Why is this so important? 

With the Citysearch integration, your reputation will be exposed to more than 10 million unique visitors a month (across the Citysearch sites network). Whereas Google boast a much higher visitor count, these are visitors that encompass all types of searches. 

If you take a look at the chart, you will see a breakdown of various keyword searches and approximately how many times they are searched for on Google each month. Small single and two word keyword strings are known as head terms or “short tail” keywords and are searched far more frequently than the longer stringed ‘long tail’ counterparts. These searchers are still in ‘research’ mode and are difficult to convert into customers. For example, a user searching for ‘Auto’ can be looking for new cars, used cars, auto repair, auto parts etc. Likewise searching for ‘Auto repair’ will yield users  searching for auto repair, but may still be in discovery mode as they may be searching for how to perform auto repair not necessarily auto repair services.  Although ‘long tail’ searches are individually performed far less frequently, as a category they encompass the majority of searches. The users conducting these searches are now in ‘buy’ mode and can be classified as prospective customers.

What does this all mean? 

Searches on Citysearch are long tail searches including city and state, meaning your reputation is being exposed to more than 10 million unique visitors a month that are in ‘buy’ mode.

As a trusted data provider for Citysearch, 100% of our customers’ reviews are appearing on Citysearch and any new customers’ reviews will be on Citysearch within their first four to six weeks. Being a trusted data provider, Demandforce reviews factor into the organic search results on the Citysearch network.  For example, searching for “Auto Repair Wilmington, DE” yields a search result where the top three organic results are Demandforce customers with their Demandforce reviews on their Citysearch profile. 

Demandforce and Citysearch bridge the gap making it simple for these consumers to schedule an appointment with your business. If a Demandforce business uses our online scheduling feature, a blue button that reads “Make a Reservation” will appear on business’ profile. Clicking on the button will enable the user to request an appointment in Citysearch, which will appears directly on your Demandforce Dashboard. With Demandforce and Citysearch, consumers are now one step closer to finding your business and scheduling an appointment. 

1. Dental

Mothers have one of the hardest and most important jobs, and they do it all with a smile on their faces. What better way to show off that smile by offering specials on teeth whitening treatment for Mother’s day?  She will definitely light up a room after her visit.

Some other great ideas for Mother’s day is to offer a free electric toothbrush if they come in for a cleaning or offering a discounted invisalign package.

2. Automotive

Mothers tend to drive a lot, going to and from school, kids sporting events, parent-teacher conferences, etc. Make sure she has a car she can rely on by offering a Mother’s day discounted oil change or tire rotation. Mothers also like to look good when they’re driving, so why not offer a free car polish with maintenance over a certain dollar amount spent? Have her cruising in style this Mother’s day.

3. Salons/Spas

Mothers need themselves some “me” time every now and then. Help mothers not only come in for an appointment, but help create that “special experience” for them. Adding an incentive like “Receive 10% off your next visit” or “Receive a free $15 product when you spend $50 or more” is a start.

This is also a good time to bundle some of your services into packages. You can come up with clever package names like: “A Mother’s Dream Package” or “A Mother’s Delight Package” where it can include services that were never bundled together before. You can also list comparisons with discounted prices. You can also include packages such as a “Mommy and Daughter” spa treatment or a “Couples Treatment”.

4. Optometry

A lot of mothers like to feel stylish every now and then. Now is a good time to show those mothers your frame inventory. Name brand frames can definitely attract new patients, and women tend to love name brands. Offer your mothers discounted prices off name brand frames and have them walking away feeling good about themselves.

Since summer is around the corner, you can also offer discounts on prescription sunglasses or a “buy one, get one discounted” deal. You’ll have mothers thanking you for these great offers.

5. Chiropractic

Mothers like to feel great, no matter what they do. You can offer packages that bundle services you offer, thereby leaving mothers with a great experience. Other offers you can provide is a complimentary massage after treatment, discounted prices for services offered, or create a sample pack of the latest in homeopathic remedies.

