3 Ways To Maximize Your Brand

3 Ways To Maximize Your Brand

When you have a product or service to sell, it’s likely that there are competitors that sell a similar type of product. You clearly understand why your product or service is better, but chances are your prospects do not. In order to attract new customers and keep them coming back, therefore, it’s essential that you develop a brand message that clearly differentiates you from your competitors, and highlights the benefits of coming to you. Here are some ways to maximize your brand message.

Speak from the customer’s perspective. It’s very easy to simply list all the features and benefits of what you have to offer, but that’s usually not the best way to attract new customers. Rather, focus on the needs that your customer has that your product solves. For example, if you sell skin care products, don’t just list the ingredients of your product and what each ingredient does. Instead, focus on concerns like the appearance of wrinkles. Once you’ve highlighted a need that resonates with your prospects, then you can show them how your product solves this problem, and why it’s better than other products. In a crowded skincare environment, having someone focus in on a customer’s problem, and why your product is the best solution can create an irresistible pull towards your brand.
Highlight your unique value. What you bring to your business cannot be emphasized enough. Often, many products offer similar benefits. Sometimes what causes people to shop with you is YOU: the superior customer service you offer, the knowledge of your customer’s needs, your high level of product knowledge that can’t be found in a big box store. Make sure prospects understand that when they shop with you, they’re not just getting a product…they’re getting the personal level of service that only comes when they shop with you. You’ll find that people aren’t used to this level of service, and once they find it, they tell their friends about it, and refuse to shop anywhere else.
Offer extras. Another way to set yourself apart from your competitors is to provide an extra layer of service that can’t be found elsewhere. Offer a Facebook Page, blog or Pinterest account that offers tips related to your business. for example, if you sell nutritional supplements, provide content related to healthy living. If yous sell green energy, talk about ways to save on your energy bill while taking care of the environment. By providing this additional content, you become even more valuable to prospects, and offer them something they can share with their friends for free. You can also introduce your customers to additional products that complement what they have already purchased through sampling, or give them an additional product sample that they can share with a friend. All of these extras set you apart, and give your business a way to go viral.

Setting your brand apart in a crowded marketplace requires you to offer a customer experience that amazes and delights your customers. When you do this, customers won’t even consider going anywhere else. How do you maximize your brand? Would love to read your thoughts in the comments below.

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DSEF & BBB: 7 Ways Your Identity Can Be Stolen

By Katie Burgoyne

Many people associate “Identity Theft” with a major security breach on their credit or debit card which results in the loss of thousands of dollars. Dramatics aside, identity theft is a very serious crime that happens more often than you would like to believe. Besides banking fraud, your identity can be compromised in a slew of other ways.

The first step towards protecting yourself is identifying where you are at risk. An article by HowLifeWorks.com refers to some common channels through which fraud can occur:

Insurance – Someone uses your Social Security number to obtain the insurance they need, such as home, automotive, etc.
Medical – Someone uses your health insurance to get treatment, costing you money while placing incorrect and potentially harmful information in your medical records.
Criminal – A person gets arrested and is able to believably claim that they’re you. Then they jump bail, and the cops are hunting for you.
Driver’s License – Someone steals your license and makes a duplicate with their image.
Social Security – This gives thieves open control of your life, including buying houses in your name and then defaulting on the loans.
Synthetic – A person uses information from numerous victims, creating a new bogus identity; this makes it extremely difficult to figure out what’s going on and how many victims are involved.
Child – Most children have Social Security numbers, but we seldom check to see if they have a credit file. That means criminals can use their identity for years and never be caught.

To read the full article, visit http://www.howlifeworks.com/finance/7_Ways_to_Have_Your_Identity_Stolen_379.

DSEF and the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) foster honest and responsive relationships between businesses and consumers—instilling consumer confidence and advancing a trustworthy marketplace for all.

About the Better Business Bureaus
As the leader in advancing marketplace trust, Better Business Bureau is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Every year, more than 87 million consumers rely on BBB Business Reviews® and BBB Wise Giving Reports® to help them find trustworthy businesses and charities across North America. Visit www.bbb.org/us for more information.

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5 Tips To Attract More People To Your Facebook Page

5 Tips To Attract More People To Your Facebook Page

Having a Facebook Page for your business is a great idea! It’s a place that you can begin to develop a community of loyal customers and friends who are excited about what you have to offer, and who are willing to share with their friends. But if you’ve set up a Facebook Page and things seem slow, here are some tips to help you engage your community and make it more active.

