Archive for the 'General' Category Page 2 of 5

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Is Your Website Broken?

Published
by
Christian Bowman
on June 30, 2009
in General
. 1 Comment

Want develop an online component to your business - but don’t know how? Internet Marketing is much easier than 10 years ago, thanks to a variety of helpful software - from setting up your site, to bringing clients to see it, to mass emailing people with your offer, to tracking how many people have actually opened your email.

There is software out there for every aspect of running your online business – let’s take a look at a few options.

How Good Is Your Website?
How much traffic you get is the key to success. Do you really know how good your website is?

Some Free Tools
A very useful and free tool is http://www.grader.com/ You can get a score of your website, Facebook, Twitter and a few others. At least grade your website. Each time you make a change check your grading.

This grader will analyse the market effectiveness of your site. It is also a Search Engine Optimisation tool - a strategy that maximizes the opportunities that your site will show on search engines like Google and Yahoo when people type in phrases related to your products/services.

If the SEO tool shows very little optimization, it means that you need good writers who are specialized in SEM (Search Engine Marketing).

Also have a look at http://www.linkvendor.com It does a similar job. In some ways it’s a better tool for grading your website and keywords.

Find The Best Software
What software should you buy to market your site? Don’t be fooled by pretty website designs; that’s not what you want. You want a website that will reach thousands of potential customers. Have a look at http://www.hubspot.com/products for some useful information.

Peter Caputa, the author on the hubspot blog, suggests…
“Don’t just stop with a content management system. Make sure you can launch landing pages (the page that appears when a potential customer clicks on an advertisement or a search-engine result link) and edit the right spots on your pages to do SEO.”

Make sure you have a marketing analytics package that knows where your leads are coming from. Based on my experience, it’s very beneficial if your SEO analytics tools gather data from your analytics package and your customer relationship management integrates with your landing pages.

Others Can Help You
OK, it’s a bit confusing at first. But you don’t have to learn all the technical jargon. If you team up with a reputable marketing company (do your homework, just like for any supplier), they will do most of the work for you. After all, there are specialist internet marketing companies that can help you out.

You Must Have Good Copy
I mentioned skilled writers at the beginning to help you obtain the most benefits from search engines. One place that you can try, probably the most successful in the freelance business, is http://www.elance.com

There you will find a whole array of specialists who can help your site become successful, from copywriters, to web designers, to SEO specialists, to software engineers. There is a profile for each provider that lets you choose the most experienced and most competent for much less money than through a regular supplier.

And don’t forget the social networking.

HubSpot also suggests…
“This may be obvious now, but you’ll be much more successful if you can connect online with your real world clients, suppliers and networking partners. If you can get your whole network blogging or using LinkedIn effectively, you’ll stand a much better chance of success yourself.”

Most Important
Make sure you have an effective tool to measure your response rate from your email campaign (Oh, yes, email remains the most effective tool to sell something on the Web).

Again, choose the software you use carefully. Some products are very expensive. You may want to start with a cheaper software that gives you the basics.

In other words, how many targets opened your email (the text is extremely important, so consult a specialist) and how many of those actually clicked on your link (that will take them to your site).

CALL TO ACTION
1. I have built up some good contacts when it comes to Internet Marketing. If you have any questions or want to know where to get advice

OR

If you want some help with technology to handle your internet marketing…

Then contact me:
gail <at> achaeus.com.au. This email address comes direct to me and is the best address to use.

2. Use Google Analytics (www.google.com/analytics) to measure statistics related to website visitors. It’s the best. There are other choices but you can’t go wrong with Google Analytics.

3. Keep track of email statistics like open rates and links clicked for all emails you send to your mailing list. Your email ‘Subject Line’ is a key component for getting emails opened. Monitor different email ‘Subject Lines’ for open rates.

How to Use Joint Ventures to Increase your Sales

Published
by
Gail Geronimos
on June 24, 2009
in General
. 2 Comments

Here are 3 scenarios where a joint ventures may increase your sales.