6. Veterinary

Let mothers know that you cherish their pets as much as they do. Offer discounted services to mothers who bring in their pets before Mother’s day. If you offer accessories or goods, you can provide a free collar when they bring in their pets for grooming or provide a free sample bag of snacks. Pets are family members and by treating them well, will make mothers happy as well.

Take this opportunity to show mothers they are appreciated and send them a campaign. The types of offers are endless, so be creative. Have a Happy Mother’s day!

That’s $1 Billion used to hire staff, buy equipment, beautify offices, or drop to the bottom line.  We’re proud of this contribution to small business growth, and we feel we have an obligation to keep expanding so more businesses can experience the benefits of Demandforce.

That’s why today, I am exceptionally excited to announce that Demandforce has agreed to be acquired by Intuit, Inc.  As part of the Intuit family, we have the backing of company with over 8,000 employees, over $4 billion in revenue, and unparalleled experience in delivering value to small businesses.  Intuit is also the world’s most admired software company according to Forbes.  We think that’s pretty amazing.

Demandforce will continue to be run by the same management team that built the company, and we are committed to pursuing our mission, preserving our
culture of innovation, and delivering overwhelming value to our customers each and every day.

We thank the customers, partners and friends who have supported Demandforce along the way, and pledge to keep working tirelessly to grow small businesses for the benefit of all of us.  The future is bright, and we couldn’t be more excited to embark on the next phase of our journey together.

Rick Berry
President
Demandforce, Inc.

Full Press Release Below

Intuit Inc. today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Demandforce, a San Francisco-based company that helps small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) thrive in the connected economy. Demandforce’s software as a service, or SaaS, application is used by thousands of small businesses to automate marketing and customer communications, build and maintain a strong online reputation and raise their profile with local consumers.

Consistent with Intuit’s connected services strategy, Demandforce accelerates Intuit’s expansion into high-value SaaS products for SMBs. Demandforce’s email, mobile and social tools, such as online reviews, help SMBs better communicate with their customers and drive higher retention and growth in their businesses. The company has achieved strong traction in industries like dental, automotive, spas and salons, optometry and chiropractors, with considerable opportunity for growth.

“Demandforce sits at the sweet spot of Intuit’s SMB customer base and is consistent with our goal to help our customers save time and make money,” said Kiran Patel, executive vice president and general manager, Intuit Small Business Group. “With a compelling customer value proposition, SaaS model and high growth profile, Demandforce will provide opportunities to grow Intuit’s customer base and revenue per customer over time.”

Once the transaction closes, Demandforce will become a new division in Intuit’s Small Business Group and will continue to be led by Rick Berry, Demandforce president and founder, reporting to Patel.

“We believe this transaction greatly benefits Intuit and Demandforce’s customers, partners, employees and shareholders,” said Berry. “Intuit is one of the most respected companies and brands serving SMBs and represents a great opportunity to continue our rapid growth and expansion into new markets.”

Terms

The cash transaction, valued at approximately $423.5 million, is expected to close in May 2012, subject to the expiration of applicable regulatory waiting periods and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to add one to two points to Intuit’s revenue growth in fiscal year 2013 and to be neutral to modestly dilutive for earnings per share in fiscal years 2012 and 2013.

About Intuit Inc.

Intuit Inc. is a leading provider of business and financial management solutions for small and medium-sized businesses; consumers, accounting professionals and financial institutions. Its flagship products and services, including QuickBooks(R), TurboTax(R) and Quicken(R), simplify small business management including payment and payroll processing, tax preparation and filing, and personal finance. Lacerte(R) and ProSeries(R) are Intuit’s leading tax preparation offerings for professional accountants. Intuit Financial Services helps banks and credit unions grow by providing on-demand solutions and services that make it easier for consumers and businesses to manage their money.

Founded in 1983, Intuit had annual revenue of $3.9 billion in its fiscal year 2011. The company has approximately 8,000 employees with major offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India and other locations. More information can be found at www.intuit.com .

Intuit and the Intuit logo, among others, are registered trademarks and/or registered service marks of Intuit Inc. in the United States and other countries.

