"Building your Business for Success in 2002."
By Paul Barrs. (c) 2001
It's a strange anomaly.
Most people who set out to start their own business, no
matter what type, build it for failure, not success.
Crazy isn't it? But true.
The saddest part in all this, is that they don't even know
that they are destined for failure long before their dreams
shatter and break apart.
Statistics tell us that within 5 years of start up 90% of
all small business will go under.
My personal experience shows me that 98% of all home based
business will do the same.
Why?
Because they lack the fundamental skills, education and
development to plan ahead, foresee the pitfalls, and
capitalise on gains.
Here is a key secret to business success. It's "Easy to
Do", it's also "Easy not to Do."
That applies to everything. It's easy to do a business
plan. It's also easy not to do one.
It's easy to create a marketing plan, but it's also easy
not to create one.
It's easy to pick up the phone and call a new potential
customer; it's also easy not to do it.
That one thing will determine your success, or measure your
failure.
However, on a brighter side, there are three specific
things that you must focus on doing if your want to develop
a powerhouse and dynamic business in 2002.
Those three things are:
1. Get potential customers to your business.
2. Get those same people to come back.
3. Get them to refer their friends, family and associates.
Sounds simple doesn't it?
It's aasy to do, it's also easy not to do. And if you're
not consciously aware of this business reality, you're
probably not doing these three things.
Let's look at them.
1. Get potential customers to your business.
It does not matter what your business, your product, or
your services. Whether you are online or offline makes no
difference. You absolutely must focus 50% of your time and
energy on gaining new customer enquires. (Initially 80% if
you are just starting)
Use every method available to you. Utilise every single
resource. Study and learn what it takes to get people to
call you, or visit your website, or mail you a form.
I know I'm pointing out the obvious, but if your head is
stuck in product development, or management and accounting
you won't be able to see the trees from the forest.
Customers are your lifeblood. They are your bread and
butter. They represent every reason why you go into
business in the first place - to make money.
So get them and get them quick.
2. Get those same people to come back.
It's a proven fact that most people will not buy from you
on their first contact. There are no exceptions to this
rule. A prospective customer must have exposure to your
business an average of 5 - 8 times (depending on your
products and services) before they will even contact you.
The world of professional selling tells us that most sales
closes take place on the 7th contact.
What does this tell you?
If you work so hard at getting new people to your business
front, but then not getting them to come back - you're
building for failure.
Don't do it!
Stop right now and look at your sales systems. Do they make
allowances for automatic or semi-automatic follow up? Do
you offer Autoresponders from your website? Do you have an
offline sales letter follow up plan. Do you use contact
management software so that you don't loose track of
potential customers?
Why do you think the Pro's in your industry are the top
income earners? Think about that. They keep in touch with
people.
3. Get them to refer their friends, family and associates.
This is the cream of the crop.
When you set out in your business, you must focus 80% of
your time on getting new contacts. As your business
develops, you must then change that focus to 80% gaining
referrals.
Referrals are the sweetest prospective customers of all.
They are already pre-qualified. They already want what you
have to offer.
And you don't have to spend a cent getting them!
If your business is online, you can do this with a simple,
click and refer a friend script. If you're not on the web,
you can do this by using a business card referral system.
But even more - are you ready for the kicker?
You must ASK people for their referrals!
When you've got a great product and a great service, it
fantastic. But there is really no point in working really
hard to get a brand new fresh customer at great expense
when all you have to do is ASK your existing customers for
a few referrals.
Don't be shy. You ask, and most of them will happily give.
It's that easy. Easy to do, easy not to do.
Can you see the pattern developing here, the difference
between success and failure, those that do and those that
don't?
All these things are easy to do. They are, really. But most
people opt for the easier choice - not to do.
The choice is yours. Build your business for success in
2002 with qualified customer flow and you will reap the
rewards.
About the Author
Paul Barrs is the creator of the 12-month "Home Business
Mastery - Home Study Course." as well as being a
professional speaker, trainer and presenter. He would like
to offer you a free subscription to his "Home Business Gold
Online Audio e-Magazine" where each week you'll receive a
free audio seminar delivered to your in-box. To get your
subscription, go now to http://www.paulbarrs.com/news.htm
today.