Now that warmer weather is upon us, you may want to increase sales now so you can enjoy more time away from the office this summer. With this in mind, here are three actions you can take right now to start making more money from your business:
1. Update Your Website.
Now, I’m not talking about spending a lot of money on a complete overhaul of your site. You can make significant improvements just by adding valuable content specifically for your target market.
For help, check your site analytics and see what your audience is clicking on most. This will give you a good idea of the topics they want to hear about. Then, write about those subjects.
If you can’t tell what your customers want, ask!
Create a simple, online survey using a free service like Survey Monkey, http://www.surveymonkey.com/, Zoomerang, http://www.zoomerang.com/, FreeOnlineSurveys.com, http://freeonlinesurveys.com/, and others.
This way, you can give your customers valuable information.
And once you build credibility, and they know you can give them what they need, they will be more likely to purchase your products and services.
2. Reach Out to the Press.
Once you have some valuable information to share, contact media members who cover your industry. Provide the data from your survey, an original article, an opinion piece, or a unique story-idea.
You will need to research the appropriate people to contact, practice what you are going to say and conduct the appropriate follow-up. But this just costs you time and effort, and the results can be well worth it. You may end up with a feature story worth thousands of dollars in advertising and third-party credibility you simply can’t buy.
Best of all, the right article in the right publication at the right time can significantly build word-of-mouth and your customer base.
3. Market Your Business.
If you have a database of customers, communicate with them on a regular basis. Let them know you have a valuable new article, blog entry, video, or other content they may be interested in reviewing.
Talk to them via social media, and find out what they really want.
Develop a special white paper, eReport or Webinar just for them. Provide feedback, and try to create loyalty, excellent customer service and long-term relationships they will want to tell their friends about.
And if you have a budget, I highly suggest you spend it on an e-mail or direct mail campaign. Work with a professional, list broker to find a list of potential customers, and hire an experienced copywriter to write your message.
Then, test your message and track responses. See what works and what doesn’t, and make the appropriate changes.
By focusing the right message at your target market at the right time, you can see sales increase dramatically in a short amount of time.
Stay Positive.
Maybe 2011 is not going so well for your business. Don’t worry. Focus on the positive, and take advantage of free opportunities to update your Website, provide valuable content and talk to the media. And if possible, try to conduct an e-mail or direct-mail marketing campaign.
There are customers out there who want to buy your products and services.
By conducting research, putting in some extra time and effort and hiring experienced experts to help you (if possible), you can make this your best business year ever!
For more information, please write to me below or visit www.rembrandtwrites.com.
