1. How To Find One
Your best and most up to date resource for finding examples of proposals is the Internet. There are many institutions who host websites on line that offer a wide range of examples of proposals for you to view. A simple entering of keywords into your favourite search engine will bring up an astounding number of matches. You may find examples in various books on the subject or a call to your local government branch should be able to point you in the right direction as many charitable organisations submit proposals annually.
2. What It Contains
Examples of grant proposals will contain a detailed layout of what a proposal sample should look like. You will notice a standardized layout, a professionally put together business plan and additional research and market surveys should be attached as well. Various headings and sub-headings will summarize different aspects of the organisation's goals and objectives and may include pie charts, graphs and other statistics. A detailed budget and operating procedures should also be included. You may well want to look at several different examples, as not all of them will follow the same format.
Take the time to look at quite a few until you are more familiar with the layouts and have a good grasp of what information is contained in each one. The basics will include the problem that the organisation in question is facing, the reason why they require funding and the purpose of their organisation, in other words what function they serve to the community at large. The example should include the project overviews and plans of how they intend to implement the funding within the organisation. You'll find detailed information on the management procedures and all administrative duties as well as safety regulations, training schedules, quality testing, research procedures, details about service delivery and available resources.
3. Quality
Examples of proposals will contain a lot of information but its up to you to use discernment in realizing that some information is more valuable than other information. Clearly one of the more important features of any proposal is the budget. These examples will give varying amounts of details pertaining to budget but be rest assured that it is one of the more important factors and it will be taken into account by the grant organisation which will be considering funding your endeavour. Be thorough when dealing with this aspect. Research your market, ensure that you provide realistic and fact based projections when it comes to defining your budget. Many grant proposals have been rejected simply because the budget was unrealistically high or low.
Research is a key factor that should be delivered with the utmost attention to detail. Examples of proposals should contain vast amounts of research data. Depending on the type of proposal you are working on your research needs will obviously vary, but this is a vital part of your proposal. The details provided will have a strong impact on the grant officer who is evaluating your proposal. Always provide high quality information in your proposals.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
How to Kick Up the Marketing For Your Small Business
Without the right marketing solutions, your small business can suffer tremendously. However, finding the right marketing options for your needs can be more than difficult. What options offer benefits for your company? Should you stick with traditional advertising methods? Are there any other methods out there that can provide you with benefits? Thankfully, you can find quite a few options available that can save you some money, without sacrificing the quality of your message.
What choices do you have for marketing? While you can most certainly make use of traditional advertising methods, such as print, radio spots or TV commercials, these can be quite expensive. In addition to their high cost, you will find that they do not offer the same benefits as other, more targeted options available to you. Why should you worry about targeted marketing? Without the right targeting, your message might be falling on deaf ears.
Targeted marketing is the most important consideration for any small business. While large companies might be able to spend enormous sums of money on blanket advertising, your company cannot. Therefore, you need to make each dollar count. The only way to do this is by targeting your marketing to consumers who are interested in your particular products or services.
Direct mail is one of the most popular options for this type of advertising. You will need to purchase a prescreened mailing list, which will contain the names and contact information of consumers who fit your criteria. You will also find that you can purchase lists for specific geographic areas. This is important if you want to capitalize on local or regional marketing (the best options for small businesses).
Once you have the list, you should send out your carefully crafted marketing material. This should provide the recipients with information about what you offer, whey they might be interested and how to take the next step. Of course, this need not cost a fortune - many companies can make do with simple postcards, which are very cost effective.
You can also make use of other marketing options, such as warm calling. This form of telemarketing is targeted, just like direct mail. You can call interested parties, as well as past customers and clients, offering them a chance to purchase your newest product or invest in your new services. These are just a few of the options you have, though, as many other marketing methods exist.
What choices do you have for marketing? While you can most certainly make use of traditional advertising methods, such as print, radio spots or TV commercials, these can be quite expensive. In addition to their high cost, you will find that they do not offer the same benefits as other, more targeted options available to you. Why should you worry about targeted marketing? Without the right targeting, your message might be falling on deaf ears.