1.    You have just developed a new product and it is ready for exposure. While you know your product is fits a market need, you can’t seem to get it off the ground. People just aren’t paying attention.

2.    Your product still needs some testing, but you don’t have the capital needed for that or the forthcoming production. Your new product is sitting on your desk collecting dust instead of rave reviews.

3.    Your business offers a ‘one of a kind service’. No one can handle these details like you can, but for some reason you just can’t seem to connect with the right people who are in need of your service. You’re spinning your wheels, but you know if you can find more help and the right contacts, your business will flourish.

The Solution
These three people are faced with the same problem. They need help to start making sales. They need exposure, resources, and money, but where are they going to find those things?

What they need to find is a Joint Venture Partner (JVP). A JVP can offer assistance in finances, but they can also help with research and development and marketing. They might have the resources or the exposure potential to help get a new product or service into the market.

The Process
While it is helpful to know what you need, where are you going to find a JVP to help make your journey a bit easier? The key is to do your research and make sure that those you contact are reputable and trustworthy.

Know what you are willing to offer your JVP in exchange for their help. Ask around, has your prospective JVP done this before and what return did they expect? Before you contact anyone, make sure you know exactly what you need and the potential of your business.

Finding the right JVP for your business might take some time, but it is time well spent. In some instances, finding a JVP may cost you money in location/membership fees. Again, consider this money well spent if it saves you time.

Read, Read, Read
Know your industry. Read newsletters, journals, articles, and forums that may have information about the advances and product developments. Watch for the names that appear, time and again, as the leaders in your field. While these people may seem out of reach, the important thing is gaining knowledge so that when you have the chance to act, you can act quickly and with confidence.

Head of the Class
Look for people who run successful forums, web sites and newsletters related to your product or service. These people will be able to offer you a large contact base if they choose to support your business. Some of these people will have mailing lists and readerships that reach in the thousands. That is exactly what you are looking for to promote your business and increase sales.

Online Services
There are services online that match up potential JVPs. Some of these are free, but some may charge a fee. Since they are doing all the leg work for you in making the matches, it just might be worth your time and money to consider this an option.

Networking
Nothing beats getting to know the people in your product or service field. Word of mouth has made many businesses successful and it can also lead you directly to the right person to help your business grow.

Consider joining and being involved in any organizations that will aid you in meeting successful people that would be interested in your business. For some larger organizations a membership fee may be charged, but it may be worth the fee to get in closer to people with shared interests.

CALL TO ACTION
How to approach people about joint venture partnerships

1. Consider what you need from a joint venture partnership.  Is it funding that you’re after?  Exposure to new potential customers?  The reason for contacting people about joint venture partnerships will facilitate the type of arrangement you set up.

2. You must make the joint venture partnership attractive to the people you approach.  Think about their businesses and what they need that you might be able to offer in exchange for their help.  Perhaps an ongoing referral program with businesses that have similar target market customers.

3. Join mailing lists and newsletter programs online of leaders in your industry. Keep up with what they’re doing and watch for opportunities to contact them about your idea for a joint venture.

Till next time.

Do You Exercise Your Ethical Muscle?

Published
by
Gail Geronimos
on June 16, 2009
in General
. 6 Comments

Achaeus Business Advice

We don’t often talk about the ethics of the decisions we make every day in business. Yet, the Global Financial Crisis has shown us that ignoring the ethical side of our business lives can lead to $billions lost, suicides and hardship all round.

Sounds pretty gloomy when I put it this way.

There were many issues that led to this crisis but it all started when bankers lent money to families that had no hope in hell of ever paying off those loans.

What was going through their minds? Did common sense just fly out the window? Didn’t they care about what they were doing and what would happen to those families when crunch time came?

These bankers were driven by the Christmas bonuses, meeting targets and building their portfolios.

But why has this happened?

Here’s what I think…

Generally, decisions aren’t ethically based because ethics doesn’t pay. In fact, your ethics may cost you your job, your investments or more importantly, your life. There is no measurable, sustainable relationship between ethics and our own self interests. There are few rewards for acting ethically.

