What we think our clients want and what they actually want can be vastly different. The only way to create offerings that are easy for them to say yes to and solve their problems is to find out for sure. And the easiest way to do that is to ask them! When you ask your audience what they need, it paints a clear picture of how you should position your business and your solutions in a way that appeals to them.
So how do you come to understand what your clients really want? [Read more...]
Whether you've been in business for one month or ten years, there are basic marketing strategies that ALWAYS work, but that are easy to overlook. As you look to meet your goals of generating a certain amount of revenue, working with a certain number of clients, or breaking into a certain market, you want to be strategic with your marketing efforts, but also keep your campaigns as simple as possible.
The key to doing this is focusing on developing relationships. As you know, people do business with professionals that they know, like and trust. So no matter what type of business you're in, developing and maintaining strong relationships is key to having a successful business. [Read more...]
Whether you're in start-up mode or an established business owner experiencing a cash crunch, you may find yourself without as much capital as you'd like to spend on marketing your business. That may be your reality, but that is no excuse for not marketing your services. The only way you’re going to grow your business and create more cash flow is to market your solutions consistently. Fortunately, there are several FREE strategies that you can use to put your business in front of the people who need what you have to offer.
Use all or one of these strategies to market your business on a budget: [Read more...]
Public speaking is one of the most effective ways to connect with ideal prospects for your service business. Even if you’re not entirely comfortable talking in front of a crowd, it would serve you well to add this strategy to your marketing mix. Why? For one reason, it’s the fastest way to establish yourself as an expert in your industry.
Think about it. When you're looking to hire a service provider, don’t you typically want to work with the BEST person for the job? Would you really consider hiring a provider who isn't well versed in what you need? Of course not! So neither would your prospective clients.
By speaking publicly about your expertise, you automatically put yourself in the driver’s seat. Whether your presentation is 5 minutes long or 90 minutes long, the room is focused on you. Everyone is listening intently to your thoughts and if you deliver great content, they are writing down what you say and noting questions they have. (Which is great because it means they are envisioning working with you!)
Also, public speaking allows you to develop that "know, like and trust" factor quickly and easily. In listening to your presentation the audience gets a sense of who you are, how you teach and how they can benefit from the services you offer. So instead of slowly developing a relationship over time, perhaps via online marketing, you speed up the process so that prospects feel more comfortable with you and can see the value of working with you.
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"Within the first month of working with Sydni, I secured contracts for $14,000... and I don’t have any of the other insecurities that a lot of new businesses have."