3 Key Marketing Strategies To Grow Your Business

by Bob Leduc

3 KEY MARKETING STRATEGIES TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS
Copyright 2002 Bob Leduc

Each of these 3 marketing strategies creates permanent
growth for your business -- and obstacles for your
competition. You can use them repeatedly to add new layers
of income to your business.

1. SET UP JOINT PROMOTIONS

Identify the characteristics and activities of your most
profitable customers. Look for other non-competing
businesses already reaching them. Then devise a way to set
up some joint promotions. This proven strategy produces
dramatic results -- for very little expense.

For example, I once saw a clever joint promotion by a
health club and a gourmet restaurant. Both catered to young
professionals and business executives in the same town.

The restaurant's menu included several special dishes
recommended by the health club's nutritionist. It also
distributed discount membership coupons for the club. Even
their advertising mentioned the affiliation -- to attract
health conscious customers who often avoid food prepared in
gourmet restaurants.

The health club's monthly newsletters included a reprint of
the restaurant's healthy new menu items recommended by the
club's nutritionist. They also distributed the restaurant's
discount coupons to their members.

2. UNCOVER NEW NICHE MARKETS

Continually look for new niche markets you can serve. Then
develop customized versions of your advertising appealing
to the special concerns of prospects in each niche. Offer
specific solutions to their unique needs and you'll uncover
new groups of customers eager to buy from you.

For example, I recently bought a new computer system for my
business from a company because they catered to my specific
needs. An ad in a business publication listed their special
web site for small businesses customers. There I was able
to order the exact configuration of hardware and software I
wanted at the price I was ready to pay. They won the sale
by catering to my niche.

TIP: One way to find a new niche market is to evaluate your
existing customers. Look for groups of customers with
similar characteristics you don't currently cater to in
your advertising. Then create new versions of your
advertising appealing to their specific needs. You'll
attract a lot more customers just like them.

3. EXPLOIT EMERGING TRENDS

Pay attention to changes you notice in your business and
your markets. Try to spot trends you can turn into new
sales opportunities -- before your competitors. The first
company to identify an emerging trend and take action often
becomes the market leader in their industry.

For example, many small businesses took advantage of the
Internet early in its development. They used it to attract
new customers they weren't reaching off-line and to capture
customers from competitors who didn't yet recognize the
business potential of a web site.

TIP: Don't make sudden major changes in your business to
exploit a new emerging trend. Instead, add something to
your business to accommodate it. You don't want to alienate
customers who aren't ready to adapt to the new trend.

Start using these 3 marketing strategies to create
permanent growth for your business. Use them repeatedly to
continue adding new layers of permanent income without
inviting competition.

Bob Leduc is a Sales Consultant with 30 years experience in
generating low-cost leads. He recently wrote a manual for
small business owners, "How to Build Your Small Business
Fast With Simple Postcards", and several other publications
to help small businesses grow and prosper. For more info:
mailto:BobLeduc@aol.com?subject=Postcards
Phone: 702-658-1707 After 10 AM Pacific Time/Las Vegas, NV

About the Author