| "What am I doing wrong?" That's a question business | | | | Most prospects won't buy the first time they hear or |
| ownersoften ask themselves when business is slow. | | | | seeyour sales message. You need a system to |
| Often, theanswer is... "You're not doing anything | | | | collect contactinformation enabling you to reach them |
| wrong. You just needto do some things better -- and | | | | again with periodicreminders and offers. Many |
| you need to start doing afew things you've been | | | | businesses develop over 50percent of their sales by |
| neglecting." | | | | following up with prospects whopreviously requested |
| Here's a list you can use to evaluate your own | | | | information but didn't buy -- yet. |
| marketingefforts. It includes what I've found to be | | | | Advertising is expensive. Maximize your return on it |
| the 7 mostimportant marketing principles contributing | | | | byfollowing up periodically with the prospects it |
| to the successof ANY business. | | | | produced toconvert more of them into customers. |
| 1. TARGET SPECIFIC NICHE MARKETS | | | | 5. REMOVE THE OBSTACLE OF RISK |
| Everyone may be a prospect for your product or | | | | Do you know the major reason why people don't |
| service. Butyour marketing efforts will produce the | | | | buy somethingthey want or need? They don't want |
| best results for thelowest cost when you target | | | | to take the chance ofgetting something different |
| prospects with the greatest needfor what you offer. | | | | than they expect and maybe evenlosing money. You |
| Identify a niche market. Customize yourpromotional | | | | can eliminate this risk by guaranteeingsatisfaction. If |
| material to appeal to their greatest need. | | | | you sell products, offer a liberal moneyback |
| Thenmultiply your results by defining several other | | | | guarantee. If you provide a service, offer to |
| nichemarkets and slanting your promotional materials | | | | continueworking without additional charge until the |
| to appealthe biggest need of prospects in each | | | | promised resultis achieved. |
| market. | | | | 6. DIVERSIFY |
| 2. PROMOTE YOUR OWN USP | | | | It's easier and less expensive to get more business |
| USP is short for "Unique Selling Proposition". It's | | | | fromsatisfied customers than to find new customers. |
| thecompelling reason why a prospect will do business | | | | Continuallyfind or develop new products and services |
| with youinstead of with your competition. You'll | | | | related to whatyou sell -- and offer them to your |
| attract the maximumnumber of customers when you | | | | customers. Affiliateprograms offer a quick and |
| offer a benefit they cannot getfrom your | | | | low-cost way for Internet basedbusinesses to add |
| competitors. If you don't already have a USP,create | | | | new products and services to theirinventory. |
| one by adding something to your business you're | | | | 7. NEVER STOP TESTING |
| notalready offering. Convert it into a benefit | | | | Continually test and evaluate the effectiveness |
| statement andinclude that statement in all your | | | | ofeverything you use or do to promote business. |
| advertising. | | | | Here's ahighly effective 80/20 guideline you can use. |
| 3. NEVER ADVERTISE WITHOUT AN OFFER | | | | Invest 80percent of your advertising budget and |
| Always include a powerful offer in your advertising. | | | | effort in provenpromotions and 20 percent in testing |
| Offerfree information related to your product or | | | | new variations. Mostbusinesses using this system |
| service togenerate inquiries or website traffic. Then | | | | continue growing -- even in ahighly competitive |
| make the mostcompelling discount or bonus offer | | | | market. |
| you can afford -- toconvert these inquiring prospects | | | | Take a few minutes to evaluate how well you're |
| into paying customers. | | | | implementingeach of these seven marketing principles |
| This automatically leads to the next marketing | | | | in your business. Asmall improvement in just one of |
| principle... | | | | them will boost your salesimmediately. An |
| 4. COLLECT CONTACT INFORMATION AND USE IT | | | | improvement in several will generate a bigincrease in |
| TO FOLLOW UP | | | | your total sales volume. |