Posts Tagged ‘Florida’
Tuesday, May 21st, 2013
Instead of doing that, try this!
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Are you not getting the calls and emails you were expecting after a recent networking session? Does the thought of networking with strangers make you shudder and want to hide under your desk? Don't feel trapped by social and business situations; figure out what you're doing wrong so that you can start networking the right way.
1. The crowd is too big. You may think you can talk to more people in this situation, but you can make more of an impact when there are fewer people in the room. Think of quality versus quantity.
2. You haven't created your identity. In order to hire you, prospective employers need to know who you are. Make yourself known to them by establishing your identity in what you can do for their business. Are you a master wordsmith? Make sure that part of you is noticed.
3. The group is too similar. If the people you're networking with aren't diverse in their careers, you're selling yourself short. Get involved in groups where people come from various business backgrounds so you can broaden your options.
4. It's all about you. Make sure that you're not doing all of the talking and remember that there is 'take' as well as 'give'. Keep in mind that you may be in a position to help someone else make a networking connection.
5. You don't have anything to say. Do your homework. Think about possible conversation topics ahead of the networking event so that you are prepared and able to contribute when the time comes.
6. You're wasting your time. If you keep trying different networking functions and continue to get no results, you need to stop and reevaluate your approach. Perhaps you would be more successful networking online through the plethora of social media platforms.
If you need to brush up on your networking skills, join us for A Networking Event You Won't Want to Miss from 5:30pm to 7:30pm on Wednesday, May 22. This will be an interactive session lead by Clint Babcock of Sandler Training. Sign up now and don't miss out!
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Tags: AMA Tampa Bay, Florida, Marketing, Networking, Social Media, Tampa
Posted in Blog | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 14th, 2013
Summer is almost here; why not revamp your marketing plans for the year's hottest season?
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When the weather is warmer, everyone wants to be outside to enjoy it. Whether they're going to the beach or an outdoor event, there are plenty of opportunities to market to your audience and gain more attention by doing some extra marketing this summer. Follow these five ideas to make your marketing plan sizzle!
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Create something new. Add something to your business that was never there before. Try a new display case design for your products, rent a billboard for the summer or add a new feature/section to your website. Changing things up a little can can make a big impact.
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Host an event. Take advantage of the nice weather and host a gathering or party to show appreciation to your customers. Make it a BBQ and include families to let them know that you are grateful for their support.
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Update your ads/merch. Freshen up your print ads and your next order of t-shirts, pens, or Frisbees with a fun summer theme. Think of beach scenes, sunglasses or even a 4th of July motif in order to switch things up and have a little fun with your promotional items.
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Participate. Many towns and cities all over the US have 4th of July parades that local businesses contribute to. Be a part of the festivities this year and create a float. Or, simply decorate your company vehicle and pass out fliers and coupons to encourage potential customers to contact you.
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Get prepared. Take some time in the summer to think about your marketing plans for the fall. Planning ahead for Back-to-School sales and fall sports will put you ahead of the game.
Find out what AMA Tampa Bay is doing this summer by checking the events page on our website. If you have any extra time on your hands, look into the possible volunteer opportunities that are available. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Tags: AMA Tampa Bay, Clearwater, Florida, Marketing, online marketing, online presence, Social Media, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Tampa Bay
Posted in Blog | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 7th, 2013
Developing your brand takes time, thought and creativity.
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A brand can consist of an entire corporation or just a single individual. And with that brand, you are telling the masses who you are and what your company is all about all in the context of a word, phrase or image. You also want the message that you're putting forth to be creative and unforgettable. Here are five things to consider when working on the identity for your brand.
1. Decide on a name. This could be the most important factor when it comes to branding. You need a name for your business that conveys what you do while also being catchy and memorable. You may decide to change or update your logo later on, but the name remains the same.
2. Determine your style. Figure out how you want your business to be seen and remembered. You can use bright colors and certain fonts to show your personality. For example, a child care professional may want to use multiple, vibrant colors, while a law firm may opt for simple, clean text.
3. Create a logo. This may take a few tries, but you should come up with lots of variant options for your business logo. Details such as size, font, type, color along with any pictures or images can be mixed and matched until you find your favorite.
4. Define your audience. Do your research to find out the preferences of your target audience. Tailor your brand identity to your potential customers and keep them in mind when creating your company's tagline, for example.
5. Be different. Stand out from your competition in order to be seen and noticed. Keep in mind that there's no rush, so take your time and develop your brand identity so that it is a reflection of you.
