Summer Sales / Not Slow Sales

Summer Sales

Summer sales for your business do not have to be slow sales.  Many small business owners can be heard saying "summer is always quiet".

What can you do to prevent slow sales?
What can you do to create sales?

1 - review your target market notes to confirm what problem you solve for your prospects
2 - have a sale - a discount can attract certain types of prospects
3 - team up with someone else who sells to the same target market and create a package to sell for a limited time period.
4 - try a new marketing delivery system to see if you can get your prospects' attention
5 - make personal phone calls and invite them to a meeting (depending on your prospects - phone meetings, coffee meetings, lunch meetings)
6 - go back through your sales for the last two years and see if anyone is ready to buy again
7 - call current clients and check-in, ask for a referral while you have them on the phone

Why sit back and get a tan when you can get some sales and boost your business?  Be pro-active!

Cheryl Rankin
Fit For Business
info@fitforbusiness.ca
www.fitforbusiness.ca
647-287-0320

Building Social Media lists

Building Social Media Lists

 

 

 

Social media seems to be one of the tools small business owners are using to

build their contact lists.  Is a large social media list actually useful or not?

 

 

 

Social Media things to consider -

 

1 - are you connected to people / businesses that are your target market?

 

2 - are you able to service your contacts or are they on another continent?  It is hard to give a massage to someone in Europe if you are in Toronto.

 

3 - does anyone ever 'like' or comment or share your info?

 

4 - is your list growing?

 

5 - is anyone responding to your posts?  calling you / emailing you / signing up for the newsletter / visiting the website

 

 

To build your list

 

1 - follow / connect with people who are your target market

 

2 - follow / connect with people who can help you with tips or articles that you can share with your clients

 

3 - invite / follow people - write a short note with the invite that explains how you found them

 

4 - help other people - "like' or comment on a post when they have an event and help them share the info with more people

 

5 - occassionally ask people to 'like' or comment on your post (private email or phone call)

 

6 - let facebook, linked in or twitter search through your email list for friends / contacts who are on social media and send them an invite (you are already connected to them so why not connect on social media?)

 

7 - go through any new business cards to see who you can connect with on social media

 

 

To make your social medai work for you - call Cheryl

 

Cheryl Rankin

Fit For Business

647-287-0320

info@fitforbusiness.ca

www.fitforbusiness.ca 

Booths / Events / Tradeshows

Do I get a booth at an event or tradeshow?

Marketing always comes back to your target market.  Will your target market be attending this event.

Here are some questions that will help you choose great events for your business:

1 - will my target market be attending this event?
2 - how many people are expected to walk through the event?
3 - is there a chance that I can have Revenue from the event that is at least 10 x the booth cost?
4 - other than sales, what are the benefits of attending this event?
5 - how much manpower does this event need and do I have it or do I have to pay for it?
6 - is your business the correct size for the event?  If you are a one person business and you have a booth at a national tradeshow you may look out of place; larger businesses may look out of place at evening business networking events. 
7 - is the timing right for your business to have more exposure?

Cheryl Rankin
Business Consultant
Fit For Business
www.fitforbusiness.ca
647-287-0320
info@fitforbusiness.ca

Small Business Marketing

Small Business Marketing

 

Small business marketing is one of the main pieces to your business success.  It is extremely rare that your business is so special that you do not need to marketing.  Even small towns now have more than one accountant / bookkeeper and more than one pizza place and more than one car dealership that their residents have access to.  Everyone needs to market.

 

Marketing can be expemsive and unpredictable.  An advertisement in the newspaper may go unnoticed for months or a radio ad gets a low return rate.

 

Traditional marketing -

a) paying for advertising in newspapers, radio and TV

b) flyer distribution through the mail, newspapers and magazine inserts

c) word of mouth - network and make sure as many people know about your business as possible

d) referrals

e) events - have a booth at an event, participate in the event, create an event

f) direct mail to your current clients, past clients, prospects and then the general public

 

Online marketing -

a) e-newsletters

b) individual newsletters

c) social media - facebook, linked in, twitter through every day posts and comments

d) social media ads - pay for advertisements in these websites

e) online advertising - google ads

f) website

 

1 - know your target market before creating your marketing plan

2 - know how much a new client is worth

3 - know your budget

4 - create a flexible plan so that you can adjust based on your results (do not pay for / sign up for 1 year and have no changes possible)

5 - get busy and do it

6 - evaluate and then start your plan over again

 

To set up a marketing action plan for your small business in Mississauga or the Toronto area, let's meet in person for your consultation.  Other areas can meet over the phone.  Call Cheryl Rankin at 647-287-0320 or email info@fitforbusiness.ca to schedule your marketing action plan appointment.

 

Cheryl Rankin

Fit For Business

647-287-0320

info@fitforbusiness.ca

www.fitforbusiness.ca

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year's!

 

I hope you had a wonderful 2012 and your business made the progress and growth that you were expecting.  I also hope that 2013 will be an even better year for you, your business and your family.

 

If there is anything that I can do to help you grow your business, please contact me at

647-287-0320, info@fitforbusiness.ca .

 

Have a safe and happy holidays!

 

Cheryl., Fit For Business

 

 

No Dollars Marketing Tips

No Dollars Marketing Tips

Would you like some ideas on how to market your business without spending any money or very little money?  Send me an email to register for my free newsletter and get a copy of "No Dollars Marketing" Tips - info@fitforbusiness.ca

step 1 - target market - knowing 3 or 4 things about your target market will not give you enough info to market effectively and appropriately.  List at least 20 things about your target market - now you know them well enough to figure out how to get their attention without spending huge amounts of money.

step 2 - read the tip sheet and pick two items that you can implement within the next week.

Cheryl Rankin
Fit For Business
www.fitforbusiness.ca
647-287-0320

Easy Phone Calls

Easy Phone Calls

What a crazy title - easy phone calls?  How can phone calls be easy when you are so nervous?

Whether you are making cold calls to introduce your business, calling to book an appointment or calling to close the sale - all calls can be tough to make.  Here are some tips to make them easier:

1 - prepare a script for any out-going calls
a) one for voicemail
b) one for a live person if the call goes well
c) one for a live person if the call is tough

2 - review your target market
a) what do you know about the person you are calling?
b) what do you know about similar people / businesses?

3 - is there a chance they could have some objections?
a) list the objections
b) prepare a positive response to the objection (your come-back)

4 - email or mail them something to introduce your business or your proposal

5 - schedule a timeslot to make calls so you are not rushed

6 - be dressed professionally

7 - take a big breathe

8 - dial the phone
a) identify yourself but be friendly  Good afternoon, This is Cheryl from Fit For Business.  How are you today?
b) ask if it is a good time to talk for a minute or two
c) follow your script
d) find out if they received your email

9 - listen!  listen! listen!  Even though you want to follow your script be very careful to listen to the person on the other end of the line and your call will go much better.

10 - track your results
a) what phrases seemed to work well
b) what objections did they have?
c) what follow-up is needed?

Remember that if you can talk to 100 people in your target market that you should be able to close at least one sale so just get busy and start the calls.

If you want some help preparing your scripts or practicing, then call Cheryl Rankin, Fit For Business at 647-287-0320.