Plan content that your fans want. Remember that Facebook doesn’t show your posts to everyone that likes your Page. Usually just up to 10% of your fans will see any one post. However, you can greatly increase your chances of a post being seen when others engage with your post through either a Like or a Comment. So if you want your content to be seen, think about why your fans liked your Page in the first place, and then give them what they want! And plan ahead. Write out your posts at least a month at a time in advance, taking into account holidays, observances and special sales and deals you may be offering. Take a look at the kinds of posts that have created the most engagement for you in the past, and write more like them. This is the best way to reach your current fans, and possibly even have them share your posts with their friends, creating even more visibility for your Page and business. For more tips on improving your Facebook Page post reach: Tips for Improving the Reach of Your Facebook Page Posts.
Invite your online friends and contacts to like your Page. Right below the Cover Image section of your Facebook Page, there is a “Friends” section in your admin view of your Facebook Page. From here you can select friends to invite to Like your Page. When you do so, your friend will get a notification that you’ve invited him or her to Like your Page. You can also share a particularly engaging piece of content from your Facebook Page with a note that if they’d like to see more of this type of content, they should like your Page.
Offer deals that help community service organizations. For example, a local restaurant offered a deal where if people dined at the restaurant on a particular night and brought a flyer, 10% of the check was donated to the local food pantry. Lots of people in the community that supported the food pantry were excited about the promotion, and shared the information with their friends, tagging the local business on Facebook. This encouraged others not only to dine at the restaurant, but also to Like the business on Facebook, creating more fans for the business.
Interact as your page on other relevant Facebook Pages. If you click the little wheel icon in the upper-right corner of your Facebook Page (in the blue bar at the top) you can choose to use Facebook as your Page. Then, every comment you make on Facebook comes through with your Page name, rather than your personal account. When you are on Pages related to your business (such as a Work from Home Women Page or a crockpot recipes Page, for example) post helpful comments as your Page. Answer questions, thank people for great information and offer tips. Don’t use this as an opportunity to spam the Page with your contact information. Rather become a useful part of the community. People whom you interact with may want to find out more about you, and click on your name, which will lead them to your Facebook Page.
Advertise on Facebook. One of the best ways to grow your Likes on Facebook is to advertise on the platform. By running ads specifically designed to grow your Likes, you will find that your Like number grows fairly rapidly. Even starting with a budget of $10/day can help you grow the number of Likes on your Facebook Page. For more tips on writing effective Facebook Ads, read this post: 8 Tips for Effective Facebook Advertising.

Facebook offers lots of tools to integrate your Facebook Page with the rest of your online presence, but the real magic happens when you use your Page to truly engage your fans, and create a presence that people want to see, and share with their friends. With a little thought and attention, your Facebook Page can become a place where you will engage the biggest fans of your business, and create a community that you’ll enjoy interacting with.

How have you grown your Facebook Page? What are your tips for successfully growing your Likes? Would love to read your thoughts in the comments below.

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4 Ways To Make Your Product Seem More Valuable and Desirable

4 Ways To Make Your Product Seem More Valuable and Desirable

You probably think that your product line is the best one out there. After all, that’s why you sell it! And it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that because you understand the benefits, the value is obvious to everyone. But that’s usually not the case. And simply reciting a long list of features and benefits will likely lose you the sale. It takes a skilled salesperson to highlight products in a way that make them seem valuable and desirable to customers.

Here are some tips to make your products feel more valuable and desirable for your customers:

Get people talking. The more you can get others talking about your products, the more valuable and desirable they will seem. So when your customers are happy with your products, ask them to tell a friend. Provide them with the “above and beyond” service experience that makes them want to jump on Facebook and tell all their friends to shop with you too. Record videos of your customers using your products (or ask them to provide videos) and feature them through your social media profiles. Post testimonials from happy customers on your Facebook Page and website so people see how great your products are. Run contests where people submit pictures of themselves using your products, and share those photos with their friends. It’s a human trait to want what others have and like. Capitalize on that to build the desire for your products.
Skip the long features list. Presenting too many features and benefits can bore your customer, and cause them to become overwhelmed, so they buy nothing at all. Instead, listen carefully to your customer and ask questions that help you find out what is important to him or her. Then you can highlight just the features that are most relevant to that specific customer, which makes your product seem most valuable to him or her.
Highlight ease of use. The easier you can make your product seem, the more valuable it will be in the eyes of your customer. Of course you don’t want to in any way misrepresent your product, but educating your customer on how to use your product so that they don’t have to struggle to figure it out later will help your customer make a purchasing decision. Rather than having to rely on the instructions that come in the box, they’ve already had an educated salesperson who has taken the time to explain the product, and shown how easy it is to use. That beats a nameless, faceless big box store with uneducated employees every day of the week, and makes it more likely you’ll get the sale.
Offer a test drive. People love to “try before they buy,” so when possible, give people the chance to test out your products risk-free. Offer a money-back guarantee, or have samples they can use before they purchase. When you let people use your product first, they can see for themselves how valuable your product is, which increases the likelihood that they will buy it, because they’ve integrated it into their routine.

When customers have a chance to use and understand your products, they are more likely to purchase for themselves, and tell their friends. How do you present your products so that your customers find them desirable and valuable? Would love to read your thoughts in the comments below.

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How To Be More Successful in Your Business

Have you ever felt like you’re just going through the motions? That you’re not really moving forward in your business, but instead just spinning your wheels? It takes a conscious effort to be effective in your business, and do what must be done to not only get the daily stuff done, but also to grow. Here are some tips for overcoming apathy in your business, and being more effective.

Realize that it’s up to you. No one else is as invested in the growth of your business as you are. So identify the growth goals that you have for your business, and write them down. Once you know where you want to go, identify the daily activities you must do to achieve those goals, and make sure you do them. No one else is going to do it for you. If you want to grow and be more effective in your business, it’s up to you to map out the direction you want to go, and do what must be done.
Get organized. Nothing saps your productivity and effectiveness more than a mess. If you’ve got piles on your desk and stuff all over your office or place of business, it’s time to get organized. You’ve already identified the goals you have and the activities you need to take to grow your business. Now make sure your workspace supports you in achieving those goals. Set up a filing system that keeps important documents close at hand. Make sure the files on your computer are well organized and easy to access. When you are unorganized, you make it a lot harder to be effective, so set up your systems. And if you need help, ask!
Surround yourself with motivated, effective people. If the people you spend your time with complain about their work, and only do the minimum, it’s going to be harder to motivate yourself to be effective. So seek out people who are as committed as you are motivated to reach their goals and go far in life and in business. Ask their advice and share your dreams with them while you also encourage them in their endeavors. Learn what they do to be effective in reaching towards their goals, and apply those principles to your business. Your success is often determined by the people you spend the most time with, so make sure the people you spend time with will encourage you to get where you want to be.
Never give up. The thing that separates successful people from failures is their willingness to keep going. To be effective, you must have in place a strategy that can help you get motivated when you feel like giving up. Maybe you have a network of people that are willing to encourage you to keep going when you are discouraged. Maybe you have a song, or a workout routine, or a motivational video or book…something that gets you pumped up and moving forward. Choose these things ahead of time, so when you have those moments of discouragement you’re ready to put them behind you and move forward.

Being successful in your business is not just about knowing the job. It’s also important to have the mental focus and clarity that helps you overcome obstacles and move in the direction of your goals. By keeping these strategies in mind, you can be more effective and successful in your business.

How do you stay effective in your business? Would love to read your thoughts in the comments below.

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DSEF & BBB: 10 Ways To Spot Work At Home Scams

By Kelsey Owen

Beware of “jobs” or “business opportunities” that seem to offer high pay for work you can do at home. Often these programs are bogus.

Common scams involve package forwarding, Internet searches or advertising, envelope stuffing, medical billing, discount or coupon programs, rebate processing, distributorships, sales, or the purchase of special equipment or software to start businesses.

Many people lose large sums of money through work at home scams. Some versions of these scams – like package forwarding – might also involve the victim in crimes such as identity theft and handling of stolen merchandise.

Here are 10 tip-offs that the “opportunity” could be a scam:

Big bucks for simple tasks. Watch out if they promise to pay you a lot of money for jobs that don’t seem to require much effort or skill. Sound too good to be true? It might be a scam.

