During the summer, some business owners experience a drop in sales. People go on vacation, social networking numbers drop, and the usual ways of business don’t seem to bring the same results. But it doesn’t have to be this way! People are still spending money in the summer. You just need to be a bit creative to encourage those people to keep spending with your business. Here are some tips to keep your business thriving throughout the summer months:

1. Host a Summer Bash – People like to kick back and relax when the summer gets warm. So offer a party! Host a summer bash that offers food, fun and music. It’s a great way to attract families, and encourages them to bring their friends which can potentially open you up to new business. Post the flyer around town, as well as on local event websites, and sell tickets for the food (or team up with local restaurants to offer it.) It’s a great way to generate buzz and visibility for your business.
2. Get a Booth at a Local Farmer’s Market – Farmer’s markets today offer much more than just produce, and many consumers look forward to shopping there weekly. Get a regular table at your local farmer’s market. You can offer products for sale while also generating new interest in your business. And take time to talk to the other vendors there. Often a community develops among the regulars, and they may begin to refer other business to you, as well as telling you about other markets where you may do well.
3. Offer Summer Workshops – During the summer, people often look for workshops, camps and other events for both themselves and their children. Local communities offer weekly learning events. So think about what you can teach related to what you have to offer, and offer workshops that will teach new skills while also exposing more people to your business. The business you cultivate in summer can bring you income all year!
4. Christmas in Summer – Chances are, the holidays are your most productive time of the year. So offer a “Christmas in Summer” event. Pull out those holiday decorations, and offer specials that help people begin their holiday shopping early (saving them stress!) Host a holiday-themed event and serve holiday cookies, play holiday music, and make the even light-hearted in fun. It can be a great way for people to beat the summer heat and shop at your business.
   
5. Take Your Business With You on Vacation – Are you going on vacation? Don’t leave your business behind! Take along promotional items that talk about your business, and be sure to network with people you meet along the way. When someone shares a need they have that your business can meet, be sure to share information about your business. If you sell through parties or appointments, try to schedule some in the city you’re visiting ahead of time. By planning ahead, you can develop some new business, and possibly even write off your trip as a business expense (check with your tax advisor on this!)

Summer doesn’t have to mean a drop in business. You simply need to look at your business differently, and create opportunities that work with what people want to do.

How do you keep your business thriving in summer? Would love to read your thoughts in the comments below!

Building a base of loyal customers is essential for any business. These are the people that not only purchase from you regularly, but they also tell their friends about you, spreading the word in both their social circles and online. It’s important to spend time on a regular basis building up and nurturing your loyal customer base, in order to keep your business thriving.

Here are some tips for increasing your business’ loyal customers.

1. Identify your true client. Most businesses cannot be everything to everyone. So focus on identifying who your business can best serve. What are their needs? What can you do for them? When you create an ideal customer profile, you’ll be prepared to develop a loyal client base of people who are fully served by what your business has to offer.
2. Get involved with things that are important to your customers. Once you’ve created that ideal customer profile, you will have a better idea of the causes that are most important to them. Then you can participate in those things that allow you to promote your business. For example, if you sell health supplements, your true client is most likely into healthy living. Why not sponsor a 5K race that donates money to health research? It’s a way to increase visibility of your business and meet people who may be interested in what you have to offer. At the same time, your current customers who are interested in both healthy living and the research the race supports will appreciate your involvement, helping to increase their loyalty. 
3. Constantly improve to keep up with your customers’ needs. Nothing in life stands still, and this should include your business. So make sure you are talking to your customers and researching what’s important to them. Are there breakthroughs or new products that will meet the needs your customers are telling you about? Have new discoveries led to new desires among the clients that you serve? For example, if you sell cookware, you may find that more and more of your customers are going gluten free. So find or develop some gluten free recipes and send them to the customers that you know have decided to eat this way. They’ll appreciate the resources, and the fact that you took the time to provide them, increasing their loyalty towards your business.

Yes, it takes effort to build loyal customers for your business. But the effort is well worth it when those customers continue to come back, and help you build your business even bigger by telling their friends.

What can you do today to build up your base of loyal customers? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

When presenting your product or service to a prospective customer, there is a lot to consider. It’s important, or course, to know the features and benefits of what you are selling, but it’s more than that. You also need to be able to build rapport, and then listen well, understanding the needs of the person you’re talking with.

