The Lounge

The Lounge: Customer Neglect

Customer Neglect

What have you done for your existing customers lately? Probably not much, if you are like most businesses.

I know that hunting new business is more of an adrenaline rush than working the business you already have, but it is not as crucial to your long-term success. The best new business program is delivering excellent service to existing clients.

Let's review some things you might want to consider doing for current customers. Really personal mail has become a thing of the past. Buck the trend and stand out. Send a hand signed and addressed card to your clients. This could be a birthday card or a "thank you for your business" card.

Create a special customer event. Invite customers to a non-commercial event such as a wine tasting, or an event that ties back into your core business. For instance, an outdoor retailer could host a free day of canoeing. It gives you a chance to get to know your clientele in a social setting. It also provides fodder for customers to talk about you.

Gather your customers' business cards and distribute them to people likely to use your customers' services. Write a note on the back that says "referred by (your business name here)."

Most businesses neglect their customers and it takes very little effort to stand above the crowd. So, take care of your current customers, and they'll take care of you.

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B2B Spotlight

Name: Lisa Shinham
Occupation: Wave Zone Skimboards

How do your company's services benefit the general public?

We have a great opportunity to provide a product that brings fun, fitness and enjoyment into the lives of kids and adults. Skimboarding is a sport that can be picked up in one afternoon and mastered ongoing. We enjoy the opportunity to support many charitable organizations and groups who target positive teen growth with product donations throughout every year.

Greatest achievement to date?

It is hard to pick just one achievement. We have enjoyed booming growth during the past 8 years that we have wholesaled our product, with hundreds of surf shops in the U.S. and islands now featuring Wave Zone Skimboards. We also enjoy employing students through high school OJT programs and allowing them both career opportunities and flexible hours during high school and college. Seeing our past employees master our skills or move on to be police officers, fire fighters, engineers and architects is truly rewarding.

Character trait you most admire?

Honesty and integrity. Hands down

When are you the most productive?

We work hard to be productive year round, even though our business hits hard during spring and summer, but there is nothing like a deadline to kick you into gear.

When are you the most bored?

I can't remember the last time we had a moment to be bored.

How do you define success?

By the degree of happiness and satisfaction your work brings to your life. If a person is doing what they love, success just follows.

Are you involved in, or have you had any experiences/extra activities that you would recommend to our clients?

We are involved in mostly the support of youth organizations such as Wyldlife, YoungLife, college scholarship programs, school renaissance programs, etc. Anytime you can use your influence to positively impact the life of a youth you should not hesitate to do it.

From your experience/expertise, do you have any suggestions for small to medium sized business owners just starting out?

Two things. Controlled growth is key to success... this type of strategic planning can really help you to be in a position to meet and exceed your client expectations. Never spend more than you make... today's windfall is what can protect you from tomorrow's rainy day.

If you were granted one wish, what would it be?

After seeing so many clients/friends negatively and dramatically impacted by the hurricanes and tsunami of the past few years, we would wish natural disasters away.

For more information about Lisa Shinham or Wave Zone Skimboards please visit www.wavezoneskim.com

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The Tech Report

Privacy and Surfing the Web

If you've been around the Internet a few times you probably have heard of something called a “cookie”. Mmmm… cookies. No, not that kind of cookie! This kind of cookie has implications for your privacy and can potentially offer a window into your computer that hackers could use to steal your personal information.

First, let's define a cookie. A cookie is a small text file that is placed on your computer hard drive when you visit a website. Cookies were established for several legitimate reasons. Cookies can store information in your browser, so when you visit a web page you've visited before the page loads more quickly. Or if you go to a website that requires you to “log in”, the website can automatically identify your computer and you don't have to log in every time you visit. If you've ever used an e-commerce website you know you can store products in your “shopping cart” and come back to them as you shop. This information is stored using a cookie.

As you can see cookies can be very useful. Unfortunately there are some who misuse this technology. One method of online advertising that is on the rise makes use of cookie profiling. Have you ever gone to a website and had an ad pop up for a product for which you've recently searched? Chances are it wasn't an accident. Online marketers can use persistent cookies on your computer to build a profile of you and your search history and target you with ads whenever you go to a website on which they have advertising rights. This may seem relatively harmless on the surface, but remember that these companies can use your cookies to track your specific computer and build a profile of all your online habits. Sound a little scarier now?

Now take that technology one step further and place it in the hands of a hacker. Imagine a hacker covertly installing a keylogger (simple software programs that record every keystroke a user makes) onto your computer and using your cookies to track all the websites you go to. At the same time they are tracking every keystroke on your computer. For example if you go to your bank account and log in, they can see which website you went to and what keystrokes logged you into your account. Or they can track if you go to a website and type out your credit card number. Now the potential for harm is tremendous.

