Need Marketing Tips for NEW IDEAS

**hashmos** · 02-21-2011 05:11 AM

I am in the process of starting my own business and would like some GENERAL advises regarding the method of how to approach the customers. Marketing for a new idea always seems to be very difficult, in comparison to marketing the conventional products and services. I understand the fear of the potential clients to sign up for the service. However, there should be a way or a technique tailored specifically for marketing new ideas.
Please help, as I have already tried marketing it to a couple of clients and the feedback was not so great.

**GotLiveChat** · 02-23-2011 04:09 PM

In this economy, if you can find a way for businesses to save money I think you'd have a good chance of making the sale.
Possibly offer free trial so they can see the benefit of your services. Listen to their feedback as well since your idea may need fine-tuning as more clients use it.

**tonye** · 02-23-2011 06:00 PM

highlight the benefits of your service/product, use testimonials and also try using social media to reach customers

**hashmos** · 02-28-2011 06:21 AM

Those are great ideas, thanks guys

However, I cannot use testimonials because the business is not established yet.

I also need more advise, since I did all of these stuff, and it was not that much productive. When I approached them with the idea, all of them said that it was a good business, but none of them confirmed his desire to have the service. This is why I assumed that they are a bit hesitant since it is something new.

I think that, as gotlivechat suggested, a free trial is the best way to go, even though it drastically increases the risk.

**liaochiling** · 02-28-2011 07:15 AM

Make a good promotion or strategy. Its been a risk to use discounts or promos, but at least you have tried your best. goodluck!

**hashmos** · 03-03-2011 11:06 AM

Thanx alot liaochiling, i will use that in my approach.

I also think, and please correct me if I am wrong, that a very good and effective way of marketing your product is to offer the customer two options, one better than the other, but it takes a bit of calculation to figure this out.

For example, the product I am selling is toothbrushes. I begin by offering each for 3.5 dollars. I get rejected. I then offer 3 for 10 dollars. The customer starts minor calculations to figure out that he saves 0.5 dollars. He now has two options, and maybe because I think the customer feels SMART about figuring this out, he will go for the second option, even though he did not need one toothbrush, let alont three.

Please give me your feedback about this theory.

**GoBigOrGoHome** · 03-04-2011 02:22 AM

Know who your trying to market to. Understand the demographics of your target market will make your marketing efforts much more effective.

**ScottLott** · 03-10-2011 07:26 AM

Originally Posted by hashmos

I am in the process of starting my own business and would like some GENERAL advises regarding the method of how to approach the customers. Marketing for a new idea always seems to be very difficult, in comparison to marketing the conventional products and services. I understand the fear of the potential clients to sign up for the service. However, there should be a way or a technique tailored specifically for marketing new ideas.
Please help, as I have already tried marketing it to a couple of clients and the feedback was not so great.

The biggest thing I can tell you is that if you approach customers in PERSON you should have absolute confidence in everything your saying. People reflect FROM YOU for confirmation as to whether the product is good or not. Pricing games will only get you so far, there are much stronger forms of influence.

One of the largest forms of influence is fear of loss. If you can convince the customer they will LOSE something of value to them if they don't purchase the product, you'll quickly get results.

This doesn't come easy, you've got to paint a clear picture in the customer's mind and make them realize the threat of loss is REAL. If they can argue away that it "doesn't effect them" you've lost out.

**GotLiveChat** · 03-10-2011 04:20 PM

hashmos, for the people you've approached already what are they balking about - pricing? Implementation? Or don't know where your service fits in? If you can determine why they're hesitating, you can try to solve the problem. You really need to get that type of information; else you'll just be going in circles (reducing pricing, changing plans, etc.).

**Parvaze** · 03-10-2011 05:40 PM

You will get better answers if you tell people what the product/service is e.g. selling a toothbrush can be done door to door however it's unlikely you can do the same with a car.

**virtualservice** · 03-10-2011 11:35 PM

Hi,

Create your business profile on local business communities and get touch with peoples.

Thanks
Virtual Offices
Live Virtual Receptionist

**jordanbowman** · 03-14-2011 03:14 PM

What's unique/different/extraordinary about your company and what it offers? What can you say that no one else can say? That is what you talk about to people. And talk about how that benefits them, personally. People want to know about benefits, not features, of a product or company.

**GaltMarketing** · 03-17-2011 07:17 PM

I definitely agree with Jordan. The first step is really to differentiate yourself from the competition. If you want to learn more about it, look around for stuff about USP's (unique selling proposition, or sometimes known as unique sales proposition).

One other thing to remember is that people don't buy your product, people are buying what your product does. The common example is that people aren't buying a drill, they are buying the hole that you make with the drill. In your case it would be that they are buying clean teeth, and you may be able to extend that to fresh breath and cavity protection ... especially if your toothbrush does something that other toothbrushes don't (again, differentiating yourself).

It helps to dig down into niches too. If you're marketing to everyone, you're not marketing to anyone. Do you have different types of toothbrushes? Do you have a toothbrush for little kids? How about a toothbrush for little boys that play soccer? Or how about a toothbrush for CEO's that are obsessed with golf? People are much more likely to buy something if they feel that it's been made just for them, rather than buying a generic commodity.

**barbaragabogrecan** · 06-21-2011 04:57 AM

Excellent post, Some businesses die because of their weak marketing strategies. Success in business requires careful and longer research of the market, product and service. Really it takes time to learn what method works for your business.