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You have brainstormed amongst all the other methods that you may have done either of your own accord or through my "Success Online". You have the great ideas already. Now it's time to ascertain as to whether they have been fruitful or not. Following you will find ten proven and fruitful methods to do this both for self-employed business people and for corporate businesses alike. With my compliments, Darren Roberts 1) THE BENEFITS. RANK THE CORE BENEFITS. How often do people buy products? Never! People, consumers or anyone for that matter purchase benefits, not products. So what we need to sell to our target market are the benefits associated with our product. Do you purchase product "Z" while it's been around as long as Ronald Reagan or do you buy it because it solves the problem of water leakage in your basement? Selling throughout the whole world exists only because of the benefits they provide. It is up to you to ascertain these benefits and place them into an order of importance. So, how do you know if one's more important than the other? Easy! Each time you (or your group) go through these benefits counter each one until you can't counter it any more. What I mean here is; for example you are looking at buying a table tennis table. You want it for recreation. You live in Seattle where it rains quite regularly and you have no storage. You find plenty of good tables you'd like but only one proves to be waterproof. This, you have determined to be the most powerful benefit in this case. It doesn't matter if it can fly to the moon or whatever when it can't pass the test of the most important benefit then it amounts to nothing in the end. Are you concentrating on the true benefits of your product? Write all the benefits down and put them in an order of importance. 2) CONDUCT A SURVEY Further to point number one instead of you (the company) ranking the benefits of your product range why not simply ask the most important people what their thoughts are? Ask the clients what they thought. Offer an incentive for them to do this. Give them a free table tennis paddle set or something similar just for assisting you with your cause. You will find those clients that are very impressed with your waterproof table tennis product will be more than happy to share their positive experiences therefore allowing you to hone on strengths and eradicate your weaknesses. Reward these clients well and they in turn will reward you...substantially; and they pay you for the privelege. Don't forget where your bread is buttered. 3) IMPLEMENT AUDITING MECHANISMS Ideas are great!!! Perhaps even the implementation of these ideas is great as well. But, it all amounts to nothing if you don't keep an accurate account of what you have just done. If you are operating an online (or offline) business then you will have to set up coding systems to find out what sort of response you get from various forms of promotion/marketing etc. If you don't monitor what you're doing, how in heavens name are you going to know what is succeeding and what isn't? If you are going to do the work to optimise your business operation don't stop half way!!! As with step two, ascertain what is succeeding and what isn't and then make the necessary adjustments required. 4) RE-VALUE YOUR ASSUMPTIONS We always assume things before we endeavour to undertake an exercise. Naturally we need a starting point and this involves having assumed one or more things. It is imperative to review this aspect often as your situation may change, the nature of the product or government regulations may force you to alter the make-up of your operation. In a short sentence; anything can happen. So prepare for anything. Ask yourself: (in no particular order) Why do you think this will still work? Who needs it? Do you like this yourself? What about your competition? What are the media's thoughts? (they could make or break you) How flexible are you, timewise, workwise, delays etc? There are many questions that can you ask yourself over and over again. evaluate well and don't assume just because it's always been that way 5) GET ANALYTICAL To measure the success of your recent developments you will need to analyse what it actually is that you've implemented. Although this is really a combination of all your activities to measure the value of your new ideas. You won't need any any cost or budgetary accounting to successfully analyse your new exploits. simply think as laterally as you can about how you can measure these adjustments. You will find that you become more resourceful as you do this. Don't take this lightly. There is not one single secret method to evaluating your strategies - just several smaller ones. Look a little deeper and use all your data. Optimise your resources. 6) DO THE REKNOWNED SWOT ANALYSIS...AGAIN!!! If you haven't heard of a "SWOT" analysis it simply a study of: S - Strengths W - Weaknesses O - Opportunities T - Threats.This is most beneficial in a group. It is feasable to carry this out alone but naturally the number of ideas with a group will be so much more numerous and broader than if you do this on your own. You will find that reviewing these four points again that several new things will come into action and you will be able to adopt them into your plan and work them to your own advantage. 7) PREPARE THOROUGHLY FOR FAILURE! HOW/WHY COULD THIS FAIL??? Without being negative we have all heard the expression: "Anything That Can Go Wrong, Will Go Wrong!" This is a brilliant and comprehensive statement to have in your mind at all times when implementing your business development plans etc. It is highly unlikely you will be able to control every aspect of your business. For example to get guarantee delivery to clients you must have two or three preferred couriers. In the case of an Internet Service Provider it is a good idea to have a dial-up connection with at least two businesses to insure against potential downtime. It is imperative that you do what is commonly called in cyclone effected areas "A Disaster Recovery Programme". How can this new system fail? I believe this to be a difficult thing to do as you have just designed the ideas to send you skyrocketing into the 21st century (and beyond) and now you must take an uncharacteristically pessimistic view of your ideas. All I can say is attain and maintain total objectivity. Subjectiveness can break this measurement device down. Here are some potential things to "negatively" think about: strikes/industrial action underestimated costings staff training and development shortfalls regulation alterations (changes in the legal system and how it affects you) natural disaster (fire, war, cyclone, flood etc) judgmental errors (eg. product development incorrectly diagnosed) financial problems etc. When you have recovered from your disaster before it happens you will find your life to be somewhat relieved Boy scouts are always prepared. So should any business operation. 8) OVER TIME; UNDERSTAND YOUR BUSINESS CYCLE We all are probably aware that every so often due to policy changes and business developments etc both within and from outside your control that your business profits vary. Pay close attention to those that you can control. If you find there are many aspects that are uncontrollable (such as extending government intervention) you may wish to consider mergers, diversification or perhaps discontinuation of over-regulated products and services. You will indeed find a definite relationship between government intervention and your profit ratio...inversely proportional. Protect your interests and with all that you have learned diversify into areas that you have more direct control over. 9) TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY AND MIND You may think this a little out of place in this top ten list but on the contrary it is very important. We are all a product of how we treat ourselves. Our body is the motor which requires the right fuel to operate efficiently. Our mind is the generator that needs constant challenge to keep it at its peak. Subscribe to "mind wealthy" publications, exercise regularly and eat well. Don't overdo it. Everything in moderation. You will find many situations become substantially easier to handle if you do in fact take care of number one. 10) DON'T STOP WHEN YOU'RE DONE!!! The biggest mistake we all make when we have reached a milestone is in fact to switch off as if all is complete. Sure, we all need a break to recharge our batteries but everything you have done can, with application and experience be refined further to take you more specifically to where you want to be. If you are indeed on the right track just imagine how much further you can develop it. The competition won't stop. Just think how market leaders have been usurped by new competitors over the years as they used their good ideas and developed them further. You can always satisfy your clientele more than you are now... The authors "Topliving Success Series" has proven to be well received all around. You are cordially invited to subscribe to his series. You will receive success articles every Monday and Thursday of each week for only $3.95US per month (This is 8 or 9 deliveries each month). The feedback has been brilliant. You may subscribe at : http://topliving.com/articles/successbiweekly.htm If you would like to receive his free monthly newsletter to assist you in your online pursuits please send a blank email to: subscribe@topliving.com?Subject=Monthly_Success The Self-Employment Assistance Centre is located at: http://topliving.com. Please drop by... TO Improve your planning and business methodology, to reduce your workload and increase the overall efficiency of your operation check out Topliving Consultancy now. |
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