When you’re looking for new ideas for your business, you need to look outside the box… What other businesses that you know of are using marketing that is working?  Why is it working?  And what can you do to adapt those ideas for your business?

Your local car sales yard probably offers FREE yearly checkups in order to bring in consumers and convince them to buy a new car. The key word here is free.

Consumers love to be offered complimentary products or services and will come flocking in through your doors if they know they can leave with something and never spend a penny. Of course, the key is to offer them a product or service that will have them coming back for more.

What product or service is up to you.  But regardless, the marketing tactic remains the same. Just because you see a business marketing tactic used in a business that has NOTHING to do with your service, does not mean it cannot be adjusted and changed to work for you!

Most importantly, when you are selecting what to use as a ‘carrot’ to attract new clients, make sure its something that doesn’t cost you anything (or a minimum very little).  Ie something you can keep on giving away without adverse affect to you - But with enough value that its going to attract new clients in.

Let’s say you are running a successful spa but profits are down and you have no idea how to drum up new business. As you drive to work one morning, you notice the gym is offering a discount on memberships to boost their own sales.

A light bulb should immediately come on over your head. Why not try to offer a stress relief membership complete with relaxation classes, health education and, of course, a wealth of spa values? The gym may have nothing to do with your health business, but they know how to make money and increase their profit.

Marketing is a cut throat business and with so many choices, the consumer needs to be given a unique opportunity in order to choose YOUR product or service over those of your nearest competitor. Taking ideas from businesses unrelated to you and changing that idea just enough to fit into your business mold can make you more money and increase the number of clients you see every day.

Nearly every business in your local area is competing for the same money in your client’s pockets. Taking an idea or two and adapting that marketing idea work for your business makes great business sense.  It is making the best business decision for your profits, your clients and your money.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rebecca Kepple specializes in helping business owners massively increase their client base and profits.  To get instant access to her free insider secrets report ‘The Top 7 Secrets for Massively Increasing Your Client Base’ visit: http://www.wellbeingbusinesssecrets.com/freebiebook.

© Copyright Rebecca Kepple 2008

Want to use this article on your site or in your newsletter?  This article may be reprinted provided no part thereof is edited in any way and this resource box is included.

It’s been a fascinating experience organising a wedding. Not just because I love weddings, it’s my wedding and I love organising things in general! But also because I’ve gotten to see some phenomenal customer service, and some pretty mundane service too.

We picked our reception venue several months ago now, and I’d forgotten all about our experience doing this until someone asked me about it the other day..

We found and visited two reception venues, which we loved the look of, so I called both of them up to find out all the details and get their availability. On calling the first the lady was abrupt and clearly in the middle of something - No the date we wanted was not available, and No she didn’t have the diary in front of her to check other availabilities.

On calling the second venue I could hear really busy office noises and lots of paper shuffling as I got handed through to the right person. Despite how busy it all sounded there, the lady was adorable. She firstly congratulated me on our engagement, and then listened while I asked all my questions. Even though she probably gets the same questions all day, every day, she answered every one as if it was unique and a very good question. Needless to say we booked with the second venue… They’ve been an absolutely pleasure to work with and I’m so looking forward to the big day.

Why am I telling you this? It reminded me of the importance of ‘Being in the Now’.

No matter how busy you are, no matter what else you’re in the middle of, customers are your bread and butter. They are THE most important things you will “deal with” all day.

We’ve all been there - up to our eyeballs in paperwork and then the phone rings with a question about hot wax vs warm… or in the middle of doing something really important when someone pops in and wants to ask about the best shampoo for dry hair…

The difference between great customer service and not so great service, is taking that moment to stop, collect yourself and refocus back on the customer. The paperwork will still be there. The customer may not.

P.S. If you haven’t already, make sure to check out my “Ridiculously Huge, First Every Annual Sale”. There’s extremely limited stock but what’s there is an absolute bargain!
www.wellbeingbusinesssecrets.com/newyearsale.html

Health, beauty and therapy businesses will often find themselves searching and searching for new clients and better ways to make money and stay afloat.

A great place to start is looking at the volunteer organizations in your community and how they raise funds.
Very often these organizations are cash strapped and very limited in how much they can spend on promoting themselves.  Which means they need to learn how to make money off “the smell of an oily rag” so to speak! The means they are usually a great source of light-bulb-type ideas on how your business can get some extra income, without spending a fortune.

One of the biggest fundraisers a local organization can have is a raffle.  And there’s absolutely no reason why a hair salon, therapy clinic, beauty salon or day spa can’t get new clients and make more money the same way.

So what is a raffle?  A raffle is where your business offers to the customers a special package of treatments, services or retail products for a fraction of their value.

For example, if you run a beauty therapy salon you might package together a facial, manicure, pedicure, massage and body wrap.  All together this treatment package might cost you $50 to do but its actually valued at $300.

So for your raffle, you charge your clients only $2 each per ticket.  Both new, prospective clients and current, regular clients purchase lots of tickets because they love the treatments you’re offering and its fantastic value.  For just $2 they could win a $300 therapy package.

Now the key is to sell more tickets than your cost.  So if it costs you $50 to do all those treatments, you need to sell a minimum of 25 tickets.

And yup, you’ve probably guessed by now that every ticket you sell after those first 25, is pure profit you can put in your pocket!

