Rembrandt’s Blog

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!

With all of the ugly economic-news, the recent earthquakes and the snow and rain, it can be easy to feel sad. But the good news is… the economy can get better, you can prepare for natural disasters, and spring is just days away… And best of all, you are in charge of your own feelings.

After all, when was the last time you took control of your situation? Have you been moping around with spring fever? Are you unable to secure new customers or increase sales at your business?

Well, it’s time to regain your power!

With three little steps, you can start to turn things around with every aspect of your life. Here are my suggestions:

1. Review.

First, take a look at what’s going on in your life and ask yourself some questions:

•  Why are you tired all the time?
• Why can’t you seem to get anything done?
• Why isn’t your business growing?
• Why is the “grass greener” everywhere else?

You get the idea. Try to pinpoint why you are feeling sad or unmotivated so you can make positive changes.

2. Make a Plan.

Once you know what your main pain-points are, it’s time to figure out what you’re going to do about it. After all, you are in charge of your own feelings and success so take a few minutes and decide what you can do to fix things in your life.

• Maybe you need to get up earlier to get some exercise or finish a project?
• Are you eating unhealthy snacks that are zapping your energy?
• Do you need to update your products, services or Web site to bring in more sales and traffic?
• Are you spending too much money without realizing it?
• Is it time to get your annual check-up?
• How about hiring some outside experts help you with certain tasks?

Review your responses and decide what you can do to change things that aren’t working for you. Then, add your action steps to a calendar with due dates for each activity. Write down what you want to accomplish and when.

If you need help, find a friend, family member or co-worker for support. You may even want to hire a life coach or trainer to help keep you motivated and stick to your schedule.

3. Take Action.

Now that you have your list of goals, it’s up to you to make change happen.

No one is going to do it for you.

Things will just stay the same unless you take action. And if you are having trouble making changes, start small. Then with each success, give yourself a small reward. Maybe it’s watching your favorite television show, reading a book, eating a piece of candy, taking a little extra “me” time…

The point is that if you want to be happier and more successful, it’s up to you… so if you are waiting for things to get better, you may be waiting a long time.

And I don’t know about you, but things always seem to be better when you’re working to achieve something. Plus, think how great you’ll feel when you start accomplishing your goals – earning more money, losing weight, bringing in new customers – and feeling like you can take on the world!

Now that’s power. Can’t you just taste it?

We can all use some help and a little “pick-me-up” message once in awhile. If you are overwhelmed and need assistance bringing in new customers with public relations, SEO copywriting and marketing activities, please let me know here or at www.rembrandtwrites.com. I’m here to help!

When you prepare to contact a reporter, it is essential to conduct some research first. Media members receive hundreds of calls and e-mails each week, and you want to make a good, first-impression without being annoying.

To stand out and get your story heard, here is a simple reminder of ten questions you should never ask a reporter:

1. My client just created a new product, will you write about it next week?
2. What are your columns about?
3. How do you spell your name?
4. Will you write a feature story about our small businesses?
5. We are having a press event tonight, can you come?
6. Did you get my fax?
7. Are you going to write about the press release I just faxed to you?
8. Our CEO is available to speak to you now. Do you have 30 minutes to hear his story?
9. Can I proof your story before it goes to print for errors?
10. The local paper and CNN just did a major story about my client. Would you like to do the same story too?

These are just a few of the many annoying, time-wasting questions reporters receive every day. What others do you have to add to this list?

Instead of asking dumb questions, please do your homework first. Research the appropriate media venues and review archived and current articles, television programs, radio shows, etc. Discover appropriate beats, deadlines and as much information as possible before you pick up the phone.

You’ll save time and increase your chances of getting some good publicity. But most importantly, you’ll start to build a reputation as a valuable resource for future stories.

Do you need help increasing site traffic, getting media mentions and increasing sales fast? Please contact me here or at www.rembrandtwrites.com. I’d love to hear from you!