Advice needed on Increasing Sales

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Deleted member 65054

  • #1
    Good morning,

    I run a small company which has been running for a year. Having just finished a successful first year, I an conscious that most of our money has been made from a few customers - I would like to prioritise expanding our customer base. As I'm not a natural cold call salesman, I'd like to enlist the help of a sales / marketing company to assist.

    For most of my first year I have been the sole employee, however I have taken on an assistant in the last 3 months. <<Advertising removed by mod>> I am also working on a new product, however it is in the early stages and not likely to be ready for 6 months.

    Ideally I would like to use a company in the Bristol / North Somerset / Weston area, as I am intending this to be a long term relationship and would like to be able to sit down face to face.

    Could anybody let me know the likely cost to me? <<Recommendation request removed by mod>>

    Many thanks,

    Phil
     
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    webgeek

    webgeek

    Free Member
    May 19, 2009
    4,091
    1,464
    Glasgow, Scotland, UK
  • #2
    Unfortunately, small businesses and websites are not 'field of dreams' (build it and they will come).

    A business or website without concerted SEO and online marketing is akin to buying business cards and then filing them in the wastebin. If you don't "get found", you're doomed.

    Plan on spending 250 to 500 GBP for a solid organic + social marketing campaign each month. Add a bit extra for some pay per click. Dunno anyone in your area, but can tell you not to shop on High Street if you're going to try and achieve this level of spend with a decent ROI.
     
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    The_Social_Media_Company

    The_Social_Media_Company

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    Apr 11, 2012
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  • #3
    Precession's business wouldn't be affected by the quality of website he currently has, although I think the content can be extended. The current content is good but it just needs more.

    The main area of improvement I think would be in marketing directly to the right people, in this case maybe property owners or managers who have the authority to improve security and add barriers etc on their premises. I'd also introduce the business to local private schools and institutions who may need CCTV and barriers for security. But I'd approach them not with a mind set of making a quick sale but of building a long term relationship.

    A focus on creating credibility for the business, a network consisting of the people who have the power to say yes is more important to this business than a website. The network is important because it is a long term marketing tactic in it self, meaning that Precession could start sending out quality content and marketing material directly to the inbox of these people, in effect improving his status to "the go to man" for when ever his products or services are needed.

    But like I said, a nice website is what it is, a nice website and it always helps and there are some awesome SEO specialists right here on UKBF

    Precession I sent you a PM
     
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    abhi1313

  • #4
    Well in my opinion you should promote your business through Internet. As we know that Internet is taking the world to a new level. We can find anything we want on net, so promoting your business on net is not a bad idea. There are many methods of promoting your business on net like social media marketing.
     
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    JhonnyMew

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    Apr 13, 2012
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  • #6
    To increase sales in free make your facebook account, create a page and use images to make it attractive.

    Then publish your items there with prices and contact the people who you think would be interest. Build your network and it will help.

    Regards,
    Jhonny
     
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    internetspaceships

    internetspaceships

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    Sep 7, 2009
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  • #9
    CharismaticMannequin said:
    Precession,

    My first advice would be to improve your website.

    Your descriptions of your services are quite basic. Also, not too sure but is your website SEO optimised? What keywords are you ranked for?

    I
    Click to expand...

    Oh piffle and hogwash.

    Why do people immediately bleat on about a website as if it's the ONLY WAY you're going to improve a business. Behave, and stop plugging yourself too.

    OP get on the phone and or get someobody doing it for you. Also join a few business networking groups and get out and about meeting people.

    Get people referring work to you.

    Forget all this hogwash from the people suggesting it's all about twitter and facebook and SEO. It's not.

    It's about you and people.
     
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    vincegolder

  • #10
    Hi Phil, In addition to the great ideas and advice you have received so far, I would add 2 powerful strategies that will provide great sales results that cost you little or no budget, except a little time investment.

    Before you pay a huge amount of your hard earned money on a professional sales team with all the hassles that involves, consider the sales team you already have and that is your present customers.

    If you look after your customers well and operate what I call a referral programme, they will provide you with all the referred contacts you can handle, which you know is the best kind of business you can have. Not only do you get new customers, but you also get a new source of referrals (called the "snowball effect") which can continue indefinitely.

    You should consider working and communicating closer with your present customers and develop best relationship, provide the best customer service and care and actually ask for referrals in a professional and subtle manner. If you do this properly and well it will become an "automatic" form of lead generation that with provide you with quality prospects you can close at the best price.

    <<Self-promotion removed by mod>>

    The second lead generation strategy is forming strong alliances or a structured joint venture with non-competitive and comparative companies who sell to the same market as you do. These alliance partners have to be very referral minded and good team players (as you must be) and if you get a few such partners as these you will get all the B2B business referrals you can handle.

    <<Self-promotion removed by mod>>

    To your continued success.

    Regards,

    Vince
     
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    Startersphere

    Free Member
    Apr 22, 2012
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    Lincoln, UK
  • #11
    as for offline you want to approach councils, it does involve jumping through hoops with their tendering system but it would be worth it.

    As for social media Linkedin is a phenomenon trust me. I have just done a survey and analysis across the social media platforms and measured the analytics of which social media platforms were the main referrers. Since then I have been measuring other marketing campaigns in the same way and Linkedin's groups are by far the best way to get a response.

    The thing is with social media you have to give it some time to get the best result as the best way to utilise it is to not focus on you, your business and what you want and try and think what your target market want to hear.

    e.g. Free advice on a common problem, something quirky or clever.
    Look at what your competitors are saying and doing.

    Set up a Facebook page and a blog.

    <<Self-promotion removed by mod>>
     
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