You Don't Know What You're Missing

What is the risk involved in speaking with someone new? Not too much, unless you think they are going to try to sell you something. Suddenly the person appears as a  threat to your time, energy, and money.

How are people perceiving you? Are you missing out on a genuine opportunity because someone in the equation feels like they are about to be pitched to?
Take this quiz to find out how approachable you are.

• How many times are you willing to attend a networking event before you get business out of it?
• When you enter a networking event, do you immediately go toward the people you know, or toward strangers hoping they need your product or service?
• Do you spend most of the conversation time at networking events focusing on the other person, or do you tend to monopolize the conversation?
• Do you connect with people on Linked In and other social media sites and stay in touch with them over time?
• Do you ever bring guests with you to a networking event?
• Out of all the people you know from networking, what percentage of them would you say are friends?
• Do you ever get together with some of your networking friends outside of work hours?

The answers to these questions will be different for everyone but they should provide some insight into your motivation during networking events. Make that time about helping other people first, and you will find what you have been missing; valuable relationships with other business people. Earning trust, and new clients, takes time and patience.

Joanne Randall

724-603-LEAP

joanne@leapyearmarketing.com

Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Marketing Mojo Radio

Accept No Substitutes

You can read, listen, and watch all you want, but there is no substitute for experience. Too bad.

Experience can be very costly; money, time, relationships, and reputation.
We have all lived life's embarrassing moments. I have had my share as well. No one likes to play the fool and embarrassing situations are certainly some of the hardest lessons learned due to pride.  Most people can eventually laugh at themselves and their inexperience and move on. If I can't be an inspiration, I can at least be an example (of what NOT to do).
Loss of time spent on foolish endeavors is a toughie since you can't get that time back. But usually the lesson learned has enough intrinsic value that it doesn't seem like a complete loss. And there is usually a good story to tell afterwards. Long afterwards.
Loss of money certainly hurts, and is akin to loss of opportunity. The good news is that you can always make more money. These lessons are often repeated as they usually represent an underlying problem of self-control to some degree or another.  If you kick yourself regularly, just know you are in good company.
The cost of one's reputation can be tricky. If it is a public matter, all parties involved will never recover completely, but most can usually summon up enough support from their loyal fans to gather momentum and start fresh. How many comebacks have you witnessed? Music, business, financial, politics, you name it.  The bigger they are the harder they fall.
The last category is the most important. Relationships are crucial in life, and in business. No person in their death bed ever said, "I wish I had spent more time at work." Once damaged, a relationship has the potential to go in any direction.  It could end, possibly resulting in damage to reputation. There is no such thing in relationships as damage control. Once damaged, it is nearly impossible to restore, sometimes you can't even restore it to be in existence. Nothing is more important than relationships. Quality of life depends on them. We seek them out. Nurture them. Cherish them. Then take them for granted.

No amount of success in business is worth one iota of damage to a personal relationship. Always put them first and everything else falls into place.

Joanne Randall

724-603-LEAP

joanne@leapyearmarketing.com

Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Marketing Mojo Radio

Help! I Need Somebody! - John Lennon

When you need help ask for it.
Recently my back went out. And when I say my back went out I mean I couldn't walk or function. It was the week leading up to Memorial Day weekend. We had been planning on camping for a few weeks and my husband had been furiously working to get the camper ready for our first camping trip.
I had played softball on Monday evening and even though my back was sore I thought I was still okay and just needed to rest. On Tuesday morning I bent over to pick up my shoes and my back went out. Basically, my world stopped. I was in excruciating pain and I knew I would not be able to fulfill my business responsibilities for the remainder of the week.

But instead of this week being a total loss, I called in the troops. My new employee, Amanda, is a very competent young woman. I called her to tell her not to come to the office but to work from her house all day Wednesday. We spoke on the phone in the morning and I gave her instructions on what I would like her to do. We touched base again after lunch and I gave her additional assignments for the day. I also contacted my group of business associates that I network with and asked them to help me find a sub for my BNI meeting that Friday morning. People jumped right in and helped me find someone quickly.
I also knew that if I really needed it I could ask my church to help provide meals for me for a couple days so that I could rest. I did not call them but knowing that I could make me feel a lot better.
The story has a happy ending. I got most of the work done that I had planned on that week and on Friday morning my back was able to be adjusted and I started feeling almost normal by lunchtime. I was able to go camping with my family and relax for three days knowing that my workload had not built up over the week and I would be able to return to work on Tuesday morning on schedule.
As entrepreneurs we are used to doing everything by ourselves. I must tell you however that that is not a good idea when you have an unexpected event happen to you. Don't be afraid to ask for help. People love to help other people because they know that their time will come when they need help as well. It can also be an opportunity for some people to pay it forward for something someone had done for them in the past.
Ask for help. Get the help. Stay on track. You will not regret it and you will really appreciate those people who stepped forward to help.

