I guess the most important question for businesses is how to get massive sales right away - not only massive but quick sales as well.
This is easily said than done. To achieve this, there are three important things that a business person or an entrepreneur should posses: dedication, persistence and most especially hard work. It is jus unfortunate that not all who have businesses however, have the right ingredients. They usually give up when the going gets tough.
I know somebody who has ventured into the restaurant business three times. She has failed twice yet she keeps on going. I asked her what motivates her to keep on going. She answered by saying that only the tough gets going. I admire her for her perseverance but when I asked her what kind of marketing plan she employs, she said, “well, I rely on my network and use word of mouth advertising and if I have money to spare I put in a few ads here and there.”
She had all the ingredients, she was dedicated, persevering, and hard working but she did not have the right business acumen. Don’t get me wrong; but all businesses must have a marketing plan. Word-of-mouth strategies work but I doubt it if it can sustain the business. Secondly, her social network will not be able to sustain the business if there is no conscious effort to expand it.
After talking to her, I was able to convince her that she should develop a marketing plan. So I suggested to her that she place regular ads in the local newspaper. It turned out that she had tried it before through a one full page ad and she hardly got any business out of it. Since then, she became more averse to advertising.
I explained to him that persistence is the key. So I suggested to her a strategy of putting small ads in the newspaper for the rest of year rather than spending for a one time full page ad. After six months, I know she started noticing new customers in her restaurant.
Soon after, I introduced her to a few more strategies. I got her to use postcard marketing. This was totally new to her so she was a bit apprehensive at first, but after a few weeks, she noticed new families that she has never seen before in her establishment. Later, she thought about including cut-off coupons in her postcards to gauge whether this was in fact bringing more business. Lo and behold, she got more than a hundred coupons on the very first day of her dinner special.
Now, her marketing plans include several other gimmicks. The key, as she recommends to restaurateur friends, is perseverance.
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