Success as a Free Thinker

January 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment

In reading article after article about success and how to obtain it, I am more and more drawn to the conclusion that success is:

1. Not as allusive as many would have you think.
2. Not as easy to obtain as many would have you think.
3. The product of one’s unabated imagination and willingness to actually think for themselves.

The real key (as I see it) is to learn to be a free thinker. This simply means to consider all the possibilities for success and then work through the process of eliminating the ones that don’t fit with your desires for life. Once you have eliminated the “can’t do” or “won’t do” ideas, you will be left with ideas that are possible and palatable for your success.

Thinking through these ideas will lead you to the ones that you can hang your success on. Then it is a matter of working those ideas with passion and resolve, starting where you can and working with what you have until you can have/do more.

Think where Apple would be (or Microsoft, Google, or Intel for that matter) if they were not filled with people who thought of the possibilities and then moved to act on them. Many of the most beneficial advances in technology may have never happened. Free thinkers change the world and bring success to business ventures.

Are you a free thinker?

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What makes you special?

January 24, 2011 by Leave a Comment

This question, (What makes you special?), should be a question that you are constantly asking yourself. If you have trouble identifying your uniqueness in the marketplace, then you will never really stick out to those potential new customers who are looking to buy your product or use your services. You will even have a tough time retaining your current customers and an even harder time getting those current clients to refer you to their family and friends.

So, when asking yourself the “what makes me special” question consider these things:

1. What is my specific area of expertise in my chosen industry? If you don’t have one then you might want to consider developing one. Specialists are most always able to command and receive higher income for their efforts.

2. Why do my current customers purchase/re-purchase from me? Knowing this can help you find your area of expertise!

3. What kinds of marketing/advertising bring in the most potential new customers to my business. There is an old adage in marketing/advertising that goes something like this, “Only have of my advertising efforts bring in new customers, the problem is I don’t know which half it is!” To be more successful, you have got to know which half it is and then eliminate the unproductive aspects of your marketing plan!

If you take time at least every quarter to consider the question, “What makes you special?” it will have a dramatic effect on your bottom line.

To your success ….

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4 Keys to Integrated Marketing

January 20, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I was recently asked what was necessary to create an Integrated Marketing Plan. Pretty good question! As I thought about it I came up with four keys to integrated marketing:

1. Planning – this is sometimes the hardest part. Most folks in business just want to “do stuff.” This whole idea of sitting down and thinking about the direction you want to go and how to get there is way overrated. The reason this is true is that most business owners are technicians, skilled at what their business does/produces and not necessarily marketers. However, without taking time out to plan speed, direction, and results are hard to measure.

2. Persistence – once you have established a course for your marketing efforts, you have got to be persistent in them. Many businesses will take the time to create an integrated marketing plan, allocate the resources, and start strong in the implementation of the plan only to get bogged down by the new success that the marketing plan produces. Time gets short, people are moved to other tasks, and the marketing plan goes by the boards. Remember, success in business is a fleeting thing when left to itself. Persistence in marketing is an absolute must!

3. Patience – do you remember the old saying that “Rome wasn’t built in a day?” Well, the same is true in marketing! Once you have decided on a course, stick to it, work out the kinks, and let the plan play out. I was recently at a seminar where a very successful advertising agency owner was speaking. He said something very revealing. He told us that building a niche market didn’t happen in a week, a month, or even a quarter. You have to be persistent and trust your efforts to produce the desired results.

4. Promotion – Once you have committed to a marketing plan, promote it everywhere. Online, offline, in all your messages, printed, audio, or visual. Make your message your message everywhere you have access to potential customers.

As you adopt these four keys, make sure that you regularly test and re-evaluate your plan regularly. Making minor course corrections will keep you on line for consistent growth and business success.

To your success ….

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Small Business Blogging

January 15, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The one part of social media marketing that seems to meet with the greatest resistance among small business owners is that of creating and actively maintaining a blog. Most have at least one of three excuses:

1. I don’t know how to create/maintain a blog.
2. I don’t have the time necessary to create/maintain a blog.
3. I don’t know where to find new content for the blog.

While these excuses are worth considering (there are simple answers to all these concerns), they are, in the end, just excuses. It doesn’t take long to explain that a well thought out blog needs just a few minutes to set up, just a few hours a week to maintain, and that there is a ton of new content found in everyday living.

If you understand your business and can help your current and/or potential customers understand it better through the creation of written or video content, you can create an awesome blog. All that it takes is a willingness on your part to learn a few new things and then be consistent.

To your success ….

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Connecting to Your Customer

January 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I think the single most important act of business is to connect with your customer. With that accomplished, your customer will be ready and willing to consider your product/service.

In order to reach this special place of connection, you need to consider three things:

1. Who your customer is and how your relationship can benefit you both. I know, I know most sales training teach the WIIFM (what’s in it for me) method of selling, but I believe that for you to do what’s best for your customer, both of you must derive a benefit from your relationship. This type of relationship will cause you to take great care of your customer and will cause your customer to respect you because of the value you provide him.

2. Your knowledge/skill set. If you have the knowledge/skills to benefit you customer then you can act upon them in confidence. If you do not then you can spare both of you lots of misery by referring the business to someone that does!

3. What kind of continued service you are going to supply after the sale. The greatest sense of loyalty is most often achieved after the check has been cashed and the money has been spent. Do you have a system in place that actually benefits your customers after the sale? Is it consistent and repeatable?

Knowing that in the current sales climate people are looking to buy products/services from people they know, like, and trust, you have to work at building relationships harder than at any time before. Are you willing to pay this price to connect with your customer?

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