Creative Chat Cafe - Following Up & Giving Back.

Creative Chat Cafe is back!

We’re back at Creative Chat Cafe! This is our pilot episode in 2014 and we are super excited! Woohoo! Cohosts in this episode are Kenya Haliburton of KenyaHaliburton.com and Tina Kadish of LifeIsIdeal.com.

If you are new here and missed our big announcement at our April 1st. Hangout event, well let's find out what's different this time around. Our new spin on CCC is that this is a “Talk Show Hangout” that helps small businesses and entrepreneurs get guidance, inspiration and results! Most importantly we want to help you soar in a business and life that you set your mind to!
Zef Zan will be cohosting the Hangout with other panelists who will be regulars on the show. We've introduced three out of six panelists at our April 1st. Hangout event so stay tuned to see who else will be joining Zef weekly.

The NEW and IMPROVED content for our show this year focuses on:

1. Marketing
2. Business Development
3. Leadership

We will also be including discussions and resources on giving back. We are interested in supporting non-profit organizations that support entrepreneurship. To start off, we are supporting KIVA.org, a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty.

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We're discussing "Following Up" in this episode.

One of the most important things that we need to do in our business and yet we sometimes do it poorly is following up! As entrepreneurs and business owners, if we don’t follow up, we absolutely risk the potential of making a sale or creating other opportunities for our business.

Kenya Haliburton on the topic of following up online.

Q: What happens after someone becomes a subscriber on a website?

• There are two important facets of following up online - lead generation and making a sale.

• Lead generation on websites uses email to build a list that must be followed up.
• Use an opt in form to get visitors to sign up to your mailing list.
• However, an opt in form just isn't enough.
• We must communicate, continue to add value and build on the relationship.
• Help your audience recognize you as someone that has value and that they need to pay attention to.
  Most important of all, build a nurturing campaign that adds value and periodically promotes products and services.
  

Q: What should you say in the follow up messages(s)?

• It varies from business to business.
• Typically start with a welcome message that welcomes the subscriber to the list then tell them what type of communications they can expect from you moving forward.

Q: How often should you send follow up messages?

• This also varies from business to business.
• Keep chain of communication going and should be consistent for at least a few weeks.
• However, do not overwhelm your subscriber - be strategic with your messages.
• Start with something conversational that leads to another.
• Start to follow up within 2 -3 days of subscription and once per week.
• The key it to map out and test the strategy.
  

Tina Kadish on in person or one-on-one follow up.

Q: How long do you wait to follow up?

• Typically within 24 - 48 hours.
• This gives the prospect the opportunity to digest information given or presented.
• If 24 - 48 hours doesn't work, make an appointment to follow up.
• Best to stay engaged and in communication within the first 24 - 48 hour period so that your prospects don't get gold.

Q: What do you say to the person when you call them or meet them in person to follow up?

• Always thank prospect for the opportunity to share information.
• Ask open ended questions that would lead to answers you are looking for.
• Always provide more information so that they can make the right decisions

Tools to help follow up online.

The following are email and marketing softwares mentioned in during the Hangpout.
TIP: Find one that is valuable and can help automate to fit your business needs.

Mailchimp

Get Response

AWEBER

Infusionsoft

Tools for in person follow up.

Tina recommends using CD’s & Magazines as tools to follow up. These are visual tools that she herself uses in her business. Never lose an opportunity to provide more information to your prospects! They may help make the best decisions.

IMAGE: Sample email sales funnel

Here's a sample of an email funnel that Kenya shared during the show.

Giving back with KIVA.

We are advocates of free enterprise and want to support causes that support entrepreneurship. At Entrepreneurs That SOAR!, we believe that when a group of active and passionate people come together, great things happen.


Stories like Sabitri's is the reason why we want to support KIVA.

Join us in supporting KIVA's mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. They leverage the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions. Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world.

How you can join us and be a member of our KIVA lending team for FREE!

There are two ways you can join our lending team. It is completely free to join and you can earn a referral bonus for referring your friends to join our team too!

Direct Link:

1. Go to http://www.kiva.org/team/entrepreneurs_that_soar
2. Click on “Join Team”
3. Click on “Join Team” again.
4. Log in with Facebook or your email account.

From Kiva Website:

1. Go to http://www.kiva.org/ and click "Community".
   
2. Enter “Entrepreneurs That SOAR!” in the field next to "Search for a lending team" and click "Search.”
   
3. You'll see a list of teams that best match your search. If the team you're interested in is open to all Kiva lenders, click "Join Team" to join. If the team is locked, click "Request to Join".
   Log in to or create a Kiva account.

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"Would you like to be a guest on our show? Do you know of a non-profit that supports entrepreneurship or one that is worth mentioning in our show? Send us your comments below. We would love to get your ideas and feedback."