Month: March 2010

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Ultimate “Marketing” Tactics – How to Turn Online Traffic into Money – #2 of 4

young lady in an office holding cash

If you don’t already track your Website Conversion Rate, START TODAY! Whether you are using landing pages, videos, free e-books, or another popular strategy for converting traffic into paying customers, you definitely want to track it.

Do you know how to calculate and use a Website Conversion Rate?

“In internet marketing, Conversion Rate is the ratio of visitors who convert casual content views or website visits into desired actions based on subtle or direct requests from marketers, advertisers, and content creators” according to Wikipedia. It is defined as:

Conversion Rate = # of Actions / # of Visits

In this equation, “# of Actions” is your desired outcome, or your conversion goal. For example, if you want visitors to use a discount code or coupon at purchase, then that is the “call to action” conversion goal.

Many “marketing” tools for free web analytics, such as Google Analytics, are readily available to make the job easier, enabling you to track website conversion rate trends over time. Google offers its web analytics solution for no charge, allowing anyone with a website to:

  • track conversion data,
  • analyze the flow of visitors through their site, and
  • identify elements of their site that could be changed to improve visitor retention.

For more help, check out this Tip for Getting Started.

For even more “Marketing” tips and tactics, search these phrases:

  • Conversion Goals
  • Conversion Funnel
  • Web Analytics Tools

Happy “Marketing” Hunting!

Which free web analytics tools work best for you?

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For more resources, see our Library topics Marketing and Social Networking.

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ABOUT Lisa M. Chapman: With offices in Nashville Tennessee, but working virtually with international clients, Lisa M. Chapman serves her clients as a business and marketing coach, business planning consultant and social media consultant. As a Founder of iBrand Masters, a social media consulting firm, Lisa Chapman assists clients in establishing and enhancing their online brand, attracting their target market, engaging in meaningful social media conversations, and converting online traffic into revenues. Email: Lisa @ LisaChapman.com

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Ultimate “Marketing” Tactics – How to Turn Online Traffic into Money – #1 of 4

Happy Woman in Blue Long Sleeve Blouse Holding Money

It’s exciting to know that savvy business folks everywhere are FINALLY demanding – successfully – that their website or landing page work hard, and convert traffic into paying customers, both online AND offline.

Marketing is a by-product of sales

After all, marketing is a by-product of the sales function. Wikipedia’s definition of “Marketing” ties it all together for us: “Marketing is defined by the American Marketing Association (AMA) as ‘the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large.’ The term developed from the original meaning which referred literally to going to a market to buy or sell goods or services.

Business is catching on to using a full toolbox of effective strategies for turning website traffic into money. In this economy, it’s newsworthy GLOBALLY, as the Wall Street Journal affirmed by publishing its September 4, 2009 (and still timely) article, “Three Best Ways to Convert Web Traffic into Sales”. The article offers three real-world case studies of companies that “tempt visitors into opening their wallets” and cites these tactics:

  • Install a Click-to-Call Feature
  • Chat with Customers Online
  • Offer a Try-Before-You-Buy Program

For more detail, read the full text of the WSJ article.

For even more “Marketing” tips and tactics, search these phrases:

  • Website Traffic Conversion
  • How to Increase Conversion Rates
  • How to Monetize a Website
  • Make Money from a Website

Happy “Marketing” hunting!

What traffic conversion tactics work for you?

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For more resources, see our Library topics Marketing and Social Networking.

.. _____ ..

ABOUT Lisa M. Chapman: With offices in Nashville Tennessee, but working virtually with international clients, Lisa M. Chapman serves her clients as a business and marketing coach, business planning consultant and social media consultant. As a Founder of iBrand Masters, a social media consulting firm, Lisa Chapman assists clients in establishing and enhancing their online brand, attracting their target market, engaging in meaningful social media conversations, and converting online traffic into revenues. Email: Lisa @ LisaChapman.com

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Personal and Professional Coaching Blog – Upcoming Features

Two business women coaching each other

I am privileged to be the Coaching Blog Manager for Authenticity Consulting. This Blog will be a forum for learning, idea exchange, and discussion with you, our readers.

I became a Professional Coach in 1999. At that time, there were only about 10,000 coaches and handful of coaching schools available – the main ones being, Coaches Training Institute and CoachU . In telling people that I was a Professional Coach, they would inevitably ask, “What Sport?”

Fast forward to 2010 – the coaching industry has exploded. According to the ICF Global Coaching Survey it is conservatively estimated that there are now 30,000 (some say 50, 000) active coaches worldwide and that the coaching industry generates approximately 1.5 billion annually. It is predicted that the coaching industry is still in its growth phase and that there will continue to be a demand for coaching services and coaching career opportunities.

Here are some of the topics our Blog will initially feature.

  • Define coaching: distinctions between coaching, consulting, mentoring, counseling
  • How does coaching work?
  • Types of coaching
  • The coach-client relationship
  • Coaching ethics
  • What to look for in selecting a coach
  • Coaching skills and tips
  • Coaching trends

I welcome you to participate by posting a reply with your thoughts, comments and questions regarding coaching.

