Marketing your business is not just an attempt to reach your target market through formal and deliberate marketing means. Every time we meet someone and “talk business”, we are marketing. Sometimes, even at social situations, if we are discussing what we do, our “work”, we are marketing. Achieving extraordinary business results in today’s lightening fast world requires some radical shifts in thinking and acting and we need to make every marketing opportunity count. This means looking after and keeping in touch with existing and old clients and not just focusing only on new clients.
Business is more than the bottom line and a balance sheet. People make business happen. To achieve extraordinary business results, cultivate deep and agile relationships with your colleagues, clients, customers, suppliers and competitors. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Create lifelong clients. First impressions are the most critical. Often when people call a business they leave with a lasting impression that is not too stellar. Speak with a warm heart and try not to sound rushed or that the call coming in was an interruption. Smile as you speak on the phone. The smile can be heard and will also keep the person answering the phone more upbeat and positive. Always state your name and then follow with the question, “How can I help you.” Use the caller’s name several times during the conversation. Give the caller your full attention – no paperwork, no computer, no filing — nothing else but your full attention will do. Be sure to read back and repeat any important information including phone numbers, e-mail addresses, etc. Always say thank you for calling before you hang up. Make the first impression one that is profitable and meaningful … create lifelong clients from the beginning.
Always check your bags at the curb. Ditch the beliefs standing in your way. Nothing kills an extraordinary business result quicker than a misplaced belief or a hidden agenda. Be open to thinking in new ways and you’ll discover new possibilities. You will become lighter, move faster, be more spontaneous and cover more ground with less effort.
Surrender the outcome. Being focused on the outcome limits your perspective, hinders your ability to seize opportunities along the way, and makes you less willing to take risks. It’s like running a race with blinders on. Many people tell me they view me as a risk taker. I guess I do often take risks. I see huge personal benefits in doing so. By taking risks, I constantly expand my mind and see new possibilities. I gain more knowledge of myself and I gain courage and self-confidence. Set aside your expectations and fears. When you do, the possibilities will increase. Focus on making each day extraordinary. Answers seldom come to us when we frantically search for them. There is simply no room for them. Our minds, spirits, and bodies are consumed with the search, the pressure to discover, the desire to achieve and the fear of the consequences if we fail. To find our answers, we must create space. I have spent many years reading and attending seminars on “success” and have come away with what works for my own life, and what works in helping my clients live a balanced life or a life filled with success. These are things that I have incorporated into my day-to-day activities and assist my clients in learning to do the same.
Achieving extraordinary results doesn’t have to be a struggle. To reach for effortless and extraordinary results get your heart, head and soul in sync. Create a place of integrity, momentum, harmony and no regrets. Heart + Head + Soul = WOW! Don’t forget to signal before you turn. If you want people to follow your lead, don’t make them guess where you’re headed. Avoid a lot of crashes, fender benders and missed turns by telling folks which direction you are going before you take off. Take advantage of social media networks to keep your friends and clients informed as well as keep in touch.
Wear comfortable shoes. Be yourself. You’ll get more done, have more fun and build more powerful relationships. You may have seen people on network sites such as Facebook who announce how disgusted they are with marketers on those sites who use it for marketing purposes… and then turn around marketing their own events and websites. There is a difference between spam and marketing – know the difference and don’t hide behind misleading statements or comments – people can see through that. Have integrity and be trustworthy otherwise all the brilliant marketing strategies in the world will not help you.
Find the “extra” in the ordinary. Sometimes the answer is right in front of you. Don’t become so blinded by shiny new gizmos that you can’t see the obvious. And most important, lighten up and enjoy the experience. Marketing can be fun!
For more info visit http://www.MarketingwithTerriLevine.com
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