Get by with a little help from your friends.

Joanne Randall

724-603-LEAP

joanne@leapyearmarketing.com

Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Marketing Mojo Radio

What Do Santa Claus and Vacations Have In Common?

When my husband and I were planning our wedding we considered going on a cruise for our honeymoon. We also really wanted to buy a house so we saved our money and used it for a down payment on our first home. I don't regret that decision but 12 years later we still haven't gone on a cruise. We did talk about going on a cruise on our 10 year anniversary, but we had a two-year-old at the time so that wasn't happening.
A few months ago my two sisters in law went on a 14 day cruise to Hawaii.  When they returned saw all their pictures and heard the stories of their trip of a lifetime.
That was enough for my husband. Within a week's time we were booked on a cruise.

So what does this have to do with your business? It is important to relate to you the feeling I had once I knew that cruise was booked. Even though it is five months away I think about it every day and get excited about spending a whole week on a cruise ship with my husband. There are days in business when everything seems to go just right, clients are thrilled, and somehow you manage to catch up on your to do list. Then, there are those other days. You know the ones I'm talking about. It is extremely important during those days that you know you have a vacation scheduled.

What is it about a vacation? Is it the actual time we spend doing the activities we look forward to? Or is it the anticipation of the vacation? I submit to you that planning vacations is a lot like the anticipation that builds up before the holiday season.  The excitement, the shopping,  are all part of the experience of the holiday season. Christmas is only a 24 hour period. But look at all we do in anticipation of that one day! It's an experience in itself.
I think we all know that it is important to take vacations to rest and get a break from hard work. But I think knowing that a vacation is planned is just as important to the business owner during those days when things just aren't going right. Somehow you can get through a tough week knowing that you're about to get a break. Without that knowledge it is easy to get burned out.
Even if you don't make plans to go anywhere, once in a while schedule yourself a working vacation. One whole week when you concentrate on getting caught up, doing some research, and maybe a little planning and marketing. Don't set any appointments for that week, and set a vacation reminder on your email. Uninterrupted work time is extremely productive and reduces your stress level immensely.
So go ahead and Photoshop pictures of your bare feet on some Caribbean beach and post them on Facebook that whole week. No one will know the difference and you will come back just as refreshed as if you had been there for real.
Merry Christmas!

Joanne Randall

724-603-LEAP

joanne@leapyearmarketing.com

Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Marketing Mojo Radio

Boil Your Frog and Other Marketing Strategies

You may have heard this one before. There is a story about a pan of water on a stove top and inside sits a frog. The water starts out at room temperature. Someone enters the kitchen and slowly begins to increase the temperature of the water, but just 1° at a time over several hours. The frog notices nothing due to the length of time it takes for the water to heat up.  The water gets hotter and hotter until it reaches 211°. Still the frog sits there. But what happens when one more degree is added? It changes everything! Ribbit!

What temperature are you operating your business at? Room temperature? 211°?

Do you even have a pan on the stove?

What is the one thing that you could do to raise the temperature of your business? It could be personal development. It could be writing a real marketing plan. It could be hiring an employee. If you are not sure what that one thing is, take a look around at some other business owners who are very successful and find out what they are doing to raise the bar for themselves.

Personal development always leads to business development. You cannot have business development without it. I always recommend a business coach to my clients. It increases their accountability and their chances of success. They will always see improvements in their personal life as well.

Writing a real marketing plan is one of the most effective ways to increase the laser focus of your business activities. Our company offers a marketing map which is a marketing plan that offers flexibility and control to the business owner and identifies many of the items that fall into a traditional marketing plan, without ending up on a shelf.

If you find yourself completely bogged down with work all the time, it may be time to consider hiring in employee. Talk about risk! Do it right and hire a payroll company like Paychex to facilitate the payroll process. Then train the person correctly and give them work. Now you have time to increase your sales to pay for that person. Being in employer is a huge responsibility and will instantly step up your game professionally.