Demandforce can aid in turning customers into clients by Lost Customer E-mails. These e-mails are sent automatically when a customer has not returned to a business for some time. Each business can set their own parameters for when someone is considered a ‘lost customer’. Reactivating these customers can mean the difference in growing a business and avoiding future flat lining. This alone can save future customers from leaving as well. Let us take a look at the best practices for Lost Customer E-mails across industries to aid businesses in getting the most out potential inactive customers.

Medical Industry:  There is a great deal of trust that someone places in a business, especially the doctor. A Lost Customer Email must sound personal and sincere. The best method is to ask for feedback or even a reply to an email address about how the client is feeling 6-12 months after their appointment.  This alone can open the communication doors that were once closed and help a previous patient refer a friend, discuss new health issue, commend a job well done, and last but not least, areas for improvement. Keep Lost Customer Emails concise, yet also explain the importance of follow-ups. It’s important to know how patients are feeling! In addition, incentives can often be helpful in these client communications as well to encourage revisits; however, please refer to your state policies before creating patient incentives.

Lifestyle Industry:  Typically, a customer is not returning because there was something unconvincing from their initial experience. This does not mean that a service was poor, but sometimes guests need to see consistency to transform into clients. We highly recommend using an incentive to nudge the individual in giving you another shot, which might convince them to become a regular. Remember, an incentive does not have to break your margins, but how often do you get a second chance? Also, please embody the personality or voice of your business in your Lost Customer Email. It does not have to be serious. It can have a sense of humor if that is fitting for your business’ culture. For example, instead of saying, “Our reporting shows you have not visited us in…” Simply say, “We truly miss you [customerfirstname], why has it been so long? Please accept our exclusive offer to you for 20% off your next appointment.” Get that second chance by being yourself and show them what their missing!

Auto Industry: The effort required in finding and acquiring new patients, all while still managing your business, can be exhausting! Reactivating lost customers may be the best way to grow profits. Although, the Lost Customer Email may not be necessarily relevant to a customer in the moment, perhaps it is still intriguing. Maybe this client is more of a seasonal customer as opposed to a regular maintenance plan purchaser. Create an incentive that is flexible for these two different kinds of customers. Find a way to say, “We want you back” without coming across as too pushy in renewing your relationship. Use phrases such as “We have not heard from you in a while” and follow it up with an exclusive offer just for them! This will be sure to provide them with that extra encouragement to return. As mentioned earlier, please remember to make the communication your own and customize the writing to fit your shop’s culture. Make it a point to remind the client of your shop’s values and why it is important that your business deliver the quality and honesty they need!

Before we headed to our “excursion”, the institute had suggested us to bring items that we had donated so that staff could distribute it to the children and elderly there, so we ended up gathering a bunch of items to take there.

For the elderly: Daily essentials like shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, and so on. Foods like drinks, powdered milk, snacks, etc.

We also took Chinese cheeses and pokers for their recreation.

For the children: Foods like milk and snacks. Playthings like toy bricks, colour pens, plasticines and so on. We also took books which were suitable for their age.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by the fellow staff there and were divided into two groups, taking turns to visit the children and elderly.

The lonely elderly people lived in one building. Most people in this building were old people with no family. So just imagine how they must have felt when families of other people other families come to see their mates! Some of them can’t walk– even sitting up is difficult for them. Some of them can walk but they are very old and are not healthy. We brought some food for them and chatted with them one by one.

Interestingly, one of the elderly people liked calligraphy. We helped him sort his items and he then presented his own calligraphy as a gift when we left.  In the building, there was also a boy who belonged from the children’s dorm.  He was in his twenties and sat in a wheelchair, because he couldn’t walk. He was very happy we went over there and offered him some food. We also played chess with him. And my goodness, he played very well!

Children live in a one-story house. The house is shady and the space is very crowded. Most of the children can’t walk–even though they are two or three years-old. Some of them have congenital disease. There was an older-looking child called JianLing sitting in the corner (who looked old, but only had an IQ of a 4-5 year-old). We brought her snacks to eat, talked with her, and trimmed her nails. One of the other children was called Mengmeng (who was blind due to natural illness). She was lovely. We held her, feeding her water, and played with her.

