Five Must Implement Strategies To Grow Your Business

My old trusty 13 year old Saab has finally decided that enough’s enough and has had one minor problem too many – and is no more (or soon will be no more when I drain the petrol from the tank – which at the moment has doubled its value and the nice men from the breakers yard come to collect it)

So being carless I just bought a new car…

Buying this car brings up so many marketing points I have written this article to share some of them with you here, so – in no particular order – here goes:

1. I have a client who works in car sales nationally scout around for cars that fitted my simple specifications and he found me a couple which fitted the bill. Your clients are a massive resource of knowledge and all good stuff that you will never have the ability to learn. Don’t be afraid to tap into their knowledge and expertise. This is really easy to do if you treat them right! This is a law of reciprocation which basically states people like to do good things for people who do good things for them!

2. Never buy a new car as they depreciate so quickly and they are not an asset which will appreciate. The exception to this is unless you can get a cracking deal! Because of my clients contacts he was able to get me this new car cheaper than a one year old second hand one and by paying cash I got it cheaper still. Car plus mats, full tank of petrol, 3 year servicing all for almost £3000 off the list price. I have previously mentioned the importance of saving regularly and building up a reserve fund – and this is why! No finance fees and cheaper all-round if you do not buy on credit.

3. Cars are a commodity which you can get them almost anywhere (typically found in garages and showrooms – so best not look in other places). If your services and products are easily available elsewhere then there is no reason why your clients can’t shop around, pick and choose, go for the cheapest, closest etc. Make sure you specialize and that you differentiate yourself from all the others in your field. This way you become the go to person and you can charge a premium for any service you provide.

4. My last car (which was almost top of the range with all the added extras) does none of the stuff that this car does 13 years down the line, mid-range and £11,000 cheaper. It has voice activated controls, lights that sense where the car is and how it is moving and become brighter on turns etc. “stop and start” technology where the engine switches off if you aren’t moving, things to stop you stalling on hill starts etc. etc. My old car had none of this stuff (stuff I shall most probably never use but it is there if I want it). This is how technology and times change! Are you staying up-to-date with your own skills, how you practice and are you still offering what people want? You don’t want to become fantastically equipped at servicing and looking after a society that no longer wants what you do!

5. All the gizmos I mentioned above were standard – and the salesman was still trying to sell me more stuff! Stuff I didn’t want but stuff he could make money on! So after a quick change of salesperson I bought the basic version without having to counter a barrage of sales spiel. People only buy what they want and you will annoy them into leaving and going elsewhere if you continually try to sell those things which are in you benefit and not theirs! If you think they really should have something (and not because your wallet says they should have it) build rapport first before you progress to these extra things.

Even if you just implement those 5 strategies I can guarantee you will be a lot busier for it!