We just finished a trek cross country from our winter home in Florida to Denver to see family and then home to our summer place at Lake Powell in Arizona, and we found ourselves reminded of how valuable personal contact marketing can be in addition to internet marketing. We have magnetic signs on our vehicle and they remain on there at all times, advertising our home based business. However, while driving through all those states and towns, we were asked repeatedly (in drive thrus at fast food restaurants, gas stations and rest stops) about what the business is and we ended up giving many people our business card and speaking with them about the opportunity.
We also brought bandit signs with us. Many towns/cities don't permit them, but others do and we made sure to take advantage of the chance to leave them in places we don't otherwise frequent. It offers a whole new population of people who may be looking for a way to own their own business. Additionally, every place we stopped, we strategically placed business drop cards, furthering our exposure.
Personal contact marketing doesn't have to be something you go out and do on a daily basis. But it is a real option if you stay prepared and keep conscious of the opportunities you have day-to-day just in running errands. We keep a rubbermaid bin in the back of our car at all times. It contains flyers, business cards, drop cards, signs and magnets. When we go somewhere, whenever we can, we include this type of marketing in our efforts to further grow our business. If and when we pick up friends from airports, or go ourselves for a flight, we distribute cards there.
We also go to job fairs, health fairs, art shows, boat shows, car shows, RV shows, etc. It is the perfect setting for distributing our materials and we consistently gain prospects by being prepared. If we go shopping at a mall, we leave cards on benches and in public restrooms we go in. It isn't any real effort and we enjoy getting to meet new people and we welcome interest and inquiries from anyone who is like we were for years—looking for that right business that speaks to them.
While waiting in a long line in a large department store, I also have struck up conversations with people. I don't "push" our business on them, but if the conversation turns to where we work or what we do, I certainly give them our card and tell them to contact us and we'll provide them additional information so that they can make an informed decision. We also inform them about our webinars our company offers.
Internet marketing is an indispensable tool for growing your business. There is no doubt about that. And it costs little, offers immense exposure and allows you to reach people all across the globe. But do keep in mind that you have countless prospects right in your own backyard, and if you are always prepared, you will experience a growth in your business that only personal contact marketing can offer.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Home Business? Target the Ideal Prospects
If you think about it, there are "ideal prospects" out there everywhere. And they are ideal, for one, because they are used to commission-based sales and have learned to live and budget based on that. They are people who are open, usually, to alternative sources of income as they probably have had to be. Those ideal prospects I'm talking about are realtors and people who work at car dealerships and small business owners.
The economy has changed the game for these people. High-priced items such as homes and vehicles have fallen prey to the financial situation that so many people are affected by. Which means that with slower sales, their commissions suffer. And that means that your opportunity could offer them a great backup tool for generating income.
These potential prospects are located in every neighborhood, every city, and all around the globe. And if presented right, your opportunity could not only solve the issues they are facing, but grow your business in the process. We have found that by contacting these professions, they are generally open to new sources of revenue and are not as hesitant to try a business that could allow them to replace or supplement their income. They understand direct sales and commission structures and therefore, the need to explain exactly how those things work is unnecessary.
If your opportunity is thriving in this recession, then you can greatly benefit from targeting this type of customer. What will be most important in your approach, is that you present your opportunity with accurate and complete information as to what will be necessary for them to be successful. By presenting your product or service in a way which demonstrates how it is still a necessity or benefit in this economy, you will automatically show them that it is a viable source for them to run with. In our case, we learned everything we could about the real estate market and its current condition, researched specific areas and then targeted realtors and car dealer reps in those areas. We also know our product line inside and out, which assists us in better presenting all the benefits that the products offer, even in this economy. If you can spin your product as useful and with potential, it will help you sell your opportunity to these professions.
We also have talked more with small store owners. Our local printer/copy shop owner asked all about our business when we had some additional business cards printed. With small business owners suffering the effects of the economy (especially in storefronts) , many are looking for additional ways to generate income themselves. They still have their overheads such as lease, utilities, materials, etc, and with business down, they are wanting to find a way to "ride out" the slow business period by bringing in outside income. These businesses can be restaurants, salons, any type of small store/retail, auto body and detail shops, convenience stores owned by private owners, coffee shops, etc. All of them are being affected right now and have seen decreases in sales, so if you can present your opportunity in a way that will allow them to research the potential and reap all the information they can, you will find they will definitely consider your option.
We make it a point to stay friendly with every business we frequent. In maintaining a positive, outgoing and congenial attitude when you shop or visit a business, you will portray the benefits that your opportunity has afforded you. People will sense that the freedom and financial security that your business provides you is a viable option. And I can't tell you how many times our simple, pleasant demeanors have started a conversation that has led to others wanting to know about what we do.
