Thursday 25 September 2014

NON Standard Ways to Find Customers




There are so many ways to attract customers to your business however I have decided to review some not standard. maybe will be useful :)

Companies who are looking for employees, may become you clients 


The use of websites to search for jobs is one of the easiest ways to attract new customers. If the startup is doing the work that many companies are trying to give its own employees, it provides an opportunity to compete for customers with individual employees. Organizations often prefer to outsource work to outside contractors than to research, train and maintain (insurance, taxes, etc.) own employees in the state.

Customers love quality content 

The publication of quality content often helps to attract new customers - most importantly, that it is helpful, rather than providing advertising. The very first entry in the corporate blog. In addition to simple blog postings, it is recommended to create a research and "cases" with the description of already completed projects - the doubting customer can see information about how the company has helped solving problems for people before him, are more likely to take a positive decision on cooperation.

E-Brochure is a good client attraction tool 

A small booklet that describes how the real solutions solving the real problems or just benefit customer, will attract potential customers. Company specializing in marketing, can write stuff about how to reduce the percentage of abandoned baskets, an organization dedicated to design, can tell you about how to implement the introductory tours in mobile applications so as not to lose customers. Such a brochure can be published on the website and provide a link to download after the visitor will leave his contact details.

Search on Twitter 

With the help of Twitter search can be in real-time to find posts from people and companies who are looking for someone who will perform some work for them. Incorporating imagination and made ​​a list of keywords and hashtags, a startup team can find a potential client. With services like Warble this work can be automated.

Services sold as packages

Services that are sold "packages" are more understandable and attractive for customers. Start-ups in the services sector should develop service plans that include a certain set of works for a monthly fee. Such an approach is useful as a client who understands what, when and how much he has to pay, and the company that receives a predictable cash flow.

Partnership

Try to find partners in similar or close to your business areas. This is helpful to do co-promotion for mutual benefits.


Wednesday 24 September 2014

10 Common Sales Mistakes



It's no secret that the main goal of any business, regardless of its size and shape, is profit. The profit, in turn, depends on the number of successful transactions that you enter into with your clients, or, more simply, the number of sales. They determine how long your business will exist.
If case you have noticed that the sales went down in your company, try not to start blaming government or economic situation. Have a look at your sales in the lens of common mistakes made by sales departments. 

MISTAKE 1 - NO PLAN
Success in any business is impossible without a clear plan. Imagine that you have set a goal - to learn Russian. Sounds too vague, is not it? Firstly, it is unclear in what time frame you plan to achieve this goal; Secondly, it remains a mystery how you will evaluate your progress. If your goal is too fuzzy, you'll always postpone it for later. 

If your plans will be more concrete (SMART), then it is likely that you do start to put it into reality. "Learn Russian in the next three years, then to go to visit Russia without a guide" - is much better. 

However, your overall plan should also be divided into intermediate steps, so that you know what steps you need to take at the moment. In the case of the Russian language, they should read as follows: "language classes three times a week" or "devote at home every day for half an hour." 

In business, blurred plans generally are not allowed. After all, you are targeting a specific income, expressed in figures and not on abstract income. Therefore, the target profit that you aspire to receive, for example, after 5 years, must be shared on an annual, monthly, weekly and even daily profit. 

Let's say your goal - to earn 5 million dollars for 5 years. Then your interim targets will be as follows: 
Earn 1 million dollars per year; 
Earn 83,333 dollars a month; 
Earn 20,833 dollars a week; 
Earn 2,976 dollars a day. 

Of course, your income will not always coincide with those numbers. The main thing that it was not much different from them down. 

Having before it the specific numbers, you will be able to improve your business processes. For example, if your company's daily profit will be far from the desired value, you will realize that your current sales tactics do not work, and you will begin to look for a new ones to replace current. 

MISTAKE 2 - NO TOOLS
Every businessman must have tools that help him in sales. These primarily include the so-called system of customer relationship management, or CRM-system. They store important information about your current and potential customers, and also help to monitor the different stages of the sales. 

Secondly, it is a good quality website that provides detailed information about your trade offer. It is necessary to pay special attention to the design its landing page. After all, this very page is able to turn your potential customers into actual. 

And finally, you need good professionals in sales. They interact with your customers directly. Their professional and personal qualities build the success of your company. So be very choosy when hiring employees in the sales department. Make sure that they really have the necessary knowledge, skills and experience. 