Sometimes, like the frog, we do not know how close we are to reaching that one degree that makes all the difference. What can you do to bring your business to the next level? Call us at Leap Year Marketing to do some coaching and goal setting. THAT will get you boiling, I guarantee it!

Joanne Randall

724-603-LEAP

joanne@leapyearmarketing.com

Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Marketing Mojo Radio

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle is a Contradiction in Terms

Every day when my teenage daughter gets home from school, I ask her,  "How was school?" She always says, "Good". Then I ask "What did you do today?" And she says, "Nothing". So then I ask if she has any homework and she says, "No". Earlier today after the same series of questions and answers I said to her, "It makes me wonder if I should even be sending you to school. It's never exciting, you never do anything, and you never have any homework". Further confirming her belief that her mother is a complete nerd.
Now I am certain that not only is school more than good, it can be fun and eventful. I am also sure that she doesn't do nothing all day. And when she has homework she usually gets it done during school or right after school.
But it made me wonder, what actually does happen at school every day? I mean, if she doesn't tell me I can really only find out a little bit of information from her teachers. I am obviously interested in what my daughter does in school but unless she tells me what she does I really have no idea. Hmmm......
I think it is important that as business owners we share at least to some degree what we do all day long. It is important to business owners to be able to relate to each other, tell war stories so to speak. On another level I also think it is important we tell customers and potential clients as well. If they don't know what we do and are capable of doing for our current customers how will they know what we can do for them?
Social media, Facebook in particular, is a great place to share success stories of your business. If you are in the habit of collecting testimonials from your customers, possibly on Linked In, then you should be sharing those on your business Facebook page as well. These types of posts lend credibility to you and your business. It's okay to tell people what you have been doing all day. It isn't boasting, it is building your reputation through marketing. Big difference.

If you don't tell them what you are doing then you are  like the teenager who has a good day doing nothing with nothing to show for it.  And dude, that's lame.

Joanne Randall

www.LeapYearMarketing.com

joanne@leapyearmarketing.com

724-603-LEAP

What is the Big Deal About Social Media?

With all the items that fall under the umbrella of marketing I have found that people are most fascinated with social media. I think this is mainly because it is so popular in the mainstream and yet so simple it makes me wonder why no one came up with the idea sooner.

Jump on!

So why is social media so popular? My theory is that people crave relationships, friendships, and leadership. Deep down we all want to feel that we are needed and that we have value.

I believe that people spend time on social media to fill those gaps in their lives that are not being filled by people in their physical space. This is important because social media is the most effective way businesses can talk to people about solving their problems. If the business understands human nature and the psychology of purchasing habits, they can be extremely effective in growing their sales.

You may not care about someone posting that they are STILL waiting for their Maytag repair man to show up, but you should care that there are businesses out there not providing good customer service and customers react by posting it to the world.

How much time do you spend on Social Media each week for personal reasons? How about for your business? I would like to know.

Joanne Randall

Leap Year Marketing

joanne@leapyearmarketing.com

724-603-5327

www.leapyearmarketing.com

Do You Know What Good Customer Service Feels Like?

Why do we bother to create a positive customer service experience?

All buying habits are psychological in nature. Sure, people need or want to buy something because of the product, but where they buy and if they return are based on their customer service experience during and after the transaction. We want to be able to control the loyalty of our customers. So how does that happen?

Excellent customer service LEADS TO Customer Satisfaction, which ultimately drives loyalty, sales, and the bottom line.

You probably remember a time when you experienced good customer service. That is because every customer service experience is just that - an experience. I could give you a textbook definition of customer service, but you would likely forget it and just remember an experience you had and how it made you feel.  The good news is that you can control the experiences your customers have and therefore create a positive one that will likely bring them back. Remember ALL customer experiences are experiences. Even the good, the bad, the ugly, and the neutral. Let's explore a little.

Bad-Bad experiences are really just experiences that are below the expectations the customer had when they walked in, but still may be somewhat acceptable. This happens when only a small portion of the experience goes awry. You may not  lose the customer for good, but for them to return there will need to be another factor to draw them in, possibly location, or more likely price. Really bad experiences will cost you that customer and will damage your reputation. In the world of Social Media, this is disastrous. People have on average 230 friends on Facebook alone and if they post something about you, you're done. 

