Showing posts with label grow your agency. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grow your agency. Show all posts

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Grow Your Business and Have Fun

Grow your business...with a Blog!

In case we haven't made blogging sound fun, important, exciting, crucial, and easy enough with our previous posts,here's a short list of the top 5 reasons you should be blogging. It benefits not only you, but your business as well.

5. A Blog exercises your mind. Personally, I can't go a day without doing a puzzle. Your brain should develop more and more with each day to remain healthy. Thinking of new and innovative ideas to present will provide that development. It not only keeps your brain healthy, but it encourages others to come back to you & your business for what I like to call 'intellectual stimulation.' How can you pass that up?!

4. A Blog lets you speak to the masses. Part of growing your business is finding a way to communicate with future clients. People you would have had no way of reaching out to will have the opportunity to reach out to you instead. Most business owners and executives can forget about how simple and satisfying it is to spark communication. Make sure you provide that spark!

3. A Blog invites communication. Remember that 'intellectual stimulation' I mentioned? Well, it makes people think. And when people think, a blog is the perfect place to verbalize those thoughts. Whether they're agreeing, disagreeing, questioning, or simply contemplating the ideas you've presented them with, they're probably spreading your message. And all publicity is good publicity. Right?

2. A Blog is worth the trouble. It's easy! Nothing can grow without nourishment. Water, air, food, sunlight; think of a blog as the nourishment to your business' website. In this day and age, those who put their ideas out there for the world to see have been rewarded. Greatly. Give and you shall receive.

1. A Blog can be fun. A blog is fun. Don't be afraid to share some humor and not be so serious all the time. It might be the most fun you have at work all day.

So blog away. Take inspiration from Nike:
Yesterday you said tomorrow.
Just do it!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Top 7 Tips for Effective Customer Testimonials

Posting customer testimonials on your website is a great way to let prospects learn more about you and your agency. However, care must be taken to make these testimonials valid and compelling to potential customers. Here are 7 tips for posting effective customer testimonials:

  1. Add credibility to your testimonials. Make your customers sound authentic by adding full names and places, and maybe even adding their picture. Make it easy for your prospects to see instantly the real-world comments from your customers which will remove any doubt right from the onset.
  2. Include measurable results wherever possible. Asking your customers to include specific amounts of time and money saved will help to add validity to the testimonials. It is better to hear, "I saved $500 in 15 minutes!" rather than "I saved some money today."
  3. Make your testimonials as detailed as possible. By asking customers to add specific details of their interactions with your agency, you are making it easier for prospects to identify with them, which in turn will help them consider your agency for business.
  4. Gather a variety of testimonials. Posting testimonials of customers from different backgrounds, who have purchased different products and services will help potential customers relate to current customers.
  5. Get permission. Make sure you have written approval from your current customers to publish their names and/or pictures on your website.
  6. Format your testimonials for easy reading. Use the handy Testimonial Builder in your Administration Console from IWB to create a layout that is legible and easy to understand.
  7. Bonus Tip: Use video. Seeing a happy customer is more effective than reading about one. If you can get your best customers to make a short video (30 seconds to 1 minute) it will instantly make your customers more accessible, which may elicit better response overall. I mean, let's face it, nobody reads anymore.
Your satisfied and loyal customers are a valuable resource. Use their positive and honest feedback effectively and people will respond which ultimately helps to grow your agency.