Social Media Mistakes To Avoid

More and more pet experts are recognizing the value of social media to promote their businesses. However, it is critical that pet business owners understand how to utilize this medium. If done incorrectly, you can actually turn your prospects off and lose potential sales. Here are 3 Social Media Mistakes to Avoid:

1. Too much selling or promotion. Readers want to be informed, entertained and inspired—but not “sold.” When it comes to tooting your own horn, don’t overdo it.
2. Excessive typos. While social media is suppose to be a causal, friendly and interactive form of communication, sloppiness will make you look unprofessional. Always proofread your blog, twitter posts or Facebook comments before broadcasting them online.
3. Being too wordy. When writing a blog posting or a Facebook comment, limit the amount of words you use. No one has the time to read an 800 word blog post or a lengthy Facebook comment. Keep your posts straight and to the point.

How Social Media Can Help You Promote Your Business

Social Media. We’ve all heard about it. It seems like the newest buzzword that everyone from small business owners to corporate managers are talking about. But what is Social Media? In a nutshell, social media refers to communication between people via the World Wide Web. Examples include things like blogs, message boards, forums, YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, Linked-In and Twitter.

Social Media presents you with the opportunity to talk directly to your customers and prospects. It enables you to join in their conversations, listen to their thoughts and learn from their insights. It also allows you to talk about your products or services in a casual, non-threatening way (no hard sell). Here are a few ways social media can help you promote your business:

1. It builds credibility. When you offer useful advice or helpful suggestions via online forums, people will begin to see you as an expert.  They’ll start to trust you.
2. It creates camaraderie. People love talking about things they have a passion for. If you’re selling to dog owners, join in their online conversation. Share their enthusiasm. Show them that you really “get” it. Before long people will start to like you.
3. It’s personal. Everyone enjoys having a conversation with another human being. The more you chime in, the more people will begin to know you. They’ll start to see you as a friend, instead as a marketer or salesperson who is simply trying to squeeze dollars out of them.

Bottom line: people buy from those they know, like & trust. Social media provides you with an easy, cost-effective way to increase this “Know, like and trust” factor.

7 Tips for Networking Success

  Whether you’re running a manufacturing plant, a non-profit organization or a small pet-sitting business, networking is a great promotional tool.

 So what is networking? Networking is the act of building and maintaining relationships. These relationships have the potential of bringing you sales, referrals or recommendations. For example, let’s say you own a grooming shop. You cultivate a positive relationship with the petsitter down the street. Because the petsitter knows you, trusts you and likes you, she refers your services to her clients. Or let’s say you are a manufacturer’s representative. You build a relationship with local retailers by being friendly and offering helpful advice. As time goes on the retailers begin to trust you. They like and respect you. So they decide to carry your products. What’s more, they’ll tell their fellow-store owners about your products too.

 Networking is so simple, anyone can do it. And if done right, you will reap the rewards, both financially in your business and personally. It’s important to keep in mind that networking is not about making sales. Never, never try to push someone to buy from you or refer your services. That’s sales pressure, not networking. You’ll turn off your allies in a hurry that way.

 Here are 7 tips for networking success.

 1. Be a good listener. When people talk, listen. Be respectful. Act concerned.

2. Reciprocate. You should be just as willing to give referrals as to receive them. And sometimes you may give several referrals without ever receiving one in return. 

3. Cultivate a positive, cheerful attitude. No one likes a grump. Be friendly. Smile. Act pleasant and people will like you.

4. Always be prepared to give a brief introduction for your products or services. Make it snappy. Grab attention and use your sound bite often.

5. Be helpful. Offer advice or useful information for free. If you find a helpful article or tip, share it with your network. People will appreciate it. And they’ll remember you for it.

6. Follow-up. When you meet a new contact at a trade show, local event or business meeting, follow-up immediately via phone or email. Don’t give them time to forget you.

7. Always say thank you. When someone gives you a referral, introduces you, endorses you, or speaks well of you, be sure to express your appreciation. You can do this in person, over the phone or by email. Just be sure you do it.

