IMPORT AND EXPORT SECRETS

Economic Recession - Be a Recession Warrior

2009-12-03T08:26:00.000-08:00

Surviving an economic recession can be extremely difficult for customers and businesses alike. When economic times are difficult - whether or not difficult time are officially classified as an economic recession - your business may face new challenges that you haven't had to deal with in the past. Without a doubt, an economic recession can mean the end of an otherwise profitable business.

One thing to keep in mind that all business is cyclical. There will always be profit economic times and lousy economic times, it's just a matter of timing and frequency. How hard your business is affected and how long your troubles last depends a great deal on the nature of your main business, your target markets, your capacity to be flexible and your ability to guide the ship through rough waters.

You can become a Recession warrior and not only survive economic recession, but you can make money and thrive in spite of it!

If times were good and the economy was strong when you started your business, you might be didn't give much thought to what you would do in a slow economic period like an economic recession or other period of hard times.

if your revenues and net income are going down, you're in the middle of your own economic recession regardless of what the economy is doing.

An economic recession - or the period leading up to one - can be the perfect time to take stock of where your business has been, where you want it to go and how you will achieve your targets.

Seven Steps to Recession Warriors to Boost Business in a Recession

Regardless of the cause or severity of an economic recession or hard times, there are seven steps you will want to take to keep you home business afloat and, in a sense, create your own economic stimulus.

Identify the challenges and opportunities
Develop a plan
Put your plan into action
Monitor results
Make adjustments
Learn from your successes and failures
Savor victory

As you go through the seven step process of getting your business (or yourself) through an economic recession, you'll want to document what you do. Take notes and keep track of what you learn. Having a record of your findings and the results of your actions will help you to find the right way and the activities that will help get you through the hard times of an economic recession. also, once you have completed the process you'll be able to learn much more from what you've done and what worked and what did not work if you have kept good records of your actions and findings. Finally, you may also come away with some great ideas and techniques that can make good times even better.

10 Sales Skills for Successful Sales Manager

2009-12-03T08:20:00.000-08:00

* Able to Listen

Along with, the excellent sales person knows when to stop talking and listen. They never cut somebody off while they are talking, because in doing so they would fail to hear a key element to know what that person's needs may be.

* Asks a Good Questions

Salespeople are naturally inquisitive and know that in order to forget about what is the real need or desire is in the buyer, they need to ask questions that will lead them to the answer. They naturally ask questions because they have a desire to help solve their problem. You have to choose your question.

* Organized person

Stay always updated more with your thoughts and methods of planning. Sales people have a keen ability to break things down into smaller steps and organize a plan of action.

* Self-Starter and Self-Finisher

A successful sales person moves forward on their own. They never need anyone to tell them when it is time to go to work because they know that if they do not work they will not earn.

* Problem Solver

Another natural skill is the desire and ability to solve problems So Great salespeople are always solving problems. The ability know what the buyer's problem is and offering suggestions that will effectively solve the problem with respect to what products or services you sell.

* Have a Positive Self Image

Sales people always have a situation and they must not cower from meeting or talking to people or trying something new. They rarely allow negatives that are either spoken to them or about them to effect what they are trying to accomplish because they know who they are and what they are capable of doing.

* Well Mannered and Courteous

The best sales people are very well mannered. You may not realize it, or think it won’t make any different, but good manners is a way of showing respect for others. People are attracted to those that respect them and mutual respect is fundamental in building lasting relationships with people..including buyers.

* Naturally Persuasive

Another very important skill with great salespeople is that they are very persuasive or know how to get what they want. They focus on what they want and they are almost never give up or give in.

* Person of Integrity

A salesman without integrity will have many fights which will often include hopping from job to job. Honesty in sales is so important and it is almost impossible for this skill to be taught. You or the person you are looking to hire, but as analytical as possible on the evaluation of this skill.

* Why we do this?

Sales is a very hard work to do but if you asked me why you doing this I’ll answer in three points:

· One for the money, get the money.

· Two for the show , it is the show time.

· Three cause I’m warrior, sales is a wars.

What is the different between marketing and selling? And which is more important?

2009-12-03T08:14:00.000-08:00

The question which we will answer is something like this: "I've been collecting marketing ideas... and I have a drawer full! I also have a stack of promising sales leads I've accumulated. And I know it's important to stay visible, so I do a lot of networking, but then I just end up with more names in the stack. How do I prioritize all this?"

If you've ever wondered something similar, you may have lost sight of a very important truth - the way to win the marketing game is not to catch the most sales leads; it's to make the most sales. Marketing activities that increase your number of sales yearly are good, and activities that don't are bad, even if they bring in plenty of leads. If you don't follow up on the sales leads together, you are throwing away your time and money.

