Interior Arrangements | Two Tip Tuesday

Two Tip Tuesday Newsletter

Two Tip Tuesday
...helping you build a better business!

Take a Roundabout Approach

Greetings!

Our small mountain community took a big leap recently by building a traffic roundabout on each of the two main highways into town.

Even though they were created for efficiency and flow, they take some getting used to and require drivers to be bold when entering the roundabout; trust that others will pay attention when entering and exiting the roundabout; AND be committed to the process by keeping the momentum of the roundabout going.

I began to think about the similarities between the roundabout and the momentum that's critical for a small business's marketing plan.

Back in school, physics taught us that it takes a great deal of effort or force to get an object in motion, but once you get it moving, it tends to keep moving with less and less effort.

The same thought process can be applied to marketing--- think of effort or force as exposure. One of the best ways to build marketing momentum and to generate revenue in your business is through a great deal of exposure.

For a small business with a small budget, exposure, flow and momentum are created by approaching your market from a number of different angles---like the spokes of a roundabout.

Tip #1: Do the same---a little differently

So what can you do to ensure that your marketing efforts will keep actively generating exposure for your business? Here are three different approaches to consider incorporating into your marketing plan:

1. Continue to Offer Your Existing Services to Your Existing Clients

--Find ways to sell more services to the customers you already have.

-- Rev up your database marketing and upsell to your existing clients by sending them timely reminders of your FULL menu of services.

Remember, if you don't tell---you can't sell!

--Increase your fees. If you have been charging your customers the same price for a year or more, it is reasonable to increase your fees.

--Consider declining low paying projects (or problematic clients)in favor of spending the time looking for higher paying clients or projects.

--Increase cash flow by announcing a special offer.

2. Start Offering Your Existing Services to NEW Clients

--Keep offering your existing services, but be on the lookout look for new clients. Ask your existing clients for referrals.

--Look for opportunities to reach new clients through partnering or joint marketing opportunities

--Suggest sharing databases with a complementary business.

--Who else could benefit from your services?

Tip #2: Do something new

3. Introduce New Services to Your Existing Clients

--In addition to offering your normal service format (for instance a complete room redesign or a full house staging), consider also offering individual elements of that particular service---like accessorizing only, artwork placement, color consulting, patio or exterior decorating, seasonal redesigns, holiday and party decorating, corporate and office redesigns.

--Building marketing momentum requires trying a number of different approaches or business generating ideas to your business development plan. The key is having a minimum base of three services that you can depend on for a consistent cash flow.

--Incorporate these ideas for at least six months to access their viability and to track their success. Replace those that don't work with a new idea.

Think of it as a house foundation. You want to install multiple support beams so that no matter what the business and/or economic environment, you will always be connecting with clients.

Your turn---

Have you ever read a Two Tip Tuesday idea and thought:

I've done that---but a little differently or
I have a better idea than that or
I don't agree and here's why or
I need help with________?

Two Tip Tuesday was created as a way of sharing ideas, giving encouragement and helping you build a better business.

Be a SHARE-GIVER by contributing your knowledge, expertise and opinions on how we can help one another. Email questions, ideas or insights to info@interiorarrangements.com.

About the Author: Sandy Dixon IRIS®, NAPO, NSA is a former Realtor® and sales, marketing and training executive. She is a certified IRIS® instructor(www.weredesign.com) and teaches people how to start, market and grow their own real estate staging and interior redesign businesses. Her redesign and staging training programs are specifically tailored for both existing business owners and those looking to start a new career.

To print an article in Portable Document Format (PDF) file, you will need the Adobe Acrobat software--which may already be on your computer.

If Adobe Acrobat is not already installed in your computer, download free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Did you know you can read many of Sandy's previous Two Tip articles? Simply click on any of her titles in the gold box at the bottom of each page on her website to read them.

Staging a living room