|
|
| Stop
Marketing and Stop Growing! It's that simple. |
 |
| We
are heading into the final turn of 2009. There is no
doubt challenging times are here. We may as well get
used to it. It looks like they are going to be with
us for a while. The GMS Network definitely has business
that are scrambling to find solutions, so if you are
in the "scramble" mode, you are not alone.
I don't look at this as all bad news, however. This
is where creative and bold business owners shine and
where weak and non- value added business struggle. Just
like a great boxing match, the late rounds take toughness
and precision, so will you!
I am confident the majority of GMS Business owners are
up for the challenge and GMS is doing everything possible
to bring low cost, high growth business solutions to
your doorstep. However, implementation takes effort,
focus and calculated risk on your part. This is not
the time to retreat, but rather the time to focus, be
careful, but stay aggressive.
As a single, full time dad of four, I am aware that
our plight is not easy. Nothing worth having usually
is. Small business ownership is changing and only those
committed to hard work and planning will survive, let
alone do well in this economy.
Below, I will detail some blunt observations as to why
many members are struggling. About 20% have shut their
doors in the last year alone. Those who did have a lot
in common. I will also share strategies that are working
for members and that GMS recommends for the rest of
the year, setting up 2010 for a good startl. Keep in
mind while reading this newsletter that it is in GMS's
best interest to have THRIVING business owners as clients.
Your Success is critical to our Success. So, lets get
started!
|
|
|
First,
The plain Truth:
This
is going to come across as a little harsh to some. But at
the risk of offending a few, I want to be very clear about
small business growth and the lack of it. Of course, this
is my opinion, but it is based on watching over 1,000 Small
business owners at one time or another joining GMS. Trust
me, it is grounded in fact more than casual observation. Not
every Member has applied good business sense to their endeavors
and it always painful to watch people fail and shut down
A huge problem as the economy flounders, is the tendency for
small businesses owners to go into a shell with their marketing.
This is a catastrophic mistake. Stay aggressive! 20% of your
time and at least 10% of your budget should be spent on marketing
and your Internet presence. If you are spending less than
an hour per day on your marketing, there is a problem. This
is not easy when finances get tight and more and more of your
time is spent in the field or with customers, but it is essential
if you want to grow or at least stay in the game. This doesn't
mean just running ads. It can mean business
card exchanges, Logo
Design, Website
(new or upgraded), SEO,
Twitter, Facebook, YouTube,
Door Hangers, Business Cards that actually look good, Post
Cards, Direct Mail, Email marketing
(Ezine), Monthly Newsletters,
Breakfasts with GMS, Lunches
with GMS, Stickers, and even cold
calling.
All of the suggestions above in red don’t cost a nickel
but all take some time on your part. GMS can help you with
any or all of them, but only if you call us. We applaud you
even if you do them apart from GMS. Whatever helps you grow,
we are in favor of.
One
quick "for example" is that about a 3rd of our members
still do not have websites. I'd say half have websites that
are very weak or need to be upgraded. Even our old sites are
in need of upgrading. (We offer special rates for upgrades
on sites we previously built) This is not to "sell"
our services, but rather to point out that in the year 2010,
not having a good presence on the Internet is just un-acceptable.
Lets face it, the phone book is dead, and I mean DEAD. I don't
even have a Yellow Pages anymore. Do you?
So,
what can you do right now in addition to Networking?
First, Make a commitment
to The Internet. Period.
The Internet is where
small businesses get the biggest bang for their buck, without
a doubt. If you aren't getting leads from your website, it
needs to be changed and promoted better. Ask yourself, when
was the last time I updated my site? If it has been "years",
you have a major problem right there. Analyze the traffic
to your site and commit to increasing it.
Do your Website,
Logo, Email, and Business Cards Match? If not, why not?
Poor branding is another
fatal error that is easily corrected. Consistency is important
when marketing. Get all of your efforts working together.
