Take time to Listen

We are all interested in using Social Networking to benefit our business. Business owners ask me every day "how can I get started? what can I write about". They too often tell me they feel social media does not lend itself to their business. But I don't agree.

We are people. We are social creatures. Every business decision is made by a person. Every purchase decision is made by a person. Therefore, every business does, in some way, lend itself to social networking. Sometimes you just have to be creative in your thinking... other times, you just have to listen.

Not sure just how to get started? Not sure how social networking can benefit you? Then take the first step, go to your favorite search engine or to Twitter or Facebook or LinkedIn and search. Search for your prospects. Search for your competitors. Search for products or services you offer. Search for new trends within your industry... 

Just search. Listen to what people are saying. Get ideas. Find out what is of interest to your prospects. What keeps them up at night. What makes them ecstatic. What makes them laugh. What makes them mad. What would they find useful? Is there a void you can fill? 

Just listen. 

And do it regularly. Even if you decide to never take the plunge and become involved in the conversation (which I feel would be a terrible idea) ... at least listen. Your business will depend on it.

June Bisel

BBGG Advertising and Public Relations

Twitter: BBGGadv

Simplicity Rules

Simplicity has always been key in advertising — hence, the KISS method (keep it simple, stupid). Oftentimes, it is this concept that I find most difficult to convey, and as I look through our local publications each day, it is evident that many of our local businesses fall into the same pattern — trying to fit everything they do into one ad.

So I thought this would be a good opportunity to share some rules on developing a good ad. I call them my Simplicity Rules.

- Know your audience

- Advertise where the majority of your audience is likely to see it

- Pull readers in with a catchy headline

- If using a graphic, make sure it is relevant

- Copy content should be direct and to the point

- Hone in on the benefits of your product or service

- Keep plenty of white space

- Do not forget the Call to Action

- Provide contact information

- Do not clutter the ad

Lets face it, we are all on information overload. If advertising is not presented in a manner that is invited and enticing to our audience, no one will read it. Cluttered ads are stressful and will be overlooked.

Simplicity truly does rule! Try it out.

June Bisel

BBG&G Advertising and Public Relations

BusinessCardContacts.com

Twitter: BBGGadv

Coupons Make a Comeback

Great article here decitica.com/ talks about the changes in consumer behavior due to the recession.

The increased use of coupons is what spurred BusinessCardContacts to begin offering coupons through our site.

I hope you read the article Decita Marketing Strategy and Research and then visit our downloadable coupon section for great savings.

June Bisel

BBG&G Advertising & Public Relations

BusinessCardContacts.com

Visit me on Twitter - BBGGadv

Which name do you like?

When my partner, Deborah Garry, and I started BusinessCardContacts a couple of years ago, we did so because we saw a need that was not being met right here in our own community. As owners of BBG&G Advertising in Middletown since 1997, we have our fingers on the pulse of the business community as it relates to marketing. We support our community, we buy local, and we encourage others to buy local.

We developed BusinessCardContacts to provide Hudson Valley businesses of all sizes a place to affordably and effectively reach their target audience using the web. As the Hudson Valleys Net Neighborhood, we provide businesses in our community a chance to promote themselves and tell their story. It provides the consumer in all of us the chance to find and research our local businesses online before making a buying decision.

BusinessCardContacts is a rolodex, so to speak, of businesses in the Hudson Valley. But it is also a site that encourages buying local. You can get to BusinessCardContacts two ways:

www.BusinessCardContacts.com

www.ThinkLocalFirst.biz

We just can not decide which one we like best, so we are having a vote.

Let us know which name you prefer. Leave a comment below, or vote via Twitter at http://twitter.com/BBGGadv