bizthreads.net: Business Information for Entrepreneurs by an Entrepreneur

The Importance Of Keyword Rich Articles

One of the best ways to publicize your business online is by writing keyword-rich articles that contain a link to your website. But what is a keyword rich article and how can you use them to your benefit?

To optimize articles for search engines, people very often make use of keyword density and placement. Search engine spiders (computers) detect and recognize keywords in an article, resulting in greater visibility for the article.

What are Keywords?

Keywords are words that are placed in articles several times. Since these words are used more than once, the search engine spider brings up the article during when someone searches for that particular word.

Over Optimization of Articles

It is possible to overdo it with keywords. If this happens, your site may be penalized. This affects the ranking of your website's pages and could even lead to being blacklisting from certain search engines (notably Google).

What is Keyword Density?

The number of times a keyword is repeated in the article is referred to as ‘keyword density'. For example in a 500-word article with a keyword density of 5%, the keywords would be placed 25 times. There are various suggestions for the repetition of keywords — I recommend about 2-3%. However, ultimately it is up to you — if you've used a certain keyword density in the past with good results, you may want to stick with that.

The Right Keyword Placement

Irrespective of the keyword density you should always place keywords in the beginning (within the first 25 words) and at the end of the article. Ideally, the keyword should also be present in the article title.

Using the tips above will make your articles more visible in the search engines, and result in more click-throughs to your website.

Making Consistent Online Sales

The Internet is supposed to be the great connect — but at times there seems to be a disconnect between the Internet and your online sales! I've always wondered why this is — and how to make online sales more consistent. Here's what I've come up with:

Effects of Inconsistent sales

Inconsistency in sales causes a lot of stress. The anxiety of what the next month's sales will creates a high-pressure and high-stress environment for most business owners. Planning business activities, especially with regard to your products, is so much easier when you can project your revenues for the next couple of months.

Reasons for Inconsistent Sales:

Inadequate Business Prospects

You should keep in mind that not every visitor is necessarily a potential customer; therefore, you need to have maximum number of prospective customers visiting the site every day.

One of the best ways to attract prospective customers to the website is to publish effective newsletters. Newsletters make it easy to stay in touch with prospective and customers on a regular basis. Through the newsletter, the customers get to know more about you, your business and your products. You should also advertise your website at every opportunity — on business cards, letterhead and stationery.

Prospects Not Turning Into Customers

Many websites benefit from good web traffic and prospects, but few have a sufficient number of customers. Your site's web copy does half the job of attracting visitors to your site. Reviewing and rewriting the web copy so that it is compelling and converts, helps in increasing sales and turning prospects into customers. If you don't have the experience to do this, you can hire a professional copywriter, so that your prospects take action while on your site, instead of just clicking away.

Maintaining consistent online sales can be elusive — but once you've hit on the right formula, it is well worth the effort!

We've all heard of business etiquette — but for most people, it is still a vague concept. It is important though, so that's why I'm expanding on it here!

Business etiquette implies developing good relationships with people in the business world. The success or failure of any business — yours or mine - is highly dependent on business relationships.

Business Etiquette Relies on Two Factors

• Consideration of other people's feelings and interests
• Clearing up misunderstandings

Both factors depend on self-conduct, which is what business etiquette really is:

Behavior

Good business etiquette should be displayed thorough good behavior. Empathy, not being selfish, patience and willingness to negotiate are some good business behaviors that will lead to successful relationships.

Honesty

A reputation for delivering what you promise goes a long way in the business world. A reputation for integrity is usually gained very slowly, but can be lost quickly. Understanding business etiquette norms within a certain culture or country can provide a framework in which you can work without fear, crossing boundaries in terms of agreements, promises and contracts.

Character

Character reflects the good or bad side of individuals. Good conduct displays open-mindedness, which earns you the respect of your peers and customers.

Sensitivity

A certain amount of consideration and sensitivity are essentials of good business etiquette. The ability to tackle any kind of business problem with sensitivity and understanding are part of having good business etiquette.

Diplomacy

In all business dealings, you should use tact and diplomacy. Doing or saying things on impulse and without thinking about the consequences can lead to damaged business relationships.

By using the tips above, you can display good business etiquette and earn the respect of your colleagues and customers.

In my business, I organize seminars quite often as a means of getting new business and increasing my business' exposure. But organizing a seminar isn't quite as easy as it looks!

Organization of seminars as a business is challenging, enjoyable, exciting and exhausting. In comparison to other business activities, effective marketing strategies are crucial for success of the seminar. Following are some marketing ideas you can use for your seminars:

1. Utilize Relationships and Referrals

Relationship selling is always better than starting out with cold calls. People are more willing to listen if they know the person talking to them personally, or even if they have been referred.

