Tag: Tips

Posted on

How to Reach Customers Now During the COVID-19 Crisis

How to Reach Out to Customers in the COVID-19 Crisis

With shut downs, shipping delays, and customers sitting at home, there’s never been a better time to keep you name in front of anxious buyers using an e-newsletter.

The COVID-19 epidemic is of unprecedented proportion. Many people have never experienced a work stoppage or for that matter a quarantine. While customers wait for orders that may be delayed due to shipping issues or supply chain problems, email is the best way to soothe worries and keep customers loyal to your business.

Here are some tips to take to heart with how to communicate with customers during these unusual times.

1. Be honest of what is going on with your business. If there are delays due to supply chain issues – share the challenges in a positive manner.

2. Accept and acknowledge the uncertainty of the situation. Be real, people truly want to connect with you during this crisis.

3. Express gratitude and appreciation for orders and for those that will wait to receive their goods due to unforeseen delays.

4. Keep a regular connection with your client-base. Specifically, contact during this uncertain period should be several times a week or once or twice a month.

If you need help setting up an e-newsletter we have expert providers that are ready to set up an account at iContact for you, load your list, and even customize our own mobile-friendly reusable HTML e-newsletter template. Just let us know and we will put you in contact with one of our experts or get you started fast.

For Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics clients, our provider has created a special mobile-friendly template for newsletters that can be updated with your logo and content. Ask us for more information about this concierge-level e-newsletter program including setup, implementation, content creation, and scheduling. Pricing is customized based on your need.

http://medallionenterprises.com/newsletters/medallion-sample-template.html

For do-it-yourselfers, an iContact account provides access to easy to use templates. You can enter in your own e-newsletter information and set up your own e-newsletter issues to send on your own schedule.

Our team or our experts can work with you directly to assist with your needs. Just give us a call and let us know that you would like to reach out to your clients by email – fast!

Posted on

USPS Continuity of Operations Update

USPS Announces Delays

The Postal Service has developed localized continuity of operations plans that are employed in the case of emergencies to help ensure that the nation’s postal system continues to function for the American people.

With a longstanding history of quickly adapting its operational plans to changing conditions, the Postal Service maintains steady communications with mailers during natural disasters or other events that require emergency responses and advises residential customers, business mailers, and international mailers with regard to postal facility disruptions that may impact delivery in an affected area via its USPS Service Alerts webpage at: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/.

In the event they are required, the activation of localized continuity of operations plans depends on the specific effects of an emergency in an impacted area. Due to the variance in possibilities and factors, it would be impossible to predict what the effect of such emergencies would be on a specific customers’ mailing prior to the event, but the planning enables us to continue or quickly reestablish mail operations in regions facing the impact of strong hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, etc., and they have been prepared to respond to pandemic-related circumstances as well.

As a result, we recommend that customers refer to USPS Service Alerts for service-disruption updates. Another key component of our communications portion of USPS contingency plans remains the Industry Alert.

For those business mailers who utilize the Business Service Network (BSN), we encourage them to continue to maintain the line of communication with their representative on changes to the postal system. If a customer or mailing partner needs to shut down its operations due to the current situation, they should contact their BSN contact, Sales contact, or their local Business Mail Entry contact to discuss their plans. These local contacts will notify the Districts, Area, and Headquarters of any needed assistance or broader impacts.

The Postal Service continues to use its existing processes for many of the more common impacts customers are concerned about. Some questions that have been raised are:

How is USPS handling mail for closed businesses?

Mail on the delivery route is returned to the Delivery unit and will be held for 10 days under current policies. Customers can request a temporary hold for their mail up to 30 days. Caller Box customers should contact their local office to discuss how they will be handling the pickup of this volume. Any high volume customer will be contacted to discuss pickup options as well.

How is USPS delivering mail under shelter in place declarations?

The Postal Service is classified as an essential government service operation, which allows us to continue operations.

How safe is the mail and mail transport equipment?

Current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) guidance continues to indicate there is no evidence the virus is spreading through the mail. According to WHO, the likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low, and the risk of catching the virus from a package that has been moved, traveled, and exposed to different conditions and temperatures is also low. This guidance remains true for mail transport equipment.

Is the USPS experiencing capacity issues due to reduced airline routes?

There are no domestic air capacity issues at this time. The Postal Service continues to work with International air carriers and contract air carriers to keep mail moving.

Industry and commercial customers can email questions or concerns about COVID-19 and the mail to industryfeedback@usps.gov with COVID-19 in the subject line. Mailers can also sign up for Industry Alerts at industryalert@usps.gov.

For more information, see the USPS Coronavirus Statement at about.usps.com/newsroom.

In Closing

From all of us at Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics, we say stay safe and know we are working hard to keep your business moving.

Posted on

Mobile Marketing is Key for 2020

How to Get Customer Reviews

In 2010, no less an authority than Steve Jobs declared, “Mobile device search hasn’t happened. Search is not where it’s at.”

