Archive for May, 2012

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be posting about marketing and why it’s so important to have a marketing plan that aligns to your business vision.

Without marketing, your potential clients will not know you are there or what your do. Reactive marketing that does not align to your business plan,  will be unproductive and costly as it may not reach your target market or give the right message.

A proactive sales & marketing plan that is coordinated with your business plan, will help you set clear objectives, establishing direction and focus on your target market. Assessing and monitoring what your competition is doing will also help you to work out the best ways to keep existing customers happy whilst reaching and winning new customers.

Your marketing plan is a working document that will help you structure effort within the resources you have available, including people, time and money. It will support you in monitoring success and reviewing what to do differently to build on your success; also to identify what is not working, so you can allocate resources more effectively.

‘A sales and marketing plan must be reviewed and revised regularly to gain maximum return and to make your vision become a reality’.

Align your marketing with your business vision

Your marketing goals are your route to achieve your key business vision goals. 

 Before you  create your marketing plan, or  consider any marketing activity, you need to be clear what you are offering to whom.

 -          What is it that you will tell prospects that you do?

-          What are the features and benefits of what you have on offer?

-          What does your product offer that your customers’ value?

-          Are you product or market driven, ie have you a product for which you are trying to find a market, or are you seeking to provide a service/product to meet market needs, or, is it a blend of the two?

Next time I’ll be posting on being clear about your target market, your pricing and competitors.

To set a solid foundation for your marketing plan with a clear business vision, why not join my Vision Formula Workshop this Wednesday 16th May in Maidstone.

It costs just £47 and you will leave the workshop with:

More details can be found here.

Look out for Marketing Part 2 !

Denise

Denise Molloy works with small business owners to help them build a profitable and sustainable business that suits the lifestyle they choose.

I attended a Ladies at 11 Conference last week where I heard some really interesting speakers from whom I picked up some great and practical tips. This week I’d like to share just some of the tips offered by Voice Coach Laura Hart.

Her tips touched a cord (no pun intended), as I was suffering with a sore throat yet was continuing my coaching timetable regardless of the strain it was placing on my voice – a tool without which I could not survive!  So the first tip is about taking care of your voice and the others about how to better use your voice for greater impact.

1.      Take care of your voice:

• Fresh air! With all the air conditioning and central heating we use to keep comfortable, don’t starve your vocal chords of oxygen!
• Water – drink it, but  occasional inhaling of steaming water over a boil with open mouth will give your chords an extra boost
• If you are suffering with a sore throat – give it a rest and shut up!

2.     The need for colour :

• To give colour to your voice think slow, slow, quick, quick, slow
• Deliver new content more slowly for comprehension
• When reviewing content already delivered, speak more quickly

3.     Stand and deliver

• Think where best to position yourself for sound and sight
• Move your position occasionally – then stand firm and straight
• Visit as many in the room with direct eye contact

4      Get physical! 

• Use gestures to release your energy overflow
• Show what you are saying with your hands when you want greater impact
• Make facial expressions too, it gains interest and attention

You don’t need to be public speakers or Adele to appreciate the need for making the best of one of your most treasured and taken for granted assets.  Whatever business you are in, you need to optimise every tool in your kit bag, so make the best of your voice to be a more effective communicator to help you grow your small business.

Laura Hart is a Voice and Speaking Skills Coach. The tips above are just a hint of how Laura helps her client.  To find out more visit her website.

Denise Molloy is a business coach who works with owner managers to build a sustainable and profitable business that fits their lifestyle.