Chances are, if you have ever worked with (or are currently working with) a Virtual Assistant, you have had moments of concern about whether or not you are getting your money’s worth. It’s a legitimate concern and one that is easily measured. Why? Because working with a V.A. involves 3 things:
What You’re Not Getting From Your Virtual Assistant and Why
Know What You Are Doing and Prove It!
by Charlotte L. Hanna CMO/CMBS Global
Boy…do I remember those schoolyard bullies who were always making life miserable for the rest of us! I remember their annoying challenge consisting of just two words – “Prove it!”
As an entrepreneur, you may know what you are doing, but business can be a bully when it comes to performance.
As an entrepreneur, you may NOT know what you are doing in some very important areas of business communication and marketing – but don’t let it back you up against the wall and intimidate like those bullies. [Read more...]
Sticking The Landing and Going For Gold
by Charlotte L. Hanna CMO/Director of PMR/CMBS Global
Olympic gymnasts know that no matter how great the routine, you must stick the landing to ensure the highest possible score when going for gold!
It could be argued that the same is also true for scoring well in online marketing. Solid Landing Pages are necessary. And, just as in most Olympic sports, timing can be everything when it comes to optimizing opportunities for connecting with your leads and maximizing response rates. He who hesitates is left behind. [Read more...]
Keep It Simple: Decision Simplicity Stronger Than Strategy of Engagement?
by Charlotte L. Hanna CMO/Director of PMR/CMBS Global
According to a recent article by Patrick Spenner , contributor to Forbes.Com, marketers have it all wrong. The best way to impact purchase decision and brand loyalty is simplicity. Keeping it simple is stronger than engagement, because it’s what consumers really want. Social media is not the best strategy.
The Corporate Executive Board seems to back up Mr. Spenner’s claims by stating that brands that simplify customer decision making are:
- 86% more likely to be purchased
- 115% more likely to be recommended
- Decision Simplicity is the #1 reason why consumers are likely to buy, repeatedly buy, and recommend it to others
Maybe…but I am hard put to agree with CEB’s argument that customers do not want a relationship with you, they just want help to make good choices. I believe there is demand for both. [Read more...]
One Reason Why You Do Not Want To Be Like Marcus Sheridan
by Charlotte L. Hanna CMO/Director of PMR/CMBS Global
I first heard about Marcus Sheridan about a month ago. Given that information, you may be wondering why I would feel qualified to write an article about him. A fair question. In most any other circumstance, I would disqualify myself, but this article had to be written for one reason – someone else may benefit from my brief, but radical, experience with Marcus Sheridan.
For those who have never heard of the man, Marcus has authored several self-help books and is the founder of The Sales Lion.com. I first encountered him when I attended a webinar for which he was the featured speaker. I'm still not sure what compelled me to attend a webinar entitled, "How Brutally Honest Content Can Generate Trust, Traffic and Sales – Think Negative"… I mean, even the bio on the guy - a swimming pool installation company owner from rural Virginia?… not really up my marketing alley. Nevertheless, attend the webinar I did – and what I learned shocked me! [Read more...]
How to End the Struggle, Keep Up and Meet Your Needs for Content Creation
by Charlotte L. Hanna CMO/Director of PMR/CMBS Global
Are you struggling to create enough content to keep up with your online marketing needs? We have recently begun to step up our business blogging efforts here at CMBS Global and I will admit, the ideas for content creation do not always readily flow – especially when the need also requires it to be fresh, interesting, informative and compelling. If you are like me, it may be that you are often inspired – but actually creating daily, quality content for marketing your products and services is truly hard work! I’d like to share some tips from sources that have been extremely helpful to me and may help bring an end to your struggle, as well.
What are your content needs?
I honestly did not see this for the longest time when I began to blog. As a Virtual Assistant company that provides clients with a variety of marketing materials and back office support, I understood what the client’s needs for content creation were, far better than I did that of our company. Why? Well, for one thing, as I mentioned we offer a variety of services. Most, if not all of our clients, are pretty focused on one particular niche. When addressing their content needs, the focus is on that identified market and the goal for the particular project, whether it be the launch of a new product, an upcoming webinar or teleseminar series or the weekly ezine to their contact list. Our market, on the other hand, seemed to be too broad to me, because of how varied our client’s markets are. I struggled until I understood that, while there may be a wide variety of ways to describe what our clients offer – what we are providing simply makes whatever they are doing, easier for them to accomplish. Not so difficult when you look at it that way, right? I just needed to rethink (or correct the thinking) that was affecting my approach to content creation for our company.
I suggest that you sit down and brainstorm your content needs with other members of your organization – or if you are a solopreneur – recruit a few close friends to do this with. Once you get the mystery of the TRUE IDENTITY of your market solved…you will be on your way to easier and more effective content creation. Remember: if you are marketing yourself, YOU are the product. Write your content accordingly. [Read more...]
Knowing Your Product Must Include Understanding the Benefits
by Charlotte L. Hanna CMO/Director of PMR/CMBS Global
Knowing your product is key to selling. Any good salesperson knows that to sell a product, they must know as much as possible about it and to sell consistently they must also be able to communicate the benefits of that product to potential buyers. Knowing your product MUST include understanding how it benefits others, because benefits – not features – sell.
While this is not news to an experienced salesperson…it may be news to the online entrepreneur who is single-handedly working to build a business and wondering why all of their hard work and time consuming efforts don’t seem to be paying off.
Many entrepreneurs involved in building an online business are missing out on sales because they are overlooking the benefits their products and services provide. Today’s online entrepreneurs are usually a one-man or one-woman enterprise. Chances are they came up with the idea for their business and they are the sole marketer, content writer, product or service creator, salesperson, spokesperson, manager – and more.
Whew! That’s enough to make even a SUPER HERO’S head spin!
The B2B Market – 5 Basic Online B2B Practices to Put Your Business Where It Should Be
by Charlotte L. Hanna CMO/Director of PMR/CMBS Global
Just what is B2B marketing? Business-to-Business refers to companies that sell things to other companies.
There can be many B2B practices or processes that lead up to a sale online and put your business where it should be…positioned for sales.
For example, when you buy a blender from your local Walmart store that is a “Business-to-Consumer” sale – otherwise known as B2C. But, what happened before that blender ever made it to the shelf in the store would be known as the B2B transactions.
® There was probably a fabrication company that supplied a particular machine to the company making the blender for the stamping out and shaping of whatever material would be used to make the appliance.
® Then, perhaps a printing machine company that created and sold the print product necessary for the company to be able to print its name on the finished blender. [Read more...]




