Anticipate questions your prospects or visitors

may have; this will help improve your sales ratio.

7. Improve your negotiation skills. This'll improve

your business because you're always negotiating ad

swaps, supply prices, joint ventures, wages, etc.

8. Beat your competition by giving away a similar

product or service that they charge for. It could

be add on products, warranties, servicing, etc.

9. Build a larger online community by giving your

visitors bonuses for participating on your message

boards or chat rooms. Try free products, ads, etc.

10. Instead of starting an affiliate program, start

a referral program. Give people discounts and free

products for referring people to your site.

DarKo Pantic http://www.netprofitblueprint.com/index.php?ref=163

6. Subtract current local spend from total potential sales to discover if there is room in market for new players?

NOTES:

2.Population information of individuals and households can be obtained from Bureau of Statistics. Population of businesses might be available from local government, chamber of commerce, Bureau of Statistics, Yellow Pages or White Pages. 3.Average spend may be available from Bureau of Statistics, Industry groups, Market Researchers (such as Ibisworld – www.ibisworld.com.au; Euromonitor) or different levels of government. 5.Regional spend numbers may be more difficult to obtain. Try local governments, local branches of industry groups, and chambers of commerce. It may be necessary to stake out a few similar businesses and watch how much customers spend and multiply by outlets! Its also amazing how much information an unsuspecting shop assistant or manager might be happy to pass on if asked a general question about how business is going! 6.If less is being spent in your area than calculated total potential sales figure, then there is a good chance that there is a market demand for your business in this area.

Cate Deans Smith consults with Diess, a Business and Web Solutions Company. She has qualifications in Marketing and Entrepreneurship and Venture Development, and a decade experience in business planning, management and marketing.