Did you know that a survey has just been completed that explores the changing talent and priorities of companies?

The reason I know that is because I’ve just been given access to the results of this survey by Deloitte with Forbes Insights.

Which means that over the next number of my postings you will find out what many of the top senior business leaders all over the world think about the road ahead. And what that means to you is that you will gain insight into these findings. And the reason I write that is because if you know this information you will be able to take action and stay ahead of the curve.

To give you a taste of the survey findings; did you know that even though there is high unemployment rates in the U.S. and other areas; nearly 75% of the executives predict talent shortages in Research and Development.

In your opinion do you feel your business could benefit from this knowledge? To make sure you don’t miss any of my postings – become a follower and you will have immediate access to all this information.

Do people buy for your reasons?

No they buy for their reasons. If so, how do you find out what their reasons are?

Of course you have to ask questions. The key in asking questions is that you need to find out what their emotional reasons are for buying your product or service. Why do I write that? It has been proven that the major reason that most people buy is emotional. But please remember that you also need to find out their logical reasons are for buying as well. If there is one thing you need to remember from this comment it is – people buy with emotion and then justify their purchase with logic.

So by knowing what their emotional and logical buying reasons are, you can help them in their purchase. By understanding these buying reasons – you can also help them overcome their fears of buying your product or service.

If you would like assistance on this process contact me.

How do you introduce yourself?

Yes this is an important question!

The reason I say that is because your introduction can either make or break the first impression that a person has about you.

Let me give you an example; you are in the financial business and you sell insurance. Some one asks you what you do and you respond, “I sell life and disability insurance.” Unless the person is actively looking for coverage this conversation is going nowhere. What about if you said this; “My passion is to serve others and help people like you prepare for the uncertainties of your financial life. Would you like to see how I’ve helped others?”

While this may not be perfect it has implemented a couple of key things that will help you break through to people you’ve just met. You’ve got to remember that people are primarily focused on what is going on in their lives. If you don’t get their attention they surely aren’t going to hear what you’ve said or be interested in what you do.

So you’ve got to stop them in their tracks and get their attention. This is what marketing is all about.

I wonder if compartmentalizing is part of the problem.

It seems to me that every aspect of business is divided and put into a special drawer and the contents of the drawer are not meant to be disturbed. You have the accounting department, you have the sales department, you have the marketing department, and on it goes.

The key point I want to make is that if you are just a one-person band or if you have many employees – open communication is the key essential to help your business grow.

Let me give you two examples;

• Let’s say you started your business and your spouse is working for someone else. We’ve all heard that you shouldn’t bring work home. I can’t agree with that. The reason I write that is because if you are a one-person band you need to bounce ideas off of someone or even brag about how a project went. What would be wrong with setting a time each week away from your home to talk about these topics with your spouse or a close friend? This way someone else will understand what is happening in your business, and if they have some suggestions you can possibly use them as you continue growing your business.
• What if you have more than one or two employees in your business? Start a 5 to 10 minute debriefing everyday to find out the potential concerns and the great things going on in the different areas of your business.

By doing this you are doing what I call ‘internal marketing’. This will help your business grow and also will help you stay on top of the concerns and hear about the good things going on in your business.

How does your Business Character show in different circumstances?

The circumstances I am speaking about are the different events or situations that occur in business.

When things are going great in business I am sure that everyone is positive and up-beat. But what happens when there are some difficult times in your business? For example what if sales have been slow or the economy of your area has had a down-turn? This is when the true character of your business comes forth.

It is during these times that people truly see what you as an owner are or how the staff are living the ‘character’ of the business.

You may wonder what that has to do with marketing. It has everything to do with it, as your marketing is all the activities and techniques used to attract and persuade prospective clients. If you are carrying a doom & gloom attitude around with you – it will speak loudly in all of your activities. So be aware of how you view your business circumstances. Your view of your business circumstances can affect your business character, thus affect your marketing!