I know there are studies which swear people don't like to be sold to, but actions clearly show otherwise. As a student of marketing, I have learned lots of the tools and sometimes, gimmicks businesses use to get people to buy their products or services. I am not talking about unethical ones, but valid ones.

What is clear is that people need coaxing to buy things, and for some that may be bonuses to pay to attend webinars, or free stuff to get their email. The bottom line is they can be sold. Sure, some would say it's the content, but I don't think that is really it. People like feeling like they are getting more than they paid for. That's not bad, but it sets them up in a way because if someone has the "right" shiny object then they are willing to buy.

Let me give you a sample of how people are sold. Lets say Company A is pitching a webinar on publishing. They show zero proof that they have even sold books, but get some "testimonials" of supposed students to say they were great, and a person is sold. They then throw in items they value at far more than the price of the course, and another person is sold. Another person sees social proof, and they think they are getting a bargain to boot, so  cha ching, hit the buy button.

The only problem with this premise is that it will always take more gimmicks to get a customer like this. They are sort of like the people who want something for nothing. They are the hardest to please and really not the people you want to buy because it will always come at a price later in the form of refunds (after they have downloaded all your stuff), reporting emails as spam (after they got the freebie, but too lazy to unsubscribe), and even some will  try to ruin the seller with bogus reviews of how whatever product didn't work even though they didn't even use it.

When I was in sales for a company, one of the things we did not do was offer discounts. The reason was it was unfair to those who paid full price, and discount seekers were the most problematic customers.  Over and over this proved true in other sales situations where discounts were the norm. You have to learn to target your marketing to people who buy your product because they need or want it, not because they like the gimmicks  or freebies. That means targeting people who can afford your product not those who will send you emails begging to have it for free because they can't afford it or are not willing to pay for it.

There are certain rules in online selling which don't apply to the real world, but I have a feeling it is due to the gimmicks marketers have used as opposed to real rules.

Marketing

Actions Prove People Want to Be Sold

I know there are studies which swear people don't like to be sold to, but actions clearly show otherwise. As a student of marketing, I have learned lots of the tools and sometimes, gimmicks businesses use to get people to buy their products or services. I am not talking about unethical ones, but valid ones.

What is clear is that people need coaxing to buy things, and for some that may be bonuses to pay to attend webinars, or free stuff to get their email. The bottom line is they can be sold. Sure, some would say it's the content, but I don't think that is really it. People like feeling like they are getting more than they paid for. That's not bad, but it sets them up in a way because if someone has the "right" shiny object then they are willing to buy.

Let me give you a sample of how people are sold. Lets say Company A is pitching a webinar on publishing. They show zero proof that they have even sold books, but get some "testimonials" of supposed students to say they were great, and a person is sold. They then throw in items they value at far more than the price of the course, and another person is sold. Another person sees social proof, and they think they are getting a bargain to boot, so  cha ching, hit the buy button.

The only problem with this premise is that it will always take more gimmicks to get a customer like this. They are sort of like the people who want something for nothing. They are the hardest to please and really not the people you want to buy because it will always come at a price later in the form of refunds (after they have downloaded all your stuff), reporting emails as spam (after they got the freebie, but too lazy to unsubscribe), and even some will  try to ruin the seller with bogus reviews of how whatever product didn't work even though they didn't even use it.

When I was in sales for a company, one of the things we did not do was offer discounts. The reason was it was unfair to those who paid full price, and discount seekers were the most problematic customers.  Over and over this proved true in other sales situations where discounts were the norm. You have to learn to target your marketing to people who buy your product because they need or want it, not because they like the gimmicks  or freebies. That means targeting people who can afford your product not those who will send you emails begging to have it for free because they can't afford it or are not willing to pay for it.

There are certain rules in online selling which don't apply to the real world, but I have a feeling it is due to the gimmicks marketers have used as opposed to real rules.

