3 things to do now to grow

3 Things To Do To Grow Your Business In Tech, Marke-ng, PR, Promo-on and General Business (So it’s really 15 things…but you should s-ll do them!)

RISING TIDES ALLIANCE Business Networking

Presents

White Plains, NY March 9th, 2014

Presenters Technology Ryan Smith Owner, The Branding Buzz Marke/ng Jann Mirchandi Owner, Marke3ng Café Public Rela/ons Owner, Buzz Poten3al Mike D’Ardano Promo/on Robert Rosenthal President, JP Promo3onal Products, Inc. General Business Kevin Brown CEO, Cashless Exchange Operator Hudson Barter Exchange

Technology – 3 Things To Do 1.   U/lize the Rising Tides Alliance web site to increase networking

opportuni/es •  Update your personal profile •  Sumit your “RTA Marketplace” offer •  Log your transac-ons and guests to earn points •  Review presenta-on from the “RTA Vault”

2.   Harness the power of LinkedIn to generate leads •  Send connec-on invita-ons to everyone you meet •  Update your profile and add any recent projects •  Import your contact list into email soUware •  Share your blogs and other business updates oUen

3.   Upgrade your collabora/on systems to boost produc/vity •  Use the full poten-al of your business domain name •  Upgrade to an enterprise-‐class email system •  Keep your email, contacts, and calendars synced •  Share documents and chat with co-‐workers

Marketing – 3 Things To Do 1.   Check Your Site Analy/cs

•  See where your traffic is coming from •  You can eliminate wasted ad spend; or invest more

(Kaja got 50% jump in referral traffic aUer going Pro)

2.   Use Email Marke/ng •  Send a newsle\er or other valuable info to list. To stay front of mind.

(Donna sent an email I responded, she's now working with me and Kaja, and Kaja is ge_ng highlighted in Organic Spa from her case study!)

3.   Be Social Not Always Promo/onal •  Talk about what's happening with you, your company, clients, life. Helps

you build a report with followers, they expect human beings to be running your company. Prove them right. Don't just talk about yourself on social channels or you may turn people off.

Public Relations – 3 Things To Do 1.   Have your PR plan be part of your overall marke/ng plan

•  If you don't have a plan, you are was-ng your -me going from idea to idea without any focus or way to measure the results and manage your costs.

•  For Tompkins Landscaping Corp we do mini plans in 3 to 6 month chunks. In the late fall we revised our plan to include some PR to help increase awareness of the company in the marketplace. Two releases were planned for the first half of 2014. The first release was for her Trailblazer Award and the second will be for their work with Habitat for Humanity.

Results: S-ll working on the Trailblazer release follow-‐up. Press hits to date include: Westchester County Business Journal, The Journal News, The Daily Voice, Business Council of Westchester Website and more to come.

Public Relations – (cont.) 2.   Have Unique and Newsworthy Angles for Your Public Rela/ons Efforts

•  Your news has to pass the "Who Cares Test". Is this informa-on that anyone (besides yourself) would really care about? If it doesn't pass that test or it is too promo-onal, you will not get coverage. Some media have a pay for play model but that is a whole other subject.

•  Tompkins Landscaping Corp -‐ The Trailblazer Award was unique for a woman in a business that is mostly run by men. The press loves these kind of items with a nice photo to complement the release.

3.   Repurpose Your PR For Your Social Media Channels And Your Website

•  It will spread out the costs of your PR out and help you with your SEO. Relevant PR is always looked at favorably by Google.

•  Tompkins Landscaping Corp took the Trailblazer Award press release and posted it on their website, FB and LinkedIn. I posted it on my FB, LinkedIn and Twi\er.

Promotion – 3 Things To Do 1.   Promote your products and services

•  Promo-onal products are Adver-sing with ongoing impressions •  A\ract A\en-on at trade shows and fairs •  Generate Revenue at special events

2.   Thank / Reward Customers, Prospects, Employees •  Build Goodwill in your community •  Increase Awareness of safety programs

3.   Make Mailings Memorable •  With so much electronic mail “snail mail” with product inserts stands out and is very appreciated, saved, used and seen

•  Make sure you use an expert on mailing regula-ons for your distribu-ons

Promotion (cont.)

General Business – 3 Things… 1.   Work with a Sales Telemarke/ng Company

•  The process of ge_ng viable sales calls is -me consuming. Preparing and going on them is even more -me consuming. A Sales Telemarke-ng company can help you focus on the selling aspect and not the hun-ng process.

Example: Hudson Barter Exchange signed up a superb landscaping company that is already working with several members.

2.   Host Your Own Networking Events •  The easiest way to get more business is by mining your exis-ng customer base. By

hos-ng your own networking events with your current customers and incen-ng them to bring a future poten-al customer, you are building rela-onships among your customers.

Example: Hudson Barter Exchange con-nues to throw large events that consistently lead to new customers and more business among customers.

3.   Join A Barter Exchange •  Business leads to business. The more companies that your company does

business with, the more leads will come from it. Most businesses suggest that their #1 source of new business is referrals. By working with trade customers, your business will gain new cash customers through referrals. It is also a fabulous way to fund your adver-sing which leads to building your brand recogni-on and making your phone ring.

Example: A member of Hudson Barter Exchange who powerwashes homes, concluded a job in an upscale Ardsley housing development on trade. That lead to 5 more cash jobs from the member’s neighbors!

Contact Info Technology Ryan Smith The Branding Buzz [email protected] 914 347-‐2899 www.thebrandingbuzz.com Marke/ng Jann Mirchandi Marke-ng Café [email protected] 914 806-‐7720 www.Westchestermarke-ngcafe.com Public Rela/ons Mike D’Ardano Buzz Poten-al [email protected] 914 961-‐8898 Promo/on Robert Rosenthal JP Promo-onal Products, Inc. [email protected] 914 944-‐3451 www.jppromoproducts.com General Business Kevin Brown Hudson Barter Exchange [email protected] 914 372-‐7155 www.hudsonbarterexchange.com

Rising Tides Alliance Rising Tides Alliance, based in Westchester County, NY, is a networking organiza-on that believes networking should be more than handing out a business card. We are givers in the true sense. The true giver knows that giving is the -de that raises all ships, that it allows you to be a person of value to others while doing very well for yourself. •  www.rising-desalliance.com •  Monthly member business to business networking •  Meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at The Mansion in White Plains, N. B’way

•  Monthly small group or one-‐on-‐one facilitated networking •  Business Growth Programs in Sales and Key Business Issues •  Member Expert Panels •  Membership Info Contact:

Perry DiNapoli 914 804-‐6234 [email protected]