Proof Will Help You Sell More Products, Services and Ideas:

Go ahead, take a few minutes today and look at every marketing message you are putting out…

Ask yourself:
Am I providing my reader, viewer and listener the proof and credibility that what I’m saying is indeed true?

How many times have you seen an ad on TV and said to yourself “Yea. Right. Sure it is?”

Let’s face it… we are all slammed with so many marketing messages a day, that we stop believing most of them.

So how do make your marketing messages more believable?

Start by take a closer look at the benefits of what you are selling.

Think about all the ways you can prove your benefits actually exist.
Ask yourself:
•    What are the strongest “Reasons Why” anyone should believe they’ll get what I promise?
•    How much more specific can I be?
•    What solid proof have I offered showing what I claim it true?
•    Have I begun to think about how I can strengthen my guarantees?
•    Is there a way to demonstrate your product/service in action?
•    Can you get a celebrity endorsement?

Answer these questions and apply these ideas to what you are selling and you are well on your way to providing the proof people need to believe your benefits will deliver.

“No way of thinking or doing, however ancient, can be trusted without proof.”
-Henry David Thoreau

Quick Bonus Marketing Tip:

Thousands of marketing experts say that it costs 5 to 6 times more to win a new client than it does to retain an existing one.  What about your company? Is it true for you too?

Yet, most companies spend a small portion of their sales and marketing budget on client relationship management.

Take a moment and think about how much more profit you could generate by deepening your existing client relationships?

Rather than finding ways to get your sales people to “make 20 unqualified appointments this week,” instead, think about the easiest way to building stronger relationships.

Think about all the way you can say “Thank You.” All the ways you can show that you appreciate their business and enjoy the relationship you have.

Here are a few simple ways to get you started.
1. Send a hand written thank you card or note.
2. Drop off a small gift.
3. Bring a flower to the gatekeeper you’re trying to get past.
4. Take your client to breakfast or lunch to talk about ways to improve profits in the coming year.
5. Hold a customer appreciation party.
6. Have your CEO write a personal letter of thanks.

Now go out and give thanks. Show your appreciation.
It feels great and is sure reduces your client attrition rate.

Three Revealing Tips To Writing A Profitable Ad?

Are you frustrated because your ads are not getting the response you thought they deserved?

Here are three tips that are 100% guaranteed to help you improve any ad.

Tip One:
Write a powerful headline that stops your reader dead in their tracks.
Get them say to themselves. “I’ve gotta know more”

To create great headlines, run to your nearest magazine rack. Swipe and use the tested headlines from the most popular publications. Publications like: The National Enquirer, People, Sports Illustrated and Games. They have spent huge bucks testing and proving that these headline work. Headlines get the publishers magazines flying off the shelves. Use them as models to create your headlines.

Tip 2:
What do you want your future client to do AFTER you’ve convinced them that they need what you are offering?

A powerful technique is to take your reader, viewer or listener by the hand and tell them exactly what to do. Tell them to call your phone number now. Come into your shop today. Go to your website and order right now.

Put simply, people want to be lead.
They need to know exactly what to do… or,
they won’t do anything at all.

Tip 3:
Tell stories in your ad.

People are naturally curious.

Since childhood, we love hearing stories.
We also love picturing ourselves in the story.

When you use stories to tell the real reasons why you are offering what you are offering, people trust and believe you. Why? It’s human nature and you can’t fool with Mother Nature.

“The unread story is not a story; it is little black marks on wood pulp.
The reader, reading it, makes it live: a live thing, a story.”
-Ursula K. LeGuin

One of the most important parts of storytelling is being totally honest.
People can smell a fake story a mile away.

Also, when you mention, in your stories a minor problem with what are selling, it keeps you honest and builds trust.

So, there you have it. With a little practice, you’ll use these three tips to improve any ad you are running anywhere. On the web, in the paper, on the radio or TV.

Imagine what would happen if you found more tips like this on this blog.
Some people will find a lot more marketing secrets, strategies and tactics here too.

What number IS the loneliest number?

Photo provided courtesy of J.D. Hillberry www.jdhillberry.com

We’ll in my humble opinion; the loneliest number in business is the number “one.”

When you have only one client, one product, one source of income or only one of anything, you are leaving yourself or your business vulnerable to any changes that might occur in your industry or in the general economy.

“Put all your eggs in the one basket and – WATCH THAT BASKET.”
- Mark Twain

Many stockbrokers made “big money” during the “dot-com” boom of the “Roaring 90s and more so during the latest stock run up before the bottom fell out.” They are hurting now because the stock market crashed and many investors moved their money out of the market into safer investments or took a big hit in their 401k’s.

Up until recently, mortgage brokers were enjoying a very profitable times, brought about because of the low interest rates and many other factors we’ve all seen in the media. Many of these brokers should be looking for new products, services or ideas to sell, because as we all know, things never remain the same.

Very few businesses can survive selling only one product/service.

The only one that I can think of is Lego.

How many of your product lines or services can be expanded?

Ask, what do people need before, during and after they make a purchase from you?

Can you think of anything you may offer to help fulfill those needs?

What can you do to offer more choices to your clients and add additional streams of revenue and profit to your business?

Wouldn’t Saving Thousands Of Dollars Avoiding The Seven Fatal Marketing Mistakes That WILL Kill The Response Of Your Marketing Efforts Make A Big Difference  In Your Business?

If YES, then keep reading. These seven plus secret questions must be answered before you create your next marketing campaign.

If you would like a fresh set of eyes to take a look at your past, present or future marketing efforts, call me at 248-335-8080 or go to www.SMART-Marketing-Review.com and sign up to avoid the 7 fatal mistakes that WILL kill your marketing.

A Few More Tips, Tricks, Techniques,
Tidbit And Marketing Secrets That
Promise To Save You Time And Money
The following secrets are not in any order.
Each is valuable on it own or combined with other secrets.
I highly recommend that you combine these ideas in different ways.
Why? Because when combined you multiply their strength.

• Provide high level proof that what you are promising will be delivered. Credible third-party testimony that you deliver on your promises. Free trails, free samples are other forms of proof.
• Ask your future clients for a “Yes” or “No” answer. Either is OK. There is nothing worse then a TIO (Think it over), because you are the only one thinking about it. Your future client has moved on.
• Actions, not just words determine success.
• Admit your shortcomings. Everyone knows that nothing is or can be perfect. You product and services have flaws. you know what they are. If you don’t, ask you customers what they are. Being 100% honest about your defects builds credibility and can also separate you from the competition (I promise your competitors would be to embarrassed to admit they are not perfect).
• Keep learning
• Start each day with the 5 most important marketing things that will help you reach your goals. An do them no matter what.
• Money comes to those who move fast.

Now, which of these secrets ideas rang the bell for you.
Which ones did you write notes “To Do?
Add them to your “Do Next” list.
And do them.
Using these secrets will separate the sheep from the goats.

Now, promise yourself that you will use these marketing secrets.

Scout’s Honor!

Because, you know that if you keep marketing the way you always marketed, you’ll keep getting the results you’ve always gotten.

To Your Success
Sandy Barris
President – Business Marketing Services
248-335-8080