Moral #1: Even the biggest gurus sometime miss the mark.

Moral #2: What a difference three years makes.

Mobile Does Matters

When it comes to marketing, web browsing and searching are here to stay — but search tactics are evolving. Though desktop or laptop computers are the traditional vehicles for starting a web search, they’re no longer the only game in town.

In fact, people on the go are increasingly leaving their desktops to gather dust while they reach for their smartphones and tablets to do everything from stream music to read email — and, of course, search the web with mobile advertising.

• Emarketer.com tells us that while desktops still are the first choice in searches, their lead is shrinking fast.

• Just last June, more than 27% of all U.S. web traffic originated from smartphones or tablets, 20% of that from phones alone.

• Google, the first name in search engines, expects to see more mobile than desktop searches from its users in 2013, and it’s safe to extrapolate that increased usage in the years to come.

So If You’re Not Mobile… You’re Stuck in Neutral

The vast majority of websites are designed, developed and optimized for the desktop or laptop screen. Even if your site enjoys high Google search rankings, you may be missing out on visitors and leads if your site is not optimized for mobile. Adapting your online marketing to the radically different size and shape of smartphones or tablets isn’t just a matter of posting the site to the device.

To implement true mobile advertising, you must provide users with a mobile-optimized site — one that’s easy to see on a small screen, and contains the functionality (like enlarging buttons or images) that help them navigate easily and understand your message.

In many cases, this means rethinking your homepage and landing pages to include only the most relevant and action-oriented content. Mobile users simply won’t tolerate anything less than real engagement and ease of use.

Enhance Your Connections — Free!

Google wants to help you create the ideal mobile site to help you land the best search result rankings and visits possible. They launched AdWords Enhanced Campaigns, which focus heavily on mobile development, encouraging all Google-using customers to integrate a smartphone/tablet-friendly site. By partnering with DudaMobile, Google offers you a free mobile website for one year, with unlimited email and phone support.

It’s a Win-Win-Win Situation
Mobile advertising is both the present and the future of your online marketing — and now you have an opportunity to test the waters risk-free. It’s a win-win-win situation for your business, your customers and even for Google.

Posted on

Panda, Penguin… How to Insulate Your Website from Google’s Zoo

Figuring Out What You Need

Pandas and penguins – so cute, so non threatening. Well, until now.

As the nicknames of Google’s new algorithms, Panda and Penguin have become powerful predators of the Internet, targeting websites for specific infractions. The purpose of these functions is to protect users from lower-quality; keyword-stuffed, ad-jammed, spammy search results.

  • Panda targets specific section or an entire site, rather than individual web pages.
  • Penguin focuses on the date of a web page as criteria for its quality control.

When Panda or Penguin identifies content that it considers keyword-stuffed, auto-generated, or linking to pay-per-click sites that add no value, Google takes action by flagging that site’s account.

And it isn’t just the fly-by-night or the fringe dwellers under the gun; according to Search Engine Watch, “Google penalized JC Penney, Forbes and Overstock.com for ‘shady’ linking practices.”

However, for all the benefits Google’s new algorithms purport to bring to the average user, nearly any content creator – you, for instance – may be caught in their grips. If either Panda or Penguin identifies your site as lower quality, it could jeopardize your ranking in the results.

Avoid Becoming Panda’s Prey

Fortunately, you can take steps to produce content that even a Panda or Penguin will love. First, follow a “don’t” list that includes three key tactics:

1. Don’t overdo the keywords. If you’ve ever been subjected to a blog with several instances of an awkward phrase like, “print shop services Bakersfield CA,” you know you’re looking at SEO-stuffed content. Some bloggers stuff keywords deliberately; others inadvertently; but to Panda, the outcome is the same. Keep the text geared toward the reader, not the search engine.

2. Don’t write similar articles on the same topic. Panda hates this, and is quick to identify look alike pages as inauthentic. Avoid the copy/paste and the repetitive phrasing. You can work a theme from page to page, of course – but strive to give every web page, every blog and every other piece of content a sense of uniqueness.

3. Don’t load up on ads and links. When Panda made its debut in 2011, one of the first things site owners noticed was that organic-oriented news sites and social networks climbed in the rankings, while ad- and link-heavy sites dropped. Included among the offenders are “doorway pages” that use keyword-stuffing to direct users to a single destination with no additional value; reciprocal links that arbitrarily connect one site to another with no value-added purpose; and sneaky hidden text of keywords that the eye can’t see but that search engines can.

Play Nice with the Google Zoo

As Google itself puts it, “One of the most important steps in improving your site’s ranking in Google search results is to ensure that it contains plenty of rich information that includes relevant keywords, used appropriately, that indicate the subject matter of your content.”
So to keep Panda and Penguin at bay, your “to do” list is at least as long as your “to don’t” list. It includes:

1. Offering transparency. A user should know immediately what your business is all about. Keep everything accessible, from your About Us, to your Terms of Service, to your copyright. By practicing such due diligence, you maintain a credible, authoritative image – one that could help distinguish you from competitors as well as satisfy Panda and Penguin.

