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| INNOVATE! Technology, Tools, Tips & Techniques | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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November 2009
Dear Client,
Welcome to INNOVATE!, and administrative resource for small business owners. INNOVATE! is a product of Cybertary, a professional Virtual Assisting company. In these monthly emails we will be giving you numerous resources and tips you can use in your business, your home, your office and your life.
On the fourth Thursday in November, many of us gather with friends and family to reminisce, feast on fabulous food, and express appreciation. In celebration of abundance and gratitude, this month's INNOVATE! brings you a harvest of ideas to help give your customers a lift and your business a boost over the coming months.
Enjoy!
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| Giving Thanks with Personal Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Stand Out with Simplicity
 In today’s high-tech virtual world, the art of personal communication is at risk of being lost. Email has taken the place of handwritten notes and letters and social networking is rapidly replacing mixers and meetings. We are in constant communication with friends, relatives, co-workers and customers yet we often connect in isolation. In theory, a business can function without ever building a relationship with their customers or vendors, but is this really ideal? In reality, both business professionals and customers are still, at their core, people who desire and appreciate personal connection. Today’s tough economic times dictate that businesses must set themselves apart in order to succeed, and the addition of personal notes to customers, vendors, and colleagues provides an excellent means to that end. Writing thank you notes is a time honored tradition and a bit of common courtesy that is rapidly approaching extinction. Earlier generations would be dismayed at our lack of manners when it comes to saying a simple, yet profound, “thank you.” There are many situations where a thank you note is not only appropriate but necessary. |
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| Following Up on Networking Leads | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Build and Maintain a Follow-Up Plan
 You return to your office after attending a networking function and think to yourself, “Wow, I made so many great contacts, that was a successful event.” You feel satisfied as you add the many business cards you collected from potential customers, vendors, and referral partners to the ever growing stack in your desk drawer – proof positive that networking is generating solid leads. Yes, the decision to attend business luncheons, conferences, and evening mixers is really paying off. Just look at all those cards; the business will start pouring in now… right? Well, not quite yet. The good news is that getting actively involved in targeted networking groups is a crucial step in growing your business. Becoming a known entity and respected member of your business community definitely makes a difference. People simply need to get to know you before they’re
comfortable doing business with you. The not-so-good news is that networking alone doesn’t generate sales, it’s just the beginning of a multi-step process that will ultimately translate into revenue. Here are some sobering statistics to bring reality to the forefront:
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 Creating Campaigns that Get Results
As we all know, in the virtual world, everywhere we look we see banner ads, targeted keyword advertisements, and worst of all… SPAM! You turn on your computer, open your email, see the 234 new messages in your inbox and ask yourself, “Wasn’t this empty yesterday when I shut down my computer?” Then you repeatedly hit DELETE as you watch subject after subject fly by, “Make Half a Million Dollars Today!” and “You’ve Been Selected to Receive a $1,000 Gift Card!” or “Take Your Dream Vacation for Free!”
The email marketing world can be daunting, but fear not. We can learn a lot just from receiving these unsolicited emails, and perhaps the most important lesson we learn is what not to do. But with so many unwelcome emails polluting the internet, how can you avoid sending email that is flagged as SPAM and instantly deleted? |
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 Sharing Made SimpleHave you ever read a blog entry that made you laugh so hard you felt like crying? Or found an article online that backed up your side of the debate that you had with friends last night? Or stumbled upon information to help your co-workers tweak the project before the big presentation? How great would it be to be able to share these items with your friends, family, or colleagues with the touch of a button? A solution is available now in the form of a widget known as ShareThis.
The ShareThis button can be added to a webpage or your browser toolbar to make sharing content quick and simple. No more do you have to copy a URL and paste it into an email. ShareThis consolidates all your contacts, from email, Digg, social networking sites and messengers, allowing you to share your great find without ever leaving the page.
However, ShareThis is more than just a nifty widget. It is a pool of data that allows the website owner to know what content is being shared helping to maximize information and drive traffic to the site. ShareThis is free to download by visiting sharethis.com. Get it today and share this CyberQuick-Tip with your friends.
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THEME - Help for the Holidays
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