If you start your business with a large customer base, you’re ahead of the game, but for most entrepreneurs growing a business takes time and effort. Some people are able to jump in and make money in a short time, but even those entrepreneurs have likely been in some sort of business and have accumulated a customer base of potential contacts.
If, however, you don’t have access to a database of contacts or don’t have a history in business to fall back on we offer you eight tips to catapult your business toward success. As with any endeavor, it takes time and effort to make things
happen.
It won’t happen overnight, but with time and a steady focus, it will happen.
- Follow through is one of the most important things if you’ve generated leads. If you follow up with leads, it makes it easier to close the sale. It’s difficult to place an ad in a newspaper and hope your phone will ring off the hook with prospects. Generate leads from your prospects and you’ll have the opportunity to make a presentation to them and hopefully close the deal!
- What’s your niche? What makes you unique? Just as you can’t be everything to everyone, you don’t want to market to everyone. Target your marketing and structure your message to a certain type of prospect. You will likely see higher conversion rates from prospects to clients if you segment your marketing efforts.
- What can you give away for free? Just for trying your product or service? Everyone loves to get something for free. With a free offer you can generate a lead or give people an incentive to walk through your front door. If you are a service provider, consider offering a free consultation or a free downloadable report. Make sure your free offer is mentioned in all your advertising pieces.
- Shake up your marketing plan. Look for multiple ways to spread the word about your product or service. Try press releases, host a contest, spread the word through your social media networking, check out the local newspaper for advertising opportunities, do a direct mail or email blast.
- Limit yourself to one promo at a time. Rather than scattering the seeds of several free offers or promos, concentrate on one promotion at a time. Even if you have a catalog of products or a line of services, highlight one product.
- Be in touch. If you have a current base of loyal customers, those should be the first contacts when you’re marketing. Eighty percent of your business profits come from existing customers and it’s easier to keep them happy than to constantly have to cultivate new customers. Send them a monthly newsletter and consider putting an offer in the newsletter for them as an incentive.
- Show your faith in your own goods and services. Offer a money back guarantee as a way to guarantee response rates and inspire trust. The money back guarantee also breaks down barriers to a sale when a prospective customer has nothing to lose.
- Sign up with a trade exchange association. You will have immediate access to other professionals who could be in need of the goods and services you provide. Participating in a trade relationship can also help you, as a fledging business owner, have access to items you need to keep your business on an even keel when money may be tight. You will likely find businesses that offer promotional materials, advertising packages and the like.
Track your marketing efforts so you know where your money is bearing fruit. Ask prospects how and where they heard about you. If they got your name from a current customer, make certain you contact that customer and thank them. Remember, you need to market continuously and always be in front of your customers and potential customers so when they have a need that you can meet, you will be front of mind.