FOUR GROWTH AREAS – The Key to Your Ultimate Marketing Plan

FOUR GROWTH AREAS – The Key to Your Ultimate Marketing Plan

These growth areas as listed in our February 14, 2011 post include;
1. Attract more new customers.
2. Increase the average sales amount.
3. Make your customers buy from you more often.
4. Hold on to your customers for life.

In my opinion, small businesses concentrate much of their efforts on #1 & #4. If referral for such businesses is about 40%, then it indicates that they are not spending enough time on attracting new customers from the marketplace.
Also, if a small business focuses all its efforts towards marketing to new customers and ignoring existing customers, you may be missing out on a lot of low-hanging fruit.
Here are just a few ways to improve each of your areas of growth:
#1 Attract more new customers…
• Select a niche market that you can easily contact and dominate.
• Develop an Education-based Marketing program that compels your prospects to contact you to learn more about how you can help them
• Establish a proactive referral program with centers of influence that can open new channels of growth for you and your business.

#2 Increase the average sales amount…
• Up-sell your customers to high quality products and services.
• Suggest accessories and add-on items and services that compliment your customer’s purchase.
• Combine several items into a package that would cost less if sold separately.

#3 Make your customers buy from you more often…
• Establish ongoing communications that present compelling offers that can’t be turned down.
• Follow up with your customers to see how they’re enjoying the benefits of the new product/service you sold them, and suggest products/services that would increase their satisfaction.
• Track your customer’s usage and buying patterns to suggest purchases right before they actually need them (this also helps to keep the competition away).

#4 Hold on to your customers for life…
• Deliver uncommon customer service by going the extra mile.
• Give your customers the opportunity to “go on record” by giving you testimonials about your great customer service.
• Perform stealth surveys with your customers from time to time to gauge their level of satisfaction.
(Culled: The Small Business Marketing Bible – David Frey)

Dear friend, your goal is to design systems and programs that surround these four categories of growth strategies. Perhaps you will have to step back and take a whole new look at how you’re marketing today.

Thanks for your time.
Until our next post: (YOUR 7-STEP ONE-DAY MARKETING PLAN), remain logged-on.

nicheTEAM (NT)