A Question Of Service

Posted by Chris on April 27, 2009 under Marketing Monday, Service | Be the First to Comment

People go into business for many reasons – make more money, be their own boss, have more control over their time and lives, etc.  Ultimately, though, one’s financial success is frequently determined by how much they can be of service.

Regardless of what you sell, you are offering your customers, and you market, a service.  It’s a problem solving service – you are saving them time, you are offering an innovative solution, you have incredible resources at your service that you can rapidly bring to bear on their problem.  To get the edge required in today’s market, however, you need to do more and go farther than your competition is willing to.

Action Step:

Ask yourself these questions and see how you can improve.  Then, take 4 of the answers and implement them over the next 4 weeks, one new one each week:

1. Can you provide Audio / Video / Written instructions for your product or service, and thus make it easier for your customers to use?
2. Can you deliver your product or service in less time, thereby delivering the value more quickly?
3. Can you cut any of your operating costs and still provide the same level of service?
4. Are there any accessories, or any other complimentary products or services, that you could offer?  Could you start an affiliate program or partnership(s), and offer these to your market?
5. Could something as simple as a name or branding change, influence how your customers perceive the value of your product or service (and maybe enable you to increase your prices)?
6. Can you offer your customers something for free, that your competition charges for?
7. Can you follow up with and engage your customers better and faster than your competition?  How can you leverage Twitter and Facebook in your business?