How to Make a Fan Page for Your Business on Facebook
Read this tutorial to find out how to set up your own fan page on Facebook for your business. By doing following the steps, you open yourself up to reaching up to 200 million active users.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1649378/how_to_make_a_fan_page_for_your_business.html

Business· Facebook· Marketing

How to Make a Fan Page for Your Business on Facebook

How to Make a Fan Page for Your Business on Facebook
Read this tutorial to find out how to set up your own fan page on Facebook for your business. By doing following the steps, you open yourself up to reaching up to 200 million active users.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1649378/how_to_make_a_fan_page_for_your_business.html

Nowadays, online businesses are a dime a dozen. Every single day, hundreds of people start their own online businesses on the internet. But few have any idea how to make their business financially viable.

In order to run a profitable business, you've got to be able to sell something. In this world, nothing moves until something is sold. If you want to move your business forward, you've got to sell something.

You've got to sell your products and services, and more importantly, you've got to sell yourself.

Face it, people have to first buy into you before they even buy into your products.

Take for example the insurance industry. There are so many insurance agents out there. Say you know Frank, Jack, and Daniel and all three of them are from the same insurance company. All three of them approach you to tell you about their company's insurance products. All three of them are selling to you the same product. What makes you buy from Frank rather than Jack and Daniel?

Basically, one thing... you like and trust Frank much better than the other two.

As you can see, selling yourself is much more important that selling your product.

So how do you sell yourself?

You've got to position yourself as the expert.

It is important that people feel that you are an expert in what you do or what you sell. For example, back to the insurance example, perhaps you prefer Frank because you feel that he is more confident about what he is selling and he knows what he is talking about. Jack and Daniel just seem less sure of themselves as they interact with you while Frank is relaxed yet confident as he speaks to you.

It is important, therefore, to brand yourself as an expert in your niche. One way of doing so is to write plenty of articles and submit them to the article directories. In this way, when people stumble upon your articles online, you gain instant credibility online as you are seen as the expert and the "go to" person.

Also, you want to get your prospects and customers to trust you by giving away valuable help and products to them for free whenever you can.

Give them a free report that you wrote, give them an interview you recorded with another expert in your field, give them free advice, give them free consultation, give them whatever you can afford to give them that doesn't cost you a whole lot to give away.

In other words, give them something that is of good value to them, yet something that costs you almost nothing to give away!

When you are generous with your prospects in such a way, your prospects begin to trust you and believe that you genuinely desire to help them and they will more likely buy from you and become loyal long term customers of yours over the long haul.

In fact, once you've gotten their trust and loyalty, they'll buy from you over and over again.

What does it take to build a sexy six figure income online from scratch? Get my special report for free here: Sexy Six Figure Income Report

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patrick_Loh

Marketing· Sales Strategies

How to Sell Yourself and Make Customers Love You For It!

Nowadays, online businesses are a dime a dozen. Every single day, hundreds of people start their own online businesses on the internet. But few have any idea how to make their business financially viable.

In order to run a profitable business, you've got to be able to sell something. In this world, nothing moves until something is sold. If you want to move your business forward, you've got to sell something.

You've got to sell your products and services, and more importantly, you've got to sell yourself.

Face it, people have to first buy into you before they even buy into your products.

Take for example the insurance industry. There are so many insurance agents out there. Say you know Frank, Jack, and Daniel and all three of them are from the same insurance company. All three of them approach you to tell you about their company's insurance products. All three of them are selling to you the same product. What makes you buy from Frank rather than Jack and Daniel?

Basically, one thing... you like and trust Frank much better than the other two.

As you can see, selling yourself is much more important that selling your product.

So how do you sell yourself?

You've got to position yourself as the expert.

It is important that people feel that you are an expert in what you do or what you sell. For example, back to the insurance example, perhaps you prefer Frank because you feel that he is more confident about what he is selling and he knows what he is talking about. Jack and Daniel just seem less sure of themselves as they interact with you while Frank is relaxed yet confident as he speaks to you.

It is important, therefore, to brand yourself as an expert in your niche. One way of doing so is to write plenty of articles and submit them to the article directories. In this way, when people stumble upon your articles online, you gain instant credibility online as you are seen as the expert and the "go to" person.