The First purpose of marketing strategies like public speaking, writing articles, getting publicity, networking, promotional events, and advertising is to gain visibility. (A secondary purpose of the first three strategies can be to gain credibility.) Why do you want to be visible? It's not just so people will know who you are and what you do, it's so they will do deals and business with you.

If someone has already expressed interest in doing business, call him. Do it right now. Memorize this rule -- following up on hot, or even warm, client leads is always more important than marketing for more visibility.

There is a simple test you can take to see where you need to focus your marketing versus selling efforts. Think of the marketing and sales process as a water system that begins by filling your pipeline with sales leads. The pipeline empties into your cash box.

Your intent is to move the sales leads further along in the system, to making a presentation of some kind (by phone or in person), and finally closing the sale and deal with customers.

When you have promising leads you aren't contacting, the follow-up stage is clearly your stock place. Take that stock of sales leads and sort them into three categories: prospective clients, useful networking contacts, and other. Now sort the prospective clients into hot, warm, and cold. Stop right there and follow up with all the hot and warm leads but focus on hot ones.

If, and I do mean if, you still need to do more work about marketing after following up with all those sales leads, go to the networking contacts and sort them into two groups: people who can lead you directly to prospective clients, and people who can lead you to other marketing opportunities. Now Stop, and you guessed it, follow up with the people who might have sales leads for you.

You should now have three types of data groups: cold client leads, people who can lead you to marketing opportunities, and other. Now is the time to decide whether you need to do something new to market yourself at all. Look at what you have been doing so far to get all groups those hot and warm leads you had. Maybe you just need to do more of the same.

What is the different between marketing and advertising?

2009-12-03T08:06:00.000-08:00

You will often find that many people confuse marketing with advertising, While both components are important they are very different. Knowing the difference and doing your market research can put your company in the front.

Let's start off by reviewing the formal definitions of each and then I'll go into the explanation of how marketing and advertising different.

Advertising: The paid, public, non-personal announcement of a persuasive message by an identified sponsor; the non-personal presentation or promotion by a firm of its products to its existing and potential customers.

Marketing: The systematic planning, implementation and control of a mix of business activities intended to bring together buyers and sellers for the mutually advantageous exchange or transfer of products.

After reading both of the definitions it is easy to understand how the difference can be confusing to the point that, so lets break it down a bit.

Advertising is a single component of the marketing process operation. It's the part that involves getting the word out concerning your business, product, or the services you are offering. It involves the process of developing strategies such as ad placement, frequency.

Advertising includes the placement of an ads in such mediums as newspapers, direct mail, billboards, television, radio, and of course the Internet. Advertising is the largest expense of most marketing plans, with public relations following in a close second and market research not falling far behind.

The best way to distinguish between advertising and marketing is to think of marketing as a pie, inside that pie you have slices of advertising, market research, media planning, public relations, product pricing, distribution, customer support, sales strategy, and community involvement.

Advertising only equals one piece of the pie in the strategy. All of these elements must not only work alone but they also must work together towards the bigger goal.

Marketing is a process that takes time and can involve hours of research for a marketing plan to be effective. Think of marketing as everything that an organization does to facilitate an exchange between company and consumer.

50 Marketing Ideas for Beginners Part#1

2009-12-03T08:02:00.000-08:00

Do you have a marketing idea? After you read this article, you can Share Your Ideas with others.

Small business owners can easily get too involved in the day-to-day operations of their retail stores to spend any time to creat marketing ideas or promotional events. Some retailers worry that marketing is too expensive, others may find markets depend on who you are and what you sell, how will anyone know?

Here are 50 marketing ideas for beginners.

1. Create a calendar for customers with your shop's name and address on it, and all details belong to him such as somebody working with him it is very important.

2. Print the products you sell or services offered on the back of your business cards. Actually I never do that but it do work really to make customer remember you by your products you offering him

3. Always carry business cards with you. Give them freely and ask permission to leave them in places your target market may visit.

4. Join a trade association or organization related to your industry. To know your market well.

5. Have a drawing for a product or a gift certificate. Use the entry forms to collect customers' mailing addresses.

6. Develop a brochure of services your shop offers, for free but to targeted customers.

7. Conduct monthly clinics about a product or service you offer or schedule semi-annual seminars on related "how-to" information for your industry.

8. Print a tagline for your business on letterhead, fax cover sheets, Envelopes, e-mails and invoices.

9. Develop a website to showcase your products, services and location. Use a memorable URL and include it on all marketing materials.

10. Include customer testimonials in your printed literature.

11. Promote yourself as an expert by writing articles or tips on topics related to your industry.

12. Submit to the local newspaper, trade journal or other publications.

13. Host an after-hours gathering for your employees and their friends/relatives, that makes your team work feels like family.

14. Provide free t-shirts with your logo to your staff to wear.

15. Send newsworthy press releases as often as needed.

16. Create an annual award and publicize it.

17. Develop your own TV show on your specialty and present it to your local cable station or public broadcasting station.

18. Create a press kit and keep its contents current.

19. Use an answering machine or voice mail system to catch after-hours phone calls. Include basic information in your outgoing messages such as business hours, location, website, etc.

20. Join a Chamber of Commerce where you can network with area business owners.

21. Hold an open house. Invite prominent city officials and the press.

22. Get a memorable local or toll-free phone number. To help to easy contact.

23. Place ads in publications your market reads. Be sure to reach the non-English speaking market as well.

24. Distribute specialty products such as pens, mouse pads, or mugs with your store's logo.

50 Marketing Ideas for Beginners Part#2

2009-12-03T07:54:00.000-08:00

Marketing is the most effective word if done in coordination with other exposure. Enhance the above efforts with additional signage, newspaper ads, displays and radio ads. Remember to tailor each event for your target audience. If your message isn't being delivered to the right person, it may be a wasted effort.

Now let's continue the 50 marketing ideas:

25. Advertise in creative locations such as park benches, buses, and popular Web sites.

26. Improve your building signage, cause it is the first thing customers see.

27. Get a booth at a trade show or expo attended by your target market, it gives you huge market

28. Give a speech or volunteer for a career day at a high school.

29. Sponsor an Adopt-a-Highway area in your community to keep roads litter-free.

30. Donate your product or service to a charity event or auction.

31. Have a Yellow Pages advertising listed under your main industry and in related categories.

32. Volunteer your time to a charity or non-profit organization.

33. Create a loyalty program to reward existing customers.

34. Create an opt-in email or print newsletter for your customers. Fill each edition with specials, tips and other timely information, for more cooperation with customers.

35. Send hand-written thank you notes to important customers every chance you get.

36. Use brightly colored envelopes and unique stationary when sending direct mail pieces to anyone.

37. Show product demos or related videos on a television on the sales floors during store hours, for more show.

38. Book a celebrity guest for an event at your store. Use people in your industry or television news anchors or local authors.

39. Create window displays in locations away from your shop. Airports, hospitals, and large office buildings occasionally have display areas they rent to local businesses.

40. Team up with a non-competing business in your area to offer a package promotion.

41. Pick the slowest day of the week to hold a one-day sale, and other promotions.

42. Create a warm, welcoming waiting area for your customers.

43. Provide extra customer service training for your staff.

44. Sign up for a newsletter or join online discussion groups in your industry.

45. If possible, loan your facilities to other groups for a meeting place.

46. Create a unique lapel pin based on the products you sell to wear at meetings.

47. Choose a regular customer to spotlight as a Customer of the Month

48. Pair up slow moving items with related products and repackage as a special buy.

49. Start a blog. Write about your industry or detail in-store happenings.

50. Offer your customers discounts for each referral they provide.

10 Key Steps to Successful Exporting: part#1

2009-12-03T07:47:00.000-08:00

Every body with a product or service can export, or at least attempt to export. But nobody sure of success . At the best of times exporting can be a complex and challenging process. Yet, when it is approached with careful deliberation, exporting can be a rewarding growth strategy for any business. Here are ten key steps to take your export operation from start to success:

1. Make an exporting contract.

Whether you own a sole proprietorship offering consulting services or manage a 1000-person manufacturing facility, exporting offers you opportunities for growth, increased sales and different markets. But a marketable product or service is only the beginning.

Exporting takes time and hard work. It also takes resources and a strong commitment to compete beyond your current borders. If you are focused and have assessed your product or service to enter the global marketplace, you are ready for the next step.

2. Plan, plan, plan and Plan.

The secret to export success is preparation and a carefully researched export plan. This is your source of direction as you begin on your journey into foreign markets. An export plan helps you to act to the challenges and face risks in international business. And in addition to helping you implement your export strategy, it can help you obtain financial assistance, investors or other strategic partners required to make your export venture a success.

* An export plan contains many elements:

* A description of your company, its market and industry, and your business objectives.

* An information on your products or services.

* An analysis of the target market and industry, including trends and forecasts.

* An examination of the competition and their strengths and weaknesses in contrast to your own.

* An international marketing strategies, including customer profiling and the development of sales and distribution channels.

* An employment and training issues.

* The financial requirements and forecasts, and much more.

3. Manage your research to find the right market.

Thorough market research helps you make your export marketing decisions by giving you a clear picture of the economic, political and cultural factors that makes you able to sell your product or service. Ultimately, market research saves you time, money and effort by reducing your chances to unknowns.

