As a business owner, it’s important to stay ahead of the curve. Profit is equal to hard work and a whole lot of exposure. In today’s ultracompetitive climate, the business world is more cut throat than ever before. While the competition is definitely fierce, there are plenty of things you can do to make sure your current customers will stick around, and that potential customers will become life long patrons.
Anyone can sell a product or service, but it takes a special, strategic plan to sell your wares or services in a unique way that no one will forget. You really want to WOW your customers and other businesses, so that you’re ahead of the game and have a unique branding strategy.
Terms like Kleenex, Xerox, and Whiteout are all household names, but it is because of the branding that their parent companies have worked so hard to establish that we equate them with every day items, regardless of the manufacturer.
, and will help to ensure that people automatically recognize your company and its products. This is what larger corporations have depended on to make them money. But how do you go about branding without overdoing it? Or, how can a business effectively use branding as a way to WOW the customers, and crush the competition?
Doing well and making sales is not good enough to become a dynamic, over the top success in business. As a company and business owner, you should want to go above and beyond the call of duty and really WOW people with your company’s mission statement, marketing techniques, products, and most importantly, customer service.
Excelling is definitely possible with some out of the box thinking and tactics. Simple changes can make a huge difference in the way you look at your business and in the way customers will respond to your advertising. First and foremost, you must define your business and decide what it is you stand for, what you represent, and how you will make money.
Next, solid communication tactics need to be developed. Here, communication means advertising, special offers, and email or mailed newsletters. It also means how you are perceived by others via your website. You will also need to market and promote your products and your company. All of these elements combined should be fine tuned to your company’s identity, and with what your customers want. Utilizing the Internet to the best and most effective ways possible is also a must.
If you can get creative with the things people are looking for in businesses today, you can easily change the perception of your company through not only your customers’ eyes, but through your own eyes as well. Here are some insightful and helpful tips, tricks, and tactics to help your business in the WOW factor:
1. Professional looking and professionally functioning websites are
essential. Don’t simply use a template-style, generic website to
sell your products. Today’s Internet savvy shoppers know what a
polished website looks like, and they are much more likely to
buy from them. They also know what a generic, unimpressive
one looks like, so make sure yours is professionally done. Make
it easy to navigate and make it look good so people will be
attracted to it and want to make a purchase there as well as
return at another time. Also, ensure you have a reliable hosting
company to reduce downtime, which will result in lost sales.
2. Come up with a creative tagline. Many companies use taglines as
a method for people to remember their name. For example, the
cereal Wheaties is known as the “breakfast of champions.” The
breakfast of champions part of the brand name is simply the
brand’s tagline, but it is widely recognized and makes that
particular type of cereal stand out.
By creating a tagline, Wheaties has developed something
unique, and something that will stand out in peoples’ minds.
Brainstorm a few taglines of your own until you find one that
really defines your brand or your company. Then, add it
underneath your logo on as many different things as you can
including the website, business cards, and printed materials.
3. WOW them with your logo. A logo really does have an impact on
the way people perceive a business. Something that is colorful,
not too overwhelming, yet creative is what you want. A company
name is there to do its job, but nothing has quite the impact like
a cool logo.
Think of what your business stands for, what you’re selling, and
what people are looking for. Then, work around those ideas to
come up with a creative, edgy logo that really stands out among
the crowd. Twitter is a good example of a new logo that is
already highly recognized due to its creativity and simplicity.
4. Market outside the box. Don’t just offer your customers emails
with coupon codes. Think of some new, creative ways to send
them special offers. Whether it’s through charity donations,
fundraisers, or a word of mouth campaign, there are ways to get
people to make purchases without using traditional methods.
Contests always seem to do well, so think of something that
relates to your business that will also get people interested in
what you have to offer. You have to make everything look
appealing to the customer, while still remaining focused on your
own goals and getting the word out about who you are as a
brand.
5. Stay fresh. Don’t ever let your website get dull or stay full of old
inventory. Try to update your items and products as much as
possible. If the business is only offering one thing or is offering a
service, then try to take new approaches to the website every
couple of months. Develop a “sister” product for the main
product so that people will want to buy its companion. Updating
with new content and a new look works wonders for any
business, since people are always looking for something new.
6. Viral videos mean massive sales. So many brands and
companies today have opted to use viral videos as a means to
get new business (take the Burger King franchise for example).
