Marketing your small business, whether online or off, is a time intensive process. As your business grows, managing lead capture, nurturing, converting and relationship management become too big to handle manually, which is why small business owners turn to marketing automation software to manage the load. In general, automation brings many benefits to your small business including speed, lower costs, and time savings. However, because the promotion, selling, and relationship management processes involve so many steps, many of which are repeated for each customer, marketing is particularly suited to automation. And that’s where marketing automation software comes in. Benefits of Marketing Automation Software for Small Businesses Marketing automation software revolutionizes how businesses approach their marketing strategies, offering a plethora of benefits that streamline processes and enhance efficiency. By automating repetitive tasks, these tools allow companies to focus on strategic, creative aspects of marketing, ensuring better use of time and resources. They provide insightful data analytics, enabling businesses to make informed decisions and tailor their marketing efforts to target audiences more effectively. Moreover, marketing automation fosters consistent, personalized communication with customers, enhancing customer engagement and loyalty. Benefits of marketing automation software include:
Methodology for Selecting Marketing Automation Software In our journey as small business owners or entrepreneurs to find the ideal marketing automation software, it’s critical to weigh several key factors. These criteria ensure the software not only aligns with our marketing goals but also integrates seamlessly with our existing operations. Here’s an overview of the criteria we considered when crafting our list:
Marketing Automation Software Happily, there are many marketing automation software options for small businesses. These solutions can handle a few, or all types, of automated marketing techniques. In other words, they include various automation features, such as:
Note: Not all solutions offer every feature. While you may be hesitant to try one because of either cost or learning curve, you should be aware that many marketing automation software vendors:
Are you considering marketing automation for your small business? If so, here’s a list of marketing automation software solutions to consider:. GetResponse GetResponse calls itself the “all-in-one online marketing platform to grow your business,” and a look at the features on their home page shows just how complete the software is. While it’s one of the most affordable solutions on this list, GetResponse brings the same, if not more, of the features and functionality offered by the more expensive solutions on this list. That said, the price does increase with use, but a small business should be able to handle the increase as it grows. ActiveCampaign Another affordable solution, ActiveCampaign, offers everything a small business needs to automate its marketing efforts including a robust, built-in CRM system. GreenRope Calling itself a “small business CRM”, GreenRope is almost a small business management suite. Starting with marketing automation, you’ll find website tracking, landing pages and more in this affordably-priced solution. GreenRope also offers sales and operations functionality setting the tool apart. Keap One of the more well-known marketing automation software options, Keap (formerly Infusionsoft), offers everything your small business needs at a reasonable price. One feature that shows off the power of this solution is the flexibility of the campaign builder. This tool enables you to create elaborate workflows one time and then implement them again and again. These workflows can include many types of steps including eCommerce, appointments, behaviors and actions, webinar attendance and many more. HubSpot The only tool on the list to offer a website builder, HubSpot aims to integrate your entire marketing effort in one place. One of the more powerful features of the tool is the ability to personalize your website with “smart content” based on a number of factors. Act-On Act-On offers a robust marketing automation platform. The software offers automation workflows and triggers as well as website behavior tracking, integration with many popular CRM platforms, and more. One of the more interesting, and useful, features of Act-On is it’s funnel reporting. By setting up a sales funnel, you can track the effectiveness of your overall marketing efforts. Here’s a sample: Marketo Marketo Engage, a product run by Adobe, offers a powerful solution with many features. One thing that stood out however was their customized product bundling, an approach that may make the tool attractive for small businesses that want to dip their toe in the water. SharpSpring In addition to it’s marketing automation features, SharpSpring offers additional features including a blog builder and VisitorID tool which attempts to identify anonymous visitors to your website. Also, the vendor enables you to use your buyer personas to automatically offer unique, targeted content by segmenting your customers based on how closely their profiles match. SALESmanago While a look at SALESmanago‘s home page may make you run, don’t let the complexity of the vendor’s offerings chase you away. This solution literally has it all and, if that’s what you need, then it’s certainly worth a look. Wrapping Up No matter which marketing automation software solution you select, make sure you’re getting the most out of the tool. And remember, you can automate processes beyond marketing, too, so be sure to consider how leveraging other tools can help streamline your small business. Source: https://smallbiztrends.com Image Credit: Shutterstock
