It's been a busy month for AlephMEDIA. Lots of new work on the board, lots of meet ups and networking events. Now it's time to buckle down and do the work! One thing I've been focusing on with clients has been the value of having a regular e-newsletter. It's important to stay in touch with your customers, to stay "in their sights" even if they have no immediate need for your services. What should you tell them? What new products or services are you offering? Do you have new features on your Web site that you want to direct them to? Are you offering specials, do you want to send a coupon or are you offering a gift for referrals? Chances are, there's some news you want to let people know about, but you want to do it in a cost effective way.

The best e-newsletters do this, and also give the customer something extra. You're the SME (Subject Matter Expert) so give them something good, so that they look forward to your issues every month. Refer them to articles online that pertain to business, give them Tips and Tricks they can utilize on their own, point out a product that you've tried that is particularly effective. The better you are at this, the more likely they'll forward your newsletter on, and the more likely you'll grow your mailing list, your customer base and your income. See how that works? The reason an e-newsletter is so effective is that it takes almost no effort for that customer to forward it on to others who might appreciate it, and it costs you NOTHING additional for that new contact. Zip. Nada.

But the REALLY great part is that you can get statistics on who is opening it, who has forwarded it on, who have they forwarded it on to, who has unsubscribed and who has clicked on your links. Knowledge is power. Know your customer.

Contact me to find out how setting up an e-newsletter can benefit your business. It's incredibly cost effective and starts at only $25 a month, depending on the amount of content and the size of your mailing list.

Marketing 101— Pay it Forward

No, not the cheesy movie with Kevin Spacey as a sensitive teacher. Did anyone actually buy that? I'm talking about using the idea of Paying it Forward as a business concept. Think of it as Good Karma in the business world.

So, you meet someone new at a networking event or a coffee shop and maybe you can't really use their service, but perhaps you know others who might be interested? Grab their business card. Better yet, grab five of them. (Remember last month's issue, about handing out cards five at a time?) What does it hurt to help promote that person, even though you have NO expectation that they'll be your customer? My friend Ken at Maco Press does this all the time. He just loves hooking people up with each other, for no other reason than it's a nice thing to do.

When I'm out, I always have my lime green calendar and the back sleeves are full of business cards for other people. I never hesitate to whip one out and hook up a possible contact for someone I know. Yeah, maybe the referral will be your customer some day, or the referee will be a customer, which is networking in the traditional sense. But even if they aren't, it's still a nice thing to do. Everyone can use some Good Karma.

New!

AlephMEDIA is now on ITEX, an international barter community. For cash-strapped businesses, this is an ideal solution to getting the things you might still need but don't have the cash flow to handle. Get printing, cleaning services, CPA services, legal services, catering, healthcare, dental care, home and office renovation work, moving services, dinners out, just about anything you can think of. There are more than 440 ITEX members right here in Indiana (and many more outside the state) so much of what you need, you can use barter dollars for. It works when others who are ITEX members use your services, and you earn dollars in your account, which you can use for services from other ITEX members. It doesn't have to be a one-to-one exchange. For more information, check out their Web site or contact Vickie Reynolds, the broker for Indiana, at 812.314.0092.

Welcome New Clients!

AlephMEDIA would like to welcome its newest client, Krista Bermeo Studio. Krista is well known on the local art scene for her beautiful glass jewelry, which retails at boutiques here and around the country. She can be found locally at her two locations in Fountain Square and on Mass. Ave., plus Artifacts in Broad Ripple and the gift shop at The Children's Museum. She has two events this week, one participating in the First Friday Gallery Walk and the grand opening of her new location inside Arts a Poppin'. You can find out more about the events in her new e-newsletter.

Upcoming Networking Events

At The Top is a series of networking events for those at the top of their game, or those ready to take their networking to the next level. Held at The Skyline Club in Indianapolis, the opening event in November had more than 150 in attendance, who came to hear Mickey Maurer share his stories and insights. Upcoming dates are Jan. 21, Feb. 25, Mar. 25, Apr. 22 and May 20. You can find out more and register for future events on their Web site. With sponsors like Bingham McHale, Westpoint Financial Group, Zarvos Coaching & Consulting and The Controllership Group, you'll be in very good company.

AlephMEDIA Recommends...

...Zach Dobson with Zach Dobson Photography. Zach is trained as a photojournalist, so his corporate and portrait work makes him stand out amongst his peers. He finds the moment, often an unexpected one, and shows the subject in a unique light. This photo of Eddie Miller was done as part of an advertising campaign for St. Francis Hospital's Bariatric Services. His work for weddings is beautiful and spontaneous and his portraits are unlike anything you've ever seen. Check him out.