Come up with a cool new video, whether it’s funny or just plain
outrageous, and then distribute it on the web.
Make sure you’re reaching out to the niche group that your
business appeals to. Take skateboards for example. You wouldn’t
produce a wild skating video and then post it on a needlepoint
website, would you? No matter what the video entails, try to
stick with the types of websites and businesses you already
pander to. People will respond to the video if they know what
you’re selling and why.
7. Social media works. Websites like Twitter, Facebook, and
MySpace work wonders for businesses. Get your name out there
by becoming friends with customers on these sites. You can use
the social media networking websites to help spread the word,
announce sales, and launch contests.
Word of mouth is and will always be the best form of advertising.
Thanks to the new social networking sites, you can reach
thousands of people in a matter of minutes, which translates into
a personal aspect for your customers, and much more business
for you.
8. Blog, blog, blog. Blogging is a super-effective way to get people
involved in what is happening with your company. Post an
updated blog on the home page and watch how quickly people
will respond.
Most people enjoy the voyeuristic aspects of blogs, so use this to
your advantage and write about updates, happenings at your
company, new products, and upcoming promotions. Make the
tone of the blog lighthearted and fun, and try to keep it as
updated as possible. While daily may seem impossible, it really is
best since it will keep your patrons interested in what is
happening on a daily basis, and kind of “reel” them into the
inner-workings of the brand.
9. Be there. Customers want to deal with businesses that have
someone there for them whenever they need them. Whether it’s
through live chat, personal email correspondence, or by
telephone, customer service is the key to success, hands down.
If a customer has a need or a question, they want to be able to
know there is someone available to help them whenever they
need it. Be sure you make yourself or your company available
for customers. This can be a slow process, using emails only
initially, but ideally a 1-800 number would be best so that people
can talk to a real live person.
10.Positive attitudes work. While it might seem as if things can get
overwhelming most days, maintaining a positive attitude is a
must. Whether it’s with employees, your business partner, or
just with yourself, try to be as positive as you can. Sure, things
will be frustrating at times and there will be days when you’re
overloaded, but negativity really does reflect on your business.
People know when the “tone” of things are not the way they
should be. Try to be happy and make sure that attitude reflects
in your brand and in your website’s overall theme.
11.Make the benefits clear. Don’t just say, “hi, we’re the Acme
Company and we sell widgets.” Customers can get just about
any item anywhere they want to. But by defining the actual
benefits of that item, people feel much more confident in sticking
with you. Highlight the positive benefits of your products, and
make sure these are emphasized in as many ways as possible,
through advertising, on the website, or with word of mouth
campaigning.
12.Don’t just announce the benefits of our products or services, but
point out their unique features as well. Think of several things
that make your product unique. This is what a Unique Selling
Proposition is; it not only talks about the benefits of a product,
but it also points out what makes that product stand out in a
crowd. Is your cereal crunchy or is it extra crunchy and stays
that way in milk? Does your glue stick, or does it stick to any
surface instantly? Adding these little unique traits to the
branding is what draws customers in and makes them intrigued.
13.Look at the competition. While it’s obvious you’re focusing on the
business and the tasks at hand, don’t lose sight of the
competition. See what they are offering, find out who their
customer base is, and decide what tactics they are using
effectively that you might be able to revamp and use. Knowing
who your competitors are as well as what makes them
successful will give your business a whole lot of ammunition and
a new perspective on how to do things.
14.If the product or service doesn’t seem unique now, find
something that will make it unique. If you feel as if you’re only
offering the same old same old, then think of different angles to
your product that you might not have thought about before.
Brainstorm and write down a list of adjectives that describe your
business. Then, take those words and play on them with taglines
and features that make your product unique. It might not seem
as if you have something unusual to offer initially, but with a
little of bit of out of the box thinking, you can put a “spin” on
your product so people will be interested in what you’re offering.
15.Surveys can work for you. Don’t be afraid to ask customers what
they think of your website or your company. Use online survey
providers or email based surveys to get a feel for what the
customers are interested in, what they like and dislike, and any
suggestions they can make to improve the site. These surveys
can be an invaluable resource to help you get a better hold of
your marketing niche and style. Customer feedback is one of the
most valuable tools in your arsenal.
