How can I impress my boss on a marketing project involving the creation of a list of potential customers?
413211
Once you've collected their emails and work phones, identify a measure or characteristic that is common in all your cutomers. Based on that characteristic, compile a list of say the 20 top customers that exhibit that characteristic best. \n\nIt can be more than 1 characteristic which runs through all of them or the majority of them. In which case, your list will be reduced to say top 15. \n\nThen add one more quality and which will further reduce your list, but then all those companies in this list will have all qualities. \n\nCompile each list in rank order. Give your boss all lists and begin with the one that has the most number of characteristics.\n\nIf it doesn't work, he'll at least see that you're making an effort on your own; you're taking initiative. All the best!
81599
I've always gone for the sincere approach (rather than pushy)when trying to build on-going business and with bigger ticket items.  For sincere, put yourself in the other person's place: they may want to talk, but are busy, ask; good manners pay.  Start by offering them something of interest, something that will help them (a little known/interesting fact about their industry).  Ask if they are the right person, perhaps they'd rather you talk to a subordinate who's in charge of the group that would be interested in your service.  There's a very old book that is still very applicable for reps by Dale Carnagie, "How to Win Friends and Influence People".  (He means business friends, but it works elsewhere).
757054
We had trouble getting users on to our Intranet site and so we put things that were up to date a relevant on there.  These included 2 sections, one section for work, and one to entice them:\n\nWork Related:  Maps to locations, Daily Sales, Announcements, Calendars, Hot News, Presentations, Phone List, Policies, New Products, Company Information.\n\n\nEnticements:  For Sale Board, Holiday Bookings, External News, Work Dos, Share Information.\n\nWe found that if you start by keeping it easy and then build it up when it's already live this works much better.  Easy links are the key.
923937
Contact the Better Business Bureau in your area.\nAsk to do an interview.\nHave some questions and a recording device and - hey presto, someone else writes you project and you get top marks!
456176
Try starting with an employee suggestion scheme. Implement the good ideas and reward the proponents. And then formalise the evaluation process so people know that ideas wont be ignored by prejudiced managers.
681649
The best way is to ask your existing customers - they will more than happy to tell you how to improve and if you are friendly at all, they will tell you what your competition does differently that they like.\n\nCheck out the competition - it will give you ideas.
172691
Send out an email promotion to your customer list. In the email, offer a discount, or free sample to people who refer friends to your site.
357689
Be confident in what you sell first. Keep the product infront of you one whole, stare at it and ask yourself what all you would like to know and get the answer for it. Great a client as soon as they open the door. Dress well. Best of luck.
1068795
You need 6 things:\n\n1) Targeted leads... so you can focus your efforts on the most profitable small business clients\n\n2) A good qualification process... so you don't waste time on wild goose chases\n\n3) Command of the sales call process... so you know exactly what to say to turn FREE into FEE!\n\n4) A well thought out way to start working with new customers... which I call a Proving Ground Project (tm)\n\n5) A natural way to segue that Proving Ground Project (tm) into a larger remediation or upgrade for a more permanent solution\n\n6) A long-term, mutually beneficial virtual IT support contract arrangement\n\nJoshua Feinberg\nComputer Consulting 101\nhttp://computerconsulting101.blogspot.com
1091968
Any projection, even in a known market, involves assumptions.  In your case you will have to make a few more, but that is OK.  The key is that you clearly state what your assumptions are.  Then as you gain knowledge of your market and your customers, you can replace assumptions with data, or at least educated assumptions.  \n\nI would suggest starting with some identification of what you consider your market.  Quantify the market (how many companies, how much do they spend on similar products or services, etc.) This type of information should be pretty available unless your product is very obscure or new.  Then, once you know the size of the market, identify and quantify your competition.  How much are they selling to your customers?  How much do you expect their market share to change?  Calculate some measure of market strength or expansion.\n\nSubtract your competition from the market capacity and that is your potential capacity.  I hope this helps!
