This past week one of our clients was having a weekend clearance sale. One of the things I enjoy about working with Paul and Barbara from Sofa So Good (www.sofasogood.ca) is their desire to create a fun atmosphere in their store and give their customers a richer experience than they would get from Sofa So Good’s competition.

Last week we sent out two emails in secession to their database. These emails informed customers and prospects that SSG’s deals were so hot customers would need ice cream to cool off. Upon arriving at the store they were presented with ice cream. To top it all off, the weekend weather in Vancouver was at all-time high for that time of year. How perfect is that?What are you doing to keep your customers and prospects coming back for more?

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One of my favorite moments was when someone taught me about synergy. The example they used was two horses pulling a cart. Each horse can pull approximately 500 lbs. (I’m making that up, because I don’t remember the actual number.)

A basic understanding of math would logically determine that by strapping the two horses together, they could pull 1,000 lbs. In reality, two horses working together can pull three times the amount they could on their own–not double.

This same principle is the reason business owners need to consider using affiliates. You see… you can’t be the “perfect” entrepreneur. You can try. And, maybe get close. But, at some point in time everybody needs additional skills, markets, and time they don’t possess.

So, what exactly does having affiliates add to your business? Here are just a few benefits:

• More Referrals
• A Larger Market (yours + your affiliate’s)
• An Outside Promoter of Your Products/Services
• Increased Networking Abilities
• Ultimately More Sales!

Consider the value of having another “brand advocate” reaching out to your customers. Now, you don’t have to grow your company on your own. By creating an affiliate program, you can achieve much more than you will EVER be able to achieve alone!

When you develop lasting partnerships, your business is going to grow automatically, just from the leverage you gave it.

Strap yourself to affiliates, and see where the synergy can take you!

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To learn more about how LeapZone Strategies can help you increase team efficiency, brand culture and profitability through business and branding strategies, strategic planning, performance coaching and brand development, fill out our free Needs Assessment Questionnaire today.

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Any of us in business know that this makes sense. It costs the restaurant money to provide water in a disposable cup to its customers. The next day my friend returned and was serviced by the same woman. She ordered the same breakfast, requested hot water, then proceeded to hand over an empty travel mug.

Despite the fact that there was no disposable cup and lid being used, the woman still charged her for the hot water. It’s difficult to know what this restaurant’s policy is. If they have one, it is inconsistent. If it happened to my friend, how many other people are experiencing the same scenario?

If you create a new policy in your company that impacts your customers, be sure to communicate this policy clearly to all employees. Customers like and expect consistency. They are also willing to pay a little extra to get it.

To learn more about how LeapZone Strategies and sidekick Lift Strategies can help you create more consistency, awareness and profitability through business, branding and marketing strategies, fill out our free Needs Assessment Questionnaire today.

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We all know that selling features is a thing of the past. Today, in order to sell any products or services, we need to sell benefits, based on emotions, rather than features.  I just came across an article by Clate Mask, CEO of Infusionsoft this week and I wanted to share it with you because it’s not only very relevant, but it’s totally accurate.

As we sell the emotional benefits of our product or service, it is that much more important to know a thing or two about our prospects to better understand their needs and desires.  So here is Clate’s list of 7 things you absolutely MUST know about your prospects.

1. Age: Everything you say and write, including slang, allusions, word difficulty, and topics should be adjusted to meet age appropriateness.

2. Gender:  Despite the dual roles men and women tend to fill, most individuals can be segmented (and sold to) based on gender-specific interests or needs.

3. Location: Values and culture tend to vary based on demographics. Having a clear understanding of regional difference will improve your targeted messages.

4. Education Level: Similar to age appropriateness, education levels should determine how you address your prospects and what benefits they will find in your product or service.

5. Income: The needs and wants from one social class to another should be a guide to the types of products and services you should be selling them.

6. Marital Status: The values, needs, and desires of married persons greatly differ from those that are single. Marketing family messages to single persons (and vice versa) can lose the deal for you.

And last but certainly not least…

7. What Keeps Them Up At Night: This is the most important one. You’ve got to know your prospect’s fears, worries, concerns, excitements, hopes and dreams. When you know the conversation inside your prospect’s head, you can enter it, speak to it, and build a relationship that leads to a loyal customer.

Thanks Clate for a great reminder!

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Tip #6: Learn what 2 words can kill your brand in a heartbeat and what you can do today to avoid elimination while multiplying your best brand advocates, (yes, your clients).

