If you're looking to make more money in your business, and you'd like to do that immediately, it may take less work than you think.
You've heard the saying that “little hinges swing the doors”. Perhaps you've heard it so often that the profundity of that saying has been lost on you. The fact is, small actions can lead to big results-and consciously chosen small actions can lead to enormous results.
Here are three little “marketing moves” that can enrich your profits almost immediately, when performed correctly. Please do not dismiss them based on their simplicity; their power springs from their simplicity.
1. Call your customers on the phone. It's great if you have a script developed for this, but even if you don't… call them anyway. Simply calling a large number of your customers and asking, “How are things going? Is there anything we can do to help?” Will often lead to new business and sales-even though that wasn't the overt intention of your call. If you don't get results with this technique… you haven't called enough people.
2. Send your customers mail. Some people don't answer the phone, or don't respond well to phone calls. No problem. Send a piece of mail to your customers. It doesn't even have to be a piece of mail with an offer (although that's probably the best piece of mail to send). The problem with sending mail that makes an offer is most people will do it wrong. Most people will make it look so much like an ad, that it will end up in the trash can. So here's an alternative: send a one-page letter, hand-addressed and hand-signed, that says something like, “How are things going? Is there anything we can do to help? Here's our phone number-please call…”. Don't laugh. Some people will call. And the ones who do are your best prospects.
3. Ask for referrals. Call up your current customers, and ask them if they feel you're doing a good job for them. Most of them, presumably, will say yes. If that's the case, ask them, “Who else can you think of who might benefit from our help?” Maybe even give them suggestions to help jog their memory. If done correctly, simply asking for referrals will get you new business; the fact is, almost nobody does this. Prove it to yourself: when was the last time you asked for a referral?
There you go. Three little marketing moves that can put money in your bank account-almost immediately.