16.Sometimes improvements are needed, and it is something every
business should just accept, and then change. If you’ve wracked
your brain and simply cannot think of something that makes
your product or service stand out from the crowd, then you may
need to sit down and come up with ways to improve it. Develop
your product to appeal to more people, and add something truly
unique in order to make it better. Sometimes, things are simply
what they appear to be, so you have to literally change the way
it’s made, developed, and sold to make it a success and give it
the WOW factor.
17.Emotions can be your friend. Think about what you have, and
then take it to a whole new level by injecting some emotion into
the equation. Whether it is a very emotional customer
testimonial about how the product changed someone’s life, or
just inserting some funny humor into your website, emotions are
a great way to reach customers. Be wary not to overdo it, but
don’t be afraid to get a bit sappy, happy, or even insert a little
bit of fear into your marketing scheme. Of course, with the fear,
you’ll want to make it so that the customer will fear they cannot live without your product!
18.Don’t be afraid to stomp the competition. You want to make your
competition practically invisible to customers. If this means
going all out to ensure that you’re number one, then by all
means do it. While it’s nice to belong to a network of similar
businesses, in the long run and at the end of the day, everyone
wants to be number one. This means your business, too.
19.Cross functions always add appeal. Don’t just sell your product
for its face value. If you can think of other ways it might be
beneficial, use that to your advantage and add that to the
marketing plan. Come up with ways that everything you sell has
a dual purpose so that it reaches an even broader customer
base.
20.Freebies entice buyers to make a purchase. Some companies
cannot afford to give away free products, but sometimes this is
the most effective way of marketing a new product. Whether it is
a free sample, or by giving away a gift with purchase, etc, free
stuff often gets people interested in the website and what the
company has to offer. Promotional material is also a good way to
advertise, but studies show that giving away the actual product
itself for free really entices people to buy and learn more.
21.Figure out what people lack or what they need. As a new
business, or one that is already established, a great way to stay
ahead of the game is to look for and pinpoint a gap in your
particular industry. What is it in your line of work that customers
are missing? What has not been sold yet or could drastically be
improved upon? The best way to stay unique and be successful
is to fulfill a want or need that has not been fulfilled yet.
22.Guarantees offer customers security. If you can offer a money
back guarantee on your products, you’re giving the customers
serious peace of mind. While this is not something unique, it’s
still a lot more than many sellers can give people, particularly
smaller businesses who sell their items strictly online. By giving
peace of mind, you’re letting people have the option to back out
of a sale later on. Odds are they won’t, but the security in
knowing they can get a refund will encourage them to buy from
you.
23.Printed material is good. Business cards, letterhead stationary,
envelopes with the logo, pens, and other promotional material all
make an impact. When people see something enough, they tend
to remember it. If they haven’t checked it out yet, they will once
they see it several times.
24.Protect your individuality. Make sure that whatever your unique
product is cannot be easily copied. Whether it is a hard good or a
creative endeavor, be sure you’re able to either have it patented
or copyrighted against thieves or people who want to try and
duplicate what you’re offering.
25.Pack a punch. Don’t just say you guarantee delivery of
something at a certain time, or you’re the best in town. Your
Unique Selling Proposition needs to leave a strong impact and
should make sense while still sounding excellent. Come up with a
way to spin your uniqueness and reach out to people looking for
exactly what you are offering.
26.It’s all about the why. You must remember that customers are
asking, “Why should I buy this product from you and not
someone else?’ Anyone can offer basic items, but it’s important
to remember to consider that most people are wondering what
makes your items worth it to them to buy.
27.KISS. You remember the old adage, Keep it Simple, Stupid. This
is true for marketing. If you’re looking for an effective way to
reach people, keep in mind that being as basic as possible is
often the best way to do it. Too much going on can cause
confusion and turn people off. Come up with a logo, come up
with a tagline, pinpoint your USP, and then sell the heck out of
it. Don’t overdo things to the point where you turn people away.
Just get the message out there, and let the product do the rest.
28.Google is your friend. Many people won’t click on the second or
third page of search results in Google. This is why it’s imperative
that your website be the first ten of a search result on the page.
Use keywords and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to help
boost your results. Remember it’s all about exposure, and
coming up top in Google is about as good as it gets.
