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Several of my SCORE clients as well as peer volunteers have been burned recently by piggybacking "crap-ware", i.e., software that was installed when they downloaded another program. This is particularly common when you go to a so-called "download site". Thus, my first advice is to make sure that you are going to the true primary site for the software that you wish to use. However, even that won't let you totally avoid the issue. For example, any Java download tries to install the Ask search engine, and one of my favorite freebies, an image editor and screen grabber called PicPick, offers the pernicious Conduit search tool as part of its Cnet download.
So-called browser hi-jackers seem to be prevalent. These software's insert themselves into your browsers and take over as your primary search engine in order to get paid by any of your click-thru's. Some can intentionally be a real pain to remove, so carefully read the install screens. Just decline anything other than what you mainly requested.
If you still clicked and installed the crap-ware by mistake, then start with your uninstall programs feature of your operating system. In Windows, you can find it under the Control Panel labeled "Programs and Features". You may also need to run an anti-malware program like the freebie from Malwarebytes, which should likewise become a periodic routine. After you get rid of the crap-ware, it's also a good idea to run a registry cleaner like the freebie CCleaner (which originally stood for crap-cleaner) to get rid of any residual crap.
So-called browser hi-jackers seem to be prevalent. These software's insert themselves into your browsers and take over as your primary search engine in order to get paid by any of your click-thru's. Some can intentionally be a real pain to remove, so carefully read the install screens. Just decline anything other than what you mainly requested.
If you still clicked and installed the crap-ware by mistake, then start with your uninstall programs feature of your operating system. In Windows, you can find it under the Control Panel labeled "Programs and Features". You may also need to run an anti-malware program like the freebie from Malwarebytes, which should likewise become a periodic routine. After you get rid of the crap-ware, it's also a good idea to run a registry cleaner like the freebie CCleaner (which originally stood for crap-cleaner) to get rid of any residual crap.
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While you will hear a lot of buzz regarding the use of social media to market your small business, that is not the place to start. Instead, so-called e-blasts or email newsletters are far and away your most effective tool. By whatever means possible, start aggressively collecting customer and prospect email addresses. Some offer a discount on a purchase, some collect business cards for a monthly prize raffle, some require an email address to download files from a website, just get them any way that you can.
In practice, you will find that you need to use an email service to assure compliance with the anti-spam laws as well as being able to conveniently sending hundreds of emails with a single OK click. If you've never tried to do so, you will find that your normal email provider will not allow that. ConstantContact is the most well known service, but I recommend small businesses start with MailChimp, because the latter is free for lists with less than 2000 email addresses. These services all provide easy-to-use templates to produce good-looking and effective emails.
The overwhelming benefit of emails as a marketing tool is the specific feedback that they provide regarding the interests of your customers. These services provide you reports with specific information regarding precisely who clicked on which link contained in each email. This uniquely enables you to tailor feedback tied to those interests. For example, you might subsequently offer a 20% discount on a red dress, but only to those who you know are already interested because they'd clicked on a link previously, thus avoiding the need to expose yourself to such a discount for your entire customer base.
In practice, you will find that you need to use an email service to assure compliance with the anti-spam laws as well as being able to conveniently sending hundreds of emails with a single OK click. If you've never tried to do so, you will find that your normal email provider will not allow that. ConstantContact is the most well known service, but I recommend small businesses start with MailChimp, because the latter is free for lists with less than 2000 email addresses. These services all provide easy-to-use templates to produce good-looking and effective emails.
The overwhelming benefit of emails as a marketing tool is the specific feedback that they provide regarding the interests of your customers. These services provide you reports with specific information regarding precisely who clicked on which link contained in each email. This uniquely enables you to tailor feedback tied to those interests. For example, you might subsequently offer a 20% discount on a red dress, but only to those who you know are already interested because they'd clicked on a link previously, thus avoiding the need to expose yourself to such a discount for your entire customer base.
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Be careful. Do not create a Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or other voluntary social media business page unless you have got the time and personality to create content in a timely manner. Twitter users expect at least a same-day response, desirably faster. Facebook users that have been kind enough to "like" your business expect helpful postings at least weekly. You might be able to keep them involved and propagating your postings if the posts are truly helpful, substantial, and at least monthly. Anything less frequent will lead them to assume that your business is not doing well and/or that you don't really have the time to bother with them. Even worse, new potential customers will likewise conclude that your business is not doing well.
Things can get even worse with reviews on the myriad local search engines. Sometimes no response is best if you have the personality that is inclined to argue or become offended. However, if you have the personality that allows some consideration to be offered, a timely response is even better. Timeliness is the key, e.g., responding weeks later unfortunately implies more about your indifference than anything you could write in a response.
Things can get even worse with reviews on the myriad local search engines. Sometimes no response is best if you have the personality that is inclined to argue or become offended. However, if you have the personality that allows some consideration to be offered, a timely response is even better. Timeliness is the key, e.g., responding weeks later unfortunately implies more about your indifference than anything you could write in a response.