10 No-Cost Powerful Advertising / Marketing Strategies that will make you more profits.
How many of us have a huge marketing budget? If you are like me then you know
that you have to make every penny that you spend on marketing really count.
Marketing is not as difficult as you may think. Here are 10 NO-COST marketing
tips to help you make more profits for your business. All you will have to do is
invest some time and effort.
Here they are:
1.Always spell your customer's name correctly. Check the correct spelling and
spell it correctly every time. You will be surprised the impact that this has.
2.Recognise your customer's voice and greet them by name, whether they are on
the phone or when you meet them at your premises. Your customer will feel
extremely valued.
3.Remember specific things about your customers and bring them up when you are
conversing, e.g. details about their child, for example he or she has just
graduated, just married or whatever topic that your customer likes to talk
about. This gives your customer a warm feeling, makes your customer feel that
they have a personal connection with you and shows that you are actually
interested in them.
4.Know what your customer likes. The best way to describe this is to give the
bar scenario, "the usual then", this makes your customer feel special and
valued.
5.Under promise and over deliver. For example, you have promised to delivery an
item for your customer, you know very well that you can delivery it by the next
day. Promise to delivery by say the end of the week and then deliver it the next
day. This has a dual purpose, firstly the customer would be very impressed with
the speedy delivery and secondly it gives you some slack in case you encounter
any unforeseen delays (which the customer would never need to know about, hence
avoiding disappointment and giving satisfaction)
6.Always remember to thank your customers, especially in the case of receiving
referrals. There is nothing worst than a customer telling their friend,
associate or colleague for example "I recommended x and I did not even get a
thank you" bad news travels faster than good news; make sure that the only news
travelling is all good.
7.Always get feedback from your customers; this is an excellent strategy to use to help you improve your services and get even more sales.
8.In your advert copy give a deadline to encourage a quick customer response.
Examples include order before x date to receive x % discount, limited offer ends
x date. This will prompt your customer to act quickly.
9.Word-of-mouth marketing is extremely powerful yet under utilised "find ways to
do what you do so well and so uniquely that your customers cannot resist telling
lots of other people about you."
10.It's the little things that make the biggest difference. Add little things
that your customers will appreciate. For example, free guides, hints, tips for
using your product or service or even a discount voucher for complimentary
items.
Ken Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.
How to get more customers just by knowing their name
In this article you will learn the importance of knowing your customers name and the positive impact that it has when conducting business.
Whether you greet your customers personally or on the phone it's always a good idea to know them by their name.
If you don't know their name, simply ask them. You may say in response, "that's a lovely name!" or "How do you spell that so that I can remember it?"
There is a big difference between saying "oh you", "hello sir", "hello madam" compared to "hi Jack" or "hi Jane, how are you?" There is something very special about being referred to by your name. Your customer will know that you are addressing them and them only.
This is a very powerful communicational marketing tool that you can use with your customers at all times.
When we send out Christmas cards to our customers we always make sure that we include our customer's name and that we spell it correctly. We also include leaflets on any current promotions that we are doing and guaranteed we get a good customer response rate.
So always spell your customer's name correctly. Ask your customer how they spell their name, check it with them and spell it correctly every time. On your customers invoices, Christmas cards, birthday cards, promotional materials, or whatever it may be. Get this right and you will be pleasantly surprised by the impact it has.
Ken Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.
How to get more customers just by knowing their voice
"Do you know your customers voice?"
In this article you will learn the importance of knowing your customers voice and the positive impact that it has when conducting business.
Whether you greet your customers personally or on the phone it's always a good idea to know them by their voice.
If you don't know their voice, simply ask them politely who they are and get used to their voice. Try and notice some key aspects to help you remember. Such as; the way they may pronounce certain words, their accent, their voice tone, their voice pitch etc.
Don't you just love it when people recognise your voice? And say "hey Ken, or hi Susan, how you doing today?"
Learn to recognise your customer's voice and greet them by name, especially when they are on the phone.
This is a very powerful communicational marketing tool that you can use with your customers time and time again.