There are two main types of market research.

Secondary market research consists of information collection from published sources (books, newspapers, market reports, studies, and periodicals) and the Internet. Researchers will find trade statistics, market and industry information, even potential partners and trade leads. Secondary research helps you to filter your information needs.

Primary market research helps you fill in the hard times through direct contact with key experts, customers or other sources of information. Primary research always contains personal contact strategies such as interviews and consultations and is best attempted after you have familiarized yourself with the potential market through your secondary research efforts.

10 Key Steps to Successful Exporting: part#2

2009-12-03T07:41:00.000-08:00

4. Create your marketing strategies for your target market.

International marketing is not the same as local marketing. Those who ignore this fact are ignore them own peril. As successful as you may be at reaching your local customers or clients, you must be aware that your international audience will frequently have different tastes, needs and customs. Good marketing strategies help the exporter understand and address these possible differences.

These strategies are captured in the international marketing plan, a flexible document that will likely be reviewed, revised and modified throughout your exporting activities. Marketing is a continuous activity and so is marketing planning because you can never know enough about your customers and how to meet their needs. The basic marketing formula – the “ 4 P’s” of product, price, promotion and place – is just the start when it comes to international marketing. Your plan will need to address many other factors, such as payment (international transactions and currency exchanges), paperwork (increased documentation), practices (different cultural and people, social and business styles), partnerships (strategic alliances to strengthen your market presence) and protection (increased risks relating to payment, intellectual property or travel) and many more risks. Understanding all these facts of international business will transform your marketing plan into marketing action.

5. Enter the market.

The research is complete and the export and marketing plans have been completed. You feel ready to enter the market and are seeking the best strategy to reach to target your customers. There are as many market entry strategies as there are markets; however, these strategies can be loosely grouped into three categories.

Direct exports, as the name contains, involve direct marketing and selling to the client. In a reasonably accessible market such as the United States for example, direct exporting of products or services may be a viable option. But in less familiar markets, with different legal and regulatory environments, business practices, customs and preferences, direct exporting may not be an option. A local partner, for example, may be better able to manage these complexities and serve your potential customers better way.

Indirect exporting is frequently used to enter new markets. Businesses selling products enter into an agreement with an agent, distributor or a trading house for the offer of selling (or marketing and selling) the products in the target market. Due diligence is critical when selecting an agent or distributor for indirect exporting

The third market entry strategy involves strategic partnerships with other companies or individuals with complementary skills and capabilities and dealing with companies like this gives you a big power in your field. A partner can often provide the insight, contacts and expertise that fills the gap in your export readiness.

A strategic alliance or cooperation with a company selling a complementary product or service can provide more effective market access, resulting in more foreign sales in less time. As with indirect exporting relationships, contractual agreements with partners must be stated in clear terms and, whenever possible, and it must be actually honest.

10 Key Steps to Successful Exporting: part#3

2009-12-03T07:33:00.000-08:00

6. Get your product or service to market.

Every market has its own package of rules and regulations covering safety, health, security, packaging and labeling, customs and duties among other things. Also, these rules and regulations may vary depending on the product or service which you are exporting. It is critical that you understand the rules and regulations that apply to you before you ship your goods or open your foreign business location. Product-based businesses with shipping requirements will benefit from developing a relationship with a freight forwarding company and a customs broker. Whether you are shipping by truck, rail, sea or air, the documentation will likely be extensive and potentially confusing. The services provided by these businesses will assist you in determining the most efficient and least risky options for shipping your goods across borders.

7. Explore financing options.

While there are overnight export success stories, most companies must be prepared to invest both time and financial resources to see the return on their investment and the subsequent success. Consequently, financial stability and a secure cash flow are very important during this period. In some cases, businesses can rely on their domestic sales to sustain their early export efforts. If this is not possible, it is a good idea to know what financing options are available. Exporters must develop a financial plan to understand and address the diverse costs associated with exporting and to calculate all available costs, complete with a two- to three-year cash budget to cover expenses and a capital budget. A capital budget is a cost-benefit assessment of your export objectives and serves as your operating plan for measuring expenditures and revenues.

8. Understand the legal, custom, and regulatory issues.

Exporting exposes Egyptian businesses to unfamiliar laws and regulations. There are numerous international conventions, treaties and national, regional and municipal rules that can affect your ability to operate successfully in foreign markets. Exporters may also encounter disputes with agents or distributors, clients or creditors. It is important to understand your rights and obligations when resolving disputes or problem, selling goods or services and protecting intellectual property.

