Branding
Why Is Nobody Interested in Your Opportunity?
0People hate being sold, but they love to buy.
Does this sentence make any sense? Well to me it makes all the sense in the world. In fact this is the number one mistake people in MLM are doing when they are trying to build their “empire”. This is the number one reason why 97% of people fail miserably in Multi Level Marketing. They are trying to sell their product to their prospects. Some people will opt in to their opportunity, because of their initial enthusiasm, but will quit a month later. This is called attrition and will kill your business faster than anything.
To be able to make any real money in any business, it does not matter if you work through the Internet or with traditional ways of network marketing, you have to sell people what they want. You need to target market with laser accuracy to those people who are really interested in your opportunity. Then they will want to buy your product and they will come to you asking for more information.
Let me give an example here to back this up. Lets say that you want to market to the world your new Pest Control company. If you make a search on Google about pest control, you will find adds like “we are the largest pest control company” or “get a free quote for your needs today”, “we use the most effective products in the market”. Nobody is having the advantage. They all market the same way. If people have a pest control problem, they could go to any of these companies. Let’s say that you make a research and you discover that most of the companies are using chemicals that are harmful for children. Then you write an article about something like this “Pest Control? How to protect your children from dangerous chemicals”. Guess what? You have just put yourself as an expert in the industry. You are not even promoting your product. You are promoting a solution that most mothers out there will be interested in. When these people will actually want Pest Control, you are the one that they are going to come to.
What I am trying to say is that you have to spend some time listening to people and learning their real needs. You have to provide solutions for their problem and you should do this for free. This will put you ahead of competition, because people will want to hear more from you. If you have provided a solution to their problem, this puts you in a position as a leader and people will just follow you.
All of you people out there dealing with Multi-Level-Marketing, should learn how to build rapport. Only then will people join your opportunity. People will follow people or solutions and not products. Nobody is interested in your opportunity because they do not think of you as a leader, or someone who has a solution on how to make this work.
What you need to do is put real value to the table and you can do this if you educate your self on how to do this effectively.
What Makes a Number ‘Memorable’?
0People have different strategies to help them remember things. Perhaps you write lists and stick them on the fridge, or keep notes on your smartphone. Maybe you leave a pile of items at the bottom of the stairs as a visual cue so you remember to take them next time you go up. Or you might even use the traditional mnemonic technique of tying a knot in a hankie!
When choosing a phone number for your business, it’s wise to pick one that’s easy for customers to remember. That way, when they see it on marketing material such as your advertisements, website and vehicle livery, they are more likely to phone you and not a competitor.
With Telecoms World, like many suppliers, you’ll find that numbers are offered in price tiers depending on how memorable they are. But what makes one number more memorable than another? (more…)
Imprinted Tote Bags to Promote Your Business
0Imprinted bags are multifunctional carrying containers that come in many styles, fabrics, and colors. Whether designed to hold cosmetics, groceries, or documents, these bags also promote a company. Businesses all over the world use these bags for advertising purposes. Pay attention the next time you visit the airport or supermarket — there will probably be several of these within eyesight. They have become so commonplace within our society that even children use them.
A tote bag is designed to store files, magazines, and writing utensils. A hand or shoulder strap makes carrying easy and the various compartments are designed to store everything from gum to sticky notes. Some people use the tote as a diaper bag due to its durable construction and ample storage capacity. A messenger bag has a similar style but features a front flap that folds over the compartment. This is where the corporate logo is imprinted for all to see.
Nonwoven shopping bags have become extremely popular in recent years. Some retailers provide them to shoppers in lieu of shopping carts, reducing their storage needs. People cart these around the mall, grocery store, and even on the beach. The durable bags hold many times their weight and some versions fold up into a compact wallet size for convenient storage. Eco-friendly bags are made from recycled materials and are designed to be reused. Shoppers use them to hold groceries, eliminating paper and plastic bag waste at the supermarket.
A drawstring backpack makes a good day or overnight bag. People use this pack to carry their clothes to the gym or pool. Some pack a picnic lunch and head to the park on a sunny day. Runners and bike riders find this pack convenient because it keeps their hands free. This style is one of the least expensive promotional items of its kind and it displays the corporate logo prominently. Customers may have an assortment of colors to choose from, including those that permit reverse logo imprinting.