However, this technique does come with a warning. Only use this form of interaction if you are 100% sure of your customer's voice. Do not guess as this will have an adverse affect, It could leave your customer feeling a little bit distant from you and your business.
So if you have customers, who are regulars and you do know their voice, refer to them by name and make them feel special.
Try this it really is effective and works well.
Ken Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.
In this article you will learn the importance of knowing your customers voice and the positive impact that it has when conducting business.
Whether you greet your customers personally or on the phone it's always a good idea to know them by their voice.
If you don't know their voice, simply ask them politely who they are and get used to their voice. Try and notice some key aspects to help you remember. Such as; the way they may pronounce certain words, their accent, their voice tone, their voice pitch etc.
Don't you just love it when people recognise your voice? And say "hey Ken, or hi Susan, how you doing today?"
Learn to recognise your customer's voice and greet them by name, especially when they are on the phone.
This is a very powerful communicational marketing tool that you can use with your customers time and time again.
However, this technique does come with a warning. Only use this form of interaction if you are 100% sure of your customer's voice. Do not guess as this will have an adverse affect, It could leave your customer feeling a little bit distant from you and your business.
So if you have customers, who are regulars and you do know their voice, refer to them by name and make them feel special.
Try this it really is effective and works well.
Ken Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.
How to keep your customers coming back
What I want to show you today is how remembering conversations with your customers will keep them coming back to you over and over again.
You can start by keeping a mental note of your last conversation with your top 10 customers - just to show how effective this strategy is. Try and remember specific things about the conversation.
Remember the key is to bring up the topics the next time you speak with your customer.
Here is an examples to get you started,
I was speaking with my bank manager (one of my customers) the other day about some business matters. Before we discussed business I asked him about his son who I know has just started college and is an excellent footballer and his daughter who is already in University and has just started piano lessons. He added that his son now has two jobs, because he wants to save up for a car and that his daughter was about to play her first piano piece in a play. I could tell from his voice that he was pleasantly surprised that I remembered these details.
By carrying out this type of interaction with your customer gives you and them an excellent business relationship and gives them the feel of continuation.
You have remembered what you last discussed giving them a reference point with you. Your customer will feel that they have a personal connection with you and this will also show that you are actually interested in them.
You may get comments like "I feel that I have known you all my life, I like coming here and will definitely come back."
Ken Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.
You can start by keeping a mental note of your last conversation with your top 10 customers - just to show how effective this strategy is. Try and remember specific things about the conversation.
Remember the key is to bring up the topics the next time you speak with your customer.
Here is an examples to get you started,
I was speaking with my bank manager (one of my customers) the other day about some business matters. Before we discussed business I asked him about his son who I know has just started college and is an excellent footballer and his daughter who is already in University and has just started piano lessons. He added that his son now has two jobs, because he wants to save up for a car and that his daughter was about to play her first piano piece in a play. I could tell from his voice that he was pleasantly surprised that I remembered these details.
By carrying out this type of interaction with your customer gives you and them an excellent business relationship and gives them the feel of continuation.
You have remembered what you last discussed giving them a reference point with you. Your customer will feel that they have a personal connection with you and this will also show that you are actually interested in them.
You may get comments like "I feel that I have known you all my life, I like coming here and will definitely come back."
Ken Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.
The secret of knowing what your customer likes
Every business wants to keep their customers coming back. Today I will show you how you can do just that.
It is extremely important to know what your customer likes as this will help in customer retention and customer relations.
Have you ever been to a shop, a restaurant, a drycleaners, a bank and the person there knows exactly what you want?
How does that make you feel? If you are like me then the answer would be "great" it makes you feel special, respected, noticed, significant etc.
Let me illustrate this by means of an example;
Picture the scene: After a long hard day at work Gordon walks into his local bar, approaches the bar counter, sits on a bar stool and takes off his coat. The bartender comes over to Gordon and says "good evening Gordon, will it be your usual?"
