(Add to Favorites | View All Articles | Resource Directory)
|
|
|
Keeping your Business Alive
As long as you eat and breathe you will stay alive. But is that really living? In a crisis that may be enough. If your business is in crisis - deal with it. But the secret to keeping your business alive is growth. That is the litmus test of keeping your business alive. Look at nature. Everything that is alive continues to grow. Growing your business is the best way of keeping it alive in the long term. How do you continue to grow your business? Feed it, nurture it, invest in it and treat the business as a journey - not a destination. On your journey you must keep one eye immediately on the road in front of you and the other on the horizon. Invest in your business success with smart marketing. Smart marketing does not entail expensive advertising campaigns. Instead it means managing all the messages you send about yourself and your business. Be aware of the unintended messages as well as your conscious messages. Test for your unintended messages by asking your best clients. Ask those who did not give you the business - why did they chose to go elsewhere. Marketing is a long term investment. Because of that, many get frustrated, and complain, 'I tried marketing and nothing happened.' The credibility you build today will help you gain business months or years later. It may seen tough to justify that. But don't stop running the day-to-day activities - just invest a little in your future Marketing is like planting bamboo. In the first six years the seedlings only grow about 12 inches high. It could be very discouraging to the bamboo farmer. Then 'suddenly' in the seventh year the bamboo sprouts to 6 feet tall. In marketing - nothing happens suddenly. It takes time for results to appear. Prospects need to see your name many times before they remember you and recognize your value. You may think nothing is happening because you don't see the growth. You are the bamboo farmer. Not only is marketing sometimes a slow pay back. It is uncertain. Not everything works all the time. It's been said that half of your marketing efforts are wasted. The problem is to discover which half. You don't know - so do it all. Make your marketing personal. Relate to people because people buy - companies don't buy. But don't take rejections - real or imagined - personally. One of my good clients stopped returning my calls. I continued to call and send information. I felt discouraged. I thought she didn't like me any more. A year later she called to say, "I had a major operation and I did not feel like talking to anyone." Boy, did I feel stupid for thinking it was about me. Often when we don't hear back from our clients and prospects -we think it is us. How can we be so self centered. The world does not revolve around us. Just ask my teenager - it revolves around her. Fine-tune your database of clients, prospects and contacts. Treat your best clients special. Offer them special services. Airlines do this with their frequent flyer points and special status. Stay close to your best clients, keeping them informed and staying informed about them and their business. Be unique. Discover the 'unwritten rules' of your business then break them to be different. Dell broke the 'rule' that computers must be sold through dealers. Dell is now a leader in computer direct sales. Stand out from the crowd. Watch for changes in your industry that may threaten your market. If the crowd goes down you don't have to go with it. The leaders in any market do well even in downswings. Network with leaders in other business to learn about changes - threats and opportunities in their industries. These are people who may or may not actually buy your product - but you gain information, prestige and inspiration from them. You might partner with them for a joint promotion. It builds your credibility to be seen with leaders. Build your credibility as an expert with the help of the media. Develop your media contacts. You will get the best results from appearing in print. Print has the greatest credibility and you can photocopy it for those who did not see it. Build relationships with editors, writers and reporters in the publications your prospects and clients are most likely to read - or respect. Include these media contacts in your database and treat them like your best clients. Keep them informed of changes in your business. Meet them for lunch or coffee. Offer to introduce them to some of your other contacts they may be interested in meeting. Write articles about your expertise for the publications. Don't expect to be paid for the articles - you want to get your name out often. The easiest articles to write are tips lists. Editors like them and readers love them - easy to read and use. Once you get published - recycle the articles and offer to other publications. Photocopy the articles and send them to everyone on your database - or at least to your best clients so they receive useful information and see what an expert you are. You must be an expert if your words are in print! Keep your business alive; invest in future growth through smart marketing. About The Author � George Torok is coauthor of "Secrets of Power Marketing"; Canada's first guide to personal marketing for 'non-marketers'. He delivers seminars & keynotes across North America. To arrange a speech or training program you can reach George Torok at 800-304-1861 For more information about seminars visit www.Torok.com
