| Happy
Holidays! I'm finishing out this year grateful for
the gifts and lessons I have received. I've been impressed
by my relationships and how they challenge and sculpt me everyday.
My family, friends and clients have been my teachers, admonishers
and encouragers. I'm lucky to have people like this in my
life.
I
hope you enjoy the newsletter. If you have any topics that
you would like to see included in future newsletter, let
me know.
I
want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy 2003!
All the best, Janece Clement
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:: BUSINESS TIPS ::
Want
to start your own business? BCentral.com has an article
on the 9 service based businesses to start *now*. Click
here to see what they recommend.
Business
Networking
Since April, I have been participating in an online business
networking group called Ryze. I've found it to be an incredible
resource for business and personal contacts. Oh, and a side
note: I've earned about $5,000 this year as a result of the
contacts I've made. Not too shabby... Check
it out!
Inspiration. FastCompany
writes articles on some incredible people. Meet
John Wood. "He struck it rich at Microsoft.
Then he bought a one-way ticket to Kathmandu in search of
a richer life. He found it -- building schools and libraries
in the poorest places on earth."
Why does a company need a well-designed, professional
website?
The top three reasons that clients tell me they are
happy they invested in a professionally designed site for
their business:
1) improved image
2) higher level of customer confidence
3) increased sales
| ::
Business Tools & Resources:: |
A
great online business resource site is AllBusiness.com.
They have a complete complement of articles for you to
learn from. Of special note, they have a nice section on agreements
and forms.
Savvy
Selling. If our customers perceive us as out of date
or at odds with the message we're trying to convey, then it's
time to make some changes. Read the complete article at BusinessWeek.com.
Need a reliable hosting company for your website?
I have a recommendation. CrystalTech.com.
I've had nothing but terrific things to say about them. They've
been prompt, accessible, and maintained a high-level of customer
service. If you decide to contact CrystalTech, tell them Janece.com
sent you. Or, I can help you with transferring your domain
to CrystalTech. Just contact
me.
Macromedia has recently launched a new software program that
could be a god-send to many. It's called Contribute.
It promises to solve the undying problem between the web professional
and the content providers. If you need an easy way
for non-technical users to update content for any HTML website...
check it out. |
::
MARKETING TIPS ::
If you need to increase sales but can't afford a salesperson,
what else can you do? One answer to this
question is to find ways to enable your current customers
to sell for you. Your best leads will come from happily
satisfied customers who will, without hestation, mention
you to their friend or colleague. Here are Inc.com's
top recommendations of how to "Get Business to
Come to You":
- Offer
incentives for referrals that turn into business.
They can be in the form of discounts on future business,
free estimates or samples, or just plain cash. Even
a small offer will catch their attention.
-
Create a referral form, and send
it to clients or customers with your invoice for services
rendered. If you've done a good job, the time to leverage
yourself is upon completion of the project.
-
Tap your suppliers for leads, by
reminding them that when your business grows, theirs
does, too. Spark this exchange by giving leads to
your suppliers.
-
Ask prospects who have turned you down for
referrals. This gives them a graceful exit
from a potentially unpleasant task. The only secret,
as with any request, is to time it appropriately so
that you offer people a natural, unforced opening
to help you.
| ::
Marketing Tools & Resources:: |
A
interesting lesson for me was discovering the power
of a simple contact form on my website.
For over a year, Janece.com only had my phone number,
address, and email for potential clients to reach me
with. I did receive some phone calls and a few emails.
However, a few months ago, I implemented a simple contact
form. I have discovered a noticeable increase in the
number of potential clients contacting me. I'm now telling
my clients: "A simple contact form is a useful
and easy marketing tool for your website."
Sending
out a newsletter like this one to your clients and
contacts is one of the best ways to generate ongoing
interest in your business and/or product. Roving.com
offers an excellent service that I use called Constant
Contact. If you have less than 50 subscribers
- the service is free. After that, there is a competitive
per month pricing structure. If you have any questions
about the service, contact
me. I'll be happy to share with you my
experience.
:: SPECIAL OFFERS & ANNOUNCEMENTS::
Cfotos.com,
one of my business partners, is now offering Search Engine
Optimization services. If you are interested in learning more
about these services and how they might benefit your website,
please contact Neil
directly. He'll be happy to walk you through it.
::
WORK/LIFE BALANCE TIPS ::
Job Stress?
(courtesy of MSN
)
-
In with the Good Air, Out with the Bad.
-
Know the Enemy
-
Move It or Lose It. In other words, Exercise!
- Let
Go. Starting today, make a pact with yourself to stop stressing about the things in your job you have no
control over.
- Beware
of the To Do List
- Develop
a Tough Skin.
- Share
the Load
- Don’t
Make Work a Four Letter Word. Job stress builds when
our minds are constantly focused on work. Strive for
balance in your life. Make time for family, friends,
hobbies and, most importantly, fun.
- Know
Your Rights
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