Reach out to your sphere of influence. Everyone you have had a relationship with: friends, co-workers, family, etc. Ask them to like your business page on facebook. Put them on a CRM, like constant contact to stay top of mind.
My first client was "myself". I had my parents items that I did not know what to do with when they passed away so we added them to the basement of our house. Shortly after - 2 years my husband's parents passed away so we added their items to the basement of our house. Another year later my brother asked us to empty his locker that he was paying for over a year as he was not returning to Canada. Needless to say we had three generations of other peoples "stuff" that we did not know how to sell or move it out.
Our first, second and third auction was selling all of our families items, and it was the best thing we have ever done as it opened up so many doors. Our clients are faced with the same challenges that we had to face.
But the best thing - we have a easy way to help them so they do not need to deal with the stress of trying to figure out "what are we going to do with all of this stuff"
Networking! I joined the Women's Networking Alliance and my very first client was a member of my chapter. It was so fantastic! And since then, my membership in WNA has resulted in a ton of business for me over the years. I highly recommend networking!
When you start a business your journey to success has only just begun. It is unfortunate that many start businesses and then sit and wait for customers to come to them. Usually you have to do a number on things to be successful. You want to join the local Chamber of Commerce, go to networking events, advertise in local publications that your potential customers read, and promote your business on social media, and possibly on local radio, and TV as well depending on your budget and market.
If you fail to plan, plan to fail. But if you treat your business like a garden and nurture it, cultivate it and feed it then your business like plants in a garden will grow. But if you ignore your business, and wrongly think customers will just come find you then likely your business will suffer and possibly go out of business.
Many people with good ideas or products unfortunately fail, as they do not understand marketing and believe that word of mouth is sufficient to help them grow their business. But sooner or later they wake up to the reality that just as your body needs food, water, and vitamins a business needs marketing, advertising, and promotion to grow.
We at Insite Magazine offer a printed magazine, digital magazine, banner ads, social media promotion, printing, and direct mail as well. An any business that wants to grow and flourish should strongly consider working with us to promote their products and services.
All of these are great suggestions. Remember the phrase, "Out Of Sight Out Of Mind". It is important after making contact to stay "Top Of Mind" with all of your prospects, that way when the prospects are preparing to make a purchase they remember you. Handing out a businesscard is not enough and doesn't create ongoing engagement with your brand. Promo items can keep your name, #, website, logo, etc in front of your prospect. The goal is for our customers and prospects to regularly engage with our brand. When I'm prospecting, I always give the gatekeeper a promo item, ie. keychain flashlight, peel away paper mousepad, fun ink pen, etc. The receptionist is key to letting you in and even assisting you with intel about who you want to speak within the organization. Everyone likes to receive gifts especially the unexpected ones. How many of your competitors are giving your prospect(s) a gift, probably not many if any. I heard that the most expensive real estate in the world is someones desk. Imagine your logo, phone #, email sitting or hanging there daily!!
All this new technology if fabulous. And I find no fault using it to find new prospects. I guess that I am just old school. Sooner or later you are going to have to be face to face with a new client to explain why they should be doing business with you or your company. Phone calls to new clients to arrange appointments to meet with them I find is still the most productive in obtaining new business.
Haha. Great question. I believe People are Paramount. There are nothing more important in the whole world than people. For ever I have lived my life that way. I have sharpened my skills in remembering people’s names and stories and built my business on warm market. I am best that way. Face to face. My business is on my brain all the time. I know many business owners and listen for their pain points, and share how I can help them attract and retain talent at no cost to them. I am branded all the time. My FB profile is my brand. People yell across the street, “Hey! What’s up with that MyCORE stuff!” Warm market is the only way I have done business in the last two years. I attended many networking events weekly, host my own, and belong to BNI. Give me a call if you want to know more! I’d be happy to share
Picture this: standing on the sidewalk, waving at passing drivers to pull over, and..."We just opened! Try our Cochinita Pibil tacos. If you don't like them, we'll give you DOUBLE YOUR MONEY BACK!"
Everybody stopped. Everybody tried them. No money beck requests! AND, they became our Brand Ambassadors by telling their friends about the crazy guy at Yuca's (also, how good the food was). April 1,2018 will be our celebration of 42 years in business. #tacoboutgood
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Answers (1-10)
Reach out to your sphere of influence. Everyone you have had a relationship with: friends, co-workers, family, etc. Ask them to like your business page on facebook. Put them on a CRM, like constant contact to stay top of mind.
My first client was "myself". I had my parents items that I did not know what to do with when they passed away so we added them to the basement of our house. Shortly after - 2 years my husband's parents passed away so we added their items to the basement of our house. Another year later my brother asked us to empty his locker that he was paying for over a year as he was not returning to Canada. Needless to say we had three generations of other peoples "stuff" that we did not know how to sell or move it out.
Our first, second and third auction was selling all of our families items, and it was the best thing we have ever done as it opened up so many doors. Our clients are faced with the same challenges that we had to face.
But the best thing - we have a easy way to help them so they do not need to deal with the stress of trying to figure out "what are we going to do with all of this stuff"
Monique
Silent Bidders
Networking! I joined the Women's Networking Alliance and my very first client was a member of my chapter. It was so fantastic! And since then, my membership in WNA has resulted in a ton of business for me over the years. I highly recommend networking!
I got very involved with Chambers of commerce - Hi return on your investment.
With that said....It's just like getting a membership at a gym, joining is great first step, but to get results.... you have to go and get involved!
In addition,the chamber will creat opportunities to help you make that happen.
Help others meet their challenges the rest will take care of itself.
When you start a business your journey to success has only just begun. It is unfortunate that many start businesses and then sit and wait for customers to come to them. Usually you have to do a number on things to be successful. You want to join the local Chamber of Commerce, go to networking events, advertise in local publications that your potential customers read, and promote your business on social media, and possibly on local radio, and TV as well depending on your budget and market.
If you fail to plan, plan to fail. But if you treat your business like a garden and nurture it, cultivate it and feed it then your business like plants in a garden will grow. But if you ignore your business, and wrongly think customers will just come find you then likely your business will suffer and possibly go out of business.
Many people with good ideas or products unfortunately fail, as they do not understand marketing and believe that word of mouth is sufficient to help them grow their business. But sooner or later they wake up to the reality that just as your body needs food, water, and vitamins a business needs marketing, advertising, and promotion to grow.
We at Insite Magazine offer a printed magazine, digital magazine, banner ads, social media promotion, printing, and direct mail as well. An any business that wants to grow and flourish should strongly consider working with us to promote their products and services.
All of these are great suggestions. Remember the phrase, "Out Of Sight Out Of Mind". It is important after making contact to stay "Top Of Mind" with all of your prospects, that way when the prospects are preparing to make a purchase they remember you. Handing out a businesscard is not enough and doesn't create ongoing engagement with your brand. Promo items can keep your name, #, website, logo, etc in front of your prospect. The goal is for our customers and prospects to regularly engage with our brand. When I'm prospecting, I always give the gatekeeper a promo item, ie. keychain flashlight, peel away paper mousepad, fun ink pen, etc. The receptionist is key to letting you in and even assisting you with intel about who you want to speak within the organization. Everyone likes to receive gifts especially the unexpected ones. How many of your competitors are giving your prospect(s) a gift, probably not many if any. I heard that the most expensive real estate in the world is someones desk. Imagine your logo, phone #, email sitting or hanging there daily!!
All this new technology if fabulous. And I find no fault using it to find new prospects. I guess that I am just old school. Sooner or later you are going to have to be face to face with a new client to explain why they should be doing business with you or your company. Phone calls to new clients to arrange appointments to meet with them I find is still the most productive in obtaining new business.
Haha. Great question. I believe People are Paramount. There are nothing more important in the whole world than people. For ever I have lived my life that way. I have sharpened my skills in remembering people’s names and stories and built my business on warm market. I am best that way. Face to face. My business is on my brain all the time. I know many business owners and listen for their pain points, and share how I can help them attract and retain talent at no cost to them. I am branded all the time. My FB profile is my brand. People yell across the street, “Hey! What’s up with that MyCORE stuff!” Warm market is the only way I have done business in the last two years. I attended many networking events weekly, host my own, and belong to BNI. Give me a call if you want to know more! I’d be happy to share
TRY IT, LIKE IT, or get DOUBLE YOUR MONEY BACK...
Picture this: standing on the sidewalk, waving at passing drivers to pull over, and..."We just opened! Try our Cochinita Pibil tacos. If you don't like them, we'll give you DOUBLE YOUR MONEY BACK!"
Everybody stopped. Everybody tried them. No money beck requests! AND, they became our Brand Ambassadors by telling their friends about the crazy guy at Yuca's (also, how good the food was). April 1,2018 will be our celebration of 42 years in business. #tacoboutgood