Short Term Thinking Can Harm Your Business

Posted by m4bmarketing under Marketing
From http://www.m4bmarketing.com 5291 days ago
Made Hot by: suzi on June 1, 2010 5:18 pm

This leads you into the trap just working n projects and needing new customers to have a healthy business. It can also mean that you get swamped with work for a time and then nothing, so you need to attract more customers. If you change the way you think about your services and how you offer them you could be surprised at the additional solutions you can actually offer your customers.

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Comments

Written by ShawnHessinger
5291 days ago

Great post, Susan! And timely advice for small businesses trying to build a sustainable model.

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Written by m4bmarketing
5290 days ago

Thanks Shawn and hope it helps some small businesses.

Susan

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Written by lyceum
5291 days ago

Susan,

I will publish a post on workflow today. It will include tools like mind map, notebook and index card. As an experienced purchaser I look at the whole supply & value chain as a package deal. I could apply social media strategies with a real purpose to an organization.

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Written by m4bmarketing
5291 days ago

That sounds good Martin and let is know when you post.

Susan

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Written by yoni67
5291 days ago

Susan,

I think package deals benefit both sides and when I explain it like this, customers seem pleased: When we speak of a resume, corporate bio and website I have a great deal of consolidated information. I can use it in 3 seperate arenas at once instead of going back later. It saves me time which will save you money.

Plus on top of that I usually give an additional, steep discount. As you state, it is also the sense of caring they seem to feel that someone is looking out for them.

Yoni

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Written by m4bmarketing
5291 days ago

Thanks for sharing that Yoni. One suggestion you might want to consider is not to give a deep discount. Perhaps test a smaller discount say a 5% off for example but give the dollar amount as the idea with this type of offer is for them to get a saving but you get a higher transaction amount.

Susan

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Written by lovedthisarticle!
5291 days ago

Lovely post Susan (and thanks Yoni for letting me know about Susan's newest post!)

Susan, I too am into package deals now. I might have mentioned previously that I run a small stationary supplu business to schools and a small floral business from home. After several floral delivies to the schools two principals sent out emails about my business. Now I am the regular go-to person at the schools for flowers on birthdays anniversarys and holidays. Its worked out beautifully! All the best,

Heidi K.

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Written by m4bmarketing
5291 days ago

Hi Heidi,

I am glad you are into package deals. It sounds like it is working for you which is terrific. Out of interest how did you introduce the flowers to the schools. Any tips you can share?

Susan

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Written by yoni67
5291 days ago

Susan,

Excellent post and WISE words! I initially fell into the one-off project trap. I didn't at first recognize that there was another way. My mind has since changed and become more in line with your great thinking. I would at first market random writing services; then I realized there was in fact a chain: resume...corporate bio...website (or website overhaul). I have since gotten more and more "package deals."

Writing in general is a profession stuck to the one-off mentality. But as you state there is a better way. It's about keeping customers in a pipeline, getting referrals and word-of-mouthers and having a more continuous stream of work. It is about offering solutions!

Thanks for another info-packed, thought-provoking post!

Yoni

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Written by m4bmarketing
5291 days ago

That is great Yoni and package deals actually help clients as in some ways it makes it easier for them and I always have found it seems to show you care about their business. Is this what you find?

Susan

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