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A Website Without Online Marketing: A Fruitless Tree
Nowadays, many people save money to quit their day jobs in hopes
of achieving their own customized version of the American Dream
by starting what is commonly known as an e-commerce business or
a "dot com" venture. They then proceed to spend the...
Corporate America's Scary Pension Tactics. Why You Should Look Online To Insure Your Future.
Let me ask you a question. What's your freedom worth? How about your livelihood? Lately floating around in the headlines United Airlines has cut pension benefits causing mass concern to blue collar workers in the United States. The court ordered...
Making Money Online: What You Really Want To Know
So you've been thinking of doing some internet marketing or you've done some and you're not making money yet. What does it really take? Even more importantly, how long does it take and how much does it cost? Isn't that what you really want to...
Marketing Techniques... What Works & What Doesn't for the PC Repair Business
I have been involved with computers for many years. I have a PC repair, troubleshooting, and networking background. So, when I wanted to start my own PC Repair business, I thought, "How hard could it be? You just hang a shingle, design a website and...
Network Marketing Recruiting- The 10 Questions About Your MLM Recruiting Presence
MLM Presence.
Does yours work FOR you, or AGAINST you?
Good question! Many times, in a Recruiting session, your presence totally will set the environment for how the recruiting conversation or appointment goes. Your MLM Recruiting Presence...
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Entrepreneurial Traits that Drive Sales
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. She is also the author of several marketing reports that illustrate affordable ways to grow a small business including “14 Image-building Dos & Don’ts.”
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