Posts Tagged ‘Tips’

Selling the experience: the quest for a constituent-centric nonprofit

Posted by ArcherTC on January 22, 2009  |   No Comments »

Companies like JetBlue, Starbucks, and Apple don’t sell just a product or service; they sell an experience. So, what does this have to do with nonprofits? I would argue that some nonprofits do a pretty good job of packaging “experience” with what they do. Heifer, Save the Children, and Kiva do a pretty decent job of connecting donors directly to recipients, using online tools for donors to view pictures and stories of the people they are directly supporting. I would also argue in this communications-hyped world, your nonprofits’ actions speak louder than words.

How well is your nonprofit doing at creating a superior constituent experience? According to market research firm Forrester Research, there are three areas to look at …read more at Idealware (http://cli NULL.gs/NavJzT). Flickr photo credit: Brande Jackson (http://www NULL.flickr NULL.com/photos/brandejackson/2598190309/).

Podcast: improving your cold calling results

Posted by ArcherTC on January 21, 2009  |   No Comments »

StartupNation talks to Mari Anne Vanella about how to improve your cold calling techniques and how to get better results. Her company, The Vanella Group, is an outsourcing telesales firm serving the high-tech industry based in Silicon Valley. She’s compiled and analyzed data from 10s of thousands of cold calls and has come up with “42 Rules of Cold Calling Executives,” which she’s distilled into a simple little book by the same name. …more from Startup Nation (http://cli NULL.gs/vqrJn9). Flickr photo credit: Smithcam (http://www NULL.flickr NULL.com/photos/jack79_mi/423095294/)

Steal your competitors’ clients

Posted by ArcherTC on January 19, 2009  |   No Comments »

If your best prospects are someone else’s customers, you better have a strategy for wooing them away.

Sadly, despite all the advances in the fields of manufacturing and DNA research, there is still no new client factory. It’s up to entrepreneurs to attract and retain customers, and all your most profitable future clients already exist. Many of them probably belong to your competitors, so it’s up to you to persuade them to do business with you instead.

This is a skill business owners can learn. At its base, it comes down to advertising, something successful entrepreneurs are doing anyway. Plus, if you’re going after your competitors’ clients, your chances for success increase for two reasons: You’re targeting only those prospects who have already purchased or are in the process of purchasing a product or service similar to yours, and you’re rewarding the competition’s best clients for taking immediate action while showing you proof of their purchasing intent.

To reach those prospects interested in making a purchase, here are five ideas you can use right now in your display or internet advertisements …read more at Entrepreneur.com (http://cli NULL.gs/GjAd1E). Flickr photo credit: Joseph Hoetzl (http://www NULL.flickr NULL.com/photos/josephhoetzl/2048711494/)

16 business lessons for freelancers

Posted by ArcherTC on November 28, 2008  |   No Comments »

The vast majority of freelance designers and developers have chosen to embark upon a career as a freelancer because of their interests and abilities that are related to the work that they’re doing. Running a business is just a necessary evil for most of us, rather than being the ultimate focus of an occupational decision. In many cases, the most dreaded duties for a freelancer are those that only deal with the business aspects, such as invoicing, tracking finances and working on taxes.

Regardless of how much we like or dislike the requirements of the business side of our work, running an efficient and legitimate business is essential… read more at 16 Business Lessons for Freelancers – DesignM.ag (http://designm NULL.ag/freelance/business-lessons/).

Flick photo credit: la sabrita (http://www NULL.flickr NULL.com/photos/la_sabrita/546530726/)

Selling tips for the timid

Posted by ArcherTC on November 24, 2008  |   No Comments »

While some of us relish every facet of the sales process, most people would rather get a tooth pulled without anesthetic then attempt to sell anything. Thousands of women are mustering up the courage to start their own companies every day, but all too many shy away from actually selling their products or services.

For everyone who has dreaded asking for business, here are some tips that will help you overcome your fears and get comfortable selling on your own terms… read more at Selling Tips for the Timid – WomenEntrepreneur.com (http://www NULL.womenentrepreneur NULL.com/2008/11/selling-tips-for-the-timid NULL.html).

Flickr photo credit: huntz (http://www NULL.flickr NULL.com/photos/huntz/175681303/)

5 steps to customer loyalty surveys that work

Posted by ArcherTC on November 4, 2008  |   No Comments »

It’s a great way to keep your business moving forward in any economy.

Let’s not sugar-coat it: It’s looking pretty darn ugly out there. I’m no economist, so I’m not about to predict the markets or the stability of the economy, but I am an internet marketer, and what I can say–with confidence–is that a downturn in the economy does not have to be a major roadblock for your internet business.

One key to surviving–even thriving–during this period of uncertainty is to know your customers… read more at 5 Steps to Customer Loyalty Surveys That Work – Creating an effective and informative survey – Entrepreneur.com (http://www NULL.entrepreneur NULL.com/ebusiness/ebusinesscolumnist/article198330 NULL.html).

Flickr photo credit: Wessex Archeology (http://www NULL.flickr NULL.com/photos/wessexarchaeology/49632052/)

A time to market

Posted by ArcherTC on November 1, 2008  |   No Comments »

A time to market your to-do list isn’t complete without this key practice–and neither is your business.

Marketing is such an important part of your business that it must be practiced daily, much like a habit, in order to really get the attention and momentum it deserves. That can be a tall order for a lot of startup entrepreneurs because so many other things call out for your attention.

The surest way to keep your focus on the important task of marketing is to schedule it as you would appointments with your best customers. When you have an appointment marked on your calendar, you’ll most likely keep it.

Making appointments for and creating a systematic approach to marketing is a great way to ensure you take a short- and long-term approach to building marketing momentum in your business. …more at Entrepreneur.com (http://cli NULL.gs/shq9QE). Flickr photo credit: bjmccray (http://www NULL.flickr NULL.com/photos/bjmccray/2902046724/).

  • The ArcherTC Blog aggregates resources, tips, and news for ArcherTC clients and interested others. We welcome the submissions of related articles and photography by professionals working with similar communities as well as feedback for improving this site as a resource.