Take some time to familiarize yourself with your local businesses personally, or even those types of businesses via the internet. Your ideal prospect exists in many areas and you can actually utilize the economic situation to your advantage.
The economy has changed the game for these people. High-priced items such as homes and vehicles have fallen prey to the financial situation that so many people are affected by. Which means that with slower sales, their commissions suffer. And that means that your opportunity could offer them a great backup tool for generating income.
These potential prospects are located in every neighborhood, every city, and all around the globe. And if presented right, your opportunity could not only solve the issues they are facing, but grow your business in the process. We have found that by contacting these professions, they are generally open to new sources of revenue and are not as hesitant to try a business that could allow them to replace or supplement their income. They understand direct sales and commission structures and therefore, the need to explain exactly how those things work is unnecessary.
If your opportunity is thriving in this recession, then you can greatly benefit from targeting this type of customer. What will be most important in your approach, is that you present your opportunity with accurate and complete information as to what will be necessary for them to be successful. By presenting your product or service in a way which demonstrates how it is still a necessity or benefit in this economy, you will automatically show them that it is a viable source for them to run with. In our case, we learned everything we could about the real estate market and its current condition, researched specific areas and then targeted realtors and car dealer reps in those areas. We also know our product line inside and out, which assists us in better presenting all the benefits that the products offer, even in this economy. If you can spin your product as useful and with potential, it will help you sell your opportunity to these professions.
We also have talked more with small store owners. Our local printer/copy shop owner asked all about our business when we had some additional business cards printed. With small business owners suffering the effects of the economy (especially in storefronts) , many are looking for additional ways to generate income themselves. They still have their overheads such as lease, utilities, materials, etc, and with business down, they are wanting to find a way to "ride out" the slow business period by bringing in outside income. These businesses can be restaurants, salons, any type of small store/retail, auto body and detail shops, convenience stores owned by private owners, coffee shops, etc. All of them are being affected right now and have seen decreases in sales, so if you can present your opportunity in a way that will allow them to research the potential and reap all the information they can, you will find they will definitely consider your option.
We make it a point to stay friendly with every business we frequent. In maintaining a positive, outgoing and congenial attitude when you shop or visit a business, you will portray the benefits that your opportunity has afforded you. People will sense that the freedom and financial security that your business provides you is a viable option. And I can't tell you how many times our simple, pleasant demeanors have started a conversation that has led to others wanting to know about what we do.
Take some time to familiarize yourself with your local businesses personally, or even those types of businesses via the internet. Your ideal prospect exists in many areas and you can actually utilize the economic situation to your advantage.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Considering a Home Business? Research But Consider The Sources
Over the years, my husband and I researched and considered countless businesses, wanting to make the move to be home-business owners. Trust me when I say that many of them were ruled out immediately, just based on a less-than-professional website presence, expensive startup, or even lack of information disclosed without signing up. But some that we considered, when the above criteria were met, were found with a Google search to have little or any information pertaining to them and what was there was mostly criticism and that led us to rule them out without looking back.
Since that time, we have learned a great deal about search engines and how they work and that everything you read online is not necessarily what really could be construed as a fair assessment of an opportunity, or even small business. A good friend of mine actually owns a business based on exactly this dilemma that a large number of businesses and opportunities—and even individuals—face in the Google universe. Her business assists people and other businesses in moving the "favorable" remarks, reviews and statements to the front line in searches. And therefore, forces the negative results to the back of those results that you view when you Google. Fair? Well, consider what makes its way to the web, and you will know that utlimately, you should base your decisions on a company on the sources posting those views.
Let me expand...
A perfect example is that the company I worked for prior to being a home business owner distributed software for the desktop publishing and graphic design industry. It is a huge industry and has been growing exponentially since the 1980s. They have been around for decades and provide exceptional presale and post sale technical support, boast a knowledgeable staff and bend over backwards to accommodate customers, making it a top priority to see that customers leave having had a good purchasing experience. However, there is always that one customer who fills his days with complaining and finding fault in even the best of companies. This company I worked for was based in the UK but had a US presence and website as well. They actually had sold the US branch back in the early 2000s to concentrate on expanding the UK/European market. But when the party who had purchased that US branch decided to sell it in 2009 to pursue other outlets, the UK company purchased it back from them in order to move back into the US market they had originally had.
They received an email from a customer who had bought a software product YEARS ago from the previous owner. They had lost their serial number for the software and were requesting we provide it again for them. Since the previous owner did not convey the customer data for serial numbers, we had no record of this information. But being a customer-service oriented company, we jumped through hurdles to contact the original software developer and obtain their serial number. After providing it, this customer never once thanked us, and proceeded to maintain a forum presence in which they complained about the product and the difficulty they had using it. They even threw in our company name. No attempt was made to contact us in regard to her "difficulties" and we had done everything within our power—even though we made NOTHING off her sale—and yet out there in the world wide web was a disgruntled customer spewing negative information that was not even qualified information.
