It seems there are people out there who spend their workdays studying "consumer behavior" and how to influence that behavior without our conscious participation and knowledge! As a search engine optimizer, my job is to make small business web sites rank well in search results at major search engines. The goal of that activity is to attract online buyers of my clients' products to their web site. Fortunately, that's where my job ends and web site takes over. I generate traffic and site supposedly generates sales.

In real world though, there are people dedicating their professional lives to making certain that consumers not only purchase specific brands, but fall in love with those brands, entice them to buy those brands next time, and indeed to feel they can't survive without those products! The program showed a "marketing anthropologist" following a woman through grocery store observing her buying habits and asking questions about purchases made.

This woman bought Cascade dishwashing detergent exclusively in a specific size package. When she discovered that size of product missing from shelf in supermarket, she couldn't bring herself to buy larger box, or -- GASP! -- to switch brands so she could get that same size box! Asked why, she said, "I've always bought that brand in that size, I grew up with it!" This is ultimate customer as long as Cascade doesn't change size of that box or alter their packaging. Maybe it's a guy thing, but I honestly don't get it! SudsyDish liquid works too.

2. Make it a practice to up sell to new and existing customers. After they decide to buy one product, offer them another product.

3. Cross promote your products and services with other businesses that aren't competition. You will reach a wider audience at less cost.

4. Create joint venture deals with other businesses. You can expand your product line and target other profitable markets at a lower cost.