WORD COUNT:  442 Short   …  Yet Empowering Words

TIME to GROW: * Less than 2 Minutes *

Have you ever had this experience? You see an ad for something you want to purchase. Maybe it’s something you buy often like batteries, or perhaps it’s something that requires more thought, like a car, or vacation.

So you see an ad and get pretty excited, because it seems like a great deal, and the promotion is from a well known retailer, or service provider.

So you go to the store to check it out … only to find that the desired item was so overpriced to begin with, that you’re not really saving any money. You could have gone to the local discount, or everyday low price (EDLP) provider, and received an even better bargain anytime.

I see this practice a lot in the infamous BUY ONE GET ONE “coupon” ads. You know the deal, the “second one” is free, or half price.

But it’s really not a value when the original price is double that of other sources, is it? And if we’re not getting anything better by shopping at the businesses who use these tactics to lure us in, then why would we shop there? Should we trust what they say?

Of course, misleading promotions only work once or twice, before consumers start to realize which providers offer real value every day. That’s why so many businesses are on a perpetual quest to find more customers. They’re not nurturing the relationships with the customers they already have.

So the moral of the story is this. Seek to provide real value  in your work, and in your business. Resist the temptation to follow the “experts” who suggest using tactics to entice “unsuspecting” customers, in order to grow your business.

Instead, treat your customers like you’d want to be treated. Ask how can I add real value? How can I make their lives easier? What steps can I take to save them money, show my appreciation, take away a burden, or make it easier to do business with me? What would I want if I were in their shoes? How would I want to be treated?

It’s easy to take your eye off the ball, if you focus too much on what the competition is doing. But maybe what they’re doing isn’t right for you, or your customers. Maybe their customer is not your ideal customer.

With all the buzz about the latest tactics, it’s easy to lose sight of the simple truth. To attract more of your ideal customers, you need to know who you can best serve.

Then make adding real value, your top priority. Everything else is just a distraction.

Your friend and partner in creating extraordinary realities,

Copyright© Laura Cardone 2008. All Rights Reserved. This is a Daily Discovery Series edition. http://www.profitswithpurpose.com is for conscious business owners and enlightened leaders who are passionate about creating a successful business, AND a fulfilling and balanced life.

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