"You can overcome any obstacles by asking the right questions of the right people at the right time, then act on that advice with passion." Dan Surface
I speak daily with small business owners and managers and am struck but how they are "stuck" collecting information on what to do next.
These are very smart, motivated men and women who are often stuck in "analysis paralysis". They solicit opinions and look for information on what is effective.
After months, they are still looking for the best route forward. Many have a bias to more education or more information but in an effort to not make a mistake, they make the surest large mistake by not acting.
Even a poor plan, well executed delivers results and helps you learn more.
Don't hesitate! Act!
I want to challenge small business owners to use the holiday season to re-examine their business and their views about their business.
Globally, you know that there are seismic changes happening. Traditional media (newspapers, TV , radio) are all less effective that they have been. The yellow pages is giving you less leads. Response rates are down and costs are going up.
Online there has been a surge in business spending on Pay per Click and PPC is effective but a bit less so than a year ago.
What are you doing differently? How are you getting leads?
More importantly, what tools and techniques are being used by business which are thriving and growing in this environment? You know that even in this generally down market there are businesses which are growing.
We are working with a local firm following the "9 steps" discussed in the edge of success.
Drawing more leads to their website, capturing their information and drip marketing prospects. We are using Dan Kennedy's S&D formula and have dramatically increased the revenues of a small business which offers services within a geographical area.
The success comes from excellent execution of the proven formula.
The Marketing Sherpa had a great article pointing out that good email citizenship is rewarded with greater results. It warms my heart to see those following "email best practices" being rewarded with greater results.
Check out the entire article: http://www.marketingsherpa.com/article.php?ident=31332
Survey Shows 95% of Infusionsoft Customers Recommend Its Automatic Follow-Up Solution Small Business Users Cite Organization, Automation and Simplification as Primary Factors in Choosing Infusionsoft Gilbert, Ariz. ( PRWEB) July 29, 2009 -- Infusionsoft, the leader in automatic follow-up software with the famous 'Double Your Sales' guarantee for entrepreneurs, announced the results of a recent survey checking in with its large customer base on how the Web-based solution is working, and to find out what's on the minds of the country's entrepreneurs when it comes to running their enterprises. From those in business for more than a decade - roughly a quarter of respondents - to operations less than a year old, one thing is clear from the survey: Infusionsoft's ability to provide the small business sector with a comprehensive and streamlined solution to automate their sales and marketing had almost 95% of the 900 respondents declaring they would recommend Infusionsoft to a friend, colleague or other small business. Additionally, Infusionsoft has helped more than 400 small businesses double their sales by putting lead prospecting and marketing follow-up on autopilot through its unique combination of CRM, e-mail marketing and e-commerce. We are experiencing a record year of growth in our own eight-year history serving small businesses and entrepreneurs But getting this kind of feedback from our own customers - that Infusionsoft has driven their business forward, even in this kind of economy - means so much. We are most proud to be helping the entrepreneurial spirit continue to thrive. "We are experiencing a record year of growth in our own eight-year history serving small businesses and entrepreneurs," said JoAnne Ravielli, vice president of customer service and support, referring to recent company news disclosing quarterly financial results. "But getting this kind of feedback from our own customers - that Infusionsoft has driven their business forward, even in this kind of economy - means so much. We are most proud to be helping the entrepreneurial spirit continue to thrive." Earlier this month, Infusionsoft announced another record quarter of growth, both in customers and revenue. The company has also eliminated upfront fees for its solution, breaking into the market of truly mainstream small business solutions. Customer survey respondents also pointed out Infusionsoft's ability to quickly segment marketing lists, manage and run multi-faceted campaigns, organize and automate sales and "manage the chaos." In addition, more than 90% of customers surveyed said they would purchase other products from Infusionsoft if given the chance. About Infusionsoft Infusionsoft, the leader in automatic follow-up software, helps small businesses grow fast by putting email marketing, CRM and e-commerce on auto-pilot, backing it with the 'Double Your Sales' guarantee. The privately held Inc. 500 company is based in Gilbert, Ariz. and is funded by Mohr Davidow Ventures and vSpring Capital. Marketing and small business insight from the Infusionsoft team can be found on the Infusionsoft blog at www.infusionblog.com and the Infusionsoft Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/infusionsoft. Contact Information: LaunchSquad 415-625-8555
As a small business owner, getting access to the best resources is important, expensive and difficult, until today... Here is a chance to hear the best copywriter in the world and top small business consultant, speak for free... in San Diego this Thursday...
Bill Glazer President, Glazer-Kennedy Insider's Circle Bill speaking in San Diego, this Thursday evening..and you can be my guest....for free!
Bill is no spring chicken and he hates to travel but he is very worth hearing. This is a once in a lifetime event. I'm not selling anything just telling my small business owner friends who could benefit about this special event.
