What is the single biggest fear of teenagers, business owners and CEO's alike?
The answer is simple. Making out for the first time, with an attractive partner or customer you really want to be with.
The jitters, the butterflies, that welling excitement building in the brain, are eerily similar whether you are talking about business or that first make out session.
All goes well and it's magic? Screw it up, and you may never see that customer, I mean date, ever again.
After reading a few teenage make out Blogs, you might just start to see the similarities.
Here is an anonymous quote from an angst teenager, "I was talking to her in the cafeteria yesterday at lunch and went to give her a kiss - and she totally blew me off! She said she doesn't think she likes me in that kind of way and just wants to be friends."
Surprise, surprise ?just because you have a customer in front of you doesn't mean they are going to buy, and if you try and sell them too soon you are doomed to the 'let's just be friends' routine!
Whether it is in love or business, you have to set the mood. Think of our teenager as the CEO of Smooth Operator Corp, and his mission was to just find that one perfect customer.
In this industry Smooth only needs one sale, to be profitable for life. With stakes that high, our resident CEO better have a sound marketing plan and budget.
Here is what we suggest:
1. Know everything about your prospective customer. What do they like? What do they hate? Where do they hang out? What do they read? Who do they associate with? What is their preferred method of contact? The more information you have the better you can design your marketing plan.
2. Your prospective customer will need to see your brand typically five to seven times before they buy. Make sure you advertise enough that your product or service will be seen by your target market on a regular basis. This should also remind you to not try and close the sale before your future customer trusts you.
3. Your potential customer is not stupid, and expects to be treated accordingly. They want all available information about your product or service readily available, at their finger tips. If they have a question before they consider buying, they want to be able to call or email you, and expect a quick and upbeat response.
4. Your potential customer might like to see your references, or at least hear from a former satisfied customer just how good you are. Are you for real?
5. When the time is right to make the sale, ensure your future customer has no excuse not to proceed. You have answered all potential objections through the sales and marketing process. Set the mood and the sale then becomes a natural evolution to the relationship.
With just a little ingenuity, and plenty of sound planning your next make out marketing session could be a sure thing. Thanks to our resident CEO, for unwittingly contributing his make out marketing failure. We hope you get the sale next time!
by Lee Raito, CFP, FMA
Co-Author of Business Sexcess
Business and financial expert Lee Raito is a Certified Financial Planner and Financial Management Advisor from Canada. Lee has teamed up with Internet marketing expert Sam Heyer to provide you with information that will take your business success to a place it has never been before. Their recent book, Business Sexcess, is the much talked about book that will transform how you look at business. http://www.BusinessSexcess.com