Happy Monday! I hope you all had a great weekend, even if it was a bit cold and windy here in the South! My sister-in-law and I sat out in the cold wind on Saturday morning, hosting our very first yard sale. It was so successful that I returned home with a whopping $6.75! Maybe the cold kept everyone away, or maybe we just weren’t offering the public what they needed.

Are you struggling with selling your goods or services? Perhaps you’re having the same trouble I had at my yard sale – you don’t have what your clients want or need. Maybe you’re not focusing on the right target group. Take a few minutes to jot down a few characteristics of your target group. Are they young? Old? Professionals? Corporations? Now create another list that identifies what you expect your goods or services can do for this market. If you’re stumped, then you might want to try a different market group. Don’t give up – just try something new!

If you’re convinced that you are targeting the right group, then you may want to reconsider your marketing strategy. Do they even know you exist? Seek out a few possible clients and deliver a packet of information to them about your company. Consider adding some sort of gimmick in your package, such as a calendar with your company logo, a pen with your contact information, or even a key chain with your company’s name on it. Do whatever you can to make them remember you. After a couple of months, drop them a reminder note in the mail to let them know that you are still in business.

It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, and you are going to have to try new and different techniques to grab your client’s attention. Keep working hard, and soon you will see success.

To your success,

Katie

Happy Easter, Everyone (a little late, I know)! I hope you all enjoyed the holiday and that you’re not too tired from your kids overdosing on chocolate!

My husband and I just returned from Disney World, the most magical place on earth! Some of the magic was lost on me, however, as I tried to push my way through a crowd of 40,000 people. Magic Kingdom actually reached its maximum capacity one day! If you have a choice, don’t go to Disney World during Easter week, the second busiest week of the year. Of course, since I was going with my in-laws, I had no choice about which week I visited Mickey Mouse.

As I stood in the long lines waiting for my turn on the rides, I noticed the different marketing techniques of Disney World. As soon as you enter the park, you are approached by vendors carrying large Mickey Mouse balloons. Every ride ends in a souvenir shop, next to a food vendor or restaurant. Of course, you have to stop to buy some little trinket to prove you have been to Disney World. In the evening, before the daily parade begins, Disney cast members dance down the street, adorned in various light-up gadgets to wave around in the parade. We even observed a line of little girls waiting at a boutique to be dressed as Disney princesses.

While I had to watch my pennies, I was still awed by the many different ways Disney has found to make money. I stopped to read about the life of Walt Disney, the founder, who started this massive, world-famous empire with just a mouse named Mickey. I was even amazed to discover that he had created Disney Land in order to have a fun place to take his children. He sunk every penny he had into the company, almost reaching bankruptcy during the Depression.

If you are feeling discouraged about your business, take a look into the life of Mr. Disney. You, too, can experience the kind of success he did with a little heart and ingenuity.

To your success,

Katie