Looking into the Future for Profits

How to identify future solutions and opportunities?

Your power page, if used extensively, will help you to identify areas where the client may need more help or may need to purchase additional products. When you read through your notes, you will be able to pinpoint areas that will be a business pain. Customers are always happy to find solutions to potential problems if they see their value. You must do your homework on various solutions before you make any suggestions. It is too easy to just promote your own company and its products. Make sure you know how the competition fits into the picture and what they can also offer to solve that same problem.

Your power page should also contain competitor information. You need to know what others are doing in the market place and what their perceived value is to your client. You need to be better informed and better prepared than anyone else. You want to make it easy for the client to choose you over others. Tighten your business relationship by following through with promises and providing value. Your power page should contain all the information you need to keep the customer.

Checklists

What items do you like to keep track of during visits to clients:

______________________________________________________________

________________ ______________________________________________

_______________________________________________ _______________

Choose one potential client and fill in the Information Plan for that company. (see item number 92 for the information plan):

Contact information:

______________________________________________________________

____________ __________________________________________________

___________________________________________ ___________________

Sales Volume:

______________________________________________________________

_________________ _____________________________________________

________________________________________________ ______________

Problems the company is encountering:

______________________________________________________________

___________ ___________________________________________________

__________________________________________ ____________________

Who are their customers and what is their opinion of the target company:

______________________________________________________________

________________ ______________________________________________

_______________________________________________ _______________

For your lead contact list all of the personal information you can gather (birthdate, anniversary, hobbies, other interests, clubs belonged to, etc.):

______________________________________________________________

__________________ ____________________________________________

_________________________________________________ _____________

______________________________________________________________

List 2 or 3 pieces of business you have recently lost and the reason why you lost the deal (be honest with yourself!):

______________________________________________________________

_____________ _________________________________________________

____________________________________________ __________________

______________________________________________________________

What things can you do for the "lost" customer in order to keep in touch so that you may be considered when new business or projects are on the horizon:

______________________________________________________________

________________ ______________________________________________

_______________________________________________ _______________

______________________________________________________________

What is your VALUE proposition? What do you bring to the table for your customers? How have you verified your value:

______________________________________________________________

__________________ ____________________________________________

_________________________________________________ _____________

Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone to tell and excite. She decided to find the best ways to get people's attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products, getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the "Networking Queen". Blueprint for Networking Success: 150 ways to promote yourself is the first in this series. Blueprint for Branding Yourself: Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in 2005. For more information visit http://www.BlueprintBooks.com

---

Do You Really Need a Toll-Free Number for Your Business?

Do You Really Need a Toll-Free Number for Your Business?... Read More

Politics, Environmental Rules, and Mobile Car Washes

During the California Recall Election, I was very interested. Without... Read More

Keeping Business Alive

Who is responsible for maintaining the business relationship?Nurturing a business... Read More

How to Use Graphs and Charts in Your Business Plan

Many people ask how many graphs or charts they should... Read More

Alliances: Drawing The Line

How far can you go based on your relationship with... Read More

10 Hiring Tips for Small Business Owners

As a successful small business owner,you're accustomed to long hours;... Read More

Understanding Franchise Releationships in a Franchised Business

Now that you have invested your time, energy and money... Read More

Successful Small Businesses Use PR

It's obvious when a small business has accepted the fact... Read More

Multiple Clients Create Your Independent Business

Would you rather have one good client paying you five... Read More

Marketing Your Small Business - The Top 10 Brilliant Ideas

A Brilliant Marketing Idea... sounds great but what is it?... Read More

Maintaining Your Carpet Extractor in Your Auto Detail Shop

Auto Detailing: Maintaining A Commercial Carpet ExtractorYou should drain your... Read More

Mobile Car Wash and Cleaning Post Office Jeeps

If you own a mobile truck washing, pressure washing or... Read More

Small Business and Wichita

Owning a small business in Wichita, KS might not be... Read More

Creative Metrification - A Technique to Improve

Some things in business are relatively easy to measure ?... Read More

Franchises Offer Shortcuts, But Not Control

Q: I will be retiring this year at age 60... Read More

De-Ionization Decisions in Mobile Car Washing

Many mobile car wash operators would like to add de-ionized... Read More

The Key To Success - Choose The Right Partners

Do you promote yourself as offering prompt, reliable and quality... Read More

How Micro Loans Can Mean Macro Success for Your Business

"Inch by inch, row by row...that's the way my garden... Read More

Finding a Venture Capital Firm

Many ventures are faced with the challenging task of raising... Read More

Tell Me a Story: A Simple But Powerful Tool to Build Your Business

Everyone loves a good story. Whether it's the story of... Read More

Creative Marketing Tips: Simple Things You Can Use In Your Business To Attract More Clients

The single most important activity you can do in your... Read More

Not Listening Can Hurt Your Small Business

Most small business owners seek advisors who can help them... Read More

Does Your Small Business Marketing Suffer From The Bulldog Effect?

If you're an entrepreneur responsible for your own small business... Read More

Build Credibility, Value, and Trust on a Shoestring

Setting priorities in your business? Your first job is to... Read More

Are You Making the Most of Your Intern?

KEEPING INTEREST HIGH: Supervision is key to the success of... Read More

Financial Fundamentals - What Every Small Business Owner Should Know!

Business owners rarely go into business to deal with the... Read More

Starting a New Business in a Small Town

Q. I am a former pastor who left the ministry... Read More

432 Page Franchise Report by the FTC

The Federal Trade Commission is upgrading the franchise law and... Read More

Dynamics of Daylight Savings Time on Service Businesses in the United States

The Dynamics of Daylight Savings Time changes the way we... Read More

Tips For Successful Home Show Businesses

Opportunities for home show businesses have never been more abundant.... Read More

Choosing A Business Thats Right For You

Q: I really want to start my own business, but... Read More

Do Home Businesses Complicate Small Business Debt Collection Laws?

The home-based business market, sometimes called the SOHO (small-office/home-office) market,... Read More

Employee Induction - Are you Inducting your People - A Practical How To

In today's fast paced marketplace it is easy to neglect... Read More