Secrets to Successful Sales Emails

Email continues to be one of the most cost effective forms of marketing around. There are two significant factors in crafting a successful sales email: the subject line and the body. Whether you create your campaigns in-house or outsource your small business marketing, paying special attention to these two parts can help generate leads, improve click through rate, and grow your business!

The Importance of the Subject Line

The purpose of the subject line is to grab attention and compel a person to open an email. As a writer, you only have about three seconds to make an impact. As the reader scans through an inundated inbox, he or she will only pick only a few to open and you want one of those to be yours.

Usually, the reader will first pick emails from familiar people, those who have established trust because they have provided value or they have some kind of connection. Then, the reader will pick emails with the most intriguing subject lines. Most others simply get deleted.

When writing subject lines, the first thing to do is to eliminate words that will trigger the email provider's spam filters. This means the email will not appear in the reader’s inbox unless the recipient has added your name/company to their contact list. Many providers (including Gmail) might still filter an email from a known contact if they have high degree of certainty it is spam.

As an example, the use of the following words might trigger the spam filter: free, buy now, cash, 50% off, click here, call now, subscribe, earn, discount, eliminate debt, double your income, you're a winner, amazing, opportunity, and credit. Some other triggers are the use of all caps, or repeated symbols like exclamation marks.

It's worth reviewing your email provider's guidelines for best practices or look online for other resources.

How to Write a Great Subject Line

So what works? The subject line should run about 50 characters and be intriguing. For instance, "Six ways to get in shape in 30 minutes" is more intriguing than something bland like, "John, find out how to lose weight."; Add a sense of urgency or personalization from a targeted email list. Here are more tips to writing a great subject line. 

It’s important to get the subject line done well, because simply improving the content of an email will be a waste of time if the email is never opened. 

How to Write Compelling Content

Naturally, the content will flow according to the topic and the need being addressed, but here are some useful techniques to consider when writing the body of your email.

1. Use a personal, rather than a corporate or impersonal, tone.

2. Use numbers as opposed to letters when describing anything quantifiable.

3. Ask questions to engage.

4. Use attention-grabbing, punchy words that express the colloquial trends of the niche market you are addressing. For instance, if you are writing about self-improvement, a phrase with words like “edge,” “techniques,” “tips,” or “tricks” will appeal to people looking for quick ways to do things better.

If you haven't tried your hand at marketing and selling via email, it's a great time to start. Invest your tax return or find other alternative financing and put it to work for you. With email's easy customer segmentation, opportunities for lead generation, and affordable features — you'll be glad you did!

State of US Economy – April 2013

With tax season over, US small businesses are again wondering about the state of the economy. Will we beat the recession or sink deeper in? For companies considering a working capital business loan or alternative funding options for expansion, the economy has a direct impact on future plans.

With so much information and media coverage, sometimes it's difficult to get a clear picture. Here are a few trustworthy market indicators... 

The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book

Economists and financial analysts often rely on the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book to sort through the confusion. The Federal Reserve has 12 districts, with each district reporting on the state of the economy in their district. The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book published its report eight times a year. Here are the April 17, 2013 findings:

• Most of the districts grew from the later part of February to the earlier part of March. This growth was mainly due to manufacturers, particularly those associated with building homes and making cars.

• While consumer spending did increase modestly, it was inhibited by winter weather conditions, higher gas prices, and a spike in payroll tax.

• In many districts, defense-based industries were weak.

• Unemployment continued to be high. 

Reviewing Positive Trends

There was overall positive trend in most districts:

• The travel and tourism industries showed an increase. This was due to an increase in leisure travel and business travel.

• Real estate, residential and commercial, improved. 

• Loan demand rose slightly.

• Most economic growth came from professional services, IT businesses, manufacturing, and residential construction. 

Encouraging Employment Rates

On May 3, 2013, The US Labor Department announced that in April, 165,000 new jobs were added and unemployment fell slightly to 7.5%. It also had a positive revision for February and March employment numbers. From Time Business & Money:

February job growth was estimated to be 332,000 rather than 268,000, and March job growth was revised from 88,000 to 138,000. In other words, there are 279,000 more jobs in the economy this month that we had previously thought.

Interpreting the Information

Despite an overall financial rise in many regions and industries in the country and a rise in consumer spending, it is still difficult to conclude that we are climbing out of the recession. This is because there are other factors to consider as well.

1. We have a grossly unbalanced economy:

Although there are many new jobs, the Federal Government is spending more than it is collecting to the tune of $1 trillion. The Presidential budget is set to spend $3.7 trillion, the largest in US History.

2. The repercussions of the US national debt:

The U.S. has amassed a colossal debt, which might actually mean that creditors from other countries now own a large part of the country. 

Small business owners looking ahead, should seek advice from experienced lenders and qualified specialists. Not sure what the current economy means for your established business? Contact us today to see if a growth plan might be right for you.

9 Secrets to Networking Success

Networking has long been a core component of running a successful business. However, connecting with others and building relationships is not easy for everyone—here are nine tips to mastering the art of networking.

1. Build Genuine Relationships

While it is sometimes helpful to break down networking into discrete and distinct steps, the best way to proceed is to seek to build genuine relationships and with others. Coming across as less than sincere, can ruin potential relationships. Networking relies on friendship and mutual respect.

2. Use Social Media

Social media has revolutionized business, if you don't take advantage of Facebook, Linked In, Twitter, or others, you're missing a huge opportunity to connect with people in your area or across the country. Social media is becoming more popular every day, those who wish to communicate with people in all age ranges will need to have a social media presence.