Find out everything you need to know about branding and marketing from AMA Tampa Bay's monthly SIG events. Check our website for more information on upcoming lectures and guest speakers.
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Tags: AMA, AMA Tampa Bay, brand identity, branding, connection ally, design, Florida, image, mallardi, Marketing, online marketing, online presence, Public Relations, Social Media, St. Petersburg, Tampa
Posted in Blog | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 30th, 2013
Use email marketing as a tool to expand your customer outreach.
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If you're not very computer savvy, it's ok; you don't have to be. Don't let something you don't yet understand deter you from promoting your business. Think of it as a challenge and remind yourself that even though the method may be new to you, it's nothing that you can't handle. Follow these steps to get started:
Invest in software
To easily manage your email marketing tasks, invest in software that will set everything up for you, including your list of emails to automatic responses. As a beginner, you should choose a company that will host the software on its own server. Otherwise, you would have to host it yourself, which can be highly technical.
Build your subscribers
Figure out who you're targeting and create a list of contacts. Start with the names of people you know or are involved with and build from there. If you're doing the "cold call" version of emailing, try offering incentives like special deals or coupons for services or provide a free promotional item for the first 100 subscribers.
Create your message
Take the time to focus on the content you're sending. Think about the person opening your email and ask yourself what they would want to see. Should you use a graphic or photo to best convey your message or would including text only be the better option? Depending on what type of message you're trying to send out there, you need to customize your message for your readers.
Power in numbers
The more people that are on your contact list, the better chance you have of someone showing interest in your business or product. Realistically, some people are going to ignore or dismiss your email; that's just a given. So, keep that in mind and continue to build your contacts in order to improve your chances of making a connection.
Share your ideas and connect with other marketing professionals in your area with AMA Tampa Bay. Keep checking our upcoming events page to find out how you can join us to learn even more!
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Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013
You went to school to study medicine, not marketing. But that doesn't mean you can't learn a few things to help your practice.
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Marketing is all about people as well as their wants and needs. As a healthcare provider, you strive to keep your patients healthy and establish a relationship of care and trust. But in order for potential patients to come to you, they need to know that you're available. Short of hiring a professional marketing team, there are things you can do for yourself to get your name out there.
1. Make a plan. Figure out what you goals are for the next year and plan your marketing finances accordingly. If you're just starting out, you may simply need to attract patients. Define (or rethink) your target audience and determine which methods of advertising would be best for your practice.
2. Invest in your business. Update the signage in front of your office as well as any current promotional materials to get yourself noticed. Create a budget that you are comfortable with for your advertising costs. You can buy ads in your local newspaper or radio station as well as advertising through social media. Which brings us to the next point…
3. Get online. If your practice currently doesn't have its own web page and social media pages, start creating them now. There is no reason why you shouldn't have an online presence. Provide your practice's location, contact phone number and any other pertinent information so that it's easily accessible. Above anything else, make sure your website is user friendly for all ages. By doing this, you will reach a much wider audience and you can form online relationships with your current and future potential patients.
Learn more tips on branding and marketing from AMA Tampa Bay. Check out our events page to be sure you don't miss out on any of our upcoming seminars, lectures and contests!
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Tags: Advertising, AMA Tampa Bay, budget, Florida, invest, Marketing, medical practice, online marketing, online presence, planning, Social Media, Tampa
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Thursday, April 18th, 2013
Learn how to avoid being left in the shadows and try these tips for getting good publicity for your business.
Publicity, not to be confused with advertising, is something that can give your business's image a boost and put your name in the spotlight. They say that there is no such thing as bad publicity, but how do you get it in the first place?
1. Create a press release. First thing's first, if your business is so new that no one knows your name, let them know. Press releases and press kits full of samples of your work and other information can be sent to various forms of media to be seen by vastly large audiences.
2. Embrace the media. If and when news gets out about your company, you may receive inquiries and more questions. This is good. If a reporter happens to call looking for a story, make sure you take the time to speak with them. Never say no to free publicity.
3. Get involved locally. See if there are any charity drives or school activities in your area that you can donate to. Sponsor a little league team or volunteer as a company to get your name out there in a positive way.
4. Know your social media. Be savvy about online platforms and know which ones you should be on and which ones to avoid so that you're not wasting your time. Get more involved on the social media pages that your customers use.
5. Do some pre-planning. Think ahead and set up Google alerts that will track what is being said about your business online. Manage any negative feedback by providing good customer service.
Find out what events, gatherings and lectures AMA Tampa Bay has in store. Keep in touch with other local professionals in your field by joining and becoming a member or volunteer.