Targeted marketing is the most important consideration for any small business. While large companies might be able to spend enormous sums of money on blanket advertising, your company cannot. Therefore, you need to make each dollar count. The only way to do this is by targeting your marketing to consumers who are interested in your particular products or services.
Direct mail is one of the most popular options for this type of advertising. You will need to purchase a prescreened mailing list, which will contain the names and contact information of consumers who fit your criteria. You will also find that you can purchase lists for specific geographic areas. This is important if you want to capitalize on local or regional marketing (the best options for small businesses).
Once you have the list, you should send out your carefully crafted marketing material. This should provide the recipients with information about what you offer, whey they might be interested and how to take the next step. Of course, this need not cost a fortune - many companies can make do with simple postcards, which are very cost effective.
You can also make use of other marketing options, such as warm calling. This form of telemarketing is targeted, just like direct mail. You can call interested parties, as well as past customers and clients, offering them a chance to purchase your newest product or invest in your new services. These are just a few of the options you have, though, as many other marketing methods exist.
Commercial Toilets - What You Need to Know Now
If you think that adding a commercial toilet to your business is not a big deal, think again. Just putting in a toilet and a sink won't pass the inspection done by the health inspector. There are a number of things you need to know about adding a commercial bathroom stall.
ADA Compliance:New construction by law must follow the guidelines set forth by the American Disabilities Association. That means there needs to be certain size of entrance door and the needs to railings installed.
Luxuries versus Necessities: Commercial paper towel dispensers and baby changing stations have their advantages and that has to do with the bottom line. Vertical paper towel dispensers save your employees-or you- time because the control the amount of towels dispensed which means less waste. Changing stations are a must in both men's and women's restrooms and people with kids have a great chance of buying items in your store if you make the restrooms convenient and clean.
Automation- rel=nofollow auto flush urinals or luxury portable toilets-depending upon your type of business make a difference in profit or loss. Upscale portable toilets can be automated and therefore kept clean and free from bacteria. Urinal flush valves can be activated by a motion sensor that can be easily installed with a battery that lasts for years. Automatic features means less cleaning of overflows.
Commercial bathroom stalls don't have to turn into a major production if you don't let it. Put in what is standard and will keep your employees serving customers instead of cleaning toilets all the time.
ADA Compliance:New construction by law must follow the guidelines set forth by the American Disabilities Association. That means there needs to be certain size of entrance door and the needs to railings installed.
Luxuries versus Necessities: Commercial paper towel dispensers and baby changing stations have their advantages and that has to do with the bottom line. Vertical paper towel dispensers save your employees-or you- time because the control the amount of towels dispensed which means less waste. Changing stations are a must in both men's and women's restrooms and people with kids have a great chance of buying items in your store if you make the restrooms convenient and clean.
Automation- rel=nofollow auto flush urinals or luxury portable toilets-depending upon your type of business make a difference in profit or loss. Upscale portable toilets can be automated and therefore kept clean and free from bacteria. Urinal flush valves can be activated by a motion sensor that can be easily installed with a battery that lasts for years. Automatic features means less cleaning of overflows.
Commercial bathroom stalls don't have to turn into a major production if you don't let it. Put in what is standard and will keep your employees serving customers instead of cleaning toilets all the time.
Smart Women Can Learn a Lot About Business From a 3rd Grader
Recently my son Jack, who's in 3rd grade, had to do a book report and I spent some time guiding him through the process. His teacher had asked the report to consist of 6 elements: Title, Setting, Main Characters, Plot, Problem, and Solution. This got me thinking about how Smart Women could use this exercise to create a clear and focused plan for their business and entrepreneurial dreams.
Having a firm foundation is essential for any business to have sustainable growth and long-term success. What do you need in order to create a firm foundation for your Big Idea, Dream, or Goal? You need the same 6 elements that my son Jack used in his book report:
1. Title - What's the name of your business? Does the logo reflect what your business provides? Does your business card or web site accurately reflect what you do? This is a basic but very important part of your business. Many times, it can be the first contact someone has with you and your business. It needs to be clear when someone picks up your card or visits your web site.