The Second Most Powerful Word in Advertising

 “Free” is the second most powerful word in advertising. It is an automatic eye-stopper and head-turner. Whenever people see the word “free” in big bold letters they instantly stop and take a closer look.Use the word “free” as much as you can. Use it in headlines. On envelope teasers. In your body copy and in the P.S of your sales letter.When you are trying to sell a product, offering something valuable for free is a strong incentive that gets people to buy. Let’s say you are selling a magazine subscription to dog lovers. You write a letter explaining the benefits of the magazine. You then bait the reader by offering to give them a free gift if they subscribe. This could be a free complimentary issue. A free guide to dog health. A free doggy handbag. Many people will fill out the reply form or mail in a check, simply because the free item was so enticing. Whenever possible, sweeten your offer by giving a free gift to people who order your product or use your service. Remember: everyone loves to get something for nothing.

The Most Powerful Word in Advertising

  “You” is the most powerful word in advertising.  Whenever you are writing any type of marketing material, speak directly to the reader. A good way to do this is to address the reader as “you” in the copy. Write to them the way you would write to a close friend. Sound warm, personal and caring.

The worst blunder you can make is to focus on yourself or your company. When your copy is swimming with words like  “I” or “we,” you need to  readjust your focus. People do not care about you or your company. They don’t care about your recent awards, your outstanding product line or your impeccable credit report. They are concerned about themselves—their hopes, their dreams, their problems. They are only interested in you as a means of filling one of their needs or solving one of their problems. 

If you focus on yourself, your copy will sound self-serving and even arrogant. Your goal should be to serve the reader. Sound caring, sympathetic and enthusiastic. People appreciate this type of attitude. It holds their interest and appeals to their felt needs. The longer you hold the reader’s interest, the better chance you have of making a sale. So use the word “you” a lot.

How to Write an Irresistible Home Page

 The home page is the most important part of your website. It is your first, and sometimes only, chance of making a good impression on your prospects. If visitors are confused or repulsed by your home page they will probably never come back. 

 For this reason it is vital that your home page makes visitors feel at home. Don’t try to appeal to every casual web surfer who stumbles across your site. Instead, define your audience and appeal to that specific group of people. Have a strong welcome message that tells readers exactly what your site is about. 

Give readers the impression that if they want to know more about pet health—or whatever your specialty is– then your site is a goldmine of information. 

Your home page should tell readers who you are, what you do, and how you can benefit them. Be sure the copy on your home page is warm and personal. Give your home page a personality or voice. This could be an image you want to project. Or a voice that is in step with your marketing plan. Better yet, have someone like your company president or marketing manager, act as the spokesperson for your site. This makes your site appear more personable and your company more real. 

Creative Ways to Promote Your Pet Business

By, Rachel Monroe: The Pet Industry Copywriter

 

Yep. Marketing can be tough. It can be expensive and overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be that way!

 

In my new handbook, “41 Creative Ways to Promote Your Pet Business” I’ll share a host of easy, cost-effective and creative marketing ideas. By diligently applying just a few of these techniques, you can bring in a steady stream of customers, sales and profits. And you can have fun doing it.  

This handbook will help you super-charge your marketing efforts in no time. Plus it’s absolutely FREE.  

This handbook is not about dry marketing theory. It’s not a dissertation on effective advertising rules. It contains practical, hands-on techniques  you can put to immediate use.

Ideas That Are So Simple—You’ll Be Shocked!

Marketing doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Any savvy business owner can market their products or services with gusto—and be successful doing it.

 You can generate spectacular results armed with a few creative concepts and an iron will to succeed. You’ll see just how fun marketing can be.  

To download your FREE copy visit:

www.rachelmonroe.com/freeresources.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s What a Golden Retriever Can Teach You About Superior Customer Service

Golden Retrievers are awesome dogs. They are always happy. Their tail is always wagging. And they’re always excited to see you. Whether you’ve been gone for 2 days or 2 hours, a Golden Retriever will great you with an ecstatic whine and wagging tail every time. They treat you like you’re their best friend on earth. And that makes you feel good, right? 

