How do you increase business profits? Answer the following questions carefully, and you'll have a good start.
1. Can you increase the average sale? A restaurant with 25% profit margins might make 50% on additional sales to existing customers (less labor to bag one large order than two smaller ones). Asking "What would you like to drink with that?" works, and it's just a start.
2. What's the least expensive way to get a customer? Before you spend another thousand dollars advertising to get new customers, could you get as much business by spending a few hours contacting previous or existing customers?
3. What low risk ideas can you try? I once sent a letter to several visiting basketball teams, inviting them to visit our restaurant, and giving the coach a free meal as an incentive. The cost? Two dollars. The pay off was two busloads of customers. At that rate, you could increase your business profits even if nine out of ten ideas fail.
4. Have you tested prices? I knew a store that sold a product for a $1.05, that cost them $1.00. At a price of $1.20, it is doubtful that they'd lose half their sales, but if they did, they'd still make twice the profit. Some things even sell better at a higher price. Test.
5. Can you measure your advertising results? How do you know that you're not spending more for a customer than they're worth? Coupons, customer surveys and other methods of measurement are a must.
6. How do you know your customers are satisfied? The worst restaurant meal we ever ate went down without a comment, but we never returned to that restaurant. Maybe the owner should be talking to the customers.
7. Can you enhance the percieved value of your product? Years ago, I sold walking sticks for $10 at flea markets, and $20 at craft shows. Sometimes location alone can enhance the percieved value of a product. What else can you do?
8. What are similar businesses doing? See what your successful competitors are doing. Can you do the same?
9. What other products can you sell? There's a reason stores have candy and magazines near the checkout. Extra sales are a great way to increase business profits.
10. Can you use your customers as salesmen? Word of mouth is a start, but what other ways can you get your customers to bring their friends to you?
These were culled from a longer list. I call it "stolen business ideas," because I can't credit the original authors. I took them where I found them over the years, with grattitude, but without notes.
Steve Gillman has been studying every aspect of money for thirty years. You can find more interesting and useful information on his website; http://www.everythingaboutmoney.info
family-safe home cleaners Morton Grove ..Business etiquette is essentially about building relationships with colleagues, clients... Read More
Do you plan events for the corporate world like product... Read More
While some new business owners face the issue of not... Read More
We've heard numerous success stories of Internet entrepreneurs like Jeff... Read More
Here are seven excellent ways to earn income from international... Read More
Looking for an old friend? Want to know if your... Read More
The lack of strong boundaries is one of the chief... Read More
Authors/publishers are great at getting their books written. Entrepreneurs know... Read More
Have you put a lot of effort, time, and money... Read More
Never in history have more entrepreneurs launched more new businesses!... Read More
As a counselor, therapist or healing professional (massage therapist, physiotherapist,... Read More
Millions of people start new small businesses in the United... Read More
Did you know that there is one critical difference between... Read More
The Internet is a fast growing medium, trancending the personal... Read More
In Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen's original "Chicken Soup... Read More
So how do you eliminate your competition without bloodshed? You... Read More
1.) Brainstorming for an idea - You must select what... Read More
1. Great Things Take Time ? Three years passed between... Read More
Email etiquette is the key to help calm down anxious... Read More
The number may seem grim for Web-based commerce. In 2004... Read More
If you are like me, you are living some distance... Read More
1. Get to know people. First meet those people in... Read More
You have seen their ads and you may have wondered... Read More
As the holiday season starts to settle in, the workload... Read More
Sometime soon you will be attending some training. It may... Read More
home cleaning services Wilmette ..Attraction marketing is about making a customer for life not... Read More
If you have a business on the Internet you should... Read More
1) Prepare a realistic business plan.Think of this as your... Read More
Authors/publishers are great at getting their books written. Entrepreneurs know... Read More
So how do you eliminate your competition without bloodshed? You... Read More
As a counselor, therapist or healing professional (massage therapist, physiotherapist,... Read More
Business etiquette is essentially about building relationships with colleagues, clients... Read More
1. Use subheads throughout your ad copy.Subheads are great to... Read More
Buckling under the weight of chronic corporate restructuring, and frustrated... Read More
The term "junk mail" is a well-known term. To... Read More
The Internet is a fast growing medium, trancending the personal... Read More
Web Site Blues? Need one, don't know where to start?... Read More
1. Maintain regular working hours and stick to them.2. Get... Read More
10. Procrastination Condemnation - Lose the Labels! All those things... Read More
Studies have proven that there is one reason why people... Read More
The following tips are from an article we contributed to... Read More
Many businesses lose money yearly because they don't think creatively... Read More
As the holiday season starts to settle in, the workload... Read More
10 Ways to Boost your ProfitabilitySo many business owners work... Read More
Do you know exactly what actions you need to do... Read More
Cash is king-so they say. If you work for yourself... Read More
Here are seven excellent ways to earn income from international... Read More
I have some good news and I have some bad... Read More
Have you put a lot of effort, time, and money... Read More
One way to manage your time more effectively is to... Read More
Top Quick Tips |