7
Questions Home Business Owners MUST Answer
Copyright © LuAnn Elliott 2003
There are a few items any home business owner must
address if their business is to properly function and turn a consistent
profit.
Some of what a business must do is obvious, other
things are often not realized until too late, after time and money
has been lost.
Whether you are just starting out, or simply not
yet getting the results you'd hoped for, answering the following questions
for yourself will help you position your home business for success.
1. What Am I Going To Sell?
An obvious question, but one not always properly
addressed. Anybody can sell anything, potentially, but what are you
actually qualified to sell? What knowledge do you have, or can you
get, that relates to your product? Why should people come looking
to you for it?
2. Who Is Going To Buy It From You?
You don't just sell to 'people'. You sell to a target
audience who is interested in your product and has the means to pay
for it. Not everyone will be. How will you identify your market? How
will you separate them from the crowd? What do you call those who
would use your product? Where will you find them?
3. How Will You Contact Potential Customers?
All marketing plans require a vehicle to reach potential
customers. What form of advertising will you choose? How will that
reach your market? What resources do you have for advertising? Will
you pay to contact others' lists or create your own list of potential
buyers? How will you attract others to you?
4. How Will You Present Your Product?
Even after you attract others to your business, you
still need to present your product to them. Just because they are
there does not guarantee they will buy from you. What benefits are
you offering them? What problems does your product solve? How can
you showcase these benefits and solutions? What can you do to associate
with your potential customers and gain their trust? What will make
them want to buy products from you?
5. How Will You Follow Up With Your Contacts?
Great! People have looked over your product. How
will you follow up with them from here? Can you automate that process?
Can you offer more than one way to follow up with them? What incentives
can you offer for potential customers and even current customers to
stick around or buy from you again? What can you do to create a lasting
interest?
6. How Will You Take Orders?
Will you get your own merchant account, or use third
party billing services? How will you deliver your product to people?
What guarantees will you offer? What confirmation will they get after
purchase?
7. How Will You Handle Customer Support And
Service?
After the sale, what are you willing to do for your
customers? Do they need follow up support on your products or future
updates? How will you handle refunds if necessary? What systems are
in place for them to contact you with questions or problems?
Too often inexperienced home business owners start out without covering
each of the seven areas listed above. Taking the time to answer each
of these questions with regard to your business positions you in reach
of your ultimate goal -- consistent profits.
Need some help answering these questions?
Free eCourse - "You can be a MARKETING MASTER"
Learn the ABC of Home Business Building. mailto:easyhomebiz@lelliott.par32.com
LuAnn Elliott is the publisher of Web Success --
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