The results of building your business image properly are rewarding
and every time you promote your company it reinforces past
efforts. Start with your logo and work your way forward.
GMS
Can Help.
GMS can do all of
the above for less than what most owners spend on cellular
services. Businesses who would like to get aggressive can
and should spend a little more. This includes a new Website,
Logo Design, Business Cards, SEO, Site Maintenance, SEO Maintenance,
GMS Networking, Web hosting, Email Marketing and One-on-One
Consultations. Your business is worth it! Call us. In almost
every case, the investment is returned many times over. If
you can go elsewhere and get some or all of this done, we
are very happy for you as well. But it needs to be done.
Twitter and
Facebook?
One of our missions
at GMS is to provide low cost marketing solutions to our members.
Twitter? Well, many have heard of it, and I know it seems
like one more "fad', but after careful research, this
is another tool in the marketing tool box we now recommend.
If used wrongly, it is worthless and a waste of time, but
if you "tweet" wisely and to a target audience,
you could build a loyal following. We have built a GMS
TWITTER page for you to view. If you are interested,
we are considering having Twitter lunches for training and
help you get started. Please Email
Us Here if you are interested in this. Based on the
response we get, we are happy to help you get started. Remember,
Twitter is currently FREE. If you are currently on Twitter,
please let us know and we will add the link to your GMS Page
asap! Facebook users also! Follow
GMS on Twitter! |
"The
Internet is just a flash in the pan"!
Can you believe we actually heard this from
a member (no longer in business) about a decade
ago. Since then, The Internet has grown and
grown to the #1 source of information on the
planet. And since then, our sites have greatly
improved!
Those who tell you The Internet doesn't work
or isn't that important to business have a
terrible Internet presence of their own...
Guaranteed!
New site Launch #1
- www.healingspiritsmassage.net
Within 1 week of launching her new site, GMS
Member Jill Feehan had already booked appointments
and made money. This was a replacement site.
Her current site was ok, but she knew it needed
to be improved and it utilized very old technology
and was difficult to update and navigate.
The old
site can viewed here: Below is her
testimonial to GMS. |
 |
| "Marvin
from givemeservice created a beautiful website,
healingspiritsmassage.net. He was very patient
with me, in the whole process of creating
the site. I have received a great deal of
compliments from clients, and has brought
in new clients, and sold gift certificate
within the first two days that it was live.
Best of all, I got to know Marvin, and am
very happy to have worked with such an amazingly
kind person." |
New site Launch #2
- www.nicholaspools.com
Owner, Sotiris Sergiou, finally pulled
the trigger after I had bothered him
for over 2 years! A very busy man, he
was not easy to tie down. But, over
time, Sotiris and I have become very
good friends and he has been closing
and opening my pools for years. In fact,
last year he installed a brand new liner.
(They did a fantastic job by the way.)
He knew the old site needed a change
and wasn't receiving the leads at the
rate he knew he should be. Well, congrats
Sotiris! The new site isn't even completely
done, but what an improvement! A new
lead came in 1 day after launch! |
New site Launch #3
- www.twinoakscaterers.com
Owner, and long time GMS Member,
Mike Pelligra, also pulled the
trigger. Mike's old
website was built a decade
ago and simply was a nightmare
to navigate.
This site is over 50 pages long
and is our biggest site to date,
but navigation is a breeze!. Great
job Mike and good luck! |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
The
GMS Team just keeps rolling thanks to our
awesome sponsors. In light of all the economic
hurdles, our sponsors have all held tough.
Not one has dropped in 2009 and for that
we are so thankful!
Our last race was at Pagoda Raceway in early
October and Little Marv grabbed 4th out
of 18 kids. He cleared a 73 foot triple
(shown below) and even after he crashed
in the 2nd moto, got up in time to pull
a 4th place overall. Dedicated to finishing
out the season strong, we have just purchased
a new bike for 2010. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
