Wow! A New Product

When you have a new idea that has developed into a product that you think will change the world, ask these questions before you jump in with both feet.

.Is it an original idea?
.Is there a broad need for it?
.Will buyers understand it?
.Who will buy this product?
.Is the price affordable?
.Can you afford the marketing cost?
.What if demand gets big?
.Will you offer a guarantee?
.Who will manufacture it?
.What are your profit goals?
.What if it doesn't sell?

When you know the answers to these questions you may be ready to patent & test your new product. Once you have made the commitment put 100% of your effort behind it. Good Luck !

Too good to be true?

We have all heard that saying and most of us are careful how we spend or invest our money. But the people out there that want to take advantage of us are always dreaming up new plans to make us all RICH is we only spend.... The new year always brings new ones out of the shadows to entice us and probably cheat us. Success and riches come from great ideas & hard work over a period of time. Most of the get-rich-schemes make someone else rich, be careful.

Samples Make Sales

When you put your product or a sample of it in your customers hands it will sell itself. Would you even consider buying an expensive car without driving it first? When your customer experiences a product first hand the are no longer taking your word for the quality they can make their own decision. This also eliminates buyer's remorse and less returns & exchanges. If you're selling a service or on the web show a video of someone using it and giving a testimonial. Let people build confidence in you and your products or services by being involved in the selling process and touching samples of the product. Make samples a part of your marketing mix and watch sales increase. 104 more ideas in my book "The Jelly Bean Principle" Follow me on Twitter.. BTauthor

Customer Friendly Hours

Let me get up on my soapbox and say that if you don't have business hours that satisfy your customers it's time to get out of the business. I said customer NOT you. I see too many business owners that open late and close early just because they can. Then they wonder why business is slow or they don't get the repeat customers that they expect. A competitor has more comvenient hours and taking all their customers. Well good for the competitor because thats how a business should be operated to achieve maximum growth & profits. Before you even start a new business decide if you can and will offer the hours that your customers & clients want and need. If that's not you then find another venture that requires less hours. Customers expect you to be available when THEY need you and will reward you with repeat sales and referrals. Look at the business hours you are now offering and make adjustments quickly, you'll be surprised at the results. 104 more business ideas in my book "The Jelly Bean Principle"

Great Headlines !

You're spending hard-earned money on advertising & Direct Mail so it should do the job that you expect it to do. Sharp to-the-point copy can entice a prospective buyer or client to take action and possibly make a purchase. But will they ever get to that great copy without a Great Headline to draw them in? It's been said that you only have person's attention to your ad for less thatn 3 seconds. I don't think it's even that long, so there must be something to grab and hold them. That something is your Headline which is the first thing they see. Experiment with different ones and ask co-workers, friends and even people you don't know what grabs their attention. Here are a few headline ideas you can use or modify to fit your business.
.Parents Read This!
.Painless Dentistry
.Fast $3.99 Lunch
.Wanted: Clogged Drains
.No Down Payment
.Free Installation
.15 Minute Oil Change
.Hair Salon-No Waiting
.Free Delivery & Set-Up
.Homeowners Beware!
.Child Safe Toys
.No Baggage Charge
.Free Gift Wrap
The list can go on & on until you find the right one to attract you future customers. Once a headline works stick with it but if it's not working try another one. 104 more ways to stand out from competitors are in my book "The Jelly Bean Principle"

Why Shop at a Small Store

The consumer has many choices when it comes to spending their money. Why should they consider a small store over a large corporate chain or discount store? Here are some ideas that build loyalty in small stores.

. Better all-around customer service
. Well informed sales staff
. Owners on premises & available
. Every sale is very important
. People you can get to know
. Faster check-out or payment
. Comfortable store layout
. Easy returns & exchanges
. Special orders are welcome
. They know your name
. No corporate bureaucracy
. Consistent quality & prices

If your small store is missing any of these, get to work on improving your image today. You can & will survive any economic slowdown with loyal customers who will also send referrals. But to get that loyalty you must give them the feeling that their business is valued and appreciated.

Customer Service Don'ts

What has happened to customer service in the retail business? Big companies don't care, they just advertise low prices to draw customers for one-time purchases. But small business needs loyalty to keep customers coming back and save those advertising dollars. Common sense tells you to treat the customer like royalty because they are. Following are some ways to create that loyalty and mosre are FREE!