Of all our human qualities, ethics has the hardest edge and is the most demanding.

We’re losing the ability to make ethical decisions about our businesses and our lives. Mostly because we don’t exercise our ethical muscle often enough in small ways. So what hope do you have of making the really tough ethical decisions?

Here’s what I mean.
Do you buy your mate a dinner on your expense allowance?

Do you use office stores and equipment for your own use without approval?

Do you ‘add a few things’ in your insurance claim when you get robbed?

These small decisions all help to exercise your ethical muscle. You get used to making decisions where you lose but that make very little difference in the overall scheme of things. Nobody may ever be aware of your decision. You make the decision purely because you personally won’t cross that line.

You may argue that it just doesn’t matter and nobody will be any worse off anyway. But that’s not the point. These small decisions prepare you for the big decisions. The decisions that will make a difference.

You’ve just got to read about what’s happening with the MP rorts in the UK to see what I mean. It’s disgraceful and it’s unethical. But many may well have been within accepted practice or even, the law.

I’ll leave you with this story, it’s my favourite.

Jean Moulin organised the French Resistance in the Second World War. He was betrayed in Lyons in June 1943. He was slowly and horribly tortured by the Germans and died without revealing any names, saving the movement and many lives. He died for his beliefs and for his honour.

But this is not the real ethical story.

When the Germans invaded France in 1940, Jean Moulin was a top public servant who controlled the region around Chartres. He was well known, respected and ambitious.

On the first day of occupation he was asked to sign a document that detailed the massacre of 9 French women and children by French colonial troops. He refused to sign without proof.

He was beaten and tortured and thrown into a cell with the swollen cadaver of a woman. He knew he could not last another round of torture and this sort of treatment so he tried to commit suicide.

The suicide attempt failed and finally the Germans relented.

The Germans wanted to compromise Jean Moulin. He was respected and had influence and they wanted him to do their bidding. They failed.

But how often are we compromised. We see ourselves as useful. Our compromise today will save us to do better tomorrow.

This is a tough one because compromise keeps people talking and living successfully together. But there is a real difference between this talent and the marginalisation of ethics in the name of a smooth process.

Unfortunately when someone who has made ethical compromises reaches the summit, he usually discovers himself to be too compromised, too dependent, too tired, to do as he intended.

And there is our problem.

Exercise your ‘ethical muscle’ every day in small ways. It’s like any muscle, unless you use it there will be no strength there. You can’t lift a 150kg without first lifting 15 kilos.

Acknowledgement: The ideas and some of the content was taken from ‘On Equilibrium’ by John Ralston Saul. Well worth the read.

I would love your comments and thoughts about this, feel free to join the discussion by commenting below under “Leave a reply”.

How to get a “Bricks and mortar” business online

Published
by
Christian Bowman
on February 20, 2009
in General
. 0 Comments

Internet Marketing for Small Business

Gail recently did a webinar with Internet Marketing gurus Andrew and Daryl Grant.

Listen below and learn how to get a “Bricks and mortar” business online.

 
icon for podpress  Gail Geronimos Webinar with Andrew and Daryl Grant: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Click here to find how you can use what Gail talked about in this Audio Teleconference in your business today.

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year

Published
by
Christian Bowman
on December 24, 2008
in General
. 0 Comments

Achaeus Christmas Greeting

We wish all of our clients and associates a very merry Christmas and a happy New year.

We will be out of the office will be closed on December 25, 2008 and  re-open for business on January 12, 2009.

We have some exciting events planned for 2009, so keep an eye on your email for details coming in the new year.

Talk hard with your bank

Published
by
Gail Geronimos
on October 21, 2008
in General
. 0 Comments

Hi

Have a look at the latest article in Smart Company about what SME’s are thinking about the coming 12 months. It’s not looking good.

