• Home
  • About Us
    • What We Do
    • Why DemGen
    • FAQ
  • Services
    • Business Development
    • Service List
  • Testimonials
  • Case Studies
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Archive for Marketing

Moving Your Business Forward

Posted by: admin | Comments Comments Off on Moving Your Business Forward
Tuesday, May 31st, 2016

annehubbenWe hear it a lot from small business owners – they are stuck in one place, juggling too many things at once and can’t organize the various parts of their lives.

When you look closer, everything seems to be right on track. Their businesses are doing well, their finances are in good shape, they have enough time to just relax and enjoy their families and activities. Yet they still feel they are moving in place, going through the motions each day.

Commit to action.

A commitment to action means stop procrastinating. Stop putting off the difficult decisions, the work that you don’t like to do and therefore avoid. Stop putting off the steps that will advance you from a standstill to moving forward. Be stubborn with your business. Refuse to let the little things stop you in your tracks or slow you down. Get help with the jobs you don’t like to do, hire a remote team and let them help you get organized. Don’t quit until you’re finished.

Recognize your self-defeating behaviours.

Self-defeating behaviours are those that keep you from doing what you know needs to be done. Ignoring your to-do list, letting less important things or those people who just want to chat interrupt your work, purposely finding something else to do so you can tell yourself you really didn’t have time to get to that item today. We all have behaviours we indulge in when we would prefer not to do something. Once again, don’t get distracted, do the jobs you’re best at and hire help for the rest!

Realize that it really is that simple.

Deciding you’re going to do something is as simple as finding the initiative to really want to reach your goal. Not so easy? That’s true, but at some point you will realize that the way you are doing things now is actually taking more energy than tackling the things that have to be done. Finding the discipline to start an initial effort can seem exhausting especially if we are used to receiving things immediately without waiting for a return on our time and energy. Focusing on our goal can help but for most of us an attitude adjustment is in order. Our goal can be reached by taking a series of small steps and it really is that simple.

Getting out of a rut, changing ourselves and as a result, our business, can give us more energy by reviving our interest in what we are doing and shaking us out of the same old boring path. Do it one step at a time, choose your optimal plans, gather all of your necessary resources and don’t make it harder than it has to be. Move forward.

© Copyright 2016 Chris Draper  All rights reserved.

image courtesy of annehubben

 

Categories : Marketing, Sales, Small Business
Comments Comments Off on Moving Your Business Forward

5 Precepts for Entrepreneurs

Posted by: admin | Comments Comments Off on 5 Precepts for Entrepreneurs
Wednesday, March 9th, 2016

5 precepts

Precept: a general rule intended to regulate behaviour or thought.

Your actions will have a corresponding reaction.

For each decision and action that you make as a business owner, especially those that propel your business forward, your competitors will react. Much like a chess game, strategic moves that result in your business jumping to the forefront in your niche, will result in a likewise counter move from those who compete with you.

Expecting perfection is self defeating.

The more you strive for perfection in your business, the less happy you may be with your progress. Have you ever noticed the business owner who refuses to bring out a new product until everything is just right? Their advertising and marketing, messages they would like to post on social media, their website – all of it must look just right, be the right color, have perfect wording, come across a certain way – all in the name of perfection. In the meantime, your competitors have already moved ahead with the same or similar services and products and are now the leaders in your market.

Even when you fail, there is a lesson to be learned.

Without failure, there would be no risks. By taking risks, entrepreneurs innovate and this is how some of our greatest companies have come to exist. With risk, there is also the chance of failure and this is the way you learn what needs to be improved, what should be changed and how not to be complacent. Failure doesn’t necessarily mean that your product has bombed or your services are unneeded. It can mean that your marketing campaign wasn’t quite right or that you are a little ahead of your time. It gives you a chance to stop and think…and improve.

Plans are made to be changed.

No one likes change. Though many say they thrive on it and apparently it is good for us, it still doesn’t go over well, especially with your customers. Marketing change as improvement has long been one way many large companies have managed resistance in their customers. Changing your plans doesn’t mean you slow down or become less productive. It means you have a better idea and want to move forward with it.

Measure success through your own eyes, not through the eyes of others.

If this is your first business, you know how far you’ve come. You know what you have learned since striking out on our own and though you may not know why everything is going well, over time you’ll learn that also! Don’t let others tell you how well you’re doing unless those others are your customers. You’ll know which of your actions have created the most welcome responses from them, as all of your actions will have a corresponding reaction!