2. Newspaper Advertising

You can make use of print media in two ways. Either buy advertising space for your seminar program, or get interviewed by a reporter, using a press release. The print medium is very effective and is sure to lure a considerable amount of customers.

3. Cold Calling

Cold calling is necessary when you need to build a list of prospects. Skim through business directories to get contact details for prospective customers within your target market. Get the contact details of the person in charge and mail or fax the information about your seminar.

4. Collaborate With Other Businesses

You can collaborate with other businesses and tap into their database of customers. However, these businesses will also want to make sure that the offer is of benefit to their business as well. So make sure that you are able to offer something of value.

5. Organize Free Seminars

You can organize free seminars, which are bound to attract a curious audience who want to know what you are offering - without investing any money. You can also offer to speak at events and other seminars for free.

By following these 5 simple seminar tips, you can ensure that your seminars are well attended and generate tons of new business!

Business Negotiation Tips

Every single day, you are probably negotiating — without even knowing! Negotiation skills don't just happen, they're learned over time.

Here Some Ways to Negotiate Successfully:

• Avoid Using The Word ‘Negotiate' — When you are negotiating, refrain from actually using the word. You could end up making the other person feel uncomfortable, as if you have more to lose than they do.

• Look For Commonality — Look for common ground with the other person. Set your goals accordingly and also plan in advance how you would like the negotiations to proceed.

• Identify Negotiation Barriers — Negotiation should be a win-win proposition. Try to identify any issues beforehand that might prove to be barriers to negotiating successfully. This could be as simple as clearing up a misunderstanding regarding the cost or value of your product or service.

• Always Be Positive — Always approach negotiations positively. Both parties should work jointly towards arriving at a common decision. Try to identify similar cases you have dealt with in the past. If the strategies used were successful, the parties will probably be more receptive towards your suggestions.

An essential rule of business or any kind of negotiation is to treat everyone with respect. Remember that the person you are negotiating with is not your adversary, but your business partner!

Ezine Advertising For Your Home Based Business

Are you looking for advertising that will improve the sales for your home-based business venture. This advertising method is one of the most effective ways to reach a targeted audience. If you diligently follow the right guidelines, then E-Zine advertising can be a powerful business and marketing tool.

Instead of losing a customer, E-Zine advertising gives you the opportunity to turn an inquiry into a purchase. True, there is no guarantee that you'll make a sale; but you can at least increase your chances of closing additional sales and reaching new prospects by adopting E-Zine advertising.

How To Advertise

Any E-Zine advertising needs to be precise and should strictly adhere to your intended message. You can include the benefits of your product, but your advertisement should always tell the truth. Avoid using distorted information to sell your products or services — it's just good business practice!

Before releasing your advertisement, you should compare it with other, similar advertisements. The best method to adopt is that of ‘trial and error'. Adding ‘word of mouth' referrals to your advertisement can accelerate the conversion rate.

At a more professional level, you should format your advertisement using a lower word count, before forwarding it to the publisher — make it about 250 words at the most. Publishers always follow a strict policy regarding advertisements and if the text is not well formatted or has a bad presentation, the publisher will reject it immediately.

By following the above E-Zine advertising tips, you can ensure more exposure for your home-based business — and increase sales at the same time!

In business, there is always the potential to network, reach out and benefit from new relationships. If a customer compliments you for the good service you deliver and you don't ask for a referral, you have missed out on a huge opportunity!

Referrals simplify the sales process and make it much easier build your business. I've included some tried-and-tested ways for you to cultivate referrals:

Start Prospecting — Whenever a customer gives a good review on your product or service, you should follow up with a thank you note and a request for referrals. Don't be shy — the customer is probably expecting you to at least ask! In fact, referrals are offered when customers are satisfied with a company and its services.

Fulfill And Exceed Customer Expectations — Before looking for ways to exceed customer expectations, you should know what your customers actually expect. Try to gauge how they perceive ‘good service'. It is best to talk to them and gather as much information and feedback as possible. Always ask for customer feedback on a regular basis. This could be done on the phone or through Internet surveys. In addition to asking for positive feedback, you should also encourage constructive criticism. Customer views matter in the long run — and you can't know where your business needs improvement if you don't ask.

Form Referral Alliances — Develop relationships with other businesses, as well as individuals, who can give you referrals. Of course, you should also be able to return the favor! This helps to build a network of mutually supportive contacts that provide you a continuous stream of referrals.

Referrals are the best source of new business that you can get — don't neglect them!

You might have come across terms like ‘payment gateway' and ‘e-commerce payment processes'. But what does this all mean, and what does it mean for your business?

