1. Don't sign up with the first firm you find on the Internet. Shop around. See what's out there and make sure that you find one that is going to fit your business. Make a decision based on their interest in you and your product and which firm will be able to help you grow. Also make sure that they will fit your budget.
2. Don't base your choice solely on price- cheaper doesn't mean better. If you have a low budget, consider choosing a firm that focuses just on publicity and PR methods to get the word out about your business. Don't choose one where advertising is their main suggestions. That will cost you!
3. See if the firm you choose is interested in working with you for the long haul. Find one that will not only tell you the best way to expand your business, but one who will implement it as well. New strategies should be part of their monthly commitment to you!
It's important that both parties work well together to achieve all the goals needed. Choose wisely and get the best return on investment you can!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Things to keep in mind when designing a website
It's the responsibility of every web designer to be aware that not everyone out in cyberspace has the latest in software or hardware products when they surf the net.
There is a large segment of the population out there that only have the basics when it comes to viewing websites. That being said, when you design your website you need to be aware that many of your target markets might not have the appropriate plug ins to view your site.
Sites built primarily with flash are in danger of losing clients, simply because their prospective client's computer won't download the software.
This happened to me the other day. For some reason my computer wouldn't let me manually install a flash player, so when I typed in a specific website hoping to do business with them, low and behold their site was all in flash and I couldn't see or navigate through their site.
The Result?
I clicked off of their site, went to the next website on my list and found a site that wasn't completely dominated by flash. They gained a client.
Websites that are designed for everyone, that have a balance of bells and whistles and that serve your business are far better than ones that have all the latest in gadgets.
At OutRight Communications, we deliver website quotes based on what you need, but we also employ logic when it comes to reaching your target market. The last thing we want is for you to lose prospective clients when you could be signing them up!!
The Result?
I clicked off of their site, went to the next website on my list and found a site that wasn't completely dominated by flash. They gained a client.
Websites that are designed for everyone, that have a balance of bells and whistles and that serve your business are far better than ones that have all the latest in gadgets.
At OutRight Communications, we deliver website quotes based on what you need, but we also employ logic when it comes to reaching your target market. The last thing we want is for you to lose prospective clients when you could be signing them up!!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
At your Beck and Call
How many times have you been in the middle of a project- focused and deep in thought when the phone rings and it's a client or customer who needs you right that very second? What do you do?
When you run a business it's very important to decide how much time you can devote to your clients and when that time is to be given. If you are in the middle of something very important, don't be scared to tell them " I'm sorry but I'm going to have to put you on hold or call you back." So many business owners feel bad about saying those words and get worried that because they don't jump for their clients,that they will lose them. When you run a business you need to be the one to decide your schedule, especially if you are juggling many clients at once.
So what can you do to make your clients know and understand that your time is just as important to them?
Put processes into place for answering emails- perhaps setting it up to check every 10 minutes or so, that way you aren't distracted when you are working. Emails can usually wait to be answered. You can even decide to just check them every few hours, when you need a break from the project you are working on. And prioritize them. Often a client will send an email, and then realize they forgot to mention items. The next thing you know you have five emails referencing the one item they wanted to talk about. Sometimes it pays to wait.
Let your clients know that you are taking time out to set up meetings just for them. If they miss the time or don't show up, offer to reschedule. But keep in mind that you need to determine when the meeting can take place. This is your business, you need to keep control of the time that you are investing.
Let your clients know that you might not get back to them until the next day. If they need a project done immediately let them know that you may be adding a "rush" charge to their invoice because they may have had to bump other clients.
Give your clients as much advance warning as you can about upcoming vacations and who to contact so they aren't left wondering what is going on when your emails go unanswered.
We have all become slaves to technology. Every time the email alert beeps or the phone rings we are desperate to jump on it, just in case we miss something.
It takes 20 minutes for your brain to reset itself after it stops to open an email or answer the phone. That time can add up.
It's okay to go at your own pace. You will have better service and quality if you take the time to work in the best manner that suits you and your employees.
