5 Tips to Spice Up Your Business
October 8, 2008
Image by Oberazzi via Flickr
Written by Karen D. Swim
Growing up my mom was big on seasonal meals. We ate fruits and veggies in season, often from our own garden. Summer was a season of lightness, where crisp cool fruits and vegetables took center stage. Fall was the beginning of foods that warmed your body and comforted your heart. Steaming bowls of chili, soups and stews accompanied by fresh homemade cornbread. Even now I can close my eyes and smell the rich aromas of mom’s stew, all of the tasty vegetables combining in a savory combination of love and goodness.
The pattern of business also follows seasonal shifts. In summer, we tend to lighten the load as we make time for play. We put off complex projects that are not essential and opt for a more casual pace. The arrival of September signals a change, time to get back to work. We may find that we are ready to add new textures and tastes to our own business stew. We may expand with new products or services or delve into new avenues of marketing. We mix it up and in so doing we create a richer, more flavorful dish. Below are a few ingredients that you can add to your spice shelf. Add one or two or try them all to create your own tasty selection.
Face to face marketing. We have become so spoiled by the ease and efficiency of web marketing that we often forget that we can still use some of the traditional methods. Go to a local networking meeting, visit your chamber of commerce or set up appointments with local businesses who need your services. In these trying economic times, a little face time can be just the reassurance a potential customer needs to buy.
Add new media. Enrich your business with new forms of content delivery such as video, audio, photos or animation. Record a series of podcasts with tips in your area of expertise. You can upload them to iTunes and add them to your website. Use video to share information and tips and post it on YouTube, Hulu or your own website. If you like Powerpoint, prepare a presentation and upload it to Slideshare. You can even have your own radio or TV program using sites such as BlogTalkRadio and UStream TV.
Grab a partner. Work with someone in your area of expertise to create a joint offering, or partner with someone that offers complemntary services. Partnerships can help you to create deeper client engagements by expanding your portfolio of services. It can also help all involved to share the load of creating, testing and breaking through to a new space. For example, Writers can team up with photographers, marekting agencies, videographers, SEO consultants, graphic designers, printers and more. Think outside the box.
Teach, coach, consult. You can add another layer to your business by teaching rather than doing. Develop self directed e-courses or on demand webinars, add coaching and consulting to your service offerings. All of these services are fairly easy to add to your portfolio and have the potential to expand your client base and revenue stream.
Step into the Spotlight. Pump up your marketing and increase your visibility with interviews. Radio, tv, newspapers and magazines are all within your reach. Join HARO (Help a Reporter Out) for free and you will receive three emails per day chock full of leads of people seeking experts. I have countless friends who have been featured in stories as a result of HARO, including friend and colleague, Trish Lambert. If you need publicity tips, Jeff Crilley, Joan Stewart and Sanyika Calloway Boyce have excellent resources to get you started.
Great cooks are not afraid to experiment with textures and flavors, and neither should you. Don’t be afraid to mix it up a little, as you may be surprised with the dish you create!
We would love to hear from you. Do you have any spices to add to the list? Any sources to recommend? Let’s share our knowledge as we all grow and succeed together. Add your comments in the comment box or wherever you happen to read this message. 
Remember that if you need a little help with your marketing strategy you can always give me a call!
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13 Responses to “5 Tips to Spice Up Your Business”
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What a wonderful mixture of practicality and creativity Karen - and a way of demonstrating (without direct selling) the way that you can help your clients.
I am impressed!
Joanna Youngs last blog post..10 Ways to Link Out Responsibly
Hi Joanna! I really appreciate that! Part of my own spice this month is in learning to let people know how I can help. I am quite passionate about seeing others succeed and often too shy to speak up about it. My hope is to follow Rosa’s model of tooting sweetly but to definitely toot.
Karen, you’re right, now more than ever is time for authors, speakers, coaches and business owners of all kinds to leverage the power of publicity and get the word out about their businesses.
If you’re a career coach why not tie your unique job hunting tips into the headlines?
Although 760,000 jobs have been lost in 2008 - can you show people that there are still plenty of opportunities to snag your dream job? I’ll bet you can and the media would love to help you get the word out!
Or, if you’re a in the health/healing industry, you can discuss the 5 best ways to beat stress, or the top 3 techniques to breath easier (literally) in the face of uncertainty.
You’ve got the solutions, the media could be your answer to getting the attention of your target audience.
See you on TV!
Sanyika
http://www.TVPublicitySecrets.com
And chimps!
Remember, you can never get enoug chimps!
(Everyone loves monkeys)
Friars last blog post..Assorted Friar-O-Lanterns
Ooh, I have a couple of these ingredients stewing in my pot already. Hopefully the resulting meal will be nourishing and delicious
hehehee.
Melissa Donovans last blog post..Writing for Animals
Karen!
What an awesome post! Chock full of really excellent info! Plus you mentioned me, which is the cherry on top of the sundae! Laugh
I absolutely agree with every ingredient in your “spice up” recipe!
Trish
Trish Lamberts last blog post..GUEST POST: 6 Obstacles to a 6-Figure At-Home Writing Income
@Friar, I love chimps! Although these days people are feeling like chumps so maybe a primate would be a painful reminder of how big companies have monkeyed around with the finances. lol!
@Melissa, oooh, can’t wait to see what you cook up and share in the meal!
@Trish, ha! When I think of spice how could I leave you off the rack! You add the “bam” to any recipe.
@Sanyika, I really appreciate your insight. One of the many things I have learned from you is that publicity truly is within our reach. Your energy and ideas are infectious. I hope that readers will follow up and take advantage of your valuable experience and insight!
Your blog post came up on a google alert for my book title, Step Into The Spotlight! Love your suggestions. You ask for resources. Your flock might want to check out Step Into The Spotlight! at http://www.spotlightbook.com
Tsufit
Author, Step Into The Spotlight! : A Guide to Getting Noticed
Karen, this is really amazing! What a great idea to list the spices businesses can add to their old stew recipe! Every time I come here, you share some inspiration and something to really think about. Thank you!
Alina Popescus last blog post..Romania Has a Big Marketing and PR Problem
Hello Tsufit! Wow, that is pretty funny and I am glad you clicked through. I will be sure to check out your book. Thanks for responding to the alert.
Hi Alina! Thank you so much! I always enjoy your visits and of course I feel the same way about Words of a Broken Mirror! Thank you!
5 Tips to Spice Up Your Business | Words For Hire…
Below are a few ingredients that you can add to your spice shelf. Add one or two or try them all to create your own tasty selection….