Customer Feedback

Remember that it's not what you want to offer but what your customers want to buy that really counts. And the only way to find out what that is.. ask them. Try a link on your website to a suggestion box, mail a form in the mail, hand them a comment card or just ask them personally. If you see a pattern when you read the responses it will tell you what they are concerned about and you need to work on. You may even be surprised when a great idea is submitted that you didn't think of before. So open your suggestion box and your mind and let customers tell you how to serve them better. It's one of the Cheap Marketing Ideas that always pays off. More ideas in my books and at www.idealetter.com.

Delegate Correctly

. Explain the task in depth
. Answer all questions clearly
. Set a deadline & expectations
. Give the person control to make small decisions
. Let go & let them work independently
. Show confidence in them
. Be available for more questions
. Give praise when due

Respect your customer's time

Some people want to make their purchase and get on with their life and others want a little more information. Learn how to tell the difference and you can make both types happy and return customers. And train your front line employees to do the same and monitor them in action. The old phrase "Do you want fries with that" is not for everyone and will even offend some people. Even on your website, don't insist that buyers fill out long profile forms unless they want to. Give them the option to pay and leave or register for more information and follow-up emails. They will remember you if they had a good buying experience and come back when they are ready. Don't treat everyone the same and you can build your repeat business faster. Follow me on Twitter....BTauthor.

Walmart Wants to Know

Before you approach Walmart with your product or idea, have answers to these these questions ready.

.Who will be your customer?
.How large is the market for this product?
.Do you have competitors?
.Does Walmart already sell competitor's products?
.Will your customer base grow?
.Can you hold or reduce prices as sales grow?
.What is your product advantage over similiar products?

Be ready when you walk in for your appointment and you will have a better chance of being selected. Walmart exposure usually means big sales.

Lose a Customer ?

We all hate to lose a customer but it's going to happen sometimes for a variety of reasons. But was the reason something you can correct or just a situation beyond your control? Knowing the reason why you lost their business is a powerful tool that you can use for future planning and marketing. And don't think that the reason is a lower price because that's rarely the case. You'll find that less than 30% of the time that price was the issue. Try to find out the real reason WHY and if you correct it let them know, some may come back to your business. Don't just forget about them, a past customer is always valuable.

Trade Shows - Be There

It's always important to attend at least one trade show in your industry once a year. You will find the latest innovations and ideas that you can turn into profits and be on the cutting edge of your field. You can also visit current suppliers and see what competitors are doing. Most trade shows will have free or low cost seminars/workshops and you should go to as many as possible. You can never have too much information when promoting your business or brand. Maybe today is the time to register for one or more shows in 2010. If any trade shows are in your current city you should visit all of those. If you are looking for more shows in your industry try these websites:
www.eventseye.com
www.allconferences.com
www.directory.tradeshowweek.com
www.eventsinamerica.com
These sites have most of the trade shows in North Americas and the world. More information on speaking at trade shows at www.idealetter.com

Direct Mail Guarantee

When sending direct mail to people who are not your customers, raise their comfort level by offering a solid guarantee. You need to make your potential buyer feel there is no risk if their purchase is less than perfect. Most customers want peace-of-mind and up-front knowledge that you will take care of any problems. Don't hide your guarantee at the bottom of your mailing piece in small print, highlight it so everyone will see it. Use a toll free number for questions and problems. Your response rate will increase when your prospect has confidence and trust when ordering from you.

Cheap Marketing Ideas

When marketing funds are tight you still need to find ways of promoting your business. Your creative ideas applied to proven methods will keep new & repeat business coming in. Here are some ways to consider that require little or no capital.

.Cross Promotion-Set up a referral group that wants sales from the same target market but are not competitors.
.Positive Publicity-Write articles, speak to target groups and volunteer with your company logo & name showing. Generate word-of-mouth publicity.
.Treat Customers Like Dogs- create a WOW factor with your busines and treat them as good as we treat our pets. Outstanding service is the minimum.
.Direct Mail-yes it still works and can be an inexpensive way to stay in contact with customers & prospects.
.Find a Better Way-there is always something new that can boost sales and recognition for your business. Don't let competitors beat you to it. Small improved changes can increase value and your sales.

You must keep marketing in good & bad times so using methods that are proven and "cheap" will get you farther ahead and closer to your goals.

Small Business Gift Cards

If you accept credit cards you can now use gift cards. Most merchant service providers have a gift card program available that's easy to use. There are small charges each time you swipe a card and a printout receipt with the remaining balance. But don't buy the cards from the merchant service, you can find much lower prices elsewhere. Gift Cards can bring in new customers, repeat customers, provide advance payments, broaden company name recognition and increase cash flow. You can't lose! And studies show that only 88%-90% of all value is redeemed. Now any size busines can and should use gift cards in their business. Follow Barry on Twitter.... BTauthor

Business Contingency Plans

Most small business owners do not have contingency plans written down or even considered. But things always seem to happen when you don't expect them or are prepared for them. Maybe it's time to consider what you would do if:

.Your business building burned down
.Sales suddenly dropped 50%
.A key employees left or died
.A main supplier closed down
.You got sick & could not work
.All your employees walked out
.A big competitor cut prices 50%
.Bank called your loan/credit line canceled
.All your computers crashed
.Another 911 occured
.You got windfall business

Be prepared before it happens and you will recover much faster. Share your plans with another person in case you can't get started right away.

Know Your Competitors

Whether you have a mature, growing or new business you will have competitors. The secret to surviving and growing while competitors try to steal your customers is to know as much about them as you can. Here are some things you should know:
.Who are your competitors?
.Are they independent or franchises?
.Are the owners on-site?
.What is their pricing strategy?
.How do they treat customers?
.How well do they pay employees?
.Where are they located?
.Are they growing & expanding?
.What marketing do they use?
.What are thier business hours?
.Do they have weaknesses?
.What are their strengths?
.Can you compete against them?
When you know the answers to most of these questions you can plan to succeed and prosper in the same target market. never ignore competitors because they are not ignoring you. 104 more ideas in the "The Jelly bean Principle"

Get That Reorder

For B to B customers an occaisional reorder reminder can get orders when you need them most. Select one of three methods to remind them it's time to check their supply. Emails can be fast, short and to the point. Post cards sent to the buyer can also include and new products or services that you want to introduce. A short phone call, even if you get voice mail, can add that personal touch and thank you for past orders. You can use all three and alternate them monthly. But it's important to do something because the contact person may have changed and you must connect with their replacement. If they can't find old ordering information you may have to earn their business all over again and there's no guarantee that you will get it. Make it easy to reorder especially if it's the same as their last order. Repeat orders will make your business more stable and help save marketing effort and dollars. And treat those repeat customers as if they were special, because they are !