Grow Your Business By Getting Your Customers Buying From You More Often - 35 Ideas

35 Ideas to Spark Your Creativity:

There are 3 ways to grow any business. Just 3:

- Get more customers

- Get more from each sale

- Sell to each customer more frequently.

That's it - everything else boils down to some variation of these 3 activities.

Most owners and managers want to grow their business. Most of them concentrate exclusively on getting more new customers.

Odd really.

There is lots of marketing research that is pretty consistent in pointing out that it costs somewhere between six and twelve times as much to get a new customer as it does to sell to an existing customer.

And once you have a customer it is generally pretty straightforward to get them to buy from you more often.

What's that?

Your business is different. You sell a one-off product. There's no way to get customers to buy more often.

Maybe so.

But I don't think so.

Here are 35 ideas for you to stick in your brainstorming pot, stir for a while, and then see what comes out at the other end.

Customer focus

1. Actively market to your existing customers

2. Listen to your customers - deliver what they want

3. Keep Customers Informed

4. Start A newsletter

5. Superior Customer Service

6. Target Profitable Customers

7. Over deliver On your Promise

8. Priority hot line for most profitable

9. Active Customer Relationship Management

Business Model

10. Target a Specific Niche 11. Look for niches within niches

12. Use Service Contracts

13. Back-End Selling

14. Pre-Sell After First Sale

15. Joint venture marketing

Reward Customers

16. Establish A Frequent Buyers Club And Card

17. Find Out Everything You Can About Customer

18. Competitions

19. Previews

20. New Offers Every Week, Month

21. Personal letters

22. Reminder Schedule

23. Outgoing Calls

24. Private Unveilings

25. Master the Art Of Saying Thank You

26. Sell the Experience As Much As The Product

Promotions

27. Statement Stuffers

28. Bag stuffers

29. Discount vouchers

30. Bring A Friend Free

31. Surprise Offers

32. Appeal to the emotions

33. Make Your Customers Feel Guilty

34. Direct Mail

35. Target advertisements for existing customers

Now I hope you have found something in this list to get your creative juices flowing. But I regularly come across businesses that claim to have one shot products. Most recently I had a high class kitchen design and build company telling me that none of these things applied to them.

They build solid wood kitchen units, equipped them with the best possible kitchen equipment and expected the kitchen to last 20 years or more.

Now I don't know what the figures are like in the rest of the World but in the UK people move home, on average, every 4.7 years. Keep in touch. They just might buy from you again.

And what do you know about your customer. Top of the list is that they want to improve their homes and they will pay good money to get top service. They probably are willing to spend money to improve the rest of their home.

Could you do some joint venture marketing with another, non-competing, home improvement company?

Look around. You will find plenty of other companies that would love to be able to market directly to your customers.

Sure, you are not marketing your own service - but does that matter? If you work a deal with another home improvement company they are certain to pay a commission for each of your customers that buy from them.

Still not convinced?

Contact us - we like a challenge.

Keith Longmire is the owner of JKL Business Growth Solutions. JKL

specialises in bringing main stream business improvement and marketing solutions into the reach of smaller businesses. The Business Growth Solutions web site is designed as a source of information for all matters to do with Small Business Development

In The News:

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/linsey-simpson-gallagher-join-wine/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BAA49BE38-9C5B-4D84-AC96-FD8E1058FEDE%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257742455ei=vOf0SICZD6iY6AO2v9yGDgusg=AFQjCNFdtNRxFSWxMlvbEbMNWXmR3hupwALinsey Simpson Gallagher to Join Wine Institute as Director of b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;Bringing on a professional of Linsey#39;s caliber to manage international bmarketing/b and retaining Joe#39;s expertise in trade policy will take the program to the b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/expertus-announces-most-effective-marketing/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B61B8F1E6-924E-4978-91AB-9A402C9D78D3%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257705539ei=vOf0SICZD6iY6AO2v9yGDgusg=AFQjCNEvhJZKVF2iqNBeEtrZYqaSZHpGvwExpertus Announces the Most Effective bMarketing/b Techniques for b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The study surveyed training leaders to understand how companies use bmarketing/b to promote participation in internal training programs. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/major-syndicated-study-reveals-media/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BC3D6DBE1-FB19-4FEB-B269-B129C05DAEA9%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257705539ei=vOf0SICZD6iY6AO2v9yGDgusg=AFQjCNGPrsWqxvp5qylnjMEuvNa7thkrnAMajor Syndicated Study Reveals Media and Purchasing Habits of b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMarketWatch/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1257705539hl=ennobrall 13 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/stratigent-speak-emetrics-marketing-optimization/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B0D295B33-201C-4283-B3D0-ECF3C1CF3724%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257701762ei=vOf0SICZD6iY6AO2v9yGDgusg=AFQjCNGSvavCw0LLTxtg2p2_G45AIyoIgAStratigent to Speak at eMetrics bMarketing/b Optimization Summit/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1CHICAGO, IL, Oct 14, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- Stratigent, the leader in web analytics and bmarketing/b optimization consulting, has announced that it b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/persystent-technologies-appoints-mary-maloney/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BFC6565B0-222E-44E8-B57C-4186FC12B879%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257672755ei=vOf0SICZD6iY6AO2v9yGDgusg=AFQjCNGxGhOMJC1KT2Oljd_wrfsP3-a0ewPersystent Technologies Appoints Mary Maloney Chief bMarketing/b Officer/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1As CMO, Mary is responsible for developing the company#39;s strategic bmarketing/b initiatives, building the Persystent brand, creating awareness in target b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/full-service-marketing-firm-mcc-adds/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BA6674506-EB15-444C-9996-5D0144A574D4%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257699336ei=vOf0SICZD6iY6AO2v9yGDgusg=AFQjCNHmPsUVnHNDBgktskoo7JzvyjZoMgFull-Service bMarketing/b Firm M/C/C Adds Extra Seasoning to Market b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The gourmet grocer chose M/C/C -- a Dallas-based bmarketing/b, advertising, public relations and Internet bmarketing/b agency -- to cook up some brand-new ideas b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/groundbreaking-book-presents-integrated-sales/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BCEB0E2B4-9F8B-49E6-AC23-49803B923539%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257668025ei=vOf0SICZD6iY6AO2v9yGDgusg=AFQjCNF-vyGOlsoFSAC1BXLXKzDARgn-gQGroundbreaking Book Presents an Integrated Sales and bMarketing/b b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Led by Pilcher, the Webinar will focus on the recent shift in business-to-business selling as bmarketing/b increasingly supplants sales, and how the new b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/livemercialtm-taps-riemer-senior-director/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B7C9589DA-F360-4593-AA0B-1C2AC0E8BD76%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257709220ei=vOf0SICZD6iY6AO2v9yGDgusg=AFQjCNEwpLVdxQF4BWoBz8zAh54p0jTQ_ALivemercial(TM) Taps Riemer for Senior Director of bMarketing/b b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;Adam brings to Livemercial a depth of experience and bmarketing/b expertise that will open doors to new revenue-generation opportunities for our clients, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/cosmetic-bootcamp-announces-faculty-second/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B09E136A5-33AC-4CAE-8657-C137C7F61BB1%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257705538ei=vOf0SICZD6iY6AO2v9yGDgusg=AFQjCNFXIxVWRl3DbX31MZCQ-bLYB4egrwThe Cosmetic Bootcamp Announces Faculty for the Second Annual b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct 14, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The Cosmetic Bootcamp, LLC is pleased to announce that its faculty for the second annual b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0442706.htmcid=1257715401ei=vOf0SICZD6iY6AO2v9yGDgusg=AFQjCNE1FkU0SRz5rRFYXAhFCUnHpgkWqASmartCard bMarketing/b Systems Inc. (PINKSHEETS: SMKG) Continues b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fCNNMoney.comnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1SmartCard bMarketing/b Systems Inc.(PINKSHEETS: SMKG) announced today that their Prepaid Card loading, Pin Debit and Payment processing volume increased in b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/ink-communications-president-founder-addresses/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B90ED4819-F82F-4C63-B9CE-A5655B081EF6%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257647934ei=vOf0SICZD6iY6AO2v9yGDgusg=AFQjCNG5ncUG1I6sswwS9Tf4H9_bQHqZfgink Communications President and Founder Addresses Web 2.0 b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr7 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Hicks will join moderator Rebecca Fannin, international editor of Asian Venture Capital Journal, as part of a panel focused on bMarketing/b 2.0. ink b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
marketing - Google News

Your Marketing Plan - Prerequisite to Success

Marketing is a vital aspect of a business' operations. It... Read More

Cave Paintings, Baseball and Connecting

There's no such thing as a captive audience--any of us... Read More

What Your Customers Want

Your customers don't know what they want. And to assume... Read More

The Information Publishers Secret Resource Guide To Blow Customers Away!

Have you ever heard the saying, "Give and you shall... Read More

Build a Dynamic Business - 10 Steps to Start You Off

It's where your employees are in a 'special place' when... Read More

John Kerry, Amazing Direct-Marketer!

If you want to uncover a little secret about how... Read More

Your Headlines Are Key To Your Success Or Failure. Do You Know What To Write?

Most professional copywriters would say that headlines account for 80%... Read More

The Process of Change in Marketing Approaches

In a world economy that is in constant flux and... Read More

Choosing Networking Functions

Time is a concern for all of us. We only... Read More

Packaging Trends You Cannot Overlook (part #1):

1) People are buying in smaller quantities. Our busy lifestyle... Read More

Marketing and Advertising Techniques of Super Bowl Advertisers

Each year, advertisers with super sized budgets sink millions of... Read More

Great Marketing is Like Making a Great Movie

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCEThe Oscars will be handed out soon, and... Read More

What Does Your Business Address Say?

If you are operating a business from your home and... Read More

The Death of Product Packaging as We Know It.

It used to be you that if you had a... Read More

Use The Neglected Weapons In Your Marketing Arsenal

Business marketers have a lot of weapons in their arsenals... Read More

Getting Your Marketing Message Across with CD Business Cards

CD Business cards allows any type of business that dynamic... Read More

These Four Things Will Make Your Direct Marketing Successful

Direct marketing is built on four things. The other way... Read More

Boost Profits: Market to the Gay Community

Research shows that the gay and lesbian market is worth... Read More

Effective List Management Can Save You Big

Let's talk about how to keep your postage costs down.So... Read More

Why Surveying Matters

What is the single most important thing you can do... Read More

Online Mentorship Programs: Cash in on Your Expertise

Whether you're a former retail store owner known for your... Read More

3 Strategies to Market Your Business Even When There?s No Money

Many small and home based businesses know they need to... Read More

What Is Multi-Level And How Should It Be Worked

Multi-level marketing is really a partnership. You go into... Read More

Top Five Tips for Marketing that Gets Results

When marketing your practice, as well as designing your brochure,... Read More

5 Ways to Use Your Business Cards More Effectively

Contrary to popular belief, the best use of business cards... Read More