Debbie Mayo Smith, International Motivational Speaker
Motivational Speakers, Sales, Marketing, Time Management, Productivity, Technology, Tips

Posts Tagged ‘networking’

Making Business Friends

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

When does one and one equal much, much more than two? When you develop the synergy of working with other likeminded businesses. Call it developing working alliances; strategic partnerships; networking; joint marketing. Call it what you want – but I can’t stress the importance of it enough.

Take a look at what you do and find a non-competitive partner whose services or products have an affinity with, or complement yours. Meet like-minded people with big email lists. Both of you can win by getting your names in front of a whole new audience. This would not only ring-fence both sets of clients from other competition, it also adds value and service to them. Not to mention the potential to significantly increase your income earning abilitly from this new alliance.

Thinking inside the square: • Financial services = Fire/general + Risk + Investments + Accounting • Marketing = Advertising + Printer + Web development + Direct Marketing Companies + Copywriters • Gifts = Flowers + Chocolates • Computers = Hardware + Software + Consultants Do think outside the square: • Think about your kids’ school. Many of the parents will be professionals. • Real estate agents – think of their contacts for insurance, architects, investors, etc. • Probus clubs • Clubs (RSA’s). Bowls. Tennis clubs. A language school. A local university with night classes. Speciality clothing stores. Sports clubs.

Two kinds of people to market to

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

 

You have two kinds of people to market to:

1) Those who know you and
2) Those who never heard of you.

As you know, marketing to those that have never heard of you  can encompass activities such as advertising traditionally and on the Internet; having a website that is found in searches; networking; joining associations; sending out direct mail. And of course a combination of above.

But please don’t neglect or think that many of the methods mentioned substitute for keeping in touch with the people who know you. These are people who have made an inquired; individuals whom you’ve met at a networking meeting or on an airplane. Clients who have done business with you in the past.

Keep in touch with these valuable resources, be they clients or prospects. Do you have a client newsletter? If not, how do you regularly stay in touch for repeat business; up selling and referrals? I can hear you thinking – “yeah, yeah, yeah, I know that Debbie”. But – how wide is the gulf between what you know you should do and what you actually are doing?

Let me tell you a tiny story. Two weeks ago I got a phone call on Friday afternoon at 5:15. It was Robert, the Managing Director. He said “Debbie, I just read your latest newsletter. We’ve got to talk. When can you come in?

Now I haven’t spoken to Robert in well over two years – in person or on the phone that is. But I have been personally “talking” to him via email at least once a month since the last time we met. He wasn’t ready for our services then, and it has taken 20 months. But how easy was it to stay in contact with him? With personalisation software, a newsletter that keeps readers interested and thus subscribed, you can be as personal as your database information enables you to be. No matter how large your mailing list is. You can turn  the people that know you  into prospects and then to clients. You’ll move existing clients well up that loyalty ladder.

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64 (9) 575-5359 NZ
61 (3) 9005 7563 Melbourne
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Debbie@successis.co.nz


Books

Marketing in Today's Wired World

Marketing in Today's Wired World alerts you to the many profitable and clever ways you can use email, txt, video and audio messages to boost revenues, recruit new business, cut costs, improve customer service and leapfrog in front of your competition.
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101 Quick Tips for Google and Email
101 Outlook and Google Tips Debbie's years of experience working with email and Google are packed into this easy to read #1 bestselling book.
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101 Quick Tips: Create a Great Customer Experience
101 Customer Experience Tips do you want more sales, referrals and repeat business? Then you need this book! You won't want to miss these 101 tips to place your head and shoulders above the crowd to build customer loyalty, word of mouth, and profits.
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101 Quick Tips: Surviving the Kids
101 Balancing Tips with nine children between them and busy careers, let Debbie and Mary Lambie use their experience to make this practical little book a goldmine of solutions for you.
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Conquer Your Email Overload Superb Tips and Tricks For Busy People
Save hours a week using clever, timesaving 'how-to' solutions to the top problems you have using email, your calendar, address books/contacts.
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