JOIN US FOR THIS VERY RARE OPPORTUNITY
and NOT-TO-BE-REPEATED EVENT to
Personally See and Meet Bill Glazer presenting a brand new and timely presentation entitled... "Recession Escape Plan"
... he's coming all of the way from Baltimore and will be Speaking and Answering Your Questions on July 9th! Sign me up
I want to hear Bill Glazer speak
Bill Glazer is Dan Kennedy's business partner and a very engaging speaker! Bill does consulting for many exclusive clients but cut his teeth in direct mail and newspaper advertising as an owner of a men's clothing business. Personally, I subscribe to their monthly newsletter and always come away with fast and effective "swipe and deploy" tactics to get new customers.
People pay thousands to hear Bill Glazer and for the chance to get his opinion on what tactics are effective with small and large businesses. His fees are truely obscene. Why? because he is that good!
This is my special deal: tell the event organizer, Henry Evans (an extraordinary marketer himself), that you are a guest of Craig Jacobson and you can attend free....
I want to hear Bill Glazer speak
Where:
Marina Village Conference Center, Starboard Room
1936 Quivira Way, San Diego, CA 92109
Sign up at http://www.billinsandiego.com
GILBERT, AZ -- 07/07/09 -- Infusionsoft, the leader in automatic follow-up software for small businesses, today announced record quarterly revenue and customer growth as well as a major change to its business model by completely eliminating required up-front fees (which previously ranged from $2,000 to $6,000) for every tier of its service. In addition, the company will offer a 15-day free trial of its product, complete with customer set-up and support. The new model makes it pain-free for any small business owner to learn how Infusionsoft can increase their sales revenue by solving one of the biggest pitfalls facing the small business market today: staying in touch with customers and prospects to convert interest into sales. The new business model comes after two years of product and business development for the company's flagship automatic follow-up software. Infusionsoft says that today's announcement is an important first step toward becoming the ubiquitous marketing and sales software provider in the small business sector. Already established as the leading software by experts in small business marketing and sales, Infusionsoft is now focusing on the mainstream marketplace to help every small business automate their sales and marketing operations in order to fuel growth.
Last year, the company completely redesigned their product to make it more streamlined and user-friendly after extensive customer feedback studies. Infusionsoft then went on to raise $7.9 million in venture capitalist funding from a new investor in an otherwise investment-unfriendly climate.
Earlier this year, the company introduced a tiered pricing plan to accommodate the needs of any small business, along with a guarantee to double users' sales.
These changes helped more small businesses than ever get started with Infusionsoft, and resulted in the best quarterly revenue and customer growth for the company to date.
This June, Infusionsoft saw a nearly 475% increase in customers over the same month last year, and an increase of more than 225% in new customers compared to the same quarter of 2008. Now the elimination of up-front fees in conjunction with the free trial will make the software accessible to all entrepreneurs who want to grow fast.
"We have big plans for growth in the future and we know that this shift in our business model will move us toward our end goal of liberating and empowering all entrepreneurs," said Clate Mask, co-founder and CEO of Infusionsoft. "This is something we have wanted to do for a long time: give every entrepreneur the ability to fix their prospect and lead follow-up, and thus double their sales. That's our promise to entrepreneurs, and our customers have proven it over and over. Now we are taking this liberating technology -- and our promise -- to the entire small business community."
The eliminated fees and free trial, combined with low monthly subscription rates, means that small businesses will now have greater access to the company's famous 'Double Your Sales' guarantee, a cornerstone of Infusionsoft's approach to helping entrepreneurs avoid the pitfalls of follow-up failure.
About Infusionsoft
Infusionsoft, the leader in automatic follow-up software, helps small businesses grow fast by putting CRM, email marketing and e-commerce on auto-pilot. The privately held Inc. 500 company is based in Gilbert, Ariz. and is funded by Mohr Davidow Ventures and vSpring Capital. For more information, visit www.infusionsoft.com.
Additional marketing and small business insight from Clate Mask and the Infusionsoft team can be found on the Infusionsoft blog at www.infusionblog.com, and the Infusionsoft Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/infusionsoft.
It is obvious from talking with many small business owners that those businesses which are thriving today are the most adaptive. Most small businesses are hunkering down and waiting for things to change.
Tomorrows leaders are experimenting, testing new products, new markets and mew sales and marketing techniques. These businesses are retooling and testing.
A couple of years ago, things were so good in the economy that there were fewer small businesses willing to test new things. I'm quite impressed at the resilience of American business.
As you can guess, every webform on this website is connected to some type of marketing follow-up sequence. Some send an email to our team, others send text messages to us, all tag people as interested in "something" and send you an email or sequence of emails.
People receive emails automatically based upon their interests. I have again recently had the experience of someone calling me responding to an email, which was was requested by them and a month later they called me interested in learning more about "this follow-up marketing thing". Of course, since the emails have been going out automatically, I really had no idea that they were receiving the emails.
It's amazing.
This blog is devoted to tools which we use and recommend. It's always helpful to know which vendors to rely upon.
We have another blog at http://openspaceconsult.wordpress.com/ where we wil post more technique type information.
Our goal is to offer small businesses the best in tools and techniques to build their business.
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