"In Business" by Roland Millward

Find My Blogs!

Roland Millward — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 11:30:01 +0000

Just to let you know that my blogs are now at Roland Millward.com and The Entrepreneur Club

Thanks

Roland

Generating addtional income from your company website

Roland Millward — Fri, 22 May 2009 21:31:02 +0000

Most businesses now have a website and spend time and money on developing and promoting it. Such expense and effort will hopefully bring in sales and leads.
However have you thought about generating additional income from your website?

This can be achieved in a number of ways, some of them very simple and easy to do. One that springs instantly to mind is Google Adsense. Simply sign up for an Adsense account and put a small piece of code onto your web page and a Google Ad will appear. You will get paid by Google on the click throughs to the advertiser. You can also incorporate a Google search box and again receive revenue.

There are also banner ads such as Tradedoubler where you will get paid on the number of times a banner is clicked or if a sale results.

Amazon have gone a step further and allow other companies to sell products on their website.

I am sure with a little research and effort your website can incorporate some of these features. One word of warning though is to make sure that you do not distract from your main goal of getting business for your company or make the web pages look untidy. The extra income generated may not make you rich but it could pay the costs of running your website and more.

Swine Flu and Business

Roland Millward — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:54:19 +0000

Have you made contingency plans for your business should the swine flu take hold?

It would be good to plan now to see how many tasks could be performed by workers at home instead of coming in to work.
How will staff travel to work if trains and buses could be dangerous to use?

Now is the time to think things through and make plans.

Lead Generation

Roland Millward — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:38:51 +0000

For many businesses there is a need to continually generate new leads. There are many ways this is done, advertising in the press, TV, Radio, Internet, billboards, mail shots, telephone calls and generating new business from old leads, existing clients and referrals. Leads are the lifeblood of business and when times are good the generation of leads tends to take care of itself. However we are now in a recession and every penny counts. Vast amounts of money that were once thrown at the standard forms of advertising hoping that some of it would work is now a luxury that most businesses can not afford. Some businesses of course have never had that luxury.

It now takes time and careful planning to see where you should be spending most of your advertising budget and how effective it is. Start with past clients or those leads that have not yet converted. Set aside time each day to phone and see how those clients are doing. What are their current needs? How can your business meet those needs in the current economic climate?

Businesses today that are offering great value (not necessarily the lowest prices), good service and go that extra mile will win business in these tougher times. Allocate a slot each day when you and your team will make those calls. If you are going to spend money on advertising use every trick in the book to make it effective. Get some expert advice and save wasting money. It is possible to get some free advertising if you know how!

Don’t forget per per click and here is some free software to help you use Google to the full. All you need is Firefox a free web browser (it’s better and safer than IE Explorer for all your needs) and you will really be able to use Google Adwords cost effectively.

Make Twitter Work for Your Business

Roland Millward — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:34:55 +0000

There is a new phenomenon on the Internet which is growing faster than you can imagine. TWITTER. This is a micro blogging website for those that have not yet seen it. It is now being used by many businesses both small and large to promote their businesses. It is a great way to get good Public Relations and let people know what you do. Follow this link and see how you can watch videos that will tell you all you need to know.

The system is easy to set up and you will be able to have it virtually automated within a couple of hours. I can certainly recommend this from experience!

Building Credibility

Roland Millward — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:07:53 +0000

For a business to do well it needs to build credibilty with its customers. This is something that once you have a customer is relatively easy to do. By offering good service and value, fulfilling your promises and so forth will be credibility.

However what can you do to build credibility with people who have not yet used your services?

This has to be done by the impression that you give about your business from the first point of contact. How the is the phone is answered? Is it answered quickly and with a friendly voice? Are emails replied to promptly and brochures posted quickly? Your business must be run in a friendly and efficient manner. The website should look great and give client the information they need along with brochures and other material, making sure it is of the highest quality.

Every contact with a customer must reflect what your business will do for that customer when they commit to an order. Once that order is placed then you can continue to build on your reputation and keep that customer for life!

Bacon or Sizzle?

Roland Millward — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:40:40 +0000

The title of this post may sound strange.

However there is an important sales principle behind this.

When you sell a product what are actually doing? Are you selling a product or what the product will do?
The saying “it’s the sizzle that sells the bacon” is very true.

Imagine the difference between a packet of wrapped bacon on the supermarket shelf when compared to walking past a cafe with its door open and the sounds and smell of frying bacon (vegetarians please imagine harder!) What is most appealing? In essence the product is the same but now your senses tell you what it is for and how good it is even before you taste it.

When you are selling a product or service work on the sizzle. What can this product or service do for your customer? Give them a taste let them see the sizzle. Create a ‘wow’ factor. Then when they do they will really want to buy from you.

Referrals – Bringing Life to Your Business

Roland Millward — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:00:56 +0000

One of the best sources of business has to be when you get referrals from your customers. Now often we wait until a customer recommends our service to someone and such recommendations are greatly appreciated. However that is leaving things to chance. Is there a way of increasing those recommendations?

The answer is ‘yes’.

You can ask your customers for referrals! How? Well simply put you could say, “so John which one of your work colleagues has been showing an interest in getting xxx..” You may well find that John has been talking about his future purchase and others too said they would like one. There is your referral.

For customers on your mailing list you could ask them to write down the names and address of 2 or 3 people that they feel would like to know about your product or service. You can then follow those people up with a letter saying that ‘John has said you would be interested in xxx and you are pleased to tell them that you can help’.

There are many ways you can get referrals so don’t delay and don’t leave it to chance. Build into your sales pitch and follow ups a referral system. Remember too that referrals are more likely to buy from you than people that respond to an advertisement.

A Successful Copywriting Formula

Roland Millward — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 21:15:47 +0000

Good copywriting is vital for you to succeed with your sales letters, advertisements, web pages, news releases etc.

Here is a formula that will help you develop your material into something that will really work.

We will use the AIDA principle.

A: Attention
You need to capture your customers attention. Don’t write about how good you are. Write about something that will solve your customers problem or fulfill a need.

I: Interest
Once you have their attention it would be a shame to lose it! Keep their interest by adding relevant material that follows your opening lines. Show how you will solve that problem of fulfill that need.

D: Desire
Create or arouse in your customer Desire. Give them a powerful reason to buy your product or service.

Action:
Make sure you tell your customer what they have to do now. How do they order?

By using AIDA it will help you focus on your customer not you or your business. Customers are not really interested that your business has been operating for 30 years. They want a product or service. How will you supply it? How long you have been established and other such points can be tucked under logos and so forth but there is no need to promote that overtly.

If a person is looking for a plumber because they have a burst pipe they want to see things like: Call us anytime 24 hours a day – 7 days a week. We guarantee to be with you in 2 hours! Emergency telephone helpline! These are things that will solve their problem.

Sit down and write with specific problems and solutions in mind and target customers accordingly. Remember AIDA and you will find your copywriting will be greatly improved.

Too young or too old?

Roland Millward — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 22:20:42 +0000

When someone wants to start a business they will hear many reasons why they should not do so.
It’s a bad time to start in a recession!
You don’t have the expertise!
You are too young!
You are too old!
and so on and so on—–

Let’s think about the last two points. Too young or too old.

Age is no barrier to someone making a success in business. Many of today’s leading entrepreneurs started when they were just kids. Sir Richard Branson (Virgin) and Cameron Johnson readily come to mind. Others have started very successful businesses in what can be described as ‘retirement’.

Never let any one put you off your goals because of age! If you plan to succeed you will do so.