Gordon obviously frequents this bar and the bartender has gone through the trouble of remembering his usual drink. Therefore when Gordon comes in he doesn't have to say a word, the bartender knows what Gordon, his customers wants. This is what you have to do with your customer.
If you have regular customers then you need to ask them will it be your usual today. Don't let your customer have to repeat the same order over and over again, put yourself in their shoes, how would you feel if you had to do this?
If you do this properly you will most certainly have your customers coming back to you.
Ken Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.
It is extremely important to know what your customer likes as this will help in customer retention and customer relations.
Have you ever been to a shop, a restaurant, a drycleaners, a bank and the person there knows exactly what you want?
How does that make you feel? If you are like me then the answer would be "great" it makes you feel special, respected, noticed, significant etc.
Let me illustrate this by means of an example;
Picture the scene: After a long hard day at work Gordon walks into his local bar, approaches the bar counter, sits on a bar stool and takes off his coat. The bartender comes over to Gordon and says "good evening Gordon, will it be your usual?"
Gordon obviously frequents this bar and the bartender has gone through the trouble of remembering his usual drink. Therefore when Gordon comes in he doesn't have to say a word, the bartender knows what Gordon, his customers wants. This is what you have to do with your customer.
If you have regular customers then you need to ask them will it be your usual today. Don't let your customer have to repeat the same order over and over again, put yourself in their shoes, how would you feel if you had to do this?
If you do this properly you will most certainly have your customers coming back to you.
Ken Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.
How to improve your customer relations with a promise
Have you ever been promised something only to be disappointed later on?
How did you feel about it?
Today I will show you how you can "Under Promise" something for your customers and yet "Over Deliver" leaving your customer singing your praises to all of their friends, family and colleagues.
The best way to illustrate this marketing strategy is by way of example;
I promised to delivery a large quantity of marketing material to one of my customers, Steve, who needed them for a business promotion he was conducting in a few weeks time. I knew very well that I could delivery his order in the next few days.
Ken Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.
But I promised to deliver them by the following week.
In a few days I called Steve and told him that his order was ready. He was ecstatic as he was expecting his order in a week's time.
I "Under Promised and Over Delivered!"
This strategy serves a dual purpose, firstly Steve was very impressed with my speedy delivery and secondly this strategy gave me some slack in case I encountered any unforeseen delays (which Steve would never need to know about, hence avoiding disappointment and giving satisfaction)
Try this, it really works and produces overwhelming results.
How did you feel about it?
Today I will show you how you can "Under Promise" something for your customers and yet "Over Deliver" leaving your customer singing your praises to all of their friends, family and colleagues.
The best way to illustrate this marketing strategy is by way of example;
I promised to delivery a large quantity of marketing material to one of my customers, Steve, who needed them for a business promotion he was conducting in a few weeks time. I knew very well that I could delivery his order in the next few days.
Ken Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.
But I promised to deliver them by the following week.
In a few days I called Steve and told him that his order was ready. He was ecstatic as he was expecting his order in a week's time.
I "Under Promised and Over Delivered!"
This strategy serves a dual purpose, firstly Steve was very impressed with my speedy delivery and secondly this strategy gave me some slack in case I encountered any unforeseen delays (which Steve would never need to know about, hence avoiding disappointment and giving satisfaction)
Try this, it really works and produces overwhelming results.
How acknowledging your customers can get you more customers
How many times have you recommended a service or a product to a friend, colleague or family member?
If you are like me then it would have been Once, twice, or three, times.
The fact is that if you are satisfied with something then you will naturally recommend it to someone.
Today I will show you how you can get your customers to recommend you, your products and services over and over again.
Most business owners fail to acknowledge recommendations and as a result do not receive many more.
Ken Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.Always remember to thank your customers, especially in the case of receiving referrals from them.
The other day Albert, one of my long established customers recommended his sister Rebecca to me for some consultancy work.
That very same day I called Albert and thanked him for his recommendation. He was very pleased with my acknowledgement and said that he would continue to recommend me because he was more than impressed with my level of service.