Don't worry; there are steps you can take to protect yourself from these scenarios. First, always have an up to date version of anti-virus software on your computer. Norton Antivirus and McAfee are two more popular programs. You can also install spyware programs such as Ad Aware or AVG for additional protection. You can also clean the cookies out of your browser, or turn them off all together. Search the Help section of your favorite browser if you aren't sure how to do this. If you want to learn more about cookies and see what kind of information people can find out about you from your computer this is a good resource: Analyze.Privacy.net. And finally, if you are afraid you may have malicious software on your computer, take it to your nearest computer professional and ask them to clean it up for you!

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Max Media

Max Media: Saving Money on Ad Words

Saving Money on Ad Words

With a growing market in Pay-Per-Click online advertising, the competition is increasing. We have some tips and tricks to help you best optimize your Google AdWords Listings to increase your ROI (return on investment).

Focus Your Keywords
More keywords don't mean better results. Narrow down your list to focused key phrases that really describe the role your company has in your industry. This reduces the websites competing in your search results, making you more likely to receive a top ranking. It also focuses your efforts to one area of your business, providing a better tool to measure your ROI.

Check Out the Competition
Now that you've narrowed your keyphrases, type them into Google's search engine and look through the AdWord results. What keywords are your competitors using? How is their content put together? Don't forget to visit their web pages to gather inspiration for your own website.

Use Your Keywords
Keywords and keyphrases are not just for your AdWord titles…use them in your content too! Your keywords are the most efficient, effective and profitable words you can use to describe what you do. Be sure to write content for your web pages using the same words to best target your incoming visitors as well as raise your Google Quality Score.

Point to Relevant Pages
Your dollars will be much better spent if interested internet surfers are pointed to a web page that best relates to your AdWord listing. Your landing page should properly use your keywords as well as a call to action and visible opportunity to buy online or contact your for more information.

Learn the Language
You can optimize for your target audience by knowing how to adjust your keyphrases. For instance putting your keywords within quotation marks (“”) tells Google that these keywords should appear in order but may be found among other keywords. Using brackets ([]) notes that this exact phrase alone must be queried. Google also suggests using the (-) symbol to exclude words associated with your listing. Utilizing these tools will allow you to target an audience that is most interested in your company's products and services and in turn increase your conversion rate.

Take Control of AdWord Options
The “content network” and “optimize” options are set by default in Google AdWords and should be unchecked. Content Network posts your listing on websites with many visitors that are likely unrelated to your business. This may mean an increase in activity, but with very low CLR (click through rates). Changing the optimize option to rotate will allow you to better test your ad performance.

Track Your Keywords and Conversions
Google AdWords lets you create multiple ads and rotate them (see Take Control of AdWord Options). This will allow you to track which listings have the best optimized keyphrases and content. Now take this a step further by applying the Google supplied conversion code to your landing page to track click-throughs. Google AdWords is a great tool to help drive traffic to your website, but Webtivity always strongly recommends that you research any Pay-Per-Click campaigns before posting. We would be happy to assist you in your next online marketing campaign. Just contact your Webtivity Designs website consultant or call 1-800-WEB-7574.

Read More
AdWords Learning Center | Google Adwords Support | Google Adwords Blog

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SEO and SEM Packages
Increase your website's visibility on the internet with Webtivity's Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing Packages.

Call for custom pricing 941-753-7574

Webtivity is proud to announce our partnership with the Venice Chamber of Commerce and South Florida Museum.

Troy Newport has taken the new role as Webtivity's Business Development Director. Congratulations Troy!

We welcome Stephanie as a new member of our team. She will be taking care of the South Sarasota, Venice and North Port areas.

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Thursdays | 11:45 AM

Good Morning, Greater Sarasota!
Wed | 2/06/08 | 8:00 AM

Chamber Partners Meeting
Thu | 2/07/08 | 8:00 AM

Annual Kick-Off Breakfast
Mon | 2/11/08 | 7:30 AM

New Member Briefing
Tue | 2/19/08 | 4:00 PM

Sarasota Prime Time - exhibit
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Meet the Rays Luncheon
Thu| 2/28/08 | 11:30 AM

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Power Connection
Wed | 2/6/08 | 11:30 AM

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Wed | 2/13/08| 11:30 AM

Power Connection
Wed | 2/20/08| 11:30 AM

Business After Business
Wed | 2/20/08| 5:00 PM

Coffee Club
Tue | 2/26/08| 7:30 AM
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Dilbert.com

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The Lounge:
Losing a Customer

B2B Spotlight:
Jim Nelson

The Tech Report:
Websites to Make Your Life Easier

Max Media:
Creative Ways to Build Your Brand

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