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Scratching A Niche

7/1/2015

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Sorry…I couldn't resist that title!

When it comes to marketing, one of the most powerful concepts is the Niche Market. I've found that many small business owners are reluctant to focus on a smaller segment of their market, for two key reasons:

1. They have a hard time actually defining that segment/niche

2. They are afraid they’ll lose potential customers that are outside that niche

Defining the niche is a tricky task, but your niche might just be sitting there waiting for you to run with it. Take a look through all of your customers. Is there a group that are just a real pleasure to work with? You know, the ones who pay on time and truly appreciate the value of your product/service! Or…Or! You might look at one particular product or service that sells the best. In either case, your potential niche might just be right there in front off you.

The second problem is a little more difficult. I completely understand the reluctance to take your current efforts and, in a sense, REDUCE the size of your target. The key is to make a smooth transition from a general marketing campaign to a niche marketing campaign. I hate to do this to you, but look at the law industry (lawyers). It’s very rare that you see a sign for a law firm that just says, ‘Lawyer’ or ‘Attorney’. They all dig out a niche: accident law, business law, sports law, divorce law, bankruptcy law, etc. In fact, they likely carve it a little deeper by sticking to a certain geography.

The other thing to consider here is the shear size of your market. If you did some research and counted the size of your current market, I’m positive you’d find enough of them to start getting more focused and still have plenty to sell to.

The point is that a marketing message designed to target a specific niche will be heard faster and louder by its intended audience. Isn’t that something we’d all want from our marketing campaign?


Where Should I Go Now?
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Ring Around the Collar? Itchy Scalp?

6/22/2015

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Picture
Do you remember those commercials for the dandruff shampoo? Even now, when I scratch my head, I cringe at the thought that I’m sending the signal, “I have dandruff!” 

That commercial made a simple, effective connection between scratching your head and the need for their product. You might remember the same thing with the "ring-around-the-collar" commercial. Both of these products (Whisk! and Head and Shoulders) did a fantastic job of tying their product to something you see in your daily life.

Now, think about your business. If you were to tell somebody, “A good lead/prospect for ME is…”, could you pick out an object that would spark their memory to connect you to your customer next time they see it?  A couple good examples are:

• The membership sales team at a local chamber of commerce and ‘Coming Soon’ banners

• A non-slip floor treatment company and the yellow ‘Slippery When Wet’ cones

• A cracked windshield and the windshield repair company

Go figure out your marketing symbol. And while you do, enjoy the trip down memory lane!



Where Should I Go Now?
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Become A Business Coach like Stuart


Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici, / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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Shut Up and Sell!

2/17/2014

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I like to say that marketing can be summed up as, “Ask your market what they want and give it to them.”


I think that good sales can be conducted in the same way. Many of us have been to training or seminars that taught us to get our prospects to tell us why they’re saying ‘no’ so that we can help them overcome this block, or objection. Keep pushing, keep prodding, until they finally break. 


Ugh!

The key to making a successful sale is to create a win-win situation. How do you do that? Easy. 

Ask your prospect what they want and then offer it to them. A while back, when I was doing sales, I was asked to land a key account. ‘Asked’ in the form of an order, really. I was coached how to close a deal, how important this was, etc. etc. etc. I decided, rather than using the ‘close the deal’ method, that I would use two separate meetings on this one. First, I would sit down with this prospect and listen — find out what was really important to him. Second, I would go back to my office (or, in this case the hotel in Vegas), and put together an offer that was tailored to what this guy wanted. And that’s what I did.

Do you know what he wanted? He wanted to be #1 in his market. Recognition. He wanted to be recognized. Easy. I offered him the opportunity to be #1 instantly by carrying all of our products, and I offered him a title to be recognized by: ‘Elite.’ He would be our only ‘Elite’ dealer in Vegas. I offered what he wanted and he signed on. Win win. I shut up and listened, then made a good offer.

Rather than think of selling as an exercise to negotiate and win a deal, start thinking of the win-win component. Get to know your prospect and start making offers that make sense for both of you. A funny thing, but in the process, you’ll also start to weed out those prospects that would have made for bad customers.  Even more win-win!


Where Should I Go Now?
Main Blog Page
Become A Business Coach like Stuart

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Did You Save Room for a Business Lesson (Part 2)

1/28/2014

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In my last post I talked about the simple marketing lesson every good restaurant teaches us.  Now here's the final marketing lesson from your meal; the Top-Down Sale.

There are four places where the Top-Down Sale is very common. Think about the last time you purchased one of the following:

• A car. After you told the sales person what you were looking for, did they take you right to the most expensive version of that?

• A home. Did your Realtor start your search at the top, meaning the highest priced homes?

• The Stereo Store. Ouch. These guys are the best (or worst) at this. Ever say you’re looking for a TV and get taken straight to the home theater displays?

The last example is the dinner table at a restaurant.


 Whenever I try a new place to eat, I always ask the server what he or she recommends. I like to know if they’re going to recommend the surf-n-turf, $54 plate. One look at me, and they know right away I can handle such a plate! I’m always surprised when the response is, “I like the pasta plate!” (First of all, I have never ordered pasta, but that’s beside the point). The point is the server missed a great opportunity to sell me the granddaddy plate and, therefore, increase his/her own tip. There is a local restaurant that is great at this. I rarely leave there without some sea creature’s tail next to my steak.

"Did you save room for dessert?"  How many times are you on the fence when it comes to dessert? You may not be sure you *need* the dessert, but you also know this place makes the best cheesecake outside of Manhattan. All it takes is a little nudge from the server and cheesecake it is!

In thinking about your business, are you offering your clients the best you have to offer (the lobster and fillet)? Are you making sure they’re getting the whole of your services (dessert)?  Are you offering them the polite nudge they might need to have the most satisfying experience?

This one, simple, concept of the Top-Down Sale can have a significant effect on your top line: revenue. By simply offering your customers the best possible option, you will see an immediate increase in your sales revenues. Now remember, we’re not out to steal from your customers. Don’t push them to purchase the home theater when all they want is the extra TV for the guest bedroom.

Next time you’re out for dinner, put your entrepreneur cap on and check out the customer service and sales job your server does. There might be a great model to use for your own business!


Where Should I Go Now?
Main Blog Page
Become A Business Coach like Stuart


Tasy Image courtesy of jackthumm / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.  Thank you, Talented JackThumm!
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Square Watermelons: Think INSIDE the Box

9/27/2013

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PictureHow's that for listening to your market?
Provide your market what they want and need.  It’s a simple statement that implies SO much.  It requires an intimate understanding of your market and how your products fit their desires. This is a lifelong, ongoing exercise for any business, large or small. 
In order to grow your sales, increase customer satisfaction, and keep tabs on quality, you must have your finger on the pulse of your market.

This all comes to mind because of something I stumbled upon on in cyberspace.  The square 
watermelon
! The problem with a big round watermelon is that it is hard to store and hard to slice (as it rolls around the counter, slipping out of your watered fingers) Turns out, this Japanese farmer is an expert marketer.  Check it out at the
BBC site.


Where Should I Go Now?
Main Blog Page
Become A Business Coach like Stuart


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    Stuart Preston

    Stuart has run MyBusiness Advisors for over ten years.  Here, he share his experiences for those who also run or wish to run business coaching practices.

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