Why You Need To Be Prepared For Different Situations

Why You Need To Be Prepared For Different Situations

by | Nov 27, 2018 | Sales and Marketing

Are you able to explain your business to different people in different circumstances? Or do you have a ‘one size fits all’ spiel that you use time and time again?

If the latter, read on …….

You may have seen in my Absolutely Fabulous Facebook group that recently I asked for a short title of what you do such as business consultant, artist, interior designer, accountant etc.  This was to create a directory of services of members within the group.

What I got back from many was a long-winded explanation of what they did.  These people missed out because I ignored them.  They told me what they wanted me to hear not what I was interested in and had asked for.

Be prepared what to say

Some explanations of what they did I simply didn’t understand!  It was so gobbledegook I had no idea and even when I asked a couple, they still couldn’t explain it to me!

Some people told me to go look at their website.  Why should I?  I’m not going to waste my time trying to work it out for myself if they can’t tell me themselves.

Only the next day, another group I am in also asked people to describe what they did in a single sentence.

Here are a few answers:

“Inspiration”

“I show you how to alchemize your pain into a superpower”

“I provide a soft holding space where you can release anything that holds you back so you can be free”

Now, maybe it’s me but I have absolutely no idea what these people do!  Inspiration??? What the heck does that mean?

Then there were clear and concise answers:

“Helping adults and children conquer anxiety and depression”

“I help women get clients with social media marketing”

“I am a divorce coach that supports woman emotionally whether to leave or stay in a marriage.”

“I take the humble bead and bit of wire and create something to help a person sparkle and feel great”

Yay!  I instantly got these and understood what these people did.  And I especially loved the last one.  It completely stood out from the crowd for me.

Have a think how you explain your business.  There are times when you can be super creative and imaginative and there are other times when you need to short, concise and to the point.  You need to be prepared for both.

Whatever you do, stop expecting others to do the groundwork to decipher what you do.  You need to be ready to grasp every opportunity and respond in the right manner.  There will be plenty of other people doing what you do who will oblige and you will lose business to them.  Harsh but true!

 

 

Effective Marketing Ideas For Your Small Business

Effective Marketing Ideas For Your Small Business

by | Aug 31, 2018 | Sales and Marketing

MARKETING IDEAS

Here is a basic list of marketing mediums, both free and paid, that could be useful to your small business. Before you start on any marketing think carefully which are best for your business and which are going to get your marketing message in front of your ideal customers. Don’t just blindly follow the crowd and do something because others are doing it. They may just be throwing their money down the drain or may have a different ideal customer to you.

Free marketing ideas

I want to put a disclaimer here.  Whilst I have said the list below is ‘free’ please remember that there is still a cost element due to the amount of time you will take to implement your marketing through these channels.

Directories

Most online directories offer a free listing.  Research the better ones and get yourself listed

Blog

Set up a free blog and post new articles frequently to build up a following of people who may become your future customers

Newsletters

These can be sent by email to your subscribers or posted out to potential customers, again dependent on your business and your ideal customer.

Social media

There are so many social media channels to choose from.  Start off setting up pages on just a couple of social media sites until you are comfortable with them and don’t become overwhelmed

Referrals

Ask people to refer customers to you.  If you don’t ask you don’t get!

Speaking events

Offer to do a free talk at local events to raise awareness of what you can do for potential clients

Media release

Send your details to as many publications as you can think of. You never know who may give you some free publicity

Telemarketing

If you have a phone contract and you don’t use all your minutes, take some time to call prospective customers to introduce yourself (don’t cold call though – a big no-no!!  You must have a connection with them first and permission to speak)

Networking

Attend networking events and turn up everywhere that your target audience hangs out.  Remember to take your business cards.

E-books

Create an E-book that is branded with your company details.  Offer as a free book to draw attention to your business.

Surveys

Carry out surveys online or in person to find out information about customer buying habits whilst raising awareness of your brand at the same time.

Contests

Run a contest or competition where the winner can get a free product or service or a discount on a purchase.  Raise awareness of your brand with all entrants.

Direct mail marketing

If done correctly, direct mail can still be a lucrative way of gaining new customers.

 

Paid for marketing ideas

Print advertising

Print can still work for many businesses and print tends to get read more in-depth than online ads.

Online advertising

Pay per Click/Advertising on complementary websites, social media adverts etc. all form part of online advertising

Leaflets

These can be professionally designed and printed or created from home.  Always do a test run on just a few before printing hundreds.

Business cards

Don’t leave home without them!  You never know when, or who, you are going to meet so have them ready to hand out.

Directories

Both print and online.  You can pay for a banner ad in directories that put your business at the top of the listings ahead of the free ads.

Events

From high-end trade events to setting up a stall at your local village fete.

Website

A website is essential for any business these days.  From a low cost ‘free template’ site to a professionally built site, just make sure your site will be able to grow and be changed in line with your business in the future.

