Building a dynamic small business is a constantly evolving, increasingly demanding role.
It is very easy to get so caught up in the day to day running of our business that we neglect to take the time to look from the outside in to see what we could do to improve our profitability!
Well here are 5 Strategies that could boost your productivity overnight!
They are not rocket science?and you may have even heard some of them before, but they are 5 proven principles that you can review today to help you stay on track regarding the real issues to grow your business from here.
So why don't you take 15 minutes?make yourself a coffee?and recharge your batteries!
1. Define your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) in one sentence
What is at the heart of your business that makes it unique and attractive for your customers? Summarise your key selling points that make your product or service a 'must have' for your clients.
You probably went through this exercise when you first started your business...but have you need to remind yourself regularly why you are doing what you are doing!
New competitors may have emerged and you don't have that same uniqueness that you once had.
Perhaps it's time to reinvent yourself and get that edge over the market once again!
2. Identify Who Your Target Market Is
When you first started your business, you knew exactly who your target market was. Is this market still the same, or have they grown up?or matured in their buying habits.
Has new technology overtaken your ideas?
Just imagine if Video Rental Stores had stubbornly refused to rent DVDs because they were just a Video Store! Your market may have changed, and you may need to reassess who you are trying to reach.
Your original target market have grown older since you began and if you are still promoting your products or service to this same group - their needs may be different!
3. Would you like Fries with That?
McDonalds have made an additional fortune by training every one of their sales force to ask one simple question with every order: 'Would you like fries with that?'
I went to buy a tube to fix my daughter's bike puncture the other day, and instead of just selling me a new tube, the smart salesman in the Bike Shop enquired quite genuinely if I had the right tools to fix it.
I didn't - but of course he did...so he cleverly added value to my shopping experience, and added extra profit to his bottom line.
What service or product can you offer to people to make their original purchase with you even more worthwhile?
4. Establish where your clients go before and after they visit you?
If you can determine this, then you can add instant profits to your business.
Just imagine if you owned a Real Estate business. Wouldn't it make sense to have a Settlement Agent in house? And what about a Mortgage Broker? Or even a Removalist Company?
Perhaps you could rent out a large Furniture Trailer with your company name emblazoned all over it!
Ask yourself the same question and you can start incorporating other services that complement your existing business and watch the profits grow!
5. Ask your existing customers for referrals
If you are providing an excellent product or service, then your biggest fans will be your existing customers.
Why not offer them an incentive to put you in touch with people just like them who would also benefit from your services?
It doesn't have to be anything really expensive?maybe even just a 10% discount off their next purchase from you.
I referred some friends to a Mortgage Broker a few months ago?and had forgotten all about it?until last week I received 2 movie tickets in the mail thanking me for the gesture.
A $20 investment leaves a nice impression in my mind that will probably make me think of him again when my next friend asks me if I know of a good Mortgage Broker!
Make sure you get Part Two of this article for another 5 Strategies to improve your small business success!
About The Author
Glen Smyth is the author of the popular new eBook, 'The Small Business Success Guide'. Discover how you can build your own profit-pulling small business, starting today: http://www.smallbusinesssuccessguide.com. Make sure you also sign up for the WOW! Factor Newsletter which is full of great ideas from other Small Business owners!
http://www.smallbusinesssuccessguide.com
apartment cleaning near Highland Park ...To Grow (Catapult) Your Business That's Why.When it's in your... Read More
Can you imagine going on a road trip without knowing... Read More
Too much goal setting and strategic planning can leave you... Read More
Running a business, whether it be an offline multi-billion dollar... Read More
Possibly THE most frequently asked question of me is "What... Read More
1. Largest Selection -One way that you can make your... Read More
Let us look at a few of the big distribution... Read More
You have heard that there is extra money on the... Read More
After 128 years of business, a household word, Montgomery Wards,... Read More
A piano tuner recently moved to Buffalo, NY, and would... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains fits horizontal markets clientele and in case... Read More
This week I coached a wonderfully lovely woman I'll call... Read More
( * - the word 'product' can be substituted to... Read More
Writing a business plan can be tricky when all the... Read More
There are no "rules of thumb" in the pursuit of... Read More
Note to Northwest Airlines ? It's not about fuel costsFor... Read More
Last week we talked about a few of the ways... Read More
What do Mark Victor Hansen, Robert Allen, Anthony Robbins, Andrew... Read More
It's easy to lose sight of what needs to be... Read More
The University of Exeter in the United Kingdom recently published... Read More
Writing a business plan for a franchised outlet of a... Read More
It is always said "If you Fail to Plan, you... Read More
Have you been in a "brainstorming" session where each person... Read More
Fun From The StartFor those with the will to start... Read More
When someone mentions business planning we have been conditioned to... Read More
maide service in Buffalo Grove ...Making money doesn't make your reputation... your reputation makes you... Read More
One of the most important initiatives in the domain of... Read More
Anyone who has been watching the Idaho Market Carefully for... Read More
Writing a Business Plan these days is tough, venture capitalists... Read More
Growing your own small business can be one of the... Read More
"Rubbish!" shouted the large, aggressive man in the red-striped shirt... Read More
To stop a computer virus you must understand how it... Read More
From time to time there seems to be a flurry... Read More
Growth through acquisition should not be considered an option reserved... Read More
As a franchisor it is imperative that you seek, find... Read More
Strategic planning and consulting is the strategy roadmap to manage... Read More
A piano tuner recently moved to Buffalo, NY, and would... Read More
If you are in the parking business and own or... Read More
We all agree Strategic Planning is a critical part of... Read More
The time when a website was just a simple set... Read More
To Grow (Catapult) Your Business That's Why.When it's in your... Read More
It is always said "If you Fail to Plan, you... Read More
Business rises and falls on leadership. According to business guru,... Read More
This will make some people angry as hell, but it's... Read More
If ever there were an industry where we want zero... Read More
If you've ever listened to Warren Buffett talk about investing,... Read More
If you own a mobile franchise business and wish to... Read More
I am not a big fisherman, but I do enjoy... Read More
I'm not talking about posting the HBO schedule on your... Read More
The decision to sell, or not to sell your business... Read More
Strategic Planning |