Also, you want to get your prospects and customers to trust you by giving away valuable help and products to them for free whenever you can.

Give them a free report that you wrote, give them an interview you recorded with another expert in your field, give them free advice, give them free consultation, give them whatever you can afford to give them that doesn't cost you a whole lot to give away.

In other words, give them something that is of good value to them, yet something that costs you almost nothing to give away!

When you are generous with your prospects in such a way, your prospects begin to trust you and believe that you genuinely desire to help them and they will more likely buy from you and become loyal long term customers of yours over the long haul.

In fact, once you've gotten their trust and loyalty, they'll buy from you over and over again.

What does it take to build a sexy six figure income online from scratch? Get my special report for free here: Sexy Six Figure Income Report

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patrick_Loh

Selecting a name for your new business is not easy. A name does more than identify your company. It tells customers who you are, what you do, and more than a little about how you do it. Your name differentiates you from your peers, peaks customer interest, and invites further investigation -- if you do it right.

I didn't do it right. At least, not at first.

All entrepreneurs make mistakes, and I made one of my first ones right off the bat. Thrilled with the fledgling business I was starting, this precious enterprise so near and dear to my heart, I christened my company Diadem Communications. Diadem means crown-- a fitting name for what I felt was a
crowning achievement.

What does Diadem say to you? Does it evoke thoughts of me coming into your company, training your sales team to be the best booth staff ever, ensuring that every single trade show you attend turns out to be amazingly successful? Does it make me sound so good that you just can't wait to hire me?

No. It doesn't say that to me either. And even worse, it didn't say that to any of my potential customers. Going by name alone, no one would be able to determine the least bit of information about me, my company, or the services we offer. The name said nothing, and it did nothing for me.

The name had to go. More importantly, it had to be replaced by something effective. How do you come up with an effective name? Consider these six elements:

An Effective Name:

1. Tells Who You Are: Your name should reflect your identity. This is an essential aspect of branding. You'll be promoting this name, getting it in front of as many eyes as possible as often as possible. How do you want the public to think of you?

For some, that means integrating your personal name into the name of your business. This is very common in some professions: legal, medical, and accounting leap to mind.

Others prefer a more descriptive name. One successful small baker runs her business under the name "The Cookie Lady" because that's how her first customers identified her. It's doubtful that most of the customers even know her first name (It's Pat) but everybody in her market knows "The Cookie Lady".

2. Tells What You Do: It's incredible how many company names give little, if any indication of what type of work the organization actually does. Take the following examples:


Smith and Sons
Hulbert Brothers
Only One
Can you tell me what any of these companies does? Of course you can't. They're relying on customers already knowing who they are (a tricky proposition for new businesses!) or by having their name found in 'context', such as a yellow pages or on-line business directory.

3. Tells How You Do It: Words are very powerful. By carefully selecting what words you use in your name, you can convey a great deal about your company's image. Consider the names of three different massage and bodywork centers:

Champlain Valley Therapeutic Massage
Clouds Above Massage
Speedy Spa
All three companies are providing the same service: massage therapy. Yet the first appears to favor a more medical approach, the second, a dreamy, luxury approach, and the third focuses on fast service.

4. Differentiates You From Your Peers: Your company name is the first opportunity to tell customers how you differ from the competition. This can be done by emphasizing what makes you unique, pinpointing what aspect of your products and services can't be found anywhere else -- or that you do better than anyone else.

Consider the massage therapy example we looked at in number three. Each organization clearly has a different focus and approach to their customer base. They're attracting different types of clients, who are seeking fundamentally different approaches. All of which is conveyed in less than five words.

5. Peaks Customer Interest: Creating customer interest is an art and a science. Think carefully about your target audience. What qualities of your services are of the greatest import to your customers? What kind of words are likely to appeal to them?