 

Well, that’s how business owners should act around their customers. Make your customers feel special. Greet them warmly. Act excited or pleased to be doing business with them. If your customer feels loved, appreciated or acknowledged, they will feel good about doing business with you.

 

Find out how you can make your customers feel special. Make a list. Use it regularly.

 

Here’s an idea to get you started: When talking with your customers, use their first name often. To most people, their name is the sweetest word on earth. By using it, you make them feel important and appreciated.

 

Happy Marketing,

 

Rachel Monroe

The Pet Industry Copywriter

What Can a Nose–to-the–Ground, Slow-Plodding Basset Hound Teach You About Running a Successful Business?

Have you ever watched a Basset Hound move from point A to point B?

 

He takes his time. He sniffs everything in front of him. Takes a step. Sniffs some more. Takes a second step.

 

 

Granted not all Basset Hounds are this way. But generally, the older, more mature Bassets move slowly and cautiously. They are in no hurry whatsoever.

 

This brings us to a very important marketing point.

 

 

One of the deadliest business mistakes is moving too fast, with little planning. Building a successful business, launching a new product or expanding a company all takes time. It requires careful thought and planning. There are risks to be evaluated. Profits to consider. And resources to line up. In other words, you need to look before you leap. This does not mean you have to drag the process out. It simply means you need to have a thorough plan in place before moving forward.

 

Like the Basset Hound, keep your eyes open and your mind sharp. Proceed steadily. A Basset Hound rarely stops walking while he is sniffing. He’s still moving forward, but he’s carefully planning each step. And so should you. Proceeding without a plan is a recipe for disaster. It is better to move slowly and achieve success, than to move swiftly only to meet failure.

 

So always have goals. Always be moving forward. But have a plan. And take whatever time you need. Don’t rush success. It will come. The Basset Hound knows he’ll make it to point B, but he takes his time getting there.

 

Happy Marketing,

 

Rachel Monroe

The Pet Industry Copywriter

How a 3-Legged Dog Can Teach You This Vital Marketing Principle

Tony was a high-strong German Shepherd/lab mix. One week I agreed to keep him at my place while his owners went on vacation. I thought Tony would enjoy taking walks and playing in my yard. But I was wrong. Tony was not happy about being left by his owners.

 

He wanted to run down the road and find his parents. He tried to dig under the fence, chew up the doors and pull off the molding in my laundry room. He had a goal and he was going for it. Thankfully for me, Tony never reached that goal. Finally his owner returned. I decided I would never watch Tony again. He was too high-strong.

 

A few months later, his owners called. They were going out of town again and needed someone to watch Tony. But something had changed. Tony had been hit by a car and severely injured. His right front leg had been amputated. So now, Tony only had 3 legs. I figured in his condition Tony would be calmer and less likely to try to run away.

 

But Tony had different ideas. He had no intention of being left behind again. As Tony’s owner started walking away, this dog absolutely floored me. Even though he was in a weakened condition and only had 3 legs, Tony made a powerful leap and cleared my 4 ½ foot fence. He was determined to be with his dad. And nothing was going to stop him from reaching that goal.

 

This courageous, 3 legged dog can teach us a vital character trait: Determination. As a business owner or marketer, determination is absolutely critical to your success.

 

In the fast-paced, ever changing world of marketing, it’s easy to get discouraged. It’s easy to give up. Determination helps you blaze forward.

 

Set your goals and go after them. If your goal is to increase company revenue by 30%, go after that goal. Don’t let anything stop you. Tony didn’t let the loss of his leg stop him from jumping the fence to be with his owner. And you should never let failure, discouragement, financial difficulties or anything else, hinder you from accomplishing your business goals. Press on. Adjust where you need to adjust. And keep moving forward.  

 

Happy Marketing,

 

Rachel Monroe

The Pet Industry Copywriter