Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Hollis-Testamonial
Great Video I shot of Hollis Thomas - Former Philadelphia Eagle - at the Wynnewood Fitness Station. You can check them out at http://www.myfitnessstation.com
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Outsourced Social Media
Hello! I hope you all are enjoying your Summer! For me it is my favorite time of the year. Summer means visiting the South Jersey Shore, grilling, spending time outdoors, being with friends and enjoying my Family. It is also the time that I spend reviewing my accomplishments from the first half of the year to make sure I am on track to reach my goals.
If you know me, you know I'm a goals guy. I may not always reach them, but I always try and I always learn from any shortfalls. I also spend a lot of time reviewing my clients goals. The feedback I get from many is that despite my giving them the foundation for a great social media and online marketing program, they ultimately are spending too much time on operations to "work the program".
I preach consistency. If you are going to have a social media strategy for your business, you must stick to it. I send out an inspirational message every Monday morning on FaceBook. It serves three purposes:
1. It informs
2. It inspires
3. It keeps me top of mind with those who read it.
If you want to have success with online marketing, you must have a consistent message with relevant content. People will begin to look forward to your messages.
The problem many of my clients face is having the time or the discipline to put something out there at the same time every week. "I was too busy" or "I completely spaced it" are common culprits. I suggest that they put a reminder on their calendar and make it a recurring event. That way each week, your message will go out with consistency. Still, they can "snooze" the event and hence procrastination is in full force. To that end, I have developed a program, which YOUR Company can take advantage of. Let Solstice Media be your outsourced Social Media Marketing Department! Save on payroll taxes, insurance and HealthCare costs, which come with an employee and have a business expense to write off instead! See the details below and thanks for taking the time to read this blog!
Be Awesome!!
-Pete
If you know me, you know I'm a goals guy. I may not always reach them, but I always try and I always learn from any shortfalls. I also spend a lot of time reviewing my clients goals. The feedback I get from many is that despite my giving them the foundation for a great social media and online marketing program, they ultimately are spending too much time on operations to "work the program".
I preach consistency. If you are going to have a social media strategy for your business, you must stick to it. I send out an inspirational message every Monday morning on FaceBook. It serves three purposes:
1. It informs
2. It inspires
3. It keeps me top of mind with those who read it.
If you want to have success with online marketing, you must have a consistent message with relevant content. People will begin to look forward to your messages.
The problem many of my clients face is having the time or the discipline to put something out there at the same time every week. "I was too busy" or "I completely spaced it" are common culprits. I suggest that they put a reminder on their calendar and make it a recurring event. That way each week, your message will go out with consistency. Still, they can "snooze" the event and hence procrastination is in full force. To that end, I have developed a program, which YOUR Company can take advantage of. Let Solstice Media be your outsourced Social Media Marketing Department! Save on payroll taxes, insurance and HealthCare costs, which come with an employee and have a business expense to write off instead! See the details below and thanks for taking the time to read this blog!
Be Awesome!!
-Pete
Monday, March 25, 2013
A Change of Seasons Gives Clients New Reasons!
Hello Everyone! Hope you are doing well this year! Here in the Philly area, despite being Spring, it is snowing outside. Not really conducive to planting a garden. But it is conducive to planting seeds. And I'm not talking about tomato and basil seeds in soil in egg cartons on your window sill. I'm talking about planting the seeds of consideration into the minds of your potential clients. Make them consider choosing you over their current service or products provider.
How do you do this? It's easier than you think. Use the changing of the seasons to correlate into a changing of providers. A great way to do this is to offer a seasonal promotion. Last week I took literally 10 minutes of my time to create a Spring Special Flyer on Constant Contact. You can use whichever Contact Management System works for you. I offered a basic video shoot at a special price point. I chose a category of small businesses/sole proprietors to mail the blast to. I got three calls and closed one. I mailed to 260 individuals.
I led with "Spring Has Sprung" - "Plant the Seeds to Grow Your Business". The season was my reason! And it worked. I am confident I will close a second sale from my conversations. I did reduce my price that I would normally charge, but that is why it's a special. And I am confident that once they see my work and benefit from it, they will hire me again at full invoice.
So it worked. Ten minutes of time to gain a new client. Not too shabby. It can work in any industry, just tailor your message to your recipients. Where did I get my mailing list? I developed it over time by collecting business cards at networking events and I entered names from the database of my local Chamber of Commerce. Once I created the blast, I quick-shared it onto FaceBook and LinkedIn.
So take a few minutes to earn a new client today. Give them a reason to choose YOU this season!
Happy Hunting! -Pete
How do you do this? It's easier than you think. Use the changing of the seasons to correlate into a changing of providers. A great way to do this is to offer a seasonal promotion. Last week I took literally 10 minutes of my time to create a Spring Special Flyer on Constant Contact. You can use whichever Contact Management System works for you. I offered a basic video shoot at a special price point. I chose a category of small businesses/sole proprietors to mail the blast to. I got three calls and closed one. I mailed to 260 individuals.
I led with "Spring Has Sprung" - "Plant the Seeds to Grow Your Business". The season was my reason! And it worked. I am confident I will close a second sale from my conversations. I did reduce my price that I would normally charge, but that is why it's a special. And I am confident that once they see my work and benefit from it, they will hire me again at full invoice.
So it worked. Ten minutes of time to gain a new client. Not too shabby. It can work in any industry, just tailor your message to your recipients. Where did I get my mailing list? I developed it over time by collecting business cards at networking events and I entered names from the database of my local Chamber of Commerce. Once I created the blast, I quick-shared it onto FaceBook and LinkedIn.
So take a few minutes to earn a new client today. Give them a reason to choose YOU this season!
Happy Hunting! -Pete
Monday, February 11, 2013
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Back to School means Back to Business!
Hello everyone! Summer is winding down and the addition of school buses has added to the traffic out there! Nothing is a more poignant reminder of Summer's end than sitting for 20 minutes just to get through one intersection on Route 1!
But something good comes from all this traffic and from this time of year. People are tanned, rested and ready to hit the ground running! It's the end of the heatwaves, leaves start turning colors, football begins and our utility bills go down. (for now!)
So here's what to do:
1. Send out a blast to all your past, present and potential clients that wishes them well and offers your products and services. It's a numbers game, so the more you reach out, the more hits you will get. My Summer blast yielded me 5 happy clients who took advantage of 1 great special. That's $3750 I would not have had this Summer. Not too shabby.
2. Review your goals from the beginning of the year and set a goal for the Fall. Determine what successes and failures you had earlier in the year and base your Fall goal on learning from the failures and building on the successes. For example, my Business Start-Up promotion did not work but my Social Media Package did. I realize the errors I made in the Start-Up promotion and will no longer promote that to existing business contacts. (I realize the irony of sending a start-up offer to an existing business, but I thought I would reach companies who were starting a new division or opening a new location, etc.. I was wrong.) The Social Media package was a big success, so I will spread that word to more businesses.
3. NETWORK! Join a chamber of commerce, networking group, business association or meetup group and attend functions. You will meet potential clients or individuals who can refer potential clients. Nobody is buying in your office. Get out there and press the flesh!
4. Re-educate yourself. Go online and research the latest trends and developments in your industry. Learn how the latest technologies can help you streamline your efforts and garner the highest output within your work hours.
5. Find time to relax. Find time for you. A quick walk, time outside on a park bench or even a moment in a quiet corner meditating will help you decompress, find your center and focus.
I wish you every success 'til next time!
-Pete
But something good comes from all this traffic and from this time of year. People are tanned, rested and ready to hit the ground running! It's the end of the heatwaves, leaves start turning colors, football begins and our utility bills go down. (for now!)
So here's what to do:
1. Send out a blast to all your past, present and potential clients that wishes them well and offers your products and services. It's a numbers game, so the more you reach out, the more hits you will get. My Summer blast yielded me 5 happy clients who took advantage of 1 great special. That's $3750 I would not have had this Summer. Not too shabby.
2. Review your goals from the beginning of the year and set a goal for the Fall. Determine what successes and failures you had earlier in the year and base your Fall goal on learning from the failures and building on the successes. For example, my Business Start-Up promotion did not work but my Social Media Package did. I realize the errors I made in the Start-Up promotion and will no longer promote that to existing business contacts. (I realize the irony of sending a start-up offer to an existing business, but I thought I would reach companies who were starting a new division or opening a new location, etc.. I was wrong.) The Social Media package was a big success, so I will spread that word to more businesses.
3. NETWORK! Join a chamber of commerce, networking group, business association or meetup group and attend functions. You will meet potential clients or individuals who can refer potential clients. Nobody is buying in your office. Get out there and press the flesh!
4. Re-educate yourself. Go online and research the latest trends and developments in your industry. Learn how the latest technologies can help you streamline your efforts and garner the highest output within your work hours.
5. Find time to relax. Find time for you. A quick walk, time outside on a park bench or even a moment in a quiet corner meditating will help you decompress, find your center and focus.
I wish you every success 'til next time!
-Pete
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Summertime Blues
Hey Folks! I hope you are enjoying your Summer. I know I have been. Business has been steady, but it could be better. It seems there is always a lull during the Summer. It's not for my lack of trying, but it seems like potential clients and decision makers have two speeds in the Summer - "slow" and "reverse"!
So what can you do to offset this? Here's a few ideas:
1. Expect it and plan for it. There is always going to be the challenge of trying to reach clients, but it is caused by them being away on vacation. You can't reach them if they are not near the phone. So set up a plan of action in the spring that you can work on gradually. Offer them a value and get a deposit to make sure they are committed. Then send them interim updates as your project progresses. Collect the balance in the fall!
2. Put 5% of every job aside in a vacation club. Setting aside some money in a SEPARATE account will give you the discipline needed to save for a vacation of your own! Hey - You've earned it! After vacation is over - keep the account open as a Christmas Club!
3. Offer a "Summer Blowout" or "Back to School" Special. I don't know about you, but I would rather have something than nothing. By offering a seasonal special, you can encourage new clients to try your products or services and by listing it as a seasonal special, you can maintain rate integrity during busy seasons.
4. Take a part time job. There are lots of Summer jobs available that may not pay what you want, but they could fill your income gap and help you maintain your financial commitments. Jobs at resorts, pools, camps, seasonal markets, farming co-ops, etc are available and are usually pretty flexible. Also - it may be a great way to turn that part-time boss into a full time client of your business once they see how awesome you are!
5. Clean out your work space. Get organized! Clean off you desk, sort through your files and discard what's no longer in use. Send e-mail to old prospects, follow up send notes to old clients saying "We want yo back" and offer them your seasonal special. Remove the clutter from your work and your life. You may just find that number you lost months ago!
6. Review YOUR vendor deals. Look at every supplier you have and compare prices with other vendors and negotiate better deals. Cell phone service, internet providers, cable TV, office supplies, insurance, mortgage, etc. You could save hundreds even thousands annually.
I hope these tips have helped. So go out there and be awesome and remember to take some time for your self and your Family this Summer. See you in the Fall!
-Pete
So what can you do to offset this? Here's a few ideas:
1. Expect it and plan for it. There is always going to be the challenge of trying to reach clients, but it is caused by them being away on vacation. You can't reach them if they are not near the phone. So set up a plan of action in the spring that you can work on gradually. Offer them a value and get a deposit to make sure they are committed. Then send them interim updates as your project progresses. Collect the balance in the fall!
2. Put 5% of every job aside in a vacation club. Setting aside some money in a SEPARATE account will give you the discipline needed to save for a vacation of your own! Hey - You've earned it! After vacation is over - keep the account open as a Christmas Club!
3. Offer a "Summer Blowout" or "Back to School" Special. I don't know about you, but I would rather have something than nothing. By offering a seasonal special, you can encourage new clients to try your products or services and by listing it as a seasonal special, you can maintain rate integrity during busy seasons.
4. Take a part time job. There are lots of Summer jobs available that may not pay what you want, but they could fill your income gap and help you maintain your financial commitments. Jobs at resorts, pools, camps, seasonal markets, farming co-ops, etc are available and are usually pretty flexible. Also - it may be a great way to turn that part-time boss into a full time client of your business once they see how awesome you are!
5. Clean out your work space. Get organized! Clean off you desk, sort through your files and discard what's no longer in use. Send e-mail to old prospects, follow up send notes to old clients saying "We want yo back" and offer them your seasonal special. Remove the clutter from your work and your life. You may just find that number you lost months ago!
6. Review YOUR vendor deals. Look at every supplier you have and compare prices with other vendors and negotiate better deals. Cell phone service, internet providers, cable TV, office supplies, insurance, mortgage, etc. You could save hundreds even thousands annually.
I hope these tips have helped. So go out there and be awesome and remember to take some time for your self and your Family this Summer. See you in the Fall!
-Pete
Thursday, May 3, 2012
It's been a while!
How have you been? I've missed writing to you! I have been incredibly busy...and that's a good thing! I was recently honored by the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce being awarded the "Small Business Person of the Year"! It has been a boost to my business and my ego as well!
I have been doing a lot of video work lately and you can see some of it on my YouTube page which is http://www.youtube.com/petetube1965 . Please let me know your thoughts! A majority of the videos are short business podcasts produced at The Delco Chamber. By the way, joining the chamber gets you a FREE video session. Contact me for more info on that.
So again, I am sorry for not writing in a while, but my customers always come first. If you need any help with your business, please don't hesitate to e-mail me or call me at 610.529.0122.
Take care and be awesome!
-Pete
I have been doing a lot of video work lately and you can see some of it on my YouTube page which is http://www.youtube.com/petetube1965 . Please let me know your thoughts! A majority of the videos are short business podcasts produced at The Delco Chamber. By the way, joining the chamber gets you a FREE video session. Contact me for more info on that.
So again, I am sorry for not writing in a while, but my customers always come first. If you need any help with your business, please don't hesitate to e-mail me or call me at 610.529.0122.
Take care and be awesome!
-Pete
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