For over twenty years I've been a successful sales person and marketer of a variety of products and services. During that time, I've thought a lot about what it takes to be successful in marketing your products and services.
As I've thought about marketing success one of the things I've realized that successful organizations do that unsuccessful ones do not do is "listen to their customers."
The question for you is, "Do You Listen To Your Customers?"
If you do, here's the rewards for doing it...
1) They'll tell you what products and services to "sell them."
2) You'll save yourself a lot of time, money and frustration by not having to guess what the marketplace wants.
3) You'll make a lot more money
4) You'll be able to help a lot more people
When we first started doing workshops and seminars, before the
workshop began and during the breaks we had a certain piece
of upbeat music that we played to create a particular mood and to
make our workshop attendees feel good. Almost immediately,
people started asking us what the music was that we were playing.
Then they would indicate that they wanted to get a copy.
Upon realizing this, we contacted the record company of this artist
and started buying this CD at "wholesale" and are now selling this
CD at our workshops and seminars.
By doing this, it's a win/win for both us and the people attending
our seminar.
It's great for us because we get to make some money that we
wouldn't have if we hadn't started selling these CD's. It's found money--a totally new stream of income.
By doing this, it's a win for our workshop attendees because--they found some new music to enjoy and we saved them time and money on this cd that they now want but don't have to go all over town or the Internet looking for.
IF you listen and observe your customers-- they'll show you
everything you need to do to sell them more of what you have to offer.
If four people come up to you every week and ask "does this come in blue?" If it comes in blue but it's not a color that you stock-- you'd better start carrying it in blue (if you want to make more sales that is).
All too often, we get attached to our product, our service or what WE want to sell to the marketplace. The reality is, it doesn't matter what WE want to sell or offer to the marketplace, it's what they want that is the only thing that matters.
All too often we think we know what the marketplace wants or needs. Most of the time this is based on what we think they should buy to solve their problems or we want to sell them something that WE are passionate about.
Your customers vote with their checkbooks. When it comes to your
products and services, their vote is the only one that matters.
When you are creating products and services to offer your customers and clients, keep this in mind and you'll sell a lot more than if you don't
Copyright 2001 Susie and Otto Collins