Marketing Mistakes You Might Make In the IT Market

So, you have this snappy software product that can slash company expenses by half, or you might have a company that is churning out really great software services geared at the IT sector. The problem here is that you do not seem to get enough customers. Why is that so? You might have to take a better look at your IT lead generation campaign. You might not believe the kind of marketing mistakes that can ruin your chances of getting more B2B leads. That can be very costly for your firm, and you might be losing what could be profitable business leads. Better take note of these so that you get them right.

1. Wrong timing - one factor that can make you lose valuable IT leads is the timing of your release. Sometimes, even if your product will work, releasing them during the time they are not needed yet can spell disaster for your sales. The same thing with store openings, too.

2. Slow return on investments - this point comes from the fact that a lot of companies are spending too much in various IT lead generation tactics. The problem here is that they have no idea whether they can have a return on investments soon enough. If not, then it will be a loss.

3. Websites that only sell - that is one area that some companies overlook. Customers want answers fast, and if they have to pay before getting answers, then they will look for someone else. Now, if you give them useful business tips for free, they might think you are worth their time.

4. Forgetting the current customers - business these days is no longer a single transaction type. People want to establish a relationship with a company they have worked with and have been pleased with the service. Ignoring that fact will alienate them and drive them to the competition.

5. No clear annual goals - now that is what you might call as truly lost. Floating in and out every year without clear goals is a sign of bad business management, plus lost client confidence. Better clean up your act and nail what you want to achieve so that you can get real results.

6. Wrong marketing materials - take Burger King, for example. Sure, I like their burgers, but one thing that I find puzzling is their marketing. Who are they selling to, really? Failure to create marketing materials that will appeal to their target market will result in bad sales results.

7. Too many tactics - spreading yourself too thin when it comes to marketing methods can actually ruin your chances in IT lead generation. Instead, focus more on a few mediums, like telemarketing, where you can be more effective (and less hassled).

8. Lacks customer service desks - last but certainly not the least. One thing customers want is for a way to ask help when they have a problem. Sure, it may be in the form of complaints, but if you can fix it, and you usually can, you are actually creating better relationships for your business.

Services Offered in a Business Center

They say it's a lot easier to have a start-up company nowadays. Probably, this is also brought up by the fact that there are business centers offering office solutions at very reasonable prices. To illustrate, here is a short list of services you'll commonly find in a business center.

Dedicated office address and telephone number

Virtual companies need to come up with a tangible business address and telephone number to boost up their credibility. Recognizing such an important need, business solutions centers provide rentals of office address and contact numbers. Just like in traditional offices, attendants receive correspondence for your company and answer phone calls for you. Calls from the rented number are answered then forwarded by an operator to your preferred number.

Meeting rooms

It's very important to step the best foot forward especially in client meetings. Centers provide meeting rooms in different sizes to accommodate a range of business meetings. One can rent these spaces on an hourly, daily and even weekly basis depending on the need. Meetings rooms in shared offices are often equipped with necessary setups such as computers, projectors and office furniture. With this, clients would think that they are dealing with a trustworthy company.

Training rooms

It's quite hard to put your message across if you are in a crowded and uncomfortable area. As such, it's best to rent training rooms instead. Different business service centers have varying packages you can choose from. You can pick a room spacious enough to accommodate a big group for training or one that is small enough for an intimate meeting. The key here is to go for ones that provide you the best deals in rates and service.

Fully equipped workstations

Business centers have already evolved into what we call as serviced offices nowadays. They have workstations for rent equipped with reliable computers, fax machines and high-speed Internet connection. Setups would make you feel that you are in your very own office. These arrangements are best options for frequent travelers. Internet-based entrepreneurs would also find such set-up very suitable.

Professional and legal consultations

Serviced offices understand that legalities in business operations are things to be very cautious about. Serviced offices can also offer professional and legal consultations by their in-house team of lawyers and other similar professionals. Consultations could be arranged according to the terms of the business centre.

Customer service

Entrepreneurs know that the costs of hiring more employees. Business solutions centers offer staffs that can act as your customer service personnel during your designated business hours. With this, you guarantee that there are staffs ready to receive and dispatch documents, welcome guests and clients and answer customer queries. Some service office companies also offer 24/7 customer service support packages.

How to Write an Import/Export Business Proposal?

Even more business is global these days, and all sorts of companies are looking for import and export services to move products across borders.

If you're in the import/export business, you need to let potential clients know how valuable your services can be to them. Of course, you'll want a dynamite website and maybe some paper advertising as well to attract attention, but to get work contracts, you need to understand how to create a business proposal.

