Happy belated New Year!

We hope your new year is off to a great start!

In celebration of the New Year, LEADERS has decided to try something new, a monthly newsletter called "The LEADERS Dispatch" (because what's newer than news?)! We hope you'll find the information we include in each issue helpful to you and your business. Our articles will focus on industry updates and will also provide you with tips for improving your business.

In this first issue, we're focusing on adjusting marketing strategies for better results as well as the benefits that mobile processing could bring to your business.

Take a look and enjoy!

Better Marketing for Better Business

You've probably heard all of the hype surrounding social media marketing by now. You may even be utilizing networks such as Facebook and Twitter to promote your own business. You may not have realized, however, that through the use of these and other outlets, the face of marketing itself has changed.

Effective marketing is no longer about trying to sell through interruptive means. Loud ads and promises of the best deals (à la car salesmen or mattress kings) are a no-go in the new consumer scene. Today's consumers are wary of hard-sell tactics that leave you wondering if you've been duped into a deal that's somehow not as promising as all of the fast talk and big banners made it out to be.

Instead, as a merchant, you want to concentrate on content. Unlike traditional marketing, content marketing doesn't look to interrupt in order to gain potential buyers' attention. Rather, content marketing focuses on communicating without pitching a sale. By providing relevant content and valuable information that addresses consumer concerns, you engage a target audience. With the content you provide, you establish authority and credibility, which eliminates buyer resistance, drives business, and builds brand loyalty.

3 Keys to Content Marketing

Here are 3 key factors to keep in mind when creating content for your marketing efforts:

1. Content should be Relevant. Certainly content should relate to your industry and support your business objectives, but it should also be pertinent to potential customers. If the content you provide is useful to your audience, then the more likely it is to keep people coming back to your site/blog/profile.
2. Content must be Well-Written. This is important. A well-written article or blurb provides insight and illustrates a high degree of thoughtfulness, which indicates to the reader that a good deal of care was put into the content's creation. Poorly written content reflects badly on your company and fails to engage potential customers.
3. Content should be Non-Promotional. Remember, the point of content marketing is to excite and engage your audience, not promote your business (at least not through direct tactics). Content that assists and inspires your audience makes them excited about your business, which translates to increased sales and brand loyalty.

Follow these guidelines to improve your marketing strategies and increase your consumer base. When used effectively, content marketing can produce impressive results.

Going Mobile

Using a cell phone to pay for your morning cappuccino or an iPad to process the transaction probably isn't what the Who had in mind when they first sang "Going Mobile" back in 1971, but increasingly, that's what the term is coming to mean.

This new wave of technology, now just barely cresting stateside, has already washed over Japan and much of Europe. But how exactly does someone go mobile?

Going mobile involves utilizing your own mobile device--be it an iPad, BlackBerry, Android, whatever--to process credit and debit card transactions.  Credit card apps for your iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, like the free app LEADERS offers, or ROAMpay for Android, BlackBerry, and other smartphone users (also available through LEADERS), turn your phone into a mobile terminal.

What are the benefits?

Well, first off, you don't have to worry about coming up with a theme song, since Pete Townshend's already handled that for you. Secondly, mobile technology is the next generation of payment options, and you'd only be doing your business a favor by getting in on the trend now, as soon mobile processing will be the mode du jour.

There's a reason people like convenience, and being able to process credit card transactions on your phone (or other device) is as convenient as it gets; a phone-turned-terminal eliminates the need of having to stay tethered to a storefront location or a computer desk, and the payment process is virtually effortless. Being able to do business wherever you go translates to a larger consumer base, increased sales, and limitless potential.

It might sound like a trend for the gadget gaga crowd, but if you haven't noticed, gadgets are no longer territory relegated only to the geeky.  If the range of smartphones available and the constant clamor over the latest model haven't cued you in, let me make it clear: tech is chic and gadgets are go.
So get ahead of the game and make your business a go-to destination by going mobile.

Testimonials

"Thank you so much for taking the time to help me with every step of the process and answer every question. I appreciate your ability to differentiate what plan would work best for my business and recommend the best program possible based upon my needs. I also found the process enjoyable and you put me at ease. Thank you for taking interest in me and what I do, and for relating in such a personable way. That is a rarity these days, especially with over the phone customer service. I'm now looking forward to starting this program with Leaders...thanks again for your professional and personable assistance!" - Emilee, Annapolis, MD

"My Sales Representative was right on top when it comes to customer service. She got me hooked up in a speedy time manner and made sure all my questions and needs where meet and she also followed up with a phone call to make sure everything was up and running. I want to thank her very much for her time and efforts. Keep up the good work. THANKS!!!!!!" - F. H., Beckley, WV 
"We had a record breaking week! Thanks so much for helping me grow my business. My sales rep has made my life so much better! Please know you have helped me, my husband and two kids so much!!" - Faith, Atlanta, GA