The holiday season is often a time when we forget about growing our business while we celebrate. Decide to be different! Decide this is a great time for you to grow your business, attend more Chamber events and enjoy a profitable 2009.
Decide to make 2009 your best year yet. Choose the actions this holiday season that will make a huge impact on the success of 2009.
Host a holiday event – create an invitation list of both existing clients you would like to meet with and a list of people you would like to meet. Host a small breakfast holiday celebration in your office to showcase your products and services.
Attend a holiday networking event and take a potential client – when you receive a holiday invitation from the Chamber (or other event) that sounds like fun invite a potential client to attend with you. Pay for their ticket, host them and introduce them to others. They will enjoy the experience and allow you opportunity to share your business also.
Create a staff incentive for any new business – encourage staff to stay focused on growing the business by providing special incentives i.e. gift cards, food for the holidays, movie tickets. Consider a service from a chamber member, how about cleaning services from Harmony Clean www.harmonyclean.com
Conduct Sales training for your team – ensure every team member is at the top of their ‘sales game’ by providing a training workshop to refresh their knowledge and re-inspire them during this busy time.
Ramp up your PR efforts – talk to your PR firm to determine if you have a ‘holiday’ angle for your business. I use Furia Rubel from the chamber, and they have kept me in the news during this busy holiday season. www.furiarubel.com
Make 10 calls per day – set yourself a target of reaching out to 10 potential clients every day, don’t leave the office until you have completed your calls.
Ask for testimonials – reach out to existing customers who have been really happy with your service and ask for a testimonial on letterhead. Use these letters to support all business development activities and send as follow up from all new client appointments.
Organize lunches with strategic alliances – other Chamber members are great strategic alliances for your business. Make an appointment to share a meal and explore opportunities to cross promote other’s services. Determine if you are able to refer existing clients to each other. Check out other Chamber member’s locations for a meal www.peddlersvillage.com/lodging/golden%20plough.htm or Honey restaurant, http://www.honeyrestaurant.com/
Update your communications – update your voicemail and email signatures to wish people a ‘happy holidays’ and point them to your website so every form of contact from existing and new clients directs them to your marketing efforts.
Book a ‘tele-coffee’ with potential clients. What is a ‘tele-coffee’? It is where you both make a coffee and meet by teleconference. It is a more productive way of meeting (and avoids time wasted in travel), especially if you are trying to avoid the snow. Just like a normal meeting you set an agenda, take minutes if required and agree on the outcomes.
Follow up all leads with creative ‘happy holiday’ messages – find a creative way to be memorable with your potential clients. I write a hand written note (on the coolest stationery designed for me by Ampersand Design www.ampersanddesign.net). Check out the fun illustrated holiday cards by Pat Archilles at www.achillesportfolio.com or gift baskets from Terri Diamond www.presentasia.com
Applying these simple strategies will ensure you are able to keep focus a productive focus increasing your customers during this holiday season – enjoy the celebrations!
Neen James, MBA, is an International Productivity Expert: by looking at how they spend their time and energy – and where they focus their attention – Neen helps people rocket-charge their productivity and performance. A dynamic speaker, author and corporate trainer, Neen demonstrates how boosting your productivity can help you achieve amazing things. With her unique voice, sense of fun and common-sense, Neen delivers a powerful lesson in productivity. Subscribe to Neen’s free monthly Ezine at http://neenjames.com
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