QR codes are a new, mobile marketing technology that is quickly gaining in popularity and with good reason. Their potential is limitless. Today, it would be difficult to find someone who doesn’t own a cell phone. Most cell phone owners keep them close at hand, taking them with them wherever they go. Savvy companies are taking advantage of this, reaching out to both prospective and actual customers, via their mobile phones. They are one of the many methods companies are using to do so. For those unaware of what a QR (Quick Response) Code is, it is a 2-D visual code that can be read by QR scanners, cell phones with cameras and Smartphones. QR codes can be encoded with all types of information, including, text, phone numbers and URLs. When individuals come across a Quick Response code, they can scan it with their phone and instantly be taken to whatever website a company has encoded the QR code to. An increasing number of companies are utilizing these codes and with great success. They are a unique form of advertising which is cutting-edge and taking off in a big way. QR codes connect online and offline media in a way that has never been done before. Now individuals are able to go from offline to online adverts or web pages with a quick and easy scan of their phone. Quick Response codes have taken off for a variety of reasons, one of the primary being that consumers seem to be responding to them. They are a bit mysterious. The codes are black and white modules in a square pattern. There is no definite rhyme or reason to them, at least visually. It is only after scanning the code, that individual can determine what message the company is relaying. QRs are akin to a live website link or URL. Until now, the only way a person could go directly to a website with a simple click was if they were online. Now, this can be done even when the link is not online. QR codes are embedded with URL links and functionally, act as such. Individuals are automatically transferred to whatever URL the QR Code is embedded with when they use their mobile phone to scan the code. Companies committed to staying abreast of the latest technologies and then using them to maintain and grow their business should look into QR codes. They are one of the latest technological developments available to businesses interested in entering the enormous and potentially lucrative, mobile phone market. This article may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in any e-zine, newsletter, blog, or website. The author’s name, bio and website links must remain intact and be included with every reproduction. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6229457

American women are launching new companies at 1.5 times the national rate, but most of these queen bees are not growing their companies beyond 100 employees and $1 million in revenues, a new survey from American Express finds. The reason behind that sluggishness is true for businesses owned by both men and women: Large, publicly traded firms, which account for just 3 percent of all U.S. businesses, now employ 53 percent of the workforce—up from 43 percent in 1997—and they generate 64 percent of business revenues, up from 55 percent just a decade ago. “Even as women-owned firms continue to grow in number at rates exceeding the national average—they are not moving along the growth continuum,” concludes the American Express OPEN State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, released late Thursday. “In terms of both revenue and employment, the share of women-owned firms at the highest levels of business accomplishment has remained essentially unchanged over the past 14 years.” The report, drawn from 2010 U.S. Census data, found that there are more than 8.1 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., generating nearly $1.3 trillion in revenues and employing nearly 7.7 million people. Enterprises that are at least 51 percent owned by women account for 29 percent of all U.S. companies, and they employ 6 percent of the nation’s workforce and contribute 4 percent of business revenues nationwide. In 1997, 2.5 percent of women-owned firms employed 10 or more employees, and 1.8 percent brought in $1 million or more in revenues. As of 2011, the percentage of women-owned firms employing 10 or more dropped to 1.9 percent, and the percentage that brought $1 million or more in revenues was flat at 1.8 percent. There are variations by state, of course. California, for example, is home to the greatest number of women-owned firms in the country, with more than 1 million companies that employ 979,700 workers and bring in about $193 billion, reports the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal. Below are some notable statistics from the state-by-state breakdowns, based upon figures from 1997 to 2011. The full report is available here.

• Fastest growth for women-owned businesses: Nationally, the number of women-owned businesses has increased 50 percent since 1997. The states with the fastest growth in the number of women-owned firms over the past 14 years are: Georgia, 97.5 percent; Nevada, 87.6 percent; Mississippi, 76.7 percent; Florida, 73.3 percent; and North Carolina, 68.8 percent. Growth was slowest in Alaska, up 8.8 percent; followed by West Virginia, 17.8 percent; Iowa, 20.1 percent; Indiana, 23.7 percent; and Vermont, 26.2 percent.
• Fastest-growing revenues for women-owned businesses: Nationally, business revenues for all companies increased an average of 53 percent over the last 14 years. In Wyoming, women-owned businesses saw revenues up 170 percent; District of Columbia, 146.7 percent; New Hampshire, 117.8 percent; Utah, 117.6 percent; and Louisiana, 110.3 percent.

