So far the feedback for our new look site has been quite favourable. However, if you've found it a challenge to find where things are, or have a suggestion for improvement, please do let me know.

I believe the navigation now is much easier, especially for newer visitors. The old site had grown far bigger than I had originally anticipated and was becoming quite cumbersome to manage. I'm glad I took the plunge to get it done, even if it did mean quite a lot of hours outside of working for clients. We've also added membership software (Wishlist) which allows our Virtual Assistant members to update their own profiles.

by Nancy Jackson

Yesterday I received a phone call from an acquaintance that I’ve met once or twice but haven’t seen in over a year. She wanted to let me know that she was referring me to a client of hers who needed help with his Web site copy. Although I hadn’t thought about her in months, she mentioned that she’d received a postcard from me for the past two quarters — and that’s why she instantly thought of my services when her client voiced his need. Although it wasn’t really magic, it sure felt like it. That’s the magic of keep-in-touch marketing — people remember you and feel like they know you, and eventually, they often give you business or refer others to you.

Want to develop some “keep-in-touch magic” of your own? It’s easy. You’ve probably got a number of names in your contact database, but when was the last time they heard from you? If you’re like many business owners or marketers, you spend more time looking for new business than keeping in touch with your current and former clients. But nurturing the relationships you already have is crucial to growing a successful business. And finding a way to keep in touch with those contacts on a regular basis is integral for keeping yourself and your business on their minds.

Many of the best methods of "keep-in-touch marketing" involve writing - and that may be why lots of business people don’t do it! But writing doesn't have to be a chore; just keep in mind that the point is simply to keep in touch, not necessarily to make an immediate sale. If you approach keep-in-touch marketing as just that, a method of staying in contact with friends and associates, you’ll take the pressure off yourself to craft the perfect sales pitch. And there are a number of methods for keeping in touch, so you can choose the ones that work best for you and your business. Here are a few to think about:

Postcards. As in the example mentioned above, simple postcards can do the trick without investing much time or money. Use them to communicate upcoming sales, new products, or simply to remind people of your services and the value you can offer.

Thank-you notes. More personal and less regular than other forms of keep-in-touch marketing, the old-fashioned thank-you note can work wonders for your business. I once heard the owner of a successful travel agency say she writes at least one thank-you note every day, and people always remember, often saving her notes for years. Send personal thank-you notes when someone takes you to lunch, gives you a referral, or provides a service that helps you do your job better. Be creative — there are numerous reasons to thank people. You can do the same with congratulations notes.

Newsletters. Electronic newsletters or print newsletters are perfect vehicles for keeping in touch with your clients and prospects. You can use them to provide useful information, industry news and tips, and build an ongoing rapport with your readers at the same time. Miscellaneous Mailers. Mailers can include anything from an announcement of an upcoming sale to a holiday greeting. A local company that designs diamond link bracelets sends reminders just before Valentine’s Day, Mother ’s Day and other special occasions to those who have bought starter bracelets from them. The clients are reminded of a great gift for the upcoming occasion, and the jewelry company usually gets a lot of business.

Whatever method you use for keeping in touch, keep in mind that your main idea is just to remind people that you’re still around and that you have value to offer. Of course, it’s always important to write correctly and creatively, and to provide your contacts with useful information, but for these projects your main purpose is simply to keep in touch.

Get started, and experience some "magic" of your own!

Copyright 2004 Nancy Jackson

Nancy Jackson creates powerful marketing communications for companies of all sizes at: http://www.writeshoponline.com.

What's a card worth?

Do you, through your business or personally, send out cards to those you know on a regular basis? Perhaps for seasonal events such as Easter, Christmas and New Year, or for birthdays or anniversaries. What about thanking someone for doing business with you? Or perhaps it's for something else - someone you know has just had a baby, got married or is in need of sympathy. In the past I had a client who would get me to handwrite cards to all her top clients every Christmas, Easter and for other reasons through the year. Sometimes with a small gift included.

Have you worked out the cost involved in purchasing those cards, the time involved in handwriting them and addressing the envelope, then the trip to the post office and cost of postage? Or perhaps you get the cards specially printed so there is that additional cost as well - to make sure that you have something unique and reflects you and/or your business? What about if you're posting it to another country?

What if I told you that you could get all of the above; unique cards, your own handwriting, no trips to the shops or post office, no bulk-buying specially printed cards, all for under $3.00 per card including printing and postage? In fact, the cost varies (and gets lower) depending on what options you choose with the new service I now have available. Or you can engage me to simply send out cards on your behalf, whenever it suited you. I love that I can upload my own photos to make the cards even more personal.

Mother's Day is coming up - it's on Sunday 9th May in Australia, USA, Germany, New Zealand, India, Ireland, and South Africa. The UK had theirs in March, however if you live in a country that celebrates it in May and your mum is in the UK, then you could still send her a card and let her know you're thinking of her.

So, whether it be for Mother's Day, a special event or something business related why not try out a gift account on me and see how it works or give me a call and I'll walk you through the process. Phone +613 9754 8310 or email me.