. Don't forget to say Thank You..every time
. Don't argue with a customer..you can lose 2 ways
. Don't answer all calls with voice mail
. Don't set you set your business to suit you instead of your customers
. Don't chew gum or eat when talking to a customer... common courtesy

Trust & Value

Two very important words in a buyer-seller relationship. And it works both ways, not just for the buyer. The buyer must trust the quality and value of the product or service that they are paying for and the seller must trust that the buyer will pay on time and they will be a long time customer. Hit-n-Run buyers who only shop on price are less valuable to the seller. The seller will always provide better service, better offers and perks to repeat customers because they will support their business in the tough times. The buyer wants to know that their business is appreciated and that the seller says Thank You after every transaction. The buyer must be confident that even at the lowest price levels the product will still perform to their satisfaction. But if they purchase the high price product with all the bells & whistles they will expect exceptional performance. The entire economy is based on the buyer-seller relationship and Trust & Value play a big part. More about my books & newsletter at idealetter.com or oaktreebooks.com

Now is the Time

As bleak as things look sometimes in the business world, now is a great time to start a new business or give new life to an existing one. Reason Number One is that you will have very little competition especially if your product or service adds value to what's currently available. You don't have to re-invent the light bulb you just have to make it brighter, last longer, and use less energy. People are looking for new products that offer higher value and are friendly to our planet. Anytime you can tie in even small green ideas to what you are marketing you will get the attention of many people. The recession willend but we we don't want the planet to end with it. Reason Number Two is that suppliers and people that you outsource to will be offering the best deals now just to increase business. You may get better service, longer payment terms, free upgrades and other perks that won't be available when the economy is better. Take advantage of these and your start-up costs will be lower. These ideas & many more are in the book "The Jelly Bean Principle" available at oaktreebooks.com. If you have a good idea and the perseverence to see it through now is a great time to get started !

Maximize CHAMBER NETWORKING

Chamber of Commerce meetings are where people meet people with business in mind. Maybe your competitors are too busy to join or attend meetings and you can be there with no adversaries present. Maybe they even think it’s a waste of time and won’t help their business. But you can be there to listen and contribute. And you never know when you’ll find the golden goose at a chamber meeting or event. Most of the networking is done during the cocktail or social hour so make sure you’re there in the beginning. And if there’s a meal, sit at a table where you don’t know many people so that you can meet the new ones before the formal meeting begins.

Here are some ideas to make the most of your networking time at a chamber meeting:

* Arrive early enough to use the entire networking time.

* Walk around the area with a smile and assess who is there, and who you want to meet.

* Eat conservatively; it’s hard to talk with your mouth full.

* Keep drinks to a minimum – you’re there to network and meet people, not party.

* Have a short introduction ready to introduce yourself.

* Exchange or hand out business cards with all people who can benefit you directly or indirectly.

* Have a pen to jot notes on the back of business cards for future reference.

It’s best not to conduct business while networking—set a future appointment and call to confirm. Keep an open ear and mind for things you may be interested in talking about. Talk to as many people as you can without cutting anyone short. If you don’t find enough people who can benefit you, make friends with others who may send referrals. If there is really someone special that you meet, set a golf game and you’ll have 5 hours with them.

* Don’t leave immediately when the function is over, meet the speakers and other meeting VIPs.

* The next day, send an "it was nice to meet you" note to everyone you have a business card from.

* Follow-up with all the people you said you would call.

Driving back from the meeting, you need to decide if this is the type of function that you want to attend regularly. If not, look in your local paper for a list of other meetings, there should be many of them. Most newspapers publish the list once a week, usually on Monday. Another source of meetings is a business journal in your city or a city nearby. If you have the time to attend and network, you should see results. You are representing your company in an environment where business people meet to benefit each other.

Social Skills Matter

Making customers’ and prospects’ experience in dealing with you, your associates and employees pleasant and professional is what will make them come back again. A difficult and non-caring attitude may override the product or service that they are buying. Being friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and attentive is the secret to acquiring customers and clients, plus keeping them. We all have to live and work on the same Earth so we might as well get along with each other and make everything run smoother. A candid and responsive demeanor is expected in business and you could put your business at risk if it’s not there. If customers dread calling or visiting your company because of how they are dealt with or treated, they may shop elsewhere. And once those competitors of yours show more empathy and understanding you can kiss those customers goodbye for good!