5 Strategies That Will Boost Your Business Productivity Today! - Part 1

Building a dynamic small business is a constantly evolving, increasingly demanding role.

It is very easy to get so caught up in the day to day running of our business that we neglect to take the time to look from the outside in to see what we could do to improve our profitability!

Well here are 5 Strategies that could boost your productivity overnight!

They are not rocket science?and you may have even heard some of them before, but they are 5 proven principles that you can review today to help you stay on track regarding the real issues to grow your business from here.

So why don't you take 15 minutes?make yourself a coffee?and recharge your batteries!

1. Define your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) in one sentence

What is at the heart of your business that makes it unique and attractive for your customers? Summarise your key selling points that make your product or service a 'must have' for your clients.

You probably went through this exercise when you first started your business...but have you need to remind yourself regularly why you are doing what you are doing!

New competitors may have emerged and you don't have that same uniqueness that you once had.

Perhaps it's time to reinvent yourself and get that edge over the market once again!

2. Identify Who Your Target Market Is

When you first started your business, you knew exactly who your target market was. Is this market still the same, or have they grown up?or matured in their buying habits.

Has new technology overtaken your ideas?

Just imagine if Video Rental Stores had stubbornly refused to rent DVDs because they were just a Video Store! Your market may have changed, and you may need to reassess who you are trying to reach.

Your original target market have grown older since you began and if you are still promoting your products or service to this same group - their needs may be different!

3. Would you like Fries with That?

McDonalds have made an additional fortune by training every one of their sales force to ask one simple question with every order: 'Would you like fries with that?'

I went to buy a tube to fix my daughter's bike puncture the other day, and instead of just selling me a new tube, the smart salesman in the Bike Shop enquired quite genuinely if I had the right tools to fix it.

I didn't - but of course he did...so he cleverly added value to my shopping experience, and added extra profit to his bottom line.

What service or product can you offer to people to make their original purchase with you even more worthwhile?

4. Establish where your clients go before and after they visit you?

If you can determine this, then you can add instant profits to your business.

Just imagine if you owned a Real Estate business. Wouldn't it make sense to have a Settlement Agent in house? And what about a Mortgage Broker? Or even a Removalist Company?

Perhaps you could rent out a large Furniture Trailer with your company name emblazoned all over it!

Ask yourself the same question and you can start incorporating other services that complement your existing business and watch the profits grow!

5. Ask your existing customers for referrals

If you are providing an excellent product or service, then your biggest fans will be your existing customers.

Why not offer them an incentive to put you in touch with people just like them who would also benefit from your services?

It doesn't have to be anything really expensive?maybe even just a 10% discount off their next purchase from you.

I referred some friends to a Mortgage Broker a few months ago?and had forgotten all about it?until last week I received 2 movie tickets in the mail thanking me for the gesture.

A $20 investment leaves a nice impression in my mind that will probably make me think of him again when my next friend asks me if I know of a good Mortgage Broker!

Make sure you get Part Two of this article for another 5 Strategies to improve your small business success!

About The Author

Glen Smyth is the author of the popular new eBook, 'The Small Business Success Guide'. Discover how you can build your own profit-pulling small business, starting today: http://www.smallbusinesssuccessguide.com. Make sure you also sign up for the WOW! Factor Newsletter which is full of great ideas from other Small Business owners!

info@smallbusinesssuccessguide.com

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Business Strategy Planning Made Easy

Ask Yourself three simple questions that affect your strategy planning...... Read More

Alice In Wonderland - A Parable for A Business Plan

Remember reading "Alice in Wonderland?"She asks the Cheshire Cat, "which... Read More

Turning On The Lights

Fun From The StartFor those with the will to start... Read More

Vision Getting Dim?

A recent conversation started with a typical question, "How's business?"... Read More

Abstract Thought; Business Strategies and Biological Systems

To stop a computer virus you must understand how it... Read More

Making a Decision to Outsource: Strategic Constraints

Many companies are reluctant to dive into outsourcing ocean because... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Implementation: Placement/Recruiting Agency example ? overview for consultant

Microsoft Great Plains does wonderful ERP job for horizontal markets... Read More

Top Ten Reasons To Create A One Page Business Plan

There is a story, about a business owner who wasn't... Read More

Home Improvement Construction Project Planning

The first task before hiring a contractor for home remodeling... Read More

The Top 10 Priorities That Guard Your Five-Star Reputation

Making money doesn't make your reputation... your reputation makes you... Read More

GOT MEME? How to Attract Your Clients and Customers Attention

No "meme" isn't a typo and Got Milk, the more... Read More

Creating a Vision That Achieves Results

How important is a vision statement to your company or... Read More

The Importance of Value Mix

( * - the word 'product' can be substituted to... Read More

Mining Market Data

With a heightened awareness of opportunity, ideas can often be... Read More

Dotcom Business Plans Archive Project

One of the most important initiatives in the domain of... Read More

Who is Responsible?

While writing an article recently on effective ways to bridge... Read More

Call in the SWOT Team: Produce More Opportunities to Expand Your Business

Have you ever done a SWOT analysis? No, it's not... Read More

Insurance Requirements in Franchised Companies

Franchised companies often require what some believe to be excessive... Read More

Business Plan Descriptions of Computer System

Entrepreneurs often give little if any consideration to their computer... Read More

Break-Even Analysis

A significant advantage of some business ideas is that the... Read More

Corporate Contingency Planning

Part 1A few weeks ago I attended a seminar sponsored... Read More

Connecting Your Offline Business to Your Online Business

These may sound like no brainers, but you'd be surprised.... Read More

Be Like Bill - Think!

Twice a year, Bill Gates goes to a remote island... Read More

A Unique Joint Venture Twist: Make Huge Profits Even If You Have No Money, No Products, and No List

Would you like to jumpstart your online or offline business... Read More

I Always Play by the Rules and It Stinks!

This week I coached a wonderfully lovely woman I'll call... Read More

How Copying the HBO Schedule Can Boost Your Business

I'm not talking about posting the HBO schedule on your... Read More

Will and Vision

Remember Chux? The disposable diaper that took the market by... Read More

The Magic Of Exponential Business Growth

Is there a 'magical' way to exponentially grow your business?It's... Read More

Getting Started with Succession Planning: Part II

Succession planning requires the owner of a small or medium-sized... Read More

Innovate Today for Great Leaps Forward Tomorrow

How often does your company make a quantum leap forward?... Read More

If You Dont Focus, Innovate and Evolve, You Die

After 128 years of business, a household word, Montgomery Wards,... Read More

Elite Positioning Brings Higher Profits

Imagine spending the same amount of money on marketing and... Read More

Attributes of Companies You Dont Want to Buy!

There are no "rules of thumb" in the pursuit of... Read More