Sales & Marketing
Many people confuse marketing, sales, advertising, public relations, and publicity. "Marketing" actually covers all of these, but I've broken out some of these into sub-topics. Also, read down past the sub-topics to find some general marketing articles.
Making Time for Marketing
There are many ways to include marketing activities in your busy life, instead of wishing you had more time for marketing. Make marketing a part of the time you are already spending.
There are many ways to include marketing activities in your busy life, instead of wishing you had more time for marketing. Make marketing a part of the time you are already spending.
Niche Marketing: Targeting the Best Prospects
Occupying a niche means you won't be competing with a lot of similar businesses solely on price. And because you will be selling products and services that are customized to the specific needs and predispositions of a select group of people, you can often charge more. Your products and services serve a market that can't easily find alternatives.
Occupying a niche means you won't be competing with a lot of similar businesses solely on price. And because you will be selling products and services that are customized to the specific needs and predispositions of a select group of people, you can often charge more. Your products and services serve a market that can't easily find alternatives.
Pricing Strategy: How Much Should You Charge?
One of the most difficult, yet important, issues an entrepreneur must decide is how much to charge for his product or service. While there is no one single right way to determine your pricing strategy, fortunately there are some guidelines that will help you with your decision.
One of the most difficult, yet important, issues an entrepreneur must decide is how much to charge for his product or service. While there is no one single right way to determine your pricing strategy, fortunately there are some guidelines that will help you with your decision.
Product's Ready! Now What?
The moment of truth has arrived. You and your team have spent months – possibly years – researching, prototyping, and testing. Your innovation is finally ready for market. Now what?
The moment of truth has arrived. You and your team have spent months – possibly years – researching, prototyping, and testing. Your innovation is finally ready for market. Now what?
When Is This Thing Going to Hatch?
Besides its common use, "incubation" also refers to the time it takes for a potential customer to act upon marketing and sales efforts. Proper anticipation of that time delay can prevent costly mistakes in resource allocation and cash flow planning.
Besides its common use, "incubation" also refers to the time it takes for a potential customer to act upon marketing and sales efforts. Proper anticipation of that time delay can prevent costly mistakes in resource allocation and cash flow planning.
How to Land Your First Consulting Client
Consulting is a big—and growing—business. The market for consulting services is estimated to be between $130B and $150B annually, and professional consultants are among the highest paid workers, earning more than many doctors, lawyers and other professionals. So how do your break into consulting?
Consulting is a big—and growing—business. The market for consulting services is estimated to be between $130B and $150B annually, and professional consultants are among the highest paid workers, earning more than many doctors, lawyers and other professionals. So how do your break into consulting?
The Power of Follow Up
You can easily differentiate yourself from your competition by making the effort to follow-up with your prospects and customers. Don’t take it for granted that they will call you. Be proactive and contact them.
You can easily differentiate yourself from your competition by making the effort to follow-up with your prospects and customers. Don’t take it for granted that they will call you. Be proactive and contact them.
The Power of Gravitational Marketing
In this excerpt from the book, "Gravitational Marketing", authors Travis Miller and Jimmy Vee explain how smaller companies can defy the laws of gravity by attracting more than their fair share of business.
In this excerpt from the book, "Gravitational Marketing", authors Travis Miller and Jimmy Vee explain how smaller companies can defy the laws of gravity by attracting more than their fair share of business.
How Self-Published Books Create Highly Profitable Businesses
For most authors, there's not a lot of money to be made in selling books alone. At a few dollars profit per book, you have to sell thousands and thousands of copies to earn any substantial income. But when you use your self-published books as a sales tool to identify customers and make additional sales, then your self-published books become a money-generating tool that can drive a million-dollar business.
For most authors, there's not a lot of money to be made in selling books alone. At a few dollars profit per book, you have to sell thousands and thousands of copies to earn any substantial income. But when you use your self-published books as a sales tool to identify customers and make additional sales, then your self-published books become a money-generating tool that can drive a million-dollar business.
One-Stop Marketing Resources
Collection of over a dozen original articles from our Small Business: Canada Guide, Susan Ward, plus links to marketing features from other About.com Guides.
Collection of over a dozen original articles from our Small Business: Canada Guide, Susan Ward, plus links to marketing features from other About.com Guides.
7 Sure-Fire Ways to Build Your Referral Business
Referred leads offer a 60 percent close ratio for your small business. Learn how to optimize your customer referrals to your company.
Referred leads offer a 60 percent close ratio for your small business. Learn how to optimize your customer referrals to your company.
Seven Steps for Creating Successful Marketing
Guerrilla Marketing guru Jay Conrad Levinson breaks it down into seven short, simple concepts.
Guerrilla Marketing guru Jay Conrad Levinson breaks it down into seven short, simple concepts.
The Hidden World of Bartering
Increase your client base and thereby your referral base, get rid of excess inventory, fill up available schedule time, and get goods and services, all at a reduced cost to you. Barter is alive and well in the 21st century.
Increase your client base and thereby your referral base, get rid of excess inventory, fill up available schedule time, and get goods and services, all at a reduced cost to you. Barter is alive and well in the 21st century.
Marketing Your Home-Based Business
Three simple and cost-effective steps for marketing your home-based business.
Three simple and cost-effective steps for marketing your home-based business.