9. Put it into practice.

You have committed yourself to exporting. You have the skills and the resources to undertake the challenge. You have researched the market and prepared your export plan, international marketing plan and financial plan. Your market entry strategy is clear and the support system (i.e. freight forwarder, customs broker, financial lenders, legal advisors) is in place. You have gone through the export process step-by-step and feel confident that you have covered all the basic markets. Now, it is time to put all this skill and knowledge to use. The world is waiting for your product or service!

10. Let Me help you if you need.

Dear friends I may help you in the global markets by offering comprehensive export information and services. These tools are designed to help both experienced exporters and potential exporters plan and implement their international business ventures from start to success. For more information please feel free to contact us

HOW TO MAKE A BUSINESS PLAN? PART#1

2009-12-03T07:20:00.000-08:00

First I like to tell you if you want to success in any business you have to plan carefully for every thing may happen

When writing the business plan, the marketing plan section explains how you are going to get your customers to buy your products and/or services. The marketing plan, then, will contain sections detailing your:

· Products and/or Services and your Selling leads

· Pricing Strategy

· Sales/Distribution Plan

· Advertising and all Promotion Plan

The easiest way to upgrade your marketing plan is to work through each of these sections, referring to the market research you completed when you were writing the first sections of the business plan.
Products /or Services
This part of the marketing plan focus on the uniqueness of your product or service, and how the customer will earn from using the products or services you are offering.
What is the benefit of your product or service?
Describe the physical attributes of your product or service, and any other thing describe your features, or how your product or service different from competitive products or services.
How will your product or service benefit the customer?
if you're selling a cleaning product, your customers will benefit by having a cleaner house, but they may also benefit by enjoying better health. Brainstorm as many benefits as possible to begin with, and then choose to the benefits that your targeted customers will most appreciate in your marketing plan.
What is it that sets your product or service apart from all the others? In other words, what is your Unique Selling Proposition, the message you want your customers to receive about your product or service that is the heart of your marketing plan? The marketing plan is all about communicating this central message to your customers.

HOW TO MAKE A BUSINESS PLAN? PART#2

2009-12-03T07:11:00.000-08:00

Pricing Strategy

The pricing strategy portion of the marketing plan determining how you will price your product or service; the price you charge has to be competitive but still allow you to make a reasonable profit.

The keyword here is "reasonable"; you can charge any price you want to, but for every product or service there's a limit to how much the consumer is willing to pay. Your pricing strategy needs to take this consumer threshold into his account.
The most common question small business people have about the pricing of the marketing plan is, "How do you know what price to charge?
Basically you set your pricing through a process of calculating your costs, estimating the benefits to customers, and comparing your products, services, and prices to others that are similar.
Set your pricing by testing how much it cost you to produce the product or service and adding a fair profit for the benefits that the customer will enjoy. Examining what others are charging for similar products or services will guide you when you're calculate what a "fair" price for such benefits would be. You may find it useful to conduct a profit to seller and buyer.
The pricing strategy you outline in your marketing plan will answer the following questions:
What is the cost of your product or service? Make sure you include all your fixed and variable costs when you're calculating this; the cost of labour and materials are obvious, but you may also need to include freight costs, or selling costs, and all expenses you may face.
How does the pricing of your product or service compare to the market price of other products or services?
Explain how the pricing of your product or service is competitive. cause if the price you plan to charge is lower, why are you able to do this? If it's higher, why would your customer be willing to pay more? This is where the "strategy" part of the pricing strategy comes into play; will your business be more competitive if you charge more, less, or the same as your all market price and why?
What kind of ROI (Return On Investment) are you expecting with this pricing strategy, and within what time you will spend to get your money back?

HOW TO MAKE A BUSINESS PLAN? PART#3

2009-12-03T07:01:00.000-08:00

Sales and Distribution Plan

Remember, the primary target the marketing plan is to get people to buy your products or services. The Sales and Distribution part of the marketing plan details what is going to do.

Traditionally there are three parts to the Sales and Distribution section of the marketing plan, although all three parts may not apply to your business, or you maynot use them all.

1) Outline the distribution methods to be used.

How is your product or service going to get to it's customer? For instance, will you distribute your product or service through a Web site, through the mail, through sales representatives, or through retail?

What distribution channel is going to be used?

In a direct distribution channel, the product or service goes directly from the manufacturer to the customer. In a one stage distribution channel it goes from manufacturer to retailer to customer. The traditional distribution channel is from manufacturer to wholesaler to retailer to customer. Outline all the different companies, people and/or technologies that will be involved in the process of getting your product or service to your customer.

What are the costs associated with distribution?

What are the delivery terms?

How will the distribution methods affect production time frames or delivery? (How long will it take to get your product or service to your customer, or how will be your delivery time?)

If your business involves selling a product, you should also include information about inventory levels and packaging in this part of your marketing plan. For instance:

How are your products to be packaged for shipping and for display?