Ugly- The difference between BAD and UGLY is that in BAD, there is no real attempt by the company to rectify the situation. In an UGLY experience, you will not see this person again unless you are able to rectify the situation and make it right. This however, does not guarantee the return of the customer, it might save your reputation in the sphere of the customer and they may refrain from telling all their friends about their poor experience. An ugly experience, if handled properly, may end up turning into a great experience if the customer is open. You won't know until it is all over. 

Neutral-This is a very dangerous experience because the business will never know if the customer had a good enough experience to make them come back. A neutral experience is what the customer expected or it was satisfactory. This will not win you loyal customers. If you do not create a compelling reason for them to return, there is a good chance that next time they will go somewhere based on another factor, maybe location or price. Neutral experiences are damaging because there is no added value to their experience that will make you stand out over your competition. 

Good-people may or may not share their experiences, but you have created an experience that their subconscious will remember the next time they need or want to buy something you offer. There will need to be a compelling reason for them to not return. Good, positive experiences even allow for small future mistakes.

What memorable customer experiences have you had? How did they affect your future buying decisions.

As mentioned in my podcast, communication is the real driving factor behind customer service and satisfaction. Tune in to hear the rest of the discussion and visit Leap Year Marketing or Marketing Mojo Radio Facebook pages to tell us about your own experiences.

Joanne Randall

joanne@leapyearmarketing.com

www.leapyearmarketing.com

724-603-LEAP

Marketing Mojo Radio Podcast

Seasons

Happy New Year!

Do you ever feel like you need a fresh start? I know I do.  I love that feeling of setting goals and shedding bad habits in order to move forward.
Most people feel this way around New Year's Eve. That is always a good time to reflect on successes and opportunities from the past year and learn from them.  This is what I would call an annual season. How long does that good feeling last beyond New Year's Eve however? Ask anyone who has made a New Year's resolution to lose weight. I will admit that the 2 to 3 week period following New Year's eve, I am pretty pumped to work toward new goals.
I have found that in addition to the New Year's eve annual season, there are two other seasons in the year that produce the same effect. One is Spring, when Winter finally dies a slow and painful death and we all get outside and in the dirt. The other is Fall, when we are ready to send the kids back to school for a new year of learning and fun. These are the three seasons of fresh starts.
But what if you could regenerate that New Year's resolution feeling more than three times a year?
I have good news. You can!
New Year's is just an arbitrary day that really in itself has no meaning. We tell ourselves that that date means something. Think about it. January 1st is really no different than April 29th. So if we can create that resolution scenario for January 1st, guess what? We can do it for any day of our life. Every day is January 1st.  How awesome is that?!?
Start by asking yourself,"If today were New Year's Eve, what resolutions would I make?" Then decide on one that is significant and go for it. Renew your resolution as often as you need to to keep moving toward the change you are looking for.

Happy New Year!

p.s. Another great way to keep pumped about achieving your goals is by working with a high quality Business Coach. I use a coach and it has made an incredible difference.  Feel free to contact my Coach, John.  www.truechoicecoaching.com or https://www.facebook.com/pages/True-Choice-Coaching/138535236162890. 

Joanne Randall

www.LeapYearMarketing.com

iTunes Marketing Mojo Radio

724-603-LEAP

joanne@leapyearmarketing.com

Find Your Balance

In the 1970's and 80's when I was a kid, my family really got into sports. Especially the Boston Bruins. I still remember hearing the announcer yelling, "O'Reilly SCORES!!!!" Nearly knocked me off the couch more than once. I got to meet Terry O'Reilly in 2009, as well as Rick Middleton, and Brad Park. So cool.

If it were possible to get more excited about anything sports related, my family did when it came to the Olympics. I was fascinated by women's floor gymnastics.  Cursed with terrible balance, I couldn't peel my eyes off the athletes on the balance beam. How was someone able to walk on that thing, let alone do flips on it? And those dismounts! Don't get me started! These days I don't watch the Olympics as closely, mainly because I don't really watch TV. But I can't get those balance beam pictures out of my head.

The older I get the more I can appreciate balance.  Physical balance, and life balance.  Good balance takes practice, and lots of it. Just scheduling time for family, spiritual, mental, and physical growth, does not mean that you will have balance. Following through in those commitments does not guarantee any increase in balance either.

Here's why. Balance isn't a thing. It is an experience. It takes effort and focus. And through repetition comes experience and better skill. Eventually balance becomes effortless, and when you experience the peace of balance you will find yourself longing for more.
Honor yourself by experiencing those things that bring balance to your life. How will you know if it is working?

You'll know.  It feels like this.  Randall SCORES!!!!!!

Joanne Randall

www.LeapYearMarketing.com

724-603-LEAP

joanne@leapyearmarketing.com

Joanne Randall quoted in Recent article

Recent article from NHEconomy.com

NH WOMEN IN BUSINESSES

Building the Network

The Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute has projected that “Women small business owners will create 5 to 5.5 million new jobs across the U.S. By 2018, transforming the workplace of tomorrow into a far more inclusive, horizontally managed environment.”

In New Hampshire, women business owners are already making significant contributions to the state’s economy, thanks in part to a supportive business environment.

Leslie Sturgeon, founder of Women Inspiring Women (www.wiwnh.com), the state’s largest organization promoting women’s empowerment, networking and personal and professional development, started to support women in business when she was 22. “The biggest pluses of doing business in New Hampshire are the support and resources that are available here. People are so very helpful. Whether I needed assistance, information, or a referral, no one’s ever said no when I’ve asked for help,” she says.

In the four years after Sturgeon launched Women Inspiring Women in May 2007, the organization had grown to more than 250 members with 1,000 followers on Facebook, and four times that number on her mailing list. More than 2,000 people had attended the organization’s events. “I’ve seen lots of women start following their passion and dreams-and so much of that is about relationship building, which can begin at events,” says Sturgeon.

In October 2010 and November 2011, Sturgeon partnered with the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development and Public Service of New Hampshire to present the New Hampshire Conference for Women. According to Sturgeon, the conferences-which included five educational sessions, an exhibitor expo and networking-“were filled with inspiration, education and transformation, as well as fun surprises, exhibitors, door prizes and great networking.”

Joanne Randall, host of local radio show, “NH Women In Business,” (www.nhwomeninbusiness.com) sees networking as key to the development of entrepreneurs. “When the economy is down, personal communication and networking become more important. Entrepreneurs- or those just thinking about starting a business-need to network to develop a support system. The purpose isn’t to sell to the other people you network with. Instead, the people you’ve connected with become your board of directors, your resource network, and even your sales force. People want others to succeed-and to feel that they contributed to that success-and they’re willing to help without the expectation of a return.” The third annual conference is planned for fall 2012.

One of the state’s leading women in business, Dr. Deborah Osgood, is an expert in entrepreneurial education and development, and co-founder and CEO of Knowledge Institute, based in Exeter. Osgood’s Institute offers small business educational initiatives that serve millions of entrepreneurs on a monthly basis through on- and off-line resource and referral networks. Osgood says, “What distinguishes New Hampshire is the accessibility of decision-makers and programs tailored to supporting venture startup and growth. There are very powerful networks here to support entrepreneurs, and programs, like those offered by the Division of Economic Development, means that you’re one phone call away from sitting down with someone who can help.”

Women, Osgood says, are typically receptive to networking and collaboration. “Unlike men, women aren’t afraid to ask for directions-a trait that serves them well when honing in on defining their business purpose, target market and profitability objectives. It’s all about working well with and through others.”

The Knowledge Institute, through BUZgate.org, helps small businesses locate free resources and referrals available from the US government and nonprofit small business assistance agencies. Access the NH section at www.buzgate.org/8.0/nh/state_home.html?st=nh

NH networks for women in business:


Business and Professional Women of Greater Nashua www.bpwnashua.com
Monadnock Women’s Network www.monadnockwomen.com
Center for Women's Business Advancement Center at Southern New Hampshire University http://www.cwbanh.com
Seacoast Women’s Network www.seacoastwomensnetwork.org
Women’s Rural Entrepreneurial Network (WREN) wrencommunity.org
Trade associations to help women in business in specific industries or career paths:

NH Insurance Women’s League naiw.net/nhiwl.htm
NH Women’s Bar Association www.nhwba.org
NH Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction www.nawicnh.com
National Association of Women Business Owners www.nawbo.org



- Accessorizing the business world, one woman at a time.