This incident alone made me realize that you CANNOT always believe everything that you read when you are researching a potential opportunity. You need to consider the source and realize that there will always be people out there who live to complain. They actually make it their mission and no amount of service, response or assistance will change that person's outlook. A subsequent Google search of this customer actually provided numerous postings involving many companies and products and not one of those was positive.
Take some time to read everything you can about a company. But also be fair in your assessment as the best judge of an opportunity is those who have actually taken advantage of it, and REALLY worked that business. If they didn't follow the recommended or proven marketing advice and training and they didn't consistently put in the hours it takes to become successful in the endeavor, they are NOT a reliable judge of that company's potential. They are just individuals who have nothing authentic to say because they never worked the business as it was intended to be worked. Had they done that, they would be one of those "positive" reviews you may have read.
In closing, I'm not saying to ignore all the "warnings" from people advising about scams or false claims about what is out there. There are plenty of those scams and they should be avoided at all costs. But also, contact some of the other business owners and ask pointed questions you have concerning the actual workings of the business, what will be involved, the startup costs, what you receive with that investment, how long they have been working the business and what you can expect to realistically earn. We did. And any business owners we couldn't get a straight answer from, we ruled out. Those that took the time to provide us the information we most wanted, were definitely considered. And in taking time to do an adequate assessment of a business, you will find that you end up exactly where you want to be—with one that you love to extol about the virtues of!
Since that time, we have learned a great deal about search engines and how they work and that everything you read online is not necessarily what really could be construed as a fair assessment of an opportunity, or even small business. A good friend of mine actually owns a business based on exactly this dilemma that a large number of businesses and opportunities—and even individuals—face in the Google universe. Her business assists people and other businesses in moving the "favorable" remarks, reviews and statements to the front line in searches. And therefore, forces the negative results to the back of those results that you view when you Google. Fair? Well, consider what makes its way to the web, and you will know that utlimately, you should base your decisions on a company on the sources posting those views.
Let me expand...
A perfect example is that the company I worked for prior to being a home business owner distributed software for the desktop publishing and graphic design industry. It is a huge industry and has been growing exponentially since the 1980s. They have been around for decades and provide exceptional presale and post sale technical support, boast a knowledgeable staff and bend over backwards to accommodate customers, making it a top priority to see that customers leave having had a good purchasing experience. However, there is always that one customer who fills his days with complaining and finding fault in even the best of companies. This company I worked for was based in the UK but had a US presence and website as well. They actually had sold the US branch back in the early 2000s to concentrate on expanding the UK/European market. But when the party who had purchased that US branch decided to sell it in 2009 to pursue other outlets, the UK company purchased it back from them in order to move back into the US market they had originally had.
They received an email from a customer who had bought a software product YEARS ago from the previous owner. They had lost their serial number for the software and were requesting we provide it again for them. Since the previous owner did not convey the customer data for serial numbers, we had no record of this information. But being a customer-service oriented company, we jumped through hurdles to contact the original software developer and obtain their serial number. After providing it, this customer never once thanked us, and proceeded to maintain a forum presence in which they complained about the product and the difficulty they had using it. They even threw in our company name. No attempt was made to contact us in regard to her "difficulties" and we had done everything within our power—even though we made NOTHING off her sale—and yet out there in the world wide web was a disgruntled customer spewing negative information that was not even qualified information.
This incident alone made me realize that you CANNOT always believe everything that you read when you are researching a potential opportunity. You need to consider the source and realize that there will always be people out there who live to complain. They actually make it their mission and no amount of service, response or assistance will change that person's outlook. A subsequent Google search of this customer actually provided numerous postings involving many companies and products and not one of those was positive.
Take some time to read everything you can about a company. But also be fair in your assessment as the best judge of an opportunity is those who have actually taken advantage of it, and REALLY worked that business. If they didn't follow the recommended or proven marketing advice and training and they didn't consistently put in the hours it takes to become successful in the endeavor, they are NOT a reliable judge of that company's potential. They are just individuals who have nothing authentic to say because they never worked the business as it was intended to be worked. Had they done that, they would be one of those "positive" reviews you may have read.