Job offers out of nowhere from strangers. If they offer you a job without getting an application from you first, meeting you, or doing an interview, it’s probably a scam. Don’t hand your personal employment information to such folk (especially your Social Security number!). That could lead to identity theft.

Requests for up-front payments. If someone wants you to make an advance payment to “get in” on the ground floor of a new business opportunity – especially if it’s a big investment, or you don’t have much information about the deal – this is a big red flag. Don’t do it. “Advance fee scams” are very common and they come in many varieties.

They ask you to wire the money. If you wire a payment to somebody, it’s gone forever. Wire transfers of money are a convenient and perfectly legitimate service. But scam artists often ask you to wire payments that they are requesting (especially to destinations in other countries!) because they know you won’t be able to get your money back.

High pressure to do it now. Don’t be in a hurry to accept an unsolicited offer of work, or to make a business investment, particularly if the other party is asking you to spend your money on the deal.

Take your time. If somebody tries to convince you that this is a “limited time” offer and you have to act now, just tell them to forget it. Ignore anybody who pushes you to agree. High pressure is a big sign that something’s wrong.

– See more at: http://www.bbb.org/blog/2013/06/10-ways-to-spot-work-at-home-scams/#sthash.LQEaYFu7.dpuf

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4 Ways To Master Your Sales Pitch

4 Ways To Master Your Sales Pitch

When presenting your product or service to a prospective customer, there is a lot to consider. It’s important, or course, to know the features and benefits of what you are selling, but it’s more than that. You also need to be able to build rapport, and then listen well, understanding the needs of the person you’re talking with.

Here are four things you can do to help you master your sales pitch, and close more sales:

Do your research – Before you are ever in a position to present your product or service, make sure you’ve taken the time to learn about what people want, and why they would buy your product. Spend time finding out the needs of your target market, and the problems they have that your product or service solves. Understand what is important to your target market, and how they spend their time. By taking time to understand what your customers in general are seeking, you will have an advantage when working with a specific customer.
Know your prospect or customer – When you present to a specific customer, the most important thing you can do is ask questions to understand that customer’s specific needs and communication preferences. Begin by building rapport…ask about family, what they’ve been working on, etc…and find commonalities that help the customer feel comfortable and connected with you. Be sure also you are communicating in the way that the customer prefers…do they prefer communicating electronically, via phone, in person…make sure you know! Ask questions about problems the customer might have that your product or service can solve, and what they are looking for. The more you can learn about the customer, the better able you’ll be to customize your presentation in a way that specifically addresses what the customer is looking for.
Focus on value – After you have a good understanding of what the customer needs, it’s time to present products/services that meet those needs. Focus on what you’ve learned about their needs, and highlight how what you have to offer will bring value to the customer’s life. This could be financial or it could be lifestyle-related. For example, you can help the customer picture how much better life would be if they had your product. You don’t need to present every single feature of your product. Rather, focus on what the customer has told you they are looking for, and highlight how the customer will benefit when they choose your product.
Make a conscious effort to close deal – After you have presented the products or services that will best meet a customer’s needs, it’s time to close the deal. It’s not enough to present a list of benefits. You must ask for the sale. You can opt for the direct approach: “So, how many would you like?” or you can use an assumptive close: “Would you like me to gift wrap that for you?” But be sure you make a conscious effort to close the deal, because you can’t expect your customer to do so.

When you regularly apply these four steps, you will find that you are more likely to close sales because you are focused on the needs of your customers and prospects, rather than on a list of features and benefits. Sales is a people business, and the more focused you are on meeting the needs of people, the more successful you will be!

What advice would you give to someone looking to master their sales pitch? Would love to read your thoughts in the comments below!

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3 Ways to Make Your Business More Attractive

3 Ways to Make Your Business More Attractive

As a small business owner, your business is often an expression of yourself. And you can attract more people to your business when they feel a personal connection to you. In fact, this is what changes people from occasional purchasers to loyal customers that recommend you to everyone they know.

