Start with the small stuff

Know yourself, and set a goal that really pushes you to your limit.
Start doing the “silly little things” early, way before you need them.
Let people see what you’re doing, but don’t let them distract you from your goal.
Surround yourself with people who inspire you.
Make your business what’s fun for you.
Do the hard work.

Making Your Business Card Collection Work for You

So it's time to boost business and you offer a service that can help others. You have a stack of business cards you've collected from others but haven't done anything with. You need to increase your income. Let's put our brains to work with a little elbow grease and make something happen for us and our customers.

First, get the data from your collection of cards into your contact management program, whether it's an Excel file, Sales Genie or something else. Just do it. Short on time, input the contacts while watching a movie. Or make a brainstorming game out of it and jot down everything that you could offer that contact if only you got in touch with them. You'll be amazed at what you come up with.

Keep the end result in mind, a contact either needs something from you, they can offer you something, or they know someone who needs what you offer.

Then, create your sales plan. Can you offer them something special like a discount? Do you have a new website that you would like their feedback on or referrals to? Can they give you referrals? Ask for what you want in an inviting way.

I read a great quote the other day from a 1956 New York Herald Tribune column that said "Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you're doing, but nobody else does."

So turn the light on and let people know what you are doing. Don't just turn it on, make it flattering so people want more of it. As much as it seems that misery loves company, people are even more excited when they have a role to play in helping someone win.

TGIF

Happy Friday! My second favorite day of the week, next to Saturday. Don't get me wrong, I love my work (aka play) but it's nice to get away and refresh.

As a business owner, it's hard to separate work from play, and sometimes, it's hard to walk away from work at all. That is why it is so important to set boundaries between work and personal time, at least a little. Your work will still creep up in conversation but make sure to take time away. Whether it's reading a fiction, hanging out with friends or enjoying the beautiful spring time weather.

Make it a great weekend. Enjoy!

Tax Day makes a great time for a Year In Review

If you have waited this long to file your taxes, then you should stop reading this and go do your taxes. LOL. If you are reading this, either you already filed or the tax deadline has long passed.

How did you do last year?

Were you profitable or are you just getting by?

Is your business being treated as a hobby or as a money making machine?

Are your books organized?

Do you outsource your accounting or do it yourself?

What are your key weaknesses in your bottom line?

What keeps you up at night?

I want you to be profitable, so send me an email with answers to any of the above questions, and I will help you....

Succeed!
Angela DiCarlo

Focus on the Bottom Line by Closing More Sales

Anyone who has been consulted by me knows that I always focus on the Bottom Line. If you're too busy "setting up procedures" when you could be getting new clients or selling to existing clients, then you are most likely losing money instead of making the money that could be getting you closer to your goals.

Yes, it's important to have procedures. But, if you can't pay your staff or yourself when payroll day comes around, then you are not in business...you are going under. Grab a bucket and let's bail you out before your ship sinks.

Rule #1: Focus on the Bottom Line. If you have leads, follow up with them. The reason a company is financially successful is because they have money coming in. You have clients who want to give you money, they just may not know it yet. Open up your file of leads and follow up. Call, email or visit them. Offer rewards to your team for closing sales.

One client recently offered a $15 incentive for each "Upgrade" sale to its Customer Service Reps (CSR) and the upsells went through the roof. Instead of processing the basic package at $29.99 a month, the CSRs were offering an upgrade to clients for the $49.99/month plan. At a $15 Bonus Cost, the company recovered the extra fee in the first month fee and makes an extra $240 per customer per year. At 20 upgraded customers a day over a 5-day period, that's $24,000 per year of increased income at a cost of only $1,500.

If they keep the promotion going, the company will give employee incentives of $75,000 for upgraded sales, while creating an extra $1.2 Million per year of extra income from customers who were buying the service anyway!

The CSRs were thrilled with the extra income and wanted to keep doing the promotion. That's the best of both worlds - more income and better employee morale. It's much easier and cheaper to keep good employees than to find and train new ones.

Tell me what you did to boost your sales. Or contact me and let me help you find ways to grow. Best of success!