29.Keywords are important. Speaking of Google, sit down and
comprise a list of keywords to describe your business. Try to
think of as many as possible so they can be included in your web
content. The words you choose are the same words people will
be typing into the search engine when they’re looking to buy
exactly what you are selling.
30.Enthusiasm is contagious. Be as excited and enthusiastic about
your business as possible. People take notice of these things and
know what you’re thinking when you project an air of happiness
and enthusiasm about the services or products you have. From
your body language and facial expressions to the way you speak
to others and how your words are portrayed in emails and on the
website, it is something that cannot be ignored.
31.Stay with the times. Remember that technology is constantly
changing, and so is the World Wide Web. Many businesses have
a fatal flaw of not keeping up with the latest and greatest. By
staying abreast of what is happening with marketing techniques
and websites you can use to your advantage, you will definitely
have a leg up on the competition.
32.Hit the streets. Online advertising is a wonderful way to spread
the word, but actually getting out there does wonders. Make
flyers and other printed marketing material and pass them out at
events related to your business niche. Attend marketing
functions such as business fairs and other networking events.
Spread the word to as many people in person as possible, and
your company recognition will spread like wildfire.
33.Free shipping is always appreciated. If you can offer free
shipping even if it’s only on orders over a certain total, then try
to do so. One of the main deterrents for people buying online is
that they have to pay a large shipping charge in order to get
their items. Free shipping motivates people to purchase your
products.
34.Think about your target audience. Do some serious soul
searching and try to figure out your business’ customer
demographics. Knowing your target customer base will really
help you hone in on the product you are offering. It also gives
you a better idea of where and how to advertise, so that you’re
reaching a group of people who will truly be interesting in buying
from you.
35.Give affiliates new incentives. Everyone involved in online selling
knows about affiliate programs. You should always try to keep
the incentives fresh for your affiliates otherwise they will not
stay motivated to help get sales. Affiliate programs are some of
the most effective ways to market, so be sure the programs you
offer stay fresh and fun. Make it competitive so that they will
strive to get as many turnovers and sales for you as possible.
36.Entice your buyers. Think of some ways you can “tease”
customers into becoming loyal buyers. Think up creative
marketing plans like freebies with purchase, contests, monthly
email newsletters, and customer testimonials that will get them
thinking about buying from your website. Always know that
there are potentially thousands of new customers ready and
willing to buy from you, they just haven’t discovered your
business yet!
37.Follow up. When you have new customers, be sure to follow up
with them by either sending an email and asking for their
feedback, or even better by calling or sending them a personal
email or letter. Following up with customers shows you care, and
gives them a reason to become repeat customers. It also
encourages people to tell others about the business since you’re
going above and beyond what many companies do. This in itself
lends to more word of mouth advertising, for free. Postcards are
another good way to ask for feedback.
38.Check your stats. Be sure to use some kind of conversion rate
tracking software or other statistical tracking software to see
where your customers are coming from and what they’re buying.
These stats can be invaluable in honing in on your marketing
strategies, as well as what is working well for your website and
what is not. Statistics open your eyes to things you might not
have thought about without that tidbit of information.
39.Create a community. Don’t just be the judge and jury when it
comes to your business. Add a community to your website like
forums or live chat that gives the customers a chance to talk to
you and talk amongst themselves. This gives them a sense that
you really do care about their opinions, and it serves as a
meeting place. If your website becomes a common ground for
people to talk, they will return often and see what new things
you have to offer.
40.Go for the gold. While heading towards the individual consumer
is often the most common way to market your products, don’t be
afraid to go for the gold and reach much larger buyers such as
other businesses who might want to buy your product in bulk.
Depending on what you offer, you may have something that
other businesses can use. Go after some larger accounts and see
where that takes you. If you can get bigger buyers, you’ve
automatically just gained tons more exposure.
41.Yes results in more yeses. If customers respond to particular
offers more than others, the odds are that they will continue to
do so. Stick with what works. Don’t be afraid to try new things,
but remember that most people are creatures of habit and will
come back and buy more if you continue to offer them the same
deals or similar promotions on a fairly regular basis.
42.Befriend other companies. Sometimes, partnering up can be
extremely beneficial. Find other niche markets and business who
do not sell the same things you do (obviously), but offer
something to compliment what you do have. Then, work
together and see if you can form some kind of partnership.