I did a series of blogs  about what you can do to make sure that your company comes through these tough times. The key is access to ready cash - make sure that you collect all your debtors on a timely basis and keep in good with your banker and/or talking to other bankers.

Having cash is going to make all the difference. Don’t ignore cash from credit cards. It’s certainly not the cheapest money but when it makes the difference between staying alive and failure then it’s not a bad option.

Here’s an interesting story…

I am following my own advice and I called the bank to confirm my credit card details. Low and behold, WITHOUT my asking, they offered to reduce my interest rate by 7.25%. And that’s on a standard card. They probably thought that I was going to cancel the card. The only catch, I had to forgo ‘free’ travel insurance and frequent flyer points.  That’s a pretty good offer.

Now, I am a good customer and I make sure that all is in order with my cards. After all, these cards are my access to emergency cash.

And it gets better…

I have had 2 offers this week to transfer balances to other providers at rates as little as 10.99%. It getting very competitive!

My advice…

- renegotiate your credit limits upwards. But be very disciplined and only use in case of an emergency

- renegotiate all your interest rates. It will take time (you’ll be on hold forever) but at reductions between 7% and 10% it’s worth the wait.

Do it now. If you wait until you need to money you probably won’t get it. Everything is getting tight. You can’t afford to wait.

Banks are starting to be more flexible, take advantage of this opportunity.

Cheers

Have a read

Some relief…but stay tuned in

Published
by
Gail Geronimos
on October 14, 2008
in General
. 0 Comments

Hi

The markets have recovered some of the ground they lost last week. That’s a huge relief. Government action has given business and consumers a higher level of confidence and we’re seeing that flow through.

We’re not out of trouble yet and there may still be surprises in the US. Life is very tough there and both consumers and businesses are going through very difficult financial times. That will continue to impact on our markets. Any further crisis in the US will erode confidence.

In today’s paper I read that China is cutting back on steel production. Not good news for us. We are currently being cushioned by the resources boom with China as a major customer. Changes here will slow our growth.

As well, our PM expects unemployment to increase.

To help get through think about:

- make sure you have access to ready cash. Talk to your banker and make friends with an alternate banker just in case your bank says “NO”

- watch your debtors. Check your Debtor Days at least monthly. Don’t become a banker for your customers.

- reduce your debt as much as possible.

- read the papers. Keep in touch with what’s happening in the markets and review your own financial position.

Business insolvency has increased significantly over the last 3 months. Make sure your name is not on the list.

Cheers

It’s getting very bad

Published
by
Gail Geronimos
on October 7, 2008
in General
. 0 Comments

What a night it was. Staggering losses on stock markets around the world. And Iceland has frozen bank trading. Who knows what might have happened if the bailout was rejected!

It’s easy to sit back and think that the impact in Australia will be minimal. After all, our 4 major banks are in the top 20 in the world. That’s pretty impressive. Our system is well regulated and  Australian financial institutions did not engage in some of the wreckless lending practices as those in the US.

But, this is not the time for that sort of thinking. The impact will come and it will affect many businesses.

Cash is now more important than ever to get businesses through the tough times ahead. Here’s what you should be thinking about:

- get a few sources of ready cash right now. Before you really need it. Look at increasing your overdraft, get increased limits on your credit card, make friends with a few bankers

- check your debtor days. If your customers are taking longer to pay then that is a bad sign right now. They hold your cash. You are not their banker. Tighten up your debtor controls.

- manage your cash out as well. Look at every conceivable way to retain cash as long as possible.

- check your cash flow weekly. And I don’t mean looking at your bank balance. Work out a simple spreadsheet where you track your debtors and creditors for the next few weeks. Keep it simple. It doesn’t need to be perfect. But you will have a better idea of your cash a few weeks to a month into the future. Update these figures every week. It will take just a short time.

Lack of cash is going to slow growth and/or send a lot of companies broke over the next 12 months. Make sure you do everything you can to so that it doesn’t happen to you.

Cheers.

