Rembrandt’s Blog

As a professional woman, you know you need an online presence. But with all of your responsibilities, it can be easy to give this a low priority on your “To Do” list.

Not to worry!

You can create a great online-presence to improve your business relationships, brand-image and more without spending a lot of time or money. Here are three, quick ways to get started:

1. Create a Simple Web Site.

With all of the services now available, it’s possible to create your own Web site in minutes – without having any technical knowledge whatsoever.

Check out easy and affordable solutions such as Go Daddy!, www.godaddy.com, WordPress,  http://wordpress.com/, and BuildAGreatSite.com, http://www.buildagreatsite.com/.

These services offer easy-to-follow templates and simple guides that will walk you through the process. And if you just don’t have time for this, check with your local university or a site like www.elance.com to find an affordable designer who can help create your Web site for you.

2. Tap Into Social Media.

Take a few minutes to register for a free account on Twitter^®, www.twitter.com, Facebook^®, www.facebook.com, and LinkedIn^®, www.linkedin.com. And if you have time to write a few paragraphs each week, start a blog via WordPress, www.wordpress.com, or Blogger, https://www.blogger.com/start.  

All of these services are free and offer valuable tools to connect with friends, co-workers, business associates, current and potential customers, and more. Once you set up your profile on each site, it only takes a few minutes to enter information and respond to messages on a daily basis.

To make it easy, combine all of your social media posts. This way, you can add one item, and it will automatically appear on your Twitter, Facebook and other accounts too.

For help with this process, check out http://www.site-booster.com/blog/2010/03/how-to-combine-twitter-with-facebook-and-your-website/, http://www.ilovefreesoftware.com/15/social/sobees-lite-combine-twitter-facebook-myspace-linkedin.html and other sites related to this process.

3. Get Involved.

Once you have your Web site and social-media accounts set up, take a few minutes each day to post comments related to news and industry-trends, links to interesting articles and valuable information your target-audience will want to read. (Note-People DO NOT want to hear about what you ate for breakfast, how sleepy you are from being out all night, that your partner dumped you…)

Also, add comments on the appropriate forums, blogs and sites of others, with a link back to your site, to increase online visibility. Ask for help and suggestions on current business issues or events, and stay active by adding your suggestions and feedback. Soon, you’ll be networking online, obtaining great insights and introducing your products and services to potential new customers – very cost-effectively.

The Web is Calling…

By setting aside just a few minutes each day to add valuable links, tips, and other content on the World Wide Web (or finding a helper to do it for you), you can build a professional, online presence that will help your business grow fast!

Do you need help creating an online presence with search engine optimization to help grow sales, credibility and awareness? Please write to me here or at www.rembrandtwrites.com. I’m here to help! Thanks!

(Quoted from PINK Online – 3-22-10)

Even if things are still rough with the economy, this is not the time to sit around and get depressed by the latest news. Instead, it’s time to take action. Do you want some free publicity within the next two weeks? Here’s what you can do right now:

Research.

If you don’t already have it, find the name and contact information for a reporter at your local newspaper who covers your industry and the managing editor at a small, niche magazine who may be interested in your expertise. Read what they’ve written and check out what is coming up in future issues in the online editorial-calendar.

Prepare.

Figure out the benefits you have to offer both media members – at no cost to them. Can you be an expert resource for future articles? Can you provide an opinion-piece about a recent story? How about an article about a hot, current trend? Make a list and think about what you would want to hear if you were that reporter or editor. Practice your pitch.

Make the Call.

Now, call the reporter or editor directly. Introduce yourself, and offer your expertise or an article at no charge. Mention that you saw a recent story and are interested in writing an opinion piece about it. Then, see what happens. Since most local publications are running on tight budgets, they may be more than happy to receive some free content from a local expert.

And if this doesn’t work, write a press release with some valuable information in it (just follow the style of those at www.prweb.com or www.prnewswire.com) and post it on one of the free posting-sites available. (See list at http://www.rembrandtwrites.com/FreePressReleasePostingSites.htm) Boom! Instant publicity you can post on your site.

Repeat this process with more media venues, and soon you’ll start building buzz that brings in new customers. Now, that’s worth the effort… Isn’t it?

Do you need help with your SEO copywriting and PR activities? Please write to me here or at www.rembrandtwrites.com. I’d love to hear from you!

If you want new business, here are three quick tips that may help you boost your customer-list fast…

1. Make a list. Check it twice.

Look through all of your contacts and review the people you’ve met in your industry or at various conferences, local business meetings, presentations, etc. Then, make a list.

 Research each of these people and see what they are doing and the status of their business:

• Are they working with partners you’d like to meet?
• Do they have new products and services that work well with yours?
• Are they involved in one of your favorite charities?
• How can you help each of these people with your unique, products and services?

 Write down all of the information you discover on your list.

2. Ask for Business.

Next, contact the top five people on your list via phone, e-mail, Twitter, www.twitter.com, Facebook, www.facebook.com, etc. and arrange a time to talk.

Ask them how things are going and what their needs are right now. Let them know what you have to offer and how you can help them. Then, ask for their business. You can also ask to refer you to their business associates.

If they are interested in your products and services, provide the information they need to make a decision and arrange a follow-up call. Keep in touch until you seal the deal.

3. Move On.

If you are not getting anywhere with a particular contact, try to get a “Yes” or “No” answer, and move on. Make a note in your database about their status and a reminder to follow up on a certain date. But if they are not interested, stop wasting your time, and move on to the next contact on your list.

If you don’t have any luck with your list of contacts, don’t worry. At least you’ve reminded them about your business and what you have to offer that is unique. And this is just a healthy reminder that you need to start networking and promote your business.

It’s time to attend industry events, join your local Chamber of Commerce and other business groups, get involved, and meet new people. Also, take a look at your Web site, public-relations activities and marketing materials.

Maybe it’s time to update your information or hire a professional publicist or search engine optimization copywriter to help you?

Obtaining new customers is not always an easy process, and it takes work. But once you get the momentum going and have a marketing and referral process in place, things will get easier and you’ll see sales grow.

These are just a few tips to help you take action and bring in new customers now. If you need more help boosting sales with SEO copywriting for your Web site, public relations and other marketing consultation, please let me know here or at Rembrandt Communications^®, www.rembrandtwrites.com. I’m here to help! Thanks!