Photography Precision: Becoming The Best Business Owner Possible

Doing The Unexpected
When a customer brings home her child's photograph, newly framed and ready to hang she's excited. When she heads home with her framed photograph in one hand, and a tool kit filled with nails, hammer, and level in the other, she says, WOW! That's surprising her with a little bit extra; something she didn't really need or ask for; but something that makes her life a little easier.

Under Promise - Over Deliver
Have you ever ordered something, and been told it would take two to three weeks for delivery? Then one week later, your order arrives. Weren't you excited? Didn't it make you say WOW, what an incredible company? That's the premise behind Under Promise - Over Deliver. Set up your customer to believe you do business in a certain way, such as offer two to three week delivery timeframes. Emphasize your Promise - we guarantee we'll delver in two to three weeks. Then Over Deliver - and surprise your customer by giving them an experience way beyond the expectation you set up for them.

Doing It Better Than Everyone Else
One of the best ways to succeed is to watch your competition, and take their ideas to the next level. Too many businesses follow instead of lead. If their competition offers a money-back guarantee, they follow and offer a money-back guarantee. But what if you offered a double your money-back guarantee? All of the sudden, people take notice because you're "different", and they say WOW.

Follow Up Forever
When's the last time you made contact with your customers? When was the last time you sent your suppliers and vendors a thank you note? Instead of trying to drum up new business, spend your time connecting with the people already in your radar. You'll be amazed at how much easier it is to "sell" people that already know and love you. Even the smallest things - a thank you note, or a holiday card - can make your customers say WOW!

I feel the weakest point of any business is following up. It's too easy to get swept away in the moment, and spend all of your time attracting new clients and servicing current ones. There's no urgency in making contact with someone who purchased from you a year in the past.

Yet that's your strongest possibility for repeat customers, both themselves and in referrals. Consider trying these easy ways of following up.

Send An Ezine
An ezine, or electronic newsletter, is an inexpensive way of keeping people abreast of what's happening in your business.

Send Thank You Cards
There are dozens of reasons to send a thank you card: thanks for your business, thanks for your referral, thanks for meeting me, thanks for thinking of me.

Send Hand Made Note Cards
With today's printers, it's easy to print up a note card in just a few minutes. Choose your customers favorite image, print up a greeting card, and send her a "thanks for you order" card a few days after she picks up her order. (You may entice her to buy an order of note cards!)

Send Information
The more you know your clients, the more you can connect with them. Read trade magazines and journals regularly, and send your clients articles that will either help them in their business, or feature them in the article.

Which do I prefer, online marketing or traditional marketing?

For me, the two or completely dependent upon each other to work for a business. Marketing is marketing, and you must use all of the tools available to you to effectively market your business.

My passion is teaching people the benefits of marketing online, because I feel it's the most widely understood and underutilized. People build a website, and leave it sit for months - even years - because they don't understand the powerful tool they have access to.

Both types of marketing are important to your business. The better you use both, the more successful your business will be.