5 Great Ways to Grow Your Business

In today’s struggling economy, business owners all over the globe seek new clients. Many even wonder how their competition seems to have a larger client base than they do. The answer, my friends, is that these professionals are doing something other, more qualified professionals claim they are too busy to do: They are marketing themselves.

Marketing for business professionals isn’t rocket science, nor is it time consuming. The following helpful hints will attract more clients your way, thus delivering more revenue for your business:

1 Set yourself apart from the pack. Make sure clients know you are a unique, one-of-a-kind specialist in your field of expertise. Let them know you concentrate 100% of your efforts in providing them the best service at all times. You are not a jack-of-all-trades or a discount house, but the best business professional at any cost. Then show them. Afterwards, ask for referrals, and watch your small business or practice grow!

2. Stay in touch with your clients. While seeking new business, don’t forget your current clients. Constantly remind them how much they mean to you—through a card, letter, and or an inexpensive promotional item complete with your business card. Again, don’t forget to ask for referrals.

3. Network. Attend after hour events, breakfasts, or mid-day meetings. Join your area chamber or service organization. Volunteer in your community. Speak to various groups about your profession. Whatever you do, make sure you have plenty of business cards on hand.

4. Share. Share your expertise with all media, including news, radio, television, and free online articles. Offer up-to-date information to those who visit your website with your very own blog. If you don’t have a professional looking website, now is the time to invest in one.

5. Promote. Invest time and a little money by promoting the most important person in your business: you. Advertise on billboards, radio, television, advertising specialties, and especially digital marketing. Make yourself visible to future clients in directories of all kinds.

By following these simple, yet effective steps, you can watch your business grow during these tough economic times. Invest in your future. Invest in yourself.

10 Great Quotes on Success

In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure. 

Bill Cosby 

Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it. 

Bruce Lee 

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. 

Winston Churchill 

Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success. 

Swami Vivekananda 

Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success. 

Dale Carnegie 

The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will. 

Vince Lombardi 

Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune. 

Jim Rohn 

Belief in oneself is one of the most important bricks in building any successful venture. 

Lydia M. Child 

Failure is the key to success; each mistake teaches us something. 

Morihei Ueshiba 

Most people give up just when they're about to achieve success. They quit on the one yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game one foot from a winning touchdown. 

Ross Perot   

As a bonus, I'll close with my favorite success quote of all time:

Action is the foundational key to all success. 

Pablo Picasso 

Faith. Focus. Follow-Through. Success!

--Brian Keller

10 Sure-Fire Ways to Kill Your Business

1. Lie to Your Customers.

Over-promise the benefits of your product or service, and you can almost guarantee losing part of your market share! Customers will lose their trust in you and visit your competition. 

2. Ignore Customer Calls.

Be rare in the business world! Pick up the phone by the third ring. Be personable.  Show that you care. You have no idea how many cold, impersonal jerks they've spoken with before calling you.

3. Have Sporadic Hours.

Be different than your competition. Make your hours of operation convenient for YOUR customers.  Consider using a website to attract more business.

4. Don’t Listen to Your Customers.

Don't daydream, stare off into space, or think about anything else. Your customer pays your bills.  Focus on them!  Discover their wants, needs, and desires. Listen, really listen.

5. Ignore Your Customer.

Online or off, be attentive to your customers and their needs.  Be aware if they are in your store or online.  Don't talk to an employee about last night's game, your problems, or anything else. Address their concerns.

6. Look at Your Customer as A Thief.

Sure. Keep you and your business safe and secure. But don't think every customer inside your business is there to rob you.  Fire rude or uncaring employees immediately.  Remember the Golden Rule. Treat your customer as you'd wish to be treated...with respect. 

7. Don't Keep in Touch with Customers.

Make sure you have information--whenever possible--on your customers. Get their information so you can send them informative newsletters with upcoming sales. Send them e-mails on upcoming events.

8. Argue or Be Rude to Your Customer.

Customers buy from people and websites they like.  Don't be abrupt, inconsiderate, or a know-it-all. Be personable. Show You care!

9. Be complacent:  Do the same things you've done in the past.

Invest in marketing strategies and ideas to increase your customer base.  Research. Be active in your community.  Be indispensable.

10. Don't Promote.

Boost your company profile by any positive means necessary.  Become the company people recognize as the authority in your field.

--Brian Keller

Invest in Yourself and Your Future.