Friday, May 4, 2012
The Power of Marketing
Not too long ago, the early part of the twentieth century (?), diamonds were nothing more than another precious stone. Then DeBeers came along, and at some point coined the slogan, "Diamonds are forever." The rest is history.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Your Best Sales People
Everyone says that your best salespeople are your employees. But who really believes it? Isn't it ironic that employees most in contact with customers are often the least paid -- tellers in banks, sales clerks in retail stores, and receptionists in offices.
If someone answers your business telephone number, here is a little test for you. Call in and disguise your voice. Holding a cloth over the mouthpiece might do the trick. When your employee answers, does she or he sound glad you called or are you just another interruption that must be dealt with? The tone of one's voice is an amazing non-verbal communicator.
It is no joke that many sales clerks in retail stores drive customers away, often through pure inattention. Do you know how your sales clerks act toward customers?
I had an air charter company. My pilots were in contact with my customers much longer than I. We prospered, and it was largely because my pilots knew that passengers were paying their salaries.
It is not only customer contact employees that sell your company. Every employee has family, friends, and associates. Do your non-customer contact employees speak positively about your company?
Your employees will make you or break you.
If someone answers your business telephone number, here is a little test for you. Call in and disguise your voice. Holding a cloth over the mouthpiece might do the trick. When your employee answers, does she or he sound glad you called or are you just another interruption that must be dealt with? The tone of one's voice is an amazing non-verbal communicator.
It is no joke that many sales clerks in retail stores drive customers away, often through pure inattention. Do you know how your sales clerks act toward customers?
I had an air charter company. My pilots were in contact with my customers much longer than I. We prospered, and it was largely because my pilots knew that passengers were paying their salaries.
It is not only customer contact employees that sell your company. Every employee has family, friends, and associates. Do your non-customer contact employees speak positively about your company?
Your employees will make you or break you.
Monday, January 23, 2012
What Is Marketing Anyhow?
Marketing is the process of creating an environment in which sales can occur.
Marketing can be fun!
Do you like to talk to people? Learn to talk in a way that shows people your business can actually help them. Begin by listening. Listen hard. Don't think of the next thing you are going to say. Unearth the needs of their business. Ask sincere questions. One of the best is, "How did you get into the business you are in?"
Do you like to post to FaceBook, LinkedIn, and other social media? You have it made. Tell people what your business is really selling. Some business owners don't know the answer to this question. Are you selling home security systems or peace of mind for homeowners? Are you selling a fitness center or a way people can raise their own self-images?
Do you like public speaking? Seek every opportunity to speak. The topic does not need to be what your business does. Your speech can be educational and fun and say nothing about your business. People will like you, and people will seek you out. Then you can tell them about your business.
Do you like to write? Create a blog and link it to a website and to social media. Write on a topic that interests you and that is related to your business. Submit articles, essays, and interviews to the print media. Editors are looking for good writing to publish. You are not selling your business. You are selling you. You can mention your business with your name as the author of the piece.
My next blog topic will be your employees as marketing people.
My website is: www.youronlinemarketingresource.com.
I have posted a new, short shopping cart demo website: demo shopping cart website.
Marketing can be fun!
Do you like to talk to people? Learn to talk in a way that shows people your business can actually help them. Begin by listening. Listen hard. Don't think of the next thing you are going to say. Unearth the needs of their business. Ask sincere questions. One of the best is, "How did you get into the business you are in?"
Do you like to post to FaceBook, LinkedIn, and other social media? You have it made. Tell people what your business is really selling. Some business owners don't know the answer to this question. Are you selling home security systems or peace of mind for homeowners? Are you selling a fitness center or a way people can raise their own self-images?
Do you like public speaking? Seek every opportunity to speak. The topic does not need to be what your business does. Your speech can be educational and fun and say nothing about your business. People will like you, and people will seek you out. Then you can tell them about your business.
Do you like to write? Create a blog and link it to a website and to social media. Write on a topic that interests you and that is related to your business. Submit articles, essays, and interviews to the print media. Editors are looking for good writing to publish. You are not selling your business. You are selling you. You can mention your business with your name as the author of the piece.
My next blog topic will be your employees as marketing people.
My website is: www.youronlinemarketingresource.com.
I have posted a new, short shopping cart demo website: demo shopping cart website.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Marketing Is Simple
Business owners shy away from marketing because they are intimidated. Isn't marketing something that is done by highly paid professionals? No! Marketing is done by you and your employees or your company can not be successful.
Tell your story. That's it.
If you don't, no one will. We are raised to not talk about ourselves. Talking constantly about my smart children, my wonderful husband, my problems, my problems, my problems is seen as selfish and ill-mannered. And it is.
The trick is to not tell your story in an obnoxious manner. There is a fine line between telling people how your business can help them and being offensive. But you can walk this fine line.
Practice makes perfect.
A definition of marketing will be in my next post.
In the meantime, take 1:24 and watch:
Fun Snippets of Marketing Videos
My website is: Good Things - Small Packages.
Tell your story. That's it.
If you don't, no one will. We are raised to not talk about ourselves. Talking constantly about my smart children, my wonderful husband, my problems, my problems, my problems is seen as selfish and ill-mannered. And it is.
The trick is to not tell your story in an obnoxious manner. There is a fine line between telling people how your business can help them and being offensive. But you can walk this fine line.
Practice makes perfect.
A definition of marketing will be in my next post.
In the meantime, take 1:24 and watch:
Fun Snippets of Marketing Videos
My website is: Good Things - Small Packages.
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