Simple Actions Can Get You Out of a Rut and Into the Game

Whether you are new to your business, busy or just don’t like to market, here are 10 tips guaranteed to build your momentum, start conversations and help you to step up to the marketing plate… You go,  Jose Bautista!

1.  Email Signature

What’s on your signature line, just your name and title?  Why not pump it up? Say a little about your services or the new program you’re launching. Or that new product idea you want to test?  Your signature line is seen by everyone you email, every time.

2.  Voicemail Message

Do you have the standard, “This is so and so, I’m not in…”?  Or do you have a 5 second summary of your business offerings?

3.  Business Cards

No brainer.  Carry business cards with you everywhere.  When you need to exchange phone numbers with anyone for any reason, don’t fumble with pen and paper, you have your card.  This goes for your friends, your kid’s friends, the auto repairman, the new neighbors, etc.  You never know where those puppies will wind up!

4.  Dress for the Role

Do you look successful?  Really.  When you run that errand in your slightly stained around-the-house-clothes because you “just need a few things” and that person in front of you, in that longer-than-you-thought-it-would-be  line, turns and out of boredom asks, “So, what do you do…”  Are you ready to be ‘representin’ your business or do you just pretend not to speak English?

5.  How Can I Help This Person

If you have trouble speaking up and selling your services, take the pressure off and don’t even try.  The next time you meet someone think to yourself, “How could I help this person?” Don’t say it out loud, just go over in your mind what you would say. Do that with everyone you come in contact with, just in your mind– to yourself.  This is called mental rehearsal.  You are getting comfortable with the concept and language.  After that feels comfortable, do some out loud rehearsing– in front of the mirror by yourself.  After awhile, you will be ready because you have spent time rehearsing.  Eventually, you will be so comfortable you won’t be able to keep yourself from speaking up.

6.  Talk About Your Clients

When someone asks you, “How was your day?” or “What have you been up to?”, don’t say, “Not much”. Find the positive and talk about it.  Say the word “client”, too.  “I had an exciting week.  My client(s) are making tremendous progress, and that really gets me going!”   But what if you don’t have clients?  Well now is the time for a little marketing spin.  Your clients are the people you are helping.  Who do you help, family, friends, lady at the bus stop?  If you are helping them with your business services, they are clients.

7.  Get a Role Model

Who is doing exactly what you want to do and doing it extremely well?  Crown this person your role model and make it your mission to find out as much as you can about them.  How they got started, what they are up to, etc. Learn from them.  And here’s the best part.  You don’t need to have a personal relationship with them.  Just model them from afar.

8.  Get to Know Your Neighborhood Reps

Identify your neighborhood residential association or city officials.  Join local organizations and get to know the members.  Write articles in the newsletters they publish.  Let those around you know what you do.

9.  Become Visible in Organizations You’re Already a Part Of

Step up to the plate in the organizations you are already a member of, your place of worship, your children’s schools, social clubs, etc.  Volunteer your services or take a leadership position.  They could probably use the help and you could use the visibility and opportunity to strengthen your skill set.

10.  Get Your Business Name Out There

Personalize items with your business name.  Instead of “Kris Knopp”, monogram “Inspired Biz Solutions” on your gym bag.  Anywhere others will see it, gym lockers, tote bags, applications to join clubs, etc.  Let the people who sell mailing lists work for you.  Hey, they are going to sell your information anyway, right?  Might as well get your business name out there for the public to see.

Have a great idea to share?  Post a comment and lay it on us!

Brand Recognition

Many logos are designed on the cheap, with little thought given to them. Other companies like Macintosh, Xerox, and Lucent spent upwards of half a million dollars each to develop their logos. Then countless millions more to promote them. What they got for their money are symbols that are recognized instantly, around the world. You don’t even need to see a name – the symbol is enough.

A Polished Look for your Business Gets Customers

A good logo helps a company have a clean, professional, polished look. The more clean, stylistic and original a logo is, the more chance there is that it will stand out from the competition and help get those extra sales.

Don’t Try This at Home!

Although it may seem simple, a logo is very hard to design. When you create a logo, you must take an entire company and everything it stands for and refine it down to a simple, graphic representation. It’s the ultimate design challenge.

For more information about all things graphic, contact me at Holly@KrisKnopp.com or my bio page at www.krisknopp.com/the-team/

Business logos are one of the most confusing aspects of branding. I see so many new owners start with a great logo design then add bells and whistles in 10 different colors.. and completely lose their branding edge.

25 Articles on Logos all in One Place

That is why I want to pass on a great resource for you if you are at all confused about logos, what they are, or why you need them.

Kristy Osgood over at Quality Logo Products, has pulled together 25 Posts on Why Logos are Essential from the web.  Pop over there check out the posts.

More Questions or Ready to Get Started?  Contact Holly

If you have further questions about logos or need some help getting started you can contact our resident awesome graphic designer Holly Joffrion here.

As always, we welcome you comments and questions about marketing and business development.  Contact us at info@inspiredbizsolutions.com or leave a comment.