2. Building content consistently. Blogs, e-newsletters, video, blog posts – you have plenty of quality choices when it comes to posting content. When you create a well-themed set of content that uses SEO wisely, you increase your online presence and provide your visitors with a valid reason to proceed to your landing page.

3. Providing meaningful content that’s pertinent to your clients.  Remember that today’s consumers search the Internet for answers, not ads. Clients and prospects are not interested in blogs about your new location, or links to coupons. They’re more likely to respond to industry-specific information that offers real value: a blog on how free shipping affects holiday purchases, for instance; or a report on the risks and advantages of using social media as test-marketing strategy.

Set Up Your Site for Success

Google’s new algorithms have thrown many marketers for a loop – but you don’t have to be one of them. By practicing basic SEO etiquette, you need not fear Panda or Penguin. And at that same time, you may notice enhanced web traffic and more qualified leads resulting from your credible content.

Posted on

A Great Press Release Gains Media Attention and Valuable One Way Inbound Links

During the Coronavirus Pandemic Boost Sales with Free Shipping

Many companies use a press release to announce their product, website or special offer to the world. An engaging, informative press release has the potential to reach thousands or even millions of people. The challenge is writing a press release in the format of a news article but maintain the basic aspects of a good sales letter. Editors and reporters seek interesting press releases to fill up their publications.

Submitting a press release to a wire service helps ensures journalists can find information about your product, services or company. A Middleburg/Ross survey shows 98 percent of journalist go online daily and 73 percent of them look for press releases.

A press release should actually announce news. Editors seek information which benefits their readers, typically about a product or service that solves a business problem saves money or provides a new way of doing something.

Gain Media Attention with a Press Release

To gain media attention, focus on pleasing editors and communications professionals. They read hundreds of press releases; to grab their attention using approaches and angles which make your product or service stand out from the competition. When considering what to publish, editors consider the demands of their audience.  Find out what’s popular in the target publications and find a way to connect your press release to a current hot subject.

Press Releases and Search Engine Optimization

Submitting press releases via a wire service is a great way to enhance a search engine optimization plan. After the press release goes out it’s picked up by publications, news organizations and search engine news services such as Google news, which link back to your website. An array of online news portals may also syndicate the content. Also, some social media websites monitor newswire syndication.

The more legitimate links you have pointing to your website the better the search engine rankings. Search engines respond favorably to one way inbound links from relevant websites. These links help a website move higher in search engine results for specific keywords. Also, include a couple of relevant links in the press release to your website.

A press release shouldn’t praise the company. Don’t use words such as “unique,” “revolutionary” or “best” in the press release. Editors prefer testimonials or quotes from customers instead of praise coming from someone representing the company. Write simply and clearly and don’t include jargon.

A Useful Press Release Concept

One approach is stating a problem and writing about a solution. The problem should be a pressing issue of your target audience. Discuss how the benefits of your product or service deal with the stated problem, but take a business approach, don’t make it look like a sales pitch.

Tips for Writing a Press Release:

  • Editors and reporters get bombarded daily with press releases so it’s best to keep it to one page.
  • Include quality keyword rich content and a couple of links to your website.
  • Use a short title and clearly display your news announcement. The title should entice people to read the press release.
  • Grab the reader’s attention, put the important information in the first paragraph; who, what, why, where, when and how. Impress the editors and readers with the first two lines or else they won’t continue to read it. Subsequent paragraphs expand on the important points with more details and relevant information. Don’t jump from subject to subject, stay focused. If appropriate include an image.
  • Link some information in the press release to something else that’s newsworthy. Communications professionals and publishers seek ways to connect your story to something else that’s popular. They’ll appreciate it.
  • Near the end of the press release, but before the “About the company” paragraph inspire the readers to find out more about your products or services with an interesting statistic, a quote, how your product or service ties into a current trend or provide a thought provoking question.
  • Provide details about the company in the “About the company” paragraph but keep it short and don’t use a lot of praise; it turns off editors and journalists.
  • Base the tone of the article on the audience.
  • Provide contact information at the end of the press release.
  • Make sure all the facts in the press release are correct and make sure the press release has no typos. Proof read it several times and have a few staff members proof read it. Errors can easily harm the reputation of a brand.

Send the press release to editors and writers of relevant newspapers, magazines and trade journals and obviously send it out online. Free newswire services such as pr.com and prleap.com are a possibility, however many companies prefer to pay a newswire service such as prweb.com or prnewswire.com to give the press release its best opportunity to gain attention.

An informative, engaging press release, connected to a popular topic easily grabs attention and enhances your search engine rankings.