Business Coaching

I used to wonder why business people would ever need a business coach. I mean, they're already in business. Why do they need coaching?
The answer to that question has become painfully clear to me in the last six months. It can be extremely difficult to get outside of your own head when you are running your business yourself. Stretching yourself and your business beyond your normal limits can be very uncomfortable, but with the right coach helping you along the way it can be done.
I am using a coach for myself for the first time in my life and even after a few short sessions with him I cannot believe the difference it has made for me and my business.
Leap Year Marketing uses coaching in our consulting process with our clients. It helps to set goals and keep people on track.
I highly recommend a coach. If you would like more information about receiving coaching or my own experience having a coach, please contact me. I would love to share my experience with you.


- Accessorizing the business world, one woman at a time.

Location:Black Hall Rd,Epsom,United States

Election Blues

What will I do with my time after tomorrow?
Actually, I will be doing the same things I do everyday.
This election, as important as it is, will be over and we can go back to watching ads about e-trade and Progressive Insurance.



Did we learn anything about any candidate, really, from thus round of political advertising? You can tell the character o
f a candidate by their ads. Not what they are saying about the other candidate, but the way they present their message. I learned that I don't agree on either candidate completely on social issues. But if people are unemployed, social issues need to come second. Feeding your kids ranks above most social issues. When basic needs are met then we can start discussing social issues.
Deal? So let's get everyone back to work and off public assistance and then we can debate everything else. See you at the polls!


- Accessorizing the business world, one woman at a time.

Location:Towle Pasture Dr,Epsom,United States

Mother of Invention

Coming up with brand new ideas usually doesn't happen when you are trying. It happens when you need it to happen.

On Friday I came up with a
marketing concept that was literally forming in my mind the same time it was coming out of my mouth while selling it to a potential client. Their reaction was positive, so I immediately went home and wrote it out. It will be the cornerstone of my business from now on. I would not have come up with it if I were sitting down trying to come up with something.

The most important thing to remember is to keep moving, even when you are not sure the direction. Sometimes the answer lies in the journey, and would have been missed if the trip was planned in advance.

- Accessorizing the business world, one woman at a time.

Location:Towle Pasture Dr,Epsom,United States

Social Media posting tips from Leap Year Marketing

If you are one of the brave people who take on your own Social Media, congratulations! Not a task for the faint of heart. Putting your self out there can be a little intimidating (which can stop people from doing it) and finding the time can be challenging (which is why some people hire someone like me). So on your next venture to find relatable and relative content, here are some tips for you. Someone shared this with me once (I think it may have been Chuck Sink from www.chucksinklink.com). In any case, it is good advice and I am happy to share what I know works.

Remember that your posts should be one of three kinds:
1) informational
2) entertaining
3) what's in it for me (offer)

Generally speaking, any posts are fine, but too much of one kind loses its effectiveness. Look for a funny but appropriate cartoon about your product or service, quotes about character or leadership, or websites that are good sources of articles about your industry that are OK to share that might talk in more layman's terms about your industry and maybe not so technical. Remember that spending money is an emotional transaction, so try to appeal to people's sense of responsibility in their purchase or possibly their fear of not acting on the sale (without scaring them to death!). "This offer is only good until midnight!" "Insurance is your way of telling your family you love them." "Your responsibility is to your customers. Our responsibility is to you."

People want to do the right thing most of the time, so make it easy for them to fulfill their duty by telling them how easy it is to set up an appointment or move forward. If consultation is free, tell them that too. Most people do not want to have to deal with the technical aspects of their business, things like insurance or marketing, so remind them that it is better for them to partner with someone who specializes in handling it rather than doing it themselves. They will get better results and probably pay less when an experienced professional is looking out for their best interests.

This advice is good for all Marketing, but if you are handling your Social Media yourself, and you are not a Marketer, these guidelines will help gather your thoughts and produce good content for Social Media posts.

If  you have more questions or need some guidance for your Marketing, give us a call. 724-603-LEAP
Joanne Randall
Leap Year Marketing

My mom would have been proud of me today. Our softball team won the Championship Tournament this afternoon.Yes, I know it was a Church league. Yes, I know it was slow pitch. However, this 44-year-old recently-injured player pitched two games in the heat and we came out on top. Bet your bippie I kept the game ball.
We had such a good team this year. Many women showed up each week to play (we are required to have two playing each game) and our regulars really had a great reason.
When my mom died a few years ago, many (almost all) of her friends showed up to the wake in their softball uniforms. I should explain that. She had been in high school at the time Title IX passed, allowing girls to play in league sports. So she was one of the first to sign up. Many years later, she started a women's softball league in her retirement community, The Villages, in Florida. She even took that team to the Senior Olympics! Most importantly, to me, she was my first softball coach in 4th grade.
So even though today was Church league slow pitch, I am pretty happy to be continuing the tradition of kicking butt in softball. Did I mention my daughter was on the team this year? The tradition continues.

