|
Author: Kimberly Stevens Article source: http://www.theallineed.com/. Used with author's permission.
Last Friday, I was spending one last day of freedom with a dear friend who was expecting to have her first baby at any minute. We decided to hang out by the pool.
On the way there, we stopped to pick up some lunch to eat pool-side. Given the choice of Wendy's, Subway, or McDonald's, I chose Subway because I knew I could get a relatively low-calorie, low-fat lunch there.
How did I know that? Because I'd seen their commercials starring Jared who had lost something like 150 pounds by eating an all-Subway-sandwich diet.
Now, I don't need to lose 150 pounds, and I don't plan to go on an all-Subway-sandwich diet. However, I also didn't want to blow the 648 calories I had burned on the elliptical trainer that morning.
From the moment we walked in, I knew I had made the right decision. They had a poster-sized sign telling me how many calories and grams of fat each of their basic sandwiches have. That helped me make a decision about the best thing to order.
Then, they reinforced my smart decision when they handed me my sandwich-drink combo. Plastered across the sandwich wrapper, around my cup, and over my napkin were the same calorie/fat breakdowns. I was pleased to see that I was only eating 320 calories for lunch (okay, truth be told, I splurged on chips too). But, nonetheless, Subway had done their job and done it well.
I'm talking about POSITIONING. They might be a lot of things, but the thing they want you to know above all else is that they offer low-calorie fast food alternatives. Yes, they were fast. Yes, they were cheap. But the point they have hammered home with their advertisements, in-store signage, and paper goods is that I can get a meal that won't blow my diet.
Positioning is what sets you apart from your competitors. It's what makes a prospect choose to work with you rather than someone else. It's the part of perception that you have the most control over. But many business owners neglect to take charge of their position in the marketplace and let customers position their business for them.
How many times have you lowered your prices to get a new client who balked at your original bid? How many times have you agreed to provide a certain service to a client that you never planned to provide, don't enjoy doing, and isn't very profitable? How many times have you taken on a job that requires the most basic skills you possess and complained that you can't get clients that want to use all of your talents?
These are all things that business owners experience when they let their prospects/clients position their business for them. If you find yourself doing this, the time to change is NOW!
Are you letting the market position your business for you? If so, don't fret. Most all of us have been there at some time or another. Sometimes, it's important to take on low-end jobs. We all need to pay the bills. We all experience market downturns. We all have to build up confidence in our services.
But, if you find yourself feeling frustrated with the type of work you're doing, the amount of money you're making, or the kind of clients you are working with, it's time to take charge of your business.
Take a piece of paper and write down 5-10 things you want people to think of when they think of your business. Here are several examples, but you might think of many more:
- low price
- fast service
- high quality
- personal service
- caring attitude
- expert advice
- emotional support
- technical expertise
- immediate results
- creative ideas
Now, look through your list and choose the one thing that you want to emphasize more than any other - the one thing that will set you apart from your competitors.
Once you've selected it, write down a list of benefits that the one thing provides to your clients. For example, if you chose "high quality" from the list above, some benefits might include:
- you make them look good to their employees/employer/clients
- you help projects stay on track because your work is good enough the first time and requires no changes/edits
- you allow them to take one thing completely off their plate because your work meets their standards without their direct involvement
Once you've identified the aspect of your business that you want to emphasize and you've identified the benefits to your clients, sit down with all of your marketing materials. This includes your business card, brochure, letterhead, web site, advertisements, bio sheet, etc. Determine how you can tweak each one to emphasize this aspect of your business.
If you can afford it, you might reprint some of your materials. If you can't, you might come up with ways to add a tag line to your existing materials. You could print your tag line at the bottom of every piece of letterhead each time you are sending a letter. You could have stickers printed with your tag line to stick on each of your brochures. Be creative!
