Posted by Eric Corwin on Thu, May 13, 2010 @ 07:58 AM
As a small business owner your biggest challenge is to get customers in the door and to keep them coming back. This is true with every business but especially so with a local restaurant or retailer.
“It's tough,” says John Simon, owner of Simons Clothing. “It is very competitive,” You’ve got to be able to stand out from your competition.” John is taking the idea of standing out to a high tech level that many small business owners have yet to even consider.
Here are three high tech tips that any small business owner should consider to help reach and market to new and existing customers.
1. Social networking
An effective way to attract customers is to incorporate Twitter and Facebook into your marketing. They’re free, effective ways to reach old and new customers alike. Here are some other social network sites to investigate to help promote your business.
• Youtube is a free video streaming service where you can post videos about your business.
• Flickr is site that will let you upload photos of your business. Posting pictures of fun events will encourage others to join you next time.
• Google Buzz is a bit like Twitter and Facebook, but much newer. You can share promotions and coupons with contacts, who can then re-share them with their own friends.
Get ideas by looking at what’s worked for other businesses
2. Email
Stay in front of your customers by regularly sending out an email newsletter. Give people an incentive to join your mailing list by offering a discount or giveaway for new signups. Be very careful not to over do it. No one wants to be inundated with excess information that does not give them value. You can start your mailing list today with a site set up for sending mass emails like Constant Contact, Vertical Response, or MailChimp. They’ll also help ensure your mailing is complaint with the CAN-SPAM Act. meant to reduce junk email.
3. Begin a Company Blog
Stay in touch continuously with your customers by creating a blog and provide the address to your blog’s RSS Feed (Really Simple Syndication) on your website. It is easy way for your customers to subscribe and stay in touch with your business so they never miss another promotion or event.
Posted by Eric Corwin on Wed, May 12, 2010 @ 06:53 AM
Small businesses continue to struggle with the best way to use social media to reach potential customers. A recent study from Citibank found that most small businesses are not taking advantage of the various solutions available to them through social media.
Some 552 small businesses owners were surveyed throughout the U.S. revealing that 37 percent of these small businesses have not used a website to market their business. Approximately 84 percent haven't sold products using ecommerce while 62 percent are not using email to market their business. Of the businesses that do have and use a website to promote their business 74 percent felt it was effective towards the success of their business.
The truth is that most small businesses are slow to adopt and use new online tools to promote their businesses. Their most important resource, time, is stretched, slowing the education process and the corresponding implementation of these tools. There is a great opportunity for these businesses to begin using these tools to drive sales but the time must be allocated to effectively implement these solutions.
For those small business owners yet to use online tools to grow It's time for small businesses slow to implement an online marketing strategy to get started. At the very least you need a viable website and you should be using email marketing to push information out to your present customers. These online initiatives will lay the ground work for developing an effective social media strategy. You need web content and a consistent company message to push out to LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter and other social media networks. It's time for your small business to take advantage of online marketing and the power of social media.
Posted by Eric Corwin on Thu, May 06, 2010 @ 08:16 AM
CW-27 Television, the number one CW affiliate in the United States, brings a renowned national speaker to the Hampton Roads area. Larry Kirby, an expert in marketing and advertising will direct twelve workshops in total to be presented on May 11th at the Embassy Suites at Hampton Roads convention Center and on May 12th and 13th at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Virginia Beach. Click here to sign up now.
"It is impossible for most business owners to be experts in marketing and advertising," states Larry Kirby. "They just have so many day-to-day responsibilities. That's where we hope we can be of help. The folks at CW-27 have brought us in to help support local Hampton Roads businesses with information about the pros and cons of each advertising solution."
It is the hope of CW-27 that this workshop series can help educate and support area businesses by providing the information necessary for them to make a more informed advertising decision. During these workshops, business owners interested in television advertising, will be offered a value based television branding program that has been proven nationally to help businesses. Register now by calling Ambler Hatchett at 757-398-3155 and provide him with workshop code itm1234
or click here to reserve a seat.