Men did not necessarily fare much better. Men-owned firms are, on average, larger than women-owned ones, and twice as many men own companies which employ 10 or more people. In addition, three times as many male-owned businesses have reached the $1 million revenue mark. Yet, male entrepreneurs have not moved up the growth continuum either, the report says. Since 1997, the share of men-owned firms with 10 or more employees fell from 6.6 percent to 4.9 percent, and the percentage of men-owned firms making $1 million or more in revenues fell from 6.6 percent to 6.3 percent. “Reviewing the totality of small business and large corporate (publicly traded) growth trends over the past decade leads one to the conclusion that, in the battle of David/Diana versus Goliath, Goliath is winning,” the report states.

When you want to attract the most perfect clients, consider who you have already worked with and how to highlight your favorites, the ones who are on time, pay promptly, are actively engaged. The best way to show others what you are looking for in a perfect client is with the testimonial of your perfect clients.  Like attracts like. Did you know that most people only read 10% of the text on your website or a landing page? That means that every bit of copy should be essential and high impact. It’s even more important of testimonials as well. Without specific guidance, your clients will usually write a testimonial that praises you highly but does a poor job describing the measurable results of working with you. Help your clients craft a brief but power packed prospect-winning testimonial. Example of a low impact, high praise testimonial: I hired Patrice Barber because I needed help growing my coaching business and to help me get beyond my self-imposed limits. I had no idea she would be instrumental in helping me get such clarity about what I really wanted. Because of her commitment in me, I am now living the life I always dreamed.. She really listens, asks some hard questions, and built a vision of my business I had no idea I could accomplish. She showed me how to use my skills to make a difference with my own clients, which is what is fulfilling to me. She has a gift seeing what you are capable of and getting you there. Every time a session ends, I hang up the phone amazed at what has transpired in me in less than an hour. She is honest, caring and generous.  I couldn’t have found a more valuable coach. This is what we call a little sugary .  It’s flattering to receive a testimonial like this one, but it isn’t useable for three reasons:

1. It’s not likely to be read because it’s too long.
2. The language is flowery and soft with too many prepositional phrases and low impact language.
3. It doesn’t contain any measurable value of the experience as an investment.

  Example of a High Impact Testimonial In just four months of mentoring with Patrice, my marketing business shifted from challenging and unprofitable to a business I was delighted with. I’ve doubled my income and now attract exactly the kind of client I want to work with, clients who stay longer. She showed me how to set up a sales funnel that builds trust with ideal prospects. Now I spend less time up front with new clients and get hired every time! – Mary Smith Why is this better?

• It’s a quick read at 57 words.
• Every phrase is word-smithed for impact.
• It clearly shows three concrete benefits that will encourage prospects to invest.

 

Six steps to attracting perfect clients

Make testimonial gathering a part of your standard business process. Start this about midway through the time you will spend with your client.  Be sure to finalize it by the end of your time with a client.  Keep it easy for your client to give you a high impact testimonial.

1. Listen for the words from your clients that are the gold nuggets of their joy.  When you hear them, ask if you can use it in your marketing copy.  Write out the copy,  send it to the client and get their approval.

 

1. Match up the goals you set with your clients to the results they are getting. Track your successes with your clients and ask them what they feel are the biggest accomplishment each week or at each meeting.
2. If you haven’t heard any gold nuggets, ask your client if they’d be willing to recommend you to others and why.  This is vitally important to ask every client because there may be issues they are not telling you that would be best resolved before your complete your time with your client or their project.
3. When you do hear those gold nuggets, immediately follow up your request with an email including your bullet points about their successes. Also include your draft of their testimonial inviting them to either accept it as is, tweak it, or write their own from scratch using the points you’ve provided. You’ll be surprised how often your clients will say: “I think you really hit the high points”

 

1. Be sure to request their picture and when at all possible meet with them to get a video. Video is even higher impact.  Ask how they want their name and company name listed as well as their web address so they benefit from having their site linked to yours.