Chris Draper © Copyright 2016 All rights reserved.

image courtesy of emaze

 

 

Categories : Business Tools, Entrepreneurial Lifestyle, Marketing, Productivity, Small Business, Success
Comments Comments Off on 5 Precepts for Entrepreneurs

How to Improve Your Client List

Posted by: admin | Comments Comments Off on How to Improve Your Client List
Wednesday, February 17th, 2016

new clients

As beginners, most entrepreneurs take on all the clients they can attract, not thinking about anything other than bringing in immediate income, but once their business is grown, they need to learn that not everyone is the best match for them. They need to spend more time learning how to attract clients that have the same mind set as they do. Matching mind sets result in greater success for both you and your client.

But how exactly do you do this? Start with your website and advertising materials. Everything on both of these should reflect your personality and way of working, your beliefs and how your business does its best work for potential clients. This will avoid attracting less than ideal clients that can cause problems for you and are never happy, regardless of how you work together.

Your ideal clients should be those who are focused on the same outcome as you are and the steps taken to get there. They are seeking great value with a fantastic outcome and realize that is what your business provides. They have a healthy respect for both your time and efforts and are results oriented. Their way of working matches yours, both in ideals and energy output.

You need to know what personality type would work perfectly with you and which qualities you are looking for. Looking at your competition and what they offer is vital to this process as you could be vying with many others for the same type of client and pricing will make a difference at some point, as well as quality.

Look closely at your business and that will help you figure out which clients you would like to work with. If you were them, what would you be looking for? Establish a reputation for that type of business in order to draw more clientele that is compatible with you and the way you work, what you offer and how you offer it.

First point of emphasis is that you are comfortable with those clients you choose. If it doesn’t feel right, then move on and look for others. The longer you are in business, the easier it will be for you to recognize those who will work best with you and that you will be happy working with.

Realizing that not everyone will be a good match for your business and continuing to look for a great fit in a client will help your business grow larger, not only because of results but because of word of mouth. Businesses will be attracted to you because of your success in working the way you do.

Chris Draper © Copyright 2016 All rights reserved.

image courtesy of pkemarcom

 

Categories : Business Experts, Marketing, Sales, Small Business, Success
Comments Comments Off on How to Improve Your Client List

What Makes Your Business Different?

Posted by: admin | Comments Comments Off on What Makes Your Business Different?
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016

not the sameInnovation

Innovation helps your business stand out, and long term entrepreneurs tend to keep up with the trends. It helps their name become known in your industry as the one to go to when customers are looking for the latest and best in services, technology and products. When you are looking for a way to improve your business and make it stand out, remember that people love anything that solves their problems. Become their problem solver by adding additional features to your original offers.

Style

Your own sense of style can bring attention to your business and attract new customers who may not even be aware that they need what you have to offer. Unique advertising can be one way of standing out. Try using a by-line that’s interesting and memorable. It will give you the opportunity to grab the attention of new customers and have them remember you. Let your business showcase your personal style. Focus on making your products more aesthetically pleasing and have your services reflect your good taste.

Image

The image your customers have of you, personally, affects the way they see your business. Customers will always prefer a business owner whose products they can count on. They know if there is a problem, they can contact you immediately and not have any delays with replacements or repairs. This makes your business synonymous with quality, which, in the long run, makes it easier for you to ask higher prices than your competition. A service program in conjunction with your products is also welcomed by your customers.

Service

Successful entrepreneurs have long realized that in order to become the best they have to give the best. By utilizing virtual assistants they know that they are working with people who are able to speak professionally with the public, react appropriately and deal with any imaginable issue that could arise. They know how to use the telephone, email etiquette is stressed and they have in-depth knowledge on all of your business offers. They make things easier for your customers to buy from you and act as consultants for your business. They realize that they are the first point of contact for most of your customers and the reputation of your business relies on them.

Each business is as unique as the person who owns it and if you think of your business as an extension of yourself and your way of living, you can come up with ideas that will also be attractive to your customers. Think of it this way; if you find that there is something in the marketplace that is difficult to purchase and you need it, then the likelihood is that there are many others in the same position as you.

Chris Draper © Copyright 2016 All rights reserved.

image courtesy of fineartamerica

 

Categories : Marketing, Small Business
Comments Comments Off on What Makes Your Business Different?

There’s Always Room For Another Great Idea

Posted by: admin | Comments Comments Off on There’s Always Room For Another Great Idea
Tuesday, December 29th, 2015

ideaAs a business owner, it can be frustrating when you hear about that one business that got the great account, was the first to offer a product that became very popular or because of their great service, is talked about a lot and therefore attracts new customers.

