Grow Sales Using Image Tactics

In my dreams, I envision being the marketing consultant equivalent of Oprah or Tiger Woods. Oprah, for her premise, "You're a woman and only you are responsible for yourself." Tiger Woods, for his ultimate dedication to the game. Respectively, this is what they're known for or what their personal value can be identified as; put another way, this is what their brand identities are.

Once you're known for something and people perceive value in "this something [your brand]," it's at this moment that you start to make money. Once you have perceived value, other entrepreneurs and businesses will pay money to be associated with the perception for which you're known.

To be an entrepreneur, the first decision you must make is, "Who do you want to be?" Or, put another way, "How do you want to be perceived by others?" The answers to these two questions are equivalent to the foundation that'll drive all of your future marketing decisions, from what advertising vehicles you'll use, to the type of customers and clients you'll target.

For example, would you like to be known as the world's most prestigious dietician? People all over the world seek you out and pay money for your advice on how to integrate more color into their diets. To build a foundation and reach such prestige, your image marketing plan might involve the following actions.

• Complete appropriate credentials such as certifications and higher education.

• Obtain and make visible reputable references including popular media personalities quoting you as an expert, current and past clients quoting specific things you did to help them, and a variety of print articles and electronic news bulletins in which you're quoted.

• Build credibility by hosting, writing or producing a weekly healthy-eating column called, "Got Colors, Get Healthy."

• Socialize and be seen with other health-related well-known experts or people who exhibit healthy behavior such as: other dietitians, diet book authors, athletes, personal trainers, physiology professors and food scientists. Why? Because a person can create an implied credibility about themselves simply by hanging out with other experts. Generally speaking, people assume that because the other experts let you hang with them, then you must be worthy of your "expert" status.

• Pick a unique clothing and makeup style and stick with it. A simple example, perhaps every time you leave your house, you always wear something purple, a scarf, pin, shirt, tie or nail polish. The repetitive purple creates a subliminal image, that, after awhile, causes people, when they see you in the news, at an event or in a magazine, to say, "I've seen her somewhere." And from this statement they extract that you're sought after, and therefore, you must know what you're talking about.

• Always evolve your image based on current trends. However, remember to make small changes, so as not to walk away from the image you've been working hard to build.

Every entrepreneur's image-building plan will be unique. In fact, it must be. It's the subtle differences about you as an entrepreneur that distinguish you from your competition. More importantly, it's also these differences that help your customers find you, since you'll be more able to effectively and affordably reach customers by selecting an image niche.

About The Author

Sharron Senter is a New England-based marketing consultant, speaker, writer and founder of Senter & Associates. She helps small and home-based businesses deploy affordable marketing strategies. She's well known for her free weekly emailed marketing tips and her "14 Image-building Dos & Don'ts," small biz survival report. Receive Senter's free marketing tips at http://www.sharronsenter.com.

marketing@sharronsenter.com

---

Leverage Avoidance Values for Irresistible Selling

What are values? Values are filters that everyone uses to... Read More

Instant Rapport: The Key to Sales Success

Did you ever meet someone with whom you just clicked?... Read More

Simple Technique for Isolating Objections

To isolate any objection quickly you can use this effective... Read More

Smart Discounting: The Right Way To Discount Your Products

If a store had a great discount in the middle... Read More

The Power of Confidence

My experience has taught me that people want to buy... Read More

How To Write A Killer Sales Letter

I sit down and look at my notebook. Then, I... Read More

7 Sales Techniques To Differentiate You From The Competition

You have a choice. You can stand out or blend... Read More

11 Powerful Methods of Sales Lead Generation

Are you searching for new and innovative ways of sales... Read More

Youre Hired... I Think

I'm not a fan of "The Donald" and I had... Read More

Hello! I Cant Sell!

What's that you say? You can't sell?Oh, you must be... Read More

Shout At Your Customers - Theyre Hard of Hearing!

Some people say we live in the Information Age.I call... Read More

Generate Sales with Lead Generation Marketing Tools

One of the best projects to undertake as an online... Read More

Business Appointment Success or Failure

One of the quickest ways to loose a sale is... Read More

Your Sales Process Isnt

A lot of energy is expended within selling organizations as... Read More

Prospecting: Not A Wild Goose Chase... Its A HUNT

Prospecting for future customers can be fun if you approach... Read More

Are You Missing Out On Sales Through Fear of Pain? Improve the Persuasive Power of Your Words!

Education plus Motivation is a powerful formula. But how do... Read More

Sales Marketing: 10 Amazing Secrets To Sell Any Product Fast.

Implement these smart sales marketing secrets and you'll be capable... Read More

10 Power-Packed Ways To Spark Your Sales

1. Spend money on targeted advertising instead of mass media... Read More

Sales Discipline: Five Steps To Recover From A Lost Sale

Ever lost a sale? Of course you have, we all... Read More

Date Your Customer!

Yes, you heard me right; I said "Date your clients!"... Read More

The Processionary Caterpillar Syndrome Costs You Sales?

Some years ago I read and interesting story that illustrated... Read More

10 Killer Ways To Multiply Your Sales

Would you like to multiply your web site sales? Or... Read More

Emotions That Sell, Part 2

In the last article, we looked at three emotions (besides... Read More

The 6 Secrets To Sales Success

There is no magic pill, trick, teqnique, system or secret... Read More

Knowledge is Power in Auto Detailing Sales

The most important thing for an auto detailer to do... Read More

Ideal Clients - Who are They and Where Do You Find Them?

Ideal clients are the ones who are perfect for you.... Read More

Get Leverage & Increase Your Sales Results Immediately!

Have you ever started something and not completed it? Or... Read More

Sales Lessons from Bob Vila

There's more to what he does than meets the eyeWith... Read More

Theres a Referral for Everyone

I worked for years as a mortgage loan officer. During... Read More

Nine Competencies of the Complete Sales Professional

Have you ever tried to explain to someone what you... Read More

In Sales - Heres News You Can Use

Here's an idea on how to make reading the daily... Read More

The Truth About Sale Success!

Bill Brooks of The Brooks Group wrote an article several... Read More

22 Closes For Real Estate Agents To Make The Sale

All closes are not created equal. Top producers realize every... Read More