 

1. When you receive their testimonial, thank them personally.

  Guidelines for ace testimonials:

• Three to five short sentences, 75 words or less.
• Use “I” language.
• Vary sentence structure. Read aloud to check for proper syntax. Proof it!
• Include at least 3 specific measurable achievements or breakthroughs.
• Audio versions of a testimonial can be very powerful in addition to the written version. Use a service like audio acrobat

The "Give Before You Get" Principle Do you know what the most frequently used word is that people type in a search box on the internet? Knowing what this word is and using it to it's fullest extent can literally EXPLODE your sales online.  Let me explain. The word is... Searched on the internet more than any other, the word is FREE. Everyone loves something for nothing.  No one wants to pay for something if they can get it for free. The benefit of giving something for free. As an online business, if you offer a product, service or some information for free, it can have great returns.  It can boost your search engine rankings.  As the word is typed into a search more than any other, having it optimized on your website could have amazing dividends. Once a customer has found you in their search results, further use of the word free will draw them in even more.  Giving them something for nothing if they visit your site is a big attraction.  I can't emphasize how important it is. How giving something for free can make you money. When someone visits your site to claim their freebie, several things can happen. In order to get their free product, they have to give you their name and email address.  This is the #1 reason for offering it to them in the first place. It is highly unlikely that someone will buy something on their first visit to a website.  And unless there is an excellent reason for them to return, they may never visit again. By having their email address, you can contact them and remind them to revisit your site.  You can offer them 'special offers' and affiliate sales through your correspondence emails. It is a well known fact that there needs to be an average of 7 contacts (sales pitches, remind revisits, offers, etc.) with a customer before they will actually buy something. ( The reasons for this are quite lengthy and could easily comprise a whole other article, so that will come later.) By being able to have the important contact with your customers, your chances of them buying from you have increased significantly. They learn to 'trust you', you become familiar to them (they know and like you) and that's what often clinches the deal. The quality of free. The item you offer, whether it's a subscription to an ezine, ebook, report or software, MUST be of good quality. If the customer receives a poor quality freebie, they won't come back to your website to buy anything. On the other hand, if they're impressed by their free gift, they're more than likely to visit your website again and again. High quality, useful products are an essential if you want your 'freebie offer' to work for you. When deciding on what to give way, there's one piece of advice that is vital. Make the free item appropriate to your audience.  Whatever niche you operate in, stick with the theme. Now that you have this little golden nugget of valuable information, get to work.  After all 'the money is in the list', but again, that's another article. By Deb Augur http://fastcashcoaching.com/members/

When Eric Schmidt of Google says google is doing all its development on a mobile platform first, that should tell the rest of us what we should think about too. This video explains  a lot about why putting mobile marketing into your business is critical and that there is NO time to wait and see. When Eric Schmidt of Google says google is doing all its development on a mobile platform first, that should tell the rest of us what we should think about too.  

This video explains  a lot about why putting mobile marketing into your business is critical and that there is NO time to wait and see.

For March there are 2 F*REE ways you can get in on this revolutionary way to market. Did you know there are people visiting your website right now, via their cell phone ? More importantly, did you know that if you don't have a mobile version of your website that you could be loosing potential customers? See for yourself - check your google analytics to see what I mean. If you aren't taking advantage of Mobile Marketing, your competition is. Regardless what you think you know, you will learn even more. And its free. Informed, experienced speakers bring you the latest used by successful marketers to grow their business. First on March 17 , Taylor Made Small Biz has our free webinar (45 minutes). If you can't attend it is recorded so register now. When texting and driving is great - how to drive foot traffic to your door Here is what you learn

• What mobile marketing is and how to start this in your business
• Setting up your first text message campaign
• Getting more leads and buyers from your current website with SMS
• 3 ways to get in front of cell phone users with your offers