Often, customers like to see that companies are working with
other companies, as it gives a sense of stability, security, and
prominence. Talk to other businesses and see if you can come
up with a “you scratch our back and we’ll scratch yours” plan.
43.Revamp, regroup, and redo. If things are not panning out as you
expect, it’s time to sit down and take a long hard look at what
the business might be doing wrong. Think about all of the places
your company is advertising, the things you’re using as
marketing tools, the price of your items, and the target
audience. Then, strategize so that everything is a bit more
pinpointed to how you want it. Often it takes several attempts
before a marketing campaign or idea is truly successful.
44.Don’t give up. In reference to #43, it’s important not to give up.
Thousands of Internet businesses fail because the owner simply
waves the white flag and is not willing to try something new.
Remember that online businesses are constantly changing, so
you need to change with the tides. The odds are that if
something is not working out the way you planned it is because
you are behind the times or not up to par with what your
customers truly want. This is why it is so essential to understand
the mind of your customer base.
45.Never accept that business simply “slows down.” While the
economy definitely ebbs and flows, as a business owner you
cannot afford to have a lax attitude towards your overall sales. If
things are slowing down, find out why and then do something to
change it.
Do not just accept that sometimes business slows down and that
things will pick back up eventually. If you have this attitude, you
run a very dangerous risk of losing out on new business, or
folding completely. People who just accept that sales are low for
the month or even the year often fall into a pattern of not caring
enough about their marketing to try harder, and thus they are
losing out on money that could still be coming in.
46.Cut overhead costs. If at all possible, keep the overhead costs as
low as you can. Spending too much on things like fuel, office
supplies, and long distance calls can cut into your overall profit.
Think about ways to save money while still being able to get the
job done efficiently. Some businesses will spend way too much
money on frivolous things or go all out on a business meeting
only to realize they really did not have that extra cash to spend.
47.Use every difficult event as a new opportunity. When things start
to get frustrating, instead of considering them a hurdle, think of
them as a new opportunity. It’s easy to get suckered into a state
of depression or frustration when things are not at their best,
but try to use those times to learn so you can better the
business as a whole. Do not forget to thank your customers as
well. Thanking customers shows you appreciate their business,
and makes them want to stay loyal.
48.Each lead is an opportunity. Remember to follow up with every
lead you generate, whether it is a small, individual customer or a
large account. If you ignore your leads, you will miss out on
sales and new opportunities. Come up with ways to organize
your leads so you can keep track of them as well as contact
methods and dates of follow up.
49.Color is your friend. Think about the color scheme of your
website, and do a bit of experimentation. Change up the
background color, text color, and other colors on the site. Then,
do some tests and see how people are responding. Color actually
has a big impact on peoples’ perceptions and how they view
things, so keep that in mind when developing your website.
50.Make life easy for your customers. Make sure your website is
easy to navigate, and that things are easy to find. If people can’t
find what they’re looking for within the first couple of minutes,
odds are they will move on to another website. By revamping
and making your site simple to use, you’re doing yourself and
your customers a huge favor.
51.Shopping shouldn’t be a chore, but should be an enjoyable
experience. Pick out an excellent cart software program that is
easy for consumers to understand and use. But the cart should
go above and beyond this, and should also have extra features
like showing a small photo of their item in the upper area of the
website, along with pricing and ongoing price totals. Finding and
implementing a great shopping cart will really make a difference
for a lot of people in choosing your business over someone
else’s.
52.Reward your customers, and they will reward you. Points
programs, rewards cards, and other types of similar programs
will entice people to become return customers. When consumers
are offered something for their purchases, they will usually
spend more. Think up some creative ways to offer your
customers freebies with a purchase or some kind of rewards
program that allows them to accumulate “bucks” or points for a
free item. Come up with some unusual and fun ways to promote
it and watch your profits rise.
53.Live feeds keep people abreast of the goings on in your
business. Give people the option of subscribing to live feeds or
RSS updates if they wish. That way, whenever you post updates,
people will get them immediately. Sometimes people do not
check their email accounts as often as they are online, but with a
live feed, they can see instantly if there is a sale, promotion, or
other exciting happening within your company and make a
decision to purchase.
54.Up-sell if possible. When people come to the website to make a
purchase, it’s always good to try to up-sell them with either a
larger size or additional products, depending on the
circumstances. Create a pop up or a new page that will entice
customers to want to buy a companion product, multiple
products, or a larger size of whatever it is you’re offering.
