Creating and Building Email Lists For Your Business

Creating and Building Email Lists For Your Business

Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Today is about creating and building your email lists for your businesses. I often see this issue mentioned, suggested, discussed, and etc. This is something I have not done myself. I often think about it, and know that there are pros to doing this. 

It is often mentioned that we should be building an email list. Doing this will help you to engage with your customer base, and this is noted to be one of the most important marketing tools for us to use. 

In order to organize, and have a place for your customers to sign up for this email list it is best to have an email service. You can google email marketing services, and see some of them that are being offered. Some are free, and some will be a paid service too. I often see mentioned, and used is Mail Chimp and Constant Contact. 

There are some benefits to using an email marketing service. They can provide you with tracking information, web pages where your customers can join, website forms, they handle the "unsubscribes" which does comply with the Spam laws. This is also a cheap, sometimes free way for you to connect with your customers directly. 

These services might seem overwhelming at first. You have to give it a chance. With a few clicks, and some practice you will be handling your list. 

The friendliest way to advertise is to call it "opt-in" Or "permission. Using this customers are asking for more information, to be updated, and to keep in touch with your business. 

You can announce at different places about signing up for your email. You can politely remind your customers that they can keep an eye out for some new things by signing up for your newsletter. You can share you email sign up link with different places such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+, your blogs, on your websites, etc. 

Don't just ask your customers to sign up, but give them some reasons to do this. People are protective of their email accounts, and they need to know what is in it for them in order to be inviting you in. Specials, promotions, new listings, maybe some item that is hot/popular, and so on. 

When done correctly email marketing works in making a relationship between you, and the customers. Over time the customers will come to know you, trust you, and this will let you show them that you care too. 

Remember that the customers who are on your list will be the biggest fans of your business. They would like to be the first ones to know what is going on in your business. Maybe you are going to run a sale on Saturday. Well, send out coupons to them on Friday night to use for Saturday. This gives them first dibs on your sale. Maybe you would like to host a special private sale. You could offer such a deal to only your customer email list. Makes them feel special, and appreciative towards you as well. 

The customers on your list can be a big contributor to the success of your business too. Think of them first, and treat them with respect by offering special things to them through your email list. 

Remember, Lisa at Market Your Creativity offers these topics being shared with you, and you can read a little more about them by visiting her too. 

Hope you enjoyed this Email List For Your Business Topic today. Thanks for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams everyone. Until the next time I wish you all a wonderful day. See you again soon!

Picture Products Photography For Selling Online

Picture Products Photography For Selling Online

Hello Everyone, and Welcome back to LilacsNDreams! Selling online is being continued with Picturing Products With Photography. I am not expert with this issue. I learn as I go, read advice that others share, and am able to share a little bit of what others have taught me along the way. Not to worry if you have been dealing with this as it is a revolving topic that is often discussed among many other sellers. 

Keep in mind that your pictures are the first thing that customers will see as they enter into your shops. You can teach yourself to take good photos, and the best part of this as that your eyes become the lens through which everyone gets to see your products. Your pictures will help you keep the customers in you shop to continue further looking, and clicking through your shop. 

For those who make, or sell items that will be worn will find that sometimes using models is a good thing. When using a model you can give the customers a better image of how the product will look as they would use it themselves. Some sellers feel that using a model will give the impression of the items made have then been used. Most sellers won't sell the items that have been worn. So, then maybe instead you might want to use manniquins, manniquin heads, or maybe even some manniquin hands too. Depends on the product that you are offering what your choice will be. 

You want to try to simplify your backgrounds, and your drops. When the customer enters, and sees your pictures you want their eyes to focus with the product that you are offering. If your backgrounds were to get to busy, or to creative the customer will be searching for what is the actual product being offered. Try to keep your pictures bright, clean, and clear for the customers to view. The more professional it looks, the better presentation all around it will be for the prospective customer to view. 

If you have a simple looking product try using mabye some kind of scrapbook paper, linens, doilies, and something light yet appealing to your product. 

Make sure that your backgrounds, and your backdrops have mainly a matching theme. Switching things with the backgrounds is fine, but try to make them blend in with the different pictures that you are showing. A little variety can be good for your listings with the attention that it brings to the eyes of your customers. 

Lighting is something that can be difficult to work with. Many suggest using as much natural light as possible is good for your pictures. This is where you will need to experiment with your pictures using different times of the days, using indoor and outdoor pictures, and finding where you can get your best shots at. I know one product that many work a little bit more with to picture is jewelry. It can be done, takes a little time to find what works for you, and looks so nice when you have found what works for you too. 

When you are working on your pictures one thing you will have to keep in mind is that this step does take patience to do. You might want to consider it being an all day event when doing this. Remember, this will be the first thing that will matter to future customers visiting with your shops. There is a lot to learn, and to experiment with in taking pictures; focus, backgrounds, backdrops, lighting, angles, etc. So, take a deep breath and allow yourself the time, the space, and remember the patience it will take to achieve this skill. 

When you can visit Market Your Creativity, and see what she is sharing over there with these business issues as well. 

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend, and for those who watched the Super Bowl that you enjoyed it as well. Thanks for stopping by LilacsNDreams, and hope to see you all again soon. Have a Happy Day!

What to Name Your Business or Existing Business

What to Name Your New Business, or Existing Business

Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Our topic is still about business, and kind of a building stepping stone version of some things to do, and consider. When we build our businesses we should do so with the intention of selling it. When doing this it will help you think of longer terms of your business. You might be considering what to call your business, or maybe planning on in the future of changing your name of your business you have now. 

As time has gone along you learn a little bit more of what to maybe consider when you choose a name for your business. Like is it keyword rich? Another thing to consider is if the domain is available for it as well. Many ask also if it a good move to give your business your own name. 

Using keywords, and a domain is important in helping your business to be found online. While considering names for your business you can also check the availability of a domain for it as well. There are many providers out there for services of having your domain with. I myself have used GoDaddy for years now. Remember, there are others to choose from, and it is something you will want to look into further to see which one will better serve you. 

Now, if the business is you then it is acceptable and understandable giving it your name. Now, if the business is to be of something you love, then it might be better to give it a name that reflects that. Doing this will be more workable for you to brand it as well. 

Using your name maybe could work for like a high end designer. An example would be like Michael Kor who has done well, and has a known name for his products. Maybe you will have a service for hire like a wedding planner, a local personality, or as a photographer too. You can also consider using your name for your photography, and of course many who are writers also will use their names too. 

If you would fall under some of the examples noted then you should use your name for your business. Me? I like the idea of choosing a name that you can brand for you, and your business. As you choose your name consider many things with it, and how you would like your business to be known too. 

When naming your business it becomes an exercise in doing so. Consider using words to describe your business, maybe how your products make people feel, and maybe reasons as to why you enjoy making what you make. Write some ideas down on a sheet of paper. Then, consider if you were to draw a picture of what your business is to represent what picture would you draw. Maybe what symbol do you consider with it, colors for products sold, and different things like that. 

As you come up with some sample names to use for your business consider if it will match your product, and your theme. Is it a universal name that you could use to blog with, and to also market with too. If you would choose to expand your business will this name work for it?

These are a few things to consider when naming your business, choosing a name, and hopefully will give you some ideas of what to consider as you do this. Remember to visit MarketYourCreativity as Lisa does well explaining things, giving you ideas, and is doing pretty good for her business she is building. 

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and sharing some time with Me today. Wishing you all much luck with your business ventures. Have a Happy Day, and hope to see you again soon!