Frequently overlooked and hidden deep within our marketing tool box is the ultimate marketing vehicle for your business ? you! Many small business owners are so busy figuring out how to increase sales and revenue they forget to grow themselves as business owners. If you aren't evolving yourself, aren't you being counterproductive to your business development? Marketing our businesses isn't just about what ads to buy or what networking event to go to next; it's about us as people, as entrepreneurs. The following marketing traits are often overlooked by entrepreneurs but are pivotal to your long-term success. What's more, they cost very little yet earn a savvy entrepreneur a lot. Show Your Personality -- Customers want to know who you are. That's great that you offer the fastest tax services in town, or your gift baskets can be custom-made and delivered anywhere in 24 hours. But who are you? Your customers and prospects want to know. Especially if you're facilitating business on the Internet, building trust is key to making a prospect feel comfortable buying from you. One of the most effective ways to build trust is to express your personality.
How can you express personality? Even conservative introverts can develop indirect methods of exhibiting their personalities. Here are some examples -- If you own a store, at the entrance, try displaying a professional portrait of you and your family and your personal story describing how your business began. If you're an attorney, try displaying a small 8.5" X 11" picture frame on your desk that describes your background, your personal interests and hobbies. If this is too personal for you, try displaying a few photos on your office wall, including the photo of you rowing in college or the one that depicts your fabulous smile playing soccer with your six-year-old. If you're not the smiling-type, a human interest photo showing you in a common setting will help put your prospect at ease. Ultimately this person will see the photo of you and your son above your shoulder and think, "He's a dad too. He knows what I'm going through." When you allow your customers and prospects a "peek" at who you really are, they'll begin to feel more comfortable and able to express their needs, an incredible competitive edge. You'll see a notable increase in sales as customers identify more with you.
Use Your Fear -- One of my greatest fears is having to return to the workforce. I've been self-employed for almost three years. However, I didn't just one day decide to start a business. Although I'd always dreamed of working for myself, the dread of failure held me back. It wasn't until the company I worked for was purchased by another and I was laid off that I decided to launch my business. I use this same fear to push me to succeed. As you know, fear can freeze an entrepreneur right in her tracks. I've seen it time and time again. Fear can consume us, keep us from making any marketing decisions at all. Rather than wrestle with your fear, acknowledge it, let it push you to where you need to go. Use it to make marketing decisions, rather than no decisions at all. It's better to have several failed marketing programs then none at all.
Smile and Applaud -- Whether you have employees or you're a one-person show, it doesn't matter. You must smile at and applaud the people within your network including employees, associates, vendors, friends and family. When you say "thank you," "please," "nice job," "I love the design you did for me," "I really appreciate your waiting for that report," "thanks for delivering it," "It was nice meeting you," "I enjoyed your presentation," you leave a positive lasting impression on people. As a small business owner, you can't afford to miss out on what I call, "moments of positive impressions." These moments accumulate over time. Before you know it, you've created a positive reputation for yourself. Smiling and applauding are fairly easy traits to acquire and can be the competitive edge you need to separate you from the stuffy entrepreneur down the street.
Keep Away from Certain People -- Nothing will stop you dead in your tracks faster than someone who's "questioning" your entrepreneurial instincts. I'm not saying ignore these people altogether, because they may have a good point; however, don't stop doing what you're doing just because people don't completely support your ideas. Many of these naysayers are employed by someone else. How could they understand or support your ideas? They're on a completely different life track than you. They can't possibly understand what it's like to have to be responsible for making your own money. Surround yourself with other successful-minded people who have to make their own money.
Stay Focused -- You must stop flip flopping with your marketing ideas. Pick 10 of them, and repeat them continuously for more than a year. Pick a direction and stick with it!
About The Author
Sharron Senter is a New England-based marketing consultant, speaker, writer and founder of Senter & Associates, a marketing communications firm that helps small businesses deploy low-cost marketing strategies. Sharron is best known for her free weekly emailed marketing tips, found at http://www.sharronsenter.com.
Cooking isn't much different than building a business. You have... Read More
I've gotten several questions recently about the legalities of starting... Read More
Start your own business, and soon enough, you find yourself... Read More
Q: I'm graduating this year with a degree in business... Read More
Isn't enthusiasm a good thing? Aren't we urged to be... Read More
Entrepreneurial e-gnorancePart 1: Questions for the entrepreneur to beIf you... Read More
There are many coating businesses in the market today, but... Read More
Did you ever wonder what happens to all that government... Read More
Bootstrapping a business startup does not necessarily mean that you... Read More
Times are tough. The economy is in a constant state... Read More
Introduction:In a world where ideas drive economies, it is no... Read More
I'm convinced that asking the right questions is one of... Read More
Many of us slave away for years for one uninspiring... Read More
Too many people are trying to start their home businesses... Read More
Q: I'm thinking about starting a business after I retire... Read More
Hair care has been around as long as humans have... Read More
Business plans continue to be an essential element of the... Read More
Entrepreneurship is generally characterized by some type of innovation, a... Read More
The definition of a startup means you have very few... Read More
I'm sure that you've heard about how many start up... Read More
The "Great One" said it bestHockey legend Wayne Gretzky, when... Read More
Successful entrepreneurs have many traits in common. Here are ten... Read More
A business owner is thoroughly responsible for their own financial... Read More
Anyone who is serious about making some money is already... Read More
Discover the pitfalls of owning your own business BEFORE... [you... Read More
Most companies vastly underestimate the time commitment necessary to successfully... Read More
1. Why should I not compete with others?The very concept... Read More
As a first time entrepreneur, there are a variety of... Read More
Starting your own private label clothing company is not as... Read More
Dwight Payne and Gary Heap reside in Santa Barbara, CA,... Read More
Last week I was working with one of my small... Read More
Q: I am interested in starting my own business. I... Read More
Some would say about certain issues that the means do... Read More
When's the last time someone asked you: "What's new?" If... Read More
There are many coating businesses in the market today, but... Read More
Richard Branson, billionaire founder of Virgin Records and Virgin Atlantic... Read More
The most important function of a business plan is to... Read More
Not having enough money for a comfortable retirement tops the... Read More
? Beginners often rush into business without any planning.? Unless... Read More
If you have a business idea, or an idea for... Read More
The short and simple answer to this question is NO!Now,... Read More
If you believe that every little bit helps then keep... Read More
Jim and Sally run a successful auto business, which they... Read More
Have you ever heard of "Dream Boards" or "Treasure Maps"?... Read More
Many franchise companies fail to send the proper message to... Read More
Recently my bank opened a new branch that is a... Read More
You should wait until you're older and have more business... Read More
Q. I was laid off six months ago. Jobs in... Read More
The most successful entrepreneurs rely on their advisory boards to... Read More
I've seen terrible images today on the television and internet-bodies... Read More
Entrepreneur Entrepreneur |
|
| العاب | منتديات هيدى | الزاوية الحمراء | |
|
Pharaohs products egypt products Egypt shopping Shopping in Egypt sho Egypt Bazaar Pharaohs Shoping Center Egypt Pharaohs |