Business Growth Insights

Is your website fulfilling its purpose? Is it driving leads, building relationships and generating sales to your business every day? Watch this strategy video with John Assaraf and Adrian Ulsh to learn the fundamentals of making your website effective and stand out from your competition.

To learn more ways to grow your business, sign up for a complimentary Business Growth Assessment.

The other day I heard a commercial on the radio for an auto dealership that really brought home a major problem I see small business owners making every day. The car dealer was berating the governments “Cash For Clunkers” program… saying that by the time the majority of people get qualified and complete the mountain of paperwork needed to complete the transaction, the money allocated for the program would be gone.

The dealer then went on to proclaim that any customer buying from them didn’t need to worry about this situation at their dealership. Instead, they would instantly discount all of their new cars by the same amount the government was offering, so come on in and buy from us today… no hassle, no problems, simple and easy.

Yeah right… if ONLY! Is there anyone remotely alive today that actually believes this garbage. Now granted, this dealer isn’t lying… they will indeed give you the same amount the government is promising… but the way they do it is to discount the car that amount from the “sticker price,” which we all know is already over-inflated by close to that exact same amount they’re offering.

Unfortunately, most people show up expecting this wonderful discount and then realize they are more or less being exposed to a “bait and switch” routine. Ahhh, the auto industry. Is it any wonder why most people would rather go to the dentist for a root canal than visit a dealer showroom?

My point is this. Are you doing something similar in your business… perhaps without even realizing it? Do you promise your customers excellent customer service? Most businesses do, don’t they? And then when you try to call them, you get a nightmare handed to you as you try to navigate through a maze of voicemail messages that never mention the problem you’re calling in with… and never allow you the option of speaking to a live human being. Excellent customer service???

Look over your business processes carefully and see if you spot any deficiencies that may be creating a roadblock stopping your customers from buying what you sell… or interacting with your business in an enjoyable way. In today’s economy, it can mean the difference between surviving… and thriving.

I recently recorded this video about The Power of Setting Goals for people interested in achieving the life of their dreams. I wanted to share this with you since being able to set and achieve goals is such an important part of running a business as well.

If you watch this and want to know more about how to achieve all your business goals, then I recommend you sign up for a complimentary business assessment with one of our certified OneCoach advisors. During this one-on-one session, they will guide you on how you can take your business from where you are to where you want to be.

Enjoy and feel free to share this with others! To sign up for that complimentary business assessment, go to www.OneCoach.com/grow.

John Assaraf

Are you wracking your brain for exciting, unique content for your blog or website? Expert Zeke Camusio from www.TheOutsourcingCompany.com shares some killer tips on getting the best out of your creativity and onto paper:

Target your markets. Think about your online audiences who visit your website or blog. Your articles need to capture and hold their interest. Unique content needs to educate and inform your readers, and keep them coming back for more articles.

Define your niche. Don’t write about generic topics. You need to hit your niche with your articles. For example, if you own a sporting goods store and want to sell more running shoes online, don’t write content about running shoes. The topic is too broad. You need a unique perspective such as the health benefits of running or how to choose the proper running shoe for your stride. Angle your article to fit your specific niche.

Keep up with industry trends and news. Read daily industry news and be ‘in the know.’ Unique content needs to be fresh and timely which makes you look like an expert in the eyes of your readers. Don’t regurgitate information that can be found on The New York Times website.

Write on a regular basis. In order to keep those creative juices flowing, it helps to write on a regular basis. If you write a blog, write consistently and keep a journal or notebook on hand. Jot down notes and ideas as they come to you throughout the day. This will help you create new, interesting topics.

Don’t compare yourself to other writers or industry experts. Each writer has their own style of writing. It will only hurt your creative process by comparing yourself to others. It’s helpful to research blogs, ezines and websites for ideas, but don’t copy another writer’s style. The key to branding yourself as a content writer is to find your own style and stick with it.

Don’t duplicate content. Do not steal or copy information from online or offline sources. It’s acceptable to directly quote information, but copying word-for-word is plagiarism and is illegal. If you summarize content from another website and stick it on your site, you are basically duplicating information. As a result, your site will lose search engine rankings. Unique content bumps you higher on search engines.

Keep your writing simple. Don’t confuse your readers with jargon and complicated language. Write in a breezy, conversational style. It’s okay to bend some of the rigid grammar rules when you write web content; however, it’s still recommended to edit and use spell check. Implement this editing trick: print out your article and circle mistakes with a red pen. When you review a hard copy, it’s easier to find errors.