Hello ... 

"What do I do first? Which do I use and for what?  How can I make sense of all the choices out there?" All of these are constant questions I get from the people I know and work with.

So this week I hope to help you figure it all out!  Am sending you a map, of sorts,  that you can use as a guide for organizing your existing resources, selecting new resources and "knowing why you are using them!"   

It is imperative to keep in mind the simplicity of it all.  You have a solution for someone's need or want.  Connecting the two is what your business is all about.  Your goal is for new, repeat and referral sales.  

Let's begin with another basic - you have to know who will buy what you sell to make a profitable connection.  Follow me ... 
 

"WHO" are you talking to?
	"Who" will buy what you offer.  Age, sex, lifestyle is all important, but the most important quality to know is ....
	What do they receive via what you sell?                 What is in it for them?                 What is your product/service a conduit of, to, for?
	Tip: Make a list of the obvious reasons people buy what you sell.  Go through each item and ask yourself, "So What?"  However you answer this question will tell you who will buy what you sell and an added bonus, "why!"
	Online Resources/Products:  Your email mailing lists via online email subscriber boxes.  Your customer database from information gathered from an established sale.  Your online friends, fans, connections, followers and blog subscribers.
"WHAT" do you sell?
	"What" are you selling and how many individual pieces does it include? You need to know how many points of connectivity you have within what your product line.   Make a list of your products and/or services. All of the features, ingredients, etc can be included. Think tiny pieces.
	Then make a list of "why people should buy from you?" -  "You" are a very important part of your business!  What makes you credible?  Why should they trust you? You might include servicing & support,  training, staff bio's, your bio,  customer testimonials,  access procedures, location , hours, etc.
	Tip: All of the above needs to be centralized into one source with multiple points of access and  introduced to your buyers via the answers you gave to your "so what" questions.  Without that they won't care and might not even look.
	Products:  - Traditional Website:   Tab pages, forms, phone & email, videos, etc.  - 3.0 Web Blog Format: Central hub of live feeds, video & interactive posts.  - Shopping Carts
"WHICH" resources connect you to buyers?
Please note: All of the below are able to play multiple roles within your map all at once!  I have assigned them a high priority "core" function.  The rest just comes with. For example the trainings are also great for advertising & repeat sales, etc.
	FOR ADVERTISING ** New Clients - Search Engine Advertising PPC - Pay Per Click & Landing Pages ( web pages) Purchase keywords & pay upon a click occurring from an online ad you generate.  Products  - Google Adwords - gives you stats based upon clicks - Reach Local -  gives you stats on clicks, phone calls & emails - Both operate from monthly budgets.  - Contact me for more info on both.    SEO - Search Engine Optimization  Invest in having your website pages optimized for organic success in being listed in the search engines upon someone searching.   Products:  -  Professionals should do this for best results.     I recommend Search Marketing Pros - call for referral. -  High costs up front.  No monthly unless you need mo. maintenance.   LOCAL Seach Engine Listings All the search engines have local directories.  If you are a local business it is imperative to be listed in them. Just about all of them are free, just a bit time consuming to list yourself on. Without a listing you will not appear very high in any searches. Chances are much higher if you are listed and if you have positive reviews submitted by your users.  Products:  - Google Places - Yahoo Local  - Best Of The Web  - Bing Local - Brown Book  - and quite a few more!    ** Repeat Sales & Referrals  Email Newsletters & Ezines Allow you to "go to" your buyers when you want via their email inboxes.  You're  in front of them!  Includes brand recognition.  Products:  - Web-Based HTML email newsletter platforms     I recommend CoolerEmail - call to discuss!   One-to-One Emails No better way for being in front of your buyers, establishing brand recognition,  rapport,  relationships, trust and loyalty!  Products: - Outlook, Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.
	FOR TRAINING & EDUCATING How To' Trainings & Demos can go a very long way..  This type of activity also builds brand recognition, relationships,  trust and loyalty. Plus you make it easy for people to buy and use what you sell.  Products:  - videos - ebooks - podcasts - webinars - teleconferences
	FOR CLIENT VISITS, SERVICE, RAPPORT & MORE! Blogs  Blogs are perfect for what I refer to as "water cooler conversation."  This is where "real" stories and a sharing of experiences take place. The facade & perfection of the "ad" is removed and buyers can ask, interact and receive a more direct  introduction to a business.  Blogs are also great for service questions and answers and surveys. Any type of interaction with your clients and prospects can be supported. Also a great "bird's eye" view of your business for a person just thinking of doing business with you.  Products - Google's Blogger or Blogspot - Wordpress.com or Wordpress.org
	FOR NETWORKING!  Includes word-of-mouth advertising, brand recognition, prospecting & more. Social Networking!   There is no better way today, online, to meet new prospects, create relationships, introduce your brand, develop trust & loyalty and create new, repeat and referral business.  Products LinkedIn -  Great professonal network where you can search via job position, industry, location, person's name and/or company name. Offers all sorts of other ways to meet new people and connect. Great for brand recognition and personal professional visibility.  Facebook -  Great for building trust, loyalty and strong relationships.  Truly community oriented with the ability to easily highlight a posting with pictures, videos, links to additional info.  Business or personal or a little of both! In all modes it is perfect for attracting new people and also repeat and referral business.  Twitter -  Fantastic stomping ground for finding new "connections." So many ways to connect with just about anyone, anywhere!  Multiple sites to go to that will put you in touch with your market ..multiple ways to find your market.   Love it for finding new business contacts!  Other - There are many social networks.  Youtube, Digg, MarketCircle, Plaxo and the list goes on!  All work the same way so reach out and connect with someone! These days it is pretty much guaranteed that if you are not on there, your competition will be!  That should light a fire under you!
"WHEN" do you use them?
	A constant question has been how often do I send, use, phone, etc.  The answer is so specific to your business and market. It varies with each individual business.
	A constant answer I provide is as often as is necessary to get required information out to your market without overdoing it and without short changing.  Follow your gut and your responses.
	Remember also that you should have a strategy behind your "map of usage."  If we go back to the basics of wanting new, repeat and referral business,  a good place to begin is to define the maximum and the minimum interactions per resource that will achieve this goal. The response you receive as you go along will define what works best.
	For social networking I recommend once a day as a minimum.  Depending upon the network that is sometimes the max as well. Each community is different .. what goes for one does not work for all.
"HOW" do you use them?
	Do get guidance on how to use all of the above resources. You want to be professional and you want to maximize your time, not waste it.
	Today's Way offers one-on-one telephone trainings on just about all the resources mentioned above.  I can also do on-site group trainings.   Click here for my most recent listing of trainings.  All at half off if you qualify for the weekly special!
	Most popular trainings right now are:  - LinkedIn  - Facebook - business and personal accounts  - Twitter  - How To Create & Use A Blogger Blog - How To Use 1-on-1 Email Effectively and with A Strategy!  - Each is $150 and includes a 90 minute phone session & 30 minute follow-up.
	- How To Use CoolerEmail  - Free training.
	- How To Create Postings That Will Connect You To Buyers    A downloadable document for $29.95 with optional complimentary coaching
	- How To Sell Without Selling  A personalized 1-on-1 sales training for those who are uncomfortable selling.    You will never be uncomfortable again. At a reduced fee right now - Two 90 minute calls for $350. Click here for details.