TiVo is just a DVR - How Direct TV and Others Packaged A Product for Success

Written by Nick Smith


Continued from page 1
universally as "Tevas." Chalk up a point forrepparttar company Teva that created and marketed their sandals extremely successfully. When wasrepparttar 119634 last time you had jello (actually a name brand of gelatin desert), or used a Kleenex (trademarked name for a tissue)? Do you ask for a "Coke" no matter what flavor of soda it is? The list goes on and on, includingrepparttar 119635 most recent tendency to refer to all DVR technology as "TiVo."

What are you going to do about it?

If you own a small business or operate one out of your home, you might not be running your own unique product line. But if you do, what are you doing to package it and position it for success? Consider doingrepparttar 119636 following:

  • Name your product or service. It may sound silly, like naming your car "Betsy" or "Lechuga," but a name is an essential part of successful repackaging. This is what TiVo did when they renamed their DVR technology. Rather than call it a car wash, try something like "Dirty Mike's 15-Point SuperClean." Maybe five years from now people will say they need a "superclean" instead of saying they need a "carwash." Keep reading below for legal considerations.
  • Before you start using a new slogan or title, double check to make sure another company does not already ownrepparttar 119637 trademark or copyright. The last thing you want to do (or pay for) when you own a small business is a lengthy legal process over something you could have avoided had you donerepparttar 119638 research.
  • Get legal protection for your products, names, and slogans. Atrepparttar 119639 same time you are doing your research, register your trademarks, copyrights, and where appropriate your patents. Registering your intellectual property withrepparttar 119640 government will go a long way when it comes time to stop others from infringing on your company name or intellectual rights.



Nick Smith is an internet marketer specializing in online advertising. For more information about TiVo and DVRs, visit I-Satellite.


Increasing Short and Long Term Profits

Written by Charlie Cook


Continued from page 1

Generating Short Term Sales Not everyone arrives at your web site or atrepparttar other end ofrepparttar 119633 phone line ready to make a decision. In fact, 80% of people spend two or more weeks researching their purchasing decisions. What can you do to keep these people interested?

First, get your prospect's contact information. Stay in touch and continue to demonstrate your expertise andrepparttar 119634 value of your products and services.

You may have an interested prospect, butrepparttar 119635 prospect isn't clear on why or when they should use your product or service. When you follow up a prospect's initial contact, give them useful ideas they can use related to your product or service, and take advantage of this opportunity to educate them aboutrepparttar 119636 problem or concern you can help them resolve.

Improving Long Term Conversion Rates I had one prospect that I'd talked to three or four times onrepparttar 119637 phone overrepparttar 119638 course of two months. When they didn't respond to two follow up calls, I stopped calling. Two months later, that is, four months after our first conversation, they called me to say that after researching a dozen other consultants, they'd finally decided to use my services and atrepparttar 119639 same time had expandedrepparttar 119640 scope ofrepparttar 119641 project andrepparttar 119642 price I'd be paid. You've probably had similar experiences.

Some prospects take even longer than four months to make a decision to buy. Why? Because people buy based on their own timetable, not yours. They buy when they have a need and when they want to act on that need. Even after deciding you want a new tax attorney or financial advisor, it might take you years to end your relationship with your existing advisor and place your trust in someone new.

Most people use contact management software to remind themselves to call or write prospects. This is a first step in keeping a potential sale alive, but a strategy of using only follow up phone calls can fall flat when prospects don't have any news about a project to report, haven't made a decision or just aren't ready to make a purchase.

One effective strategy for staying inrepparttar 119643 "front of mind" of your prospects is to use a newsletter or ezine to continually demonstrate your expertise and remind them of ways you can help them. Send it out biweekly or monthly, and they'll remember you when they are ready to make a decision or a purchase.

To make sales today, next week and in months to come, give your prospectsrepparttar 119644 information they need andrepparttar 119645 solutions they want immediately and continuously. Have a plan in place to follow up with those who don't purchase your goods and services right away. Keep providingrepparttar 119646 information they need to make a decision, and you'll increase sales and profits today, tomorrow and inrepparttar 119647 coming years.

The author, Charlie Cook, helps service professionals and small business owners attract more clients and be more successful. Sign up for the Free Marketing Plan eBook, for small business owners and people responsible for marketing, '7 Steps to get more clients and grow your business' at http://www.marketingforsuccess.com

2005 © In Mind Communications, LLC. All rights reserved.


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