When you run a business it's very important to decide how much time you can devote to your clients and when that time is to be given. If you are in the middle of something very important, don't be scared to tell them " I'm sorry but I'm going to have to put you on hold or call you back." So many business owners feel bad about saying those words and get worried that because they don't jump for their clients,that they will lose them. When you run a business you need to be the one to decide your schedule, especially if you are juggling many clients at once.
So what can you do to make your clients know and understand that your time is just as important to them?
Put processes into place for answering emails- perhaps setting it up to check every 10 minutes or so, that way you aren't distracted when you are working. Emails can usually wait to be answered. You can even decide to just check them every few hours, when you need a break from the project you are working on. And prioritize them. Often a client will send an email, and then realize they forgot to mention items. The next thing you know you have five emails referencing the one item they wanted to talk about. Sometimes it pays to wait.
Let your clients know that you are taking time out to set up meetings just for them. If they miss the time or don't show up, offer to reschedule. But keep in mind that you need to determine when the meeting can take place. This is your business, you need to keep control of the time that you are investing.
Let your clients know that you might not get back to them until the next day. If they need a project done immediately let them know that you may be adding a "rush" charge to their invoice because they may have had to bump other clients.
Give your clients as much advance warning as you can about upcoming vacations and who to contact so they aren't left wondering what is going on when your emails go unanswered.
We have all become slaves to technology. Every time the email alert beeps or the phone rings we are desperate to jump on it, just in case we miss something.
It takes 20 minutes for your brain to reset itself after it stops to open an email or answer the phone. That time can add up.
It's okay to go at your own pace. You will have better service and quality if you take the time to work in the best manner that suits you and your employees.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Personal Publicity
Remember back in high school when you wrote your first resume?
It was a nice, clean, well formatted list of what you had accomplished in your working life thus far.
So does your resume with updated accomplishments still look the same as it did all those years ago?
If it does you might have a problem.
With the digital age comes the ability to have a much stronger resume. Instead of simply listing what you’ve done, you can now maintain a portfolio of work with ease. Your resume and portfolio reflect what you have successfully accomplished, and can include any media you may have garnered and some examples of your work. Avoid flash without substance but use digital mediums to show instead of tell your prospective employer the benefits of hiring you.
At OutRight Communications we write and edit comprehensive resumes, and CV’s to compliment any portfolio. If you want to have it done right- call us.
OutRight Communications is a marketing, design and PR firm that can skillfully craft your public image. Our team works together to ensure that your message is delivered to the public, whatever your message may be. We specialize in long term image crafting, publicity, web & graphic design, press releases & media interviews, author services & book publicity, media buys, and creative writing. Get in touch today to solve your media problems!
It was a nice, clean, well formatted list of what you had accomplished in your working life thus far.
So does your resume with updated accomplishments still look the same as it did all those years ago?
If it does you might have a problem.
With the digital age comes the ability to have a much stronger resume. Instead of simply listing what you’ve done, you can now maintain a portfolio of work with ease. Your resume and portfolio reflect what you have successfully accomplished, and can include any media you may have garnered and some examples of your work. Avoid flash without substance but use digital mediums to show instead of tell your prospective employer the benefits of hiring you.
At OutRight Communications we write and edit comprehensive resumes, and CV’s to compliment any portfolio. If you want to have it done right- call us.
OutRight Communications is a marketing, design and PR firm that can skillfully craft your public image. Our team works together to ensure that your message is delivered to the public, whatever your message may be. We specialize in long term image crafting, publicity, web & graphic design, press releases & media interviews, author services & book publicity, media buys, and creative writing. Get in touch today to solve your media problems!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Publicity Tip - Embrace your fans
The internet has completely changed economic thought. And not just in a grand, hyperbolic sense. There is a fundamental shift when a company begins to sell its products online.
A brick and mortar company is bound by the limits of its storage capacity. It can’t sell 500 000 cds because it can’t afford to have 500 000 cds on hand. This is an undeniable fact. But if you move online, you can exploit a limitless amount of inventory. Since buyers expect to wait a day or so for shipping the product, you can store those cds in a cheap warehouse. It can cost money to have a single cd under the bright lights and watchful eyes of a salesman in a store, but mere cents in simple warehouse.