  Register for the F*REE 45 minute webinar here Second on March 25^th Taylor Made Small Biz has been asked by Tie Rockies to present LIVE at the Harnessing Mobile Marketing event. Its Friday March 25th and of course I wanted to let you in on it too! It's a Free seminar with 5 experts in Mobile Marketing, huge content, detailed screen shots all on Mobile Marketing. I am delighted to have you as my guest so Register now (seating is limited to the first 100 and this is going out to over 3000) Join us and other business owners for networking before and after the LIVE event Here is what you will learn about

• How to set up your first text message campaign ( a bit like an email marketing campaign)
• Why it's important for you to have a mobile website,
• Fastest way to turn your smart phone into a credit card processing machine so YOU can take payment anywhere
• And hear first hand the real live Return on Investment that other business owners have experienced

Get up to speed on the latest ways to connect with your clients right on their smart phones. Register now Registration is limited to the first 100. Register yourself here and then forward this to your business associates and friends. Register here See you at the event! Patrice Barber and the Just Results Team PS - This applies to you and your business if you have clients you work with more than once, have a store front, provide consulting or coaching where you occasionally meet face to face or if you are in the marketing business and need to share this new technology with YOUR clients.

Its never a “good “ time to do taxes but there is a SILVER lining - here are some new deductions from an article in CNNMoney ( Catherine Clifford ) that I thought you should know about. I realize keeping up the books and checking your chart of accounts to be sure you have things in order (to be sure to prevent that audit) is not on the top of the business owners list. Health insurance deduction for self employed: Ms. Clifford asks: “Are you your own boss and paying for your own health insurance? Normally, you can deduct your insurance costs from your business profits, but you can't deduct those costs from your self-employment taxes. But in 2010, the self-employed can deduct their health insurance costs from their business profits for both taxes. Let's say Sally, an architect, makes $50,000 in net income and pays $6,000 for health insurance. In other tax years, Sally would pay income tax on $44,000 and self employment tax on $50,000, explained Karen Brosi, a federally licensed tax professional based in Palo Alto, Calif.” As with all things if you are in the Denver/Boulder area be sure to check with your advisor on local laws that might apply too. Bonus depreciation extension: Another great point from Ms Clifford;  “Did you buy a new building, new computer software or new office furniture last year? For 2010, there is an accelerated depreciation schedule: Like the Section 179 provision, the point is to get cash into the hands of small businesses quickly. (Sorry, if you bought a plot of land, that doesn't qualify.) Businesses that bought a qualifying item after Sept. 8 can claim 100% of its cost (so long as it is used before Jan. 1, 2012). Businesses that bought such items before Sept. 8 can claim 50% (so long as it is put into service before Jan. 1, 2013).” Depreciation on a business car or truck: The third point we thought would be helpful from Clifford -   “Did you buy a new car, van or truck for your business last year? Ka-ching! For 2010, business owners who buy and use a brand new passenger vehicle will depreciate much more than usual -- $11,060 for a car, and $11,160 for a light duty truck or van. That includes an extra $8,000 bonus depreciation, on top of the usual first-year depreciation. If you buy an SUV or heavy pickup, the rules are slightly different, said Brosi.” Now if you do most of your business as online marketing and online sales, take care with setting the basis for your usage.  I don’t know about you, but for me all these great tax savings, thinking about preparing your tax return and getting your books in order seems a lot more appealing.

I could scream from the roof tops on this one! At our recent Put Your Year in Gear event held in Golden Colorado, we had great discussions on social media and getting it started the RIGHT way. Our attendees came away understanding what it really takes to be successful online , BUT so many of the new business owners I have spoken with lately seriously don’t “get it”. Online Marketing is still a foreign concept. Having a website, a twitter account and making posts on facebook does NOT a strategy make. Thankfully our attendees went away, knowing how to make their online marketing work for their specific business. Want to know the secret? It starts with a game plan, end results, a financially driven goal. For any specific campaign how much money do you want to make and how will they (your new found friends and well built relationships) be shown what value you bring beyond the pleasant conversation so they WANT to buy your stuff  ( and you can make that money)? No you are not in business just to be nice, you are in business to be richly rewarded for the information you have worked hard to acquire, products you have built and wisdom you can share. What is most often missing is the path – the step by step of how to get from that first contact email or social media post into the relationship and onto the clarity of sharing your value and getting paid for it. If you’re going into social media without an end goal in mind, why are you even going in? Where’s the benefit? Is it because you see everyone else has a  Twitter  profile and Facebook page and they look like they’re having fun while they talk with people? Excellent observation – but are you looking into the details….what is actually being said , what direction and options are given, where does it lead to next?  Is there an end goal?  OR Is it simply building relations online like going to a networking event to collect cards or having a ribbon cutting so you get known in your community? Whatever it is, if you’re not getting any results,  it’s because you didn’t really plan to get results. Now that’s cleared up -  what to do about it? What are the possible results you could get? How do you use social media so that you have a system that leads to results? Start with key questions

