With so many small business owners losing the fight for business survival because they try to compete with their larger competitors on price, it's time to consider offering some sort of unique benefit or extra value that the big guys just don't do instead.
by RockyTapscott
With so many small business owners losing the fight for business survival because they try to compete with their larger competitors on price, it's time to consider offering some sort of unique benefit or extra value that the big guys just don't do instead.
But instead of competing on price, here's an alternative you might want to consider.
It doesn't matter what sort of products or services you sell, look around your local area and find 5 other business people who offer complementary products or services to yours, then work with them to refer customers to each other. Find out the greatest challenges, fears and problems their customers have, and then help them to put together a series of Free Reports that highlight these problems, along with the solutions your partners could provide to help solve these problems for them.
For example, if you run an automechanical workshop, you could help to come up with Reports on -
1) What to do in the event of a flat tire - a step by step guide for safely removing and replacing a flat tire, along with tips on reducing tire wear and extending tire life. This Report could include a discount voucher for 10% off his customers' next set of tires. This could be valued at between $80 - $150, depending on the vehicle.
2) This Report could be about how to care for your car's interior and exterior so it holds it's value for as long as possible, and doesn't require major body or interior trim repairs due to lack of care and attention. You could include a voucher for a discounted exterior cut and polish from the local spray painter, along with a vacuum and upholstery shampoo to give your customer's car that 'new' smell and appearance. This could increase the cars value by hundreds of dollars at trade in time, and could be valued at $100 or more.
3) How to drive more defensively to reduce the risk of you or your family being involved and hurt in an motor vehicle accident. This report could include a discount voucher from a local defensive driving school, or a free driving lesson for one of the customer's family members from the local driving school.
These are just a few ideas for low cost Reports that could have high intrinsic value, but I hope they get you thinking.
Once your Reports are ready, you just collect and upload them to your website where they provide great content that not only gives your customers extra value, but also attracts other local visitors free from the search engines looking for advice on car service related topics.
You could also give a printed and bound copy of these Reports to your customers, and encourage them to go to your website and sign up for your Free Newsletter. Mention other special deals available from your partners and other local merchants that are only available to Newsletter subscribers, and you'll find a large percentage of your customers may decide to subscribe to get these extras.
Then each week or month, you follow up with your readers offering them tips and advice, and reminding them that you are there to serve their needs whenever they are ready. How many of your local competitors are doing that? Not too many I'll bet.
I think this article should give you enough ideas to get you thinking of ways you can provide greater value to your local customers, and generating more sales and profits for your business, without it costing you too much money. This simple strategy will help you to stand out in your local area as somebody who goes the extra mile and will reduce the need for you to compete on price. You will be able to get new customers and keep your current customers coming back more often, and after all, that is what every business owners wants to achieve.
About the Author:
Rocky Tapscott is a Site Build It expert and coach. He has developed a Free 27 page Report that teaches how to create automated income streams using marketing with email - Grab your Free Report now.
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