55.Endorsements are awesome. While it might seem like a pipe
dream to find a celebrity or someone famous to endorse your
business, it is possible. Do a little bit of homework and try to sell
your business’ idea or products to mass media markets. Once
they get a hold of it, follow up with them and find out if any of
their clients like what you’re selling. If so, you might be able to
drum up a famous face to give a testimonial or tell the world
they like your company and your products.
56.Mission statements and philosophies guide the way. As a
business owner, it’s almost a must to have a mission statement
written that everyone involved with your company should live
by. Think about what you want your company to be, your goals,
and your ethical stance. Then, develop a mission statement that
identifies who you are as a company. Keep this business
philosophy in mind, and apply it to everything you do. This helps
to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that you’re
staying true to your principles.
57.There is no such thing as bad press. Use PR to your advantage
and try to get as much free advertising as possible. Whether it’s
local magazines, newspapers, or mailings, try to expose your
business to as many people locally and nationally as possible.
Pubic relations advertising in any format is positive.
58.Research and compile. Do as much research as possible on the
following things: what is your customer base comprised of, what
do those customers look for and want in a product or company,
what do your competitors use to make them successful, and
other aspects. Make notes on your findings, and compile data if
possible. Then, use this research to your advantage to key in on
the things you can improve upon or change.
59.Nothing stays the same. Remember, in business and in
technology, nothing remains the same, and things are constantly
updating. This goes for your website, your products, your
contact methods, and the way you advertise. As things change,
you should be changing with them so you’re not left behind.
Look at trends and pay careful attention to what is working for
other companies.
60.Define your benefits as clearly as possible. Don’t just say your
business is open 24 hours a day; say it’s open 24 hours a day,
so that the customer can get moving and continue on with their
day. By adding a little bit extra explanation, you’re more clearly
defining the benefit of your products or services.
61.Prepare for complaints and how to rectify them. If a customer
complains, it is very important to have a game plan in effect
ahead of time for how to deal with them. Sometimes, full
refunds are not feasible for every little complaint while in other
cases they might be.
Some companies go above and beyond and give customers oodles of freebies to make them happy. This is entirely up to you, but no matter how you handle it, its essential that there is a
protocol put in place in advance so you can protect both your
customer and your bottom line.
62.Mix it up. This goes without saying, but don’t just stick to one
form of advertising. Banner ads, pop ups, viral videos, flash
videos, mailings, email newsletters, and many other methods
should all be used in conjunction if possible. If you choose only
one method, you’re limiting your leads and the number of people
you reach.
63.Be aware of advertising costs. While marketing as mentioned in
#62 is important, don’t spend more money on advertising than
you’re bringing in. Do a very careful assessment of all
advertising and make sure it’s fruitful. You can do a wide variety
of analysis on your advertising and how well you’re doing, so you
can cut certain things or decide where to place more money and
where to cut back.
64.Tell your story. Write a thorough and entertaining “about us”
section for the website. Give people a better insight into your
customer, how it was formed, and what you are passionate
about. This makes people feel connected to your business and
gives them a sense of confidence so they have a background on
what you do, and where you came from. This is quite an
effective way to reach out to people, particularly new customers.
65.Reinvent yourself. If you have a brick and mortar business along
with your Internet business, make sure the shopping experience
is better than anything your customers have experienced before.
Free coffee, a nice interior, and entertainment for people while
they shop all make it something that they will not forget. When
the hub store or main physical store offers a nice memory for
shoppers, they will want to tell others they know about your
business. This results in a WOW factor that goes above and
beyond just a nice website.
66.Never promise what you cannot deliver. If you have the Unique
Selling Proposition, and have created a terrific tagline, you must
also make sure that the product itself delivers. Never advertise
yourself as something or someone who cannot give customers
exactly what they expect. This is why product and/or website
development is absolutely essential.
67.Stay consistent. Be sure the tone of all of your correspondence,
your website, your customer service and the people who work
for you all maintain the same code of ethics and keep the same
tone throughout any dealings with customers. People will shy
away from companies who seem “unstable” because of the way
they handle things. Consistency is key when it comes to
interacting with others and with how your company portrays
itself.