Did they do something that you didn’t? Does their business offer something that yours doesn’t? Most likely, it isn’t that they did something completely different or had something that your business didn’t have. These are business owners who were wise enough to advantage of an opportunity or created one for themselves. They had been in business a long time but didn’t give in to the belief that it was too late for them. They didn’t feel that their business was what it was and things weren’t going to change.

Opportunities for your business are everywhere, you just have to be aware of what is going on around you. You also have to realize that your business, regardless of what it is, has an impact on your customers. Just because the ideas you have are small and your business is small doesn’t mean it isn’t important to others as well as yourself. Understand the significance your business has, look at how other business owners are taking advantage of opportunities and turn these same opportunities into growth for your business, not by copying, but by borrowing the ideas and turning them into something that is a great fit for you and your products.

Competition is good for your business. It makes you stop and think of how you can improve what you offer so that what you have is better than what is out there. It gives you a push to want to succeed more by improving your business. It makes you stop and think of how your business is going to grow with the trends so it will still be viable in the future. Decide that you will no longer ignore what is right under your business nose, grasp what is available and if you need to learn new skills to do that, then learn them.

It’s never too late to make great things happen. Just think, Harlan Sanders, the Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame, was 66 when he began to promote his style of cooking and created an empire. There’s still room for more great ideas. One of them could be yours.

© Chris Draper, DemGen Inc. 2015

image courtesy of jonrognerud

 

Categories : Marketing, Small Business
Comments Comments Off on There’s Always Room For Another Great Idea

When Your Business Becomes a Numbers Game

Posted by: admin | Comments Comments Off on When Your Business Becomes a Numbers Game
Wednesday, October 28th, 2015

numbers gameNumbers game: the use or manipulation of statistics or figures, especially in support of an argument.

Whether it is financing, sales or clients, your business is based on numbers. Some are more important than others. But when you start to spend most of your time juggling those numbers, you’re in trouble.

A small business that grows exponentially, in other words in proportion, is the best way to keep your business on track without having to worry too much about any of the numbers. Those of us who have been in business for some time, made sure that once our financing was in place, we started with a small number of clients. We made sure to satisfy those client’s needs and wishes in order to bring in the sales we needed. From there we slowly grew our business.

But what happens when you don’t handle your business in an organized way and your numbers begin to skew too much one way or the other?

This is when you look at your business and ask yourself if you are still concentrating on your customers or if you have started to think too much about making money. Focusing on your customers always leads to the best results in your business, which means success financially. Running your business as a numbers game translates to a business without values or ethics.

A good example of a business running more for profit than to satisfy their customers, is currently JCPenny. At the moment, under the reform of their current CEO Ron Johnson, JCPenny no longer offers discounts, among other detrimental changes. Because of this, their stock has dropped over 40% and sales have dropped almost as much. The numbers game is not working for them.

At the other end of the scale is the Ritz-Carlton, where customers mean everything. They plan ahead for everything, including long wait times, where a waiter will show up with an entree, appetizer or drink to keep you satisfied while you wait to order. While this is just one example of the Ritz’s exemplary customer service, this is also how a customer focused business works. Make your customers happy and you won’t have to worry about the financial end of things.

Remind yourself, if you see your business losing its balance, that it’s your customers who count. Regain your focus on them and you will start to see your business moving in the right direction again.

© Chris Draper, DemGen Inc. 2015

image courtesy of juleskalpauli

Categories : Customer Service, Marketing, Sales, Small Business
Comments Comments Off on When Your Business Becomes a Numbers Game

Actionable Marketing

Posted by: admin | Comments Comments Off on Actionable Marketing
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2015

action

Many small business owners have heard the expression actionable marketing thrown around, yet have no idea what it is.

Actionable marketing is the ability to persuade customers to buy from you and to interact with you and your business in a way which is positive for both of you.

One of the most important ways that you can do this is to be aware of who your market consists of and to target those customers by offering them something that they need. Marketing toward these customers needs to be tailored for their geographical area and should encompass any interests that they may have. Demographics should also include web pages that interest them and social media websites where they spend their time. Try to give your potential customers exactly what they’re looking for. Remember that first impressions are important. You want to catch the attention of new customers while retaining your loyal customers.