3 Ways To Get Into the “Good Books” with Google

Published
by
Christian Bowman
on October 3, 2008
in General
. 0 Comments

 Google Webmaster Tools

There are lots of things related to Search Engine Optimisation to get good rankings on Google. But sometimes it’s easy to forget the basics. Here are 3 ways very basic ways to ensure your website is in Google’s good books.

1. Sign up for Google Webmaster Tools.

This will enable you or your website techy to see what Google sees on your website.  Why do this? Well using webmaster tools allows you to identify broken links, broken pages but more importantly tell Google what it should index to increase your visibility in the search results.

I worked with a client who had a website which was coming up as  “Warning, do not view this page” in the Google search link to their site. By using webmaster tools, it was identified that there was a vulnerability with  their CMS software from not updating it. I could then use Google webmaster tools to check and verify all of the links and connections of the site with Google’s “Goggles” so to speak. I was even then, via the webmaster tool console, able to contact a Google admin to review the site after I had patched the CMS software.

I also use Google webmaster tools to ensure Google uses the primary link achaeus.com.au opposed to www.achaeus.com.au. What’s the difference? I’ll write up a blog post about that next week.

2. Use relevant descriptive titles for your page headlines, page names and Heading (H1,H2 etc) tags.

It’s fairly basic in terms of making sure Google gets what it wants from your website. It’s all about consistency. If you have a title of a page about your company’s services with the name untitled.htm instead of services.htm then page is less relevant than another site. This applies to page titles and headline titles.

Here is an example of your site structure should look like for a page called Company Services:

Page name: “services.htm” (depending on if you’re using html site, could be .php, .asp etc)

Page title: “Company Services - ABC Company” (Have the name of your page before your company name in the page title)

Headline name: “Company Services” (Make sure its a H heading tag instead just paragraph made bold and bigger)

These seem very basic, but it can be so easily to just put aside for “next time”.

3.  Don’t make your site a “dead end”.

Whilst it’s great to get heaps of relevant sites linking to you, it’s also good practice to link to other sites. The web is about sharing information, and if you don’t want to engage and share then the web doesn’t want to know about you. From a Google point of view, they can see if you are a “dead end”. And like driving through the back streets of the City, nobody likes trying to navigate through roads dominated by signs with “No through road” on them.

If there is anything you reference, whether it be venue, event, or something that may not be in your audience’s vocab, help them out. If you’re scared they won’t come back, make the link appear in a new window. Your techy will know how to do this. Otherwise people will appreciate showing them the way, and they too will keep you on their “Good Books”.

If you want to take this further and enter the world of Search Engine Optimisation, then sign up for the weekly newsletter at SiteProNews, I’ve been on their mailing list for over 6 years.

What’s Going to Happen Now!

Published
by
Gail Geronimos
on September 30, 2008
in General
. 0 Comments

Hi everyone

Earlier it was announced that Congress had rejected the Wall St Bailout. And sharemarkets around the world crashed. The Nasdaq was down just over 9% in a few hours.

What does it all mean for us?

First, money will be very tight so make sure you have access to enough cash to see you through in the next 12 months. Have a few options up your sleeve just in case your banker gets a little nervous and decides to no longer provide you with the funding you need. Talk to other banks and have a store of ready cash handy.

It will get worse before it gets better so don’t even think about riding out the storm. It will be a long wait and you just might drown.

Think twice about any major expenditure right now. Access to cash is going to be critical. The banks will certainly be getting very careful about the loans they make in the coming months.

I agree with many commentators who suggest that the system in Australia is better controlled but it will not save us from the economic fallout. It will probably be less than what the Americans experience but it will be felt.

China is still predicting about 8% growth and that will certainly help our economy. But I wonder about the state of their banking system. It is relatively new and was established in the boom times. Do they have the rigorous regulation in place to ensure the soundness of their banking system? I’ve not read much about that and there is a little warning bell in the back of my mind. Then again, perhaps I’m too cynical.

For now, batten down the hatches, don’t be too adventurous and take your bank manager out to a very nice lunch.

Cheers

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »