Article by Belinda Summers

One word and it’s enough to send software companies running. Yes, that is the effect that ‘recession’ has over the minds of people who hear it. And why not? Considering the far-reaching negative effects of the recession over the health of a business, it is a cause for concern. Of course, there is a way to work around a problem like this, especially in the US, where software companies are at the brink of one. And what is that? Software telemarketing. Believe it or not, telemarketing for software leads has been found to be one of the most effective means to make improve a business’ performance, as well as serve as a guide for creating newer and better products and services that can be used by current and future customers.

When it comes to market penetration and information gathering, no other marketing technique can compare to the power that professional software telemarketing provides. With the help of professional software telemarketers, software companies are able to generate the necessary marketing leads needed for their business operations. While other marketing methods can produce results, software telemarketing is known to deliver them even better. For two tasks, namely software lead generation and software appointment setting, telemarketing is the only way to perform them, since it requires an actual phone call to prospects in order to generate leads, as well as set up an appointment by directly contacting prospects. Also, software leads produced in this manner are of higher quality and can potentially become a sale.

The current economic situation, as well as the increasing interest in telemarketing does lead firms to consider outsourcing the job to an outside professional software telemarketing firm. By outsourcing the task to an outside firm, the client company can realize better performance for themselves. For one, they can focus more on the core competencies of their business. For another, they can expand to wider markets since outsourced telemarketers are known to deliver better results than their in-house counterparts. Lastly, the client firm can save on costs by removing the need to pay salaries, buy expensive telemarketing equipment, as well as spending for overhead expenses that would surely exist.

With telemarketing becoming more and more a popular means to attract prospects, there comes the rare case where a company hires the wrong set of software telemarketers. It may seem to be a profitable deal, with plenty of savings, but the client soon realizes that the service is lackluster. In the worst case scenario, the telemarketers make the run with their client’s money. That would certainly be a nightmare. Of course, being a bit cautious and doing one’s research properly can reduce these cases from happening. This exercise can be a bit lengthy, but at least it can help prevent mistakes like the one above.

There are plenty of telemarketing software companies in the US that can bring about incredible changes for the client that will use them. One can easily find them with a little research, asking around, as well as consulting telemarketing agencies to see which professional software telemarketing company could work well with the firm.

A business plan will help minimize the difficulty and hard work needed to establish a personal injury law practice. The reasons why a strong plan is required when setting a practice is cited by Linda Pinson in her book “Anatomy of a Business Plan.”

1. It acts as a guide on how to face the realities associated with setting up a personal injury law practice. In addition, it provides a clear outline of your goals, potentials, strengths, weaknesses and prospects. It also comes with tools for analyzing and implementing changes for boost the profitability of your personal injury law practice.

2. It serves as documentation for financing. Using the plan, you will be able to determine how much capital to put up in your law practice and to predict the amount of money needed to advance the practice’s objectives and boost its profits.

It will require a good deal of strategic thinking to come up with an effective plan if you decide to put up a personal injury law practice on your own. Create a business plan with your particular needs and the needs of your practice in mind. It will help to sign up as an apprentice in a personal law firm to give you a general idea of business-related matters such as payroll, marketing, case management and billing.

Since a useful business plan is an organic document, it should be stored and kept in your computer and updated when necessary. You will find that the plan becomes refined as your practice progresses. In case where you find that you are unable to continue with your business plan, find out whether the plan is unrealistic or you are not keen on doing what is needed to keep the practice going.

According to K. William Gibson, an effective business plan consists of a description of the services that the practice intends to offer; information on the site(s) where the practice is located; a description of the types of clients you want to target; a forecast of future revenues and operating costs; a record of the personal resources that you intend invest to fund your personal injury law practice and a statement of your personal assets and liabilities.

You also need to seek the help of certain professional before writing your business plan. These professionals include a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), A Bar Association Practice Management Advisors and Established Personal Injury Lawyers.

A CPA will determine whether your business plan is sound and in correct form and is the person to go to for questions with regards to the rules and regulations of the International Revenue Service and other government agencies.

Practice advisers are commonly ex-active attorneys or law office administrators who had gone through everything you are about to experience.

Experienced personal injury lawyers will provide the mentoring you will need to predict the possible out-of-pocket expenses involved in personal injury lawsuits. You may also ask experienced lawyers for names of vendors and experts who can help you establish cases in the future.

Mobile Marketing is cool. But it is still new and there are some simple rookie mistakes that you want to avoid.

Here they are:

1. Approaching a Mobile Marketing Campaign Like an Email Marketing Campaign.

Unlike an email recipients sitting at their computers, mobile users don’t want to download your entire twenty seven-page Shocking Report. Instead, they are looking for quick information. Remember, much of their Mobile” time is spent… Mobile. They are driving… right? Keep your message simple, like you were designing a PPC ad. It is not that difficult and you can laser focus the attention of your mobile audience much better.

2. Not “Targeting” An Audience

Mobile marketing with text messages only works when you send the message to the right people. Some business owners and marketers make the mistake of treating text messaging like a mass marketing media instead of the targeting tool it was meant to be.

Mobile marketing campaigns are best used on your existing customer base. These folks are already familiar with you and should have already opted-in to your SMS list. Your messages will be welcome and given attention.

3. Hard Selling in a Text Message

Dude… seriously. Mobile is a great way to interact with consumers, but your really only have about 150 characters or so that you’re working with… right. So think about it, if all of your communication with an audience is focused on the hard-sell, chances are you will annoy the heck out of people who will turn a deaf ear to anything else you have to say in the future. If the recipients are part of a properly opted in list, they will simply opt out. Why bother?

Remember, improving customer retention will help you build more profitability in your business, so remember to focus on building relationships with your customers. If you do that, the sales will follow.

4. Using Mobile Marketing Alone

While mobile marketing campaigns are effective when used on their own, they pack even more power when they are used as part of an overall marketing strategy. If you are using online marketing, email marketing, or even TV ads and newspaper ads, mobile marketing can be a perfect fit to integrate into those methods.

For instance, you can send text messages with links to specific mobile landing pages that have a coupon waiting for your customer. Not only that, but you can even add your business’s QR (Quick Response Code) to your other advertising campaigns. Consumers can scan your QR code with their cell phones and be taken right to your website, receive an instant coupon, or even take a virtual tour of your business through a simple YouTube video!

5. Using One-Way SMS Marketing

Mobile marketing is a great way to communicate back and forth with consumers, but most businesses use it as a boring one-way communication channel. What a huge mistake! Mobile marketing is an easy way to connect with consumers instead of just “sell” to them.

Your list will appreciate this more and feel like you are building a relationship with them. Once you create a good rapport with your list they will start buying from you.

For instance, you can interact with them by asking them to email in an idea for something related to your business. Simply send them a text asking for their help and give them an email link, or a link to a survey in the text message. They will feel more engaged and will be more receptive to all of your marketing and sales efforts if you mix it up a bit and let them engage you in a conversation.

Don’t let these stop you from having a business plan for success!

A recent study of 29,000 business startups noted that 26,000 of them failed. Of those failures, 67% had no written business plan. Think that’s a coincidence?

Here’s the top 10 myths Solo Entrepreneurs often have about business plans-usually, the reasons why they don’t have one. De-bunk the myths, and see how having a business plan for your solo business, can actually be easy and fun–and can jumpstart your success!

1. Myth: I don’t need a business plan–it’s just me!

Starting a business without a plan is like taking a trip in a foreign country without a map. You might have a lot of fun along the way, and meet a lot of friends, but you are likely to end up at a very different place than you originally set out for-and you might have to phone home for funds for your return ticket.

Solo Entrepreneur Reality: Successful Solo Entrepreneurs know that the exercise of creating a business plan, really helps them think through all the critical aspects of running a business, make better business decisions, and get to profitability sooner.

2. Myth: I have to buy business plan software before I can start.

Business plan software comes in many shapes and sizes, and prices. Many are more geared at small and growing businesses with employees.

Solo Entrepreneur Reality: Business plan software can be helpful-but it’s not required. Software is more likely to help if you have a more traditional type business, like a restaurant or a typical consulting business.

3. Myth: I need to hire a consultant to write my business plan.

Consultants are an expensive way to have your business plan written.

Solo Entrepreneur Reality: Your business IS you-and you need to be intimately involved with the creation of your business plan. A better strategy, if you think you need professional help, is to hire a coach or mentor-someone who can guide you in what you need to do, not do it for you.

4. Myth: The business plan templates I’ve seen have all these complex-sounding sections to them-I guess I need all those?

The only time you need to follow a specific outline is if you are looking for funding.

Solo Entrepreneur Reality: Your business plan needs to answer ten basic questions-that’s it! Don’t make things more complicated than necessary.

5. Myth: My business plan needs to be perfect before I can start my business.

If you wait for everything to be perfectly detailed, you may never start.

Solo Entrepreneur Reality: If you have at least a first draft that answers those ten basic questions, you are ready to launch your business! Make your business plan a living, evolving document. In the startup stages, review and update your plan every 2-3 months. As you grow and stabilize, you can slow down the review cycle to every 6-12 months. All business plans should be reviewed and updated at least once a year.