What a lovely and meaningful day it was! We gave it our all– despite the fact that we know our influence is not very “monumental”. Someone actually said that we were the ones who actually gained something by taking part in this activity. One of the elder men also told us that in general, there are unlimited hardships in life—including for us– and that we had brought unlimited sunshine to the people at the institute. He meant that all of us affect each other in a positive way. Amen to that!

Claiming your venue on Foursquare allows you to create specials for customers. These specials can mirror the promotions you’re sending out through your Demandforce portal and through your coupons on Facebook.

To get started with Foursquare and claim your venue, go to www.foursquare.com and click on the large green button that says “Join Now.” From there, you can either sign in with your Facebook log in to sync the two, or you can sign in normally and keep the two separate for the time being.

Once you’ve filled in all of your personal information and signed in, you can search for your business in the search bar in the upper right hand corner of the screen. It should then pull up a list of all locations that match your business info. If you see your business, click on the name, and you’ll be taken to the location page, with a map and some general information about your business. On the right side of the page, you’ll notice some statistics about your check-ins. Underneath that and the mayor, you’ll notice the words “Do you manage this venue? Claim here.” Click on “Claim here” and you’ll be asked to verify that you have the authority to manage the listing, and then you’ll have to either receive a phone call or a postcard verifying that you are in fact the business.

If for some reason your listing does NOT show up when you search your business name, you can click on the “Add a new venue to foursquare” link on the bottom of the search page. From here, you can add your business information, and claim the listing as a new location.

Once you’ve claimed your venue, you’ll notice that you now have a “Manager Tools” tab at the top of your page. Under this tab, you’ll be able to view statistics about the people who have checked in to your business. Under the “Campaigns” tab, you can create promotions for anyone who may come into your business. To create a campaign, click on the green “Start a Campaign” button on the right, and then “Add a Special.” From there, you’ll be able to choose which type of promotion you’d like to use.

The “Newbie Special” is similar to a first time customer discount. You can offer a promotion to anyone who is checking in to your business for the first time on Foursquare. These people may have already been existing customers, but this is the first time that they’re checking in, and sharing your business with all of their friends.

The “Check-in Special” is simply a promotion for anyone at all who checks in on Foursquare to your business. This is a good place to put any ongoing promotion that you’re running in Demandforce for anyone coming in for an appointment.

The last two specials under the “Reward existing customers” section, are rewards for those customers that keep coming back. With the “Loyalty Special” you can set a prize or discount for someone who has come into the business x amount of times. You can set the number for what you think is an appropriate number of visits for your business.

The “Mayor Special” is a promotion for the person who comes into your business the most. The mayorship of a venue is determined by the person who has checked in to your location the most times in the past 60 days. This feature encourages friendly competition between users, who compete against each other to be the mayor of any locations.

Once you’ve created a campaign special, you’ll be able to track it under the “Venues” tab in your Manager Tools. You’ll be able to see exactly how long you’ve been running the particular campaign, how many people have viewed the special, and how many people have unlocked it and received the promotion.

Creating these promotions and getting started on Foursquare is a great way to expand your social media reach, and claiming your venue helps to maintain consistency of information about your business throughout the web. Creating specials for customers to check in and unlock will spread the word about your business and help you to expand your current customer base.

Here on Demandforce’s customer care team, there’s no better feeling than knowing when our users are getting a firm grasp on our product. But it’s truly a special moment to see when the customer goes above and beyond and utilizes our product in an innovative way. With our latest contest, “Extreme Demandforce Makeover – Campaign Edition”, we gave our customers the opportunity to design some custom e-mail newsletters, using the new design features we recently implemented into Demandforce.

