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If you want to grow the sales of your business, squeeze some oranges.

Okay, I don’t literally mean ‘squeeze oranges.’  What I’m talking about is taking a look at the assets you’ve created in your business, and doing more with them.  Another term for squeezing is leveraging.  (I thought squeezing was more fun!)

What you want to “squeeze” are the assets in your business, so you can get more out of them.  Think of your company’s assets as a basket of oranges.  These oranges are a number of things, such as:

•  Products or services you’ve developed
• Clients
• Employees, virtual assistants, contractors relationships
• Marketing materials and methods
• Key referral resources

This basket of oranges is already creating a certain amount of income in your business.  The best way to make more money in your business is to:

• Create a second basket of oranges (more assets)
• Squeeze harder on the basket of oranges you already have

My choice?  Squeeze harder on the basket of oranges you already have (choice #2).

It’s my experience that most entrepreneurs wanting to grow their businesses take the much more difficult, expensive, and time-consuming route of creating a second basket of oranges.

The reality is many of your existing clients will buy more products and services from you, if you proactively tell them how else you can help.  That’s why it is so important to talk with your clients frequently and find out what are their probelms, and needs.

Therefore, my suggestion is get squeezing!

The fast track to growing your business—and your income—is to increase sales to an existing market. 

This means you go after the same or similar market with your existing products or services.  What you will do differently is you will market more proactively.

Revitalizing your marketing strategy may mean you’ll have to tweak, revise, or re-price some of your existing products or services.  The good news is you don’t have to totally revamp them.

It’s unnecessary to create new products and services, or market to a new market unless:

• Your product is out-of-date, or is no longer competitive
• The market you’re promoting to is extremely small, shrinking, not viable

Now, you’re squeezing your oranges!

So, if you want to grow your business and your income, the best way is to develop a smart, comprehensive marketing plan for your current products and services, and market…building on what you already have in place.

To learn more about how to create a marketing growth plan guaranteed to work visit http://bonitarichter.com/7-step/

In meeting with many of my clients the past few weeks, when I asked them how their businesses are doing, many of them say, “Slow!”  Contacts who expressed interest don’t return phone calls, missed appointments aren’t rescheduled, and buying decisions are delayed. 

Any business can slip into a slow period.  But, the trick is to know WHAT to do to get your business back on track as quickly as possible…and better yet, HOW to avoid slipping into a slow slump in it in the first place.

Here are 4 tips I personally use to coach my clients out of slow business period:

Tip #1 Reach Out and Touch Someone

When a sales slump hits, your energy seems to drain away as well.  Before you know it, you hardly have the energy to open your email much less put out the effort to market your business.

The solution to this problem is actually very simple.  You MUST reach out and reconnect with past and current clients.  Send out an email to your clients, past clients and business associates, explaining the benefits of working with you, and ask for a referral.  Include a f-r-e-e article as a way of demonstrating value, and you may find you’re on the path to picking up new clients in a few weeks (I have seen this happen!).

 Tip #2 Remind Yourself You’re “Not Bugging” Someone by Contacting Them

If you have clients, who haven’t used a package they purchased from you or have missed appointments without rescheduling, then it is up to you to reach out to them.  I recommend making a friendly call, or sending a hand written note reminding them you want them to get the results of the service they purchased.  You’ll be surprised at how often your clients express appreciation and gratitude at your thoughtfulness for reminding them to use your services!

Tip #3 Refocus on Your Business

Sometimes sales slip because our attention and focus has been directed on anything BUT our business.  If that’s the case, then this is the time to give yourself a break, stop feeling guilty, and give yourself the breathing room to make a fresh start.  Set small daily goals that include reconnecting with past clients and colleagues, then build up your energy and actions from there.

Tip #4 Keep Your Eye on the Prize

Twice each year, spend a couple of days evaluating my goals and income, and then take a fresh look at where you’re headed with your business.  The start of a new year is a perfect time to do this activity, as well as the end of every quarter year.

This allows you to plan new events, programs, and product launches that will keep your income flowing smoothly, and growing year-round.

So, if your sales are slower than you’d like, or you want to 1ncrease your sales, then now is the perfect time to reconnect to WHY you do what you do, reach out to WHO you love working with the most, then follow up, follow up, follow up to keep your relationships strong and profitable!

How do you get your business out of a sales slump?  Share your expertise and write a comment for our readers.