68.Be reliable. While this tip shouldn’t have to be mentioned,
unfortunately a lot of smaller businesses have a difficult time
with it. You can be above the fold by staying reliable in your
communications and your dealings with customers. They should
be able to expect email replies quickly every time or be able to
reach someone via the 800 number when they call. Reliability
builds branding and more importantly, your company’s overall
reputation.
69.Don’t just try to corner a niche, but instead create your own.
Niche marketing really is the way to go, and it’s what makes
certain businesses much larger and do much better than others.
There are literally thousands of business out there, all claiming
that they own the niche they’re selling in. By coming up with a
brand new niche, you’ve automatically become number one and
have cornered the market.
70.Dream up a mascot. Aflac’s white duck has made them instantly
recognizable. This also goes for brands like Frosted Flakes (Tony
the Tiger), Puma, and many others. If you can associate an
animal or other figure with your business, you’ve branded
yourself in a way that no one can duplicate. By making
everything about your company unique, you’re stomping the
competition while broadening your horizons in terms of customer
potential. Mascots make people feel happy and comforted, which
is always good for business from a psychological standpoint.
71.Offer an address. Never have contact information on your
website without offering an actual physical address. Even if you
sell exclusively online, never omit a real address so that others
can see you are operating out of a real place and not a PO box.
Some merchant account providers will not even allow businesses
to accept credit cards without providing a real physical address.
This gives people a feeling of confidence and it shows that you
are legitimate. Home addresses work just as well as business
addresses, as long as it’s something that people can send
correspondence to.
72.Accounting counts. If you are not a CPA or are not familiar with
accounting procedures, it is absolutely essential to get one. You
don’t have to pay a licensed CPA if you cannot afford one. Get
some good software and use it to track all of your expenses and
income. Without this vital part of any business, you’re simply
spending money without knowing where it’s going. It is also
necessary for tax purposes so keep this in mind as well.
73.Avoid spam. While email lists are terrific, and newsletters can
get the word out, do not overload your customers with too many
emails. People will soon consider this spam, which is an
automatic turn off. Instead, try to make all of your email
correspondence as thorough as you can and pack as much
information into it as possible. Include links so readers can easily
get to sales and products pages. Then, limit this correspondence
to a few emails per month. Every week or especially every day
emails make most people leery and they will usually unsubscribe
anyway.
74.Aspire to grow. Don’t limit yourself to one product or service.
While initially this may be great for niche purposes, but as you
expand and your customer base increases, it is time for the
business to also expand your product line or the level of services
you provide.
Remember that businesses have to adapt, and so your business
should grow, too. People like change as long as it is positive, so
there’s nothing wrong with expansion. This goes hand in hand
with the positive attitude you should be having. By growing and
adapting, you’re showing the world your company is ready,
willing, and able to move up and into the clouds.
75.Reserve some private space. If you’re a small business but you
have an office, make sure you either have your own private
office or your own office at home. This way, you’re able to focus
and function without interference. It is almost impossible to give
things your absolute best when you experience interruptions.
Make time and space for yourself as a business owner so you
can do the best you can each and every day.
76.Build some backlinks. Try to build up backlinks in your website,
that way you’re staying at the top of the search results. Learn
about SEO and other Internet marketing techniques so you can
make sure that your website is as effective as possible, resulting
in more hits and more sales.
77. Landing pages result in more sales. Create a truly amazing
landing page. Landing pages are the first thing most people see
when they click on the search result link. The landing page
should contain a headline, tagline, your logo and/or mascot, as
well as bulleted points about your business and/or products.
These bulleted points will give customers a breakdown and the
specifics of the many benefits you have to offer. With a great
landing page, you can turn a simple curious click into a real,
tangible sale.
ConclusionThe world of business is extremely competitive. You want to make sure that WOW factor is maintained throughout the life of your company.
If you can establish a brand, you’ve already got customers coming to you for your products. By highlighting what makes you unique, you garner curiosity from potential customers, who more often than not will buy from you. Once this happens, it is essential that your product and customer service stands up to the many claims you’ve already laid out there.
If you can do this, you can keep lifetime customers, and continue to bring in new ones. This is how businesses become successful and stay successful.
Longevity with customers really is the key to making money and to making sure you’re a WOW business and not just another faceless company amongst the many other clamoring for customers’ business.