3. Be Helpful

Relationships are about helping others. Because of this, one of the most effective ways to network is to help others without expecting anything in return. This can mean making an introduction, donating your time, offering expertise. Trust is a core component of strong relationships, and offering to provide help and support can help strengthen this trust.

4. Attend Events 

It may be a virtual world, but there's still a lot to be said for face-to-face events such as seminars and fundraisers. These events are a great way to connect with and spend time with people who are important to your cause or industry. Events can also be a great way to learn more about the competition and industry in general, learn how your strengths and weaknesses stack up against others.

5. Maximize Technology

Being a master networker is as much about maximizing your database as it is about making contacts. Capture all the information you can such as birthday, multiple points of contact, and other notes related to each person. Always keep your contacts synced on all devices so that you never lose anything, and make sure to update your list with business card information before tossing them out. 

6. Be Yourself

One of the most common mistakes people make when networking is acting as if they are someone they are not. Networking is about honesty, and those who act as if they are someone else risk alienating others.

7. Develop a Recognition System

Some people are terrible with names. There are many tricks to help remember names and the faces associated with them. Find the one that works for you and practice until you have it perfect!

8. Set a Schedule

It's easy to let networking tasks slide when your day is already full of other fires. But, if you don't nurture relationships, you may find there aren't as many fires in the future. Block out at least one hour each week and find time to email people or interact on social media, just to say hello and keep your name top-of-mind.

9. Be Responsive

Quick response to emails, text messages, and calls is the hallmark of a master communicator AND networker. People feel valued when contacted promptly and will remember the person favorably. Be mindful of time and respond immediately to all questions and comments. Always, always send a follow-up note to thank people for their time.

Remember, networking isn't just about adding people to your circle, it's an extension of your company brand. Words and actions should always be consistent with you and your products. Make the most of your circle of influence, strategic partnerships, and new people you meet each day—reach out and connect, it's worth every second of your time!

5 Secrets To Successful Small Business Hiring

Making the right hiring decision is important regardless of the size of a company. However, hiring and training can cost hundreds of dollars so for most small businesses with limited resources, it's even more critical to find the right person the first time. Here are five tips for success... 

1) Personality Fit

A small business needs everyone working together toward a common goal. Any new hire must have a compatible personality with the rest of the team. Many owners will find that the 'fit' is key—skills and tasks can be taught but a personality can't be changed. The better the personality fit, the more likely that the individual is going to be happy and productive in their new role.

2) Candidate Versatility

In a smaller company, it is vital that everyone can do more than one thing well and happy to wear many hats. It may be necessary to stock shelves, answer phones, and run a cash register at the same time. Smaller businesses need someone that is versatile enough to manage it all as well as flexible enough to take on other duties as needed.

3) Leadership Abilities

Assuming the right marketing and strategic business plan are in place, most companies can hope to expand in the future. Therefore, the business needs people who can be groomed for leadership and more responsibility going forward. If a business owner hopes to eventually sell the business, it is even more imperative that there is someone around who can run the company after the sale.

4) Work Independently

There may be times when only one person is needed to man the store, answer email, or ship orders. This means that a new hire has to be able to work independently and manage his or her time wisely. Business owners will want to avoid the unnecessary payroll expense of additional staffing unless absolutely needed such as times of seasonal hiring. Employee independence is often a good gauge of leadership and maturity as well.

5) Customer Service

Regardless of business size, companies rely on loyal and repeat customers for the bulk of their business. Excellent customer service starts from the top and a small business owner needs to lead by example. Employees should always be trained on customer service and understand how to respond to negative criticism should it occur. It is critical that employees always treat customers with the respect that they deserve. 

If you run a small business, you need to invest wisely and choose your employees carefully. Look for someone who is versatile, can work independently, and can become a future leader in the company. If acquiring a small business loan to support your staffing needs, be sure to look to lenders that can partner with you on strategic growth and leadership. Contact The Small Business Fund today! 

Investing Your Small Business Tax Refund

With tax deadlines over, many small business owners find themselves waiting for a refund.  So how can they maximize their return? Many businesses could see big wins by revising their marketing efforts. A cash investment, paired with time and energy, could pay off for the future growth of a business.

Three Ways To Boost Marketing Success 

1. Fine-tune the message. Review existing marketing channels and consider whether they can be improved. Owners should look at the strength of the marketing message or the sales script currently in use. Is it relevant to the target audience and inspire the desired action? Times change and the message should stay fresh.

A proven way to do this is to hire a professional copywriter to revise existing sales letters, ads, and sales scripts. Although outsourcing marketing may appear to be an expensive approach, the return on investment will more than cover the initial expense of hiring someone who is an expert at crafting highly-persuasive marketing messages.

2. Update the website. Although most small businesses already have a website, technology changes so rapidly that after just a few years, it's time for something new. Perhaps, the look-and-feel of the website needs to be updated. Or maybe more media needs to be added, like videos or podcasts. It's important that new content is regularly created to keep the website fresh and relevant to customer’s present needs and concerns. 

When determining what to revise on the site, small businesses should focus on website conversion. It's important to know what works in the sales process and what doesn't.

3. Integrate offline marketing. This means using both online and off-line channels to get leads and convert prospects into customers. Besides creating a more efficient website, a small business owner may want to consider using direct mail or other print media as well. Although this form of marketing may not be new, it still remains highly effective. Print can reach customers who do not spend much time on their computers or who do not have smart phones. When the message is reinforced across all channels, businesses can target a broader customer base.

With just a little thought, a small business tax refund can be used to make a huge difference in the future growth of a business. Paired with other alternative financing options, the investment can result in a much more successful business by the next tax season.