A Twitter Practice that Really Gets on My Nerves, and an Alternative Practice

Today I stopped following a group of people on Twitter because of a simple thing: automated direct messages. I believe this is one of the dumbest practices on Twitter now. Worst yet, it is a very commonly used practice.

I barely use direct messaging. When I do, is to offer my hand for a project, have a real private conversation, or to answer a follower’s question. But there are people who would send out messages like this:

Thanks for following me (or following me back!) I’ll be tweeting regularly and selectively on Marketing Promotion related topics.

Messages like that are not personal – and for me – a huge turn off. It seems like you are trying to sell yourself or your product / service, and I am just another number in your quest for sales and popularity. That doesn’t make me want to start a conversation with you.

So, if you are one of those who like to send automated direct messages, here’s a quick tip: STOP RIGHT NOW!

Instead of spending time building a generic message to be sent automatically, interact with those who follow you. Make them feel like they are a part of your world. Be appreciative of the contributions they have made to build a better you. And offer your hand by sharing knowledge and guidance.

If you are to send a DM, be personal. Ask them how they are doing. Solve a particular problem they might have. Or answer questions from your followers. Anything that says “I am treating you like an individual” is good enough for me.

Retweeting and sending #FFs will help you build relationships better than a DM asking people to visit your Facebook page. And asking someone how they are doing will make them get closer to you than sending a generic message about 75 ways they can improve their bottom line.

The point is: you have to be social. Treat your followers as people, because they are. In return, they will treat you as an individual too. That is how you build a social network.

Eight Aspects of Marketing Entrepreneurs Should Not Overlook

Marketing is such a broad concept; it is very hard to keep track of everything you do. After all, every attempt at making contact with an individual outside of your company can be considered as marketing.

As an entrepreneur you are probably focusing on the general aspects of marketing: branding, advertising, and customer service.

In this post, I have collected eight specific parts of marketing that you should not overlook. These, while part of the entrepreneurial process, sometimes are forgotten when it comes to presenting your business to a crowd.

• Your DBA. Make sure that your name fits in with the brand message you’re trying to send out. Don’t call yourself Photocolor when you are specializing in black and white photography.
• Your methods of manufacturing. An all-American company should not manufacture from China simply because it’s cheaper. Believe it or not, however you manufacture your products is a powerful marketing weapon for your business.
• Brand Colors. This is a very important marketing tool. Who you are looking to attract should dictate which colors you brand will sport. Family brands might want to go with vibrant colors (red, yellow), while elitist brands should embrace the blacks, golds, and silvers.
• Location. Does your establishment present an advantage for your business? Incorporate it to your marketing. Denny’s is a bright example of using physical placing to their advantage.
• Email signature. Often overlooked, this part of the email allows you to let the recipient know how to get in contact with you. Putting in your website and/or work phone number is not bad strategy at all.
• Your voicemail message.  Are you letting people know what you are about, when, and how to contact you on your voicemail message? If not, you should. That cute “leave a message after the beep” bit is not as effective in the business world.
• Follow-ups. They not only make the customer feel appreciated for making a purchase; follow-ups can also inspire them to spread the word on your business. People care that you care.
• Passion. You can do everything I have mentioned above, and then more. If you don’t show how much you really care, you might fool customers once, but not twice. And notice that I said “show” as in “stop talking and take action”.

If you think there other aspects of marketing that entrepreneurs constantly overlook, feel free to drop a comment below!

Related articles

• What Does Self-Promotion Mean for Entrepreneurs? (theblogofjuanortiz.wordpress.com)
• Why You (as an Entrepreneur) Should Not Treat Web Marketing as Some Do TV Advertising (theblogofjuanortiz.wordpress.com)
• Entrepreneur’s Image vs Identity (theblogofjuanortiz.wordpress.com)
• Five Things You Should Understand About Branding (theblogofjuanortiz.wordpress.com)

How Does an Entrepreneur Achieve Excellence?

Aristotle once said that excellence is about habits. And when it comes to running a business, nothing could be more accurate.

Successful entrepreneurs emerge out of training. The training is then turned into a lifestyle.  The lifestyle is then turned into a business. And finally, the business runs smoothly because of the habits they developed throughout the process.

But how do you develop these habits that will propel you to excellence?

Stop for a moment and think of what you do in the during the day. Most of these things you do out of habit. Waking up, brushing you teeth, picking the kids at school… you do these tasks repeatedly. You know how to do them, where and when to do them for them to go right.

Now, think about your business practices. I am sure there are aspects of your work where you think you are not doing so well (if you were doing things perfectly, I’m sure you wouldn’t have read this post at all). It doesn’t matter if it’s marketing, finances, planning, or management: you can make excellence just like you do on your personal activities.

Here are some pointers for you to get to that level of excellence you are reaching up to.

• Own your role. You have master the roles of father and husband/boyfriend. Now master the role of an entrepreneur. Keep in mind that this is your business, and you know how to run it smoothly.
• Practice makes perfect. Don’t be afraid of that field that you don’t understand. Instead of running away from it, embrace the fact that “mastering this field will make me a better entrepreneur”.
• Ask. Ask. And ask again. You are no less of a leader if you ask questions to your employees or clients about something you don’t understand. You were not born knowing it all, and learning from others can only make you better.

Excellence is about habits. Habits are about training. And training is about repetition. Repeat what you do constantly, and you will be well-trained. Use the training you got constantly, and you will develop habits. Use those habits constantly and you will become an excellent entrepreneur.