Zippered totes are created for people who are on the go. Contents are safely stored inside so they will not fall out during transit. A shoulder strap enables hands-free carrying and outside pockets hold a cell phone and water bottle. When a multi-colored corporate logo is imprinted on the front, this bag becomes a moving advertisement.
Not all imprinted bags must be large. A customized cosmetic case is suitable for teens and women. It also makes a great holder for small toys or school supplies. Students can put their pencils, pens, and crayons in this bag and store it in their backpacks. The writing utensils will not escape and burst in their pack, keeping their homework safe from harm.
A polypropylene event tote is a durable bag that can stand on its own due to its plastic bottom insert. The front document pouch holds several sheets of paper and the adjustable strap is wide so it does not cut into the shoulder. Gusset pockets provide extra storage and second side printing is available for additional promotion.
An Ideal Customer You Can Fall In Love With
0We were talking about content for his website. The business owner was struggling with ideas. He’d begin to float an idea and before it developed dismiss it. “A lot of the time the customer just won’t open their mind to the idea of bringing in a new process or changing what the warehouse people are asked to do.”
When the conversation changed to what he was doing in his own business, the changes he had made and how those changes were making a difference – his voice changed, his energy changed, his patience with my questions changed.
And it hit me. The reason why the second conversation was more rich and instructive and positive than the first – he was speaking to an audience he believed was interested in learning. And the natural, compelling teacher in him began to emerge. He knew his audience (me) cared about what he was saying.
In the Duct Tape Marketing process, a lot of emphasis is placed on defining your ideal customer/prospect. From a pragmatic standpoint, it’s critical. The better defined your target it, the better steps you can take to reach the target. But it’s also critical from an emotional standpoint. The ideal customer is interested in what you have to say and values your advice.
When creating the strategy, message and plan for your marketing efforts, think of the ideal customer, not the difficult and stubborn customer that chewed up half your day with some petty complaint. The former will inspire you. The latter will dull you.
By visualizing the ideal customer it’s easier to write. By visualizing the ideal customer it’s easier to make the commitment of time and money to create and send out your message. When your output is targeted to the few who “get it” you will attract more of those kinds of people.
Trying to justify an approach or the value of products and services will drain you if you’re trying to convince a difficult, cynical bunch. You might be fresh and compelling your first couple of attempts, but ultimately the audience will wear you down. Conversely, when you are sharing and contributing value to an eager and positive audience, your own energy and enthusiasm grows.
It sounds painfully obvious, but narrowing our audience is an uncomfortable move. We’ve been conditioned to believe in the safety of numbers, bigger is better. But that’s always been a false premise. There would be no 80/20 Rule if that were true.
My challenge to you is to banish the mediocre customers from your mind when thinking about your marketing. Take the time to picture the ideal customer. Give that customer a face and a voice and a personality. Think about them when you turn to your marketing activities.
At a minimum, the ideal customer values your expertise. Beyond that an ideal customer is profitable, and not in a mercenary way, but rather in a win-win way. You both profit from working together. The ideal customer is the one who vocalizes that they wish you had more products and services because they would prefer that you take care of everything. The ideal customer is the glowing reference and your advocate, referring you to other ideal customers.
On a personal note, I am in the midst of one of my own marketing campaigns. It involves handwriting a personal note to every one on my lists. If a name comes up, and I can’t think of anything to say to them, I’ve been taking them off the list. The fact that I cannot find common ground means that we’re not a good fit.
I want more of the ideal. I want that for you as well. Let’s find those ideal customers that we can fall in love with.
How to Build Your Brand Up in a Down Economy
0When a depressed economy impacts your business and your brand, it’s easy to panic and be reactive. But a down economy can actually present opportunities to build your brand up. Here are three strategies you can take advantage of now:
1. Deal from a position of strength, not weakness.
A natural reaction to sluggish sales is to cut your expenses any way you can. But reducing expenses that can impact the strength of your brand can have a long term negative effect. For example, suppose you cut back on your customer support hours, or reduce your customer support staff. This may result in cost savings, but it could also lead to customer dissatisfaction and even losing customers because they can’t get questions answered or problems resolved in a timely manner. When you need to cut expenses, start with budget line items that are not customer-critical. (more…)