The Long Tail by Chris Anderson goes into depth about what if means for the future of businesses. If you want your business to flourish in the digital age, I’d recommend this book. The general gist is this – as we move forward, the brick and mortar stores simply won’t be able to compete with the online retailers’ endless stock and cheap pricing. Instead of economics based on scarcity, it’s economics based on abundance. Chris goes over what it means from the supply chain end and what it means from the consumer end, but he doesn’t have the chance to cover the impact it has on the marketing.
So what does this change mean for you?
You need to work on marketing your product with more than ads. Ads should always be used in addition to an actual marketing plan. Online sales are generated by the most trusted and most publicized by fans of the product. That’s we why suggest embracing your fans. Try utilizing a message board, a testimonial form for them to fill out, exercise your social media tools and use publicity. Show off the satisfied people who are urging everyone to buy what you are selling. People are passionate about what they spend their money on. Let your fans work for you and give them the tools to help sell your company.
OutRight Communications is a marketing, design and PR firm that can skillfully craft your public image. Our team works together to ensure that your message is delivered to the public, whatever your message may be. We specialize in long term image crafting, publicity, web & graphic design, press releases & media interviews, author services & book publicity, media buys, and creative writing. Get in touch today to solve your media problems!
A brick and mortar company is bound by the limits of its storage capacity. It can’t sell 500 000 cds because it can’t afford to have 500 000 cds on hand. This is an undeniable fact. But if you move online, you can exploit a limitless amount of inventory. Since buyers expect to wait a day or so for shipping the product, you can store those cds in a cheap warehouse. It can cost money to have a single cd under the bright lights and watchful eyes of a salesman in a store, but mere cents in simple warehouse.
The Long Tail by Chris Anderson goes into depth about what if means for the future of businesses. If you want your business to flourish in the digital age, I’d recommend this book. The general gist is this – as we move forward, the brick and mortar stores simply won’t be able to compete with the online retailers’ endless stock and cheap pricing. Instead of economics based on scarcity, it’s economics based on abundance. Chris goes over what it means from the supply chain end and what it means from the consumer end, but he doesn’t have the chance to cover the impact it has on the marketing.
So what does this change mean for you?
You need to work on marketing your product with more than ads. Ads should always be used in addition to an actual marketing plan. Online sales are generated by the most trusted and most publicized by fans of the product. That’s we why suggest embracing your fans. Try utilizing a message board, a testimonial form for them to fill out, exercise your social media tools and use publicity. Show off the satisfied people who are urging everyone to buy what you are selling. People are passionate about what they spend their money on. Let your fans work for you and give them the tools to help sell your company.
OutRight Communications is a marketing, design and PR firm that can skillfully craft your public image. Our team works together to ensure that your message is delivered to the public, whatever your message may be. We specialize in long term image crafting, publicity, web & graphic design, press releases & media interviews, author services & book publicity, media buys, and creative writing. Get in touch today to solve your media problems!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
An every day question list
Losing the big picture isn’t fun. Spending your days chasing clients you don’t want, readers that won’t buy your book or sending emails that lead to nothing will suck the soul from your business in a hurry.
If you can answer these positively every day, things are going to be going well
- Why am I doing this? How will this help me sell my product? If you don’t have a good answer, stop and move on to something else.
- Is this the correct long term plan? Are all my actions geared towards the best long term results?
- What can I do today that will help make me a house hold name tomorrow?
- Spend a moment to remember who your target clients are. Are you consistently working to attract them?
- Remember what makes your product unique and focus on that area
4 questions, one focal point. It's all you need.
OutRight Communications is a marketing, design and PR firm that can skillfully craft your public image. Our team works together to ensure that your message is delivered to the public, whatever your message may be. We specialize in long term image crafting, publicity, web & graphic design, press releases & media interviews, author services & book publicity, media buys, and creative writing. Get in touch today to solve your media problems!
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