Public relations

This can be expensive but if your business requires it, hiring a professional PR company can get great results and reduce the need for other forms of advertising.

Catalogues

Do you have products that would suit being put into a catalogue?  Catalogues can be digital or printed and then mailed to your prospective and existing customers.

Promotional materials

Pens, mugs, bags and notepads.  In fact, just about anything can be printed on.

Affiliate marketing

Get others to do the marketing for you and then pay them a small fee for each sale they make.  There are many affiliate sites online that can help you get set up.

Sponsorship

This can be from a single one-off event to sponsoring a team or organisation long term.

Signage

Think of where you might get seen by your ideal client.  From car stickers to roadside signage to billboards at sporting grounds or on buildings, start to take note of the different signage out there and where yours might fit in.

 

So there are just a few small business marketing ideas to get you thinking.  If you have any to add, pop them in the comments box below.

 

The Best Way To Get People Interested In Gift Vouchers

The Best Way To Get People Interested In Gift Vouchers

by | Oct 13, 2017 | Sales and Marketing

There are so many reasons why gift vouchers can be a good idea to use in your business.

  • They raise your business profile
  • You get instant cash up front
  • Great for indecisive buyers who can’t decide what they want right away
  • A great way to get new clients

But how do you get people interested in buying them?

To get people interested in gift vouchers you first need to decide who is going to be buying them as this may be different to your ideal client who will be using them.  Think husbands, boyfriends, partners, friends etc.  Where are they so that you can your vouchers under their noses.

Make the benefit clear of buying the voucher:

  • Save time trawling the shops for gifts.
  • The perfect gift for the woman who has everything.
  • Stuck for gift ideas?  Here’s the perfect answer
  • Pamper her like a queen
  • A treat she will love you for

Market everywhere!

  • Send out info to your mailing list, post consistently on social media.  Post on your own page, in your group, on local selling sites etc.
  • Send the voucher info to your past clients and prospects and tell them to add a voucher to their Christmas gift list.
  • Consider adding your voucher to a third-party site such as Groupon or Wowcher etc but do check how much commission they take and ensure you are still going to make a profit as you will need to offer the voucher at a discounted rate on these sites.
  • When marketing for special occasions such as Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s day etc, start your marketing well in advance.  Don’t leave it until the last minute when people will have already made their purchases.  Do, however, keep marketing right up until the very day for those who are completely unorganized and going into last minute panic of what to buy.

Run a competition

To raise awareness of your voucher, run a competition with a voucher as the prize.

Put the competition on your website and ask people to answer one simple question such as ‘what is your favourite beauty treatment’ (or whatever is relevant to your business of course) and then leave their email address to enter.  Create just one page for this competition and then post the link to this page everywhere.  Again, use social media, email etc.

Once the competition is over, email the winner to everyone who entered and perhaps offer them a small discount on buying a voucher as a thank you for entering.  This works twofold.  It can help you get more sales and you also now have more subscribers to add to your future mailing list (you must make it clear to entrants that they will also be added to your mailing list but they can unsubscribe at any time if you are going to do this).

Creating your voucher

When creating your voucher, remember the following:

  • Make sure your offering on your voucher is clear and simple.  What is it for, when, where etc.
  • Set out terms and conditions properly – how long it is valid for, booking terms, how to book etc
  • Add a link to buy online to your website and Facebook page
  • Make the voucher look and feel good.  No-one wants to get a thin piece of paper with a dull bit of writing on it.  Snazz it up using something like Canva.  Pop it into an envelope to make it easy for the purchaser to hand over to the recipient.
  • When selling online, consider giving purchasers a choice of designs to choose from.  If this is too much work for you and you are now going into ‘How the hell do I do that mode’ just stick with one simple, yet beautiful design with your branding on it.
  • Have all your contact details and how to book clearly displayed.

 

If you have a gift voucher promotion, feel free to pop the link in the comments box below.

Do people really know what you do?

by | Nov 17, 2016 | Sales and Marketing

How to know if your marketing message is really getting through

Sometimes we get so caught up in our business that we think everyone else knows exactly what we do, and then out of the woodwork, reality smacks us in the face.

I have had this happen to me just recently!

It has come to light over recent weeks that some members of my Facebook group still don’t know about my Small Business Kit.  I have members of my Small Business Kit who aren’t aware that in addition to the member’s club I also do one to one private coaching.

And there was me thinking that everyone knew everything about me and the range of services I offered. (slowly taking head out of sand!)

I am so good at telling everyone else to market like a madwoman and making sure all their contacts know exactly what they do, that I have let this slip for my own business.  Doh!!

A challenge for you

To make sure this hasn’t happened to you, and to check if people really know what you do, I am going to give you a little challenge.

Post in your Facebook group, send out a newsletter to your subscribers, send an email to your contacts and ask them one simple question – ‘What services do you think I offer?’

Now, you may want to explain to them what you are doing so they don’t think you have gone slightly mad.  Explain exactly what I have said here.  Write something on the lines of:

“Would you help me out?

