All Small Businesses Need to Gather Community Intel

How well do you know your community? As business owners it is essential that we know our communities intimately. Have you ever made the effort to learn more about your town; Do you even know where to look. Lets discuss some ways to gather intel for your community based marketing efforts.

First you need to put on a fresh perspective. You need to think like a person who knows nothing about your town to be able to see it from a totally unbiased perspective. Think of yourself a scout. Here are some of the first areas the scout will hit:

Chamber Of Commerce

City Hall

Public or County Library

The Chamber of Commerce is a great source of information. In their directory of membership you will find lists of board members and directors. Usually these people are the movers and shakers of the town. The Chamber of Commerce will also give you information with regard to civic organizations such as:

Rotary Club

Kiwanis Club

Soroptimists Club

Optimists Club

Elks Club

Lions Club

Boys And Girls Clubs

AYSO

Little League

Boy Scouts

Roller Hockey

High School ASB Clubs

These clubs and groups consist of most all the people who care and love their city. You can come to club meetings as a guest and perhaps a door prize. Maybe donate a coupon for a wash and wax as a raffle prize. This promotes good will for your small business. Youth clubs are great for public relations. When approaching a Chamber of Commerce of a given city, we should remember to offer assistance to help them with membership, public relations or advertising. You as a business also have the personal contacts a chamber needs to succeed and potentially new members for them as well.

You need to be thinking here as you develop a community based marketing strategy. It must be a win/win for you and your community. Community based marketing is important because it means more dollars are spent within the community maintaining the flow and circulation. It also helps customers and potential customer know you care. This invites more referrals and more loyalty to your small business. Think about it.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Baditude!

As a group of sales trainees took a break from... Read More

Sales Pipeline Forecasting Is There A Better Way?

To put it mildly most companies sales forecasting just isn't... Read More

100% Commission Equals Zero Percent Control

The temptation to use straight (100%) commission plans never goes... Read More

All Small Businesses Need to Gather Community Intel

How well do you know your community? As business owners... Read More

Do You Know How to Fire Up Your Sales Staff (When Money Isnt Everything)?

Money is the only thing that motivates a salesperson, right?... Read More

Is Sales Process & CRM Stopping Sales?

Standard metrics and KPI's (Key Performance Indicators) are created usually... Read More

How To Use A Powerful Leadership Tool To Step Up Sales Results

Good sales people can close, but few "step up" for... Read More

Offer Package Deals To Increase Profits And Sales

An effective way to increase your profits and sales is... Read More

How Many Salespeople Should I Hire?

One of the most asked questions I get is how... Read More

Moving a Business Relationship from Free to Fee: Turning Strangers to Friends with Power of Freebies

In the last issue I shared with you a technique... Read More

Raise Concern About Sales Competition, Not About Yourself

As you are reading this sales article, read very carefully.... Read More

Business Career, Executive Coaching Article - Perfection vs. Excellence

"(Howard) Hughes never learned how to convert his knowledge to... Read More

7 Tips for Testing Your Sales and Marketing

One marketing technique may work wonders for someone, but that... Read More

Change in Sales Organizations Starts with Me

Question: What do the following have in common?- I spend... Read More

Sales Competence Isn?t About Quota Performance!

Compounding the problem are two myths regarding measures of competency... Read More

How to Increase The Sales Of Promotional Products

I have searched for a new way to increase the... Read More

Sales Coaching... Fact or Fiction?

The old adage in selling has always been, "Find out... Read More

Project/Program Management Best Practices for Success in ANY Industry!

Where is our success? Although there have been improvements, over... Read More

Disclosure Laws Favor International Terrorists

The Federal Trade Commission has rule that are supposedly in... Read More

Overcoming Sales Objections for Small Business Networks

Do you need help overcoming sales objections? Do you sell... Read More

Keeping Your Sales Team Motivated

Sales managers frequently approach me for advice on how to... Read More

Snuff Out the Competition Without Leaving a Mark!

Does the competition drive you crazy? Are they relentless about... Read More

How You Can Raise Your Business Earnings By 50% With An Age-Old Magic Truth

Imagine increasing your business earnings by 30, 40, or 50%.... Read More

14 Top Lead Generation Tactics

According to former Harvard Business School professor David Maister, typical... Read More

3 Steps To Getting A Sales Meeting

The best way to get a new customer is to... Read More

Sex, Drugs, & Rock-n-Roll at Trade Shows

Here's the Scenario...You're at a trade show. Out of town.... Read More

Small Business Marketing: Overtaking Your Competitors

Few businesses keep tabs on competitors, yet such knowledge can... Read More

How to Beat the 80/20 Rule in Sales Performance -- Part 1

Business executives and sales managers frequently bemoan "80/20" performance on... Read More

Sales Tactics to Beat Your Competition

This month I want to share a success from a... Read More

How to Win Over the Man in the Chair Salesmanship, Repetition, and Direct Mail

In a classic business-to-business print ad from the late 50's... Read More

How To Have A Successful Retail Sales Event

In the 30-plus years I spent working in advertising and... Read More

How to Improve Your Management Procedures Usability

Are your people consistently following your procedures? Each year, organizations... Read More

T. L. S. Part I: Tier Level Selling ? A Penetration Strategy

A number of sales "Gurus" have promoted the theory that... Read More