Alerts Made Easy Reaches Semi-Finals in Innovate Illinois Competition

Our sister company, Alerts Made Easy^TM, has just been notified that we are semi-finalists in the Innovate Illinois competition!! Here's the note we received:

Congratulations on behalf of the Millikin Regional Entrepreneurship Network (MREN) and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for participating in Innovate Illinois. Although the judges had a difficult time choosing semi-finalists, we are pleased that you and your company, www.alertsmadeeasy.com will be representing us at the semi-finals in Champaign, September 24.

Innovate Illinois is statewide entrepreneurial and innovation competition recognizing high-growth entrepreneurs. Businesses compete on the merits of their innovations to be named the most innovative company in the state by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). Out of the hundreds of companies that compete, four will win a total of $80,000 in cash prizes.

Needless to say, we are thrilled!

We saw AME in action when the tornadoes hit Williamsville and Loami last week, and we're so glad to know that it is helping people stay in touch and stay safe! If you're not sure how AME can work for you, you can send a free test message to yourself from our site. Or, give us a call, and we'll show you the benefits!

Small Busineses Can Survive a Troubled Economy

With so much uncertainty in the economy today, many people are worried about their future. It's understandable, but also unnecessary. Despite what you're hearing from the media, friends, family, and others, it IS possible to succeed right now. You just have to me in the right frame of mind and have the right attitude.

First and foremost, surviving this economic downturn requires a tenacious drive to take control. Only you can build your business stronger and more resilient, so you must make a serious and determined effort to rise above the challenges you face and reinvent yourself. There's no doubt it takes some thoughtful planning and hard work, but your business will emerge from this crisis stronger and well positioned to overtake your competitors. I thought I would share some of my business-building strategies with you, and maybe provide a little guidance and a lot of inspiration to put you in the right frame of mind to move forward and find new opportunities for yourself!

Here's my philosophy for surviving:

• I don't wait for things to happen to me. I make things happen. There's no "wait and see" approach here! I constantly look for opportunity and take action when I find it.
  
  
• My customers come first. I give them one-on-one attention and do my very best to provide outstanding service and superior products. Please remember, I am only an e-mail or phone call away, so don’t hesitate to contact me to chat!
  
  
• I put people first and business second! I build relationships with my customers, with peers, with friends, etc. I strive to invest in relationships, not sales transactions. My relationships provide me with an invaluable asset that can give me an unlimited return on my investment. Great relationships with customers ensure repeat business and quality referrals and leads.
  
  
• I am building my social networks to nurture those relationships. I'm making meaningful connections, learning new things, finding new clients, networking with people and finding inspiration from others. If you would like to learn more about social networking or how it might benefit you – let me know. I’d be happy to provide some ideas for you!
  
  
• I stay one step ahead of the competition. I strive to be the first to implement new technology or offer a new service. I study new trends and find opportunities to do more for my clients. I find great pleasure in doing new things.
  
  
• I'm a perpetual student. Whether I'm reading a book, watching a video seminar on the Web, or participating on online class, I am always learning, taking in as much information as I can. Currently, I am one of 25 in the nation working towards my designation and certification as a Social Networking Specialist from the International Association of Media Specialists.
  
  
• I keep a close eye on overhead expenses and cut where possible. If it's not a necessity, or if I'm not using a service to its full potential, I'm replacing it with something less expensive, or even free. This might require me to rethink a process or find a new way to do something, but I am flexible and will make it work for me. Lower overhead means I can spend more money investing back into my company so that I can offer the latest cutting edge technologies to my clients. And, maybe even one extra vacation year – who wouldn’t like that?
  
  
• I surround myself with team members who are as dedicated and hard-working as I am. I expect a lot from them because I know they can meet my expectations. My team members are amazing and I feel so extremely blessed to be surrounded by such amazing talent!
  
  
• I am focused and disciplined. My daily activities are always moving me along the path to reach my goals.
  
  
• I seek personal excellence, knowing that if I am at my best, my customers are getting the best I can give them.
  
  
• I stay grounded in reality. I take action based on the facts as I know them. I am skeptical of hype, emotional statements, and extreme predictions.
  
  
• I stay positive and optimistic. I know my future is secure because I have intentionally planned for that security.

Which strategies sound like you? Which ones do you need to work on? Like the Web sites I build, building a business is always a work in progress. You should never stop planning, thinking about what you could be doing new or better, or building relationships that will contribute to your success. Just remember that you're in control! Don't be reactive and let the economy take control of your business. Take the initiative, be proactive, and do your own part to stimulate the economy! And, if you need some help stimulating your brain, give me a buzz!

Make it happen!
Michelle

Using Twitter for Customer Service

As consumers, we so often dread calling a customer service number for product support. Before we talk to a human, we listen to the same elevator music track over and over, or the same promotional commercials, or the same "Your call is very important to us. Please remain on the line..." every 30 seconds. And while we understand that a company might not have the ability to answer every call immediately, we sure wish they would answer our question promptly and correctly!

Believe it or not, Twitter can be an awesome tool for customer service. And when implemented with a strategic plan in mind, your business can provide valuable advice, tips, and suggestions, and build a positive customer service reputation.

For one thing, when you help just one person via Twitter, your tweets can reach hundreds of customers, and many may have the same question or problem. You can help others just by posting one or two tweets, and maybe make someone's day!

For another, Twitter can help you be proactive. You can respond quickly to posts that mention your business name and show your customers (and potentials) that you are responsive and care about what people think. The more positive brand image you create, the more attention you will gain, on Twitter and elsewhere.

A few companies that use Twitter for customer service purposes:

Zappos (http://twitter.zappos.com) - widely known for their success at implementing social media, and especially Twitter, Zappos has over 430 employees on Twitter today. They tweet about company events, brands they carry, answers to questions from customers, and just general conversation to engage customers.

Ford (http://twitter.com/fordcustservice) - answers tweets about vehicle issues, where to purchase a vehicle or find warranty service, and special offers on Ford vehicles

Starbucks (http://twitter.com/starbucks) - answers tweets about where to find Starbucks coffee, which store chains carry Starbucks, the Starbucks/iTunes pick of the week, and other questions from loyal their loyal coffee drinkers

Southwest Airlines (http://twitter.com/southwestair) - tweets about flight information, delays, emergency landings and the status of the event, specials, and even WiFi flights. To learn more about how Southwest Airlines uses social media, read their latest blog post here.

Thinking of these examples, how could you implement Twitter for better customer service? If this idea sounds intriguing but you're not sure how to get started, contact e-websmart today! We have our own Twitter guide, and we can also help you devise a strategy.