MISTAKE 3 - NO LISTENING SKILLS
Saying a word is silver, keeping silence is gold. Most of the time, you should listen to your customers and not tell them about the benefits of your products and services. 

What issues concern them the most? What keeps them awake at night? How to change their lives, if they are able to solve their problems? Not knowing the answers to these questions, you will not be able to offer our customers solutions that will benefit their demand. So try to thoroughly examine all of their complaints, requests, problems to be aware of how you can help them. 

MISTAKE 4 - TOO MUCH DETAIL
When you have listened carefully to your clients, and you will have the opportunity to be heard, it is not necessary to go into too much detail of his offer. For example, if you are helping a company to develop its online marketing strategy, it is not necessary to explain to them how AdWords works and how you will do promotion in social networks. 

Customers pay you not for your knowledge, and for the ready-made solutions. It is not necessary to overload their heads unnecessary information. The main question that interests them - how you can solve their problems. If they need more information, they will ask for it. In general, you should not run ahead of train and inform clients about  details that in most cases they are not interested in.

MISTAKE 5 - NEGATIVE ATTITUDE TO CUSTOMER REFUSAL
Entrepreneurs lose a lot of profitable opportunities, perceiving rejection customers as the end of the sales. In other words, they just give up, without attempting to convince potential customers in the benefits of their product/service. 

In fact, customers do not reject your offer. Saying "no," they try to hint that they do not understand your offer and do not know how it can help them. They just have not enough experience to assess its real value. Show and explain the value of your product&service - it is just what they need. 

Imagine that your company is involved in sales of new models of vacuum cleaners with a number of clever features. Customers do not use them yet, so their first reaction is expected as rejection. Surely, they will give many arguments not to buy your product, for example: "It costs too much", "It's too fancy" or "I do not believe in its efficiency." What will be the short-sighted actions of entrepreneurs? That's right, they immediately put these clients aside and will not try to teach them the benefits of being their clients.

Wiser businessmen do otherwise. They will try to convince customers. For example, if a potential buyer confused about the price of the vacuum cleaner, they will say to them: "In fact, the price of our product is fully consistent with its quality and function. Let me explain to you, what are the advantages of our vacuum cleaner. "If the client is confused by the number of functions of the vacuum cleaner, you can give the following answer: "Vacuum Cleaner of our company really has a lot of features that significantly enhance the quality of cleaning. Our experts will help you to understand them. "

In general, use every opportunity to change the negative perception of customers about your product. If the client is deaf to your arguments, and insisting on his own, well, then you are already powerless. The most important thing is that you have attempted to convince a potential buyer. A final decision depends upon himself. 

MISTAKE 6 - NEGATIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS COMPETITORS
Even if you can not stand your competitors and just want to get on their failure, do not talk about it with your customers. Otherwise, they'll think you're not sure of the quality of your products and services and want to show off by costs of your competitor. 

This does not mean that you should make every effort to praise your competitors. Just try to be diplomatic when you talk about them. For example, you can say: "Yes, this company also provides similar services, but I'm not sure whether it will solve your problem. You should contact them and to clarify all the details." Let the customers decide which company is better. Help with a free trial of your service/product.

MISTAKE 7 - INABILITY TO SEE&USE OPPORTUNITIES
Your meeting with a potential client may have different outcomes. The best can be is you'll be able to convince him of the benefits of your product and immediately have deal done.

However, not everything turns out right the first time. Even if the client is not "pecked" to your offer immediately, you can agree with him on another meeting in the future. 

If, however, you realize that the customer is not interested in your services, you can benefit from this situation. Ask him to recommend your services to their friends and colleagues and ask WHY he is not interested. Thus, you will be able to attract new customers your company and figure out what features are not there that may attract wider range of customers for you. 

As you can see, no hopeless situations. Being a reasonable entrepreneur, you can wrap all the circumstances in your favor. The main thing - to think bigger. 

MISTAKE 8 - NO FOLLOW UP
According to statistics, only 1 out of 10 potential customers buys goods or services of the company immediately after the first meeting or conversation with her representative. In the remaining 90% of potential buyers sales person needs to take further steps, such as re-schedule a meeting or to call them again. Otherwise, you will miss a lot of profitable opportunities. 

