Strategic Planning Information

Connecting Your Offline Business to Your Online Business

These may sound like no brainers, but you'd be surprised. No matter how high-tech your business has become, there is no doubt you still have some non-electronic aspects of your company. These are things like your business cards, stickers, and work shirts, to name a few.

Check out your business cards first. These should be at the ready whenever possible. Make sure your website is listed on your card: this is a way for a possible customer to check you out on their own. A good tip is to have your website printed in a font that ensures all of the letters look like letters, rather than numbers. For example, "L" can resemble the number one very easily when typed in lowercase. Stick to fonts that clearly allow the eye to distinguish letters from numbers. Also have your website put on your stationary: it is much easier to check out a website than make a phone call these days.

If someone is calling your voicemail looking for a product, you had better have your website spelt out slowly, and clearly on there too. Not having your website on your voicemail will mean the loss of a sale. Our fast paced world has spoiled us and people want things not now, but five seconds ago. So if your website is not on your message, they will simply forget you, and move on to your competitor. Adding your web address to your voicemail will allow perspective customers to find out about your business while you are making other deals, or watching TV.

Stickers are inexpensive and a great way to catch someone's eye when they are least expecting it. Every single package that leaves my office has a label with my web address on it. I even stick the little guys on my bills. Why not, who knows who will see it? I also put my picture on my shipping label. This is something that is not done often, so it helps me stand apart from the rest. I usually put a little bubble saying "Hi" to you personally, for the extra inch.

Another place to attach your web address to might be your promotional handouts. If you send out an annual flyer, or give away freebies, make sure you web information is on there. Some people do this with give away items like mouse pads, or mugs. These along with the packaging on every product you sell, should have your contact information via the web. If your company wears workshirts, or sponsors a softball team, for example, get your web address on there as well. If you produce it: brand it.

Lastly, if you call my office, and I speak to you on the phone, I can gaurentee I will mention that you should visit my website. This is a tactic that I swear by, because I firmly believe that if I can get you to my site, you will stay and look around for awhile. No matter what it is you are looking for, you are bound to stumble across something else. It's like going to the grocery store for just one thing: you always come out with two.

Tom Antion provides entertaining speeches and educational seminars. He is the ultimate entrepreneur, having owned many businesses BEFORE graduating college. Tom is the author of the best selling presentation skills book "Wake 'em Up Business Presentations" and "Click: The Ultimate Guide to Electronic Marketing." It is important to Tom that his knowledge be not only absorbed, but enjoyed. This is why he delivers his speeches laced with great humor and hysterical jokes. Tom has addressed more than 87 different industries and is thoroughly committed to his client's needs.

http://www.antion.com

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