facebook to extend and build the relationship). I will attend a weekly BNI (Business Networking International) lunch meeting, and will attend monthly Greater Frederick Advertising Federation (GFAF) educational and social events. I will also continue to look for other face-to-face networking opportunities.

How do you use social media to promote your business? Do you have other suggestions or tactics on how to manage your online networking?

Gettin' Social: Facebook Fan Page

We've all heard of Facebook, you may even have your own profile. And if you're ahead of the game, you may even be using Facebook to promote your small business! (Go ahead, pat yourself on the back). Here are a few quick tips on how to use Facebook Fan pages for your business.

Facebook Pages are different than profiles. You have a profile for you, but must have a page for your business. A Page can include all the important information about your company. They’re useful because you can include everything that relates to your business such as company overview, website & contact info, press releases, videos, Blog RSS, company news and status, photos of new products or projects, plus customer interaction, to name a few.

To learn more about how to create your business fan page, click here. Then, follow the directions to create your own page. BUT WAIT! Before you create your own fan page, please read my latest eNewsletter, that will help you to plan why, who and how you will use your page. It's not enough just to have one, you must first strategize how your fanpage fits into your business marketing plan.

Once you have a fanpage, there are all sorts of fun, and thoughtful ways to make it stay consistent with your brand, while getting the most out of it. First, make sure to set a custom user name for your page. Usernames allow public entities to easily promote your presence on Facebook with a short URL, such as http://www.facebook.com/companyname. This username can be used in your marketing communications, company website and business cards. If you didn't select a user name when setting up your page, go to www.facebook.com/username, then click on the bottom link "Set a username for your Pages" and select an available name.

Second, create a unique landing page that stays consistent with your brand. The landing page would be similar to a website homepage—you want to very quickly let the viewer know who you are and what you do. Plus, you want to encourage them to become a fan of your page! Check out Kalico's landing page for an example. Landing pages must be created using FBML, which stands for Facebook Markup Language. It’s similar to HTML for writing websites, so unless you are familiar with HTML, you may need a designer's help for this part. Here's a great How-To Video that walks you through the steps.

There are tons of additional applications you can include on your facebook fan page. Here's a great list to start choosing from. You don't need all of these, of course...just pick the ones that work the best for you and your business! For instance, for Kalico, my goal was to increase subscriptions for our eNewsletter, so I have an app that includes a newsletter subscription form right on my fanpage. I also use the Photos tab as a way to showcase some of our portfolio works. My next step is to add an RSS feed for our blog. (yep, the one you are reading right now!) The possibilities are endless, and I'll admit I'm still learning new ways to use Kalico's Fan page everyday!

And last, stay on top of it! It will take time to build your fan base, so keep sending out invites to new contacts asking if they want to become a fan of your business Page. Keep your content up-to-date and give people a reason to check in on your page regularly. Constantly promote the Page in any way possible, and before long you should see a large portion of your website’s referrals coming from Facebook!

Email Marketing 101

I recently attended the High Rock Marketing Summit, which focused on new media marketing, such as social networking and email marketing, as well as ways to incorporate all with your website. It was a great 1-day conference! The next Kalico eNews will breakdown how to use the most popular social networking sites, such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, with your business marketing plan.

But, for this post I will give a quick list of Email Marketing basics. Whether you've already started an email marketing campaign, or you're just getting started, here are some of the basic points to think about to ensure you get the most out of your email newsletters.

1. Design: Keep the look and feel of your emails consistent with the design of your website. This helps to keep your business identity in tact.

2. Delivery: Be consistent with the delivery and timing of your email newsletter, such as on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis. The key is to send your emails often enough so they are expected, but not so often that they become a nuisance to your recipients.

3. Information: Make sure to include valuable and useful information in your eNews. Think about what your target audience wants to hear. Also, be sure to keep your information concise, short and to the point.

4. Measurement: Find a good Email Management Provider (we recommend MailChimp) that will offer you measurement or analytics for each message you send. Some important measurement tools, including percentage of emails delivered, bounced, or unopened as well as click rates for links, will give you insights to how your email was received.