There would have been nothing worse than Albert telling another family member for example, that he did not receive any acknowledgement from me for his recommendation. Do you think he would recommend anyone else?
Remember bad news travels faster than good news; make sure that the only news travelling is all good.
Try this, it really works and produces overwhelming results.
Customer feedback - a secret business weapon
Have you ever got feedback from your customers about your products and services?
If you did - What did you do with this feedback?
Today I will show you how customer feedback can help you to improve your products and services and thus stimulate more sales.
The other day Mary, one of my customers purchased some of my business tools to help her train some of her staff members back at her office. Yesterday I gave her a courtesy call to see how she was getting on. Strangely enough, she was having a bit of difficulty getting started with one of my tools but was too busy to call me; I managed to correct the issue in two minutes on the phone with her. Mary was extremely pleased and placed new orders for more products. I let Mary know that I valued her as a customer and that I cared enough to actually call her.
What have we learnt here? My calling Mary not only prevented a very small problem becoming a big problem (possibly resulting in a refund and an unhappy customer) but also the generation of another sale. I am not saying that you will always get another sale this way but you will also most surely improve your business to customer relationship.
Always get feedback from your customers and use this to help improve your services to them. If you provide a good service for your customers not only will they continue to be your customers but they will recommend you to others.
Try this, it really works and produces overwhelming results.
Ken Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.
If you did - What did you do with this feedback?
Today I will show you how customer feedback can help you to improve your products and services and thus stimulate more sales.
The other day Mary, one of my customers purchased some of my business tools to help her train some of her staff members back at her office. Yesterday I gave her a courtesy call to see how she was getting on. Strangely enough, she was having a bit of difficulty getting started with one of my tools but was too busy to call me; I managed to correct the issue in two minutes on the phone with her. Mary was extremely pleased and placed new orders for more products. I let Mary know that I valued her as a customer and that I cared enough to actually call her.
What have we learnt here? My calling Mary not only prevented a very small problem becoming a big problem (possibly resulting in a refund and an unhappy customer) but also the generation of another sale. I am not saying that you will always get another sale this way but you will also most surely improve your business to customer relationship.
Always get feedback from your customers and use this to help improve your services to them. If you provide a good service for your customers not only will they continue to be your customers but they will recommend you to others.
Try this, it really works and produces overwhelming results.
Ken Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.
Word of mouth the most powerful marketing tool
Today I will show you how you can get your customers talking to their colleagues, friends and family about you and your business.
How many people are talking about you, your business, your products or your services?
Word of mouth is one of the fastest means of promotion.
I can remember, many moons ago, I sold a computer to Alice who lived in Walthamstow, East London. At that time my office was based in South West of London, approximately twenty-five miles or so away. Alice had no means of transport and a limited budget to work with. What was I to do? I didn't really want to turn her away but at the same time I didn't really want to travel all the way across London for free.
I decided that I would help her out. I not only delivered the computer for her but I also set it up and gave her a quick tour on how to use it. When I left she was absolutely overwhelmed and did not know how to thank me. The very next day I got two recommendations from Alice for more computer sales, and guess what, they were happy to pay for delivery and installation.
So in conclusion, Word-of-mouth marketing is extremely powerful yet under utilised "find ways to do what you do so well and so uniquely that your customers cannot resist telling lots of ot her people about you" Try this, it really works and produces overwhelming results.
Ken Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.
How many people are talking about you, your business, your products or your services?
Word of mouth is one of the fastest means of promotion.
I can remember, many moons ago, I sold a computer to Alice who lived in Walthamstow, East London. At that time my office was based in South West of London, approximately twenty-five miles or so away. Alice had no means of transport and a limited budget to work with. What was I to do? I didn't really want to turn her away but at the same time I didn't really want to travel all the way across London for free.
I decided that I would help her out. I not only delivered the computer for her but I also set it up and gave her a quick tour on how to use it. When I left she was absolutely overwhelmed and did not know how to thank me. The very next day I got two recommendations from Alice for more computer sales, and guess what, they were happy to pay for delivery and installation.
