How to Become Known as an Expert in Your Field (and What to Do Next)

April 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

expert in your fieldLet’s face it; you wouldn’t be going into business to do something you have no idea about. Actually, I bet that you probably know more about your industry and what you do than many of your peers.

And, that’s good. Finally being able to do the things you love and are passionate about is by far the best reason to starting a business.

But, there’s a catch!

When you’re starting out, you are the only one who knows about that passion, expertise and knowledge you have. Well, few of your family members or friends might know something about it too but that’s just about it.

If you want to grow a business, you need to convince the whole wide world (or at least that part where your prospects are) about it. Only then you can start earning the trust of the people that you want to do business with you. As the old sales adage goes: if they trust you then they MAY buy from you, fact.

But how do you show everyone around you that you really are an expert and not only know everything about the industry but also know how to help them solve their problems?

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Filed Under: Marketing, PR

How to Make Your Business Stand Out In Your Industry

April 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

business stand outIn business, you need to be unique. You must stand out from the crowd, be noticeable and memorable to prospects and clients so that they chose you amongst the others.

If you don’t, your prospects will go to someone who is.

The rule in business is quite simple, if they don’t see you they won’t come to you. Unfortunately, as easy as it sounds in theory, in practice standing out in business is one of the most difficult things to achieve.

And, part of the problem is you. For you, your business is already different. You see all the little things that make you better from your competition, like a slightly more advanced technology you use. In your eyes, these are enough to make a great first impression in business.

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Filed Under: Marketing

Elevator Pitch: How to Talk Your Way Into a Prospects Heart

March 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

elevator pitchHow often are you asked about what you do?

How well are you prepared to answer that question?

Every time you talk to someone new, you have a chance to sell yourself and what you do, fact. It doesn’t have to happen at a networking event; a small talk in at a bus stop in the morning may in fact turn into a potential new business too.

But there is a catch; what you say to your potential customer in your elevator pitch has to be so memorable that they will remember it amongst all the ones they are going to hear that day. Your task when presenting your elevator pitch is to make your prospect get so intrigued to want to continue the conversation in a business setting, during a presentation or sales call for instance.

Here are some things you should remember while creating your elevator pitch plus a surefire way to make it better from your competitor’s ones:

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Filed Under: Featured, Marketing

How to Get the Most Out of Your Marketing Efforts

February 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

marketing effortsA well executed marketing campaign is crucial for your business; properly communicating your message to your target audience is the key to your business growth. Thanks to your marketing efforts you are able to increase your brands awareness, your position on the market and get more clients.

But, all this can also go horribly wrong; if you do not follow some of the most important rules with your marketing efforts you risk losing everything you invested into it.

Let’s take your message as an example. If you do not craft it for the right people, you will never gain their attention. And, that is no matter how much money you spend on the campaign.

If you are concerned about your first steps in marketing and want to ensure that you avoid making crucial mistakes, read on. What follows is a short guide on how to get the most of your marketing efforts.

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Filed Under: Marketing

How to Make Your Startup More Attractive to Potential Clients

February 15, 2012 By

As a startup you lack the same leverage as an established business. You don’t have a big client base, tens or even hundreds of testimonials, awards, recognition amongst peers, reputation, connections and more. Because of that you have to work really hard to get noticed, treated seriously and considered worthy to be given work.

It is an unfortunate reality of every new company. Until you get to a certain level, had worked on a certain amount of projects and enjoy a steady client base, things will be tough. However, there are certain things you can do to make your new business more attractive to potential clients and here are some of them:

1. Have a Professional Website
Your website is usually the first port of call for a prospect when they research you.
It is your first, and also the only chance to make a good first impression. Therefore, work on your web presence. Make sure that your website looks professional, is easy to navigate and that you present the information your prospects would be looking for on it.

TIP: Pay special attention to the images. Make sure that they fit the content, your market and convey a good message. Remember, it’s all about visual effect these days.
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Filed Under: How-To Guides, Marketing, Sales, Startup Basics