Tip #6: Kill Your Brand With 2 Words from leapzone on Vimeo.

To learn more about how LeapZone Strategies can help you increase brand equity and profitability through business and branding strategies, strategic planning, performance coaching and brand development, fill out our free Needs Assessment today.

Follow LeapZone on Twitter.

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This quickie video is for you.

To learn more about how LeapZone Strategies can help you increase brand equity and profitability through business and branding strategies, strategic planning, performance coaching and brand development, fill out our free Needs Assessment today.

Follow LeapZone on Twitter.

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Complete with exclusive discounts for each and every one of the selected venues, this little deck is a nifty gift idea for a local friend, or visiting family from out of town. Better yet, what are you waiting for? Shuffle, pick a card, and go!

Follow @travellersdeck on Twitter!

No related posts.

I like to spend it outdoors, or curled up on the couch…some days I just go with my flowing thoughts, others I write things down. Me Time can be and look like whatever you need that day. That’s how I treat it, and that is why I find it so beneficial. It allows me to tune-in with myself so that I can bring the best of me forward. Everyday.

However you decide to spend your “me time” is up to you. The important thing is to do it. Even if for 15 minutes a day. Just have that time to spend with yourself. You’ll quickly find out you’re worth it!

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As we face a new year, a new decade in fact, could there be anything more true? This quote from T.S. Eliot brings it home for me on two levels:

1. It is so important to really take the time to appreciate our past accomplishments and be grateful for where we have been and what we have done. This allows us to more effortlessly let go of the past to move forward.

2. It is equally important not to fear endings because ultimately they make room for new beginnings, which most often are even better.

I entered 2010 with the intention of exploring what I REALLY have to offer, to myself, and therefore to this world. I believe that by truly serving your inner being first, you will then automatically offer the best of you to others. Now this may not be news to you, but let me tell you that for me, it isn’t as easy as it sounds. I have this innate mechanism that is set to serving others first, which is only a problem when you forget yourself in the mix. A dear friend of mine calls it my “Virgo thing”. And maybe that’s true.

Exploring this intention means I have to let go of a lot of my everyday tasks and responsibilities to make room for this exploration to flourish. Some I have been more than overjoyed to let go of, others….not so easy. Really not, but I am persevering. And what I have to tell you, with not even the first month of 2010 over with, is that I am already beginning to feel the greatness that lies ahead. And the biggest lesson so far is once you open yourself up to the unknown, it instantly begins to become familiar.

Fully live. Appreciate the moment. Let go. Begin again. Experience the shift.

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Here is another amazing video that tells us all about Google Docs: in plain English.

The Common Craft Show.
The Common Craft Show is a series of short explanatory videos by Lee and Sachi LeFever. Their goal is to fight complexity with simple tools and plain language. They call their format “paperworks” and publish a new video about once a month and I have enjoyed every single one of them.

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Most of us start the New Year with a few goals for changes we want to make. Current research on the brain shows that we are more likely to accomplish our resolutions if:

• We select a limited number of goals.
• Goals are focused and specific.
• Goals are doable within a reasonable time frame.
• We identify an initial, definite action step.
• We develop support to accomplish the goals.

Many people use coaches to support them in creating sustained change. We are often asked the most important qualities in selecting a coach who will make a big difference in someone’s career.  Here are a few qualities we consider important, in addition to business and coaching experience:

Evidence of sustainable results: Has the coach clearly applied their own wisdom to their life’s work, which shows up in the success they have created? Does the coach have a track record of helping their clients make significant and sustainable changes?

Useful, practical guidance: Does the coach communicate complex changes that are easy-to follow and systematic? Do you come away from each meeting with insights and learnings that you can apply to your current situation?

Direct and tenacious: Does the coach take the risk to confront and challenge your thinking, even if it’s momentarily uncomfortable? Is there a process that is used to follow-up and help you stay on track with your commitments and agreements to change?

Collaborative partnership: Does the coach actively build a partnership with you which is focused on the goals you want to achieve? Does the coach fully assist you in making these goals actionable?

Commitment: Does the coach help you see mental models that can become barriers to your commitment? Do you finish a session with a deepening sense of commitment with more clarity about your next step?

We continue to be energized and inspired by the changes that people create through their commitments.

Cheers to a profitable 2010!
Kate & Eddie
www.WorthEthic.com

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