10 Important Marketing Tips
copyright 2003 Bob Leduc
Each of the following Ten Marketing Tips is based
on a highly effective - but often overlooked marketing tactic. How
many are you using? How many have you overlooked?
Tip 1:
Insulate yourself against the impact of change by increasing the
number of products and services you offer ...and by using a variety
of different marketing methods. Only a small portion of your total
business will be affected if the sales of one product declines or
the response to one marketing method drops.
Tip 2:
Customers are prospects too. Stay in contact with them. Find or
develop other products or services you can offer them. It's easier
to make a sale to a previous customer than to someone who never
bought from you.
Tip 3:
Avoid making any claim that sounds exaggerated ...even if it is
true. A bold claim creates doubt in your prospect's mind and jeopardizes
the sale. Reduce any bold claims to a more believable level.
Tip 4:
Express numerical claims as odd numbers with fractions or decimals.
For example, "Our clients save 17.7 percent" sounds more
believable than "Our clients save 20 percent" ...even
if 20 percent is the accurate number.
Tip 5:
To create an absolutely irresistible offer, combine a special discount
price and a set of valuable bonuses in the same offer.
*** SIDE BAR ***
If you are interested in marketing, you may want to head
over to: "How
to Build Your Small Business Fast With Simple Postcards"
, this is one of the best resources for using postcards in your
marketing.
*** END SIDE BAR ***
Tip 6:
Develop a series of 4 or 5 different special offers. Use them one
at a time with an expiration deadline. When one offer expires, replace
it with the next offer and a new deadline. Continuously recycle
through the same series of offers. This enables you to keep using
special offers to generate sales without taking time to develop
new ones.
Tip 7:
If you're attracting many prospects who really don't have (or can't
get) the money to buy your product or service ...you need to change
your market. Target a market where prospects have an intense desire
for the benefits produced by your product or service - AND the money
to buy it.
Tip 8:
Set yourself apart from competitors by offering an exclusive benefit
your competitors cannot copy ...or one they're not willing to copy.
One business owner I know includes his personal phone number on
every order. His competitors don't - and they are not likely to
start making themselves that accessible to customers.
Tip 9:
Advertising copy produces the biggest response when each reader
can believe the message was written specifically for him or her.
As you write any sales message, visualize you're writing to one
person instead of to a large group of people. This will help you
write in a less formal and more personal style.
Tip 10:
Most sales are not made on the first contact. Develop a method to
capture and save the names and contact information of prospects
who don't buy from you. Follow up periodically. A little gentle
coaching will eventually convert many of them into buyers.
Each of these 10 marketing tips implements a simple but highly
effective marketing tactic. Take action now to apply those you overlooked.
You'll be surprised by how much business it produces for you.
-------------------------
Bob Leduc is a Sales Consultant with 30 years experience in generating
low-cost leads. He recently wrote a manual for small business owners,
"How
to Build Your Small Business Fast With Simple Postcards",
and several other publications to help small businesses grow and
prosper. For more info: mailto:BobLeduc@aol.com
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