If you think that this category of customers is not so important, let us return to the statistics. Imagine that you meet with 10 potential customers every working day. It turns out that you are dealing with 200 new faces every month. Suppose that you make a deal, only 10% of them. Thus, each month is accumulated 180 potential customers that you have not yet managed to persuade to buy. And their annual number will reach 2160 and you still want to give up the opportunity to convince them? 

MISTAKE 9 - DOMINANT WISH TO SELL RATHER THAN HELP
In some situations, the potential client needs goods and services that you can not offer them. It also happens that your prices simply exceeds the capacity of his budget. You understand that the client can not resolve your problem. In this case you do not receive material benefits if assist him. What to do in such situations? To pretend that "none of my business, and I do not know anything?" Or is it to try to help the person, even if it will not make you a dime of profit? 

The second option is much more reasonable. After all, not everything in this world comes down to money. No wonder they say that the earth is round: today one person is in need of your help, but tomorrow he may help you. So if your company is not able to solve the customer's problem, recommend him a company that can help him, even if it is your direct competitor. 

Imagine that you are managing a large network of bookshops. In one day comes to you middle-aged man who wants to buy a rare textbook for his son-student. Unfortunately, in your stores there is no book. If you know exactly it exists in store of your competitor, why not tell that to the buyer? Thus, people will save a lot of time and effort getting rid of pointless searches, and will be very grateful to you.

MISTAKE 10 - CLOSING DEALS TO REGRET ABOUT LATER
Unfortunately, you can't avoid contact with the category of "difficult" clients, which want from you too much. For example, they ask you to do them a great discount or take other actions that are contrary to the standards adopted in your company. 

The only solution in such situations is a polite refusal. Try to explain to these customers that your company have rules no violation accepted. 

In any case, does not compromise its principles, just to make a deal. Such actions can ruin your reputation, and potential customers will no longer trust you. Constantly learn - from others and from their mistakes 

Being a Sales man is an art that needs to be learnt throughout life. It only comes with experience - no academic degrees and titles will not be able to replace it. The experience of other people can keep you to learn from just some mistakes, but not all. After all, the way every entrepreneur is building his business is unique, so it is impossible to foresee all the difficulties that you may encounter. Monitor and fix what you is going wrong on the go. This makes you an entrepreneur!

Friday 19 September 2014

6 Business Lessons on Life Examples

I have came across those a couple of times and find them really interesting. My story retelling. Enjoy!


Lesson 1
Husband walks into the shower just as his wife had just finished bathing. The doorbell rang. The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs. On the doorstep is their neighbor Bob. Just seeing her, Bob says, "I'll give you $ 800 if you drop that towel." After thinking for a moment, the woman and stands naked in front of Bob. Bob hands her $ 800 and leaves. The woman wraps back the towel and goes back upstairs. "Who was it?" asks the husband. , "Bob" - she replies. "Well, - said the husband - he did not say anything about the $ 800 he owes me?" 
Moral of the story: share with shareholders information about credits, otherwise you may find yourself in an unpleasant situation. 

Lesson 2
The priest offers to give a nun a lift. Once in the car, she puts a leg over the other, so that the thigh is seen. The priest nearly had an accident. He took the control over his car again and put his hand on her leg. The nun said, "Father, remember Psalm 129?" The priest removed his hand. But, changing gears, he put his hand on her leg again. The nun once again said, "Father, remember Psalm 129?". The priest apologized "Sorry sister but the flesh is weak." Arriving at the convent, the nun sighed heavily and went away. Arriving at the church, the priest opened Psalm 129 It said, "Go further and search and above you will find happiness." 
Moral of the story: If you don't know your job well, many opportunities for development will be passing by.

Lesson 3
A sales representative, a secretary and a manager went to lunch and found an antique oil lamp. They rubbed it and a Ginny comes out. He says: "I ​​will fulfill one wish for each of you." "I am the first, I am the first!" - Said the secretary. "I want to be in the Bahamas, driving a speedboat, and not working." Pshsh! It disappears. "Now me, now me" - says sales representative. "I want to be in Hawaii, relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life." Pshsh! He disappears. "Now it's your turn," - says Ginny the manager. "I want those two back in the office after lunch." 
Moral of the story: Always let your boss have the first say. 

