2010 AND BEYOND . . . .

 

2010 Business Strategy N01 Cyprus

 

Our first Post is dedicated to a few Strategies that every Entrepreneur should aspire to in 2010 . . . and beyond. There are 10 to be precise.

You have to be willing to play by new rules, now that the recession has hit Cyprus if you are to survive and prosper as a Business. Service was always King in more advanced economies and perhaps with the ill wind of adversity that message will finally take precedent  not only  for those large but especially the small enterprise where, let’s face it, it just doesn’t figure in the mindset of the average consumer never mind the entrepreneur here in Cyprus.

GAC Interior Contractors. Renovations Cyprus

  

 

 Success

  

 

So on to Strategy No 1.

Tighten up your marketing message – It should be and must be different and the way to get noticed is by addressing the most specific and passionate needs of your customers. Marketing messages must be matched to your customers, strive to this end, the more money you will make, simple as that. Target the individual with your goods and services , not to the vague generic ‘everyman.’ If you’re selling services, for example, create programs that address the needs of busy executives, women, people who want to lose weight, and the elderly, be specific in other words. Because when you cater to your customer’s specific needs, you will sell much more, and most importantly you’ll be able to charge top money as well. This really does work for everything from healthcare to selling cakes.

Alleviating the stress from a new build or renovation, from what is after all, a highly stressful endeavour by taking as many if not all the services of a Project, delivering on time and on budget is OUR message at GAC.

 

 

 

 

Ethics

Strategy No 2.

Ethics and Value pay off – Those Companies that offer goods and services of quality, and who deliver on their promises, will continue growing. The world is getting smaller and smaller, and if you want to survive, you simply must provide first-class service. You can no longer rely on deals and discounts alone to make your cash register ring. People are actualy very willing to pay top money for that better quality, as long as you’re giving them a valid reason why they should.

 

 

 

Curiosity

Strategy No 3.

Curiosity is a must – The number of marketing messages consumers are bombarded with, is increasing by incremental proportions, understanding what makes your prospects ‘think’ is more important than ever. Entrepreneurs will be handsomely rewarded that can create marketing messages that arouse curiosity, are compelling  and that draw self-interest. The worst mistake a Company can make is to focus on self-centered messages instead of the CUSTOMER.. They will be ignored even more in 2010.

 

 

 

Problem Solver 

Strategy No 4.

Give up being a Sales Person first and be a Problem Solver  – If you really want your business to stand out, you’re going to have to become a teacher first and then a sales person. If you can educate, entertain, and inform then you will as an entrepreneur quickly attain  and hold  business. Focusing  on ’selling,’ and excluding most of everything else, will end up leading you into terrible problems. You have to attain credibility by  being firstly a Problem Solver and in positioning yourself as such you will attract more business. It’s not how much you know, nobody gives a damn, it is ultimately how much you CARE!

 

 

 

Emotion

Strategy No 5.

When marketing emotional direct-response is now the name of the game. Making an emotional connection is the most effective and reliable way of captivating prospects forget hype marketing. In the end people really do make buying decisions (product or service) based on emotional factors. Perhaps later rational and logic come into it but initially all buying decisions are made to satisfy emotional needs. It might be one of loss, hope, greed or fear whichever one it is making sure you push the right decision buttons is the critical component to any entrepreneurs success in 2010 and beyond.

 

 

 

DirectMail

Strategy No 6.

Direct Mail is back and on the increase – Every day you hear that Companies are spending more and more advertising online with prices becoming extremely expensive. There is so much competition,  just trying to push out your competitor you end up paying more and more. But you should be thinking about outsmarting them not outspending them! So while all the other Cypriot firms are running to get online ad space they will begin to forget the most effective method of direct mail. Mailboxes today will begin to get less cluttered, which means less competition for your prospective customer attention. Of course the best method of direct mail is to select targeted mailing lists and create marketing messages that address your prospects unique and specific needs.

 

 

 

USP

Strategy No 7.

You’d better have a Unique Selling Proposition – Why should someone do business with you and not with your competition? Instead of trying to convince people that they need to buy your goods and services a business should instead be answering that very question. It is the most important thing that businesses need to focus on. You need to attract people who already want to buy these goods and services that you provide and simply show them why they should buy from YOUR business as opposed to someone else.

Eg: At GAC we believe we give superior value compared to our competitors in the Cyprus renovations sector  in that we are personable and approachable, we go that extra mile in providing superior service by taking on the burden of your project. Your project is our project.

 

 

 

LeadGeneration

  

Strategy No 8.

Use the eighth wonder of the marketing world – Two step lead generation marketing. Use it increasingly. It lets you stop trying to ‘convince’ others to do business with you and frees you to attract pre-qualified leads who really are eager and enthused about doing business with you. This is connected being a problem solver and not a sales person we mentioned in an earlier point. Give out free information or a free gift or offer in exchange for a prospects contact info – if someone is really interested in your business they will do it gladly. This opens up a line of communication between you and a real prospect.

 

 

 

think outside the box phrase on blackboard 

Strategy No 9.

Be unconventional – Take a hint from the most popular shows on TV today the reality-based, and if you aren’t using a little reality based marketing you really are missing out. Big time. You have to communicate with your established customers and prospects – Social Websites give you that opportunity – open up a Facebook page give out direct content about your Company but also related information concerning your industry – in our case we Web surf the best Sites that might be of interest in the Interior Design, Architectural and Business sector and pass it on through our Website and Facebook Fan page. Sounds a bit unconventional – but if you want to be conventional you are only going to get conventional results.

 

 

 

Transparency

Strategy No 10.

Transparency and truth for your online presence – Scepticism is very high in the online world. So for your online presence you are going to need a lot more than a clever sales pitch and a flash Logo to attract customers and sell something. So businesses that don’t provide a contact name and address (not just a P.O.Box) and a way of getting in contact with your office not just a generic email form are in for a rude awakening. People need to know your business is in for the long haul. This means having a personality and creating a long-term relationship with your prospects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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