5. List Management: The first important step to starting your email campaign is to import a list of existing clients and prospects (a service like MailChimp can help you build and manage your list). You will also want to include a subscription form on your website to allow users to subscribe automatically.

6. Know the Rules: There are laws concerning commercial emailing. The United States federal CAN-SPAM Act became law on January 1, 2004, protecting consumers from unwanted emails, or spam. Many details are included in the law, but some of the basic points are:
• Emails must be requested and not unsolicited
• The user must be given a visible and operating "Unsubscribe" option
• Content of subject and form field must be relevant

And so concludes our quick and easy breakdown of Email Marketing 101 tips. For more information, or help starting or redesigning your email newsletters, please contact us!

If you'd like more information Social Media Marketing, feel free to sign up for our upcoming eNewsletter!

New Years Resolutions!

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you had a great holiday season! I am very grateful to have been able to take off last week for a little rest, relaxation and refreshing! But, my time off wasn't all tv watching and lounging—I did manage to revamp and update the Kalico website. It now features new works and a more user-friendly portfolio section, as well as highlights some of my social media efforts (such as this blog!) Be sure to check it out!

During my time off, I also created a set of 2010 business and professional resolutions for Kalico Design. I am curious if anyone else did the same—I'd love to hear some of them!

My goals are listed below. I am hoping that over the course of the year, I can use this blog (and your support!) to help me update the status of some of these resolutions, as well as catalog any successes and/or obstacles I may approach along the way.

Kalico Resolutions:

1. Purchase new computer system (Check! My new IMAC just arrived today!)
2. Update Software System (Adobe CS4 & Microsoft Office already ordered!)
3. Research, Explore and Create Twitter account (any advice on this is greatly appreciated)
4. Create Self Promotion campaign (mail 4x throughout year)
5. Send out quarterly newsletter and stay on schedule
6. Participate as exhibitor in 1 tradeshow
7. Hire summer intern (yikes!)
8. Increase Blog traffic by 20% (help me, help me, help me!)
9. Create monthly marketing calendar and stick to it (this is the hardest part!)
10. Set aside at least 2-3 hours per week to focus on Kalico business needs, organization and growth
11. Join another networking group, while continuing existing networking efforts
12. Acquire at least 3-4 new clients in the health/wellness, organic or women-oriented industries

Sheesh! When they're listed like that, it seems like a lot! But, I am committed to putting forth my best efforts to complete these goals, which will improve my business, and, ultimately, improve business for my clients! I am excited for the new year! What are some of your business/professional goals for 2010?

Savoring Success!

I recently stumbled across a great social networking site, specifically for women business entrepreneurs—Savor the Success! While I haven't had time to fully explore everything that is offered by this networking site, so far I've read some helpful newsletter articles, connected with a few other women business owners in my region and beyond, and have recently signed up to be an advertiser in their upcoming Holiday catalog (more info to come soon). I strongly urge any female business owner to check out this great resource. It is free to become a basic member, but you can always upgrade to become a premium member in order to get even more great educational and PR opportunities. Be sure to check out my profile page!

"Business Networking That Doesn't Suck"

I just wanted to drop a quick note about a social networking site I've been a member of for the past year. Biznik has been a great way to network with others in the business community, as well as a good resource for a wide range of articles on all kinds of business topics. While I am a member of other social networking sites, like facebook and linkedin, I have found Biznik has been the best resource for business networking. I highly recommend checking it out, especially if you are a business owner or manager. Here's a little more information, directly from Biznik:

About Biznik
Biznik is based on a simple idea: connecting small businesses to each other for mutual business benefit.Biznik combines powerful social networking technology with face-to-face meetings and education, in a community that serves the unique needs of entrepreneurs and personal businesses. Biznik is a free service with opportunities for members to pay for enhanced features and more visibility. Membership levels include Supporting, Active and Basic. Biznik offers a variety of services for each member at each membership level, with new programs and resources being added regularly.

Check it out: www.biznik.com! Let me know what you think. And be sure to visit my profile!