7 Business Techniques That Never Gets Old

Posted on Oct 17 2013 - 9:43am by Adam Prattler

Business

There are classic business techniques that are like your jeans – they never run out of style. They blend in high fashion stilettos, casual pumps, running shoes, slippers, boots and almost everything.

There are also methods that will remain integral, regardless of the size and nature of the organization.

Capitalize on repeat business

People naturally do business with people they like and trust. Repeat business would not only mean continuous revenue flow for your company, they also imply the following:

  • strong brand that makes patrons stick around
  • potential of building a network through your loyalists
  • good worth of mouth
  • support in case of expansion

When the going gets tough, invest on your sales team’s training

Your sales team is the main driving force for your business’ income. The rest are fixed assets or operating costs (your IT, admin, HR etc.) . It is just but apt to equip your sales people with skills that can make them successful in their field, which will lead to better revenue for your company.

Times are changing. You need to frequently and fervently keep up with the trend. You can do this by up-trainings and regular learning sessions. Encourage collaboration that will allow your sales team to share best practices with each other. They need to know how to operate technologies, leverage on social media and grow their networks online.

It could be possible that your sales operations are putting the brakes on your sales engine.

Build relationships and keep it 

This is the networking part. A sound relationship with your clients, vendors and customers will be extremely useful in the long run. They may be able to direct you to other business opportunities.

The larger your network is, the more exposure you get.

Focus on your products benefits rather than its features 

Being in the game is not enough. Knowing to play it sets the difference. You have to remember that a person will just put a person to sleep discussing features, company’s history, mission and vision (among many others), but when you start answering the question “what’s in it for you?” – They suddenly come back to life. There is a noticeable increase in participation and engagement. Reality says people are born selfish.

Freebies will give your business a lot of buzz 

Freebies have formed their own magnetic field. People are lured to anything with the word free – free trial, free taste, free iPad, free one month subscription and the long list goes on.

When you get individuals to visit your website for a promo, it gives you a chance to throw your sales pitch and turn these freebie hunters to avid fans.

Honesty will always be the best policy

Consumers are now smarter nowadays. This is why they appreciate companies that are transparent enough to admit mistakes and own up to responsibilities.

In any business, every move you make speaks volumes about the quality of your brand. No one is expected to be perfect from start to finish. There would predicaments along the way that you have to deal with all honesty.

Hershey, Kraft Foods, General Mills, Johnson & Johnson, Kellogg Co., Clorox Co., Amazon.com, Home Depot, UPS and Apple Inc. were named as the top brands for honest and loyalty in 2011.

Do not underestimate the power of referrals

Build a strong framework for referral programs. Not the kind of incentives that multi-level marketing (MLM) firms are offering, but a standard amount or bonus for every successful referral. I bet that people will already tap their networks and calculate possible earnings in their head.

If you look closely, all seven techniques are customer-centric. This is because the most credible voice for your brand is your customers. Concentrate in giving them the podium to scream rave reviews.

Photo Credit: Flickr/moo.com business cards

About the Author

Adam Prattler is downright “gung ho” with his advocacy towards teaching people about ethical guest blogging. Join him and his community at Postme and help make a difference in the online community.