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If you find this blog by accident, please go to: http://msquaredcorporatecommunications.wordpress.com/ where you'll find a regularly refreshed blog from Margaret Cain at M squared.

Thank you.

SMEs and micro businesses feeling optimistic

A recent Chartered Institute of Marketing 'confidence barometer' study has found that:

...SMEs (are) in a more optimistic mood than their larger counterparts. Micro and small businesses are notably more confident than medium and large organisations in their ability to meet financial and growth targets over the next 12 months, compared to the last 12 months. The research found that 45% of micro and 42% of small businesses are more confident, compared with 35% of large businesses.

How confident are you feeling about the next twelve months?

Make your 'Contact Us' webpage work harder for your business

Three lovely new clients have asked me to help them develop their web presence. When I started to analyse their websites, I found that they all share one characteristic that I'll be looking to change: their 'Contact Us/Get in Touch' page doesn't work nearly hard enough.

This page is your last chance to impress your web visitors. Don't waste it by simply posting your phone number and email. Even an enquiry form doesn't go far enough.
 
As well as providing a variety of contact options (different prospects will have different preferences for how they interact with you), why not use it to:

• Reiterate your key message - what's the most important 'take-away' you'd like them remember, the main difference that you can make to them or their business?
• Reinforce the impression you want to create of your business personality and brand
• Outline the next step in your sales process - a no-obligation friendly chat? a free initial consultation? - and encourage your prospect to take it. But be careful not to leave yourself open to giving away too much free consultancy!

And, by the way, you don't have to label it 'Contact Us': friendly, less formal alternatives might be:

• What could we do for you? 
• Say 'hello'
• Pleased to meet you
• Let's connect

It would be hard to find a website that doesn't contain a contact page. It is, after all, the main - or even only - gateway for your visitors to get in touch with you. Give it a little love and care and it will reward you. 

Please contact me at margaret@m2cc.co.uk if you'd like help with making your contact page work harder for your business.