Does the packaging meet all regulatory requirements (such as labelling)?

Is the packaging appropriately coded, priced, and compatible with the product?

What minimum inventory quantity levels must be maintained to ensure that there is no loss of sales due to problems such as late shipments and back orders?

2) Outline the transaction process between your business and your customers.

What system will be followed to processing orders, shipping, and billing?

What methods of payment will customers be able to use? cash, check, or other and it must be trusted.

What credit terms will customers be offered? If you will offer discounts for early payment or impose penalties for late payment, they should be mentioned in this part of your marketing plan.

What is your return policy??

What warranties will the customer be offered? Describe these or any other service or products.

What after-sale service support will you offer to customers and what will you charge (if anything) for this support?

Is there a system for customer feedback so customer satisfaction, can be tracked and addressed?

3) If it's applicable to your business, outline your sales strategy.

What types of salespeople will be involved , you must choose them carefully.

Describe your expectations of these salespeople and how sales effectiveness will be measured.

Will a sales training program be offered? If so, describe it in this section of the marketing plan.

Describe the incentives salespeople will be offered to encourage their achievements.

Lastly, when you're making marketing plan, you need to develop an Advertising and Promotion plan.

HOW TO MAKE A BUSINESS PLAN? PART#4

2009-12-03T06:37:00.000-08:00

Advertising And Promotion Plan

First the Advertising and Promotion section of the marketing plan describes how you're going to deliver your Special Selling Proposition to your customers. While there are thousands of different promotion avenues available to you, what distinguishes a successful Advertising and Promotion Plan from an unsuccessful one is focus - and that's what your Special Selling Proposition provides.

So think first of the message that you want to send to your targeted audience. Then look at these promotion possibilities and decide which to Confirm in your marketing plan:

Advertising - The best Way to advertising is to think of it in terms of media and which media will be most effective in reaching your target market. Then you can make decisions about how much of your annual advertising budget you're going to spend on each medium (payment for advertising).

What percentage of your annual advertising budget will you Spend in each of the following:

the Internet

television

radio

newspapers

magazines

telephone books/directories

billboards

bench/bus/subway ads

direct mail

cooperative advertising with wholesalers, retailers or other businesses?

Include not only the cost of the advertising but your projections about how much business the advertising will bring in.

Sales Promotion - If you used it to your business, you may want to activate sales promotions into your advertising and promotion plan, such as:

offering free samples

coupons

point of purchase displays

product demonstrations

Marketing Materials - Every business will include some of these in their promotion plans. The most known marketing material is the business card, brochures, pamphlets and service sheets are also incloded.

Publicity - Another way of promotion that every business should use. Describe how you plan to generate publicity. While press releases spring to mind, that's only one way to get people spreading the word about your business. and it contains:

* product launches

* special events, including any events may happen in your society.

* writing articles

* getting and using testimonials (iso / any other certificates)

Your Business' Web Site - If your business has or will have a Web site, describe how your Web site describe your advertising and promotion plan.

Tradeshows - Trade show can be the magic effective promotion and sales chances - if you pick the right ones and go directly to put your promotion plan into action. My article "Trade Show Tips" explains how to choose the right trade shows and gives display tips to make the most of your trade show experience.

Other Promotion Activities

Your promotion activities are truly limited only by your imagination. If you plan to teach a course, sponsor a community event, or conduct an email marketing, you'll want to include it in your advertising and promotion plan. and Remember that, any sporadic unconnected attempts to promote your product or service are bound to fail; your goal is to plan and carry out a sequence of focused promotion activities that will communicate with your potential customers.

While small businesses often are little (or non-existent) promotion budgets, that doesn't mean that small businesses can't design and product effective promotion plans.

No business is too small to have a marketing plan. After all, no business is too small for customers or clients. And if you have these, you need to communicate with them about your products and/or services.

How Do You Catch Customers ?

2009-11-25T15:49:00.000-08:00

How Do You Catch Customers ?

One thing is sure when you are in business; you do not stop hunting for new customers and prospects. Even when business is doing great, you still have to look for and attract new customers so you can ensure that your business will keeps on growing. If not, then you might end up losing your customer base, which can lead to your losing your business all together.

That is why it is very important that you market regularly. Marketing should not stop when you have a solid client base , it should not stop when business is doing well, and it should never stop even when the economy is down and everybody’s curbing their spending activities. You got to attract customers at all times.

But we know for a fact that targeting and attracting customers is a very hard job. Not only are you introducing your business to your target audience, but more importantly, you are trying to convince them to do business with you. This then means that you have to show them you are different and that you are exactly what they are looking for.

