http://blog.truegrowthstrategies.com Growth Strategies for Small Businesses Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:40:50 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Sometimes when we think our message is falling on deaf ears, it is.  This is part 3 of a series on developing a Unique Value Proposition.  When putting the value message together it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the message is about you...what makes you ... http://blog.truegrowthstrategies.com/2009/09/01/i-sell-widgets-doesnt-anyone-hear-me/ A good Unique Value Proposition will eliminate the "So What's."  Let's just take a super simple look at a UVP. Unique - To be unique is to be unlike others.  If your proposition could be just as easily be said by any of your competitors, it isn't unique.  It must fill ... http://blog.truegrowthstrategies.com/2009/08/16/you-sell-widgets-too-so-what-part-2/ Are your products or services any different than your competitions?  Really?  How so? How long would it take you to explain the differences? Do your prospects or even your clients know how you're different? Do your employees know the difference?  Can they explain it? Does your marketing reinforce it? How do you measure the difference ... http://blog.truegrowthstrategies.com/2009/08/08/you-sell-widgets-too-so-what-part-1/ There is a make or break moment for every new client.  It is the moment that someone decides if they are going to invest time, energy, money, etc. with you or your business. Whichever decision is made, that decision reinforces future decisions.  If they decided not to move forward, it ... http://blog.truegrowthstrategies.com/2009/08/01/toe-in-the-water-make-it-or-break-it-moments/ There is a make it or break it moment with every new client.  It is that time when they decide if they are going to invest any time, energy or money with you or your product.  Shouldn't we try to make it easier for them to say "yes" than "no?"  ... http://blog.truegrowthstrategies.com/2009/07/28/make-it-or-break-it-moments-part-2-risk-reversal/ There is a make it or break it moment with every new client.  It is that moment when they decide if they are going to invest time, energy or money with you or your business.  Wouldn't you like to make it harder for them to say "Yes" than "No"?  ... http://blog.truegrowthstrategies.com/2009/07/26/make-it-or-break-moments-part-1-assurances/ The TOW missile system is an armor piercing, wire-guided missile.  It has a 4.5km wire spooling as it flies.  The gunner guides the missile via the wire to its target.  This technology enables a team to stay very mobile while firing heavy artillery at other moving targets. We need more of ... http://blog.truegrowthstrategies.com/2009/07/22/ready-fire-aim-marketing-wins-the-war/ Did you ever want something so badly that you justified it to yourself with multiple contrived points.  I see it happen when someone decides they "need" a new car or figure out a way to justify that wide screen TV.  I see the same kind of thing happen when talking ... http://blog.truegrowthstrategies.com/2009/07/16/are-you-kidding-yourself/ fh4v2ir79j http://blog.truegrowthstrategies.com/2009/07/14/technorati-claim/ Each industry has its own traditional sources of revenue.  A sales team might be a source, the internet, a retail location, radio ads, etc.  Developing the right sources means optimizing each source so that it is as efficient and profitable as possible and innovating to open up sources that the ... http://blog.truegrowthstrategies.com/2009/07/13/developing-sources-for-growth/