For more resources, see the Library topic Personal and Professional Coaching.

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Social Enterprise: The Final Frontier

Social Enterprise: A cart and a laptop

Social enterprise is not for the faint of heart. It’s hard enough to make a difference in the world, or to succeed at running a business, but do both at the same time? Yikes, beam me up, Scotty. This is not easy to do, and many organizations have failed at it. But the good news is that there are tens of thousands of organizations who have succeeded at pursuing their social mission supported, in part or in whole, by selling goods and services. And, in most cases, they’re willing to share what they’ve learned.

Welcome to the first edition of the Social Enterprise Blog of the Free Management Library. I’m Rolfe Larson, your guide in this quadrant of the blogosphere. Our goal is to help you succeed at starting, expanding, or just surviving your social enterprise.

What is a social enterprise? There are many definitions, so here’s one to get things started. The Social Enterprise Alliance defines it as any organization that “harnesses the power of the marketplace to solve critical social or environmental problems.”

Here are some of the topics we’ll be discussing here:

  • What organizational form makes best sense for your group?
  • Are you ready to do social enterprise? Is it right for you?
  • What are the risks and limitations? Other options?
  • How do you find good opportunities to start or grow our ventures?
  • Where do you find the resources to get it started?
  • When does it make sense to hire someone to help you with this?

So I hope you will, well, boldly join us for this voyage. Or at least drop in from cyberspace now and again to “make it so.” I guarantee it: we’ll keep this useful and interesting. Engage!

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“What’s your business plan?”

Person sketching a business plan on her note

If you’re running a business, you get asked this question often. It could come from your banker, your accountant, your business-savvy aunt, or your teenager taking that first business class. They want to know: what’s your business plan? And they all want different things. Some just want a sentence or two about customers, competitors and business models. Others want detailed financials. Still others wonder if you’ve done a thorough market and competitor analysis.

Welcome to the first edition of the Business Planning Blog of the Free Management Library. I’m Rolfe Larson, your guide in this quadrant of the blogosphere. Our goal is to help you figure out how to answer that persistent question. In a way that helps you succeed with your business.

Here are some of the other questions we’ll be addressing here:

  • Do you really need a business plan?
  • How much business planning do you need to do?
  • Where to go to get business planning help?
  • When to hire someone to do market research
  • When to hire someone to write your plan
  • What about all those unknowns every business faces?
  • Will a business plan help you raise money?
  • When should you revise your plan?

So I hope you can join us for the ride. Send in your reactions, comments, suggestions, and let’s make this fun. And we’ll help you answer that persistent question: what’s your business plan?

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For more resources, see our Library topic Business Planning.

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21st Century Human Resources

HR-manger-having-a-handshake-with-a-female-employee.

What does Human Resources look like in the 21st century?

Human Resources (HR) is a term used to describe the human capital in organizations as well as describing the department charged with developing programs and strategies to manage that capital. Today’s human resource department has evolved over the past century from the administrative role of early nineteenth century welfare managers and mid-century personnel managers into the role of a strategic business partner. While the leap from administrator to strategic partner may not be evident in all organizations, the current competency models available for the human resources professional and recent research indicate that making this leap is necessary to the success of business.

A review of the competency models provided by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), International Personnel Management Association (IPMA), and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) shows that today’s human resource professional must not only be a technical expert in the HR field, but also must understand business. In addition to this knowledge, HR Professionals are expected to be competent leaders, consultants, and change agents.

In this blog we will discuss current and relevant topics and issues important to those working in or with individuals in a human resources role. Current competency models and traditional human resource roles will serve as a guide. Additionally, current topics in the news and your suggestions will further guide the content of this blog. Feel free to ask questions and answer those posted by others.

Also, your comments are always encouraged!

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For more resources, See the Human Resources library.

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Basic Fundraising Philosophy

A-fundraising-writer-writing-basic-fundraising-philosophy

When I was asked to edit/manage/write this blog, I wasn’t sure what I might have to say that was new, interesting, stimulating or basically worth reading. I don’t want to just hear (read) myself thinking, I want to encourage discussion, conversation and professional debate.

So, as my first posting … an outline of what this blog will cover, and an initial description of the basis of my fundraising philosophy:

• What fundraising is and is not;
• What development is and is not;
• The relationship between fundraising and development;
• Who in a non-profit organization (NPO) is responsible for fundraising and/or development — the roles of staff, board and other volunteers;
• Major Gift and Bequest programs;
• Fundraising/Planning Studies;
• Capital Campaigns;
• Grant Writing and Relationships with Grantors;
• Special events;
• Why “fundraisers” are not fundraising; and,
• Anything else I can think of and that you suggest.