Emphasize the important qualities in your name. For example, busy homeowners are drawn to the inherent promise of speed offered by "Bob's Instant Plumbing" while a reader in search of a good mystery will gravitate toward "Crime Pays Books".

Word choice is also important. Two yarn shops can both specialize in specialty fibers, but the one who labels themselves "All Hemp All the Time" will draw in a decidedly different crowd than the one named "Natural Beauty: Organic Yarns".

6. Invites Further Investigation: Customers are funny creatures. What one group finds to be funny and engaging turns another group off. You want your name to be inviting and approachable -- as those qualities are perceived by your target audience.
The best example of this may be seen in the individual investor segment of the financial services industry. Charles Schwab has spent years cultivating a classic, formal image -- but now that the consumer base is changing from 'old people with money' to 'everyone with a 401K', Charles Schwab has launched the "Talk to Chuck" campaign in an effort to be more approachable.

Make sure your name doesn't intimidate customers away! Some industries are more formal than others, but adopt pretension at your peril.

After following a series of simple step-by-step instructions to match my corporate identity with my service offering, I came up with the quintessential name: The Trade Show Coach. This name instantly tells customers what I do - assist companies with trade shows - and a little of the manner in which I do it - coach, rather than dictate, direct, guide, or organize.

See the difference? So did the buying public, some of who quickly became my best customers. The same thing can happen for you -- if you pick the right name.

Author Bio
Written by Susan A. Friedmann,CSP, The Tradeshow Coach, Lake Placid, NY, author: "Meeting & Event Planning for Dummies," working with companies to improve their meeting and event success through coaching, consulting and training. For a free copy of "10 Common Mistakes Exhibitors Make", e-mail: article4@thetradeshowcoach.com; website: www.thetradeshowcoach.com

Branding· Marketing

What's In A Name? The Six Essential Elements You Need To Know

Selecting a name for your new business is not easy. A name does more than identify your company. It tells customers who you are, what you do, and more than a little about how you do it. Your name differentiates you from your peers, peaks customer interest, and invites further investigation -- if you do it right.

I didn't do it right. At least, not at first.

All entrepreneurs make mistakes, and I made one of my first ones right off the bat. Thrilled with the fledgling business I was starting, this precious enterprise so near and dear to my heart, I christened my company Diadem Communications. Diadem means crown-- a fitting name for what I felt was a
crowning achievement.

What does Diadem say to you? Does it evoke thoughts of me coming into your company, training your sales team to be the best booth staff ever, ensuring that every single trade show you attend turns out to be amazingly successful? Does it make me sound so good that you just can't wait to hire me?

No. It doesn't say that to me either. And even worse, it didn't say that to any of my potential customers. Going by name alone, no one would be able to determine the least bit of information about me, my company, or the services we offer. The name said nothing, and it did nothing for me.

The name had to go. More importantly, it had to be replaced by something effective. How do you come up with an effective name? Consider these six elements:

An Effective Name:

1. Tells Who You Are: Your name should reflect your identity. This is an essential aspect of branding. You'll be promoting this name, getting it in front of as many eyes as possible as often as possible. How do you want the public to think of you?

For some, that means integrating your personal name into the name of your business. This is very common in some professions: legal, medical, and accounting leap to mind.

Others prefer a more descriptive name. One successful small baker runs her business under the name "The Cookie Lady" because that's how her first customers identified her. It's doubtful that most of the customers even know her first name (It's Pat) but everybody in her market knows "The Cookie Lady".

2. Tells What You Do: It's incredible how many company names give little, if any indication of what type of work the organization actually does. Take the following examples:


Smith and Sons
Hulbert Brothers
Only One
Can you tell me what any of these companies does? Of course you can't. They're relying on customers already knowing who they are (a tricky proposition for new businesses!) or by having their name found in 'context', such as a yellow pages or on-line business directory.

3. Tells How You Do It: Words are very powerful. By carefully selecting what words you use in your name, you can convey a great deal about your company's image. Consider the names of three different massage and bodywork centers:

Champlain Valley Therapeutic Massage
Clouds Above Massage
Speedy Spa
All three companies are providing the same service: massage therapy. Yet the first appears to favor a more medical approach, the second, a dreamy, luxury approach, and the third focuses on fast service.