The best part about proper positioning is that you end up doing the type of work you enjoy and making more money. Many times the work is more profitable -- you are able to charge more than your competitors because you are delivering more value than they do. The clients that choose to work with you are making the decision to pay a little more in order to benefit from the extra value you provide. About The Author
Kimberly Stevens is the author of the ebook series, *The Profitable Business Owner: A Step-by-Step System for Starting & Running a Successful Service Business*. Download Sample Chapters & get her free MiniCourse, *The 10 Most Common Mistakes Business Owners Make & How To Avoid Them* at: http://www.askthebizcoach.com/ebooks.htm
kim@askthebizcoach.com
Rogue Online Pharmacies: The Internet War Of 2005
Anyone who watches the health news sector has read all the stories of online pharmacy owners going to jail for 4 years on average and being required to forfeit ...
Pressure Washing Entrepreneurs Can Help With Government NPDES Permits
If you own a pressure washing business one of the smartest things you can do is get involved with the local and regional enforcement for storm water environment...
Have You Done Your Cultivating Today?
Work at Home Moms and Dad cultivate your family, home, and yourself and the business will grow.
Increase Semen Volume – Shoot for the Stars
The family jewels, it is a sign of our manhood and our strength. Men take all health issues about the penis seriously. We just want the best and not suffer humi...
Matchmaking is about Self-discovery
If you had your owner's manual in fron of you - what would it say?
The Importance of Business Goals
For you to get where you want to go, there are four key steps for you to take. They are not difficult, but they are vital...
Economic Free Zones in Macedonia
Question: Dr. Vaknin - is it true that you are the father of the Law of Free Economic Zones? Answer: I participated in the dedicated and professional team, fr...
Dont Get Caught With Your PR Down
Now it will become clear to you that the right public relations really CAN alter individual perception and lead to changed behaviors that help you win.
Exercising With Kids -- Tips For Parents
Making exercise a priority is a challenge for everyone. And for parents it can be especially difficult to find time to workout because of the full plates that t...
Stop Selling! for the Million Dollar Contract
Are you selling high-value goods or services? Do you wonder how you can shorten the buying cycle for complex products? Do you want to improve your sales results...
Necessary Technology for Sustained Lunar Colonies
New technology must be constructed in order to make the dream on living on the moon a reality. The five key inventions suggested by Astronaut Young, in my opini...
Want to Earn More Profits
It's a simple yet common question, "How can I make my business more successful?"
Wood-Burning Stoves: Timeless Classics
Traditionally, wood-burning freestanding stoves were used in ski cabins and lodges, but today thanks to new design concepts they have become a welcome addition ...
PPC v Natural Search – A Cost Comparison Case Study
Is natural search more expensive than PPC? Certainly not! The following case study explains why.
Why you Must Secure your Digital Product and Thank You Web Page
A couple of years back, I paid my dues the 'hard way'. My web site was up and running, the sales letter had been 'crafted' with the most influential marketing...
Reverse Osmosis and Deionized Water Filtration
Let's face it if you are in a business needing de-ionized water or reverse osmosis water you are always concerned about the quality of your water. I know as a m...
Ten Reasons Why Most Yellow Page Ads Fail -And Yours Does Not Have to
The ideal Yellow Page ad provides the answers readers want to find. A great ad provides the connection between what buyers expect to learn before buying AND wha...
The Freelancers Field Guide to Contract Work
A how to guide on gettings started as a Freelancer on the Internet.
Principles of Human Misery / Happiness
Sometimes we are so occupied with our daily routine in life that we forget that "we" are the most important element of our existence. We need to be nourished in...
Mood Disorders And Depression
There are natural things to be done to balance your moods. Learn how a Seretonin imbalance can affect your moods.
Enroll in Car College - Learn Whilst Youre On The Move
There are so many choices when it comes to what we can listen to in the car. My friend Debra, who is a realtor and spends large chunks of time in her car, liste...
Local Business Advertising & Google Adwords
Local Business Advertising & Google Adwords - How local businesses can effectively use Google Adwords to maximise their advertising spend.
Exercise The Right Way - The Flat Dumbbell Fly
It is crucial that beginning bodybuilders are shown how to perform the core exercises correctly. This article provides step by step instructions for the Flat Du...
Publicity: Financial Planners That Get It Follow One Rule
Financial planners can use their expertise to garner free publicity that builds their practice and accelerates their growth. Publicity guru Ned Steele explains...
|
Print this page