I recently attended a wedding – everything was perfect.  As a business person though, what jumped out at me as really perfect for both the guests and the wedding party and ultimately the photographer was this:  As I signed the guest book I spied a business card of the photographer with the website address to see candid photos of the wedding on his website the next evening.  How cool was that… well, maybe it’s been going on for awhile – I haven’t been to too many weddings.   But, I grabbed a card – and probably took less of my own photos because I’d be able to view and buy some really nice photos later.

My daughter and I had him take a photo of us together – In the back of my mind, I know just where I’m going to put that photo…

The next evening I excitedly found myself pulling out that business card, typing in the website address to see the page of phtoos.  And, as promised, there was page of photos of the bride and groom – just a sampling and a note that the rest of the photos would go online as soon as the bride and groom viewed the photos.  Ok – that makes sense!  But there was something that didn’t make sense and that was the ability to sign up for a notification of sorts which would remind me the photos were up and ready for purchase.

I waited a week, checked back on my own and then another week – nothing new. Took a few friends to the website to show them the photos, still nothing… before I know it, 3 weeks have gone by and my visits to his site are becoming less regular and I know at some point I’ll probably forget and that page of photos will be gone and the opportunity to purchase will be gone or at the least I’ll have to jump through some hoops to get the photo.

What is this photographer missing?

Two things jumped out at me – the most prominent:  A sign up form to be notified when the photos are available for purchase.

My next thought since I’d shared this page with friends who didn’t attend the wedding was that a “share this page” link  to email a friend or share on facebook or other social sites was missing.

This is a prime example of missed opportunities. He started out great at the gate – offering something of value to the wedding guests – bringing visitors to his website who might not otherwise even know he had a website as he shot photos all afternoon and into the evening…

But, his effort lost emphasis and importance by not having a way to automate and serve the potential customer and make it easy for them to return to his site.

So, what are you missing in your business? Do you make it easy for potential customers to remember you?

Are your newsletters targeted to the right people?  Do you offer the option in your newsletter sign up forms for different things? Sales & Promotions? Consignment news? General news?

Does your blog have  an RSS feed option so readers can check quickly to see if you’ve got updates?

When you have a shop event do you post photos on your website or a link to an online album like Flickr, Photobucket or Picassa?

The bottom line….

Take it all the way through to the finish line for both your customers and potential customers. Had this photographer done that, he’d probably have a customer in me and many others.  But, rather than creating memorability, he fostered forgetability and potential lost sales.. 

Possibly Related Posts:

• Are your customers at the cocktail party?
• Twitter and your business
• Twitter for beginners
• Help save your community – 3 stores and $50 at a time!
• Do as I say, not as I do

Twitter is the cocktail party of social networking – think of it as building relationships.  Facebook on the other hand is the water cooler and Linked In would be the office – where professional relationships are built and maintained.

The one word which ties all three together is “relationships”.

Before you begin to develop a Twitter Plan, identify whether or not your current customers or potential customers are even at this cocktail party or  at the water cooler or any of your chosen social networks.  Do not assume that “if you build it they will come”.

If your market is GenXers then it’s likely you’ll find many of them on a social network – GenXers were born into a world of computers.

Yet on the other hand, if baby-boomers are your target then it could easily be a mixed bag of results – the younger the baby boomer the more likely.   The area in which you do business makes a difference as well, i.e. Older baby boomers who live in the Silicon Valley are more likely to social networkers than say those who might live in a very rural area with less technology a part of their daily lives.

I’m a baby boomer, but I’m also an early adopter of all things technology.  I also live in a rural area… But, if I were your customer, I’d be signed up for email newsletters and asking if you have a website.  Which in-turn means you you should be asking me if I have a facebook account or twitter account.  Which basically means that conducting  a review with your customers to find out if they do have twitter or social network accounts and what they’re using that network for is essential.

It may very well be that your market isn’t at the twitter party, BUT, if they are, then it’s time to begin forging relationships.  Start your social networking marketing plan and remember you should  be utilizing your a brand image, and a variety of ways your message solves problems, provides valuable insights into what you offer, intrigues and differentiates you from your direct competition.  And, should you want to promote products – don’t just drop an ad – let them know why it can bring value to their life… It’s all about building valuable relationships.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Get through the finish line!
• Twitter and your business
• Twitter for beginners
• Help save your community – 3 stores and $50 at a time!
• Do as I say, not as I do

I was doing some reading online the other day and I came across this story… It demonstrates the success (for a business) and the service (for the consumer) that Twitter can  bring a business.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) –

Kogi, a duo of Korean BBQ-inspired taco trucks in Los Angeles, has “Tweeted” its way to international stardom and is inspiring restaurateurs seeking new ways to tempt diners during a deep recession. (read the rest of the story here)

Another way to market your business is to join a twitter group.  @tweva (The White Elephant)  just began consignshop twitter group right here! Recently she listed pictures of new arrivals using twitpic - so the photo link goes right in her tweet.  With the click of a mouse and the great use of overlay (in tweetdeck) – tempting photos of products she’d described in her tweet were on my screen.

Remember, Twitter is socially based, people are drawn to things which interest them and joining a group based upon consignment shopping might just land you some new business.

Imagine what you can do for your customers while building your business ….

Possibly Related Posts:

• Get through the finish line!
• Are your customers at the cocktail party?
• Twitter for beginners
• Help save your community – 3 stores and $50 at a time!
• Do as I say, not as I do

Here’s a great audio on Twitter for beginnners – what’s great is that they acknowledge and discuss the aspect of using Twitter as a marketing tool. It’s about 34 minutes long, but well worth listening.

Twitter for beginners – Written by Charlene Kingston of Crow Information Design, read by Bo Bennett, host of Twooting.com.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Get through the finish line!
• Are your customers at the cocktail party?
• Twitter and your business
• Help save your community – 3 stores and $50 at a time!
• Do as I say, not as I do

Do as I say, not as I do…

That was a phrase I remember from my childhood when posing certain questions to my parents. As a kid, it wasn’t the answer I wanted to hear – heck it wasn’t an answer at all. LOL BUT, it seems I picked up that trait, I’m always encouraging clients to create a newsletter as a marketing tool and have never done one for my clients.  But, that’s about to change…  Now, if you’re interested in hearing from me about various topics, then feel free to sign up for my new email newsletters.  The one I sent out to clients spoke to the 3/50 Project, marketing and Facebook.  Who knows what I’ll come up with in terms of topics of interest to my clients. But, I’ll try to make it interesting and as NON-technical as I can.  I promise.  Oh, and I’m trying out a new email service similar to Constant Contact.  This same service comes either as a hosted service or a licensed piece of software which can be installed on your server.  I’ll report back on my findings.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Get through the finish line!
• Are your customers at the cocktail party?
• Twitter and your business
• Twitter for beginners
• Help save your community – 3 stores and $50 at a time!