25 Ways To Get More Business


Special Requirements for Reprint: we ask only that you include Pauls name and resource box, and keep all hyperlinks as live links.

Complete Article with Resource Box at end:

Need more business? Who doesnt?

Thankfully, new business is pretty easy to get, but you do have to do something to get it. Usually something you aren't currently doing. Here are 25 ways you can bring in more business, and if you do things right, more profits.

These are not long term business strategies. These are short to medium term tactics designed to put cash in your bank account within the next 30 - 90 days.

  • Hire a salesperson. Or, if you already have salespeople, hire another one. You may not be able to pay them a salary, so make it for 100% commission, and make the commission generous. And of course, pay their expenses. This will work best if you have a sales process in place, and some kind of systemized knowledge that will bring them up to speed quickly.
  • Get some sales training. The Sandler Selling System is great for simple sales. Mike Bosworths Customer Centric Selling is great for complex sales. Of course there are many others, and any good sales training program will get your sales off whatever dime you are stuck on.
  • Start a referral program. This doesnt mean simply ask for referrals, but do it routinely. Do it systematically. Have a method to ask, and have a method to reward people who do refer.
  • Add products to your back end. The costliest part is getting new customers. Why not maximize your investment and sell those customers additional products and services.
  • If you sell a service, consider adding products that compliment it.
  • If you sell products, adding services is even easier.
  • If you sell free-form consulting, consider bundling specific services into a "productized" form. Give it a name, make the price fixed. Typically the "productizing" and fixed price enables you to sell at higher prices than previously.
  • Raise your prices. Most people undervalue what they do and charge way too little for it. And many others discount from their "list" at the drop of a hat. Stop discounting, but if you must, always get something in exchange. Think tradeoffs. And raise your rates for services and products both.
  • Joint ventures. Find people who have something you need, like products, or customers and trade with them. Pool your resources. Pool your time. Create something larger than either of you. Make it a win-win.
  • Strategic alliances. How does this differ from above? A strategic alliance partner is only involved in one aspect of your business - in other words, they may source leads or product. A joint venture partner is a deeper involvement. Youll work more closely on more aspects.
  • Referral fees. You probably make these referrals anyway. Now get paid for them.
  • Affiliate programs. This is simply the systemized approach to referral fees, and on the internet is THE way to do business.
  • Take your white papers or articles and collect them into a special report which can be used for marketing purposes, or sold outright as its own revenue center.
  • Sell a subscription to your service. Lock in the revenue and accelerate the payments. Then give them special bonuses or super-service for being subscribers, or members.
  • Create bundles out of all your existing products. Put things together and offer special pricing. This may lower your "per unit" revenue, but it will increase average transaction size, as well as total revenue.
  • The Rolodex routine. This means going through your Rolodex, name-by-name, and calling everyone who looks promising. For something. For selling, for networking, for referrals, even for "how do you do."
  • Conduct a survey. Ask your client base questions. This process will get you great information about your market, and it will always bring you "unexpected" business.
  • Offer your services or products at a silent or charity auction. While this wont bring in money immediately, it will almost always expand your client base.
  • Offer to let key influencers give away some of your time, product.
  • If you have a service, consider turning your hard-one expertise into an educational course. This could be an e-course, a tele-course, printed home study course, even a live seminar or bootcamp.
  • Publish an ebook. Ebooks are a great way to promote your business and generate quick revenue.
  • Speak, speak, speak. Especially if you are a master of your individual expertise, speaking is a sure-fire way to bring in additional business.
  • Write articles. Articles and speaking compliment each other perfectly. Not only write those articles, but get them published. Anywhere you can.
  • Focus your market. Many people try to cover too much ground. By becoming a noted expert in a tightly-defined market niche, you can increase the power of all your marketing efforts, bringing in more business for each marketing dollar you spend.
  • Shift into an adjacent market. Sometimes your market niche is exhausted, and sometimes theyre just plain broke. A shift into an adjacent market niche can bring you all kinds of new business.
  • © Paul Lemberg. All rights reserved

    Paul Lemberg's clients call him "the unreasonable business coach" because he insists they pursue goals and take actions far outside their comfort zone to make more money than they previously thought possible. To get business coaching tips, tools and strategies like these, visit http://www.paullemberg.com/Business_Coachin g.html.



    Why Trying to Get the Appointment Can be a Recipe for Dis-Appoinment

    Why Trying to "Get the Appointment" Can be a Recipe... Read More

    The Marketing Recipe: Money, Marketing and Me ? 3 Keys For Success

    You have a great product or service? Now, how should... Read More

    4 Easy Ways to Get Free Marketing Exposure

    Are there really ways you can get valuable marketing exposure... Read More

    Unleash the Power of Post Cards

    Direct mail marketing is essential for a business to survive.Choosing... Read More

    Are You Guilty Of Interruption Marketing?

    You muted the commercials on the TV last night because... Read More

    Top 7 Ways to Get Your Products in the Hands of Celebrities

    Celebrities are the tastemakers that drive brand awareness and usage.... Read More

    Encouraging Contact

    The small time promoter has to work hard and on... Read More

    Have You Tried Cause Marketing?

    To help promote your small business or professional practice, consider... Read More

    Dont Let Your Business Cards End Up in the Trash

    Business cards are such wonderfully creative little marketing products. Most... Read More

    Boost Your Direct Mail Response Rates with Mapping Technology

    On Superbowl Sunday, Domino's Pizza delivered more than 900,000 pizzas-and... Read More

    Make Your Marketing Solve a Problem

    You may be engaged in a marketing activities that are... Read More

    The Right Logo

    The Logo: a little historyLogotype, commonly know as a logo,... Read More

    The Easiest Small Business Direct Marketing Tip You?ll Ever Get

    This really and truly is the easiest (and most profitable)... Read More

    Create Free Internet Buzz with Your Workforce

    There are many different ways to increase your traffic on... Read More

    Motivating Shoppers with Online Coupons (Part 2 of 2)

    Last time we discussed how online coupons and promotion codes... Read More

    Competitive Research and Google

    It all started out with an email message: "I am... Read More

    Newsletters are Marketing Machines!

    Is your business publishing a print or e-newsletter? An informative... Read More

    Trade Show Promotions That Are Memorable

    If you have been to expos and trade shows as... Read More

    How to Write Irresistible Promotional Pieces that Attract More and Better Clients

    Whether you're creating a sales letter, a brochure, a newsletter,... Read More

    Are Your Prospects Walking Out on You?

    After 11 years in sales, I've put together and delivered... Read More

    The Great Direct Marketing Conundrum

    Many a home business owner has spent sleepless nights thinking... Read More

    Fundraising Letters Are Easier To Write With AIDA

    Learn a lesson from professional direct mail copywriters. They follow... Read More

    Starting Small Business Promotional Campaigns

    So you're starting a small business. You figured out what... Read More

    Marketing A Misunderstood or Scary Product or Service

    What do you do if your business, product or service... Read More

    Take the Test: Do Your Marketing Materials Really Grab Attention?

    Today's constant bombardment of marketing messages means your materials must... Read More

    If you'd like to keep up-to-date,
    please complete the form below and we'll put you on the mailing list
    to receive our twice-yearly newsletter for supporters

    * Your email address:
    * choes your language: