USPS Rate Increases Could Lead to Changes for Many Small Businesses |  |
- USPS Rate Increases Could Lead to Changes for Many Small Businesses
- How To Focus Your Social Media Marketing
- 12 Innovative Ways to Use Video on a Website
- Which Social Network Is Right For Your Business?
- Create High Quality Blog Posts With Scribe Content Marketing Software
- Passionate Fans Drive In-N-Out-Burger Success
| USPS Rate Increases Could Lead to Changes for Many Small Businesses Posted: 05 Feb 2013 01:00 PM PST
First class stamps now cost 46 cents, up one cent from the rate that went into effect in January 2012, and each additional ounce will cost an extra 20 cents. International 1 ounce envelopes now cost $1.10, and postcards have increased by 1 cent to 33 cents. There is also new pricing in place for Priority Mail Flat Rate products, ranging from $5.60 for a regular envelope to $16.85 for a large box. In addition, free tracking services will now be offered with all competitive packages, including Priority Mail and Standard Post, which has replaced Parcel Post. Businesses that send higher volumes of mail may also want to look into the Intelligent Mail barcode, a barcode that helps track and process mail. This barcode is now mandatory for mail to qualify for automation pricing, which can be up to 47% less than retail rates. Shippers can print their own barcodes for outgoing mail or have the USPS add it. And on top of the lower rates, the Intelligent Mail barcode lets you monitor your mail as it makes its way through the postal system, so that you can respond accurately to customer inquiries. Clearly these rate hikes, which went into effect on January 27, can have a large impact on certain types of small businesses that ship products or use postage as part of a marketing strategy. Justin Amendola, VP of Global SMB Digital Strategy at Pitney Bowes, a company that provides customer communication technologies to businesses, said there are a few things businesses can do to minimize the impact of additional shipping costs. First, businesses can use online postage solutions for shipping so that they'll qualify for commercial-based rates from the USPS. Amendola also said that using flat rate shipping options can help businesses save between 19% and 36%. And he suggested that businesses should sort through their mailing lists and remove outdated addresses or customers so that money isn't wasted sending items to customers who aren't even there. Lastly, he suggested that businesses switch from the new Standard Post option to Parcel Select, a commercial option that offers savings on ground delivery and convenient pickup options. "Standard Post is only available over-the-counter at USPS retail locations, so you’ll lose out on the efficiencies gained by printing your own postage. Instead, switch to Parcel Select and save on every shipment." FedEx and UPS have also recently announced increased rates for the new year. None of these announcements are uncommon, as both companies along with the USPS have announced increased prices for each of the last several years, in an effort to make up for inflation and other added costs. The USPS has also recently added some innovative technology options for small businesses, such as Every Door Direct Mail and a redesigned Click N ship site. USPS Photo via Shutterstock The post USPS Rate Increases Could Lead to Changes for Many Small Businesses appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| How To Focus Your Social Media Marketing Posted: 05 Feb 2013 11:00 AM PST
So how can you focus your social media marketing? The first step is to identify what really matters and make sure you are participating. From what I can tell, relevant content and participation are the most important aspects of social media marketing: 1. Relevant Content One of the best ways to utilize social media is to share content. It can be something you have created or something you have read or watched. When you share information that you created, you are positioning yourself as an expert. It's an opportunity to show your level of knowledge. Moreover, giving away information is a great way to build a following. When you share someone else's article, podcast or video, you are increasing your value to your connections. You are making sure they are getting what they need. At the same time, you are helping the content creators expand their audience. No matter what, you are establishing yourself as a thought leader, connector and professional. People know you mean business. They gain awareness of you and are provided a window into your business practices and values. 2. Participation It's not enough to post. You have to engage in conversations. One of the most significant exercises is to start a conversation with your clients and contacts. You can ask a question on one of your profiles, start a discussion in a group, start a Google+ hangout or launch a tweet chat. These are all ways to engage with people. Carve out some time and read what others are saying and talking about. Then weigh in. In this way, you remind people that you are there and have knowledge that is of value. This kind of relationship building is invaluable. 