Running your own business has been a lifelong dream, and you've made it a reality. You're giving it your all, being the chief cook and bottle washer, not to mention the incredibly long hours. But for some reason, you are not building the kind of loyal customer base that's critical for long term success.
Well, maybe you're overlooking something that customers actually notice right away. Are you running a sloppy business? I'm not talking about things like dirty windows, or tall grass, but the finer details which help to create the all so important image of your business in a customer's mind. Here are three areas that you can not afford to neglect:
Showing posts with label customers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label customers. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
10 Ways SMBs Can Engage Customers in a Tight Economy
Daily Mentions returns from it's break today. Thanks for stopping by.
Yesterday, Bloomberg reported that more than one million self-employed Americans decided to shut the doors to their businesses due to the recession. According to Kristin Arslen, president and chief executive officer of the Washington, D.C.-based National Association for the Self-Employed, diminishing opportunities and few customers are behind the failure of so many small businesses. Despite the promises made by politicians, few are able to simply wait for the eventual economic turnaround.
However, according to Arlen, some small businesses are actually thriving in this anemic economy. These are businesses that have been awarded state and federal contracts, or are in the healthcare or technology sectors. Good for them. But what about the majority of small businesses that don't get
Yesterday, Bloomberg reported that more than one million self-employed Americans decided to shut the doors to their businesses due to the recession. According to Kristin Arslen, president and chief executive officer of the Washington, D.C.-based National Association for the Self-Employed, diminishing opportunities and few customers are behind the failure of so many small businesses. Despite the promises made by politicians, few are able to simply wait for the eventual economic turnaround.
However, according to Arlen, some small businesses are actually thriving in this anemic economy. These are businesses that have been awarded state and federal contracts, or are in the healthcare or technology sectors. Good for them. But what about the majority of small businesses that don't get
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Dress Your Website for Success: Choose the Right Colors
Have ever logged onto a website and immediately thought, "This is a nice website?" Whenever I come upon a great looking website, I have high expectations that my actual experience with the company itself will be a good one. There are a number of elements that go into making a great website. From the basics, such as using the right fonts and point size, to custom features like e-commerce with FedX or UPS delivery and social media integration.
While you may not be able to add much that your web developer doesn't already know in terms of your website's functionality, you should work closely with your designer when it comes to creating the look of your website. If you're going to build your own website, be sure to get lots of feedback from others using a blind test. In my last post, I talked about the importance of choosing the right color for your personal brand. And as you may have already guessed, color is also very important in creating a website that your potential customers will find appealing.
It can be tempting to take the position that "It's my business, I'm paying for the website, so I'll choose the colors that I like for my website". Big mistake. Your website is not for you, it's for both your potential and existing customers. Remember, research shows that people make a subconscious judgment about a person, environment, or product within 90 seconds of initial viewing and that between 62% and 90% of that assessment is based on color alone.
Take several things into consideration when selecting the colors for your website such as the type of product or service that you offer. Are you selling high end fashion jewelry or cakes? What gender are you targeting? Will there be more men or more women, or about even? Does your market expect a company like yours to be more conservative or less conventional? Perhaps your company is a combination of things such as a high end bakery for the weight conscious? Take a long hard look at your company and your market, but careful not to use too many colors.
And don't work yourself up over this. Yes, researchers, color theorists and marketers all agree about the relationship between color and psychology, just remember, this isn't an exact science.
For lots more information on selecting the right colors for your website, read Special Report - Color Attracts: Increase Your Sales by Choosing the Right Colors by Connie Casparie. The 25-page report provides a step-by-step method for selecting the right colors, and includes a helpful chart matching types of businesses and color schemes.
What colors would be really hard for you to use or avoid on your website?
While you may not be able to add much that your web developer doesn't already know in terms of your website's functionality, you should work closely with your designer when it comes to creating the look of your website. If you're going to build your own website, be sure to get lots of feedback from others using a blind test. In my last post, I talked about the importance of choosing the right color for your personal brand. And as you may have already guessed, color is also very important in creating a website that your potential customers will find appealing.
It can be tempting to take the position that "It's my business, I'm paying for the website, so I'll choose the colors that I like for my website". Big mistake. Your website is not for you, it's for both your potential and existing customers. Remember, research shows that people make a subconscious judgment about a person, environment, or product within 90 seconds of initial viewing and that between 62% and 90% of that assessment is based on color alone.
Take several things into consideration when selecting the colors for your website such as the type of product or service that you offer. Are you selling high end fashion jewelry or cakes? What gender are you targeting? Will there be more men or more women, or about even? Does your market expect a company like yours to be more conservative or less conventional? Perhaps your company is a combination of things such as a high end bakery for the weight conscious? Take a long hard look at your company and your market, but careful not to use too many colors.
And don't work yourself up over this. Yes, researchers, color theorists and marketers all agree about the relationship between color and psychology, just remember, this isn't an exact science.
For lots more information on selecting the right colors for your website, read Special Report - Color Attracts: Increase Your Sales by Choosing the Right Colors by Connie Casparie. The 25-page report provides a step-by-step method for selecting the right colors, and includes a helpful chart matching types of businesses and color schemes.
What colors would be really hard for you to use or avoid on your website?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)