BREATHE AND STOP
So You Say Things Didn't Go the Way You Thought They Would? Maybe it's Time to Take a Break and Reevaluate Your Business.
By Aaron L. Artis
Feel like pulling your hair out yet? I know. You were going to be one of the exceptions. You were going to be one of the five percent who actually succeeded. You weren't like those who thought this mail order thing was going to be easy. You were going to hang in there and treat this like an actual business.
Then it hits you. Your expenses are really piling up and hardly anyone is ordering from you. You're so much in the red ink that you think it's profit!
Yes, things in the mail order biz get rocky at times. That's to be expected with any business, but don't get discouraged. Take time out for a second and just breathe and stop. Take a deep breath and think. Collect your thoughts and reconstruct your marketing plan. Ask yourself a few questions. Am I mailing enough of my offers to NEW prospects? Am I advertising enough? What new publications could I experiment with? What new advertising mediums could I try? Am I continually adding hot new products to my line?
Usually when people start their own mail order business or when business is slow, it's because owners won't play on what they have. If you're confident in your product and have gotten a pretty good response from it, expand your marketing. Advertise more often and mail more often.
Many dealers advertise in a select few publications a couple of times. Then they receive a few orders and decide to do the same thing. Advertise a couple more times and get a few more orders. When they're not raking in the dough, so to speak, they give up and complain. If you've got a pretty good response from a product ("pretty good" meaning a 1% to 3% response), then play on it. If your customers are happy with their purchase, you can sell them again. That's the importance of adding more great products to your line and letting your existing, satisfied customers know.
If you're experiencing a slow period, mail more. Advertise more. Rethink your marketing and try different ways to market your products and services. If you came into this business with pocket-filled dreams without effort, then you've already failed. Let customers know what you've got to offer. Just don't overwhelm them with 100 different products. The only way this works is if they asked for a catalog of your company's products and services. Otherwise, give them your main product with one or two related products. This can produce great profits for you, but please remember to not overdo it. You're trying to make a sale, not confuse your customer.
Remember, when business is slow and your profits are low, breathe and stop. Reconstruct your marketing strategy and execute it. Mail to your existing customers often, about once a month, and consistently. Advertise more, mail more and get the word out more to try to gain new customers.
The old saying rings true-- "If you don't tell, you can't sell."
Aaron Artis is the owner of PNC Enterprises. His company offers a wide line of products and services. He also publishes the well-respected advertiser/newsletter, OFFERS UNLIMITED. For an info pack containing information about his Home Business Package and FREE bonuses, including a sample copy of OFFERS UNLIMITED, Rush $3 to:
PNC Enterprises 1404 Sauls Street Wilson, NC 27893
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