The biggest competitive advantage in the world.
“There are two types of people in the world; people who talk about doing things and people who do things. My advice is to stick to the latter as there is less competition”

If what you’re selling is similar to other products and services on the market or your product is something people are cutting down on then you need to do things. An idea or two might be all it takes, but if you take some time out to look, there are frequent opportunities for your company and if your budget is low, you just need a little innovation.

The only way to stand out from your competition is to become extraordinary as a business some brand related opportunities lie in

Refreshing your brand: make your business look extraordinary through really innovating your business- what your business is all about, the products and services you provide and the way people do business with you and reflect this through your branding.
Brand story-telling: Engage customers through telling stories that empathise with your customers.
Research competitors: See what gains you can have over your competitors, remember you only have to do small things to gain a competitive advantage.
Launch a new product or service: This may be the perfect time to refresh your business through launching a new product or service. For a positive response, make sure it is branded and presented well.

The NZ media have helped spread a cloud of gloom over the country, as businesses it’s important to not buy into this mindset. Stay positive and innovate to become extraordinary if you do things now your business will rise above the competition for a very long time.

If times are tough, do this...

• Innovate to get sales, what are some ways you can be innovative to get those sales coming in?
• Research the law of attraction
• Look after and nuture those customer relationships that could create repeat custom and word of mouth advertising
• Work on improving your sales team's tone and body language in their sales process
• See cold calling as starting new relationships so it becomes not so daunting
• Set goals for potential customers, target less customers with more effort and plan each step
• Use time management efficiently to get sales, be disciplined, turn the phone off and be deliberate to avoid distractions
• When targeting potential customers do what you like to receive, if you prefer to receive a phone call than an email, then make a phone call rather than send an email
• Use MacDonalds as an example and think about ways you can upsell (upsize for a 50c) or cross sell (would you like fries with that)
• Give referrals to get referrals
• Become a solutions provider
• Invest in yourself and your team, invest in relationships (see below)
• After networking events, email people you met there the next day to continue to form relationships
• Design a client management plan to get loyalty and to get referrals (put real effort in, it's as simple as that)
• Invest in relationships. Work out your A, B and C customers and spend a relative percentage of the sales you receive from each group on nurturing those relationships
• Research and use the 80/20 rule. eg: 80% of your sales will come from 20% of your customers
• So write down your top 10 customers and write down what you are going to do for them
• And make contact with them within every 13 weeks
  visit Brandits Ideas Centre www.brandits.co.nz

Freshen up to get customers

I am so surprised when I drive around cities and see business signage that is peeling off or faded or broken and looks to be like it has been that way for a while. It doesn't cost much to fix signage and even freshen it up somewhat and what a difference it makes to business.

If your signage and other business branding is broken or old, tired and faded it makes your business look, well... broken, old, tired and faded, it's as simple as that.

And yet for a little investment in quality branding your business looks fresh and new and exciting and customers will want to deal with you more and new customers will come to you over your competition, it's a guarantee!

Visit Brandits Ideas Centre www.brandits.co.nz