1. Have a strong lead generation strategy. Lead generation helps your marketing get targeted. Instead of selling directly, ask people to prequalify themselves and then sell to those most likely to be receptive to your offers. The best way to conduct a lead generation is to offer a free report or information.

2. To ask. It almost practically impossible for people to discover you and give you business. But is much easier to get business when you ask. In fact, it is nearly a guarantee that if you give a convincingly good offer to 100 people, at least one will take it.

3. Make it easy for people to do business with you. Don’t ask people to call when they can email. Don’t ask people to call when they can text. Always look for the easier, less tedious, less costly option.

4. Network relentlessly. Networking helps you build credibility and get referral business. It also helps you learn what is working in other industries that you can adopt in your own area.

5. Know the lifetime value of a customer. This is important in making decisions to do with marketing. If you customers lifetime value is $100, then it means you can spend $90 and still be in profit. The reason this is important is that some entrepreneurs spend $10 to try and acquire a client whose lifetime value is $10,000.

6. Have strong communication skills. A persuasively written article, letter or massage is better than one weakly worded one. If you don’t know how to write well, then have someone do this for you. The fact is having a landing age that doesn’t convert is good as having none.

7. Take charge of the marketing department. Marketing is the most important aspect of any business. You cannot fully delegate this function.

8. Treat people as astute human beings. The customer is your spouse, neighbor, son or sister with feelings. If you are selling something you cannot sell to your mother, then your business model is faulty.

9. Provide value. Some entrepreneurs have products or services that no one would be interested in if they were offered for free. How can one be expected to sell them? People only pay for value. You should constantly be asking if what you are offering provides value for the price you are demanding.

10. Take advantage of technological advancement. Recognize the fact that the world will never remain static and as such take advantage of the social media craze, smart phone, ipads and ipod to market yourself.

– Mary Wilhite