3 Actions to Boost Sales Fast

Small things can make a big difference when it comes to increasing sales for your business…

Spring is here – even if it doesn’t feel like it just yet. Soon, the flowers will bloom, and the days will get longer and warmer.

But it’s also tax time, and that means you get a big reminder about how your business did last year.

• Did you live paycheck-to-paycheck?
• Do you owe lots of money?
• Are you getting a tax refund?

Well, whether you are unhappy with the results or planning how to spend your refund check, use tax time as an opportunity to energize your business.

For example, if you had a bad year, don’t dwell on the negative. Instead, think of all the positive ways you can make things better this year.

If you had a good year, congratulations! Now, what can you do to improve your results in 2014?

With this in mind, here are…

3 Actions You Can Take Right Now to Boost Sales

1. Update Your Website.

Now, I’m not talking about spending a lot of money on a complete overhaul of your site. You can make significant improvements just by adding valuable content specifically for your target market.

For help, check your site analytics and see what your audience is clicking on most. This will give you a good idea of the topics they want to hear about. Then, write more content related to those subjects.

And if you can’t tell what your customers want, ask!

Ask them on your site or create a simple, online survey using a free service like Survey Monkey, http://www.surveymonkey.com/, Zoomerang,
http://www.zoomerang.com/, FreeOnlineSurveys.com,
http://freeonlinesurveys.com/, and others.

This way, you can give your customers valuable information. And once you build credibility, and they know you can give them what they need, they will be more likely to purchase your products and services.

2. Reach Out to the Press.

Once you have some valuable information to share, contact media members who cover your industry. Provide the data from your survey, an original article, an opinion piece, or a unique story-idea.

You will need to research the appropriate people to contact, practice what you are going to say and conduct the appropriate follow-up. But this just costs you time and effort, and the results can be well worth it. You may end up with a feature story worth thousands of dollars in advertising and third-party credibility that you simply can’t buy.

Best of all, the right article in the right publication at the right time can significantly build word-of-mouth and your customer base.

3. Market Your Business.

If you have a database of customers, communicate with them on a regular basis. Let them know you have a valuable new article, blog entry, video, or other content they may be interested in reviewing.

Talk to them via social media, and find out what they really want. Develop a special video, eReport or Webinar just for them. Provide feedback, and try to create loyalty, excellent customer service and long-term relationships they will want to tell their friends about.

And if you have a budget, I highly suggest you spend it on an e-mail or direct mail campaign. Work with an experienced copywriter to write your message and manage the process. Then, test your message and track responses. See what works and what doesn’t, and make the appropriate changes.

By sending interesting content specific to your target market, you can see sales increase dramatically in a short amount of time.

Stay Positive.

Maybe you had a terrible 2013. Don’t worry. You are not alone. Perhaps, you had a fantastic year for your business, and that’s something you can be proud of.

In either case, use tax time to get energized about the possibilities for this year. Take advantage of free opportunities to update your Website, provide valuable content and talk to the media. And if possible, try to conduct an e-mail or direct-mail marketing campaign.

There are customers out there who want to buy your products and services. By conducting research, putting in some extra time and effort and hiring experienced experts to help you (if possible), you can make this your best business year ever!

By Melanie Rembrandt
Melanie is the CEO of Rembrandt Communications®, a company that helps B2B companies boost sales, awareness and credibility fast with SEO content strategy and public relations. For your free tips and information, visit www.rembrandtwrites.com.