Posts by bb4b_Pam

Email Marketing for Your Small Business As a small business owner you are always looking at ways to reach your target market without breaking the bank. One way to do that is by investing in email marketing software. By doing your research and choosing the best option for your requirements, you can become the thought leader in your field and build relationships with your clients. Email marketing is just that: marketing by way of an email. Your email can contain anything you want. You can write articles that will be beneficial to your audience. You can let your clients know of great specials or new products. You can introduce new employees. The possibilities are endless. One thing to keep in mind is the reason why you are doing this. You want to let your clients know that you are the best in your field. You want to be the thought leader that they turn to when they need your type of service. Make sure you are providing a service to your clients and not just rambling on. Keep your newsletters informative so you don’t bore your audience. You want them to look forward to hearing from you. As they continue to read your newsletters, you will be building a relationship with them. This is imperative for repeat business. If your clients don’t have a positive reaction to you and your business, they will go elsewhere. When choosing email marketing software, Aweber is just one example, look at all the features offered, not just the price. There are some services that are free, but they may not do what you want them to do. Make sure you know what you want and compare services to make sure you are getting the best one for your requirements. You don’t want to jeopardize your relationship with your clients by choosing a company that will not do what you want it to do. Your business is too important. This post is one in a series where we will talk about email marketing software services: their offerings, their pros and cons, and their best...

Did you know that there is free entrepreneurial education available for people of all ages in Pittsburgh? The Art Resource Teaching Society provides free mobile art/entrepreneurial development education for students and adults, especially in economically challenged areas. Current youth programming is focused in Braddock, PA at HOST & BYP for students ages 5-18. Arts Inc. will soon be teaching in Wilkinsburg, PA. Their mission is to assist youth in creating the opportunities they were hoping life would provide. For more information or to schedule a class at your location, call Art Resource Teaching Society CEO, Michelle Barabas, at...

  Business  Growth for High School Students   Where do you get career advice if you are a high school student?  Building Bridges for Business, using their video series Coffee With… has created a program called See It, Believe It, Do It, that brings high school students and local business people, government officials and entrepreneurs together in a format where the students can ask questions and get support in their career decision making process.  Those who have participated have found benefit in talking to “real people” about their futures.  this is a unique high school business growth educational program.   The Coffee With…video series started two years ago but has only recently been taken to the school system.  The students, in addition to watching the film series, also get to meet those involved in the videos.  After watching, a question and answer period takes place where the students can talk about job shadowing, different stages of any career choice, or whatever is on their mind.   As high school students, there are a lot of decisions to be made.  In addition to talking to their parents about their dreams and desires, the See It, Believe It, Do It program gives students an opportunity to talk to local entrepreneurs about what lies ahead and can help young people realize that the business community is behind them.  Advice is out there if they know who to ask.  Building Bridges for Business is an outlet they can depend on for...

Small Business Social Media Best Practices   There are a myriad of things you can do, but one small business social media best practice stands out above the rest.  In the midst of Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + and everything else you feel you must be doing, your website is your best marketing strategy.  Don’t get caught up in a fad that may be gone as soon as you figure out how to use it.  Keep your website up-to-date for everyone who wants to visit it.   Think about it!  You spent a lot of time and money getting your website up and running.  Then you found Facebook and Twitter.  They were free.  Why not use them.  You have heard all about building relationships on social media.  You have heard that you should post articles on your sites.  But in the meantime, you have been forgetting to update your website.   There is nothing worse than going to someone’s website to check on an event only to find out the event took place two weeks ago.  Or maybe someone saw something you posted on Facebook about an event you are having and they went to your website to find more information.  But you haven’t had the time yet to post that information on your website.  How does that make you look?   A website is where most people look first for information.  Make sure yours is current.  Take the time to update it regularly.  Your clients will appreciate knowing they are getting the most up-to-date...

Employee retention – or how to keep your employees working for you – can be summarized in one word.   Communication.  There isn’t a fancy formula.  There aren’t any rules or policies.  It is very simple.  Talk to your employees.   Employees want to feel like they are part of the team.  They want to be kept informed of activities and projects.  They want to know that you appreciate them.  Whether your employees are in-house or virtual, keep them informed of what is going on.   There are a number of ways to stay in touch with your employees. Annual employee evaluations are a good one-on-one format to let your employees know what is expected and how they are doing. Monthly staff meetings keep everyone apprised of current and upcoming business dealings. Email works well for the day to day communication. Everyone appreciates a personal visit to congratulate for a job well done. A summer picnic or holiday party is great for getting the entire work force together for networking. Company newsletters can welcome new employees and provide information on promotions.   Talk to your employees as often as you can.  Let them know they are appreciated and doing a great job.  If they feel like part of the team, they will stick around...