A while back my adult daughter was trying to talk me into doing a task for her that I do not remember at this point. What I do remember is her offering me a bonus if I said yes.

“Maybe I will throw in a foot rub.” she says.

Now this would be a great bonus for almost anyone and would certainly seal the deal for many. I am not one of those people. I have not had feet for many years and as much as I miss foot rubs it is just not a possibility for me.

Think about this story the next time you are crafting an offer. It is common now to offer limited-time bonuses for purchases or a “gift” with a required purchase. Make sure your bonus is something your customers can use or even want.

If you sell honey perhaps you offer the tenth bottle free. If you own a grocery store you might give a free reusable bag for spending $100. Think about what you offer and whether your clients will view it as a value add or useless fluff.

Not every client will view your bonus the same and it is in your best interest to have your bonus appeal to as many as possible. So in the specific case of my daughter offering only me a foot rub it was useless fluff. But if she offered a free 20-minute foot rub as a bonus to clients buying a massage 5-pack it would be a value add for 99 percent of her customers.

Until next time…

Have a great day,
Susanne

P.S. My daughter wants me to let you know she was joking with me.

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Last time I wrote about life goals and why it is important to determine if your goals are actually your goals. I also mentioned that it is okay to be content with the life you have; the grass is green enough in your yard. It is the same for your business.

I am part of a networking group where a recurring theme is creating a six-figure business (or larger). I really enjoy being part of the group but a six-figure business is not my current goal. My second year in business I made 450 percent more than I did my first year. (amazing what the school of hard knocks can teach you) This year I am on track to make at least 66 percent more than I did my second year.

If I can keep growing at this third-year pace a six-figure business is not far on the horizon. But my goal is to have a stable income and continue to enjoy my life. If that six-figure business does not fit into that goal, I am very content with a mid-to-high five-figure business. The different primary goal does not make me enjoy that networking group any less.

Decide what is really important to you. My schedule this week ended up being very full and I had to tell my four-year-old daughter that I was not going to be able to have any adventures with her this week so I could work on some client projects. Next Friday I am going to take the day off to give her the whole day for adventures. I am working toward a work schedule that fits into her school schedule by August 2018. That is success for me.

Take the time to examine what you love about your business and what you do not love about your business. If the idea of actually picking up the phone and having a sales conversation fills you with dread, hire a commissioned sales person. Yes, you will make less on each sale, but you will be happier and your sales person will likely make more sales than you would.

You are in control of what you want and your goals should come down to you and you alone. You are the boss.

Until next time…

Have a great day,
Susanne

Click here to get help developing or implementing your strategic plan.