I played a game once called red black. When the game was over I learned that I had been quitting things in my life when they became difficult. The game taught me to not be afraid of success and to work through those difficulties. At first it was easy to see some of the smaller difficulties that I had been allowing to stop me from moving forward. As those difficulties disappeared, however, I  found that difficulties were still there and looked differently than before. 

Sometimes they catch me offguard and I am not prepared. I find myself sometimes feeling like I want to quit. But I know it is just those old programs coming to the surface. There may come a day when I decide to quit. But today is not that day. Tomorrow looks pretty good too.

Notes from the Field: Leap Year Marketing

Notes from the Field: Leap Year Marketing

I often get asked, "How much does it cost to build a website?" Here is a very good general rule of thumb. The cost of a website is directly proportional to the amount of time it takes to build it. The amount of time it takes to build a website, is directly proportional to the amount of functionality a business owner wants or needs in the website. If you need a simple, basic, but attractive and functional website, you will not pay as much as someone who needs, for example e-commerce, videos, and many other dynamic characteristics.

Other costs to consider are, purchase of URL name, hosting, and general managementof the website. A good website person can offer any or all of these services as part of a website package.

Websites have replaced the Yellow Pages and customers expect a credible businessto have an online address, or website. I am happy to consult with that small business owner, who needs some advice about what functionalities he or she may want and need in their website. Our packages are flexible and affordable. We also refer larger clients to other website companies if the functionality is beyond our level of expertise. But don't take my word for it. Shop around and ask a lot of questions. There are some bad eggs in the carton, so to speak, so make sure you check up on your website company's reputation and history.

How Much Should I Pay (If Anything) for SEO?

I get SEO guys calling me all the time.

Here is the deal. As a business owner you have to decide how much money one new paying customer brings in for you on average. This will be your gauge to compare value of SEO, advertising, or any marketing expense, including the cost of hiring someone like me. If you feel the expense has or will bring in enough paying customers times the value of  new paying customer, then do it. OR if utilizing a marketing program, like Leap Year Marketing, saves you time and/or money because you are not trying to do it yourself and can now focus on income-producing activities, then it is worth it. If it isn't saving you time or money in this fashion, then you shouldn't be using it.

With that said, SEO is very effective, but only if your business is something people search for. If you are and you have competition, then SEO is a good idea (this is most people). If people are already finding you or there is limited demand (and therefore not a lot of searching going on) then don't pay for it. SEO can be expensive, but you need to compare it to the value of a new paying client. 

SEO will drive people to your website, so make sure the site is something worth looking at where willing people can make purchases or find the information they need to make the next move toward purchases. 

If you have questions about SEO, websites, or Marketing Strategy, contact us at Leap Year Marketing, 724-603-LEAP, or joanne@leapyearmarketing.com.

For decades, small businesses have had to scratch and claw their way to be even a little competitive with their larger counterparts. Countless contracts have been lost to competitors due to marketing proposals that were less than stellar. Most small businesses never even got the chance to submit proposals. Even if they were the best fit for the client.

Those days are gone. Thanks to numerous effective social media networks, small businesses can market themselves against the best of them. Platforms such as Facebook, Linked In, and Twitter allow business owners to communicate with current and potential clients, and create a sense of community around their business. The little guy can now build on the “buy local” trend by highlighting (read: capitalize on) the fact that they are small and local. For once, it is working for them instead of against them!

Two of the most attractive features about most social media networks are cost and control; two things near and dear to the hearts of small business. The major (and most, if not all of the smaller) networks are free. Free to start, free to use, free to share, free, free, free. In addition, the Administrator of the networks for the business has 100% control over the content posted and interaction in and around the content. It is easy to set up notifications on email or smart phone to alert if there is activity on the account. Some businesses choose to limit or eliminate the option for others to post on their business pages.

You have three choices: You can work these networks yourself. You can hire your cousin’s sister-in-law’s new boyfriend who is in college to do it. Or you can hire a professional to manage the networks for you at a reasonable cost. Notice you do not have the choice to NOT do it.

850 million people on Facebook are not a fad. The train is leaving, time to get on board.