4. Differentiates You From Your Peers: Your company name is the first opportunity to tell customers how you differ from the competition. This can be done by emphasizing what makes you unique, pinpointing what aspect of your products and services can't be found anywhere else -- or that you do better than anyone else.

Consider the massage therapy example we looked at in number three. Each organization clearly has a different focus and approach to their customer base. They're attracting different types of clients, who are seeking fundamentally different approaches. All of which is conveyed in less than five words.

5. Peaks Customer Interest: Creating customer interest is an art and a science. Think carefully about your target audience. What qualities of your services are of the greatest import to your customers? What kind of words are likely to appeal to them?

Emphasize the important qualities in your name. For example, busy homeowners are drawn to the inherent promise of speed offered by "Bob's Instant Plumbing" while a reader in search of a good mystery will gravitate toward "Crime Pays Books".

Word choice is also important. Two yarn shops can both specialize in specialty fibers, but the one who labels themselves "All Hemp All the Time" will draw in a decidedly different crowd than the one named "Natural Beauty: Organic Yarns".

6. Invites Further Investigation: Customers are funny creatures. What one group finds to be funny and engaging turns another group off. You want your name to be inviting and approachable -- as those qualities are perceived by your target audience.
The best example of this may be seen in the individual investor segment of the financial services industry. Charles Schwab has spent years cultivating a classic, formal image -- but now that the consumer base is changing from 'old people with money' to 'everyone with a 401K', Charles Schwab has launched the "Talk to Chuck" campaign in an effort to be more approachable.

Make sure your name doesn't intimidate customers away! Some industries are more formal than others, but adopt pretension at your peril.

After following a series of simple step-by-step instructions to match my corporate identity with my service offering, I came up with the quintessential name: The Trade Show Coach. This name instantly tells customers what I do - assist companies with trade shows - and a little of the manner in which I do it - coach, rather than dictate, direct, guide, or organize.

See the difference? So did the buying public, some of who quickly became my best customers. The same thing can happen for you -- if you pick the right name.

Author Bio
Written by Susan A. Friedmann,CSP, The Tradeshow Coach, Lake Placid, NY, author: "Meeting & Event Planning for Dummies," working with companies to improve their meeting and event success through coaching, consulting and training. For a free copy of "10 Common Mistakes Exhibitors Make", e-mail: article4@thetradeshowcoach.com; website: www.thetradeshowcoach.com

What is the most powerful and valuable marketing resource you can have that you cannot buy? Your visibility and credibility. Your sterling reputation. One of the best ways to achieve that positive reputation is through word-of-mouth promotion. As Michael E. Cafferky, author of Let Your Customers Do the Talking, suggests, the reason word-of-mouth is so effective is that it is a natural, powerful, low-cost, and low-risk way to promote your business.

Also it's psychologically grounded: People like to talk, give advice, and make recommendations based upon their experiences.

Consequently, when customers or clients derive benefit from you ..., when they are satisfied with your service or product, they will hold you in high esteem. They will come to know, like, and trust you. They will have confidence in you. Furthermore, they will want to share with others their special knowledge of you and their gratitude for what you do.

Being concerned about quality and customer service is all very well and good for establishing and maintaining your reputation, ... but you need to help speed the word-of-mouth process along.

Fortunately, there are literally hundreds of simple actions you can take to do so.

But what you need to do first and foremost with a customer or client, is spend some time with them, not only before but also after the transaction. You need to relate to them as a person, not as a "buyer." This means getting them to talk about themselves as well as share their thoughts, feelings, attitudes, beliefs, and/or opinions.

How do you do this? You do this by asking them questions and then having them" tell you more" about what they share with you. This is not your typical police grilling. instead it is a friendly interchange. It's essential to remember that everyone wants to feel that what they think and feel is recognized by others as having worth.