Let's look at Payment Gateways and Merchant accounts and what they involve:

Merchant Accounts

Merchant accounts allow your business to accept e-check, credit card and debit card payments. If your business is also on the Internet, you need to create a payment gateway when you set up your merchant account. You are then provided a shopping cart by your payment processor that customers use to purchase and products. Merchant accounts have the ability to automate your business.  The most popular place for Internet businesses to have their merchant accounts is PayPal.com.

Payment Gateways

Payment gateways are direct links between the bank that processes the payment and the shopping cart. The whole process is conducted online, in real time and involves authentication, managing and processing of all online transactions. As soon as the payment is authorized, your business accesses the gateway user interface to complete the transaction.

A major distinguishing factor between payment gateways and merchant accounts is that one is the medium to make online payments, while the other is the license that permits credit card payments.

Having access to payment gateways does not automatically mean your business can accept credit cards. You need to apply for a merchant account before accepting credit card payments.

Acquiring both a merchant account and a payment gateway is an essential step to establishing a healthy online business - and both have proved to be a boon to e-commerce and simplified business operations. 

Hiring and retaining the best talent has always been tough. Predictions for 2012 indicate that for the very first time in U.S. history, the younger workers joining the labor market are replacements for those who are leaving. Despite this workplace trend, you can still find the right employees for your company.

When it comes to recruiting, various companies have different methods of working. Many companies treat all business decisions alike, whether making a decision for a business deal or recruiting a new employee. Whichever method you adopt, it affects your company. Besides, new employees are major investments. If you hire the wrong person it could mean training - and paying for it later, too.

Recruiting Tips

Make a list of your expectations — Make a list of the requirements you are looking for. This will make it easier to review resumes and conduct interviews.

Networking — When you set out to recruit candidates, contact customers to solicit referrals. Get in touch with colleagues, current employees and acquaintances. You can also try employment agencies, college placement offices and professional and trade associations.

Make an Interview Schedule — Once you place advertisements, and the word spreads that you are recruiting staff, you will get many resumes. Make a list of possible questions you can ask each candidate. If you have the same questions for everyone, it will be easy to compare their answers and make a firm decision.

Do not rely on first impressions — Crosscheck credentials and references. People sometimes give positive references fearing legal repercussions. It is better to rely on your gut feeling and the insights you get from the interview. It is wise to do a second interview for impressive candidates.

Identify the qualities — Balance your expectations and the candidate's abilities. Make them understand the nature of the job. If you feel the person will be adaptable, open to change and learning new techniques, he or she will be the right candidate.

Be Clear About Responsibilities — Be clear about the role of the new employee in the organization. Describe the job responsibilities precisely. Job descriptions lay out each person's duties, and thus prevent confusion about which person is responsible for what tasks.

Background check — Inform the candidate that a criminal background check will be done. Ask about previous job experiences and the reason for leaving. Use job applications to spot red flags, which may indicate unexplainable gaps in employment. Also, verify credentials like education and professional certifications.

Make the New employee Feel Comfortable — When you hire a new employee, appoint an old employee to take care of the training, and introducing him or her to the staff and inner workings of the company.
If the candidate you hire proves to be a misfit for the position, but is still a worthy potential employee, you can move him or to another position, which may suit them better.

With the proliferation of the Internet, online marketing has become an essential prerequisite for successful business ventures. Many companies host their website with a reliable hosting service provider, ensuring that the search engines draw customers to their website. The aim is to convert the maximum number of hits into sales. Sales conversion can be achieved if the copy, or content, of the website is written well, with attractive titles. This enhances the possibility of converting a visit by a prospective customer into sales on the first attempt, resulting in high conversion rates.

Importance Of Copywriting

If you have done the work, made your website, and are receiving the traffic, but are not getting the kind of sales volumes you expect, then you need to know the various techniques of copywriting in order to convert your traffic into cash. Words are the key to communicating ideas, creating needs and desires.

Even if you use a virtual tour on your website, your selling has to be done through words. No matter what device you use, you will have to use words to sell your services and products. Once the traffic to your website increases, it may not be pre-qualified for the sale, so you need to turn the key to their buying ignition. Traffic that is passing through your site is acting in much the same way that most people do to escape the hail of advertising. You need to identify the garbage on your site and attempt to remove it.

Change your marketing material and website into words and phrases that convert visits to sales. You need to think about the factors that will trigger people to pull out their wallets. Sometimes simple jingles can get a campaign name or slogan imprinted in people's minds. If you are selling too many things, then it might confuse your site visitors, and cause you to lose your sales. Stick to one lead-generating product to get the customers on your list, and sell them additional products later.

Words are the most important, and only, thing that you have to convert customer visits into sales. If you don't feel that you can achieve this, then you should consider hiring a professional copywriter.