2. Setting - Where will you operate and run your business? Will it be home-based or do you need to rent office or warehouse space? What setting will best serve you in running and operating a successful, profitable business? When I first started my business years ago, I had a small desk in my bedroom that served as an "office." Today, I have an office that is dedicated to my business needs. It's light, bright and has a 360-degree window view all around me. Your environment is very important when you are working on your Big Ideas, Dreams, and Goals. The key is to get started in whatever space you have but make it a goal to "create your own space" as soon as possible.
3. Main Characters - Who will support you in your business? Do you have an assistant? Coach? Belong to a Mastermind? When I first started my business, it was just me doing everything. Along the way, I added support as I quickly realized that I could not accomplish my dreams and goals without more help. Today, I have a virtual assistant, a web designer and a project assistant. Support is a key factor in building and sustaining a successful business.
4. Plot - What's the vision for your business? What does your Big Idea, Dream, or Goal look like? This was the most challenging part for my son Jack. Taking what he read and being able to articulate it in a format that would make sense to anyone who picked up the report but may have never read the book. This, too, is true for your business. You need to be able to articulate your business idea and what it does with real vision and clarity, so that when you meet with your ideal client, they understand that what you have to offer is for them.
5. Problem - What problem does your ideal client have that you can solve when they work with you or use your product? This is key to writing effective marketing materials.
6. Solution - What's the solution that you provide? For example, are you a small business attorney who helps entrepreneurs keep their businesses legally healthy? Do you provide services to help people grow their businesses? People will always invest in solutions that they believe will clearly solve their problems.
Jack's book report was on Doctor Doolittle. He enjoyed the book and all of its characters. Taking everything he discovered in the book and putting it on paper was not always easy at times, but it clearly helped him to better understand what he read. He had to get up a few times, walk away, and take a break but in the end, he was really proud of his work.
I invite you to sit down and do a "report" on your business. Whether it's a new business that you've been dreaming about or a business you've had for a while, visualizing and clarifying these steps will bring about some positive ideas and new thinking for 2010.
Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.
Having a firm foundation is essential for any business to have sustainable growth and long-term success. What do you need in order to create a firm foundation for your Big Idea, Dream, or Goal? You need the same 6 elements that my son Jack used in his book report:
1. Title - What's the name of your business? Does the logo reflect what your business provides? Does your business card or web site accurately reflect what you do? This is a basic but very important part of your business. Many times, it can be the first contact someone has with you and your business. It needs to be clear when someone picks up your card or visits your web site.
2. Setting - Where will you operate and run your business? Will it be home-based or do you need to rent office or warehouse space? What setting will best serve you in running and operating a successful, profitable business? When I first started my business years ago, I had a small desk in my bedroom that served as an "office." Today, I have an office that is dedicated to my business needs. It's light, bright and has a 360-degree window view all around me. Your environment is very important when you are working on your Big Ideas, Dreams, and Goals. The key is to get started in whatever space you have but make it a goal to "create your own space" as soon as possible.
3. Main Characters - Who will support you in your business? Do you have an assistant? Coach? Belong to a Mastermind? When I first started my business, it was just me doing everything. Along the way, I added support as I quickly realized that I could not accomplish my dreams and goals without more help. Today, I have a virtual assistant, a web designer and a project assistant. Support is a key factor in building and sustaining a successful business.
4. Plot - What's the vision for your business? What does your Big Idea, Dream, or Goal look like? This was the most challenging part for my son Jack. Taking what he read and being able to articulate it in a format that would make sense to anyone who picked up the report but may have never read the book. This, too, is true for your business. You need to be able to articulate your business idea and what it does with real vision and clarity, so that when you meet with your ideal client, they understand that what you have to offer is for them.
5. Problem - What problem does your ideal client have that you can solve when they work with you or use your product? This is key to writing effective marketing materials.
