How to Get People to Look at Your Business

What is Your Unique Selling Proposition[USP]?

A few years ago I was driving around a small Kansas town. It was a really hot day and not a soul was to be found outside. As I made a turn on one street, I saw some kids selling lemonade in front of there home. They had a rather dull looking table with a simple sign that read: “Cup of Lemonade for 50cent…”, they had no customers. I kept on driving and at the end of the road I saw some more kids selling cold lemonade, but this time it was a lot different – they had chairs, a little umbrella for shade, and one kid was standing on the curve with a colored sign: “Cold Cup of Lemonade for 50cent”…. And cars were stopping!

How do you get people to look at your business? Well the question is what you are you doing that’s different that will make people look at your business? How are you standing out? What special offers are you offering? What is unique about your business?

When marketing your business it’s very important to put yourself in the customers place and to try and see things from his/her point of view. You need to figure out how you can separate yourself from your competition.

I know of a business consultant who decided that he was going to make himself different by focusing on answering emails as soon as possible and not to leave anyone hanging. This little decision is what helped him become a successful business consultant. His clients knew that he was always there for them.

You want people to look at your business??

Focus on customer service!!

For any business to survive it’s not enough just to have great leadership, a shiny website and excellent products. It’s also got to have excellent customer service. The basic concept of customer service is all about getting your customers to come back to you – creating repeat business.

When you have excellent customer service, two things happen:

1] You get repeat business

2] Your customers will talk about you (word-of-mouth marketing).

Below are tips for excellent customer service:

1] Always respond to telephone calls and call people back.

2] Always respond to emails. If you are not around, set up your email auto-responder to let people when you will be back, and that you will respond once you have access to email. In your auto-responder, give another person whom they can contact.

3] Be patient with your customers and listen to them.

4] Be accessible to your customers.

5] Deal with complaints. This is not easy, and many times small business owners will say to themselves, “ok… so I’ll lose one customer…” No one likes to deal with complaints, but your ability to make another customer happy will prove worthwhile in the long run.

6] Always throw in some kind of incentive for repeat customers. Let it be a coupon for a future discount or a buy-one and get-another-half-price or something.

7] Excellent customer service depends on everyone at your team. Train your staff as well!

8] In your marketing campaign point out the fact that you have excellent customer service. Why? Because people are looking for service that is hassle free. People are looking for a solution to their problem – your offer of great customer service gives them peace of mind.

9] Follow up calls after selling a product or service. Simply ask if everything worked out and if they have any questions regarding the product or service. This will leave a good impression of you and your company, and will secure repeat business.

10] Remember your customers’ names.

11] Sometimes you need to run the extra mile. This means that many times a customer will ask you about a product that you don’t have, or ask you a question for which you may not have the answer. Try to make the effort to help them out – it will pay off.

12] Always remember: Service with a smile!