What about customers you already have? What are you doing for them? Of course, you’re delivering a top quality product or service at a competitive price. But that’s not enough.

Business wisdom says current customers are your best source for new sales. After all, these folks have already established a dialogue with you by buying from you. It’s up to you to keep conversation going.

Here are communications programs that work well with customers.

To grow your business you need to attract attention of your prospects, advertising can help you do so if used correctly. Unfortunately, many small businesses owners waste thousands of dollars on advertising efforts that only achieve minimal results.

If you want to get most from money you spend to promote your products and services, make sure to avoid these common mistakes.

Focusing on Your Products and Services If you want to get attention of your prospects, speak to their needs and wants. Your prospects' primary concern isn't that you've been in business for 25 years; it is do you know problem they want to solve. Use your ad to identify at least one common problem of your prospects and benefit of using your product or service.

Having a Weak Marketing Message All to often you hear ads and it takes some thought to figure out what they are even promoting. Make sure your advertisement includes a 7-10 word description of whom you serve and problems you solve so people who read or hear your ad know how you can help them.

Using Wrong Words A word here, a phrase there can change your response rate by hundreds of percent. When you spend money on advertising, first test a number of versions of your copy to identify one that works best. Just by revising her ad copy so it was client and problem centered, I helped one small business owner achieve her best month in sales ever.

Missing Motivation Most ads miss mark in moving prospects to action. If you want to prompt prospects to visit your web site or your store or to contact you, include an offer that motivates them to do so.