Posted by Eric Corwin on Wed, May 05, 2010 @ 07:41 AM
On May 11-13th local businesses have an opportunity to learn more about the various marketing and advertising options available to their particular business. Businesses throughout Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Portsmouth will learn the pros and cons of each advertising solution they may be using or are considering using in the near future.
CW-27 is sponsoring these effective advertising seminars to help educate the local business owner and support their business success. Learn the secrets of successful marketing by attending one of these local seminars to be held on May 11th at the Embassy Suites at Hampton Roads Convention Center and on the 12th and 13th at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Virginia Beach.
Sign up Now!
Posted by Eric Corwin on Tue, May 04, 2010 @ 09:19 AM
Portsmouth, VA May 4, 2010—CW-27 TV, in conjunction with Effective Advertising Seminars, a renowned national company is providing free marketing workshops to local Norfolk/Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads businesses. It is the hope of each organization that these workshops can help area businesses be better educated consumers of marketing and advertising solutions.
These seminars will take place at various times on May 11th at the Embassy Suites at Hampton Roads Convention Center
located at 1700 Coliseum Dr. and on the , 12th, and 13th
at the Holiday Inn
Executive Center
at 5655 Greenwich Rd
in Virginia Beach.
To register for one of the workshops click here: http://cw27.com/movies/marketplace/Effective.Advertising.Seminar.2.1642185.html
The Effective Advertising Workshops have helped more than 16,000 businesses nationwide make better marketing and advertising decisions and save money. During the one hour presentation businesses will learn the pros and cons of radio, newspaper, Yellow Pages, outdoor, direct mail, cable TV, broadcast TV, and the Internet. Each medium will be discussed and business owners and marketers will learn how to use them to their maximum advantage. In addition, the station will offer select businesses a no obligation opportunity to review its 2010 recession buster advertising program.
"I am excited to provide area businesses with the opportunity to learn about all of the available advertising and marketing options,” states General Sales Manager, Jon ErkenBrack of CW-27. “Business owners have so many responsibilities just running their business and providing a quality service or product to their customers. It is our hope that we can provide them with actionable information so they can be better prepared to make an informed marketing decision.”
ABOUT THE CW-27
The CW-27is a community leader, through the operation of a commercial television station in the public interest, by informing and entertaining our viewers with high quality local news and entertainment programming while providing services to help our advertisers achieve financial prosperity. For more information, visit www.cw27.com.
ABOUT EFFECTIVE ADVERTISING SEMINARS
Effective Advertising Seminars provides cohesive workshops on behalf of television stations on common sense advertising for local businesses. The seminar includes valuable and useable information on advertising for the attendees on Newspaper, Radio, Subscription Television (Cable or Satellite), Yellow Pages Broadcast Television and the Internet.
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Posted by Eric Corwin on Mon, May 03, 2010 @ 12:19 PM
Hundreds of Hampton Roads Businesses Sign up for Marketing Workshops
Businesses here in the Norfolk-Hampton Roads area learn about local search at one of the upcomming May 11-13th Effective Advertising Seminars. These workshops are sponsored by CW-27 television and local area chambers including the Currituck Chamber of Commerce. One medium you'll learn about is local search.
Local search and you business
Business owners need to target those consumers that live in close proximity to their business. Local search helps them effectively reach these potential customers. There are a variety of advertising solutions that you can use to reach local consumers and one of the most effective ways is to use local search.
Online local search sites are the new yellow pages
Let’s make it relatable to what you may be used to. Local search Web sites are similar to paperbound business directories like the Yellow Pages. They are sometimes referred to as online business directories. Most online directories display a small business name, location, and phone number plus a variety of these local search websites include maps, driving directions, ratings and reviews. A good example of this is yelp.com.
Learn more about local search and the pros and cons of other media during one of the CW-27 Effective Advertising Workshops to be held May 11-13th. Sign up today!
Posted by Eric Corwin on Fri, Apr 30, 2010 @ 07:59 AM
CW-27 is offering free marketing workshops for businesses in the Hampton Roads area on May 11th, 12th and 13th. A renowned national speaker will present a one hour workshop on all of the marketing options that a business owner should consider. One medium you'll learn about is television.
