The SmallBizLady Buzz - Issue 42

It’s 2021 and that means it's time to ramp up your sales. One of the biggest issues small business owners have is closing leads. Most website visitors don’t buy on the first visit, so how are you going to convert your leads into sales?  Here are 6 ideas for increasing your conversion rates.

1. Ask for the business

I don't want to seem like Captain Obvious here, but many businesses just don’t know how ask for the business. You’ll be amazed by how many leads say YES, if you ask them if they are ready to buy. They became a lead because they were interested in what your business offers. If your business doesn’t ask for the sale, your competitor will.

2. Set a time limit

Once someone enters your sales funnel, give it 30-45 days to build the relationship and then if you can’t get some interest, end the relationship. You must remove unresponsive leads from your sales funnel. Draft a good last chance email. Try a headline like, “It’s time to have the talk…..We have not heard from you in that last 45 days. We hate to see you go, but we don't want to clog your email with messages you no longer want. Even though we will no longer be reaching out to you, feel free to reach out to us in the future. We’re always here as a resource if you have any questions.” This email will drive reengagement, or allow you to prune your list. No need to waste time on a dead lead.

3. Offer an incentive

Everyone likes free stuff. Offering a free product sample or resource such as an ebook or video checklist is a great way to push leads to convert. The free product doesn’t have to have a high monetary value. But if it’s content, give away your best stuff. The average web visitor simply can’t pass up an irresistible free offer.

4. Remind them of the potential ROI

If your product or service has the potential to increase your lead’s return on investment, then make sure you remind them of questions that solve their pain, such as, “Are you looking for a second stream of income? Are you ready to start a dream business? Are you ready to increase your revenue?” Reminding them that what you are offering will help them learn fast, save time or make more money will often push them to convert.

5. Develop a great FAQ page

Many leads won’t convert because your leads have questions that they need answered before they pull out their credit card. Don’t make assumptions, answer common questions that tend to come up. Make your FAQ prominent on your website. You can write out frequently asked questions or do a video version.

6. Your Fortune is in Your Follow-up

A quick follow-up phone call or email to ask your lead if they have any additional questions will often get them to make a purchase or indicate where they are in your buyer journey. This is an effective way of quickly converting leads into sales before too much time passes. A call or email follow-up within 48-hours will close a large percentage of leads for virtually every industry.

Now if you want even more ideas to grow your business this year, check out this week’s feature article, 12 things to boost your business in 2021.

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12 Things to Boost Your Business in 2021

2021 is finally here. I never was big on resolutions. I think they are a waste of time. Developing a strategic plan for the year and SMART goals is a much more valuable exercise. If I learned anything from last year, it’s that tomorrow is not promised. So, I don’t get excited about the new year anymore, instead, I’m taking each day as it comes. The vaccine is now available in limited supply, but the Coronavirus is still ever-present. And the Pandemic has left a lot more than death in its wake. Quite a few small businesses were destroyed too. Continue reading...

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Podcast: Building a Strong Brand Voice with Ross Kimbarovsky

Check out this week’s Podcast: Building a Strong Brand Voice with Ross Kimbarovsky

Ross Kimbarovsky is the founder and CEO of Crowdspring, a resource that connects clients to a team of over 220,0000 freelancers for branding and design services. Originally from Ukraine, Ross emigrated to the United States and enjoyed a successful career as a trial attorney. He has founded numerous startups, including Quickly Legal, Respect, and Startup Foundry. Ross mentors entrepreneurs through the Founder Institute and TechStars and was honored as one of TechWeek100's top technology leaders and business visionaries.

Ross and I discuss the importance of brand building and what you can do to improve your business brand story. 

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Get Your 2021 Business Plan Together Now!

Grab a copy of Become You Own Boss in 12 Months. Time to get a plan together to start your dream business. It’s a month-by-month process to start your dream business.

Get Your Copy Now!

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Melinda F. Emerson, “SmallBizLady” is America’s #1 Small Business Expert. She is an internationally renowned keynote speaker on small business development, marketing and social selling. Melinda is also the president of the Quintessence Group, an award-winning marketing consulting firm based in Philadelphia, PA, serving Fortune 500 brands who target small business market. LinkedIn named her a Top Voice for 2019 in Small Business and Entrepreneurship. In addition to being a former NY Times columnist, she is frequently quoted by media organizations including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, MSNBC, CNBC and Fox News. She is the host of #Smallbizchat LIVE and The SmallBizChat Podcast. A prolific writer, Melinda has published more than 5000 articles on her blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com. Her small business advice is widely read reaching more than 3 million entrepreneurs each week online. She is the bestselling author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months, 2nd Edition. Her latest book is Fix Your Business, a 90 Day Plan to Get Back Your Life and Reduce Chaos in Your Business.