Lesson 4

An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing. A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked, "Can I also sit like you sit and do nothing?" "Sure, why not" - he replied. Rabbit sat under a tree and rested. Suddenly there was a fox passing by and the fox grabbed the rabbit and ate it. 
Moral of the story: To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high. 

Lesson 5
Turkey said to the bull. "My dream is to climb to the top of the tree - she sighed - but I have so little power." "Why do not you nibble on some of my sh**t? - offered the bull - there are a lot of nutrients inside." The turkey did that, and it really gave it enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree. The next day, eating more, she reached the second branch. Finally after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree. There she was spotted by a farmer, who shot from a gun. 
Moral of the story: Any manipulations involving sh**t can get you to the top, but will not keep you there. 

Lesson 6
A little bird was flying southwards for the winter. It was so cold that it froze and fell on the ground in a large field. As she laid there, and a cow walked by and sh**ted on her. Lying in cow sh**t, the bird suddenly realized how warm it was. Cow sh**t brought her back to life! The bird suddenly felt so good that she sang to express their joy. A passing cat heard the song and decided to find out what was going on. Following the sound source, the cat found the bird, dug up and ate it. 
Moral of the story: 1) Not everyone who sh**ts on you is your enemy. 2) Not everyone who gets you out of sh**t, your friend. 3) when you are nice and warm, it is better to keep your mouth shut.

5 Keys to Profitable Start-up

Quite often starting something new we are so much into the idea that we forget about several practical things very much needed to help this idea grow into profitable business. Just pay attention to these 5 key things that will help you to succeed.


KEY 1 Create an attractive offer
.. and say it and put it into word worm in all materials of your website. This is somethjing that is not describing your product but answering the main question of your potential customer "What do I need it for?"

KEY 2 Tell about this offer correctly and properly
Your need marketing and PR. If the product is new, try to be more creative than just use of context advertising and SEO. Find the place where your target customer is and appear there! Use smart marketing approach.

KEY 3 Think about your company image and how to become known
Be ready not to be super popular or well know but just ready then after your customers will come to know about your product/service then will potentially want to know about your company and who you are. Prepare your story.
Write about your company on website, prepare a couple of articles on forums and blogs, maybe newspapers? Depending on your ambitions, of course!

KEY 4 Good reputation
In case your product is super new or your customer will risk a bit buying it, make sure before your launch to prepare a very positive informational background in social networks. Use hidden adverts and keep it mind it take from 3 to 6 months to create this background.

KEY 5 Efficient sales structure
This of this far in advance. This is a very important part to know how you will sell? what you will sell? who you will sell? how you keep track? so..

  • think of scripts and your sales qualifications. train them well to qualify, sell and retain your customers
  • use suitable CRM and always analyse the results to see which way to go
  • use variable sales materials like website, brochures, e-books, landing pages, blogs, videos etc. and target with them appropriate audience in the right time
  • spread the workload between different sales people and never let same people do full sales cycle. this may cause potential problem in the future.
WHY won't those 5 elements work still?
5 elements are just 5 separate elements. That's not a system. They will become THE system working for your ONLY in case they will be properly organised and will serve one main idea.
Create one development strategy taking into account:

  • market conditions on consumption/potential consumption abilities
  • competitors (do SWOT) full research and make sure you cover their weakness with your strengths
  • your target audience -> know EVERYTHING about them and they will buy your product/service!
  • pricing should be right price for right value.
Now do the maths:
5 keys+development strategy=successful start-up

Best of luck!

Wednesday 17 September 2014

That's a VERY COOL ARTICLE!! How to INVEST IN YOURSELF!

