I keep working with my clients so they can tweak their marketing plans to maximize each dollar. You need to get it when you can, these days. One marketing strategy that I really push is Maximizing Your Most Desirable. As I flew to visit family, this marketing strategy was brought to my attention by US Air. Here's what they have implemented into their marketing plan.
When you book your flight, you can choose your seat. This flight was booked far in advance, and even so I was distracted that I could not get a seat closer to the front – I had to accept a seat in the twenty row out of twenty-five. I had to change planes, and only had an hour between flights. If my flight was late, this could be problematic, since everyone wants to be first off, and I once missed a connection flight because I could not get off the first flight in a timely manner.
When I went online to check in for my flight, I noticed there was now a new option. I could upgrade my seat to a "preferred seat" for twenty dollars. What a concept! It took me about five seconds to decide that this would be a great investment. I clicked the button and like magic I was able to choose a seat in the sixth row.
It actually gets even better than this. As part of this marketing strategy, you also get to board right after the first class people. I sat watching the plane fill and realized that the flight was sold out, or close to it. When the last passenger boarded, there was one empty seat on the entire plane – right next to me! I got to stretch out and enjoy my space. It was heaven!
I do not know who is responsible for the adjustment in US Air's marketing plan, but I must congratulate them. This one is a winner!
So here is a marketing tip to help you maximize your profits and increase your business. Look at your marketing plan and see if you can add this same marketing strategy to what you are doing. Do you have a service or product that people would pay extra for? If you do not, maybe you should develop one now. We all overlook things about our business that our clients find really valuable.
Talk to your clients. Listen to what they are saying. What do you do that they rave about? What do they want or need that you can give them? It may be something you can simplify for them, or something that would give them peace of mind. For some clients, a set fee works well because then they can budget for it. For others, it may be something that they can do themselves with your forms that will save them money.
A good marketing plan these days is worth its weight in gold, literally. Look at what you're doing again. And again. Look at it every day until you find at least one thing that will increase your income by at least 10%. Then look at it once a week to stay on top of it. Reassess each marketing strategy periodically to be sure that they are still working.