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Tags: AMA Tampa Bay, Blog, connection ally, Florida, ignition branding, magazine, Marketing, Media, newspaper, online marketing, online presence, PR, PRSA, Social Media, Tampa, TV
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Tuesday, April 9th, 2013
Do you know what is being said about you online? Does it matter?
The answer is a resounding YES! Your online reputation definitely matters and there are certain things you can do to keep an eye out for negative feedback or misinformation when someone performs a quick search on Google. Would you want to do business with a company that was linked to phrases like "worst company ever" and "take your money elsewhere?" We didn't think so. Since you want your brand to be seen in a positive light, make sure you are taking proper precautions when it comes to your business's reputation online.
Why is online reputation management so important?
Take the recent social media uproar involving Applebee's and their inability to handle the situation, for example. It turned into a PR nightmare fast. The good thing is that you can learn from this and avoid their mistakes. Never ignore social media comments that are seeking a response or answer and keep your responses light and professional.
Critics are usually very honest.
When people write online reviews of companies or products, they're usually brutally honest if they're unhappy. Their frustration gets translated to the review and the image of your brand could suffer. If you don't have someone (or a team) designated to search for and manage your company's reputation, potential customers are going to read those negative reviews and assume that they're true. Don't let that happen.
Practice customer outreach.
Reach out to those that have a documented negative impression of you and ask them what you can do to perform better. Word will spread that you value the consumer's opinion, which will turn a negative into a positive and improve your customer service.
Take advantage of the opportunities and resources that AMA Tampa Bay can provide and take the steps necessary in order to improve your online reputation. Learn more about becoming a member or volunteer!
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Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013
Freshen up your dusty old campaigns with these tips.
Do you keep going back to the same old ideas when it comes to planning your marketing campaigns? It can seem tedious and frustrating to rely on methods that are uninspiring because they've been done so many times. In order to keep your business thriving and get new customers interested, you have to continually come up with new ideas. Changing your campaign approach in small ways can make a big difference.
Simplify and focus. Take a step back and figure out what has worked for your past campaigns and what has not. Do some "spring cleaning" and get rid of your old ways of thinking. Focus on creating a clear and simple message for your current and potential future customers.
Change up your methods. Do something different and unlike what you have done before. If you only ever advertise online, try a print publication such as a magazine or community newsletter to reach a different audience. If advertising on a billboard worked in the past, why not try "walking advertisements" by having friends, family and customers wear you brand's merchandise? Look into mobile marketing too.
Rethink your audience. Your marketing demographic may be youth or teenagers, but should you be more specific? Try going a bit further and also reach out to those that are making the purchases: their parents. Make sure that you are advertising on a platform, like social media, that would catch the eye of both the buyer and recipient.
Do something fun. Plan a promotional party or run a contest to draw attention to your services or products. Host a gathering or open house at your place of business and incorporate fun, social activities for your guests. Be creative and invite other business owners and locals so that they can all learn more about what you have to offer.
Keep trying new things so that your business can continue to grow. Stay connected with other professionals through the AMA Tampa Bay network and visit our website to find out about our future events!
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Tuesday, March 26th, 2013
Don't let being a small fish in a big pond intimidate you when it comes to marketing your business.
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It may seem daunting and overwhelming at first, but these best practices can help you successfully market your small business on a larger scale. Following these tips will help you make it through an uneasy beginning and have you well on your way to seeing profits.
1. Identify your target audience. Once you know who your services are geared toward, you will be better able to market to them. If your audience is older, try advertising in newspapers, newsletters and community boards. If your audience is younger, focus on digital ads and social media.
2. Do daily promotion. No matter what advertising outlet you use, get out there and market your business every day. Set up a mailing list of those interested in your product or services. You're in control of your outreach, so make it a top priority so that you can reach more potential customers.
3. Use social media. Create a Facebook page that provides contact and location information for your business and stay in touch with your customers by responding to questions and posting regularly. Start a LinkedIn page, sign up for Twitter and see if Pinterest or any other platforms have something to offer. Look into online ad costs and arrange your budget accordingly.
4. Listen to your customers. Find out what they would like more of from your business and take negative feedback into consideration. This will make them feel special and they will appreciate the recognition. Be flexible and accommodating, if you can, and your loyal customer base will remember.
5. Be yourself. The more authentic and honest you are, the more customers you will attract and retain. People like to reward companies with their business, so being genuine will only be to your benefit.
Find out what AMA Tampa Bay can do to help you market your small business. Check out our calendar of events and sign-up to become a member today!
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