SOURCE


Through interviews, through people writing me letters, through the course of the past 20 years. You can try it or not.
A) Reinvention never stops.
Every day you reinvent yourself. You’re always in motion. But you decide every day: forward or backward.
B) You start from scratch.
Every label you claim you have from before is just vanity. You were a doctor? You were Ivy League? You had millions? You had a family? Nobody cares. You lost everything. You’re a zero. Don’t try to say you’re anything else.
C) You need a mentor.
Else, you’ll sink to the bottom. Someone has to show you how to move and breathe. But don’t worry about finding a mentor (see below).
D) Three types of mentors
  1. Direct. Someone who is in front of you who will show you how they did it. What is “it”? Wait. By the way, mentors aren’t like that old Japanese guy in “The Karate Kid.” Ultimately most mentors will hate you.
  2. Indirect. Books. Movies. You can outsource 90 percent of mentorship to books and other materials. 200-500 books equals one good mentor. People ask me, “What is a good book to read?” I never know the answer. There are 200-500 good books to read. I would throw in inspirational books. Whatever are your beliefs, underline them through reading every day.
  3. Everything is a mentor. If you are a zero, and have passion for reinvention, then everything you look at will be a metaphor for what you want to do. The tree you see, with roots you don’t, with underground water that feeds it, is a metaphor for computer programming if you connect the dots. And everything you look at, you will connect the dots.E) Don’t worry if you don’t have passion for anything.
    You have passion for your health. Start there. Take baby steps. You don’t need a passion to succeed. Do what you do with love and success is a natural symptom.
    F) Time it takes to reinvent yourself: five years.
    Here’s a description of the five years:
    • Year One: you’re flailing and reading everything and just starting to DO.
    • Year Two: you know who you need to talk to and network with. You’re Doing every day. You finally know what the monopoly board looks like in your new endeavors.
    • Year Three: you’re good enough to start making money. It might not be a living yet.
    • Year Four: you’re making a good living
    • Year Five: you’re making wealth
    Sometimes I get frustrated in years 1-4. I say, “why isn’t it happening yet?” and I punch the floor and hurt my hand and throw a coconut on the floor in a weird ritual. That’s okay. Just keep going. Or stop and pick a new field. It doesn’t matter. Eventually you’re dead and then it’s hard to reinvent yourself.
    G) If you do this faster or slower then you are doing something wrong.
    Google is a good example.
    H) It’s not about the money. But money is a decent measuring stick.
    When people say “it’s not about the money” they should make sure they have a different measuring stick.
    “What about just doing what you love?” There will be many days when you don’t love what you are doing. If you are doing it just for love then it will take much much longer than five years.
    Happiness is just a positive perception from our brain. Some days you will be unhappy. Our brain is a tool we use. It’s not who we are.
    I) When can you say, “I do X!” where X is your new career?
    Today.
    J) When can I start doing X?
    Today. If you want to paint, then buy a canvas and paints today, start buying 500 books one at a time, and start painting. If you want to write do these three things:
    • Read
    • Write
    • Take your favorite author and type your favorite story of his word for word. Wonder to yourself why he wrote each word. He’s your mentor today.
    If you want to start a business, start spec-ing out the idea for your business. Reinvention starts today. Every day.
    K) How do I make money?
    By year three you’ve put in 5,000-7,000 hours. That’s good enough to be in the top 200-300 in the world in anything. The top 200 in almost any field makes a living.
    By year three you will know how to make money. By year four you will scale that up and make a living. Some people stop at year four.
    L) By year five you’re in the top 30-50 so can make wealth.
    M) What is “it”? How do I know what I should do?
    Whatever area you feel like reading 500 books about. Go to the bookstore and find it. If you get bored three months later go back to the bookstore.
    It’s okay to get disillusioned. That’s what failure is about. Success is better than failure but the biggest lessons are found in failure.
    Very important: There’s no rush. You will reinvent yourself many times in an interesting life. You will fail to reinvent many times. That’s fun also.
    Many reinventions make your life a book of stories instead of a textbook.
    Some people want the story of their life to be a textbook. For better or worse, mine is a book of stories.
    That’s why reinvention happens every day.
    N) The choices you make today will be in your biography tomorrow.
    Make interesting choices and you will have an interesting biography.
    N1) The choices you make today will be in your biology tomorrow.
    O) What if I like something obscure? Like biblical archaeology or 11th-century warfare?
    Repeat all of the steps above, and then in year five you will make wealth. We have no idea how. Don’t look to find the end of the road when you are still at the very first step.
  4. P) What if my family wants me to be an accountant?
    How many years of your life did you promise your family? Ten years? Your whole life? Then wait until the next life. The good thing is: you get to choose.
    Choose freedom over family. Freedom over preconceptions. Freedom over government. Freedom over people-pleasing. Then you will be pleased.
    Q) My mentor wants me to do it HIS way.
    That’s fine. Learn HIS way. Then do it YOUR way. With respect.
    Hopefully nobody has a gun to your head. Then you have to do it their way until the gun is put down.
    R) My spouse is worried about who will support/take care of kids?
    Then after you work 16 hours a day, seven days a week being a janitor, use your spare time to reinvent.
