Archive for the ‘Market/Marketing Research’ Category

Make your website work for you!

January 25th, 2010 Linda Mattacks

Reading an article this morning that said: “Many small business owners do not have the complete range of skills required and are forced to learn as they go along.”

Well there’s a surprise ;-) ! It went on to say:

“A recent survey we carried out at Made Simple Group clearly showed that marketing, and specifically improving visibility to generate new business, were key concerns for many.

In the face of this, it is indeed a surprising, if not extraordinary, statistic that fewer than half of all such businesses have a web presence.

Furthermore, of those small entities which are online, it is estimated that a large proportion are failing to promote their businesses properly.”

Making the most of your website presence is one area where the Davids of the business world can successfully compete against the Goliaths, so why shouldn’t you? It’s far less down to how much money you throw at it than how wisely you invest whatever budget you have. Your ‘budget’ is going to be a mixture of your time and maybe some money to be most effective:

  • What do you want your website to say about you to whom?
  • What do you want it to do?
  • How will the people you want to visit know it’s even there?

Regular visitors will know we don’t as a rule promote business services here. Yet today we’re making an exception, mainly because this particular one gives so much away upfront and proves that the team behind it really knows its stuff.

There’s a lot to read up on and try for yourselves at nikkipilkington.com, so you may want to bookmark it and come back to it several times…

Make your website work for you!
Posted in Business, Market/Marketing Research, Marketing, Sales Tags: , 3 Comments »

When did you last ask for a referral?

January 18th, 2010 Linda Mattacks

Who do you think will be more predisposed towards you: Someone who doesn’t “know you from Adam” or somebody who has been referred to you by a person they respect?

Especially in times of economic uncertainty people will be careful who they spend their money with. So if you think it’s non-u to ask for a referral, isn’t it about time you got over it?

Another thing is that a customer who refers a potential client to you once could and would refer many more if sufficiently motivated to do so.

American research has shown that the average person has an immediate scope of influence over at least 50 similar people. That’s potentially 50 new clients from each existing satisfied customer. Yet the average satisfied customer only tells three people of his or her good experience.

So the moral of the story is:

Ask for referrals and reward them appropriately.

When did you last ask for a referral?
Posted in Business, Market/Marketing Research, Marketing, Sales No Comments »

You’ve dived into business… How’s the water?

January 18th, 2010 Linda Mattacks

Maybe you’ve found that the water’s muddy and cold. If you’re struggling to be seen as more than a commodity – the market’s less buoyant and people are buying on price – now’s the time to look at doing one of 2 things and they’re not that different:

If you’re not a commodity you need to recognise your unique value from your customer’s viewpoint and maximise it.

If you are a commodity, what is there a demand for that people aren’t currently buying from you but would in sufficient numbers if they knew you stocked it? Or what added value in terms of service could you bring to the equation that your customers would really appreciate?

Think:

  • IT Specialist service versus Computer World
  • Local Stationer versus Viking Direct
  • Travel Agent versus the Internet
  • Corner shop versus supermarket

Being a lovely, genuine person and good at what you do isn’t necessarily enough to bring the business rolling in with no effort on your part, especially when times are tough.

So now think David rather than Goliath (we all know who won that battle):

  • Why you’re in business
  • What your products and services help your customers achieve
  • How you’re different from the best of the rest

These are all equally as important to you as to corporates and you don’t need consultants or big budgets to help you – you may need to think a bit differently but remember you know your business better than anyone else.

And who better to help yoiu out than your current best customers?

Time invested in getting this whole area right is worth its weight in gold! Make sure you’ve got the basics right – quickly – and build on solid foundations.

You’ve dived into business… How’s the water?
Posted in Business, Market/Marketing Research, Marketing, Sales Tags: , , , No Comments »
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