Marketing is marketing regardless what you are marketing

Someone contacted me yesterday to tap into my years of experience in marketing as he wanted to start a business and wasn’t sure where to begin or if he should begin. He was looking to start a mobile detailing business. Although I have never been in the detailing business I know from experience the concepts are all the same and it is just a matter of applying the principles. I felt his concept was great because it would require very little investment and very little overhead. This could very easily be done right out of his home and it could even be done part time in the beginning.

Here is what I told him:

• Purchase the tools you need to get started. In our case follow the startup plan and purchase the product kit that meets your needs.
• Create flyers or business cards to introduce your business to prospects. I suggested a flyer with a special limited time offer. This keeps your flyer from being shoved to the bottom of the pile of papers because if they do not act now they will lose the deal.
• Dress for success. A neat and professional appearance when you are prospecting will make all the difference in your results.
• Identify your target market and take action. Many businesses will allow you to place your flyer in their establishments. Restaurants and walk-in businesses often usually have free magazines where people wait to be served. Check out our back office for all the different ways to meet new prospects.
• Be persistent and consistent. Success is based on continuous action. You can’t leave one set of flyers and expect immediate results. Keep track of the places that let you leave flyers and visit once a month or every other month until you start seeing results.
  Don’t take rejection personally. Stay positive when faced with negative people. There are nice people and there are rude people. Some people will want your service others will not. Handle rejection with a kind word and you will be successful. A simple “Thank you for your time” and move on works well.
• Make it easy for your customers to keep coming back. A thank you note or card goes a long way.
• Regardless of the result of your contact always ask for referrals. Also ask your customers to recommend you to their friends. Word of mouth is a great way to build.

These principles apply to every business regardless of the size. If you apply them consistently your business will continue to grow.