So in conclusion, Word-of-mouth marketing is extremely powerful yet under utilised "find ways to do what you do so well and so uniquely that your customers cannot resist telling lots of ot her people about you" Try this, it really works and produces overwhelming results.
Ken Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.
How to get customers to respond to your adverts
Today I will let you into the secret of how you can get your customers and potential customers to respond to your adverts.
Have you ever wondered why it is after reading some adverts that you feel that you MUST respond to them immediately?
It's called a "call for action". Let me explain. Every day we are exposed to different forms of advertising: whether it's on the radio, TV, newspaper, magazine, the Internet, an email, the list goes on and on.
Whatever the medium the same technique "call for action" is used.
For example;
Advert 1
Denim jean sale, everything must go. Sale now on!
Advert 2
Denim jean summer sale, now on! Everything will go. Hurry as Sale ends June 30th !
Advert 2 is more compelling as it gives the customer a sense of urgency. If they don't get to the store before the sale end
date then they won't be able to benefit from the sale items. This strategy is particularly useful when you have slow sales periods or want to generate more sales.
Other examples include; limited stock availability, only 100 left, bring this voucher before.., offer ends, subject to availability, etc.
This has been working for years and years and still works today.
Ken Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.
Learn how success stories can BOOST your business
How many times have you heard successful stories about other peoples businesses?
It's time for those stories to be about you and your business.
Today I will show you how success stories about you and your business can really go a long way with your customers and can generate even more customers.
A few months ago one of my clients, Jacquelyn needed some marketing consultation. She was having trouble promoting one of her highly priced products. An additional problem was that she only had 4 weeks to complete the promotion, in order to get the early purchase discount from her supplier.
This was a pressured situation as she was also restricted by cash flow and could not entirely pay for my services until after she had completed her sales.
I made some strategic marketing suggestions, which proved to work exceedingly well. She not only met the suppliers' deadline (with a week to spare) but she actually sold out, making a profit of about 300%.
I even received an unexpected bonus from her, thank you Jacquelyn.
I told this story to another potential client of mine. He is now my client.
It's really that simple. Go ahead, put as many of your success stories together and tell it to all of your potential clients or customers.
Try this, it really works and produces overwhelming results.
Ken Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.
To make your business succeed you must do the little things!
Have you ever heard the saying "it's the little things that make the BIGGEST difference?"
In case you haven't heard, it's true.
Today I will show how you can make very small changes to the way that you conduct business to get BIG profitable results.
You don't have to spend a fortune, simply add things that your customers will really appreciate. Examples include;
You can give a free instructions guide, a how to guide, a free hints guide, top tips, tricks etc.
You will need to make sure that these are relevant and compliment your line of business.
For example if you sold cars you could give a free top 10 list of safe cars for parents with small children.
Or if you sold food, you could supply a free guide on healthy eating and the top 10 healthiest foods to eat.
If you sold mobile phones, you could provide a free guide on the safest and most durable phones.
So see what you can give your customers today and BOOST your profits.
free advertising, free marketing tips, how toKen Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.
How to Stimulate even more customer Referrals
Have you ever wondered how you can influence customer referrals?
Today I will show you can get your customers to bring more customers to you like a magnet.
A few years ago I was invited to a dinner and dance launch party of a new car (the company name will remain anonymous) I already had the previous model of this car, which I was happy with. I learnt that the company exclusively invited all their car owners in their database.
It was a black tie affair, champagne, comedians, cocktails, exotic foods etc. It really was a nice setting. To cut a long story short, there was this massive build up before they unveiled this new model of car, which they did with fireworks and dancers, it really was spectacular. The funny thing was that once I had seen the car I did not think much of it as it looked more or less like the old model, which I already had.
Anyway, about a year later I was driving pass the same company's showroom and popped in to have a look at the new model. Guess what, I bought the new model and part-exchanged my older model. So as you can see, all that glitz and glamour paid off for them in the long run.