Fundraising, where it serves the needs of the NPO, cannot be about the needs of the NPO. Fundraising must be about the needs of the (prospective) donor. If you don’t consider the donor’s needs, how can you expect the donor to consider the needs of the NPO?

I also want to be able to publish your thoughts and comments, and I want to address your questions. I also invite you to contact me directly if you have an idea for a posting … I’ll give you credit (name, firm/org, contact info) for whatever you write that I post.

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Have a question about starting or expanding your fundraising? Email me at AskDCA@Major-Capital-Giving.com. With over 30 years of counseling in major gifts, capital campaigns, bequest programs and the planning studies to precede these three, we’ll work to answer your question.

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Welcome to the Business Ethics blog!

Woman standing in front of her team members smiling

I’m David Gebler and I’m the host of this blog. You can read more about me next to my picture in the sidebar. This blog will be about various aspects of business ethics, will focus especially on practical tips and tools, and will include posts from guest writers. You can learn more about this blog by clicking on the About link just under the header.

  • Before using the blog, please take a few minutes now to read about the policies. Go to Policies under the header.
  • Feel free to share a comment about a post. Just click on the link “Leave a response” under the post in the body of the blog.
  • You can use RSS or email to get copied on any new posts in the blog. Go to To Subscribe under the header to select RSS subscription or email subscription to get updates.
  • You can also use email to get notified when there are new comments to a post. When you click on “Leave a response” under the post, check the box to be notified of any follow-up comments.
  • You can get a lot of visibility to your work by being a guest writer. Many of the Library’s topics consistently rank in the top 10 of Google search results. Go to Guest Writer Submissions under the header.
  • See the many Related Library Topics listed on the sidebar. They contain 100s of free online, articles related to the topic of this blog.
  • Read the many other useful blogs in the Library. Go to Library’s Blogs in the sidebar.
  • Search for any topics you’re interested in. Use the Search box at the top of the header.
  • If larger text would be easier for you to read, just click on the 3 “A”s above the header until the text is large enough for you to easily read.

If you have any questions, just use the Contact Us form at the bottom of each page.

Welcome!

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Welcome to the Spirituality blog!

Spirituality: Uneven stones arranged on each other.

We’re Janae Bower and Linda Ferguson and we’re the co-hosts of this blog. You can read more about each of us next to our pictures in the sidebar. This blog will be about various aspects of spirituality in the workplace, and will focus especially on practical tips and tools, and will include posts from guest writers. You can learn more about this blog by clicking on the About link just under the header.

  • Before using the blog, please take a few minutes now to read about the policies. Go to Policies under the header.
  • Feel free to share a comment about a post. Just click on the link “Leave a response” under the post in the body of the blog.
  • You can use RSS or email to get copied on any new posts in the blog. Go to To Subscribe under the header to select RSS subscription or email subscription to get updates.
  • You can also use email to get notified when there are new comments to a post. When you click on “Leave a response” under the post, check the box to be notified of any follow-up comments.
  • You can get a lot of visibility to your work by being a guest writer. Many of the Library’s topics consistently rank in the top 10 of Google search results. Go to Guest Writer Submissions under the header.
  • See the many Related Library Topics listed on the sidebar. They contain 100s of free online, articles related to the topic of this blog.
  • Read the many other useful blogs in the Library. Go to Library’s Blogs in the sidebar.
  • Search for any topics you’re interested in. Use the Search box at the top of the header.
  • If larger text would be easier for you to read, just click on the 3 “A”s above the header until the text is large enough for you to easily read.

If you have any questions, just use the Contact Us form at the bottom of each page.

Welcome!

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Welcome to the Strategic Planning blog!

Work colleagues trying to come up with a business strategy

I’m Carter McNamara and I’m the host of this blog. You can read more about me next to my picture in the sidebar. This blog will be about various aspects of strategic planning, will focus especially on practical tips and tools, and will include posts from guest writers. You can learn more about this blog by clicking on the About link just under the header.

  • Before using the blog, please take a few minutes now to read about the policies. Go to Policies under the header.
  • Feel free to share a comment about a post. Just click on the link “Leave a response” under the post in the body of the blog.
  • You can use RSS or email to get copied on any new posts in the blog. Go to To Subscribe under the header to select RSS subscription or email subscription to get updates.
  • You can also use email to get notified when there are new comments to a post. When you click on “Leave a response” under the post, check the box to be notified of any follow-up comments.
  • You can get a lot of visibility to your work by being a guest writer. Many of the Library’s topics consistently rank in the top 10 of Google search results. Go to Guest Writer Submissions under the header.
  • See the many Related Library Topics listed on the sidebar. They contain 100s of free online, articles related to the topic of this blog.
  • Read the many other useful blogs in the Library. Go to Library’s Blogs in the sidebar.
  • Search for any topics you’re interested in. Use the Search box at the top of the header.
  • If larger text would be easier for you to read, just click on the 3 “A”s above the header until the text is large enough for you to easily read.

If you have any questions, just use the Contact Us form at the bottom of each page.

Welcome!