In closing, I'm not saying to ignore all the "warnings" from people advising about scams or false claims about what is out there. There are plenty of those scams and they should be avoided at all costs. But also, contact some of the other business owners and ask pointed questions you have concerning the actual workings of the business, what will be involved, the startup costs, what you receive with that investment, how long they have been working the business and what you can expect to realistically earn. We did. And any business owners we couldn't get a straight answer from, we ruled out. Those that took the time to provide us the information we most wanted, were definitely considered. And in taking time to do an adequate assessment of a business, you will find that you end up exactly where you want to be—with one that you love to extol about the virtues of!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Business Conferences and Seminars Offer Long-Term Value
My husband recently returned from a conference that was hosted by the company our home business is through. I resigned myself to not going as I still do freelance writing work and had committed to a publication to provide an article which involved some research. I rationalized that even if I missed this conference, he could take notes and share the highlights with me. And he did. But what I didn't realize is that by missing actually attending this event, I would never be able to carry away from it all the long-term valuable things he did. So I couldn't have been more wrong...
Conferences and seminars that are related to your business, marketing, sales, mindset and any other topic that may assist you in your business are invaluable. The right conference—with the right speaker or speakers—offers intelligence and instruction that is not available sometimes through any other outlet. The information you garner can sometimes change your approach to your business completely. Speakers who are "gurus" in these key areas are paid well for a reason. They offer insights and lessons and suggestions and guidance and the chance to hear them speak in a conference or seminar setting is often a once-in-a-life-time opportunity.
Here's the thing...by attending these type of events, you come away with a new mindset. You have the chance to meet with like-minded people, network, share ideas and strategies and also put names to faces in the industry. By allowing yourself to participate, you gain a positive, reinforcing feeling about your business, and those who are involved in the same business or a similar business, and are enjoying success. The motivational speakers put you in a whole new "place" and when you return home, you are often eager to implement all of the tips and information you have accrued.
Another reward is the promotion of yourself as someone who has attended this type of event and therefore no possesses more knowledgeable in key areas. Posting pictures from the event of you with some key players in the industry goes a long way toward letting potential prospects see you are a key player yourself. You can utilize some of the content in your business blog, on your website and in your advertising campaigns. With the exception of anything that is under non-disclosure, the general concepts are a great marketing tool.
At the conference my husband attended, he also had the chance to mingle with these key players and successful entrepreneurs. They were there for attendees to chat with, they answered questions and people were able to find out more about what helped propel them to the level of success they had experienced in their ventures. Being able to talk one-on-one with these people is illuminating and helps you to renew your passion for your own business.
Finally, one of the main pluses of attending an event is the time away. Seriously. If you step back, leave your routine and attend an event with enthusiasm and the attitude that it holds immeasurable value for you, you will come back refreshed and even excited about your own business and the potential that is there to grow and expand it. I won't make the mistake of missing another event that can propel me forward in our business and that can offer me those keys to further success. It's like a vacation, only it's tax deductible and it provides an opportunity to learn from the best. And if you are like my husband, you'll come back eager to actualize what you have learned!
Conferences and seminars that are related to your business, marketing, sales, mindset and any other topic that may assist you in your business are invaluable. The right conference—with the right speaker or speakers—offers intelligence and instruction that is not available sometimes through any other outlet. The information you garner can sometimes change your approach to your business completely. Speakers who are "gurus" in these key areas are paid well for a reason. They offer insights and lessons and suggestions and guidance and the chance to hear them speak in a conference or seminar setting is often a once-in-a-life-time opportunity.
Here's the thing...by attending these type of events, you come away with a new mindset. You have the chance to meet with like-minded people, network, share ideas and strategies and also put names to faces in the industry. By allowing yourself to participate, you gain a positive, reinforcing feeling about your business, and those who are involved in the same business or a similar business, and are enjoying success. The motivational speakers put you in a whole new "place" and when you return home, you are often eager to implement all of the tips and information you have accrued.
Another reward is the promotion of yourself as someone who has attended this type of event and therefore no possesses more knowledgeable in key areas. Posting pictures from the event of you with some key players in the industry goes a long way toward letting potential prospects see you are a key player yourself. You can utilize some of the content in your business blog, on your website and in your advertising campaigns. With the exception of anything that is under non-disclosure, the general concepts are a great marketing tool.
At the conference my husband attended, he also had the chance to mingle with these key players and successful entrepreneurs. They were there for attendees to chat with, they answered questions and people were able to find out more about what helped propel them to the level of success they had experienced in their ventures. Being able to talk one-on-one with these people is illuminating and helps you to renew your passion for your own business.
Finally, one of the main pluses of attending an event is the time away. Seriously. If you step back, leave your routine and attend an event with enthusiasm and the attitude that it holds immeasurable value for you, you will come back refreshed and even excited about your own business and the potential that is there to grow and expand it. I won't make the mistake of missing another event that can propel me forward in our business and that can offer me those keys to further success. It's like a vacation, only it's tax deductible and it provides an opportunity to learn from the best. And if you are like my husband, you'll come back eager to actualize what you have learned!
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