3. Quality Time It may sound counterintuitive but I'm going to suggest that you not spend a lot of time keeping up with the changes that occur almost daily on the social platforms. You can get lost in the upkeep and never make an impact. Instead, spend your time participating in quality conversations. Provide interesting, valuable information that others can use. This means finding the most consistent way to engage. Blogging, status updates and groups seem to be mainstays. Applications and new stuff seems to have a shelf life, so only spend time there if it is contained. For quite a while, I spent a good amount of time on LinkedIn Answers. It made sense to share my expertise and the exposure was great. Now it's gone. The collateral I built up no longer exists. My time might have been better spent blogging about those topics. Carve out a small space, about once a month, in your calendar to visit your social media platforms and review any changes that may have occurred. It is this structured approach that will help you invest your time where it matters most. When you are providing content and conversation, it won't really matter what changes occur or what is added or removed. Your exposure and credibility will remain. That's the goal. Target Social Media Photo via Shutterstock The post How To Focus Your Social Media Marketing appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| 12 Innovative Ways to Use Video on a Website Posted: 05 Feb 2013 09:00 AM PST
Did you know that:
If you are not using video on your website, you might want to ask yourself, “Why not?” Innovative Ways to Use Video on a Website:About Us or Company Overviews Most of these pages tend to be boring. Spruce them up with a video about your company, what you stand for, what you like and any other relevant information. Blog I got to a point where I was spending so much time writing blog posts that I found creating videos was a way to reduce the time involved to create my posts. Post videos on YouTube (or other services like Vimeo) to permit a new audience to find you. If you are using YouTube, include a hyperlink in the description so that people can visit your website. YouTube is the second largest search engine, coming in second after Google. Product Pages and Product Demonstrations People want to see what you do or what your product does. Use a camera to show them what your product or service does. Show off some of your best features and explain the benefits provided. Consider using video to showcase your products or, at the very least, some of your best selling products. Landing Pages A landing page is designed with one purpose – to get you to do something. Something like providing your name and email address or purchasing a product. Add a video to your landing page to explain what you want someone to do when they arrive there. How To People love to learn so show them how to do things and make it relate to what your offering is. For example, I recently bought a car with a navigation system. I can’t figure out how to use the navigation system and I would love it if someone at the dealership would create a quick video explaining how to do so. Frequently Asked Questions You will undoubtedly be asked the same questions about your products or services over and over. Record some videos on your most frequently asked questions and add them to your website. Educate people about your product. Also, take a look at some of your competitors. I’ll bet they aren’t doing this. Beat them to the punch. Questions that Should be Asked Just like frequently asked questions, you probably have questions that you wish your clients would ask about your products or services. Ask the questions for them and record the answers in a video and post it on your website. Customer Testimonials Customer testimonials are extremely powerful. People believe credible testimonials almost as much as they trust testimonials from family and friends. Want the secret to customer testimonials that really resonate? Get them on video. Ask clients if you can record them providing a testimonial and put it on your home page since it’s probably the most trafficked page on your website. These are extremely powerful, instant trust builders. Interviews Interview people in your company or industry experts and add those interviews your website. Case Studies Let’s face it, sometimes case studies are boring. Spruce them up by turning them into a video presentation that tells a story. Contact Us Page Include video on your contact page. For example, record a video from the point of view of someone coming into your office. 24 Hour Web Cam Place a 24 hour web cam in an interesting area of your office. I suggested this to a client that had a staff that was a lot of fun. I wanted the world to see that they enjoyed themselves while they worked. So what’s holding you back? Begin to incorporate video into your website today. How are you using video on your website? Video Photo via Shutterstock The post 12 Innovative Ways to Use Video on a Website appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Which Social Network Is Right For Your Business? Posted: 05 Feb 2013 07:00 AM PST If your business has yet to tap into social media to accomplish essentials such as supporting customer service, promoting your products and/or services, engaging your community and ultimately building your brand, your missing out on a lot of potential. While most of the big brands, with their extensive resources, have already established social media presences on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and the like, small business owners may find it difficult to devote the necessary time to create and manage content on this new medium. With the help of a strategic plan and good marketing sense, any business can successfully set up and manage a social media presence. The key for those with little time to devote to social media is to discover which sites are most beneficial in relation to ones customer base and business model. The following infographic from Purolator is designed to help you decide which social networks are right for you.
