Are you struggling in your business not knowing what you should do in these difficult times?  There are people who know exactly what you should do in your business . . . and they don’t charge much at all!

They are your customers!

Follow the advice of your customers?  Yes, your customers!

If you have done your marketing analysis properly in the beginning . . . or even if you haven’t, you need to keep learning what your customers want from you.

That large group of people know exactly what you should do in and for your business.  BUT you must ask them.  Yes, you must ask them, and do so frequently.

For example, before you add a new line to your offerings, do a survey of your customers, particularly those who have recently purchased similar items, to see whether they would find items in your new line useful and whether they would purchase them if you were to stock them.

Remember, you are in the relationship building business–building relationships with your customers.  Part of developing a true and valuable relationship with your customers is to understand and solve their problems.

Another way to get this and other very valuable information is to survey all your customers asking what their biggest problems or questions are relative to your business.  In other words, what are the problems they need to solve.

You can organize a preview showing of a product or line.  Send out a special announcement via mail, email, printed ads, radio, etc., that you will have limited number of items at your cost or below.  In return you will ask every customer to fill out a survey on the product or give a testimonial with permission to use it in your marketing of the product.  Explain to them that this is to help you determine if this is a product you should carry–the “reason why” marketing.

Put distinct limits on the preview.  Announce that it will last until all the preview products are sold out, until a certain date is reached, whichever occurs first, or until the first 25 customers have signed up.  Always hold to that promise of limits.  I say this to deliver the message that you MUST be a person of your word–a person of integrity.  This is part of your personal and company ethic.  Failing to keep your promises severely damages your brand.

This is a great way to prime your business in difficult economic times.

Frequently ask your customers what they want.  They will tell you, and they will love it.  If business is slow, stimulate it with a program to involve your customers in the development of your business.  The more they contribute to your business, the more allied, involved, and committed to you and your business they will become.  How good is that?

By all means follow their advice!

To your business success!

Paul Elliott

Marketing With Unbelievable Guarantees!™
http://www.MarketingSuccessBlueprint.com/blog

© 2008, Paul Elliott, All rights reserved world wide.