Sales strategies are always a topic of conversation with any small business owner I encounter; of course it is! No sales, no money, no business.
“If you fail to plan, then plan to fail.”
To generate revenue, your potential customers need to know about your company and what it has to offer. This is where I find most small businesses seem to fail – they don’t have a well thought-out marketing plan. In today’s marketplace, there are so many marketing channels available to small business owners, so, I know it can be very overwhelming. Particularly, with social media being so much in the spotlight.
However, even with all the technology platforms available, there are still some tried-and-tested marketing principles that will help you increase sales and grow your business. Remember, use technology, particularly, social media apps, as a complimentary tools to help your overall marketing strategy, not to replace it! Resist the temptation to think that having a Facebook page is your “marketing strategy”…IT ISN’T!
Here are three simple marketing principles that worked before social media and that will continue to work with social media.
1. Build trust.
You need to connect in person and not just online with people you know or have done business with. The more people see you, the more familiar they are with you and the more than can begin to engage with you and trust you. It’s simple…would you do business with someone you don’t know very well? Get out there and build your business network and let people know who you are and what you do – this will begin to build trust in you. Look to attend conferences, tradeshows, join community groups, and help in the community.
2. Tell people what they get, not what you do.
Think WIFM! (What’s In-it For Me). That’s what your potential customers are thinking (isn’t that what you think about when looking to buy a product or service). In all of your marketing pieces (i.e. print and electronic), focus on the on the benefits the buyer receives; don’t list long lists of features of your products or descriptions of how you perform your services. Don’t ignore the features and services; rather put more emphasis on the benefits.
3. Frequency of your message.
This is a golden rule of marketing. Whatever marketing tactics or communication method you use (including Facebook ), you must repeat your message to the same audience in the same place, over and over again. It takes a long time for your message to sink in. You need to stay TOMA (Top-Of-Mind-Awareness) of your prospective customers. This is key.
Be a marketer and grow your business. Be Real.
Reality Business Consulting (RBC) (www.realityconsulting.ca) is a Toronto-based Marketing and Website Design and Development company dedicated to helping small business grow. We do this by providing insightful marketing and sales knowledge, planning, execution and website design and development, on a small business budget. The foundation of our success lies in our strong business acumen and our ability to listen to and understand the needs of our clients, translating their ideas into a concrete plan of action; ultimately, delivering profitable results for them.
If you are searching for a professional and customer-focused marketing company with extensive work in website design and development located in Toronto, contact us for a “Reality Check; a no-obligation, no-charge consultation.
Leave a Reply