123Print's Tips for Your Small Business

17Feb 2014 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

How to Send Killer eNewsletters – 10 Tips

Customer Retention, Email Marketing, Marketing, Monday Marketing Minutes, Online Marketing, Small Business Info

Email marketing is a fast, efficient way for small businesses to connect with their customers. Sending e-newsletters has become an increasingly crucial way to build customer loyalty through special offers and great, engaging content, and ultimately is another tactic to drive sales to your small business. I always advocate a 360-degree approach to your marketing initiatives, which means tackling each one from every corner that makes sense, such as print business flyers, social media posts, email newsletters, blogs and more. But how to send killer eNewsletters? That is the question. While email marketing can be a great marketing tactic, it can also hurt, or do nothing good your brand, if you are sending out eNewsletters that your customers really don’t care about; if you are sending them out too frequently…

15Feb 2014 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

SEO and Small Business: Knowledge is Everything

Customer Acquisition, Marketing, Online Marketing, Search Marketing, Small Business Info

In 2014, online visibility for your small business is more important than ever. In fact, the visibility of your brand in all market areas is essential to business expansion and growth. For our purposes, we are going to focus on some of the more preliminary tactics that small businesses should employ when establishing their SEO strategy. First and foremost, know your audience. You may think this is stating the obvious, and for all intent purposes it is. However, it’s surprising how many business owners, small and large, take this step for granted and miss the boat on potential traffic and sales. Do as much research on potential clients, their needs and behavior as possible and discover what and why they are searching for it on your site. But what does…

14Feb 2014 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Clever Social Media Strategies for Job Searching

Job Searching Tips, Life Insight

Many job seekers are starting to see the value of online job searching through social media. Using social media on your job search can be an effective approach to boost your chances of landing a job, plus you'll be able to entice employers to consider hiring you without having to leave the house. However, integrating social media in your job search won't be able to guarantee you complete success because it will ultimately depend on how you'll use it. Job searching through social media can be very tricky and you'll have to reconsider your strategies if you want to stand out among the sea of applicants. To achieve that goal, let's take a look at some of the methods that would allow you to use social media to your advantage.…

12Feb 2014 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Why You Should Offer Gift Certificates

Customer Retention, Product Uses, Products and Services, Small Business Info

10 Facts About Gift Cards/Certificates (from giftcardexchangeday.com) Gift certificates are the most requested thing on a wish list Purchases made with them are between 20% - 50% higher than the average purchase They are the most profitable item for many retailers They are mostly purchased during Christmas, followed by birthdays and Mother’s Day They are purchased 40.3% of the time for department stores followed by 34.2% of the time for restaurants They are most commonly purchased in a $25 amount They are only used to the full amount 60% of the time, leaving an average balance of $2.30 remaining They are given 43.1% of the time because, according to shoppers, it allows the recipient to choose their own gift $41 billion worth of them went unused between 2005-2011 An American…

11Feb 2014 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Tips for Planning a St. Patrick’s Day Party

2nd Tuesday Tune-Up Your Life, Human Resources, Life Insight, Planning, Workplace

Are you planning on throwing a St. Patrick’s Day party this year? The actual day it falls on is Monday, March 17, so you could consider doing a Sunday Funday the day before in honor of the Irish holiday if a Monday night doesn’t work for you and your guests. If you are planning a St. Patrick’s Day party, the first thing you should know is what the whole holiday is about so that you can play the part of a wise host. Who’s this Saint Patrick guy? Saint Patrick is the patron Saint of Ireland who brought hope to the country by establishing various churches and monasteries, and the 17th of March celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. (more…)

10Feb 2014 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

How to Guest Blog With a Purpose

Content Marketing, Marketing, Monday Marketing Minutes, Online Marketing, Small Business Info

Guest blogging, as you may or may not know, has long been heralded as one of the best link-building tactics for your blog and website. (If you aren’t sure what “guest blogging” is, read this. If you’re not sure what “link-building tactics” are, read this.) Well, until this guy came out and said that wasn’t true. And while I agree with him in that, these days, a totally random email from a stranger asking to blog on your site is likely to be shunned more often than it is to be accepted (“sure, random stranger, I’d love you to contribute to the heart and soul of my being that is my blog” … really?), there are ways to go about it so that it’s not so spammy. Oh, and there’s…

07Feb 2014 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Small Business Spotlight – Chick that Clicks

Small Business Info, Small Business Spotlight

This week, 123Print is shining its Small Business Spotlight on ... Chick that Clicks Chick that Clicks in an on-location and in-home studio photography business located in Olive Branch, Mississippi that serves the Mid-South area. Owner Melanie prides herself on really taking the time to get to know her clients and their vision. Each session is custom-tailored to each individual. Rest assured, the real you will shine in all your photos! If you're looking for a relaxing session that is ... detailed, unique, personal, artistic, spontaneous, romantic, energetic, fun, whimsical, timeless, intimate, fresh, casual and playful ... Chick that Clicks is exactly what you've been searching for! In the words of Chick that Clicks, "Our vision – My lens – Your Memory." [caption id="attachment_6471" align="aligncenter" width="851"] [credit: Chick that Clicks][/caption] (more…)

06Feb 2014 by Cindy Berrier 1 Comment

The Top 3 Best “Work from Home” Jobs

Small Business Info, Work from Home

Many factors have contributed steadily to the rapid growth of people from all over the world who choose to make a living online. These factors include a variety of things: the rise in technology over the years, commitments (e.g. young children), or perhaps the ease and comfort of working from a sofa is becoming more and more appealing to many! Whatever the reason, working from home has certainly become a popular option. Below are the top 3 “work from home” jobs. Freelance Writing Finding employment in the writing industry has been known to be slightly difficult, which is why so many aspiring writers and journalists have taken the matter into their own hands! The benefits of being a freelance writer really are endless; flexible hours, no commute to work (meaning…

03Feb 2014 by Cindy Berrier 1 Comment

Building Customer Loyalty: Write Thank You Cards

Customer Retention, Monday Marketing Minutes, Product Uses, Products and Services, Small Business Info

Sending handwritten thank you cards adds a personal touch that will undoubtedly be appreciated by your customers. In fact, they will be floored! It’s such a rare thing to actually receive a special, personalized thank you from a business, let alone a thank you note card that is handwritten. Unheard of these days! They’re more likely to get hit up to ‘like’ a company’s social media pages (well, we’re not opposed to asking them to do that as well, but maybe after the thank you card has been sent out) than be shown major appreciation. Thank you cards are not only a great tactic to building customer loyalty; it’s also a wonderful way to stand out from your competitors. (more…)

03Feb 2014 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Small Business Spotlight – farragio

Small Business Info, Small Business Spotlight

This week, 123Print is shining its Small Business Spotlight on ... farragio Everyone likes to feel special! That's farragio's motto. Angela, owner of farragio, puts her heart into creating a wide variety of top-quality handmade items, paying special attention to detail so your item is as unique as it is durable. Personalized bridesmaid makeup bag gift sets is farragio's specialty, though they also make handmade wristlets, handbags, totes and – for the men – dopp kits. The best part of handmade items is the personal touch that makes sharing them that much more special! [caption id="attachment_6418" align="aligncenter" width="350"] [credit: farragio.com][/caption] (more…)