Bright Builders Press Releases

April 13, 2006

Bright Builders touts newsletters to build customer base

OREM, Utah – Bright Builders, a company specializing in Internet business tools, education and support, provides continuing support to its customers by helping Internet-business owners utilize newsletters as an effective tool to build their customer bases, to provide continuing value to current customers, and to remarket to pre-qualified buyers.

“Many small-business owners are not English majors and writing a newsletter can be intimidating,” said Maikel Bailey, Director of Bright Builders’ Business Center. “But the good news is, newsletters don´t have to conform to very many rules, which means that you have a lot of freedom to use your own personal style.”

What is a newsletter?

A newsletter is an inexpensive way to stay in contact with clients and communicate further information about a company’s products and services. Unlike most newspaper articles, newsletters can be long or short, chatty or technical, and even humorous or serious. Only one rule is written in stone when it comes to newsletters; the content must be worth something to the reader.

Bright Builders instructs small businesses to utilize newsletters as a way to help their customers. These newsletters can be posted online or e-mailed to subscribers.

“A newsletter is just that, a letter full of news and useful information to the reader,” said Adam Ruplinger, Senior Business Coach and eBay Education Specialist at Bright Builders. “If the newsletter is filled with sales material, chances are it will be tossed in the proverbial trash can along with all the other junk mail.”

In short, newsletters can help small businesses accomplish the following:

  • Add credibility and encourage clients to use the business as a source for expert information.
  • Give new Web visitors confidence to utilize the website because it offers an immediate benefit to them.
  • Create a reason to contact previous customers or website visitors.
  • Create quality Web content to improve search engine rankings.  
  • Provide additional opportunities for exposure.

What Should a Newsletter Contain?

Customers want information that they are interested in, and nothing else. The question companies need to answer is “What are customers interested in?”

Although it varies from business to business, Bright Builders business coaches suggest a few ideas to help business owners get started on creating a newsletter.

  • How-to articles: For example, a tool store might do a series of newsletters about several do-it-yourself projects. Companies can the mention its own products as a solution to accomplish the task.
  • Informational articles: An electronics store, for example, might issue newsletters with detailed consumer reports on various products.
  • New uses for products: For example, a scrap booking materials store might issue a newsletter that focuses on new ways to use embossing powder or other products.
  • Tips and Tricks articles: If a website focuses on pet products, a newsletter about pet grooming tips or ways to clean pet stains would be very popular for readers.
  • Ask customers: Perhaps the best way to create effective newsletter content is to simply ask readers what they want.

 

April 20, 2006 

Bright Builders helps small businesses 

design profitable Web store fronts 

OREM, Utah – Bright Builders, a company specializing in Internet business tools, education and support, provides continuing support to its customers by helping Internet-business owners utilize images and graphics to create profitable online store fronts. 

            “The look and feel of some Web stores can often be overbearing for shoppers, too many flashy images and sounds is similar to walking into a department store and being greeted by a handful of employees with megaphones yelling ‘Buy, buy, buy.’”

            Often a “loud” look and feel drives away customers, which can be detrimental for small-business owners. In order to effectively draw in customers, business owners need to raise the volume without screaming.

            “A picture really is worth a thousand words, especially on the Internet,” says Maikel Bailey, Director of the Bright Business Center. “And you want those thousand words to support what you are trying to say instead of taking away from it.”

            Bright Builders’ experts suggest using graphics to support the content of the Web page. When it comes to utilizing images and graphics, Bright Builders suggests the following:

·        Evenly place images throughout the text. About 2/3 of the page should be text with the remaining 1/3 being images and graphics.

·        Keep the picture file sizes low to allow the Web pages to load quickly. A general rule of thumb is 80k per page.

·        Try to match the overall colors and themes of each picture. Too many different colors can turn into the megaphone effect.

·        Use no more than one image per concept within the text. Pictures support the text, not the other way around.


April 27, 2006                                                                                

Bright Builders’ tips for eye-catching, high-sales text 

OREM, Utah – Bright Builders, a company specializing in Internet business tools, education and support, provides continuing support to its customers by advising Internet-business owners to effectively develop compelling website text to attract Web visitors.  

“Web pages can often be like the candy isle with hundreds of brightly-colored wrappers begging for your attention,” said Maikel Bailey, Director of Bright Builders’ Business Center. “The text can draw the eye in too many directions at once. And, no matter how wonderful the content message or purpose, that first glance can leave the viewer confused about where to look first.”

Unfortunately, this confusion from too much “eye candy” on a Web page can often drive away potential customers. That’s why Bright Builders seeks to assist Internet-business owners in creating effective Web page text through both their products and educational support.

According to Bright Builders experts, the key to attracting customers through well-designed text is attributed to three main aspects.

  • Font Size - Only use a few font sizes. Readers will see the biggest text first. Usually only titles should be bigger than the rest of the text.
  • Font Style - Font style means the type of font and whether it is bolded or italicized. Generally, use one font for the headings and a different font for the text body. As for bold and italics, the audience will automatically know that a bolded or italicized word is more important than the rest. However, italics, when used for a whole paragraph, will appear to be a side comment—optional reading.
  • Font Colors - Use no more than three colors. This rule includes black. Too many text colors are a huge contributor to the candy-isle effect.
Web designers at Bright Builders help clients create appealing and compelling text through one-on-one business coaching.


May 4, 2006 

Bright Builders reveals methods for 

direct-buying from manufacturers

OREM, Utah – Bright Builders, a company specializing in Internet business tools, education and support, provides continuing support to its customers by helping Internet-business owners buy direct from manufacturers.

“Buying products directly from the manufacturer can greatly increase your profit margins,” said Maikel Bailey, Director of Bright Builders’ Business Center. “However, building a direct-buying relationship with manufacturers can often be difficult and time consuming.”

The main difficulty in creating this relationship is getting past the first cold call. Bright Builders’ business coaches provide one-on-one training with clients to do more than just cold calling when planning to develop a buying relationship. The secret lies in pre-call planning.

Phone Calls

Manufacturers get a lot of e-mails and phone calls from small businesses with requests to buy directly. Therefore, Internet-business owners need to separate themselves from the hundreds or even thousands of others trying to establish a special arrangement. This is where the preparation comes in.

A typical pre-call planning checklist includes:

  • A written objective. What needs to be accomplished with this call or e-mail?
  • Questions to ask. Show genuine interest in the manufacturer’s company.
  • Something to show. How will they benefit?
  • Anticipated objections or concerns. Be prepared to give solid replies to these types of questions.
  • Closing strategies. Be prepared to ask for the reseller agreement.

In addition to completing the pre-call checklist, Bright Builders’ coaches suggest getting to know the company and their products inside and out.

“The more knowledgeable you are about a product and its key features, the more likely a manufacturer will be to create a reseller agreement with you,” said Alyssa Ruplinger, Senior Business Coach and eBay Education Specialist.

E-mail

If no contact phone number is available, Internet-business owners can also send an e-mail. However, e-mails should not be form letters and should not be sent to general addresses titled “To Whom it May Concern.” When drafting a compelling e-mail, running through the pre-call checklist is also helpful.

Whether Internet-business owners contact via phone or e-mail, the message must be clear, “Selling directly to my business will benefit you as a manufacturer.” Of course this message must be supported by compelling numbers, figures and other vital information to convey the overall message to the manufacturer. They will only make the deal if they know what and how much they are getting out of it; otherwise small businesses only become a nuisance.