Another marketing tip that is extremely important is that it is necessary to be available. Contact forms should be easy to find, simple and non invasive. They should also come with your promise that the customer’s information won’t be sold or given to anyone else and only used for the purpose of this one time contact unless otherwise stated. The most common reason customers have for not giving out their email address or using contact forms is that they receive a steady influx of marketing email (spam) from the company they have contacted as well as from other companies soon after. Answer all questions from your customers or possible future customers as soon as possible. A person answer is always much better than an auto responder!! While having automated systems in place for you business is helpful to you, it adds to the feeling of alienation that is increasing among customers.

Most importantly, give excellent value. Everyone loves free things, especially if they are of use to them. Depending on the type of business, offer your customers free downloads, discounts and coupons, newsletters and other resources which they will appreciate. Include special offers for your most loyal customers and advertise on your website that this is something that all long term customers receive. Include links to other websites which you feel your customers would find interesting and of value. Include a Q&A section, accessible from your landing page, where questions can be asked regarding your products and services. Make sure it is visible to all who read your website, not just the customer asking the question.

Actionable marketing is about taking actions that will improve your business and satisfy your customers and possible customers. It involves consistency in advertising and responsibility in your actions. Each business will have its own type of marketing plan but always keep the customer as your main focus.

© Chris Draper, DemGen Inc. 2015

 

Categories : Marketing, Small Business
Comments Comments Off on Actionable Marketing

We Live in Apologetic Times

Posted by: admin | Comments Comments Off on We Live in Apologetic Times
Wednesday, July 15th, 2015

career  For those who feel politically incorrect beliefs are taking a downturn, think again. Small business owners (and large) increasingly apologize to their customers for what they think is a failure to meet expectations.

Those expectations are extremely high and before you automatically take your customer’s word for it, delve a little deeper into the issue. As a business leader in your community, are you accepting responsibility for businesses in general? Some members of the public seem to think so.

Acknowledging a mistake means that you believe that the customer was wronged in some way. If redeveloping trust is the issue, then there may be some basis for an apology but if a policy in your business is the problem, an explanation to your customer might be a better idea.

Many of the apologies seen presently are accomplished through public forums and are not necessarily done in faith. Comments made on social media to your small business page may make you feel that you are being forced to agree with something that is against your ethics. If it truly is a mistake, then committing to fixing it and taking steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again are important.

But what if a customer is asking for something that is outside of your area of expertise, your business scope or just comes across as ridiculous? Businesses are beginning to use apologies as a means of competition. They feel that the more they attempt to appear as though they are helping customers, the better it will be for their business.

Only you know when you’ve made an error and should attempt to correct it. Some situations demand an apology. They are expected and should be immediate. A graceful apology is something that all business owners should be able to handle easily. Admit to your mistake, fix it and move on. Offering a solution as quickly as possible is the best way to retain your customers in this case.

However, the onslaught of continuing apologies for the smallest thing has begun to get out of hand. Never apologize too much or too often. Don’t apologize for the wrong reasons. I also, personally, do not believe in public apologies. If a problem arises and your business is questioned in social media, take the matter aside with the person or company privately. Don’t apologize for someone else. It’s not your place to take the responsibility for the errors of others, be they staff, family or friends.

A good apology always makes the person apologizing feel better as well as the wronged party. Don’t take it too far or ignore the matter. Try not to become involved with every issue that is making the rounds currently. Your customers and your business are your concern. Leave the public issues for everyone else.

© Chris Draper, DemGen Inc. 2015

Categories : Customer Service, Marketing, Small Business
Comments Comments Off on We Live in Apologetic Times

Are you the Best Representative for Your Business?

Posted by: admin | Comments Comments Off on Are you the Best Representative for Your Business?
Wednesday, May 6th, 2015

the real you  Coming across various groups and businesses on Facebook is almost like watching reality television. You feel like you’ve moved into a totally different dimension from the one in which you have always lived. You find business owners, not familiar or comfortable with marketing on social media, crossing the line between their business and their personal lives, often forgetting that they are using a public forum.

Business owners don’t necessarily make the best figureheads for their businesses and it isn’t their job to be one. While quite often a powerful person with an important title, a figurehead tends to be someone with limited power or influence, and as a business owner, that means that though your customers will look to you for direction when it comes to their purchases, they also expect you to be the one in control. As a business owner, you make the decisions and you need to represent your business better than anyone or else find someone who can do it for you.

Owning a business puts you in the position of having to be aware of what you say, how you look and what you do – all the time. It is somewhat similar to being a politician but without the election or votes, but either way, don’t forget that your customers are either quietly voting for you or they’re voting for someone else.