If you therefore have direct contact with your customers, stage events where loyal customers can and are motivated to bring their friends to you, you will then have a captive audience of potential customers or clients. Examples of this are; product previews, product sample evenings, free seminars, prize draw giveaways etc.
Try this, it really works.
Ken Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.
Today I will show you can get your customers to bring more customers to you like a magnet.
A few years ago I was invited to a dinner and dance launch party of a new car (the company name will remain anonymous) I already had the previous model of this car, which I was happy with. I learnt that the company exclusively invited all their car owners in their database.
It was a black tie affair, champagne, comedians, cocktails, exotic foods etc. It really was a nice setting. To cut a long story short, there was this massive build up before they unveiled this new model of car, which they did with fireworks and dancers, it really was spectacular. The funny thing was that once I had seen the car I did not think much of it as it looked more or less like the old model, which I already had.
Anyway, about a year later I was driving pass the same company's showroom and popped in to have a look at the new model. Guess what, I bought the new model and part-exchanged my older model. So as you can see, all that glitz and glamour paid off for them in the long run.
If you therefore have direct contact with your customers, stage events where loyal customers can and are motivated to bring their friends to you, you will then have a captive audience of potential customers or clients. Examples of this are; product previews, product sample evenings, free seminars, prize draw giveaways etc.
Try this, it really works.
Ken Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.
How to get customers to recommend your business to other customers
Do you contact your customers after they have made a purchase?
If you don't then you really should.
Today I will show you how to get customers to recommend your business to other customers simply by contacting them.
Shortly after each sale I give my customers a call to see how they are and if there is anything further that I can help them with.
For example, a while ago I called Penny, one of my customers to see how she was getting on with some of my products. She said that she was doing very well and was very happy. I asked Penny if there was any way that I could improve my services to her. She said that she was more than satisfied with my service. I also used this opportunity to ask her if she had anyone in mind that she felt would benefit from my products and services, she recommended two more customers to me.
So ask your customers to recommend you to a friend or colleague. You can use a business card for this or simply just ask them.
If you do use a card ensure that you tell your customer to add their name on the reverse. You can offer your customer a gift as a show of your appreciation, if you like. Gifts can include; business promotional items, flowers, chocolates, dinner for two, vouchers, what ever you feel appropriate. You must not ignore this method of stimulating more referrals as it is very effective and works many times over.
Ken Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.
"The secret of getting your customer to say Yes"
Have you ever been at the point when your customer is just about to buy something and they decide not to, or simply say no?
If you are like me then this would have happened to you more than once.
Today I will show you a way to encourage your customer to say yes and actually make that purchase.
My wife and I went to a fish market very early one morning a couple of weeks ago, to buy a large quantity of fish. If you have not been to a place like this before, allow me to set the scene for you:
Picture a large indoor warehouse with several market stalls with market traders selling every type of fish you can imagine, you can also imagine the smell, not the kind of place that you would like to spend too much time in!
The funny thing is that quite a few of the stall owners are selling pretty much the same thing, at more or less the same price.
My wife and I are never quite sure which stall owner to purchase from. So we go around each stall comparing prices and receiving sales pitches from each of the stall owners.
One particular sales pitch till this very day comes to the front of my mind after my wife asked this particular fellow, "how much is this box of fish?" After a few moments of giving us the price he literally started packing the box into a bag and then concluded by saying "would you like one box or two?" You see, this sharp fishmonger worked on the assumption that we were definitely buying from him, and it was just a matter of us deciding on how many boxes of fish we wanted. Guess what? We bought two boxes!
So don't say "would you like it or not?" say "which one would you like?" or "how many would you like". This powerful sales marketing statement was used very well at the point of sales.
You see you do not leave room for the customer to say no. It's either one sale or another. On the other hand if you ask them, "would you like to buy this or not", then they can easily say no.
As a business owner which would you prefer?
Give this a try, it really does work.
Ken Ajoku is the CEO of The Kajoku Group, a company dedicated to creating and maintaining a number of businesses. These businesses include; Property, Publishing, Business Consulting and a number of online business ventures. Go to The Kajoku Group blog for more details.
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