• How many connected conversations will it take to create a sale.
• How many products will you need to give away so your audience knows likes and trusts you enough to take action.

• How many people will you need to  address the incoming posts, questions, comments in the social arenas you are building relations in.

• Set an End date – this is when you STOP track and tweak

For many business owners and marketing directors in the Denver Boulder area and around the US , success is just a few steps away – not miles. We have found that by just putting a few clear steps into place , creating their online marketing plan, a communications plan, and using a system to automate it to lead to their end game  -  success follows.

  Kim Dushinski , named one of THE Mobile Women to watch for 2010 by Mobile Marketer, shared screen shot explanations about how to use a  free tool  - Google Places- to get 1^st page ranking even if you don’t have a web site. Kim began by describing what mobile marketing is and what it is not. If you haven’t heard the term yet, you certainly are seeing this in action everyday on your TV and in other media. During the super bowl you are encourage to text in to win prizes and this is a form of Mobile Marketing. It gets you to use your mobile device to show you are interested in the topic. Places like your local Red Box video rental offer free videos when you signup to get a text message with the coupon number and you can go to the video rental and get your free video using the code from your mobile phone that they text to you. Mobile marketing is the next step of where the internet is going and it includes the use of your mobile device – cell phone or smart phone. At present this is a much more direct connection to your clients as 98% of text messages are opened whereas only 25% of emails are opened. If you have a business that has a store front with frequent repeat clients like chiropractors, restaurants, bowling alleys, this will become one of the most cost effective ways for you to attract clients back in for their repeat business. If you offer services in which you meet face to face with your clients on a repeat basis , using Google places, to list your business will be key to your future success. At present this type of listing is free and Google has disclosed plans for this to replace yellow page ads both online and offline. They have also hinted that this may not remain as a free service. Those who begin using this free real estate online will certainly reap the rewards from being a pioneer. To find out more about this strategy and get the screen shot , step by-step details go to www.putyouryearingear.com and request your free access now. These will be going away soon.

Our team member Ann Albergotti delivered a powerful update on how public relations and press releases have seriously  change in the last few years. She explained how today’s online submissions can be done by you. There are some key points that you have to understand for your article to be picked up and accepted by the press, but at a minimum your articles can get published into online article submission sites and have back links to  your website. Here is how the strategy works. First use those great “keywords” that you discovered in strategy 1 and then incorporate them into the article you are writing. Don’t go overboard, be natural in your writing, putting in great content first. Keep your articles to abut 200 words. Then read back thru the article to see where you might exchange some words for the keywords. When you have the article created in the correct article writing format which is NOT a sales pitch but rather a news piece, go online to the site recommended and enter the information requested. The basic information you will need includes the title and summary description which is the best place to house the keyword rich summary of your article. Articles are searched by the media – news reporters to find experts , like you and then they select your article, may re-write it, may contact you for more details or may publish the article as is. During this presentation Ann also explained how to reuse the article information to further attract media and  prospects by putting the shortened versions out into the social  network sites as well. During the upcoming Put Your Year I Gear Ann will go into more detail about how to find out how to check on where your articles get published out to. The team will also help you build your press release kit so that once you are found by the media,  you can quickly respond in the way the press requires so that you will be awarded interviews on the radio, TV and for publications. When Oprah calls you have 24 hours to respond. To find out more about this strategy and get the screen shot , step by-step details go to www.putyouryearingear.com and request your free access now. These will be going away soon.