If you’ve got a smaller budget or tighter purse strings, the best bet would be to start with a smaller package or even multiple small packages.  You run a raffle one a week, one every two weeks, whatever the schedule you feel is best for your business.  Then promote, promote, promote!

Your clients walk through the door and they see balloons, they see confetti, they see fairy lights and they’re immediately drawn to the basket you’ve made with all the vouchers in it.  Then they see the small $2.00 price tag for the ticket to win the big package!  After 20 or 30 customers buy the ticket for that package, your costs are paid for and all of the extra proceeds are going into your pocket as profit.

Raffles have been used by many businesses, organizations, and non-profit organizations for decades.  In fact once you’ve done a few of these and you know you’re going to sell lots of tickets you could give a portion of the proceeds (after costs of course) away to charity.  This would really show your clientele that you are in touch with the community.

If your salon, clinic or spa normally only holds five customers at a time everyone feels they have a huge chance of winning.  Each of those people thinks that you’re directing that spectacular giveaway toward them.  They don’t think about the fact that 100 more people may come in during that week, and that each of those people have the same chance of getting that special package.  All they know is that they are just spending $2 and they have a chance to receive a facial, sample products, a foot massage, a manicure (or what ever you’re giving away) for a very small price.

PLEASE NOTE - In some countries you are required to have a licence or be working for charity to do a raffle.  Please do check raffles without a licence are allowed in your country before using this idea.  If you find you can’t do this, you might want to try doing something like running a competition in a local paper or in store.  Make sure to get everyone’s names and email addresses, then they go in the draw to win the gift basket/package.  Another fab way of getting more new clients!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rebecca Kepple specializes in helping business owners massively increase their client base and profits.  To get instant access to her free insider secrets report ‘The Top 7 Secrets for Massively Increasing Your Client Base’ visit: http://www.wellbeingbusinesssecrets.com/freebiebook.

© Copyright Rebecca Kepple 2008

Want to use this article on your site or in your newsletter?  This article may be reprinted provided no part thereof is edited in any way and this resource box is included.

Contrary to popular belief, not all clients are created equal!

Your client list can be organised in many ways.  One of the most popular ways of categorising them as A level, B level, C level and D level clients.

What this means to you will be different depending on what you want the most out of your clients.

Your specific idea of an ideal A level client will be different to anyone else’s but for arguments sake, lets just say that your ideal client:
-    Books in 2-3 appointments in advance
-    Provides you with at least 2 high quality referrals each month
-    Pays full price for all their purchases and appointments
-    Purchases the retail items you suggest and then uses them in the manner you advise.

If this is the case, your B level client is still a valued one but perhaps they don’t rebook but just call up a week or two in advance to book their appointment.  And they don’t actively refer their friends and colleagues to you but will tell people if they remember.

Your C level client only books appointments every now and again, hardly purchases anything and sometimes tries to haggle prices with you.

Your D level clients are obviously your least valued clients.  They are the ones that your stomach sinks when you hear their voice on the phone.  They are the ones that will without fail expect a discount, the ones that never do as you ask, who are always late, who speak snappily to you, who you generally just wish would go away.

Your D level clients are the ones that take up the most of your time but give you the least money.

In contrast your A level clients take up the least of your time but give you the most money.

Have a think about the clients in your clinic, spa, beauty business or hair salon.  You might have different qualities you value compared to the ones I’ve just suggested but the result is the same.  You will have clients who are wonderful and then ones that are a pain in the neck.

The idea behind this ABCD client concept is to get you starting to think about what type of client you want more of and what type of client you want less of.

As soon as you’ve finished reading this article, there is an exercise I would like you to do.

Get a piece of paper and divide it into 4 sections.  Put A in one box, B in the next one, C in the next one and D in the last one.

Then list all the qualities in the A box that your A level clients have.  Then list all the qualities in the D box that your D level clients have.  And then do the same for B and C.  It is easier to start with A and D by the way.  B and C will then just follow.

The next step is to imagine what your business (and your life) would be like with just A clients.  Imagine how much you would enjoy what you do.  Imagine how easy it would be.  Imagine how much you would just love seeing each and every client.

Then brainstorm.  Brainstorm where your A clients hang out.  What they do during their days, what they do during their free time.  Where you and your marketing needs to be to get more of them.

By the way… if you do this and then you realise you have some E clients.  Fire them.  Next time they try to book in, you are busy.  Give them the name of another business in the area that they could try to book with, but unfortunately you are fully booked.

Don’t be scared to turn E clients away and as you get more A clients, your D clients as well.  If they are really that bad, then they will take up so much of your time that you will be making a loss on their appointment.  Which means there is no point.

If you don’t enjoy dealing with them AND they take up lots of time AND you are making a loss on their appointment because of it, then stop taking their bookings.  You are in charge.

And remember… what is your D client, is someone else’s A client.  Everyone runs their business differently.  Everyone has a different personality.  How some clients behave with you will be completely different to how they behave with someone else.  So let them go find a business where they are valued.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rebecca Kepple specializes in helping business owners massively increase their client base and profits.  To get instant access to her free insider secrets report ‘The Top 7 Secrets for Massively Increasing Your Client Base’ visit: http://www.wellbeingbusinesssecrets.com/freebiebook.

© Copyright Rebecca Kepple 2008

Want to use this article on your site or in your newsletter?  This article may be reprinted provided no part thereof is edited in any way and this resource box is included.