How To Increase Sales Without Spending A Dime
Most businesses fail to make the most of one important asset - its existing customers.
Your existing customers already know you and trust you. Most are ready to buy from you again if they have a good reason to. That means that you can tap your customer base for additional income by:
- Making special offers during slow periods. Offer your customers a special low price for scheduling work when things are slow.
- You can promote a related (but non-competing) business to your customer list for a commission. If you can bring in extra business for a pool maintenance or vinyl siding company, why shouldn't they be willing to give you a percentage? (And maybe they could promote you to their customers for a percentage as well.)
- You could promote goods and services through affiliate programs that pay you a commission. (This will be covered in more detail in the next chapter.)
Mailing offers to your customers would cost you very little - just the cost to print or photocopy some letters plus postage. Just 1 or 2 responses would pay for the mailing.
But I called this section "Increase Sales Without Spending A Dime". And the way you do this is by using email. The promotions mentioned above can also generate free extra income if you email your customers instead of mailing printed letters. That means every extra sale or commission generated by your "mailings" didn't cost you a dime.
Always collect email addresses from your customers. When you get a customer's name, address and phone number ask for an email address as well. Tell them it is for your newsletter or for special sales. And make it possible for them to sign up on your website.
(Newsletter or mailing list management is part of the SiteBuildIt package. If you're not using SBI, you will have to purchase separate software or sign up for a service like Pro Autoresponder at http://proautoresponder.com )
At a minimum you should email or drop a postcard to your customers once or twice each year just to keep your name in their minds. A little reminder might be all it takes to start them thinking about some work that needs to be done.
DISCLAIMER AND/OR LEGAL NOTICES: While all attempts have been made to verify information provided in this book, the Author assumes no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions. If advice concerning legal or related matters is needed, the services of a qualified professional should be sought. This book is not intended for use as a source of legal, accounting or general business advice.