    Someone who is reinventing ALWAYS has spare time. Part of reinvention is collecting little bits and pieces of time and re-carving them the way you want them to be.
    S) What if my friends think I’m crazy?
    What friends?
    T) What if I want to be an astronaut?
    That’s not a reinvention. That’s a specific job. If you like “outer space” there are many careers. Richard Branson wanted to be an astronaut and started Virgin Galactic.
    U) What if I like to go out drinking and partying?
    Read this post again in a year.
    V) What if I’m busy cheating on my husband or wife or betraying a partner?
    Read this post again in two or three years when you are broke and jobless and nobody likes you.
    W) What if I have no skills at all?
    Read “B” again.
    X) What if I have no degree or I have a useless degree?
    Read “B” again.
    Y) What if I have to focus on paying down my debt and mortgage?
    Read “R” again.
    Z) How come I always feel like I’m on the outside looking in?
    Albert Einstein was on the outside looking in. Nobody in the establishment would even hire him.
    Everyone feels like a fraud at some point. The highest form of creativity is born out of skepticism.
    AA) I can’t read 500 books. What one book should I read for inspiration?
    Give up.
    BB) What if I’m too sick to reinvent?
    Reinvention will boost every healthy chemical in your body: serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin. Keep moving forward and you might not get healthy but you will get healthier. Don’t use health as an excuse.
    Finally, reinvent your health first. Sleep more hours. Eat better. Exercise. These are key steps to reinvention.
    CC) What if my last partner screwed me and I’m still suing him?
    Stop litigating and never think about him again. Half the problem was you, not him.
    DD) What if I’m going to jail?
    Perfect. Reread “B.” Read a lot of books in jail.
    EE) What if I’m shy?
    Make your weaknesses your strengths. Introverts listen better, focus better, and have ways of being more endearing.
    FF) What if I can’t wait five years?
    If you plan on being alive in five years then you might as well start today.
    GG) How should I network?
    Make concentric circles. You’re at the middle.
    The next circle is friends and family.
    The next circle is online communities.
    The circle after that is meetups and coffees.
    The circle after that is conferences and thought leaders.
    The circle after that is mentors.
    The circle after that is customers and wealth-creators.
    Start making your way through the circles.
    HH) What happens when I have ego about what I do?
    In 6-12 months you’ll be back at “B”
    II) What if I’m passionate about two things? What if I can’t decide?
    Combine them and you’ll be the best in the world at the combination.
    JJ) What if I’m so excited I want to teach what I’m learning?
    Start teaching on YouTube. Start with an audience of one and see if it builds up.
    KK) What if I want to make money while I sleep?
    In year four, start outsourcing what you do.
    LL) How do I meet mentors and thought leaders?
    Once you have enough knowledge (after 100-200 books), write down 10 ideas for 20 different potential mentors.
    None of them will respond. Write down 10 more ideas for 20 new mentors. Repeat every week.
    Put together a newsletter for everyone who doesn’t respond. Keep repeating until someone responds. Blog about your learning efforts. Build community around you being an expert.
    MM) What if I can’t come up with ideas?
    Then keep practicing coming up with ideas. The idea muscle atrophies. You have to build it up.
    It’s hard for me to touch my toes if I haven’t been doing it every day. I have to do it every day for a while before I can easily touch my toes. Don’t expect to come up with good ideas on day one.
    NN) What else should I read?
    AFTER books, read websites, forums, magazines. But most of that is garbage.
    OO) What if I do everything you say but it still doesn’t seem like it’s working?
    It will work. Just wait. Keep reinventing every day.
    Don’t try and find the end of the road. You can’t see it in the fog. But you can see the next step and you do know that if you take that next step eventually you get to the end of the road.
    PP) What if I get depressed?
    Sit in silence for one hour a day. You need to get back to your core.
    If you think this sounds stupid then don’t do it. Stay depressed.
    QQ) What if I don’t have time to sit in silence?
    Then sit in silence for two hours a day. This is not meditation. This is just sitting.
    RR) What if I get scared?
    Sleep 8-9 hours a day and never gossip. Sleep is the No. 1 key to successful health. It’s not the only key. It’s just No. 1. Some people write to me and say, “I only need four hours of sleep” or “in my country sleeping means laziness.” Well, those people will fail and die young.
    What about gossip? The brain biologically wants to have 150 friends. Then when you are with one of your friends you can gossip about any of the other 150. If you don’t have 150 friends then the brain wants to read gossip magazines until it thinks it has 150 friends.
    Don’t be as stupid as your brain.
    SS) What if I keep feeling like nothing ever works out for me?
    Spend 10 minutes a day practicing gratitude. Don’t suppress the fear. Notice the anger.
    But also allow yourself to be grateful for the things you do have. Anger is never inspirational but gratitude is. Gratitude is the bridge between your world and the parallel universe where all creative ideas live.
    TT) What if I have to deal with personal bullshit all the time?
    Find new people to be around.
    Someone who is reinventing herself will constantly find people to try and bring her down. The brain is scared of reinvention because it might not be safe.
    Biologically, the brain wants you to be safe and reinvention is a risk. So it will throw people in your path who will try to stop you.
    Learn how to say “no.”
    UU) What if I’m happy at my cubicle job?
    Good luck.
    VV) Why should I trust you – you’ve failed so many times?
    Don’t trust me.
    WW) Will you be my mentor?
    You’ve just read this post.

