November 2010 - Page 3 of 3

There are several ways that you can encourage your clients to buy from you, even if they aren’t actively buying from you currently. You just need to stay in their line of vision but in a way that will not be interpreted by them as being ‘spam’ or as being too pushy.

So let’s look at a couple of methods you can use to stay in their line of vision.

Stay in touch

There are various techniques that you can use to stay in touch. These only need to be simple methods so that when your client needs what you supply or provide, you will be the company or person that comes to mind.

Ways that you can stay in touch are:

send a regular newsletter – use this newsletter to provide useful information that could appeal to your consumer. This could include hints and tips that they do not have access to elsewhere. Cover topics that you know will provide them with educational value (so keeping your name associated with being the expert in your field).
Birthday wishes – send greeting cards either through snail mail or alternatively you can send them a birthday wish or seasonal greetings via email.
For clients that you haven’t been in contact with for sometime, send them an email asking them how they are and generally exchange pleasantries with them.

The purpose of these actions is to stay in touch with your client and to build your relationship with them. You want to be the first person on their list for them to call when they want something from your niche.

Use Social media

Social media has been identified as a powerful way to stay in regular contact with consumers and to build relationships with them. Use the following to make a difference:

Facebook ‘Like’ page – using one of these marketing tools will keep you as a regular on your client’s newsfeed. You can stay in regular contact with them through this means.
Twitter – another way to stay in touch with your clients and to let them know about any special offers that you have available. It can also be used to meet new clients.
LinkedIn – this tool can not only be used to keep your relationships tight but to also discover new business partnerships that you could work with for new offerings.

People like doing business with people that they know, the more that you make the customer your friend, the more business he will do with you.

Being an industry expert can not only help your business take off due to the associated credibility and exposure to new clients, it can also mean being able to charge more for your services and products. Let’s look at ways that you can build your expertise and perception of your expertise in your business niche.

To be perceived as an expertise, it really is key to actually be an expert. There could be nothing worse than the embarrassment of being perceived as an expert and then not knowing critical facts about your niche that could damage the reputation of your business and of yourself. Invest time in development of your knowledge by setting time aside each week for further education. If you don’t have the time, delegate some of your menial tasks to others.

For the ‘guru’ status to be accredited, you will really need to be sharing information that others are not. To gain this type of information – collect information that others don’t have by running a survey or analyse statistics for conclusions on your discoveries.

Spread your information far and wide by using the following media:

offer to write articles for industry publications
attend and present at industry events
gain media coverage – local, international or industry. Use www.helpareporter.com to help you out.
Join related trade organisations and mingle with other industry experts at their networking events.
Add the trade organisations badge to your marketing material such as your business card, website and stationery
secure a regular column either in your local newspaper or in a trade publication
give free seminars – offer to hold them at your local university, business school or corporate business park. Associate yourself with a name that will shine a light of ‘expertise’ on your name.

Pick a handful of the above methods of gaining your industry expert status and you will raise your profits. Keep in mind that it is hard work and it will take commitment, but it will be worth it in the end.

Ways to Remind Your Clients To Buy From You (without looking like you are)

The Whys and Hows of Being an Industry Expert

How can we help you?