We were pleasantly surprised with the results! Many Demandforce users immediately embraced the features and infused their campaigns with creativity and an uncanny understanding of what reaches their customers. Some were eye catching and others had great ideas to bring customers into their doors. While there were many contestants, we could only pick 5 winners – after careful deliberation amongst a panel of judges, they were:

Kensington Service Station
Gateway Eye Associates
ProActive Health
Mario Monge D.M.D.
Pure Salon Spa

What did the winners get? A pizza party on us! All winners were contacted shortly after the public announcement and were granted an order from the pizza place of their choice! For more opportunities to win great prizes, “like” us on Facebook and stay on top of your Demandforce knowledge!

It only takes a few moments until you’re completely set up. Install the “Pin Me” button to your bookmark bar and you amazingly have the ability to pin any article, photo, recipe, or blog you like in a second. From the Pinterest Dashboard you can simply click on the “Add” button at the top right and select if you’d like to…

Add a Pin: Here you may enter the specific URL for your pin. By adding the URL, you may easily return to the page in the click of a button. The image will appear and be added to your pinboard upon upload.

Upload a Pin: If you’d like to upload your own pins, you may upload photos or image files here.

Create a Board: Name your board, select a category, and click “Create”.

We wanted our Pinterest page to creatively exhibit some of our favorite pieces of Demandforce. Pinterest is the ideal place to showcase your inner artist, so we decided to display some our more imaginative endeavors. We chose board topics relevant to our business. Think of your Pinterest page as a one stop shop for everything exciting about your business.

Demandforce Whiteboard: Did you know we have a YouTube Channel? Our client services team is constantly filming new episodes of “Demandforce Whiteboard Videos” featuring best practices on topics ranging from Video Marketing to using specific Demandforce product features like, The Hotlist. On this pinboard, you can easily view the video subject and click to watch it directly from our Pinterest page.

Product: Maybe you’ve heard of our awesome software, Demandforce D3? We’ve pinned a few of our marketing videos to show potential new customers why they should choose us as their small business marketing solution.

In The Press: Everyday at Demandforce we receive Google Alerts pertaining to our business. These are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on our specific search terms. Simply enter a term you’d like to monitor and the results will be delivered to your inbox daily. 50 % of the time that we receive a  “Demandforce” Google alert, the information is applicable to our social media pages so these are a useful tool when it comes to pinning information. Pinterest provides us with a creative alternative to a typical spreadsheet to house this information.

The New Demandforce: Have YOU seen the extreme makeover Demandforce has undergone? Our user interface is completely revamped and we are lookin’ good. We pinned some of the new graphics from our website here for everyone to get a taste of the new look. Read more about the new Demandforce here.

Tech We Love: Everyday, we are scouring the internet for the best articles and resources for small business to share with YOU. Now, when we come across a cool product on Mashable or informative story on The Huffington Post, we can just as easily pin it to a board for our followers to click and read in a second. Ever stumble on an article that is incredibly cool but have no time to read it? Pin it. Then when you have some time, head back to your pin board and catch up!

Events: The Demandforce team is constantly attending tradeshows throughout the country. We added photos from these events to showcase where we’ve been and display our amazing team members. We will also be pinning photos from future Training and Community events as they come along.

Flowtown Infographics: Everyone knows, Flowtown has the best infographics out there. We love to showcase the cool work they’re doing in the world of social media and small business.

The refreshed website has a brand new look and feel with an easier navigation. But don’t worry, we left your Business Login in the same place. Just go to the upper right hand corner and click “Business Login” – where you’ll be able to access your Demandforce portal instantly.

Business Login

Check out our video gallery or see what events we are attending to stay in-the-know about Demandforce happenings.  And don’t forget to play around with the new website navigation. We are making it easy to get anywhere on the site, in just one click. We know you’ll love it!

But that’s not all. We’ve also demanded more from our technology. In May 2012, we are bringing you more innovation, more connection and more success. Be on the look-out for information on these new features coming soon!

• More innovation with powerful segmentation tools to drive more effective campaigns and a beautiful new look and feel with built-in support to make it even easier to use.
• More connections get your reviews and business information on the biggest and most important sites and search engines.
• More success with an expanded Demandforce Network that exposes your business to tens of millions consumers across the Web.

We’re confident you’ll love our new features. Visit www.demandforce.com/more to get a sneak peak of what’s coming in May!