Are you adept at building relationships? Some of us make friends easily and have an instant impact on others while the rest of us can feel awkward or out of place when public speaking or attending events. If you’re one of those who doesn’t mix well, it may be better to have a hired gun, or expert, that takes care of dealing with the public and represents your business for you. Most small business owners don’t like that idea but if their talents don’t include marketing, then they are better off finding someone who does have that talent.

Are you naturally professional or more the relaxed type? Depending on the type of business you own, your customers will expect a certain style from you, both in your manner and your way of dress. They also expect you to speak correctly and to know your business inside out. Those are a lot of expectations but that is what you signed on for when you started your business.

As the best representative for your business, you should treat everyone you meet as a customer or potential customer. Take advantage of these opportunities to make yourself more comfortable with interacting with the public. Let your personality shine through and remember that your public self is the one that your customers will rely on as being your real self.

© Chris Draper, DemGen Inc. 2015

image courtesy of got2beyou

 

Categories : Marketing, Small Business
Comments Comments Off on Are you the Best Representative for Your Business?

How Much is too Much?

Posted by: admin | Comments Comments Off on How Much is too Much?
Tuesday, March 24th, 2015

too much  In their first enthusiasm of running a business, owners can be forgiven for getting carried away. Adrenalin is high, energy is endless and the future is bright. However, once they are in business for several years, well known and successful, there are several ways owners can still get in over their heads and over do a good thing.

Offering too many choices.

Wanting to please your customers is a natural desire but paying too much attention to your competitors can start a tendency to offer everything that they are offering in order to compete. There are advantages to offering less. Depending on your type of business, cost of overhead multiplies increasingly as you add more products. Simplify your management, cut your stock to the bare bones and concentrate on your most popular and most cost productive products. Studies have shown that consumers tend to buy more when there are fewer options available. The more choices they have, the more likely they are to get frustrated and not purchase at all.

Using social media inappropriately.

Social media can be your friend and a great tool for marketing your business, but only if you know how to use it.

For example, Ellen opens a Facebook account. She intends to access it only for her business, but besides her business contacts, her friends and relatives are also following her or listed as friends. Ellen, not terribly social media savvy, doesn’t realize she can set up her account with different lists and block certain people from seeing some posts or posting on her timeline.

Before long, her personal life and her business life are overlapping and her business contacts have more personal information about her than they really should. She is putting her business at risk by allowing others to know more about her life than is acceptable and not putting the focus on her business only. Ellen also hasn’t taken into consideration the threat of identity theft or realized that total strangers may be able to find out where she and her family live and what they do in their personal time. If you use social media for marketing your business, learn more about the tools available and take advantage of all of the security settings.

Too much communication.

As with social media, business owners spend a lot of their time spreading the word on what their business can offer that others don’t or can’t. In the midst of this, especially when offering anything new, business owners need to be careful that they don’t inadvertently give their competitors too much information.

In another vein, spending too much time communicating via email or phone can take time away from more profitable tasks. Knowing how much is necessary and how much is a distraction or an avoidance technique will tell you how well balanced your business is. Unnecessary communication can be used as an excuse to cover up how little is really being accomplished. There is also the risk of miscommunication and revealing something in error that can jeopardize your business.

Remember to use any marketing or business tools to the best of your ability. Overuse or misuse can result in less success for your small business.

© Chris Draper, DemGen Inc. 2015

image courtesy of crystalmedia

Categories : Business Tools, Marketing, Small Business
Comments Comments Off on How Much is too Much?
Next Page »

Get Blog Posts Via Email

          

Recent Posts

  • Moving Your Business Forward
  • How Learning Can Help Your Business
  • The Long Term Entrepreneur
  • Get More Done in Less Time
  • How Lists Help Your Productivity
  • How Much Productivity is Too Much?
  • Learn to Say No
  • Taking a Business Break
  • How Successful People Succeed
  • How to Simplify Your Business (and your life): The Basics

Search The Blog

Tags

awareness blogging tools business business plans Canadian history Christmas Coaching communication in business customer management customer service entrepreneur Entrepreneurs entrepreneurship growing your business home office innovate internet life motivation origin of business passion positive habits productivity remote workers remote working Small Business social media starting a new business Time Management Time Management Tips tribe virtual assistant virtual teams web tools Work/Life Balance work at home working for yourself working from home

Archives



        





Latest from the Blog

Connect With Us

DemGen Inc. © 2023 We Respect Your Privacy and Practice Ethical Business
Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us  |  Blog