[Click here for full size version] The post Which Social Network Is Right For Your Business? appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Create High Quality Blog Posts With Scribe Content Marketing Software Posted: 05 Feb 2013 05:00 AM PST The U.S. Military originated the term “black box” to describe the flight recording device that recorded the voice actions of the crew as well as some of the instrument movements. But it currently means just about any complex piece of equipment or software where the contents are a mystery to the user. Google’s search algorithm is considered a black box, for example. Search engine optimization as a method to improving your content’s visibility online and in search engines is often labeled “black box.” But Scribe Content Marketing Software aims to change all that with its new software platform (relatively new) to help small business owners and the firms that serve them with smarter content creation.
If this process sounds familiar, “research, optimize, connect” then you’ve likely been working on some part of the SEO process. Scribe “encourages” you to do the right things when you write a post or page — that means keyword research, then optimizing with title tag and meta description, and internal linking, among other tasks. They wisely built the app to place the tool ABOVE the “Publish” button. So as you look right to the normal WordPress box for scheduling or direct publishing, you see a box that essentially makes you say, “Oh yeah, I should do that before I publish.” What I really like:
What I would like to see:
Scribe is creating a content marketing platform that can truly and quickly help you massage your content to a higher quality and they score it for you. Everything from how readable to if you are choosing the right keywords. I don’t normally make recommendations, but in this case, I highly recommend all small business owners give it a try. I have only scratched the surface for you in this short review. It has a 30-day free trial, then plans start at $97/month. Take Scribe for a test drive and let me know what you experience in the comments. The post Create High Quality Blog Posts With Scribe Content Marketing Software appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Passionate Fans Drive In-N-Out-Burger Success Posted: 05 Feb 2013 02:30 AM PST Passionate fans drive one well-loved burger chain’s success. In-N-Out-Burger has grown to 280 restaurants in fives states and is worth in excess of $1 billion dollars. However, the privately held chain still operates on something common to many smaller businesses, the love of its customers. Passionate Fans, Like AppleMore than a burger. In-N-Out-Burger is known not only for its food but for its customer service. In fact, one commentator compares the the excitement surrounding the opening of a new restaurant as similar to a new Apple product launch. Businesses focused on customers have similar impact no matter what their product. Bloomberg The youngest billionaire. All this dedication has its rewards. Lynsi Torres, president and owner of the company her family started, has become one of the world’s youngest billionaires. Create a product or service your customers love passionately and you may be surprised at the success that follows. Mail Online Resistance is futile. The key to this success is to create a product or service that will turn average customers into passionate fans. So good are In-N-Out-Burger’s sandwiches, that city officials sometimes plead with the chain to open a restaurant in their town. Even former MLB player Jose Canseco made the burger restaurant part of a platform in his supposed bid to become mayor of Toronto. Sports World Report Bring Passionate Fans to Your BrandDeliver on promises. It’s a simple path to creating a loyal fan base. Brandi Starr lays out a series of easy steps that will help your brand follow this approach too. First, establish attainable goals, then watch customer feedback and fix things if they aren’t right. Finally, focus on the customer. Cassius Blue Consulting Read their minds. Finding out what your customers want and delivering may be easier than you think. Janelle Vreeland suggests using social media, specifically Twitter to accomplish your goals. Turn your fans from excited brand advocates to devoted supporters by finding out what they want and making it happen. Lonely Brand Blog Make them feel unique. Creating passionate customers takes more than simply filling their needs. Tony Young explains the key to keeping your customers satisfied and committed is to make them feel unique. Your customers must feel they are special before they can feel your business is. Dynamic Business Manage relationships. Technology can also help you create passionate fans for your brand. Don’t forget about customer relationship management, or CRM. Here Shonali Burke reviews one software package she believes is the best. It can create great fans for your business, too. Waxing UnLyrical The post Passionate Fans Drive In-N-Out-Burger Success appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
The United States Postal Service recently 
With the recent end to the LinkedIn Answers section, I found myself feeling frustrated with the various social media sites. It seems like every time I get a handle on a site, they change it. Those changes can cause us to spend what, in my opinion, is unnecessary time online; time updating, changing, and adapting.
Have you ever thought about using video on a website? Video is extremely powerful and, if used properly, your story will be remembered far greater than written or audio information would be.
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