6. Solution - What's the solution that you provide? For example, are you a small business attorney who helps entrepreneurs keep their businesses legally healthy? Do you provide services to help people grow their businesses? People will always invest in solutions that they believe will clearly solve their problems.
Jack's book report was on Doctor Doolittle. He enjoyed the book and all of its characters. Taking everything he discovered in the book and putting it on paper was not always easy at times, but it clearly helped him to better understand what he read. He had to get up a few times, walk away, and take a break but in the end, he was really proud of his work.
I invite you to sit down and do a "report" on your business. Whether it's a new business that you've been dreaming about or a business you've had for a while, visualizing and clarifying these steps will bring about some positive ideas and new thinking for 2010.
Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.
Think Big in a Small Business
"Think Big" is the biggest motto of all time, where everyone use to realize their dreams and set bigger goals. With the growing economic recession, "Think big, but start small" would be ideal to follow. The number of profitable small business is unlimited but restricted to each and everyone considering their effort in making tons of cash.
One such business is the pet sitting. Many people love animals to their dearest and would be willing to pay someone who can cater the needs of their pets while they are away for a business tour or a family vacation. This is the easiest way of making money. Starting one's own pet sitting company and providing friends and everyone with fliers and cards with contact information is the ideal way of marketing this small business. If one can afford bigger budgets and would love to see the animals, he can start his own pet shop will all pet accessories and foods and can even allow breeding of animals and sell the new puppies or kittens or other pets to people who would love to keep them.
One could start a small business consulting company. A consultant company can be of any base, which can include flowers, groceries, wedding arrangements, bakeries and what not. A consultant company does not require big budgets. Box full of printed cards that contain the contact information is more than sufficient to starting a consulting company. However, it requires research and expertise in some area that the company is based on. Sometimes, consultant companies may also hire professionals once their business is growing and shows some solid results.
For women, decorating their home with gifts, toys and other decorative materials are always fun. They are fond of creating their own creative ideas come true by making their innovations a way to small business. They can use it in the interior decorations field by creating models of interior decorations and modeling every room according to people's need. Couples enjoy their rooms with exotic decorations, while the kids enjoy their Mickey and Donald's pictures at sleep. Using their own talent, one could make a huge profit out of these interior decorations.
Gift shops are overwhelming with crowds during the season times. With the Christmas season beginning the season of joy and happiness, one could really start up a seasonal gift shop with lots of gifts and cards for all occasions. However, starting a small business gift shop is not ideal for someone who would have to borrow money and start their own. However, for people who can invest money and harvest their profits, can consider this gift shop option. Personalized and handmade gifts have become undermined all other gifts recently and are always welcomed by everyone. Handmade crafts and articles with personalized wishes or messages are worth two or three times their normal cost, since it brings forth joy and happiness among relatives, which is in turn a win-win situation for all.
One such business is the pet sitting. Many people love animals to their dearest and would be willing to pay someone who can cater the needs of their pets while they are away for a business tour or a family vacation. This is the easiest way of making money. Starting one's own pet sitting company and providing friends and everyone with fliers and cards with contact information is the ideal way of marketing this small business. If one can afford bigger budgets and would love to see the animals, he can start his own pet shop will all pet accessories and foods and can even allow breeding of animals and sell the new puppies or kittens or other pets to people who would love to keep them.
One could start a small business consulting company. A consultant company can be of any base, which can include flowers, groceries, wedding arrangements, bakeries and what not. A consultant company does not require big budgets. Box full of printed cards that contain the contact information is more than sufficient to starting a consulting company. However, it requires research and expertise in some area that the company is based on. Sometimes, consultant companies may also hire professionals once their business is growing and shows some solid results.
For women, decorating their home with gifts, toys and other decorative materials are always fun. They are fond of creating their own creative ideas come true by making their innovations a way to small business. They can use it in the interior decorations field by creating models of interior decorations and modeling every room according to people's need. Couples enjoy their rooms with exotic decorations, while the kids enjoy their Mickey and Donald's pictures at sleep. Using their own talent, one could make a huge profit out of these interior decorations.
