Now that you are taking the plunge and going into business for yourself, it’s time to maximize your potential. You will attract customers that value what you have to offer, so offer them a package they will recognize as a value. Your initial presentation will distinguish you – or not – from all the competition, so consider these strategies as you go:
Make the most of who YOU are
Demonstrate your gifts and talents. Marketing those gifts and talents to others produces rewards that further develop your potential. Create your own niche to attract others who need and want it. Using your Unique Abilities maximizes your output as well as bringing recognition of your skills and talents by others.
Keep your image refined
Diluting your brand is bad for business. Stick to one marketable purpose on your business card, on your email signature and with each business contact you make. You may be multi-talented and you may thrive at multi-tasking but your business will not thrive if it is confused in its intent and purpose from the customer’s perspective.
Market your product or service, not yourself
Successful business marketing promotes what the customer wants to purchase rather than the person selling it. Real estate brokers, fitness coaches, actors, models and motivational speakers are selling themselves and are exceptions to this rule. Generally speaking, pictures of you aren’t going to benefit the professional image of your business that you intend to create.
Promote your “buy local” and “buy sustainable” benefits
Keeping commerce on the local level is one effective strategy to decrease your environmental footprint and increase your bottom line. Spread the word and the word will spread that you are local, you buy local and you give back on the local level. Green-washing by making exaggerated claims is a real no-no, but genuine sustainable company practices that you promote will draw like-minded customers to you.
Establish a strong and professional domain
When customers can’t find you or have questions about your professionalism, you lose them. Your company’s basic image, created well and made accessible, brings you sales. Get noticed through well-placed ads, appropriate memberships and a well-designed and optimized website. Have an email address with your company’s domain name to show that you mean business, in particular, your business.
image by dbking on Flickr
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