Welcome back to theChatter! The response to our first edition was wonderful – thank you to all those who wrote in and gave us your thoughts. It confirmed there is a definite need for support of some sort for both established and new companies. By helping each other we build relationships that enhance our own business lives and make everything just that little bit easier. This became even more clear during our recent Eskom debacle! In the beginning, the camaraderie was almost fun but after a short while (well, for us anyway) it became a serious and frustrating problem. I have to thank those service providers who went out of their way to reduce the loss of business for us. It was certainly a lesson in how we take electricity for granted! And to think there are so many people in this country who live without it every single day. But that’s another story! What did amuse me was my personal countdown of how long it would take before everyone used it in some form of advertising message. I wasn’t disappointed!!

A recent client experience brought home to me how important the fundamentals of marketing are to any company. Like anything, without the fundamentals in place we cannot build a successful strategy for long-term success. These fundamentals are not anything new or different and yet they are so often ignored. I could list many of them here which would probably end up boring you but, for example, marketing material (such as brochures, newsletters, stationery, etc.) and the like, are vitally important for every company. This also brings up the importance of branding but we’ll save that for another edition of  theChatter. Many start-ups are unwilling to spend money on marketing but don’t realise how short-sighted this decision is. The biggest ‘problem’ with marketing is that it is intangible. It is very difficult to understand what exactly you are getting for your money. And to add to the problem, it is not a short-term remedy to increasing business! It needs to be repetitive and constant to reap its true rewards.

One tool, however, that is easier to monitor, is your Web site. It is a great opportunity for helping you understand your customers and their needs. Making life simple for your target market works to your advantage. Everything these days is rushed and based on instant gratification – by letting your clients voice their opinions or requests via your site, you make their life easier as well as hear their needs, which in turn, increases your business turnover! What a great tool! And you do have one, don’t you?

Having a Web site is important for any company that is serious about what they do. A presence on the net gives you credibility. How often do you immediately search the internet when you hear of a firm or product? If you cannot find their Web site, what is your reaction? Understandably, it is often difficult for start-ups to budget for a site but perhaps this will ease your mind – for the price of a small ad in a glossy or newspaper, you can have a large Web site! And your target market is wide open. Any other advertising is reliant only on the market that sees it – with the internet, “World Wide Web” says it all! A Web site is more dynamic and cost-effective than any other advertising medium! And you are visible worldwide 24 hours a day, 365 days a year!

But wait, this does not mean you should rush out and simply sign up for one now! A Web site needs to be carefully planned and designed. It needs to accurately deliver the message you are trying to send. And it needs to truly reflect who you are! For most companies these days, a Web site is one of the most important marketing tools. Think about it!

Enough lecturing – it’s now time to wish you a successful month (or however long) ahead before the next Chatter! Please remember, you are welcome to contact us even if it is only to ask a question or give us your thoughts. Additionally, if you need assistance creating a wonderful Web site for your company, we would welcome the opportunity of chatting to you!

Wishing you much success,

theCHATTER Ed!

Please send your comments and questions to thechatter@create-a-stir.co.za. We look forward to hearing from you!