Gift shops are overwhelming with crowds during the season times. With the Christmas season beginning the season of joy and happiness, one could really start up a seasonal gift shop with lots of gifts and cards for all occasions. However, starting a small business gift shop is not ideal for someone who would have to borrow money and start their own. However, for people who can invest money and harvest their profits, can consider this gift shop option. Personalized and handmade gifts have become undermined all other gifts recently and are always welcomed by everyone. Handmade crafts and articles with personalized wishes or messages are worth two or three times their normal cost, since it brings forth joy and happiness among relatives, which is in turn a win-win situation for all.
Money Saving Tips For Small Businesses
Money Saving Tips For Small Businesses
Making sure that your profits exceed your expenses can be difficult when you own a small business or if you're trying to get a new business off the ground.
Transportation costs can be outrageous if you don't plan ahead. Try to limit your travel by communicating by web video phone or having conference calls with clients and suppliers. You can get a web cam and video conference with a lot of people at once online for just a few dollars, instead of investing hundreds or thousands in video conferencing equipment or travelling every time you need to meet with someone.
Travel arrangements should be made as far in advance as possible to ensure the best prices. Research different airlines, hotels, rental car companies, and restaurants to figure out who gives the best discounts. Sometimes you'll get a discount simply for making your reservation online or far in advance. Ask about discounts for using certain credit cards or belonging to certain professional organizations and clubs. You can also try to use credit cards that give you travel rewards when you use them. Keep up with frequent traveler information to make future trips cheaper.
Organization can save you a bundle in the long run. So many small business owners get overwhelmed with paperwork once they get going because they don't have a good organization system. There's nothing worse than finding out that you don't have the documentation that you need to get a big tax refund or deduction because you had no idea it was important. Meet with a financial/tax advisor each year to determine what bookkeeping system will work for you and your business. Keep track of every cent to maximize your benefit when tax time rolls around.
Basic bills can be higher than you imagined, especially in the hottest or coldest months of the year. Call your power company and ask about discounts that you may be eligible for. Some offer energy saver discounts for companies that do not use their power for 50% of each day. You may be eligible for tax refunds or credits if you purchase appliances with good energy ratings. You can even have thousands of dollars refunded if you upgrade your business making it more energy efficient. Examples include replacing central heating/cooling units, insulating, residing, putting in energy efficient windows, etc.
If you travel a lot for your business, then you probably have a lot of unplanned expenses while you're on the road. Meeting clients or suppliers for dinner, using an expensive 411 directory assistance for phone numbers and addresses, ending up at more costly hotels than you planned on, the list of things that can really cut into your budget goes on and on. Plus, figuring out where to go and when, can make a personal assistant a necessity. Try using rel=nofollow [http://askoncall.com]mobile concierge services instead. For around $8/month, you can have someone available to give you turn by turn directions, hotel and restaurant suggestions, tell you whether or not your flight is delayed, and more. It sure beats hiring a personal assistant or spending way more time and money on the road than you planned, and you can use it internationally and 24/7.
Utilizing these tips will help you to stretch your dollar and stay ahead of the game. Being frugal with your money is always a good business plan. If you are better able to stick to your budget, you and your business will have a much better chance at being successful.
Making sure that your profits exceed your expenses can be difficult when you own a small business or if you're trying to get a new business off the ground.
Transportation costs can be outrageous if you don't plan ahead. Try to limit your travel by communicating by web video phone or having conference calls with clients and suppliers. You can get a web cam and video conference with a lot of people at once online for just a few dollars, instead of investing hundreds or thousands in video conferencing equipment or travelling every time you need to meet with someone.
Travel arrangements should be made as far in advance as possible to ensure the best prices. Research different airlines, hotels, rental car companies, and restaurants to figure out who gives the best discounts. Sometimes you'll get a discount simply for making your reservation online or far in advance. Ask about discounts for using certain credit cards or belonging to certain professional organizations and clubs. You can also try to use credit cards that give you travel rewards when you use them. Keep up with frequent traveler information to make future trips cheaper.