The Benefits of TV Advertising
1. Brand your business - TV delivers a level of credibility that other advertising formats do not. This can affect the perception of your company as a leader in the local marketplace.
2. Reach a large audience
- America is still a nation of TV watchers. Local television reaches just about every home in the Hampton Roads area and touches every demographic.
3. Proven success with television - TV is an effective advertising vehicle for local business because it creates an awareness for your product or service; one that may not have been considered prior to the viewing of your company's commercial.
4. TV delivers all the senses-TV delivers both audio and visual and adds in movement and even emotion into the mix for good measure.
What is TV Advertising Good At?
Most obviously TV advertising is good at delivering big audiences and generating exposure for your business. It's also consistent and predictable exposure. Of course, you pay for that exposure. TV requires a consistent investment but it delivers in kind.
Sign up to learn more about the benefits of television at the upcoming Effective Advertising Seminar sponsored in part by CW-27 and local area chambers of commerce.
Posted by Eric Corwin on Tue, Apr 27, 2010 @ 07:51 AM
Attention: Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach Area Business Owners
Local businesses in the Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach area are signing up for the CW27 effective advertising seminar workshop. These seminars provide local business owners with the essential information necessary to make better, more informed marketing and advertising decisions.
Throughout the country these marketing seminars have helped tens of thousands of local businesses be more successful at marketing their company. They are learning how to spend their limited advertising dollars more efficiently and effectively.
If you haven't signed up for one of these workshops to be held throughout the Portsmouth, Norfolk and Virginia Beach area there's still time. Attend one of these free marketing workshops to be held on May 11th, 12th, and 13th. This national workshop series has been heralded as a must attend for any business looking for a competitive edge. Special evening sessions are available for those who can't attend the day sessions.
During these one hour presentations, you'll learn the strengths and weaknesses of social media, including Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. You'll also learn the pros and cons of radio, newspaper, yellow pages, outdoor, direct mail, cable TV, broadcast TV and the Internet. Find out how to use each medium to its full advantage to grow your business and maximize your marketing budget.
If you're serious about growing your business and learning the secrets about the best way to market and advertise your company then sign up today.
Posted by Eric Corwin on Wed, Apr 21, 2010 @ 07:58 AM
Radio advertising works for small business. But what does this mean? The natural question when it comes to
radio advertising is ‘will it suit my small business?’ Of course, what you really mean is ‘will it make me money’?
While every kind of small business can have (and has had) success with radio, some business types are naturally more suited to radio advertising than others. That said, a business that should be perfect for radio – on paper - can easily fail with a poor quality ad in the same way that a business that would normally advertise elsewhere can succeed with a well-executed campaign.
Needless to say, the real results depend on the quality of the execution but if you’re sitting with a limited budget and looking for the best place to invest it; it’s worth knowing what advantages, or disadvantages, radio advertising offers. Let's take a look at this video for more.
Posted by Eric Corwin on Tue, Apr 20, 2010 @ 03:03 PM
Free Advertising Workshops for Local Norfolk and Virginia Beach Businesses.
CW27 has partnered with a nationally recognized marketing firm to conduct Free Effective Advertising Workshops for Hampton Roads businesses. This program has helped over 16,000 businesses nationwide make better marketing and advertising decisions.
Attend one of these free marketing workshops to be held on
May 11th, 12th, and 13th. This national workshop series has been heralded as a must attend for any business looking for a competitive edge. Special evening sessions are available for those who can't attend the day sessions.
During these one hour presentations, you'll learn the strengths and weaknesses of radio, newspaper, yellow pages, outdoor, direct mail, cable TV, broadcast TV and the Internet. You will learn how to use each medium to its full advantage to grow your business and maximize your marketing budget.
Learn what thousands of successful companies already know about...
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Direct Mail
- Yellow Pages
- Internet
- Local Search
- Radio
- Television
- Cable TV
Space is limited for these free workshops. Contact Ambler Hatchett at 757-398-3155 and give promo code (impact #120) or fill out
this form