A business proposal is more than just a price quote or a brochure. Each proposal should be targeted to the specific client's needs and should explain in detail what you have to offer and how it will benefit the client.

All service proposals have a definite structure that you should follow for maximum success. Here's the basic four-part structure:

1) Introduction

2) Client-centered section

3) Description of products, services, and costs

4) A section that's all about you.

Now, each of these parts could have dozens of pages, or only a few. The length of the proposal depends on the complexity of the project and the services you are offering.

Let's look at the sections in more detail. The introduction is the simplest. Start off your proposal packet with a Cover Letter. Keep it short--just explain who you are, why you're sending this proposal, and include all your important contact information. The letter should include a "call to action" statement saying what you'd like the reader to do after considering your proposal. Most likely, you'll want them to call you to set up a meeting or contract for your services.

The Cover Letter should accompany your proposal, but the first page of your proposal should be a Title page that simply states what the proposal is about: for example, "Import and Shipping Services from China for GTG Corporation" or "Import/Export Services Proposed for Baker Manufacturing Services."

That's all you need for an introduction if your proposal is short and simple. If it's longer, you may want to include a Table of Contents and an Executive Summary or Client Summary page--this is a page for busy readers who may not read all the details, and it should contain a list of the most important points you want to get across.

Now for the client-centered portion of the proposal. This is what truly differentiates a proposal from a sales brochure, and doing a good job on this section can make the difference between a proposal that gets tossed into the pile and a proposal that results in a contract. Why? Because all organizations are necessarily self-centered; they want to know how your offerings will benefit them. So, in this client-centered section, you need to prove that you understand the potential client's business, needs, and concerns.

If you don't feel that you already have that knowledge, then you'll need to do a little work to get it, but it will be worth the time. Put yourself in your potential client's shoes. Is the company branching out to markets in new countries, or considering importing goods from manufacturers in other countries? Do they have difficulties with shipping, transportation, or customs issues? Do they have limitations on budgets or schedules? At a minimum, you'll want a Needs page in this section that lists the client's needs. Depending on the client's size and type of business, you might also need to discuss Restrictions, Limitations, Schedule, or Budget, or include a Requirements page that sets forth their criteria for import/export services.

After you've written down everything you know about your client's needs and concerns, it's time to explain how you can meet those needs with solutions in the services description section. Include all the pages necessary to describe your services and what those services will cost. Be sure to match your discussion with the client's needs. At the very least, you'll want a Services page and a Cost Summary page. You may also need specialized pages to discuss Global issues, to separate out your Imports and Exports services, describe Strategic Alliances you have formed, or to describe any Shipping services you also provide.

A Business Owner's Guide to Small Business Marketing Services

Are you looking for an effective way to boost your profits and establish strong online presence? If your answer is yes, it's about time you look for a small business internet marketing company. Make sure to find one dedicated to creating web sites and strategies focused on achieving your success online. Your internet marketing company should offer affordable rates and deliver quality services. Here are two small business marketing services it should provide you.

Search Engine Optimization

One effective service that can give concrete results is Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Service providers consider this a popular online marketing strategy for web-based businesses. SEO specialists rely on its many methods to boost the traffic on client websites. Successful websites use creative and competitive SEO techniques to reach customers and generate more sales.

SEO is among many small business marketing services initiating a direct response. It is the only form of marketing that puts clients in front of targeted prospective customers who are looking exactly for what they offer.

This service increases the client's brand visibility, as eight out of ten people find companies they eventually do business with online. Plus, the website works for clients 365 days a year, 24 hours a day with no time-offs. The site can be the business's best salesman if set up correctly.

Recently, more online companies are getting more competitive. To stay ahead of the competitors, most small business internet marketing firms continue to search for valuable information and implement innovative SEO methods.

Some online businesses thrive while others fail. The reason for this is these businesses are not updated with the latest trends in internet marketing. SEO specialists must constantly study emerging trends to provide high and stable rankings for their clients.

Social Media Management

While many consider traditional marketing as "push" marketing, social media marketing is also known as "pull" marketing. Rather than broadcasting messages with the goal that the right people will see it, small business internet marketing firms pulls target audiences by listening to their needs, preferences, and responding with good solutions.

Some results from Social Media will be seen immediately, and some results will take longer.

After implementing social media management services, business owners should see an increase in the number of followers and friends in their websites and social media profile. Their networks will also expand rapidly. The increase depends on many factors including the size of the business' current social media following and how involved they are with their community. They will soon see an increase in re-posts of their content and interaction with followers.