Tuesday 16 September 2014

Crib on Objection Handling


Your client resists? Theory says: "You haven't uncovered the NEED!" I will try to uncover practical objections scenarios here. 
Work with objections is one of the key moments of the entire sales process. Many lose the client at this stage. Remember - a discount is not a major lever for closing. Personally, I can not sell any product, pushing only the advantages of the goods, and how it differs from analogues, or just getting customer priorities well and reach his expectations.
So normally there three main objections you can hear: "this is too expensive", "we buy from other supplier and we don't want to change" and "I want a discount".
Main thing here is to understand if that's just that moment when potential customer wants to get rid of you saying that or it's THE reason why he is not willing to buy. I will offer you filters to recognize this.

FILTER 1
1) Expensive compared to what? .. Yes, we are a bit more expensive however.....
2) Have a supplier - OK, that's always a good idea to have an additional one and ... try to offer what you have and figure out if there any gaps in service of current supplier and show how you can cover them.
3) I want a discount! - clear enough, I can offer you a discount with a next purchase, I can offer you something additional on top, try to up sell, etc.

FILTER 2 or Word lace
Take the last word of your customer and try to dig deeper. 
1) "We don't have money" - company is working and not closing down so... they have sales and have money. Now, try to dig asking why? what is that connected to? no money right now because you bought supplies? when are you planning/have budget next time? I will give you a call. The main GOAL here is to find out when the budget is going to happen/being approved etc. and try to manage it indirectly.
2) "We don't need" - don't need now or at all? why? when are you going to need this? and try to lead this conversation pushing to the point that the client will need that one day and make sure at the end of the conversation you should have this time frame when you can make a follow up call.
3) "We don't need already" - one day they will need. Please, follow N2.
4) "Sorry, I'm busy" - figure out when avail and try next time to not ask if he has some time to talk :) otherwise will never happen.

Good luck!

Monday 15 September 2014

How to evaluate potential profitability of your business idea? NOT a Post Just to Read

This is NOT an article to read, this is an exercise for you to do.  So make sure you have a paper and a pen and you are ready to go!

The main idea here is to be honest with yourself and write down everything you think related to this testing because this is your tool to improve and make it working business. Like Russians normally do in business: the war will show the plan. Normally it shows they a lot of money can be lost together with time and efforts wasted.

READY - STEADY - GO:

Brief business description: my company is going to.... Just several sentences or bullet points to start with.

Have you calculated the cost of the creation and promotion of your business? 

What exactly do you want to offer consumers? Make a list of possible services and products. 

Your services and products are unique or you offer the same thing, and many others? 

What exactly is the uniqueness of your business proposal? What are you suggesting, that no one else can offer? 

Is there really an urgent need for your products and services? Why do you think potential customers will buy? 

Is the potential demand high enough for your business to be profitable? Do you know (at least approximately) the size of the possible demand? 

Estimate the size of the market and its dynamics (growing, stable, declining)? What volume (in euros, dollars, etc) you could expect? 

Objectives for the coming month/quarter/year. Any quantitative indicators you want to achieve? In what terms? 

How well do you imagine the process of bringing your ideas to the ready business? 

To what extent are ready your products and services? Do you need to refine it? 