It’s vitally important to all business owners to know that their marketing is working and the right message is reaching those who would benefit from what they do.

As one of my valued subscribers/fans/clients etc. (delete as appropriate) would you take a moment of your precious time to hit reply and let me know which services you are aware of that I offer?”

Alternatively, you could send out a survey listing all the services that you provide and ask respondents to put a tick against all those that they are aware you provide.  Take a look at my own survey here (see what I did there?).

The benefit of this is twofold.  Firstly, you get valuable feedback whether you’re marketing the parts you want to reach.  And secondly, you raise awareness of your services to those that may not yet be aware.  A win-win situation.

Not to miss an opportunity

Not to miss this opportunity, if you didn’t click the link above, would you be so kind as to take a moment of your precious time to respond to my own survey and let me know what you are aware of that I do?  There is a special thank you waiting for.

COMPLETE SURVEY

I look forward to hearing from you.

Genius ways to get worldwide visibility for your business

Genius ways to get worldwide visibility for your business

by | May 31, 2016 | Sales and Marketing

Two genius examples of how to get your business in front of a worldwide audience

This past week I saw two pieces of marketing genius.  They were completely different from each other but both had sprinklings of magic within them.

One was not done to promote a business and was done completely off the cuff without any payment and gained phenomenal media attention worldwide.. The other was indeed a little more premeditated, was a business promotion and cost money.  But the way it was done again gained worldwide attention and gained tremendous visibility for the business in question.

The simple joys of life

The first was by the wonderful Candace Payne.

No, she doesn’t run her own business but she has wiped the floor as far as visibility is concerned and become an online sensation. And how? All by being herself and having some fun.

Candace is the lady who simply went out, bought a Chewbacca face mask, put it on in her car and screamed with laughter whilst recording it all on Facebook live.  During her gales of laughter she spoke about her antics being one of the simple joys of life.

Candace Payne

She didn’t sit back and plan how to get views and likes on Facebook. She didn’t watch endless webinars on how to create a perfect video or how to master Facebook live. She just got out there and did her own thing.

And the result has been simply breath-taking!  She has so far had 1.5 million views of her Facebook live video, breaking all records. She has appeared on the James Corden show.  She got to visit Lucas Film Studio where Star Wars was made.  She got invited to the headquarters of Facebook.  She is getting to meet movie stars and everyone wants to have her in their life.

Off the back of all this publicity, Candace has created a line of clothing being branded to enjoy the simple joys in life and her business is booming after just a few days.

I think we can all take a lesson from her to stop over thinking things, stop planning to the nth degree, stop trying to be someone you are not and to be true to yourself and let your true personality shine through. Oh, and stop taking life so seriously and have some bloody fun!!!

Way to go Candace

 Free?  Did you say free???

The second example is somewhat different but still just as brilliant in itself.

A local businessman, Rob Braddick, who owns a number of businesses in the area went and purchased one of the council car parks near to one of his restaurants, The Pier House in Westward Ho!  He then pictured himself in front of the parking meter, covering it up and declaring the park could be used for free.  Yes, FREE!!!

Robert Braddick

His social media post declared:

‘HOT OFF THE PRESS……
As of 4pm today my company ‘Braddicks Leisure Ltd’ has acquired a long lease on SEAFIELD CAR PARK at the end of Merley Road.

With immediate effect I’m making it FREE,yes FREE for the community and the public to use.

Please do park up and stroll over to The Pier House for a coffee or a cold pint.(not free!)

Enjoy.’

He paid thousands for the privilege of owning the car park so was he not mad to want to charge people to use it?

Obviously not.  The publicity he gained off the back of this gesture was quite frankly incredible.  His story got picked up on and was published in national newspapers, radio stations and shared thousands of times on social media.

Local people are visiting his venue to have their picture taken with him with a typical comment on social media stating

‘Just shaken hands with the most famous car park long-leaseholder in the world (surely Sir) Robert Braddick!’

 

‘Ooooh, super excited to be able to sneak this little podcast in today -possibly the most talked about carpark in the UK! Behind the scenes with Rob Braddick – the most generous business man in Devon.’

He has been hailed as a ‘hero’, ‘star’ and ‘legend’ and has whipped up a media frenzy.

If he had spent thousands of pounds on paid advertising, there is no way his money would have gained him the attention that doing something wholly unexpected and out of the ordinary did.  He went against the grain and instead of looking to make immediate gains by charging for his services, he gave something of value away for free.  This got people talking and in the world of psychology, where the power of reciprocity is well documented, people now want to come visit his premises to buy food and drink to pay him back for his generosity.

So the lesson to be learnt here is not to always keep trying to sell.  Think about doing something unexpected, giving something of value away for free and create an environment in which people want to buy from you.

Way to go Robert!

 

What genius way can you think of to raise visibility for your business?  Leave a comment below