After your initiation of a relationship with your customer or client, you need to follow up. But follow-up is frequently the bane of our business existence. Therefore, think of it as wanting to pursue a successful first date.

You cannot assume that the good feelings engendered by the date will simply continue by themselves. Unattended fires eventually burn out. This means you have to fan the flames. ... But, you have to do it in a friendly, indirect way. That is, you don't slap them about the head and shoulders with frequent sales offers.

That's feels very intrusive, slick, and crass ... as if you're not concerned with them as people, only with getting them to pony up some bucks.

Instead, you start with a personalized "thank you" or "welcome" note. This acknowledges to them their importance to you. It also recreates their warm first impression of you. You could let them know that you will be sending them a periodic hardcopy newsletter or ezine with helpful tips and solutions to common problems.

In your newsletter or ezine you could ask them in a brief survey what their most burning question. You could also ask their advice on how you can make what you do easier, more comfortable, more convenient, or more on-point for them. To reiterate, your clients love to be asked for their thoughts, ideas, and advice.

This demonstrates that you value their input and want to serve them even better. Furthermore, it helps keep the relationship embers warm as it keeps your name on the top of their head or the tip of their tongue. This way it can fall naturally onto the ears of others.

Signe A. Dayhoff, Ph.D., teaches professionals and entrepreneurs who are uncomfortable promoting themselves or have ineffective marketing strategies how to create profitable visibility and credibility confidently, professionally with integrity at low cost without selling through a relationship-based method called the "VODKAA Process."

Dr. Signe is a social psychologist and coach-consultant who has specialized for the last 24 years in teaching how to boost trust and liking through creating rapport with prospects, how to polish interpersonal skills and increase effective speaking and small talk, how to eliminate marketing reluctance and replace it wiith confidence and relationships, and how to become a valued and accessible educational resource to prospects and clients alike.

Author of five books and over 100 published articles, she has worked internationally with CEOs, attorneys, physicians and other health-care providers, CPAs, FBI agents, TV producers, writers, seminar presenters, computer programmers, and small businesses, for example.

Subscribe to her free monthly Get Your Ideal Clients Tips self-promotion ezine and claim your complimentary Marketing Self-Assessment at http://www.GetYourIdealClients.com

Marketing

Word of Mouth - From Your Lips to the Client's Lips

What is the most powerful and valuable marketing resource you can have that you cannot buy? Your visibility and credibility. Your sterling reputation. One of the best ways to achieve that positive reputation is through word-of-mouth promotion. As Michael E. Cafferky, author of Let Your Customers Do the Talking, suggests, the reason word-of-mouth is so effective is that it is a natural, powerful, low-cost, and low-risk way to promote your business.

Also it's psychologically grounded: People like to talk, give advice, and make recommendations based upon their experiences.

Consequently, when customers or clients derive benefit from you ..., when they are satisfied with your service or product, they will hold you in high esteem. They will come to know, like, and trust you. They will have confidence in you. Furthermore, they will want to share with others their special knowledge of you and their gratitude for what you do.

Being concerned about quality and customer service is all very well and good for establishing and maintaining your reputation, ... but you need to help speed the word-of-mouth process along.

Fortunately, there are literally hundreds of simple actions you can take to do so.

But what you need to do first and foremost with a customer or client, is spend some time with them, not only before but also after the transaction. You need to relate to them as a person, not as a "buyer." This means getting them to talk about themselves as well as share their thoughts, feelings, attitudes, beliefs, and/or opinions.

How do you do this? You do this by asking them questions and then having them" tell you more" about what they share with you. This is not your typical police grilling. instead it is a friendly interchange. It's essential to remember that everyone wants to feel that what they think and feel is recognized by others as having worth.

After your initiation of a relationship with your customer or client, you need to follow up. But follow-up is frequently the bane of our business existence. Therefore, think of it as wanting to pursue a successful first date.

You cannot assume that the good feelings engendered by the date will simply continue by themselves. Unattended fires eventually burn out. This means you have to fan the flames. ... But, you have to do it in a friendly, indirect way. That is, you don't slap them about the head and shoulders with frequent sales offers.

