Sales Tips and Marketing Strategies

Last time I shared four practical tips for how to develop a compelling offer – Make sure it’s a desirable topic, craft a juicy title, add on a tempting bonus and get clear on the value before you settle on the price.

Today I want to begin talking about how to present that offer in the most appealing way.

People prefer to accept help (and hiring you is one form of accepting help) from those they know, like and trust. So whether you’re reaching out to a potential client through an online promotion or through a one-on-one conversation, establishing rapport is the first and most crucial step in the process.

Continue reading ‘How to Present Your Offers with Love So Your Audience Will Love Your Offers’ »

As a professional business coach and mentor, I see many small business owners whose lives are ruled by their business – not the other way around. They burn themselves out working outrageously long hours when they could be spending more time at home with their families and friends and taking time out to enjoy life.

So many of them began their business so they could be “the boss” and work their own hours. What happens is their lack of experience turns this around on them and they become slaves to their businesses.

Having started many successful businesses myself, as well as coaching and mentoring other new business owners, I understand more than most just how easy it is to become “stuck” and become trapped in bad habits. It’s easy to say “work smarter, not harder” – but what does that mean exactly? Most small business owners don’t have a clue.

So here are just eight of some of the more common mistakes small business owners make, so you can avoid them and if you are already trapped, what you can do about them:

Continue reading ‘8 Most Common Mistakes made by Business Owners’ »

Although Twitter continues to gain acceptance in the business community as a business communication and marketing tool, I’m still amazed at the number of small businesses that don’t see the value of using this micro-blogging service as a marketing tool for business.

Just in case you need a refresher, Twitter (www.twitter.com) is a unique micro-blogging tool that lets users communicate with their “followers” in quick text messages of 140 characters or less called “tweets.”

Continue reading ‘How Can Twitter Help Your Business?’ »

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it seems that a lot of big companies today (with big marketing budgets) have managed to jump right into social marketing and successfully use sites like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube in their everyday marketing activities. However, it also seems that small businesses are lagging behind the social marketing trend, even though it is a very low cost marketing channel that almost any small business can afford (the sites are free to use; all it typically costs is time!).

So why are so many small businesses hesitant about social marketing, or seemingly scared of using social networking sites as part of their regular marketing activities?

It could be as simple as not having the time to take on a new marketing activity, or maybe a lack of familiarity with sites like Facebook and Twitter makes them seem hard to use. It’s also possible they’re concerned about negative comments showing up on social media web sites, or worried about employees using these tools appropriately for business. Whatever the reasons, social media marketing is here to stay, and small businesses are going to have to face their fears if they hope to leverage its value as a marketing tool and stay relevant with their customers today.

Continue reading ‘Are You Scared of Social Marketing?’ »

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In business promotion, one of the best tactics is branding. But some companies have great brands but they fail to work, mainly because in the process of running their business they fail to fulfill their promises to customers. It is time big and small businesses start delivering on their promises; not only to make profits but also maintain business ethics.

Businesses should stop dealing with clients like numbers and being seeing their customers as people with their own individual needs. The idea is to listen to customers, and they will receive you well. Some organizations have brand slogans that proclaim that they attend to the needs of customers and yet their employees do not have the time heed to requests from their customers.

Especially when businesses flourish, business owners do the mistake of training their staff to deal with clients quickly in the name of reducing cost. They set unachievable targets hence making their employees fail to address the needs of their customers satisfactorily.

Brands with slogans like “A listening partner” are great adverting campaign that drives customers to certain companies. But sometimes customers get disappointed when they discover it is just that, a promise. Business image is created by the experience the customers receives when dealing with the staff.

When customers are handled well, they will recommend the company to their colleagues, friends and relatives. You will never hear a client recommending a service or product due to its good and catchy advertisements.

The best way to make sure your business brand makes impact in the market is by ensuring your customers say, “That company sticks to its promises.” Therefore, for this to be possible employees need to be trained to give customers full attention.

Sales techniques
A Google search on sales techniques or strategies (including more specific searches like a search on real estate sales technique or prospecting techniques or marketing tips or motivation strategies) will yield over a million results instantly. Even with so much information at your finger tips it is not any easier to perfect your sales techniques or advertising techniques. Even when you refine your search to terms like sales closing techniques, motivation techniques, presentation techniques, sales skills, and so on and so forth, it is rather hard to narrow down your search any further from among the million odd articles.
A Crisis of Individuality
Continue reading ‘Sales Techniques & The Death of The Sales Call’ »

There was a lot of hype lately about social media with heightened expectations and stories of great success. Naturally, it attracted attention of many small business owners who were quick to jump the bandwagon. However, many of them are feeling disappointed with the results. Is this because social media is just a waste of time or because they misjudged its meaning and potential?

The power of Social Media.

It’s truly impressive. It might have even greater influence than most people realize.

Consider these facts:

• Social Media is the #1 activity on the Web.
• Facebook added 100 million users in less than 9 months…iPhone applications hit 1 billion in 9 months.
• If Facebook were a country it would be the world’s 4th largest between the United States and Indonesia.
• The #2 largest search engine in the world is YouTube.
• More than 1.5 million pieces of content (web links, news stories, blog posts, notes, photos, etc.) are shared on Facebook…daily.

Continue reading ‘Social Media and Small Business. How to get them together’ »

The right marketing solution is essential for your business’ survival. However, not all marketing options are right for a small business. Some are simply too expensive. Some simply offer no legitimate benefits. What options are right for a small business seeking a way to enhance their marketing methods? What options should you consider for your small business?

Your Mindset – The first and most important thing that you must do to ensure marketing success is to make sure you have the right mindset. Are you committed to the growth of your business? Are you committed to locating the most effective methods of marketing your company? You are the largest stumbling block that your company faces. If you do not have a mindset geared for company growth, your company will stagnate and eventually fail. Therefore, ensure that you have the right outlook and the right mindset for success.

Continue reading ‘Cost Effective Marketing Options for Small Businesses’ »

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You hear the word “branding” bandied about quite a bit in the modern business world. However, how does an entrepreneur increase their branding efforts and effectiveness? What does branding have to do with the success or failure of a small business? What is branding, anyway? Actually, quite a few small businesses lack a firm understanding of the importance that branding plays in increasing their sales.

So, what is branding, anyway? Branding is something somewhat different from traditional marketing methods. It differs in several ways. For instance, branding is not about getting consumers to see your competitors in a worse light, or of highlighting the lack of effectiveness, costliness or other drawbacks found with competing products or services. Rather, small business branding is all about increasing the perceived value of your products and/or services, thereby, increasing the value of your company in the eyes of your customers. Branding is all about your company and your products.

Continue reading ‘Developing Your Brand to Increase Small Business Sales’ »

Increasing the profitability of your small business is likely at the forefront of your mind. However, while you might have access to some relatively powerful tools, it’s just as likely that you are not taking advantage of modern marketing methods the way you should. In fact, quite a few small business owners are unaware of the technological advantages available to them today. What are these options? How can they help ensure greater profitability for your company?

Podcasting – Podcasts are powerful options that help you connect with your customers online. Through podcasts, you can allow your customers to listen to audio or enjoy video broadcasts, prerecorded by you. These might be to help increase your customers’ awareness of new offers, how to maximize the use of products or simply to connect with them and increase their familiarity with you.

Continue reading ‘Five Keys to Increasing the Profitability of Your Small Business’ »