How to Double Your Business in 2006, Part I
Two years ago, I was struggling to make a living and my business
was failing. The bills were piling up, and I started to think
that it was time to find a job. I will never forget the moment
when the light bulb went on in my head and I understood what was
wrong.
My business doubled that year, and has more than doubled over
the past year. How did I do it?
If you are serious about doubling your business in 2006, read
on. I want to share with you the basic concepts that have helped
my business explode since those dark days two years ago.
I still remember the conversation that changed my thinking and
my business. I was talking to a sales person who was trying to
sell me something for my business and he said to me "the sales
person who is the most successful is not the one who closes the
sale now, but the one who closes the sale in 3 months, or 6
months, or 1 year."
He was talking about the concept of database management. Whether
you like it or not, if you are in business, you are a sales
person. So this leads to the first essential thing you must do
right now in order to double your business in 2006:
Build a Database
If you don't have a database, you are missing out on thousands
of dollars of sales each year. Why?
First of all, once you get in the habit of using your database
to keep track of everything about your clients, prospects,
business partners, and associates, you will save hours of time
in productivity because you won't misplace phone numbers and
contact info.
Second, using a database properly can help you add a personal
touch to your business. Most databases have a notes section
under each contact. After you have a conversation with a
prospect or client, take notes on what you talked about. Jot
down a tidbit or two about something you talked about not
related to business. Next time you talk to the person, you can
then refer to the previous conversation. Ask them how their
skiing vacation went or how their dog is doing or how the new
job is working out.
If you're like me, and talk to hundreds of people every month,
it's impossible to remember everything about everyone, and
adding this little personal touch to the next conversation will
do wonders for your rapport and bottom line.
The third reason why you are losing thousands of dollars if you
are not using a database goes into my next tip to double your
business in 2006:
Market to your database
This seems obvious, but it is surprising how many business
owners have no marketing strategy whatsoever to stay in touch
with their prospects, clients, and business partners.
This strategy goes back to what that wise sales person said to
me two years ago about closing the sale in 3 months, 6 months,
or one year. You should never give up on a prospect and should
have a consistent and steady follow up system to market to them
and stay in touch indefinitely. I have a client who I just made
a sale to this month who I first came in contact with 3 years
ago!
However, in order to incorporate this strategy, you must have
prospects, right? So how do you get them? That is a topic for
Part II of this article. I will go into 5 more strategies that
are essential for doubling your business in 2006. In the
meantime, invest in a database program, and start using it! It
won't be easy at first, but trust me, over time you will be glad
that you initiated this basic strategy.
Stay Tuned for Part II!
About the author:
RJ Baxter has been a mortgage consultant for four years. RJ
utilizes his teaching background by educating consumers and
advocating ethical business practices in the mortgage industry.
RJ has received several awards for customer service and loan
volume and has consistently ranked in the top ten among over 400
loan consultants at PrimeLending. To access more of RJ's
articles or read more about RJ or PrimeLending, please visit
http://www.rjbaxter.com.
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