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Archive for Sales

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
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Taking Control of Your Business and Life

Posted by: admin | Comments Comments Off on Taking Control of Your Business and Life
Wednesday, February 24th, 2016

which pathTaking Control of Your Business and Life

You’ve built your perfect business, it was challenging and at the onset, chaotic. You are in control of so many things and at the same time, your thoughts about where you are headed from here are constantly in your thoughts. It’s a lot easier when you keep in mind several necessary things that will help you stay focused and on track.

Relax and get busier. While the two may not sound like they belong together, what works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another. Concentrating fully on one task in particular, completing it and getting it out of your way keeps business worries at bay. At the same time, if you tend to be the type that gets anxious and/or nervous, if demands have you stressed to the point where you can’t concentrate, relaxation is probably the best choice. Give yourself a holiday, even if only for one day.

Don’t pay attention to the opinions of others. Always think about where the opinion came from. Most business owners know when they are doing their best. Listen to others who have experience in your field but don’t feel you have to take into consideration the comments of those who probably have no idea what is in your best interest. Seek knowledge from those who have it and learn to navigate around any pitfalls that could arise from the negative messages of others. You didn’t get where you are by not thinking for yourself.

Keep your originality. Though imitation is a form of flattery, when it’s your business that’s involved, being different and being the best at what you’re doing is more important. Take some time to discover which options are available to you that can make your product or service stand out from the rest. After awhile, most items available at all businesses resemble those that are sold elsewhere. The most famous businesses didn’t become that way by becoming carbon copies of all of the others that were out there. Being afraid to take big steps in your business is normal. If there’s something you’re not sure of or don’t have knowledge of, consider outsourcing certain tasks to a virtual team with experience.

Ignore the small stuff. Business owners tend to worry away at the smallest things that in the long run will have absolutely no effect on their business. If you are one of these, take note of what is it that is bothering you and put it away until later. You aren’t looking for perfection, you are looking at the big picture and what will work best for both you and your customers. In the same vein, if it has already happened, then it’s over. Once again, acknowledge it and if you have made a mistake, ensure that it doesn’t happen again. Sometimes you just have to be able to let things go.

Don’t limit yourself. Most of the time when we think we can’t do something, it isn’t that we can’t do it, it’s more likely that we just can’t believe we could ever climb that high. Putting boundaries on your business will slow your growth and keep you from expanding even more than you already have. Listen to that inner voice that tells you what you really can accomplish.

An important part of managing any business means keeping in mind that knowledge means power. A business owner who is not learning about new technology or business practices becomes stagnant. But more importantly, it means learning about yourself and the way you think. Learning to trust yourself is the most important step you need to take, ahead of all of the others.

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Chris Draper © Copyright 2016 All rights reserved.

image courtesy of buttontobeans

Categories : Business Experts, Productivity, Sales, Small Business, Success, Work/Life Balance
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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
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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
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The Only 10 Slides You Need in a Pitch

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Friday, March 20th, 2015
The Only 10 Slides You Need in a Pitch

by julielynnf.

Categories : Marketing, Sales, Small Business
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Does the Weather Affect Your Small Business?

Posted by: admin | Comments Comments Off on Does the Weather Affect Your Small Business?
Tuesday, February 17th, 2015

weather

Recent extremely low temperatures, blizzards and blowing snow have created challenges for businesses and consumers alike in many parts of the country. This includes power failures, burst pipes and disruptions in transportation.

If your small business relies heavily on products being delivered to consumers and employees getting to work, the weather can have a huge impact on your sales. Customers also tend to purchase differently under extreme weather circumstances and their spending habits will tend to be more conservative. Depending on the type of business you own, you need to take into consideration how your customers buy during adverse weather conditions.

Unless your business is totally online, if your customers can’t get out and get to you, your business will suffer. Even if the roads are cleared, when the temperature gets too low, certain products can’t be delivered. Agricultural products are obvious ones but many other items don’t hold up well under very cold conditions, even when the truck trailers are heated.

Bad weather is also destructive. Ice damages buildings and roads, sidewalks aren’t safe to be walked on, liability insurance costs increase. Business owners can’t predict the weather and if they make the mistake of keeping too much inventory, what may have looked like a good deal at the time, can backfire on them badly.

Your customers may decide to cut back on spending when their heating costs increase and this will include your services unless you happen to be running a business that includes snow removal. If your business is weather sensitive, it’s a good idea to keep this in mind all year long and prepare for any shortcomings ahead of time.

If you provide a standard product or service all year round, innovation will become more important. How can you make your product or service available in ways that it will be needed at any time of the year? Once you do this, can you ensure delivery to your customers during the worst weather?

While orders online may increase over brick and mortar shopping when the weather is at its worst, only certain items can be delivered under these conditions. Make sure your business isn’t vulnerable because your products can’t stand up to the coldest temperatures. Obviously, you, as a business owner, can’t control the weather but you can make sure you’re in a position to weather the proverbial storm.

One of the longest running “businesses”, which is popular all year round, is The Farmer’s Almanac, in circulation since 1792.

© Chris Draper, DemGen Inc. 2015

Categories : Sales, Small Business
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The Power of Email Marketing

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Friday, January 30th, 2015
The Power of Email Marketing

Categories : Marketing, Sales
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A Black Friday Infographic: A Deep Look at Shopping Data

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Saturday, November 29th, 2014
A Black Friday Infographic: A Deep Look at Shopping Data

Categories : Sales, Small Business
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The Top Social Media Marketing Trends

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Friday, November 21st, 2014
Top Social Media Marketing Trends

Categories : Marketing, Sales, Social Media
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The Science Behind Why Customers Refer

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Friday, August 1st, 2014
The Science Behind Why Customers Refer

Categories : Gratitude, Lead Generation, Sales
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