Other elements of positioning include the product itself, the communication surrounding its promotion, and the way it s delivered to the market. Additionally, falling prices usually mean falling profits, making it more difficult for a business to meet existing debt obligations. If you keep a retail store, you must pay the man who makes the goods, the man who transports the goods, and the man who keeps the goods in large stock, and all this leaves you only a small margin of profit. Unsecured bonds, or debentures, are not backed by collateral.
What type of customers can we serve best?
Split
the ownership with
them based on who provides what percentage of the total equity investment. When
deflation occurs within
a given industry or market segment due to a productivity increase, it is usually not problematic as profits are not adversely affected. Ordinarily
this would be
a given and not necessarily a matter of grave concern. The
heuristics used by
business involve risks of limited accuracy but may be effective within an evolutionary perspective by allowing a manager to handle contingences.
Get out there and patent it, market it, and sell it
When
we did this,
I found a few charges that didn't even end up on our jobs, like patio cover lumber, house re-paints, extra carpeting, fireplaces, a Jacuzzi, and a trip to Hawaii! So
to make lots
of money, making money has to be your top priority! If
your product is
faster, bigger, or smaller, or comes in more colors, sizes, and configurations than others on the market, you have a powerful selling strength. It
is related of
a Yankee book-peddler that he sold three copies of the same book to a family in one day--to the husband in the store, to the wife who was calling at a neighbor's, and to the daughter at home.
Step out of the history that is holding you back
In
order to market
your company's value effectively, you have to start with a target list of customers who are the most likely to need what you have to sell. Will
you command a
rapidly growing empire? This
can be measured
in terms of interest rates and shares of ownership, as well as in time, paperwork, and plain old hassle. Owners
of buildings must
have their elevators inspected regularly and, in some cities, post the safety inspection record in public.
What can the music industry teach you about sales
To
get the results
you want, you must get everyone on the same page. Documented
written systems allow
you to reduce problems and deliver to your customer every time. Lower
price, higher quality,
and better name recognition are examples of competitive advantages. In
the Bon March??
in Paris, the employers determined that something must be done more than was done in other stores so that every visitor would remember the place with pleasure and come again.
Production : the lifeblood of your business
Use
regular check-in times,
follow up, and stay in touch. However,
in the case
of a business, enjoying yourself isn t enough. Advertising
has its place
for major suppliers of tractors, large national product providers like Ford Motor Company, national service companies like H&R Block, and other types of businesses. So
if you feel
you have a compelling vision, there s no reason not to share it in your plan.