To help you with your marketing efforts, here are important strategies so you can target and attract customers to your business:

1. Find out what they are searching for.

Bear in mind that it is all about them; your customers. It is all about what they need and want. If you want to attract as many clients to your business, you have to learn to give them what they are looking for. Look at market trends; study what products and services sell the most. And also find out what problems have yet to be solved by other companies. By doing so, you will be able to position yourself to show your target clients in your ads such as your catalog printing or print catalogs that you can provide them something that has not been provided by any business in the market.

2. Your customer’s money is important to him.

You have to learn that money does not grow on trees. They are earned with hard work. That is why your target clients would not part with it that easily. Unless you are able to convince them that what you provide are excellent quality products and services, only then will they trust you with their hard-earned cash.

3. Consider the demographics.

Market to the right people with the right message. Determine who would be most interested in your offer, as well as who would have the most capacity to buy your product or service. You do not go wasting your time and effort trying to advertise to just about everybody. If you target right way, you can attract the right people who would be able to act on your offer right away.

4. Be different.

Make your marketing campaign – be it catalog printing or print catalogs, or even hang tags – a stand out. Give your target clients a reason to become curious about your marketing campaign; enough that they would want to go over what you are trying to convey to them. Your design and style will help you become distinct to attract the attention of your target audience.

Targeting and attracting customers is not impossible although it is hard work indeed. By considering who is most likely to engage in business with you, you can very well provide yourself with a solid and strong customer base that can provide you with a robust business.

START UP MISTAKES

2009-11-25T15:27:00.000-08:00

WE DISCUSS NOW THE MOST POPULAR MISTAKES MOST OF PEOPLE FALLS IN IT SPECIALLY IN THE SMALL BUISNESS .

Startup Mistake # 1: First, being a "carpenter" is too general. There are a lot of carpenters in the world, but the only successful ones have something special to concentrate on. Wood carving, house renovation, specialized pieces.

Startup Mistake # 2: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. An idea is not a business plan, or a marketing plan, or even just a target. It is simply an idea. Although the planning process may look long and tedious now, it will benefit you more than you could imagine in the future. For example, when you are seeking funding, when you are joining an association of professionals, when your goals change, when your business changes, or if you take on a partner or investor. Your plan should guide you, but not constrain you. If something in your plan doesn't fit just right, change it. Your business plan will never have a final draft.

Startup Mistake # 3: Brochures and business cards are garbage to startup businesses! You will spend far more producing them than they will produce for you. Ignoring the high cost of printing these materials, and the costs associated in designing them if you aren't proficient yourself, most startup businesses change too quickly for these materials to be effective for more than a short time, sometimes as little as days.

If it costs $1000 to print these the first time, and $1000 to design them the first time, imagine how much you will pay if your brochures beat statistics and last two months. If alterations to design cost $500, it costs $1500 every time your business changes. If your business changes every two months, you can expect to spend at least $9000 that year on brochures and business cards. Yes, that is nine thousand dollars in lost revenue, over something that is less effective than graffiti. Don't waste your time, or your money, on brochures and business cards until you can keep your typical sales presentation the same for at least six months. Otherwise, for business startups, these things aren't worth the trouble.

Startup Mistake # 4: Okay, the Yellow Pages. Let's take a look in the Yellow Pages and see how many other trillions of carpenters there are. Which ones stand out? Definitely not the tiny ad in the corner. Probably not the one-liner. And as a business startup, that is all you would be able to do. For the one or two clients per year this would bring you, it is better to wait until your marketing budget can afford to buy large, extravagant and eye-catching ads.

Startup Mistake # 5: Six hundred dollars for a website and domain name? A website and domain name before a marketing plan? This scenario is already causing headaches for those of you "in the know". Best idea for a business start up, design your own website for free if you can. Second best idea for a business startup, get a friend or relative to design it for free. Third best , pay a minimal fee for your stuff and the rest can be done by yourself and a relative and friends.

Only if no one in the world can help you, do you want to hire a professional to do the whole thing for you. And when you do, try and get it on 30 or 60 days post. That way, the new website will be generating money for you before you pay. If you do pay upfront, and can't get around it, ask if they do free updates. You are able to change a thing or two, probably at least once a week as you test out your new site. If you pay $600, it had better be a good website – because your entire marketing budget just paid for it.

Startup Mistake # 6: Wow! A carpenter who went to John B. Doe Carpentry Academy! Is that what your customers say? Most likely, they won't even think that. Most customers think, "Wow! Look at his work. It is just what I need." And that is what you want your customers to think. Don't offer yourself; offer your solutions. Everyone who comes to your website has a problem they need solved. If you figure out that problem, and can tell them how to solve it using your website, you have just hit a marketing gold-mine.