That's feels very intrusive, slick, and crass ... as if you're not concerned with them as people, only with getting them to pony up some bucks.

Instead, you start with a personalized "thank you" or "welcome" note. This acknowledges to them their importance to you. It also recreates their warm first impression of you. You could let them know that you will be sending them a periodic hardcopy newsletter or ezine with helpful tips and solutions to common problems.

In your newsletter or ezine you could ask them in a brief survey what their most burning question. You could also ask their advice on how you can make what you do easier, more comfortable, more convenient, or more on-point for them. To reiterate, your clients love to be asked for their thoughts, ideas, and advice.

This demonstrates that you value their input and want to serve them even better. Furthermore, it helps keep the relationship embers warm as it keeps your name on the top of their head or the tip of their tongue. This way it can fall naturally onto the ears of others.

Signe A. Dayhoff, Ph.D., teaches professionals and entrepreneurs who are uncomfortable promoting themselves or have ineffective marketing strategies how to create profitable visibility and credibility confidently, professionally with integrity at low cost without selling through a relationship-based method called the "VODKAA Process."

Dr. Signe is a social psychologist and coach-consultant who has specialized for the last 24 years in teaching how to boost trust and liking through creating rapport with prospects, how to polish interpersonal skills and increase effective speaking and small talk, how to eliminate marketing reluctance and replace it wiith confidence and relationships, and how to become a valued and accessible educational resource to prospects and clients alike.

Author of five books and over 100 published articles, she has worked internationally with CEOs, attorneys, physicians and other health-care providers, CPAs, FBI agents, TV producers, writers, seminar presenters, computer programmers, and small businesses, for example.

Subscribe to her free monthly Get Your Ideal Clients Tips self-promotion ezine and claim your complimentary Marketing Self-Assessment at http://www.GetYourIdealClients.com

Many companies are supporting a virtual work environment, which means that their employees have the freedom to work from wherever they wish. These companies don't believe in long drawn out meetings, endless phone calls, and wasteful "office chatter". However, they do support work/life balance and team building. Because of this, these companies are often far more efficient than most, i.e., work that a normal 40 hour a week employee can do, their employees typically get it done in about 15-20. Also, companies that choose to go virtual have an overhead that is extremely low, are reducing their carbon footprint by reducing waste.

Here are the top 10 tips for taking your office virtual.

1. Be comfortable with the technology - Instant Messaging Programs, Skype or another web based phone system (for international calls) and e-mail are all necessities when going virtual.

2. Phone service - Thinkbright.net is a good, reliable internet phone service provider. You buy the phones, give them to your employees, and can have anywhere from 1-4 extensions. As long as your employees have internet connections at home, they plug them in, and calls can be transferred to them just like you're in an office. It doesn't affect their internet connection. This is an inexpensive alternative to the larger phone companies.

3. File sharing - A great file sharing program like Yousendit.com or Google Docs, helps to eliminate the need to print out large documents

4. Virtual faxing: The online fax service, myfax.com, is ideal for sending and receiving faxes. Your documents can be scanned, uploaded and sent, just like a real fax machine. You also get your own fax number with whatever area code you'd like.

5. Be flexible - Find other places to work, rather than the home office, at least twice per week. This change of environment will help to keep your mind sharp, and eliminate the onset of boredom. Remember, you're doing this to stay away from cube life, not to enhance it. If you don't need to be by the phone all day, or don't mind making calling back from your cell phone, find a local library, coffee shop, or outdoor venue that you can work from. This will keep things interesting.

6. Regular meetings - Have regular weekly meetings with your staff - with a pre-set agenda for each meeting. Keep these meetings to no more than 1.5 hours. Encourage everyone to become prepared with a brief summary of their reports, and any un-resolved issues that weren't able to be solved during the week. This also encourages team building.