MORE RESOURCES: News provided by Yahoo! News and Google News Decline of small business hurts recovery, jobs growth Small Biz in a Digital Age: Analytics - Know Your Options - GoLocal Worcester Investors leading surge on small-biz loans - Insurance News Net Judge tells American Express it can't bully small biz - Crain's New York Business Correction: SmallBiz-Gas Prices story - Hickory Daily Record Small Business Economy Continues To Grow Modestly Pair launch equity crowdfunding platform for small-biz owners - Crain's Detroit Business 'Small Business Basics Series' begins in March Fla. lawmakers propose small biz sales tax holiday - First Coast News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Treat everything you do as a project Do you operate your business as a series of projects, using project management tools and skills to advance your projects from conception to completion? Or perhaps you're new to project management tools and skills and haven't considered applying them to your own business? Most of us fall somewhere in between.Running a productive and efficient business, whether for one person or for 500, is a series of projects of various sizes and complexity. Mattress Cleaning Business: How To Manual A Mattress Cleaning Business might be just for you if you have tried everything to contain your allergies, but feel like it is not enough. Instead of just purchasing the equipment to rid your fabric furniture and mattresses of allergens, you can also help others in your community to feel the relief and make a good income at the same time. Pressure Washing at Golf Courses There are many potential niches for pressure washing companies that often go unchecked. Some are quite lucrative and are worth investigation if you own a pressure washing business. Small Business Essentials: Start Here Thinking of starting a business on line? If so there are two things you absolutely must commit to before ever opening shop on the web. Any one who refuses to realistically consider these two factors should not be in business. FTC Report on Franchise Rule Making; What Purpose? The Federal Trade Commission out of the blue decide in November of 2004 that they wanted to revamp the franchise and business opportunity rule; specifically addressing franchising. Now then, why now? To prove to the masses that the Federal Trade Commission is in control? After all it is nearly 10 years after the Federal Trade Commission considered revising the rule, before this report has surfaced again. The Role of the Business Model and Strategy for Business People will always stress that having a well researched business plan is key before you start your business. Although creating a business plan is often an important step in the evolution of a business, particularly if you need financing or you are not experienced at running a business, it is not necessarily the essential first step. In Home Daycare Businesses for Profit To have one of the popular in home daycare businesses. Many people think all you have to do is love kids and have a home. Detailing Business Options So you want to get into the auto detailing business and are not sure what options are right for you? It is a difficult choice indeed and there are so many options. Let me tell you a few having been in the industry some 27-years, we have seen a lot of businesses come and go and we have seen what works. Preparing to Launch Your Small Business Small business owners often enter their field with great expectations. Unfortunately, reality strikes shortly afterwards. Technology Community Helps SMBs Focus on Their Core Business If you're starting your own business or currently work for a start-up, you wear a lot of hats. Any disruption in your business can eat up hours of your time and kill your productivity. Small Business Owners - Form a Relationship with Your Bank Manager It's just like a marriageTo expect a bank manager or officer to play such close attention to your account that he (or she) knows when you intend to deposit money and to know when to hold back a cheque is a hopeless dream.He has neither the time nor the resources, and you can complain until your blue in the face but, in the end, you have the sole responsibility to manage your bank account. How to Manage Your Pipeline How is your pipeline structured?I assume most of you have heard about the sales pipeline. Your pipeline is what keeps your business going. Carwash Franchisor Case Study There are only a handful of car wash franchises in the world. This might offer some insight on how car wash franchises come into existence. One Of The Best New Business Opportunities May Be Right In Your Home - A New Daycare Business The day care industry is expanding. There are now more than 100,000 licensed child-care centers and 250,000 licensed family day care homes across the United States. A Lesson From "The Apprentice" That Can Make You A Master I have to admit, I was curious. When I saw previews of a new show called "The Apprentice," it made me want to at least watch the premiere to see what was going on. The Misconceptions of the Value Of Disclosures in Franchising Disclosure laws in franchising are suppose to help the consumer. They don't. Designing a Franchise Training Program If you intend to franchise your company you will need to design a bullet proof training company for your new franchisees. This is above and beyond the training program you will design for them to administer to their new employees. How to Increase the Cash Flow in Your Private Practice in 30 Days If you have a busy private practice, chances are you also have pockets of cash lying around available for the plucking. It simply hasn't been collected yet, and may even have been overlooked. So What? How to Elicit Benefits from Features "So what?" is a lovely question.It can lead to a punch on the nose if you tactlessly say it to others to challenge their ideas but, when you use it to question your own decisions it has endless uses. Franchises Offer Shortcuts, But Not Control Q: I will be retiring this year at age 60 and intend to fulfill my lifelong dream of owning my own business. I'm too old to start from scratch, so I'm looking at several franchise opportunities, including fast food, auto parts, and an accounting service.
|
| Home | Site Map | Privacy Statement | More Articles |
| © 2006 |