6. Myth: I have to do everything I say I’m going to do in my business plan, or I’m a failure.

Many Solo Entrepreneurs never start because of this myth-which leaves them feeling that the success of their future business suddenly rides on each stroke of the pen or click of the keyboard!

Solo Entrepreneur Reality: Think of your business plan as a roadmap for a trip. Expect to take some detours for road construction. Be flexible enough to take some exciting, unplanned side trips. And don’t be surprised if instead of visiting Mount Rushmore, you decide to go to Yellowstone, if that turns out to meet your vacation goals better!

7. Myth: A good business plan has a nice cover, is at least 40 pages long, must be typed and double-spaced…

Business plans intended for investors, such as a bank or venture capitalist, must meet certain requirements that such investors expect.

Solo Entrepreneur Reality: As a Solo Entrepreneur, your business plan need only satisfy YOU. It might be scribbled on a napkin, on stickie notes on your wall, or consist of a collage of pictures and captions. It might be all in one document or scattered among several mediums. As long as you know it in your head and heart without having to look at it, and and it is easily accessible to you when you have doubts, that’s all that is necessary.

8. Myth: I don’t need a loan-so I don’t need a business plan.

YOU are the investor in your business-and would you invest in the stock of some company without seeing a prospectus?

Solo Entrepreneur Reality: Seeing your plan in black and white (or color, if you prefer!), can give a whole new view on the financial viability of your business. If “doing the numbers” seems overwhelming, remember you don’t need fancy spreadsheets. Just lay out a budget that shows where all the money is coming from (and going), and have an accountant review it for additional perspective.

9. Myth: My business plan is in my head-that’s good enough.

I don’t know about you, but I sometimes can’t remember what I planned yesterday to do tomorrow, if I don’t write it down!

Solo Entrepreneur Reality: There is a real power in writing down your plans. Some schools of thought advocate that the act of writing a plan down triggers our subconscious to start working on how to manifest that plan. And, of course, it’s a lot easier to remember when you have it in front of you. And a lot easier to share and get feedback from your non-mind reading supporters.

10. Myth: Friends and family are the best sources of feedback and advice on my business plan.

If your brother is an accountant and your best friend is a market research expert, then this might be true.

Solo Entrepreneur Reality: As well meaning as our friends and family can often be, they just aren’t the best way to get honest, objective guidance. Instead, seek out folks that have specific knowledge that will help you, are willing to be candid with you, and that have a genuine interest in helping you succeed. A business coach is one resource to consider!

Copyright 2004, Terri Zwierzynski – Accel Innovation, Inc.

Because of the continuous changes in the trends in our society, especially in the technological field, the method of marketing tends to become more advanced as well. The use of mobile phones for the purpose of advertising and promoting a business is among the many of the vast improvements in the field of business today. Using a mobile phone for advertising and promotion purposes is referred to as mobile marketing which is proven to offer endless possibilities in terms of success to a lot of business owners. If you are a business owner, then it would be to your best advantage if you use this method to promote your products and your services. Embracing this method and applying it to your business in the most accurate manner will reduce any chances of failing in the field of business. This method plays a really vital role in the successful operations of your business.

Because it is already impossible to see anyone without a cell phone at present, making use of mobile phones to communicate to a lot of people is among the best options that you can hold into in terms of publicizing your business. Through mobile marketing, you are able to communicate to a wide range of people across the globe and offer them the awareness that your business is in existence. With the proper implementation of this marketing method, you can reach the general public no matter how far they may be and inform more and more people about the existence of your business. This allows you to grab the public’s attention which helps in improving the profitability of your business. This form of marketing, in comparison to other traditional forms, gives you the opportunity to interact in a more personalized manner to your consumer which helps in increasing the bond. A more effective interaction between you and your consumers may also be anticipated. Instead of just allowing them to read or watch your ads in magazines or television, this new marketing approach allows each consumer to be an active participant on various activities presented to them for interaction such as playing games or voting through text messages. This idea to interact with a number of your targeted audience makes this marketing approach an even more effective one aside from the fact that it allows you to measure the advertisement’s impact on your targeted audience.

When you apply mobile marketing solutions for your business, you get an assurance that the money you spend for this will never be wasted. You pay for something that is really of great value to your business. You don’t have to worry about spending money on something that does not at all improve the performance of your business in terms of profitability. In comparison to other traditional marketing approaches, this approach tends to be more beneficial. Its effectiveness can be anticipated especially because you are sure that the audience that you send your message to personally received it. If improving the performance of your business is what you are looking for, this advertising method will be perfect for you.