Related articles

• Three Time Management Concerns for Entrepreneurs and How to Deal with Them (theblogofjuanortiz.wordpress.com)
• Eight Aspects of Marketing Entrepreneurs Should Not Overlook (theblogofjuanortiz.wordpress.com)
• What Does Self-Promotion Mean for Entrepreneurs? (theblogofjuanortiz.wordpress.com)

What Entrepreneurs Should Get Out of Hiring a Professional Copywriter

The way businesses run today is way different from what it was 20 years ago. The advancements in technology have made for a more competitive playing field. However, it has also opened the door for plenty of confusion and mediocrity to enter the mix, which creates problems for entrepreneurs when it comes to hiring professional services.

An industry that is suffering from this problem is advertising. There seems to be about a gazillion copywriters to choose from. And while you have Bob Bly and John Carlton still out there, there are others who claim to be copywriters who really aren’t. In fact, they might not even be passionate about copywriting; they might be doing it as a side thing while waiting to go to Hollywood and become screenwriters.

That is certainly not the type of copywriter you want to be dealing with.

So what should you (as an entrepreneur) look for in a professional copywriter before, while, and after hiring them? Here are some bullet points that can help you out.

• Look for references on the copywriter. Who have they worked for? What is their style? Is their style like yours? Take the answers to these questions into consideration before contacting the writer.
• The goal of the copywriter is to sell. They are going to take your product or service, and promote it in a way that consumers want to buy them when they need them.
• If the copywriter knows what he is doing, he will stand by what he says. Whether you like it or not, he is the expert, and he knows how to get to your audience. If your copywriter turns into a “yes man”, there might be a problem.
• The myth that copywriters work alone is just that – a myth. Copywriters need to constantly communicate to get the right information about your business, audience, and competition.

Cheap copywriters today are a dime-a-dozen. But there are effective copywriters still in the field. Don’t let low prices fool you; you have to make sure you are getting the most value out of your dollar. And when it comes to copywriting, the rewards of a good hiring  will benefit everyone.

What Does Self-Promotion Mean for Entrepreneurs?

I will take a moment to clarify another concept that seems to be misunderstood by entrepreneurs. Today I will go briefly into what is self-promotion, what you can get out of it, and why you have to think of yourself as a brand.

Self-promotion is promoting yourself. It is the part of marketing where you let your audience know what you will be doing, where, and with whom. You can do it online as well as offline. You can use video, audio, images, or merchandise. Anything that lets other people know what you are up to can be labeled as self-promotion.

You should not confuse self-promoting with bragging or boasting, but that is a whole different post in itself.

Self-promotion has one job: open the door for opportunities. What opportunities? That will be up to you and what you want to do in life.

If you are looking to land that dream job, self-promotion can help you. If you want to meet new people within your field of ability, self-promotion can help. Getting a grant, take part on a charitable event, closing a deal with a major corporation… you name it. You will not have a stronger weapon at your disposal than self-promoting. But you have to use it carefully.

Many people are afraid to self-promote because it has a very noticeable side effect: it reveals your identity to your audience. That is why it is important to understand that not only seeing yourself as brand will do the trick; you have to build your brand on who you really are. If not, people will see who you really are when you promote yourself. And the contradictions will be all over the place, along with a sense of doubt and mistrust.

Self-promotion is the best thing you can do as an entrepreneur for your business. Remember, people buy mostly from those they trust. And by self-promoting, if you have an identity-based brand built, you are opening the doors for them to trust you.

Related articles

• Eight Aspects of Marketing Entrepreneurs Should Not Overlook (theblogofjuanortiz.wordpress.com)
• Entrepreneur’s Image vs Identity (theblogofjuanortiz.wordpress.com)
• What Entrepreneurs Should Get Out of Hiring a Professional Copywriter (theblogofjuanortiz.wordpress.com)
• Five Things You Should Understand About Branding (theblogofjuanortiz.wordpress.com)

Poll: Will You Become a Member of Pinterest?

Social Media sensation Pinterest has announced updates to their Terms of Service, Acceptable Use and Privacy policies. These changes feature eliminating their right to earn money out of any purchase made through their site, and simpler tools to copyright and trademark infringements.

Click here to take a look at Pinterest’s  Terms of Service.

Click here to take a look at Pinterest’s  Acceptable Use Policy.

Click here to take a look at Pinterest’s  Privacy Policy.

Why you are/aren’t a member of Pinterest? What are your impressions on their policies? What made you become a member? What is making you holding back from entering the community?

Feel free to comment.

Related articles

• Updated Pinterest Terms (pinterest.com)

What Should a Start-up Entrepreneur Do Before Developing Their Business Plan?

Your business plan carry many responsibilities. It is the bearer of your company’s history. The marketing tool used when talking to investors. But most importantly, it’s the guiding light for you and your employees on how your business will be running.

A weak business plan is not only a waste of time for you; it’s a waste of time for your investors and employees too. Therefore, building a strong, readable business plan should the your goal before you even write.

Here are some pointers to help you be ready to write your business plan.

• Understand your business idea completely.
• Develop a short-term mentality for your business projections.
• Do you research and understand who your target audience is and what they want from you.
• Get to know who your competition is and what they bring to the table.
• Have at hand all the information you can get on your industry (data, statistics).
• Make sure your industry grows at healthy, stable pace.
• Gather all of your past financial information (tax returns, debt, bank accounts, etc.) .
• Look for possible adversities that could happen while you run your business.
• Develop a mindset that can expect (and act on) change.
• Make the best use of the technology available to you.
• Study every business plan sample you can get your hands on.

You can learn more about how to do business plan prep by visiting Rhonda Abrams’ weekly columns, as well as the Small Business Administration website.