466902
You will probably get lots of different answers, but my opinion on what makes a good sales person is this:\n\n1) product knowledge - yours and your competitors!  You have to know how to position your product and respond to any objections to be able to effectively offer your product as a solution to meet the buyers need.\n\n2) develop a relationship built upon trust, honesty, integrity - your competitor may do the "hard sell" but developing an honest relationship will lead to word of mouth referrals and customers for life!  Get to know the individual, their office staff (gate keepers), their business, their competition, their market space so that you can position your product to completely meet their needs.\n\n3) once you have developed a relationship and you know your product is the right solution, ask for the business.  Customers expect it and if you have responded to any objections, developed an honest relationship, then you should be in a nice position to close the deal.\n\n4) for customer that provide on-going sales - thank them for the business.  Let me know how important they are and that you value them as a customer.  Ask them to recommend your product to colleagues.\n\nGood luck!
169975
look for an achievment, something to be recognized for. Like... i don't know, be nice to people around you, suprise your boss by delivering early products or just amaze him by being brilliant.\n\nJust look for a first easy achievment and then it (feeling good) shall fall dow on you like dominoes!\n\n**please note that you will be getting approval from others, and the best way to get approval is from yourself. I do agree that you should buil up your confidence
441826
The best is to understand where your current clients are coming from and do more of it. Learn what is working in your marketing efforts and what can be improved. \n\nYou might also try a referral program - you can offer existing clients to refer friends... and reward them for it. The reward can be free special lessons or whatever else they might want.\n\nSurvey your current clients and find out why they choose your services. What do they like best? Can you turn that into your unique selling proposition? Also look at any suggestions, comments that point to things you can improve upon.\n\nResearch your competition - analyse their strengths and weaknesses. What's good about them that you can incorporate into your service? What's bad about them that you can avoid? \n\nLook at tying up with your local music store perhaps they can offer a free lesson for customers that buy music that fits in with your dance classes.\n\nHave a demonstration/lesson day... promote a day or time where people can drop by, watch a demonstration and join in a introductory lesson. Offer them an opportunity to sign up at the end and if they don't at least attempt to get their contact details for ongoing marketing purposes.\n\nThe most important thing is to position yourself as different from your competition, so that your customers don't even compare them with your services. You want your market to think of you as the only solution.\n\nThis answer is a little messy, but hopefully it gives you some ideas to try.
194172
Compete with your colleagues to get the best corporate client, retain the major customer.\nBe a successful storyteller and remind them you are the only person who can bring them the biggest benefit.
1034458
The BEST strategy would be Word of mouth. This is the best form of advertising for your business - afterall, it is free.  Customers telling potential customers you are the best in the field. Or influential people endorsing your product for free. The book "Secrets of Word Of Mouth Marketing" is one of the best books to learn how to harness word of mouth, and you can read a summary here http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol154/wordofmouth.htm\n\nSome marketing tips:\n\n1. Direct mail. Prepare a well-crafted brochure and send it to your target markets in Sunnyvale. Find a vendor in your area renting mailing lists of business establishments or take the time and go over the yellow pages and get their contact information. You can read more of how to use direct marketing strategies here http://www.powerhomebiz.com/marketing/direct.htm\n\n2. Publicity. Publicity can oftentimes be more effective than advertising. Not only is it cost-effective (oftentimes you are paying for nothing), but also people are apt to remember an article about your business rather than advertising. People find a write-up or special feature about a business more credible and objective than a paid advertising. Publicity also reaches a wider audience: if you are lucky, the national media might even pick up your story. Contact an editor of your local newspaper and pitch your story. Read the article "Leverage the Power of Publicity for Your Small Business" \nhttp://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol27/leverage.htm\n\n3. Press releases. Send out press releases through your local newspapers about your business. Whether it is about your story or about a sale you are offering, press releases can be very good exposure for you. You can read more about how to harness press releases for your business here http://www.powerhomebiz.com/marketing/public%20relations.htm\n\n4. Use the Internet. The Web can be your online brochure. You can use it to refer your potential clients for more information about your business; and it could also generate clients for you directly. Some of your potential clients may be looking to the Web for a floral designer, and you need to have a strong presence there as well.\n\n5. Network. Join and be active in your local business organizations, chamber of commerce, etc. Increase your visibility in the community. You can find more information on networking here http://www.powerhomebiz.com/marketing/networking.htm
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Palo Alto Software's MPlans.com offers marketing plan samples, some of which are free. Check out if they have a plan for a business similar to what you are planning or involved with, and get ideas on how the marketing will be done.\n\nHope this helps\nIsabel Isidro\nFor information on starting and marketing a home business, visit http://www.powerhomebiz.com
1143793
you need to make the potential manager believe what you have is a marketable item.convince them by putting together a professional presentation. good luck