How well do you represent a scheme of payment and delivery of your goods and services? 

How do potential customers learn about your existence and your services? What is your strategy for the promotion? 

List the ways in which you are going to spin your business (eg billboards, advertisements in newspapers (which), online advertising, banner advertising, through friends, etc.). 

Do you expect the appearance of regular customers or your services (sales) will be one-off? 

Whether you're planning a system of discounts and loyalty? 

Who are the potential buyer of your services and products? What is his income? If this firm or government agencies, what their size and profile? 

What is the number of potential buyers (per month, per week, per year)? 

Do I need your services (goods) to the buyer permanently or from time to time? 

How often will he buy? Will there be a demand for permanent or seasonal? 

How can affect the buyer's decision price change (increase or decrease)? 

Why is customer buys your product (or service), rather than the product of your competitor? 

How can affect the buyer's decision price change (increase or decrease)? 

How strong is the competition in this area? There is a place for you? 

Do you know your competitors? 

What is their strength? Their weakness? Have you done the SWOT or PESTL?

How your Competitors advertise their products? 

Describe the benefits of your services and products in comparison with competitors - price, quality, uniqueness, after-sales service, etc. 

Do you need staff? How do you they're looking for? What is the level of their qualifications you need? 

Do you have the wages of future workers? Will you be able to pay salary before the first customers? 

What forms of motivation do you suppose to workers (higher wages, bonuses, percentage of profits, sales, etc.)? 

Do you need an office or business premises? Do you have something in mind? 

Have you calculated the total cost of the organization and promotion of new business? Do you have the funds? 

If not, how big is the probability of obtaining a loan, investment, partners?

IF YOU ARE READING THIS SENTENCE, I'm sure you have enough drive and persistence to succeed as an entrepreneur! Good Luck!

Sunday 14 September 2014

Top 40 LOW BUDGET Advertising and Promotion Ideas

source
1. Take great photos so your items reach Etsy’s Front Page – this has been the most successful free advertising we’ve had in our two years on Etsy
2. Create Treasuries, Be in Treasuries
3. Make connections with Twitter
4. Make connections with Facebook
5. Post photos of your process on Flickr and participate in Flickr groups, Tumblr is another great blog/photo site
6. Comment on the Etsy blog, The Storque
7. Write your own blog, create meaningful content
8. Comment on other blogs, many blogs will link your name back to your website. When you comment make sure you enter your website in the field that asks for it.
9. Do a giveaway on a blog or website
10. Use all 14 tags to describe your item, use a few unique words/colors/descriptors
11 Offer promo codes on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, etc.
12. Post promo codes to sites like Etsy Saver
13. Include promo codes for returning buyers in your orders
14. Send out a monthly/quarterly shop newsletter with a free site like MailChimp
15. Hand out business cards, take them with you everywhere
16. Participate in a craft show, make sure to hand out business cards or postcards
17. Participate in Etsy Forums/ teams
18. Shop Etsy
19. Use the Etsy favorites and circle features
20. Leave feedback for Etsy purchases and sales
21. Use Google Analytics to analyze existing traffic so you can reach your target audience and keep them in your shop
22. Keep visitors in your shop by Including links to shops sections and other items in your listing descriptions
23. Fill in your country, city and state so people can find you using the Shop Local feature
24. Sign up for the Etsy newsletters so you can stay on top of opportunities, merchandising topics, and current trends
25. Optimize listing descriptions for google search
26. Ship internationally
27. Donate items to charity fundraisers, include a stack of business cards
28. Brand your items with sewn in tags, hang tags, and packaging (especially if you wholesale)
29. Provide awesome service and communication to your existing customers, they’ll tell their friends
30. Find free places to advertise in your local community – put your business cards up in coffee shops, at your salon, gym, or places your customers might frequent
31. Post your items in the Handmadeology Market
32. Optimize your shop’s SEO with backlinks
33. Offer a variety of items at different price points, this will attract a wider range of buyers to your listings
34. Use your own products in public as much as possible (wear them, etc.)
35. Post tutorials on YouTube
36. Collaborate with another Etsian
37. Create a Kaboodle profile
38. Enlist family, friends and trusted clients to help you spread the word about your products. Word of mouth is some of the best advertising out there.
39. List your site in internet directories40. Give out a free trial product – not something we all want to do, but sometimes if you make something great it can pay to let people try it out firsthand