Are You Culprit?

Are you a manager who pretty much ignores your organization’s important outside audiences?

If that’s you, do you realize how difficult you’re making it to achieve important behavior changes you really need and want? I mean changes that lead directly to achieving your department, division or subsidiary’s objectives?

I’m talking about growing repeat purchase rate; attracting new prospects; achieving new levels of membership applications or contributions; expanding list of organizations officially specifying your service and products; or suppliers newly motivated to meet your strict quality and delivery requirements.

Start operating in your own best interest by taking a closer look at public relations work underway on behalf of your unit.

Is it focused more on communications tactics than upon a workable, comprehensive plan for dealing with those key external audience behaviors that impact your operation most?

What may be needed is a refocus on fundamental premise of public relations: People act on their own perception of facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action very people whose behaviors affect organization most, public relations mission is accomplished.

When you meet with PR people assigned to your unit, be clear about need to list and prioritize those key external audiences, and then monitor how your unit is perceived by members of those audiences. That means interacting with those folks and asking lots of questions. Now, and only now, can you mount an effort to alter those perceptions, and thus behaviors, in your direction.

You need to evaluate data gathered during perception monitoring session. Is there a glaring inaccuracy about your organization mentioned by several members of that audience? Any false assumptions come bubbling up about your products, services or management? Are misconceptions, rumors or distinctly negative attitudes obvious during your monitoring interviews?

It doesn't matter what race you're in or what you sell.

There're always going to be competitions threatening your business, especially if you're involved in a hot market.

It's a catch-22 situation as such markets are where you make most money in first place.

Look at it this way, even your local ice-cream seller has his, or her hands full with competition.

Imagine doing business online where prospects are faced with unlimited alternatives besides yours.

You've got to outperform and beat your own competitors, before you become beaten one.

Now I don't mean really going out there with a baseball bat like a madman. Nor do I advocate verbal 'bashing' which seems to be a rage that'll never go away.

There're far easier ways to deal with your competition.

Read on then, here are 5 staggeringly simple 'secrets' to winning race everytime.

-------------------------------------- Secret One : Building Your Own "X-factor" --------------------------------------

Customers are always looking for something different and refreshing.

In a senario of ebook marketing, you may very well be selling exact ebook as a thousand other resellers.

Ask yourself : what will make customers buy yours?

In this example, you should create your own branding and differentiation. For instance, make more profits by :

- Repackaging ebooks into unique packages - Designing your own sales page for uniqueness - Offering truly exclusive bonuses - Presenting more professionalism - Serving up better customer service

Brand yourself, be different and be bold. This is your "X-factor" advantage which no competitor can copy.

it's uniquely YOU.

As my good friend John Colanzi will say "stop promoting products and start promoting you".

-------------------------------------- Secret Two : Become Friends --------------------------------------

Secret number two out of "How To Make Friends And Influence People".

Just kidding. But if you look at it in this way, competitors are really perfect 'business partners'.

Think about it. Both of your businesses are targeting same kinds of prospects.

So why not help each other?

Everyone wins by combining strengths.

The easiest method to do this is through Joint Ventures, which can be for anything you dream of.

My principle is simple : find close competitiors and turn them into partners.

Contact them personally and prospose a joint venture deal :