Organization can save you a bundle in the long run. So many small business owners get overwhelmed with paperwork once they get going because they don't have a good organization system. There's nothing worse than finding out that you don't have the documentation that you need to get a big tax refund or deduction because you had no idea it was important. Meet with a financial/tax advisor each year to determine what bookkeeping system will work for you and your business. Keep track of every cent to maximize your benefit when tax time rolls around.
Basic bills can be higher than you imagined, especially in the hottest or coldest months of the year. Call your power company and ask about discounts that you may be eligible for. Some offer energy saver discounts for companies that do not use their power for 50% of each day. You may be eligible for tax refunds or credits if you purchase appliances with good energy ratings. You can even have thousands of dollars refunded if you upgrade your business making it more energy efficient. Examples include replacing central heating/cooling units, insulating, residing, putting in energy efficient windows, etc.
If you travel a lot for your business, then you probably have a lot of unplanned expenses while you're on the road. Meeting clients or suppliers for dinner, using an expensive 411 directory assistance for phone numbers and addresses, ending up at more costly hotels than you planned on, the list of things that can really cut into your budget goes on and on. Plus, figuring out where to go and when, can make a personal assistant a necessity. Try using rel=nofollow [http://askoncall.com]mobile concierge services instead. For around $8/month, you can have someone available to give you turn by turn directions, hotel and restaurant suggestions, tell you whether or not your flight is delayed, and more. It sure beats hiring a personal assistant or spending way more time and money on the road than you planned, and you can use it internationally and 24/7.
Utilizing these tips will help you to stretch your dollar and stay ahead of the game. Being frugal with your money is always a good business plan. If you are better able to stick to your budget, you and your business will have a much better chance at being successful.
Small Business Marketing - Managing Your Voice Brand
Small Business Marketing - Managing Your Voice Brand
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Chris_Gatch]Chris Gatch
A company projects its brand in many ways: its logo, Web site, advertising, office and even employee attire. Yet with such an emphasis on developing an appropriate small business marketing strategy, it is surprising that one of the most active customer touch points is often ignored.
The phone call still reigns as the primary mode of interaction between small businesses and their customers. If there is a problem, most entrepreneurs will pick up the phone to quickly fix the problem rather than use a channel, like e-mail, that requires them to wait for a response. As a result, your company's voice brand is an important aspect of maintaining the image you want to convey.
Everyone has experienced the call. You pick up the phone to call a business and immediately wish you hadn't. Whether being met with an inept staff member, a shockingly foul-mouthed representative or someone who provided grossly inaccurate information, odds are you've experienced an ignored voice brand.
What Is a Voice Brand?
Simply put, your company's voice brand is the image it provides through the spoken word. Marcus Graham, author of Voice Branding in America, provides a more in-depth account of establishing an optimal small business marketing message:
"It's the unique combination of voice talent, words, call flow and spirit that greets and guides callers. The voice brand is largely experienced over the telephone today, but that's changing. With the telephone, computer and television morphing into similar multi-function devices due to digital convergence, a company's voice brand is being heard on Web sites, multimedia CD ROMs, kiosks, cards, point of purchase devices and who knows what else."
Crafting Your Company's Voice Brand
With the evolution of how businesses engage their customers and prospects, we have also seen an increase in the number of small business marketing channels companies need to manage. Fifty years ago, the letter may have been the most common and most cost-effective form of direct communication with customers, whereas today the Web site is the default source for general company information. Now more than ever, businesses need to ensure they are using the same voice brand across all channels.
The first step is to determine the small business marketing message you wish to convey. To effectively do so, a company needs to examine not only its current brand, but the brands of its customers and prospective customers.
When examining these brands, review a number of attributes: are your company and your customers extremely professional or casual, highly educated or plainspoken, in a "white-collar" or "blue-collar" industry? Once you've identified some of these attributes, you can better identify the small business marketing message that will achieve success.
Inventory all of your voice communications touch points with an understanding of the brand your company will create. A touch point consists of any channel through which a customer could interact with your company, such as your receptionist, interactive voice response (IVR) system, tech support line, advertising response line, voicemail and online voice assets. Consider what you want your customer to experience and accomplish at each of these touch points. With a plan in place, you can design or redesign your small business marketing messaging and call flows to create a positive customer interaction.
For example, the medical field frequently uses call forwarding and redirecting services so patients can speak with someone 24/7. If handled correctly, the system may ask if it's an emergency, give you the option to immediately speak with a healthcare expert or provide information about where to receive immediate care. During business hours, a person would provide this information, but during non-business hours, physicians still need a professional solution that provides the necessary information.
Choose a Persona
How you speak with your customers is just as important as what you say. Oftentimes, automated phone systems sound mechanical, distant and even unprofessional. Think of your voice persona the same way you think of your staff when they are speaking to your customers.
Is your company represented by a man or woman, someone young or old? Do they have an accent? What is their attitude? A consistent persona, that reflects your company's personality and culture, will help establish the voice brand your customers will associate with your business.
Regardless of the persona your company takes, consider hiring professional voice talent to record the messages your customers will encounter. There are many companies that work exclusively with small businesses to create a voice brand; consider using one to help you.
Bring Your Small Business Marketing Message Together
Executing your vision for a voice brand will take planning and consideration of available tools. Most small business phone or PBX systems include basic IVR functionality that lets you customize voice prompts. Take advantage of this capability to ensure your small business marketing message is used throughout all automated responses your customer can have with your phone system.
For example, a Virtual Receptionist application is a great tool to effectively convey your voice brand. Virtual Receptionist offers easy and powerful management of inbound calling for your business and uses text-to-voice functionality that allows companies to create a customized script to answer and direct calls. With an intuitive interface, small businesses can create and update their phone menus on the fly to change how callers interact with the system during and after business hours.
Your small business marketing strategies send a message every time your phone rings; your Web site is hit and your employees speak. It is important that all these messages point to a consistent small business marketing message that embodies your organization. Taking the time to create the brand, using it across all channels and leveraging readily available voice solutions will ensure your small business isn't creating an experience your customer would rather forget.
Chris Gatch is Chief Technology Officer of Cbeyond, a leading Internet and [http://www.cbeyond.net/]business phone service company that offers affordable, reliable solutions to small businesses across the U.S. Cbeyond, which was recently named sixth on the Forbes Fast Tech list of the fastest-growing technology companies in America, offers more than 30 productivity-enhancing applications including local and long-distance voice, broadband Internet, mobile, BlackBerry(R), broadband laptop access, voicemail, email, web hosting, fax-to-email, data backup, file-sharing and virtual private networking. These services are managed over a private, 100-percent Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) facilities-based network. For more information on Cbeyond's services, please visit [http://www.cbeyond.net/smb]http://www.cbeyond.net/smb.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Small-Business-Marketing---Managing-Your-Voice-Brand&id=3465747] Small Business Marketing - Managing Your Voice Brand
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Chris_Gatch]Chris Gatch
A company projects its brand in many ways: its logo, Web site, advertising, office and even employee attire. Yet with such an emphasis on developing an appropriate small business marketing strategy, it is surprising that one of the most active customer touch points is often ignored.
The phone call still reigns as the primary mode of interaction between small businesses and their customers. If there is a problem, most entrepreneurs will pick up the phone to quickly fix the problem rather than use a channel, like e-mail, that requires them to wait for a response. As a result, your company's voice brand is an important aspect of maintaining the image you want to convey.
Everyone has experienced the call. You pick up the phone to call a business and immediately wish you hadn't. Whether being met with an inept staff member, a shockingly foul-mouthed representative or someone who provided grossly inaccurate information, odds are you've experienced an ignored voice brand.
What Is a Voice Brand?
Simply put, your company's voice brand is the image it provides through the spoken word. Marcus Graham, author of Voice Branding in America, provides a more in-depth account of establishing an optimal small business marketing message:
"It's the unique combination of voice talent, words, call flow and spirit that greets and guides callers. The voice brand is largely experienced over the telephone today, but that's changing. With the telephone, computer and television morphing into similar multi-function devices due to digital convergence, a company's voice brand is being heard on Web sites, multimedia CD ROMs, kiosks, cards, point of purchase devices and who knows what else."
