Monday 23 August 2010

How to Blog...

Here are five top tips on 'How to Blog' I have taken this advice from top blogger Perez Hilton, who is a celebrity gossip blogger, I hope they help improve the quality of your blogging...

1. You don't have to be a scientist!
Blogging is very easy, it is just a case of choosing your software platform such as blogger.com or wordpress, creating an account and then start adding your blogs. It doesn't matter if your site isn't very flash - the content is more important.


2. Unique Selling Point
You need a gimmick if you want to get ahead. Some of Perez's favourites include; peopleofwalmart.com - pictures of people who go shopping at walmart. It's really funny and has got alot of attention. Another favourite of his is fatcatlover.blogspot.com

3. Be Efficient
Blog's could be witty, eloquent and more grammatically correct. However this needs to be balanced with trying to create as much content as possible, as quickly as possible. Whether you're blogging as a hobby or as a potential job, try to do it frequently. The more content you have the more traffic you will get.


4. Visual Aid
With pictures you need to know about what you can and can't use. Perez Hiton for example had hundreds of celeb photo's on his sight and as soon as he and his blog became famous, he got sued alot. He now knows that if he does use a celeb photo that he has to pay for it.

5. Be Sociable
Network with other bloggers; leave comments on blogs and respond to people who comment on yours. Combining Twitter and your blog is a great way to cross promote your content. Plus you can attact and follow individuals who may share your passions and start following your blog.

Good Luck with your Blogging, if you have any ideas about creating interesting and popular blogs, please leave a comment or get in touch helen_coldicott@hotmail.com.

I also offer Social Media services to get your Blogs, Twitter Accounts, RSS Feeds all linked up and on your website, see my website for more details... www.helencoldicottfreelancetraining.com

Monday 16 August 2010

Pitfalls when starting a CRM project...

In my experience, there are a number of things that spell the making of an unsuccesful CRM (Customer Relationship Management) project. If you spot one or more of the following tell tale signs, nip it in the bud quick to avoid CRM failure:

1. No Clear Objective

Sometimes companies will embark on a CRM project without identifying what their main objective is. This has many pitfalls some of which include;

  • Drag - no one knows when the project is finished, because no clear goals have been set
  • Expense - CRM companies keep implementing change requests because the project creeps and goes beyond their original remit
  • Unmeasured - as no clear objectives were set, the project manager at the 'end' of the project cannot inform the management team that the project was a success or not
  • Miscommunication - as there is no clear aim or direction, it is impossible to communicate with the rest of the organisation and staff learning how to use the new system what they are trying to achieve
2. It can do this, and this and we can use it for this...

Sometimes all the functionality that is available in a new system can spark the imagination and it is tempting to start implementing too many things at once. As a consequence, lots of the system is used by a few very IT literate people and the rest of the organisation don't know how to use it properly and often become dispondent or even want to sabotage the new system and remain using their old, reliable systems. Thus, a split in the company and two systems that don't work properly instead of one.

3. CRM is a magic sales tool

This of course is not true, but some people often think that by investing in a new CRM system that all their sales issues will be resolved. CRM is a tool to improve, support and promote best sales practise. However, if the system is not used or used badly, you'll still have the same problems that you did before spending all that money!

4. It's not my job

CRM systems are contact databases with integrated, sales, marketing, customer service and management tools. All databases and IT systems need someone who looks after that database and ideally champions it's use. All the best CRM projects have a person who usually has used CRM in a previuos job, loves it and wants to share that knowledge with their new organisation. Sometimes a manager, will see a major flaw in their existing practises that they think CRM can help to resolve. These are CRM champions, without these people, encouraging and supporting users, often means that the CRM project will be a failure.

5. I don't have to use it

Without backup from the management team, inevitably CRM projects fail. If people don't have to fill something in, they won't.

6. Change

Implementing a successful CRM system take time. With time comes change, when your business changes your CRM system should also change to support this. What you also need to ensure is that people are using the system and that it is meeting your objectives. Therefore regular, monitoring and review meetings need to take place and any subsequent changes implemented.

On a happier note, I have also written some Top Tips on Successful CRM Projects, take a look, I hope it helps to make your project a great success. If you would like any help, advice or support on choosing the right CRM system for your business, please drop me an email helen_coldicott@hotmail.com or look at my website www.helencoldicottfreelancetraining.com . We don't just offer CRM training but help and advice on implementing successful CRM systems.

Top Tips for a successful CRM Project

1. Be Clear and Communicate

Ensure everyone in your organisation knows what your objectives are. For example, to have one shared database for all contact information or for all sales leads to be added and kept up-to-date.

2. Start Small

Begin by asking staff to record all new prospects and appointments. Remeber once these have been added that they will also need completing and updating. Start by implementing one area of functionality, but do this well. Once staff's confidence in using the system has grown, then you can add more functionality.

3. Keep it simple

Make your CRM system easy and intuitive to use. You can achieve this by keeping lookup lists up-to-date, using familiar terminology and removing any unused tabs, screens or fields.

4. Choose a CRM champion

Ensure you have at least one inhouse expert for users to ask for help and advice. It should also be this persons responsibility to mange the database, for example, keeping lookup lists up-to-date, adding new and deleting old users, in the correct way.

5. Monitor and Review your progress

Encourage managers to use the reporting tools available in your new CRM system. This will ensure you have endorsement from the management team and deliver real return on investment.

If you remind yourself of these five basic rules on a regular basis, it will help keep your objectives focused and ensure you and your organisation enjoy a stress free and successful CRM implementation.

Thursday 12 August 2010

Why attend a Google Adwords Workshop?

  1. Google is the world's number one ranking search site.
  2. In the UK alone over 16.2 million people use Google to search for goods, services and information.
  3. 94% of uk business service researchers use Google, more than twice that of Google's closest competitor
  4. 79% of search referrals in the UK come from the Google network
  5. Google users are 31% more likely to have purchased business products online compared to the average online user

The estimated level of online spending in the UK is set to reach £56 billion by 2014!

These are just a few of the statistics that give you an idea of the market you could potentially be reaching by investing in or improving your Google Adwords account.

How can Google training help us?

A better understanding of Google Adwords will allow you to effectively tap into the web market by enabling you to:

  1. Drive more people to your website
  2. Ensure your target audience are driven towards your wesbite
  3. Ensure your prospects arrive at the page that is most relevant to them
  4. Measure the success of your web marketing - are you getting good return on investment for your web budget?
If you would like to find out more about Google Adwords Workshops, please call 0770 410 5954 or email helen_coldicott@hotmail.com