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The best seem smooth and effortless, but great sales pitches are carefully crafted and delivered. Here’s a guide to some powerful ideas that may benefit your sales team. The Importance of Great Sales Pitch Ideas Crafting a great sales pitch is crucial in the competitive landscape of business. It serves as the bridge between a product or service and its potential customers, often determining the success or failure of a sale. A well-crafted pitch does more than just inform; it engages the audience, builds trust, and creates a compelling narrative that highlights the value and uniqueness of what’s being offered. The ability to effectively communicate this value in a concise and persuasive manner can significantly impact the growth and profitability of a business. Key points on the importance of crafting a great sales pitch include:
Methodology for Assessing Sales Pitch Ideas Generating effective sales pitch ideas is key for entrepreneurs and small business owners. We evaluated the top ideas using an objective scale. Each factor below is rated on a scale of one to ten, with ten reserved for the most important. Here’s how we approach the evaluation of sales pitch ideas: 1. Clarity and Conciseness
2. Uniqueness and Creativity
3. Audience Relevance
4. Call-to-Action (CTA) Effectiveness
5. Emotional Connection
6. Evidence and Credibility
7. Adaptability and Flexibility
8. Problem-Solution Fit
9. Brand Alignment
10. Memorability
This framework allows us to thoroughly evaluate sales pitch ideas, ensuring that they are effective and aligned with the goals of small business owners and entrepreneurs. Sales Pitch Ideas From carefully choosing your words to staying on point, here are 20 sales pitch ideas that should keep your team morale high. Choose Words Carefully You need to get the message out on the goods and services you’ve got for sale. Choosing the right words gives a pitch the power to close. Don’t underestimate simple words like “new” , “sale”and “off” to make a big difference to any pitch. Know Your Client Salesforce reports 82% of sales people don’t understand their prospects. If you don’t research their preferences, you’re more than likely telling them why you like the product. If that’s the case, your pitch could fall on deaf ears. Talk to the Right People Even if your pitch is perfect, it wont close if you’re wasting it on the wrong people. Finding out who the decision makers are is a big part of your due diligence. Sometimes all you need to do is ask your contact in the small business you’re trying to sell to. Craft a Call to Action A good pitch needs to direct your prospect to the end goal. The very best way to do that is with a call to action. Even if they’re not ready to buy, setting up another meeting with one of these moves things along. Be Unique Cookie cutter doesn’t cut it when it comes to an effective sales pitch. American Express Open Forum suggests you stay professional but try to stir up some curiosity at the same time. You might start with something like: “I’ve got something to show you, if you think you’re ready.” Be Personable Stodgy isn’t the way to act if you want sales. Being informal means being personal. You can even share a little something from you life to warm things up. Have a Central Idea Being all over the map wont help close that deal. You need to have a central point you keep coming back to. This glue that holds a lot of sales pitches together is often the benefit to the customer. Stick to 3 Big Points Most people cant remember more than three things at once. That means your whole sales pitch needs to revolve around three ideas to be effective. Avoid Metaphors These are thought provoking in great works of literature. However, they can confuse prospects in a sale’s pitch. Telling someone your product ” is the Holy Grail of merchandise” will only cloud the waters. Don’t Try to be Smarter than Everyone Else Building a good team around you draws on the people that have other areas of expertise. Putting together a team of experts helps your sales pitches have depth and scope. Define the Target Audience The Hubspot blog takes this old adage a step further. You need find your target audience and imagine how they will use the product to fully engage with them. Don’t just find them. Try and get inside their skin. Checking out their social media posts helps. Rehearse Often Practice makes perfect. Try to find that medium ground where you can hit all the big points in your presentation without sounding like you’re reading from a script. Work in front of a mirror or friends. Invite Conversation A good sales pitch is a two way street. Letting prospects ask questions helps to understand their needs better and starts conversations. Don’t Ignore Social Media SuperOffice makes a great point about successful modern sales pitches. They report 90% of successful sales people use social media to craft great pitches that work. Sharing relevant content and responding to comments qualifies. Use Icons Remember this is a sales pitch. It needs to have a good rhythm and pace. Using icons with statistics keeps things moving along. We process visuals much faster than text. Use Catchy Email Opening Lines Email is effective but competitive at the same time. A good sales pitch in cyberspace shouldn’t just be an introduction. Engage right away with a statistic or timely reference to news of the day. Something like: “Have you seen the latest on…?” Focus on Being Helpful Using hard sell techniques is old school. The traditional pitch is all about closing the sale. The new method is about asking the right questions, listening and solving a real problem with your goods or service. Upwork has a good graphic on the subject. Try Rhyming Ever wonder why the best tag lines stick in you head? It’s because they rhyme. Try adopting this proven method into your sales pitch. Start with a Question People generally answer questions. If you start your sales pitch with one, you’ve started a back and forth that can wind up in a sale. Try something like, “Have you ever wondered about …?” Learn to Tweak the Pitch Not everyone will buy what you’ve got to sell. However, you can learn from even the folks that say no if you engage them. Finding out what works and what needs to be changed is a process. Source: https://smallbiztrends.com
In today’s fast-paced business environment, effective customer communications management is crucial. Automation offers a practical solution to maintaining open lines of communication with clients without overburdening your team. By automating routine customer service requests, you can keep your clients satisfied and informed, while freeing up valuable time for your team to focus on driving the business forward. Customer Communications Management AutomationDiscover seven cost-effective ways to implement customer communications management automation and enhance your client relationships: 1. Initiate the ConversationProactive engagement with customers is key to fostering positive relationships. Instead of waiting for customers to reach out, identify indicators that might suggest they need assistance. For instance, a visitor lingering on help pages likely requires support, whereas someone browsing your products might benefit from a chat with your sales team to finalize a decision. These examples illustrate just a couple of ways to open communication channels proactively, enhancing customer satisfaction. By anticipating needs based on customer behavior, you’re investing in the long-term success and satisfaction of your clientele. Actively initiating conversations based on these indicators can lead to more effective customer service and potentially increased sales. There are multiple great tools out there which can help initiate this conversation, two of which are LiveChat and BoldChat and both with customizable audience interactions. 2. Use a Virtual Assistant to Handle the Simple ThingsEmbracing technology for customer service efficiency doesn’t necessarily mean expanding your workforce. Many customer inquiries are straightforward and can be effectively managed by intelligent chatbots and automated systems. These tools can quickly resolve basic issues, freeing up your staff to tackle more complex challenges. This approach not only streamlines your customer service process but also ensures that your human resources are utilized where they’re most needed, enhancing overall efficiency and customer satisfaction. A good place to start using digital or virtual assistants is in those proactive connections we just talked about. Chat bots such as Botsify (for Facebook Messenger and other apps) can answer those simple questions that might arise from whatever actions your client is taking on the site, and if it needs to will hand the conversation off seamlessly to a live person to handle the more difficult. 3. Make Use of New TechnologiesDon’t be scared to try out new technologies to solve some of those simple issues. Biometrics is one possibility, and using things like biometric password recovery (utilizing fingerprints or facial recognition instead of old school methods like “mother’s maiden name) takes out the need for a call into your call center or a support chat to authenticate their identity. Other new technologies that might assist in the automation process are the use of mobile apps, like those which walk customers through common issues so they can fix problems themselves without the need for your involvement. Others might use SMS to text a code to a number to get information on their account, a balance due, or to automate the payment process. 4. Use it for The All-Important Follow-upMaintaining communication after a sale is crucial for customer satisfaction. Following up shows clients that your business is available for ongoing support and helps in identifying and addressing potential issues early. A simple practice like reaching out a few days after a transaction to check if the client has any questions or needs assistance can be very effective. Addressing problems early can prevent them from escalating, and automated emails can be a straightforward way to initiate this post-purchase communication. 5. Automate Your Social Media PresenceAn active social media presence is essential for modern businesses. It connects you with potential and current customers, enhancing your brand’s accessibility. Automated social media management tools, like HappyFox, can efficiently sort through social media interactions, directing queries to appropriate departments without manual intervention. These tools can also help in automating your content posting, ensuring consistent engagement with your audience and maximizing your marketing efforts. 6. The SurveySurveys are a valuable tool for gathering insights. While response rates can vary, the feedback from well-crafted surveys is invaluable for identifying potential issues and sparking conversations with customers. Keeping surveys concise, relevant, and action-oriented can increase engagement. Automated follow-up emails based on survey responses can further facilitate dialogue, especially in areas of concern highlighted by customers. 7. The CallbackDespite the prevalence of digital communication, many customers still appreciate personal phone interactions. Including a callback option, alongside digital communication methods, caters to this preference. Tools like MobiForge’s Click to Call or Click to SMS solutions make it easy for customers to request a call. Calls can be queued for response by phone representatives, ensuring that more complex or urgent issues are addressed efficiently and personally. This approach acknowledges that while digital solutions are efficient, the human touch remains a crucial aspect of customer service. Types of Customer Communication Automation ToolsTo assist in selecting the most effective automation tools for customer communication, this table compares various types of tools based on their features and ideal usage scenarios.
Key Considerations for Automating Customer ConversationsAs you explore automating conversations with your customers, consider these essential points to ensure effective and efficient communication:
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