5 Strategies That Will Boost Your Business Productivity Today! - Part 1

Building a dynamic small business is a constantly evolving, increasingly demanding role.

It is very easy to get so caught up in the day to day running of our business that we neglect to take the time to look from the outside in to see what we could do to improve our profitability!

Well here are 5 Strategies that could boost your productivity overnight!

They are not rocket science?and you may have even heard some of them before, but they are 5 proven principles that you can review today to help you stay on track regarding the real issues to grow your business from here.

So why don't you take 15 minutes?make yourself a coffee?and recharge your batteries!

1. Define your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) in one sentence

What is at the heart of your business that makes it unique and attractive for your customers? Summarise your key selling points that make your product or service a 'must have' for your clients.

You probably went through this exercise when you first started your business...but have you need to remind yourself regularly why you are doing what you are doing!

New competitors may have emerged and you don't have that same uniqueness that you once had.

Perhaps it's time to reinvent yourself and get that edge over the market once again!

2. Identify Who Your Target Market Is

When you first started your business, you knew exactly who your target market was. Is this market still the same, or have they grown up?or matured in their buying habits.

Has new technology overtaken your ideas?

Just imagine if Video Rental Stores had stubbornly refused to rent DVDs because they were just a Video Store! Your market may have changed, and you may need to reassess who you are trying to reach.

Your original target market have grown older since you began and if you are still promoting your products or service to this same group - their needs may be different!

3. Would you like Fries with That?

McDonalds have made an additional fortune by training every one of their sales force to ask one simple question with every order: 'Would you like fries with that?'

I went to buy a tube to fix my daughter's bike puncture the other day, and instead of just selling me a new tube, the smart salesman in the Bike Shop enquired quite genuinely if I had the right tools to fix it.

I didn't - but of course he did...so he cleverly added value to my shopping experience, and added extra profit to his bottom line.

What service or product can you offer to people to make their original purchase with you even more worthwhile?

4. Establish where your clients go before and after they visit you?

If you can determine this, then you can add instant profits to your business.

Just imagine if you owned a Real Estate business. Wouldn't it make sense to have a Settlement Agent in house? And what about a Mortgage Broker? Or even a Removalist Company?

Perhaps you could rent out a large Furniture Trailer with your company name emblazoned all over it!

Ask yourself the same question and you can start incorporating other services that complement your existing business and watch the profits grow!

5. Ask your existing customers for referrals

If you are providing an excellent product or service, then your biggest fans will be your existing customers.

Why not offer them an incentive to put you in touch with people just like them who would also benefit from your services?

It doesn't have to be anything really expensive?maybe even just a 10% discount off their next purchase from you.

I referred some friends to a Mortgage Broker a few months ago?and had forgotten all about it?until last week I received 2 movie tickets in the mail thanking me for the gesture.

A $20 investment leaves a nice impression in my mind that will probably make me think of him again when my next friend asks me if I know of a good Mortgage Broker!

Make sure you get Part Two of this article for another 5 Strategies to improve your small business success!

About The Author

Glen Smyth is the author of the popular new eBook, 'The Small Business Success Guide'. Discover how you can build your own profit-pulling small business, starting today: http://www.smallbusinesssuccessguide.com. Make sure you also sign up for the WOW! Factor Newsletter which is full of great ideas from other Small Business owners!

info@smallbusinesssuccessguide.com

---

Strategic Acquisition Strategies for Small Businesses

Growth through acquisition should not be considered an option reserved... Read More

Breaking the Growth Barriers in the Information Technology and Software Sector

There's nothing automatic about corporate growth, particularly in the information... Read More

Do You Have A Customer Identity Crisis?

The trick is to determine what uniquely identifies your best... Read More

Mining Market Data

With a heightened awareness of opportunity, ideas can often be... Read More

Offense: Beat the Odds

When in doubt, cut that out! Yeah, yea, doubting Thomas... Read More

Buying Used Detailing Equipment and Rainy Day Services

Mobile auto detailing equipment becomes very inexpensive around March each... Read More

SWOT Analysis

If you've ever listened to Warren Buffett talk about investing,... Read More

Do You Really Need a Business Plan?

"I don't need a business plan."Neither did Alice in Wonderland."Would... Read More

Take A Systems View To Ensure Your Business Stays Healthy

How are you feeling today? Good, not so good, great?... Read More

Resilience

I. INTRODUCTIONThe term resilience, which is of frequent use in... Read More

Regroup - How To Do It And Why It Works

Regroup?is this a new management trend? Not a chance! Regroup... Read More

Business Plan Financial Projections: Stop Worrying About Being Right...

Business plan financial projections seem daunting because they are so... Read More

Expanding your business in a franchise system

If you are a successful franchise of a large franchise... Read More

Your Business: Will It Have A Happy Ending?

"Begin with the end in mind," says Stephen Covey in... Read More

The Accountability/Alignment Process: Three Steps to an Accountable Organization

The Accountability/Alignment Process: Three Steps to an Accountable Organization Generating... Read More

Business Planning and the ?Bozo? Factor

"Bozo" ? A clown with a forlorn look, always finding... Read More

8 Ways to Earn More Without Working Harder

Conventional wisdom has it that there are only three ways... Read More

Business Plan: The Simplest Business Plan Ever

If you're a solo professional like I am, you know... Read More

Consolidation in the Software Industry is Hardly New: Obsess About It or Risk Losing it All

Some analysts credit [Larry] Ellison with anticipating the consolidation in... Read More

25 Ways To Find Companies To Buy

When you start your program to purchase your "ideal" company,... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Implementation: Pharmaceutical Corporation Specifics ? overview

Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains serves mid-size and large clients... Read More

Making a Decision to Outsource: Strategic Constraints

Many companies are reluctant to dive into outsourcing ocean because... Read More

Mastermind Your Way to Success

What do Mark Victor Hansen, Robert Allen, Anthony Robbins, Andrew... Read More

Business Strategy Planning Made Easy

Ask Yourself three simple questions that affect your strategy planning...... Read More

Cost-cutting Essential to Maintaining Profits

Why cut costs now? Efforts are multiplying to cut costs... Read More

Succession Planning: Problems Getting Started

A survey released by the American Institute of Certified Public... Read More

Business Plan 101 How to Write a Table of Contents

No matter what business you plan to start in your... Read More

Business Plans Keep You On The Success Course

Where would your business be without a proper plan? A... Read More

Leverage - A Small Step For You /A Big Change For Your Career

Cassy was an employee of a nonprofit who had been... Read More

6 Changes You Can Make to Increase Business Profits

I read once that something like 30 percent of all... Read More

Turning On The Lights

Fun From The StartFor those with the will to start... Read More

How Copying the HBO Schedule Can Boost Your Business

I'm not talking about posting the HBO schedule on your... Read More

Getting Started with Succession Planning: Part I

GETTING STARTED WITH SUCCESSION PLANNING: PART IA survey of 4,300... Read More