Some clients have asked me why they need a website AND a blog. There are a lot of good reasons to have both, but here is a quick rundown from my perspective:
1) A website is a great place for an online store. A blog is a better place to promote individual products.
2) A website is useful for containing information that doesn't change often (products, services, contact info., About Us, etc.). A blog is an ideal place for information that changes frequently.
3) A website is ideal for presenting a "brand" to prospective clients. A blog is better for creating and solidifying connections with prospective clients.
4) Websites are formal and professional. Blogs are casual and interactive.
Virtually Yourz,
Dana Neuts
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Showing posts with label clients. Show all posts
Showing posts with label clients. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Remembering your clients & vendors this season
Regardless of what holidays or religions your clients and vendors observe, the holiday season is a great time to thank them for their business and their contributions to your success. Here are a few thoughtful and affordable ways to remember your clients this year:
1) Send personalized holiday cards between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. I go with a generic message such as Happy Holidays or Season's Greetings so they are all purpose, but I always sign each card personally and include a note thanking the client or vendor for working with me this year.
2) Send a gift of appreciation. I buy my ongoing and larger clients a small gift at Christmas - a nice pen & pencil set, a box of chocolates, a gift basket from Harry & David, or something else that I know that client would enjoy. For example, I have one client who prefers natural and organic products, so my gift to her will reflect that preference. For those who are far away, I ship the gifts. If they are local, however, I deliver the gift personally.
3) Make a donation on their behalf. This year because so many charities are struggling, I will make a toy or food donation on behalf of some of my clients. I know my clients will appreciate the gesture, and with so many people in need, this is a way for me to stretch my donation dollars too. To make the donation more personal, contact the client by phone or e-mail and ask for the name of their favorite nonprofit organization and make a donation to that charity in the client's name. Follow-up with a card noting the donation.
4) Present a homemade gift of cookies, chocolates or other gourmet treats that they can share. This is particularly nice if you do business with a group of people from one company.
5) Buy a gift card. If you know a particular client loves Starbucks or a local coffee shop or espresso stand like Kelly Latte's or Kona Kai (Kent, WA), buy a gift card in whatever amount you deem suitable. This way your client will think of you the next few times he or she purchases their favorite latte or mocha!
6) Offer free products or services as a thank you. If you aren't in a position this year to purchase gifts for your clients, consider offering them free products or services. Send them a gift certificate or coupon noting the freebie (Good for one free hour of marketing consultation to be used as you wish by May 1, 2009) along with a card thanking them for doing business with you.
7) Treat your client to lunch for a year-end wrap-up meeting, complimentary consultation or just to say thanks. If you space these out throughout the holiday season, this can be an affordable way to say thank you while also creating the opportunity to generate more business.
However you choose to remember your clients this holiday season, make sure the focus is on the client, not on you. Let them know you appreciate their business and hope to continue the relationship into the New Year.
Happy Holidays from the Virtually Yourz team - Dana, Gail & DeAnn!
Dana Blozis
1) Send personalized holiday cards between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. I go with a generic message such as Happy Holidays or Season's Greetings so they are all purpose, but I always sign each card personally and include a note thanking the client or vendor for working with me this year.
2) Send a gift of appreciation. I buy my ongoing and larger clients a small gift at Christmas - a nice pen & pencil set, a box of chocolates, a gift basket from Harry & David, or something else that I know that client would enjoy. For example, I have one client who prefers natural and organic products, so my gift to her will reflect that preference. For those who are far away, I ship the gifts. If they are local, however, I deliver the gift personally.
3) Make a donation on their behalf. This year because so many charities are struggling, I will make a toy or food donation on behalf of some of my clients. I know my clients will appreciate the gesture, and with so many people in need, this is a way for me to stretch my donation dollars too. To make the donation more personal, contact the client by phone or e-mail and ask for the name of their favorite nonprofit organization and make a donation to that charity in the client's name. Follow-up with a card noting the donation.
4) Present a homemade gift of cookies, chocolates or other gourmet treats that they can share. This is particularly nice if you do business with a group of people from one company.
5) Buy a gift card. If you know a particular client loves Starbucks or a local coffee shop or espresso stand like Kelly Latte's or Kona Kai (Kent, WA), buy a gift card in whatever amount you deem suitable. This way your client will think of you the next few times he or she purchases their favorite latte or mocha!
6) Offer free products or services as a thank you. If you aren't in a position this year to purchase gifts for your clients, consider offering them free products or services. Send them a gift certificate or coupon noting the freebie (Good for one free hour of marketing consultation to be used as you wish by May 1, 2009) along with a card thanking them for doing business with you.
7) Treat your client to lunch for a year-end wrap-up meeting, complimentary consultation or just to say thanks. If you space these out throughout the holiday season, this can be an affordable way to say thank you while also creating the opportunity to generate more business.
However you choose to remember your clients this holiday season, make sure the focus is on the client, not on you. Let them know you appreciate their business and hope to continue the relationship into the New Year.
Happy Holidays from the Virtually Yourz team - Dana, Gail & DeAnn!
Dana Blozis
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Coloring Outside the Lines - Working in Parternship with My Clients
[Note: I am so tired of the phrase "thinking outside the box" that I am naming this post "coloring outside the lines." It means the same thing, but it sounds fresher to me.]
I was recently asked by a prospective client how I can help her get more visibility for her retail business. She owns a darling, niche-based yarn and knitting shop in downtown Kent called Renaissance Yarns. She seems to be doing all of the right things right, but wants to know how to further grow her business both online and off.
My niche is marketing small businesses in the service sector, though I've done some retail marketing. Rather than say "I can't help," I'm taking this project on as a challenge. What can I learn that can help her to gain visibility? How can I draw more loyal customers to her business? That's the beauty - and challenge - of marketing. It is an art, not a science, and what works for one business might not work for another...but I'm excited about the possibilities. She has a wonderful product, a gorgeous store and a talented staff. I want to help her succeed, while at the same time learning more about marketing retail companies. In this way, we are working together in partnership.
Have a great idea to share? Please post it. I'm open to suggestions!
Virtually Yourz,
Dana
I was recently asked by a prospective client how I can help her get more visibility for her retail business. She owns a darling, niche-based yarn and knitting shop in downtown Kent called Renaissance Yarns. She seems to be doing all of the right things right, but wants to know how to further grow her business both online and off.
My niche is marketing small businesses in the service sector, though I've done some retail marketing. Rather than say "I can't help," I'm taking this project on as a challenge. What can I learn that can help her to gain visibility? How can I draw more loyal customers to her business? That's the beauty - and challenge - of marketing. It is an art, not a science, and what works for one business might not work for another...but I'm excited about the possibilities. She has a wonderful product, a gorgeous store and a talented staff. I want to help her succeed, while at the same time learning more about marketing retail companies. In this way, we are working together in partnership.
Have a great idea to share? Please post it. I'm open to suggestions!
Virtually Yourz,
Dana
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