Who Are Your Business Competitors?
May 18, 2006
You know who your business competitors are right? Or do you really know? If you have a painting and decorating business, your competitors are other painters and decoraters aren’t they? Well, not exactly.
Of course, other painters and decoraters are your competitors. But, you have much more competition than just them. The fact is, that for non-essential items and services, your competitors are anyone else who could persuade your potential customers from parting with their cash quicker than you can. So what can you do to stop them from getting your customers first?
Obviously, you need to get your customer to buy from you before they decide to blow all their cash on a brand new stereo system, or garden furniture. There’s several ways to do this - try the following ideas:
Offer a special discount, or bonus offer, only if they buy now to create a sense of urgency.
Deal with any doubts or objections they may have immediately.
Offer a money back guarantee.
Offer a free trial - limit it to a day or two - but take there card details - they are free to cancel after the trial - most people won’t cancel.
If yours is a service business, explain that you are extremely busy, and you’d like to pencil them in, before you have actually gone out and quoted them, so they don’t miss out. Again, most people won’t cancel, so you more or less have the sale before you’ve even quoted.
MLM - The Truth
May 16, 2006
Many women seem to join MLM schemes nowadays. This is hardly surprising, given the number of websites for women that actively promote MLM. If you’ve visited women’s business forums recently, you will probably have noticed that there is a huge number of women promoting MLM “opportunities”.
Many women are keen to work from home when there children are younger and MLM offers them a way to make money working only a few hours a week. In fact a lot of MLM programs claim that women working from home can make a lot of money in very little time.
So, what is the truth on MLM? If MLM is popular among women on the internet, it must be good right? Well, not really. If you’ve been encouraged by other women in forums to join MLM schemes, you will have noticed that they tell you that you don’t have to actually sell things, you just have to recruit people in your downline. In most MLM schemes, you’re not encouraged to sell the product. Does this sound fishy to you?
If it doesn’t, it should. If the “ideal” MLM opportunity doesn’t involve selling a product or service, what is the business? And will you actually make any money from it?
Many women on these forums claim to be making 10k plus a month doing MLM for 8 hours a week. But are they? Ask yourself why they would want other women to believe they were making a fortune from MLM. Could it possibly be because they want to recruit you into their MLM program, and make money out of you?
If you’re still not convinced that MLM may not be the greatest career move you’ve made, you might want to check out this website: http://www.mlm-thetruth.com/ In fact, if you know anyone else who has been suckered into an MLM scheme, you may want to give them the link too.
However, if you’ve already realised that MLM may not be all that it’s cracked up to be, spend a little time on this blog, and find out about real business ideas for both women and men.
Is Your Pocket Full of Business Cards?
May 13, 2006
Do you have a pocket stuffed full of your own business cards? Time to empty that pocket. Business cards are one of the cheapest marketing tools. Unfortunately most people have them, but they rarely use them.
Leave your business cards everywhere - don’t be shy. Whenever you are attending some type of function, leave some on a table. When you go to a restaurant, leave some with the tip, and also leave some at the counter.
Do leave your cards in stores. Some stores have counters containing business cards and leaflet, so be sure to leave some there too. Don’t be shy. If you don’t have time to ask, just leave some anyway.
Once you get into the habit of leaving your business cards everywhere, you will do it. One famous entrepreneur - I think it was Zig Ziglar - kick me if I’m wrong, threw hundreds of business cards into the crowds at a football match when a goal was scored!
Home Business - Is It For You?
May 9, 2006
Home Business has never been more popular. Right at this very minute, thousands of people are contemplating setting up a home business, but is it for you?
Home Business Pros
Running a home business means the long commute to work is a thing of the past.
You can arrange your working hours to suit yourself, and the needs of your family.
You can put many of your expenses, such as telephone and electricity against tax.
Start-up costs are much lower with a home business than setting up from a commercial premises.
Home Business Cons
You may sometimes feel as though you are always at work, and you may find yourself overworking, because your business is at home.
Interruptions from friends or family can be a problem when you’re working from home.
If you’re not disciplined enough, you may not get as much work done, as if you were working in a regular premises.
You may begin to feel isolated if you’re working from home the entire time.