Here are four things you can do to help you master your sales pitch, and close more sales:

• Do your research – Before you are ever in a position to present your product or service, make sure you’ve taken the time to learn about what people want, and why they would buy your product. Spend time finding out the needs of your target market, and the problems they have that your product or service solves. Understand what is important to your target market, and how they spend their time. By taking time to understand what your customers in general are seeking, you will have an advantage when working with a specific customer.
• Know your prospect or customer – When you present to a specific customer, the most important thing you can do is ask questions to understand that customer’s specific needs and communication preferences. Begin by building rapport…ask about family, what they’ve been working on, etc…and find commonalities that help the customer feel comfortable and connected with you. Be sure also you are communicating in the way that the customer prefers…do they prefer communicating electronically, via phone, in person…make sure you know! Ask questions about problems the customer might have that your product or service can solve, and what they are looking for. The more you can learn about the customer, the better able you’ll be to customize your presentation in a way that specifically addresses what the customer is looking for.
• Focus on value – After you have a good understanding of what the customer needs, it’s time to present products/services that meet those needs. Focus on what you’ve learned about their needs, and highlight how what you have to offer will bring value to the customer’s life. This could be financial or it could be lifestyle-related. For example, you can help the customer picture how much better life would be if they had your product. You don’t need to present every single feature of your product. Rather, focus on what the customer has told you they are looking for, and highlight how the customer will benefit when they choose your product.
• Make a conscious effort to close deal – After you have presented the products or services that will best meet a customer’s needs, it’s time to close the deal. It’s not enough to present a list of benefits. You must ask for the sale. You can opt for the direct approach: “So, how many would you like?” or you can use an assumptive close: “Would you like me to gift wrap that for you?” But be sure you make a conscious effort to close the deal, because you can’t expect your customer to do so.

When you regularly apply these four steps, you will find that you are more likely to close sales because you are focused on the needs of your customers and prospects, rather than on a list of features and benefits. Sales is a people business, and the more focused you are on meeting the needs of people, the more successful you will be!

What advice would you give to someone looking to master their sales pitch? Would love to read your thoughts in the comments below!

Increasing your sales doesn’t always have to mean spending money. Sometimes all you have to do is take a look at what is already working for you, and find ways to build on those successful elements. Here are some ways to increase your sales without spending.

1. Identify top customers and offer them more. You likely have a handful or more of customers who are loyal and spend more on a regular basis than others. Identify who these people are, and offer them more than they already get. For example, start a VIP program where top customers receive special promotions, incentives, or exclusive access to new products and services. When your top customers know how much they are appreciated, they will not only embrace that “VIP” role by patronizing your business more often, but they will want to share their positive experience with their families and friends. Remember that superior customer service can have far-reaching effects on your overall business.

2. Customize your sales pitch for each client.  Each client is an individual and should be treated as such. Don’t go with a generic sales pitch that every single client hears. Do some research about each person, and incorporate something personal about him or her into your pitch. When pitching your massage services to a prospective client who is a stay-at-home mom looking for an hour a week of relaxation sans children, mention that you also stayed home with your children for a few years and appreciate the hard work it entails. When pitching the same services to a young marathon runner, talk about your expertise in sports medicine and the benefits of massage on athletes. When you can relate to clients on a personal level, they will be assured that you have their best interests in mind.

3. Increase goals for referrals and sales will increase.  Bump up your goals for getting referrals. It doesn’t have to be a large jump, but setting the bar higher will motivate you to work harder and acquire more. Instead of shooting for 5 a week, increase your goal to 7 or 8. Make the time in your schedule to meet this new goal, and you’ll find your sales increasing steadily over time. Each time you find that you are meeting the goal on a consistent basis, consider raising it again. Your business should never run in a straight line, but should always be heading in an upward direction to maintain growth and success.

4. Interact personally with customers more frequently.  This may come easier in a retail business, but no matter what type of business you run, make the effort to interact with customers on a personal level as often as possible. Learn their names and one or two facts about them. People love going into a place where they feel like more than just a number. One customer of a local deli states that the moment she realized she would never take her business elsewhere was when the owner greeted her by name, asked how her daughters were, and offered her “the usual.” It’s a comforting feeling for a customer and will go a long way in acquiring loyalty and appreciation.

Find ways to improve upon what works for you, break out of your comfort zone, and always look to set the bar higher for yourself and your business.

How do you increase your sales? Please share your ideas below!