| Just like you shouldn't wait until Valentines Day to | | | | something for the goody bag.Idea #2: Educational |
| pamper your loved one, you shouldn't wait until | | | | GiftsThis idea is best described with this specific |
| the next time you're launching a new product or | | | | example... If you're a business coach, you can |
| service before your past and current clients hear | | | | host a client appreciation day. The Client Delight |
| from you. The pampering should continue all year | | | | Experience could include (i) a 60-minute, |
| long, if you want loyalty and repeat business from | | | | telephone-based, workshop-format presentation |
| them.A pattern I see again and again is the | | | | on a hot business-building topic by a guest expert. |
| "keep-attracting-new-clients-and-neglect-old-ones" | | | | (ii) mailing your clients a hard copy "how-to" tips |
| syndrome.Considering these facts... It costs six | | | | booklet that's authored by another expert. (iii) a |
| times more to acquire a new client than it costs | | | | discount coupon for a live seminar hosted by |
| to get repeat business from an existing client. It's | | | | another expert during the year.Idea #3: Dinner |
| sixteen times easier to sell to your existing clients | | | | For TwoMake arrangements with restaurants in |
| than to a new client, simply because your existing | | | | cities where you have clients. On every client's |
| clients already know, like and trust you. ... it is | | | | birthday send them a "free dessert for two" |
| baffling why many small business owners ignore a | | | | voucher from a local restaurant. A savvy |
| client after the first sale, and only ever contact | | | | restaurant owner will know that your client is likely |
| the client again when a new marketing campaign | | | | to eat more than dessert, so they would be |
| is launched. And yet, they expect the client to | | | | happy to give away the dessert freebie. I know |
| spread the word about them.The success of your | | | | this because I work with a lot of restaurant |
| business doesn't depend just on bringing in new | | | | owners. Your only cost may be printing the |
| clients. It also depends on retaining current clients, | | | | voucher, but you'll find that some restaurant |
| getting repeat business from them, and | | | | owners may take on that cost too.Idea #4: |
| encouraging them to tell others about your | | | | Happy Birthday PackageOn the birthday of your |
| products and services.So how do you pamper | | | | best clients, arrange to have exclusive discount |
| your clients when you have a low marketing | | | | coupons and/or freebies from three different |
| budget?Simply get your joint venture partners to | | | | businesses. For example, a 15% discount coupon |
| contribute gifts that will create a Client Delight | | | | from a gift basket company, a free facial |
| Experience for your clients... the kind of | | | | voucher from a Day Spa, and a 2-month free |
| experience that will encourage your clients give | | | | membership voucher from a business web site or |
| you more referrals, sing your praises wherever | | | | fitness club. Present each coupon and voucher in a |
| they go, and keep coming back to buy more of | | | | separate fancy envelope and put all envelopes in |
| your products and services.Most small business | | | | a gift box with a card, and mail it to your client as |
| owners implement joint venture marketing to | | | | a "happy birthday" package.These ideas are only |
| acquire new clients. They forget that this | | | | the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how to |
| powerful strategy can also be used to enhance | | | | use joint venture marketing to "wow" your clients. |
| client relationships.It's a win-win situation because | | | | If you don't have clients yet, you can contribute |
| your joint venture partners will gain exposure to | | | | freebies to other non-competing businesses that |
| your clients, and your clients will be happy that | | | | have the type of clients you target. You'll find that |
| you added value to their business experience with | | | | this tactic will send their clients your |
| you, without charging extra.Valentines, birthdays, | | | | way.Copyright © 2006 by Habiba Abubakar |
| thanksgiving, Xmas etc. are all opportunities to | | | | and Emprez. All rights reserved.Note: You are |
| "wow" your clients with a Client Delight | | | | welcome to republish this article as long as the |
| Experience. Here are four ways to do this by | | | | resource box at the end is included fully and |
| using joint venture marketing:Idea #1: Day Spa | | | | unaltered.Habiba Abubakar, a.k.a. The Profit Diva, |
| BonanzaContact a local Day Spa and let them | | | | specializes in helping small business owners who |
| know you're preparing a Valentines Day goody | | | | are struggling to increase their client base and are |
| bag for your clients. Ask them to contribute an | | | | tired of earning mediocre profits. The tips in this |
| exclusive "get two facials for the price of one" | | | | article have been excerpted from her |
| voucher or a discount coupon for selected spa | | | | home-study program, "Joint Venture Profits For |
| treatments. You can share printing costs with | | | | Small Business Owners. |
| each joint venture partner that contributes | | | | |