Crafting Your Company's Voice Brand
With the evolution of how businesses engage their customers and prospects, we have also seen an increase in the number of small business marketing channels companies need to manage. Fifty years ago, the letter may have been the most common and most cost-effective form of direct communication with customers, whereas today the Web site is the default source for general company information. Now more than ever, businesses need to ensure they are using the same voice brand across all channels.
The first step is to determine the small business marketing message you wish to convey. To effectively do so, a company needs to examine not only its current brand, but the brands of its customers and prospective customers.
When examining these brands, review a number of attributes: are your company and your customers extremely professional or casual, highly educated or plainspoken, in a "white-collar" or "blue-collar" industry? Once you've identified some of these attributes, you can better identify the small business marketing message that will achieve success.
Inventory all of your voice communications touch points with an understanding of the brand your company will create. A touch point consists of any channel through which a customer could interact with your company, such as your receptionist, interactive voice response (IVR) system, tech support line, advertising response line, voicemail and online voice assets. Consider what you want your customer to experience and accomplish at each of these touch points. With a plan in place, you can design or redesign your small business marketing messaging and call flows to create a positive customer interaction.
For example, the medical field frequently uses call forwarding and redirecting services so patients can speak with someone 24/7. If handled correctly, the system may ask if it's an emergency, give you the option to immediately speak with a healthcare expert or provide information about where to receive immediate care. During business hours, a person would provide this information, but during non-business hours, physicians still need a professional solution that provides the necessary information.
Choose a Persona
How you speak with your customers is just as important as what you say. Oftentimes, automated phone systems sound mechanical, distant and even unprofessional. Think of your voice persona the same way you think of your staff when they are speaking to your customers.
Is your company represented by a man or woman, someone young or old? Do they have an accent? What is their attitude? A consistent persona, that reflects your company's personality and culture, will help establish the voice brand your customers will associate with your business.
Regardless of the persona your company takes, consider hiring professional voice talent to record the messages your customers will encounter. There are many companies that work exclusively with small businesses to create a voice brand; consider using one to help you.
Bring Your Small Business Marketing Message Together
Executing your vision for a voice brand will take planning and consideration of available tools. Most small business phone or PBX systems include basic IVR functionality that lets you customize voice prompts. Take advantage of this capability to ensure your small business marketing message is used throughout all automated responses your customer can have with your phone system.
For example, a Virtual Receptionist application is a great tool to effectively convey your voice brand. Virtual Receptionist offers easy and powerful management of inbound calling for your business and uses text-to-voice functionality that allows companies to create a customized script to answer and direct calls. With an intuitive interface, small businesses can create and update their phone menus on the fly to change how callers interact with the system during and after business hours.
Your small business marketing strategies send a message every time your phone rings; your Web site is hit and your employees speak. It is important that all these messages point to a consistent small business marketing message that embodies your organization. Taking the time to create the brand, using it across all channels and leveraging readily available voice solutions will ensure your small business isn't creating an experience your customer would rather forget.
Chris Gatch is Chief Technology Officer of Cbeyond, a leading Internet and [http://www.cbeyond.net/]business phone service company that offers affordable, reliable solutions to small businesses across the U.S. Cbeyond, which was recently named sixth on the Forbes Fast Tech list of the fastest-growing technology companies in America, offers more than 30 productivity-enhancing applications including local and long-distance voice, broadband Internet, mobile, BlackBerry(R), broadband laptop access, voicemail, email, web hosting, fax-to-email, data backup, file-sharing and virtual private networking. These services are managed over a private, 100-percent Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) facilities-based network. For more information on Cbeyond's services, please visit [http://www.cbeyond.net/smb]http://www.cbeyond.net/smb.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Small-Business-Marketing---Managing-Your-Voice-Brand&id=3465747] Small Business Marketing - Managing Your Voice Brand
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
