Open 24/7 for business…

Are you able to turn your daily/weekly routines into an opportunity to market your business?

Today's question posted on Twitter is a good lead in to my discussion on getting you to think about where and how you market your business. If you are going to be in business for yourself it does not hurt for you to start practicing today. I have heard and I am sure that you also heard others that start a new business venture say, "I don't have time to network because I'm so busy." The question I have gotten next is, "How do you find the time to do it while having two small boys and working full-time?" My response to them was, "I do it wherever I am or when the opportunity arise".

Yes it is a job raising two boys and I could come up with all types of excuses of why I cannot find the time to market my business. However, on the other hand I think having my boys gives me that extra push to not have so many excuses so that they are better off in the long run. On Twitter we have shared quotes around being successful and we have shared that it states in the mind and you have to change the way you think first. Changing the way you market your business, by seeing the numerous opportunities around and keeping your business open 24/7.

What does it mean to be open for business 24/7? I will share some examples of what it means below:

1. If you have kids a great opportunity could be to talk to people in the park, the doctor's office or while picking up your child (ren) from daycare.
   
2. While on the job you could leave literature out on your desk where someone could see it upon coming to talk to you or as they are walking by your office.
   
3. While on vacation marketing your business can be as simple as leaving a flyer with an attached business card in the room where you slept, the newspaper stand, or in the check in/out lobby.
   
4. When you do your grocery shopping keep your eyes open for bulletin boards to post information or other advertisement stands.
   
5. Use memberships you have to your advantage. You could probably pass your business cards out to other members so they are kept in the loop of what you are doing.
   

 

Lastly, being an entrepreneur is not easy because if it was everyone one would be doing it, right? Well you took the first step, which was deciding to be an entrepreneur and I know you are on the right track because you are seeking ways to grow your business and that is how you found this blog. With continued practice you will become a pro and believe me when I say that marketing your business wherever you are, will be like second nature to you and keep your business growing too.

 

"The successful person has the habit of doing the things failures don't like to do."-- Albert E.N. Gray from the essay: "The Common Denominator of success."

Its all About Relationship!!!

The other day I had a day off and thought, "hmm what can I do or who can I talk to that I didnt know before to add a nother person to my network of friends and associates?" I decided to go to the mall about 5 minutes from my house. Its no secret that I am in the business of helping people make money or save money with my business opportunity and product line. I remembered that in the mall there are kiosks that are owned by entreprenuers who are looking to make additional income if at all possible. I went and passed out a few of my opportunity handbills, and said hello to a couple of folks.
All of a sudden a lady comes up to me and asks for my hand, I obliged just to see what she wanted to do with it (I thought it was a cologne pitch, honestly lol). She proceeded to shine up one of my fingernails with this tool. The product was wonderful to say the least, and if I had my gall, I would have purchased it on the spot as a gift to my wife. I decided instead, and said "let me see how bad she wants this sell?" I gave her my card to email me info on her product.

Why?
I wasnt being mean, I wanted to test out some of the things I have read so far about growing a business. We all know in marketing, and in business in general, if you can establish a relationship with a customer that business tends to repeat itself. I went back and handed the woman my card, and told her to "email me and I'll buy your product" (it was really good, I was amazed by it).
She looked at the card, kinda glanced over it with this look of "what is this for?". She then walked away off to the next person walking the mall. I dont know what she did with my card, but to this day I have not recieved an email from her about her product, which I was ready to buy btw.

Why is this important?

What happened there showed me that to her, I was worth enough for her to want my money, but not worth enough for a business relationship. So instead of potentially having a person who is in marketing, who has several blogs and message boards, active on Facebook and Twitter, and is a leader in my local church, raving about her product to my friends, family, and network, she got nothing in return, all by simply ignoring my card. I would give my right arm if I could have a customer say to me, "yes I want your product, all you have to do is send me an email!!" They would probably get more than one email from me..lol. Furthermore, when she gets new products out, she would have had an avenue to send out product updates to me, I probably would have gotten some of those also.
I learned a great lesson that day, as the customer mind you, that the businesses who are best able to establish relationships are going to be the most successful ones. This is imperative in todays climate where small businesses are taking it on the chin everyday from either more competition or consumers who arent consuming.

Business Is A Way To Make Money But Is More Than a Money Grab
I learned that even when I am passing out my handbills, cold calling, or simply walking into a business and asking to meet with the owner, my mindset should not be simply: ask to demonstrate the product- proceed to demonstrate the product- then ask for sale". That is the money grab method, and it is fast going extinct in todays marketplace. In some cases this may work, but it is more advantageous to have a little exchange between you and the person. They may not be interested in your product or opportunity, and thats fine, because every person is not the type of customer you want. However, they may refer you to someone who is interested, simply because you took time to exchange with them, or maybe get their information, and be a real human and not creepy sales guy.