Startup Mistake # 7: What is a carpenter doing at a grocery store? And why is he handing out fliers anyway? If you do hand out fliers, do it where it counts. A carpenter should hand out fliers at a lumber yard or furniture store. Even a department store that sells nails would be a better location for him when handing out fliers. Think about it.

Startup Mistake # 8: You stopped marketing. This is might be the biggest mistake for a business startup. Even if you do exactly the opposite of everything you have read so far, if you keep doing it you are bound to get at least minimal results. If you stop when you run out of new ideas, you probably won't get much.

The key to marketing is repetition. Make sure people think of your name when they have a problem. If they have only seen your name once, but your competitor just sent them a third flier, your competitor will get their business. We've all heard that it takes more than once for a customer to buy, and it has never been more true. With the information available to your customers today, you want your name to be in front of them as much as possible.

Startup Mistake # 9: When nothing happened, you didn't try again. Nothing says failure like someone who quits. Motivate yourself! Get up in the morning and say "I'm going to get hits to my website." Or "I’m going to get a client this week!" If you build it, but nobody knows its there, nobody is going to come. When you’re starting a business, you have to try, make mistakes, learn, and try again. If you try, make a mistake, and give up, you will never be the success you know you can be.

Startup Mistake # 10: You assumed that what everyone else does will work for you. Wrong! What everyone else does took them a long time to figure out, and they have been tweaking it all that time to make it work right for them. If you copy part, but not all, of what they do, you will never get the same results. People strive for individuality, and businesses should too. If you copy your competitor in every aspect, your prospects might as well flip a coin. Do you want 50 percent of the business you could be getting? No, you want it all!

The bottom line with a business startup is to stay motivated. Starting a business is one of the hardest things anyone can ever do because of the uncertainty, the lack of a support structure, the complete and total disregard of your typical safety zone. It is all part of starting a business. But the rewards are far greater than the sacrifices. And in the end, when you are financially secure, and independent from the corporate world, it will be more gratifying than you could have ever dreamed.

Get Ready To Sell By Building Self Confidence

2009-11-25T15:10:00.000-08:00

Get Ready To Sell By Building Self Confidence

To sell, you must believe in your product or service - and believe in yourself. Your selling skills depend, in large part, on your level of self confidence.

Other people sense whether or not you believe in yourself, and by extension, whether or not you believe in what you're doing. That belief is what persuades the customer or client to buy the product or service. Therefore, increasing your self confidence will improve your selling skills.

Do you believe that you personally are not good at selling? Are worry and anxiety eroding your self confidence?

Everyone has these feelings at one time or another. But that doesn't mean that you can't sell successfully. Believing in your self is like any other attitude; self confidence can be learned. You can increase your self confidence through practice, and that in turn will increase your selling skills.

Develop A Building Self Confidence Routine

Like many other people, I don't wake up each day revved up with self confidence. But if you met me in person, you would think I was a confident person. That's because whether I'm going to present a workshop, meet with a client, or even work at home that day, I go through a routine that I've developed to pump up my self confidence and get me ready to sell.

The focus of the building self confidence routine is to eliminate all those distractions that are interfering with my concentration on the event at hand, and to put me into the positive, confident frame of mind that I want to present to others, whether in person, or via technology.

My building self confidence routine involves going over all my preparations, going through a ritual of bathing and dressing, and conducting a mental rehearsal that includes using self-praise.

Use Self Praise To Build Self Confidence

We are surrounded by negative influences. But most of these negative influences exist in our own heads. Awake or asleep, our minds constantly produce a series of thoughts and images, and for many of us, these produce a constant barrage of negative messages.

Using self-praise is a self confidence building technique for combating these negative messages. Instead of allowing your mind to produce whatever messages it wants, consciously override these messages with positive praise about what you've done or do well. For instance, say to yourself, "You really handled that crisis well yesterday, when you..." , or "You're really great at...". Your self confidence will bloom more readily in a positive mental climate.

Building Self Confidence Routine Tips

Like the daily planning session, your building self confidence routine needs to be uninterrupted. Do not take phone calls during this time, or let family members interrupt you.

It helps to physically confront yourself when you're conducting a self-praise session to build your self confidence. Many people find it helpful to stand in front of a mirror when they're doing this, and to speak out loud. Once you've become comfortable with the technique, you may wish to go through the self-praise exercise mentally, and combine it with other activities, such as exercise or household tasks.

If you haven't used a self confidence building technique such as self-praise at first, you'll probably feel silly when you first start. Ignore these feelings and persevere. Over time, you'll find your feelings of silliness diminish as your self confidence grows.

The more specific you make your self-praise, the more powerful it will be. And the more you use your building self confidence routine, the more your internal self confidence will develop - the self confidence you need to sell your product or service successfully.