7. No matter who you are meeting with, always have an agenda and stick to it

8. Be-communicative - Encourage lots of communication between your co-workers and employees.

9. Independent contractors - Look into hiring independent contractors. Websites such as sologig.com, guru.com and elance.com are good places to find qualified people to do projects that you just don't have the time for.

10. Tracking - Track the results of your virtual program and record how much you are spending, vs. how much you are saving by going virtual.

Although working virtually may not be for everyone (surgeons, heavy equipment operators, actors, etc.), there are many opportunities for those that would like to ditch their office and have more flexibility in their work life.

Since 2002, we have been providing marketing departments, under the direction of Prachel Carter, to companies who just don't have the time to handle it themselves. We have assisted over 200 busy managers and entrepreneurs with marketing support tasks such as News Releases, Copywriting, Marketing Research, Customer Surveys, and Brochure Development & Design. Because we are a Green company, we offer our services primarily to companies that are Eco-Friendly. Visit our site at http://www.soulstice.net

Environment· Green· Marketing· Virtual· Work at home

Going Green by Going Virtual - Top 10 Tips For Creating a Virtual Work Environment

Many companies are supporting a virtual work environment, which means that their employees have the freedom to work from wherever they wish. These companies don't believe in long drawn out meetings, endless phone calls, and wasteful "office chatter". However, they do support work/life balance and team building. Because of this, these companies are often far more efficient than most, i.e., work that a normal 40 hour a week employee can do, their employees typically get it done in about 15-20. Also, companies that choose to go virtual have an overhead that is extremely low, are reducing their carbon footprint by reducing waste.

Here are the top 10 tips for taking your office virtual.

1. Be comfortable with the technology - Instant Messaging Programs, Skype or another web based phone system (for international calls) and e-mail are all necessities when going virtual.

2. Phone service - Thinkbright.net is a good, reliable internet phone service provider. You buy the phones, give them to your employees, and can have anywhere from 1-4 extensions. As long as your employees have internet connections at home, they plug them in, and calls can be transferred to them just like you're in an office. It doesn't affect their internet connection. This is an inexpensive alternative to the larger phone companies.

3. File sharing - A great file sharing program like Yousendit.com or Google Docs, helps to eliminate the need to print out large documents

4. Virtual faxing: The online fax service, myfax.com, is ideal for sending and receiving faxes. Your documents can be scanned, uploaded and sent, just like a real fax machine. You also get your own fax number with whatever area code you'd like.

5. Be flexible - Find other places to work, rather than the home office, at least twice per week. This change of environment will help to keep your mind sharp, and eliminate the onset of boredom. Remember, you're doing this to stay away from cube life, not to enhance it. If you don't need to be by the phone all day, or don't mind making calling back from your cell phone, find a local library, coffee shop, or outdoor venue that you can work from. This will keep things interesting.

6. Regular meetings - Have regular weekly meetings with your staff - with a pre-set agenda for each meeting. Keep these meetings to no more than 1.5 hours. Encourage everyone to become prepared with a brief summary of their reports, and any un-resolved issues that weren't able to be solved during the week. This also encourages team building.

7. No matter who you are meeting with, always have an agenda and stick to it

8. Be-communicative - Encourage lots of communication between your co-workers and employees.

9. Independent contractors - Look into hiring independent contractors. Websites such as sologig.com, guru.com and elance.com are good places to find qualified people to do projects that you just don't have the time for.

10. Tracking - Track the results of your virtual program and record how much you are spending, vs. how much you are saving by going virtual.

Although working virtually may not be for everyone (surgeons, heavy equipment operators, actors, etc.), there are many opportunities for those that would like to ditch their office and have more flexibility in their work life.

Since 2002, we have been providing marketing departments, under the direction of Prachel Carter, to companies who just don't have the time to handle it themselves. We have assisted over 200 busy managers and entrepreneurs with marketing support tasks such as News Releases, Copywriting, Marketing Research, Customer Surveys, and Brochure Development & Design. Because we are a Green company, we offer our services primarily to companies that are Eco-Friendly. Visit our site at http://www.soulstice.net