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Chehalem Business Connection Page 5 October 2013
440479.100113
Specializing in Business Insurance – many programs for a variety of businesses.
Auto – Full coverage for new car or liability for the older car.
Homeowner – Home and contents replacement coverage.
Condominium/Townhouse – Specifically designed for condo living.
Renter – Premiums as low as $10 per month!
We also offer life insurance, no fee annuities & IRA’s,
manufactured home, motorcycle/ATV, watercraft coverage, etc.
503-538-8898 • 1548 E. 1st St., Newberg (behind Walgreens)
“Get a
quote, mention
this ad, and receive
a FREE movie
ticket!”
Mike McBride
Insurance Agency
Call to schedule a free estimate today!
503.691.9878
Check out our projects at www.slshomes.com
■ Completing projects with honesty and integrity
■ FREE estimates - On time, on schedule and on
budget
Remodel and New Home Construction Specialists!
Celebrating 30 years of service
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now call the BEST!
ccb# 91577 Wa.SLSCUCH888NO 430698.090113
BBB Rated
Many small business
owners are hopeful
that offering their
products online will increase
their bottom line. But the digital
marketplace is increasingly
crowded and it can be hard to
stand out from the pack.
The good news is that being a
small business can actually give
you an edge over bigger
brands — if you know how to use
your size to your advantage. Here
are the do’s and don’ts you need
to take your business to the next
level:
Don’t build your own online
shopping platform. While you
may believe that having your
own website will attract new
shoppers, website development
and maintenance is expensive and
time consuming. Unless your
brand already has the visibility
needed to attract consumers with-
out advertising or marketing, traf-
fic to the site will be hard to gen-
erate.
Don’t expect your products to
sell on a large online market-
place. While big online market-
places, like Amazon or eBay, at-
tract a high volume of online
shoppers, unless customers are
searching specifically for your
brand or chance across your prod-
ucts via search, they will likely
never see your products.
Do partner with a retail plat-
form that can help you engage
with your customers. Look for a
free social shopping marketplace
dedicated to building the busi-
nesses of small merchants. Some
will provide you with your own
customized online store, a new
business toolkit including tips and
support, and a built-in community
of millions of engaged social
shoppers, enabling you to foster
one-on-one connections and mar-
ket your goods directly to them.
Do market your products in a
one-of-a-kind way. Create eye-
catching content, making sure all
your photos are high quality and
shot in their best light.
Do establish yourself as an au-
thority. Consider creating tips,
recipes or behind-the-scene snip-
pets. If your products are natural-
ly-sourced, why not share photos
from the beautiful hike that pro-
vided your inspiration for it?
Sharing relevant and relatable
content will keep your customers
coming back.
Do use your size to your ad-
vantage. While big retailers are
busy playing the price-cutting
game, you can work smartly to
connect with a community of
loyal followers who really appre-
ciate what you do. Harness the
personal relationships you’ve
made with customers through so-
cial platforms where you can
strengthen connections by sharing
product news, relevant content
and personal reminders about
new items you think they’ll enjoy.
Remember that what makes your
small business special is your
customers’ opportunity to feel a
personal connection with you, the
entrepreneur and your passion —
your product.
Do start now. While selling
online may seem overwhelming,
following these easy steps will
help you make others fall in love
with your brand.
What you should and shouldn’t do when selling online
Experts suggest that when small businesses sell online they market their products in a one-of-a-kind
way, with eye-catching content fostered by high quality photos.