So how do you make your business more attractive? Here are some tips:

Be Genuine. Think about the people you know who are absolutely good. You love spending time with them, and helping them, don’t you? People love the feeling they get when they interact with honest, genuine people and businesses. Make sure your businesses practices are absolutely honest and ethical, and always choose to do the right thing, even when it’s not convenient. If you believe in a particular cause, use your business to support that cause, and talk to your customers about it. It will help them come to know the real you, and love you, and your business, for it.
Express Your Passion. There is a difference between businesses where people just show up, and the ones where people are passionate about what they do. Make sure your business is an expression of your passion, and help people feel that passion every time they choose to do business with you. Go that extra mile in service. Educate people a little more each time about why your business matters in their lives. If you love what you do, people will feel it, and passion is contagious. In an era of social media, word of mouth can spread globally, and that passion can help you grow your network and increase your business.
Invest in Others. Helping others is always good business. So find causes that your business can support, and make sure your customers know about it. For example, a local bookstore agreed to host a donation bucket for a local food pantry’s food drive. But in addition, they also offered to give an extra discount to customers that brought in more than just the minimum donation. This created goodwill in their community, and also gave the food pantry another reason to talk about their business which helped them gain more customers. Investing in others is a great way to build the goodwill that brings more business.

Making your business more attractive is simply a matter of helping people come to know what you believe in, and helping them feel the passion that you feel.

How do you attract people to your business? Would love to read your thoughts in the comments below.

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DSEF & BBB: Identity Theft on Social Media – Are You at Risk?

By Katie Burgoyne

Social media is a great outlet to engage with family and friends, but are you sharing too much in the process? Identity theft can occur with only a few key pieces of your personal information. And now, courtesy of social media profiles, that information is easier than ever to steal. For example, an average Facebook profile lists a person’s name, date of birth, and hometown. So already you have provided a thief with crucial information they need to steal your identity.

The most effective way to protect yourself from identity theft is to make your social profile private. As well, consider the information your putting on your site. Does your friend of a friend really need to know your home address? Probably not. The more personal details you withhold, the safer you will be.

Check out NextAdvisor’s infographic below that presents some alarming statistics about identity theft on social media sites.

To read the full article, visit http://www.nextadvisor.com/blog/2013/04/02/are-we-revealing-too-much-about-ourselves-on-social-media.

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DSEF & BBB: Cut Down on Junk Mail and Spam

DSEF & BBB: Cut Down on Junk Mail and Spam

By Kelsey Owen

There are a few things more annoying than junk mail, spam and unsolicited calls and texts messages. Not only are these unwanted communications an annoyance, but they can potentially lead to identity theft.

But how do you stop them? While it’s nearly impossible to completely eliminate junk mail, spam text messages and unwanted phone calls, BBB recommends taking the following steps for getting your inboxes and phone lines under control.

Unwanted mail shouldn’t cost you your identity. Pre-approved credit card offers are an easy target for identity thieves who can steal incoming mail and use these offers to open fraudulent credit accounts. Stopping these pre-screened credit offers can help reduce the chances of identity theft. U.S. consumers can “opt-out” of receiving pre-approved credit card offers for at least five years by calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT (567-8688) or visit: optoutprescreen.com. This service is offered by the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Canadian residents can visit fightspam.gc.ca/eic/sit e/030.nsf/eng/home for more tips.

Stop unwanted direct mail solicitations. To stop most mailings, U.S. consumers can go to dmachoice.org and opt out of mail from members of the Direct Marketing Association. DMA regularly updates its list, but it may take up to six months before solicitations from all DMA members stop. If you live in Canada, register for the Canadian Marketing Association’s Do Not Contact list at the-cma.org.

Has your evening been interrupted by telemarketers? You’re not alone. The U.S. government’s National Do Not Call Registry is a free, easy way to reduce the telemarketing calls you get at home. To register your phone number or to get information about the registry, visit donotcall.gov, or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you want to register. You will get fewer telemarketing calls within 31 days of registering your number. Canadian residents can visitlnnte-dncl.gc.ca for opt-out information.

Are you receiving spam text messages? First and foremost, don’t respond. Responding to the text message only confirms a working number and opens the door for more messages. If your number is already on the Do Not Call Registry and you’re still receiving messages and phone calls, file a complaint with the FCC or the Canadian Anti–Fraud Centre and consider PrivacyStar. BBB National Partners AT&T and Verizon have partnered with PrivacyStar to give you back control of your smartphone. The smartphone application, available in the U.S. for Android, BlackBerry and iPhone, lets you block unwanted numbers, look up unknown numbers, and file a complaint with the FTC.

– See more at: http://www.bbb.org/blog/2013/06/cut-down-on-junk-mail-and-spam/#sthash.tyeG39En.dpuf