By Sandra Collins — Everyone has a list. We keep lists of goals, things to do, shopping lists, bucket lists. The people with probably the longest list of things to do are those in charge of cybersecurity—the information technology (IT) professionals who seek to prevent hacking and cyber attacks on computer systems, as well […]
By Sandra Collins This blog is about social media. Each social media platform holds its own user expectations for how and what content are shared. This is often called the “voice” or “tone” you use when you post. If you’re just getting started with social media, you may find helpful this overview of the […]
By Sandra Collins This blog is about social media. In prior posts I wrote about using social media for your small business and how to get started choosing platforms you can use. Here I’ll provide some advice for what kinds of content you can post. There are a lot of options, but definitely you […]
By Sandra Collins This blog is about social media. In a prior post, I wrote about how to start using social media for your business. The key takeaway was that when you are strategizing how to participate in social media, it’s most effective to know where and how your customers and prospects want to […]
By Sandra Collins This blog is about social media. As a small business owner, you may have heard a lot about social media and that you “have” to use it. I, myself, think it’s best to be clear about how it helps all concerned. I have heard the title comment about social media more […]
By Sandra Collins This blog is about how to help buyers using informational content. It can be helpful to use specific terms to describe potential buyers during the buying process (the “sales funnel”) so your team is referring to them consistently. There are numerous sets of terms one can use; following I’ll describe one […]
By Sandra Collins This blog is about understanding the sales cycle. People considering an important purchase usually go through a buying process called a “sales cycle” or “sales funnel.” Generally it includes: Identifying their own wants or needs for the purchase Research on available options (products/services and suppliers) Evaluation Decisions A sales funnel is […]
By Sandra Collins This blog is about providing core content. When people are considering making a significant purchase, they often start with research to better understand their options. They look for information online and/or offline; they may also solicit input from others, opinions available on social media, and customer reviews. Much of their research […]
By Sandra Collins This blog is about communicating your value (“messaging”). Your branding and the image you convey are the first impressions that your prospects will receive about your company (read more about that here). The next key piece of information in their assessment of you should be your messaging. “Messaging” is the primary […]
By Sandra Collins This blog is about identifying your target markets. A “target market” is a group of people with a set of similar characteristics who would benefit from your products and/or services. Defining a target market helps you to articulate the benefits your products/services provide. In some cases, you will have multiple target […]
By Sandra Collins This blog is about creating your image. In a prior post, I wrote about why the image your company conveys is important during the sales process. Here are some best practices for defining or redefining the image you want to convey, to ensure you’re making a great first impression. Usually, a […]
By Sandra Collins This blog is about branding. “Branding” is the marketing term that describes the elements you construct to communicate your company’s image. It includes your logo and other graphic design, your tagline, and how you convey your value proposition (which is called “messaging”). Branding seeks to influence the impression people will have […]
This blog is about your value proposition.
