Spotting Good Opportunities

Spotting opportunities that will prove to be profitable to your organization or business are not always this easily seen. There are countless opportunities that show themselves daily, and it is often times to our disappointment when we realize we have been "gotten" by yet another shiny new object.

There is a lot of buzz and noise in the marketplace about recession proofing your business and the like. The truth is, a strong commitment and focus to the basics will help you weather any economic storm.
Here are a few tips on how you can create opportunities for growth and increase in your business today and every day.

1. Be Clear on your Target. Know who your customers are and get a clear and concise understanding of what they "need". If you position yourself as a service provider that provides a solution to a problem that your target market has then, you will be well on your way to attracting clients and customers to your doors. What frustrates them? Does your service or product solve a problem for them?

For example, you may have a furniture store that sells affordable quality furniture, many of the people you sell to have a hard time matching room decor with new furniture. You may want to add room design software program in your showroom or have a staff member in place to help them get more bang for their buck.

2. Focus on providing quality products and service every time. The wisdom and virtue of the "Golden Rule" still remains true. 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you'. Make sure you are giving the best product or service for the money. You should always exceed the expectations of your clients. Seek ways to add the extras that don't hurt your bottom line. This will not only fortify your current client base, but it will also, attract others through word of mouth and references.

For example, you may be a professional stylist. Instead of just providing a service for your client, you may add extras like, playing soft music or massaging your clients scalp during a shampoo, or ever providing a massage chair for them to sit in while under the dryer.

3. Be Consistent. Consistency is a foundational principal in every facet of your business. If you sell a product, it is so important to have the same quality products distributed to all of your clients. They will begin to "depend" on the stability and consistency of your brand. Never over promise and under deliver on your product or service. When problems arise, be swift to take care of the problem as soon as possible. Keep your clients and customers happy by being a brand they know and can trust.

4. Reward Customer Loyalty - Rewarding clients and customers for being supportive of your company and business does not cost much. Often times, when I consult with one of my clients about rewarding customers they immediately think about the cost to give them a toaster oven or coffee cup. The truth is a simple phone call or post card thanking your customer with a special discount on select products or services can show some gratitude. Whatever you decide to do, create something special for those who invest time and money into your company. It will keep them coming back for more.

I Don't Have Time....

Well, I am officially a dedicated blogger. As a marketing professional, I have suggested to many of my clients that they start an online presence with a simple blog that they update either daily or weekly.  After hearing so many excuses that they had no time, etc. I realized that it did me no good to tell them something I was not willing to do myself.   Let's talk about being too busy.

As a Business Owner or Entrepreneur, many times it is difficult to tell the difference from being fruitful and being just 'busy'. With all of the various meetings, conference calls, client billing, emails and phone calls to return. Where does the time go? I did an inventory on the things that zap away my time and... realized that I spent a lot of my time responding to emails. Solution? I turned off the sound for my outlook notification, and decided to check my email once in the morning, again after lunch and two hours before I complete my work for the day. I can already hear your shirt ripping and screams of blasphemy being shouted full blast :) It wasn't so bad after all! Many of the 12 alarm fires and dire emergencies I found in my inbox became a thing of the past. I still responded to my client questions in a timely manner, and things still got done with a bit more time to spare.

What are some of your time saving tips that can help others be more fruitful and productive with thier time? Please share, we would love to hear from you.