Oh didn't we do well...

Oh didn’t we do well

Sometimes in business, you are faced with decision you may not want to face, but you just know you have got to. I think the big thing is when you make the decision; do you do it now or later? I think the answer is there may never be a good time; however not acting at all is a far worse scenario.

Kevin and I had been racking our brains over when to launch different parts of the advertising media package that we have created. I have to say at this point, when I say we, what I meant to say was, I have some great ideas. Poor old Kevin is just left to sort out the hard work and programming in the back ground.

I supposed I really ought to bring you right up to date on where we are at this point.

1) Our first Breakfast Meeting is up and running, and heading in the right direction.

2) The Coffee Morning is still growing, with lots of new businesses.

3) The main website has had a massive overhaul.

4) The Networking section is now working in the back office.

5) Members can pass building blocks via the networking section.

6) The search engine has gained a FREE listing for any business.

7) Silver members now have their banners appearing FREE on the sites.

8) Telesales ladies are busy on the phones to get people to events.

Just leaving piste et resistance to the end (more programming for poor old Kevin) the new social media site for the public. This will be a great site for our members who want to advertise to the public, because they can have their banners all over the site at no extra cost to them.

After that, it then just leaves The Advantage our own newsletter that will be dropped to both businesses and public alike, on a monthly bases. Again all members will get listed for FREE in this, but silver members will get a quarter page advert for the first month of them joining for FREE.


That must all lead towards one thing; we are almost there.

Yesterday I received a testimonial from ALB Couriers, I will let you read it, this really made my day!

Hello Mark

Just a note to thank you for the wonderful testimonial you sent me, as you know today was the day of my business funding meeting with my business adviser, who turned out to be 2 guys from deloitte and touché. The result of this 2 hour meeting was that D&T are funding my new courier business with a loan of £7500 pounds.

As you can imagine, I am ecstatic at the outcome of this meeting and I don’t mind admitting \I was a tad nervous, but after I gave my introductory speech about ALB Couriers and handed out your testimonial ( about which they were very impressed with) I happened to mention that your testimonial will be the first of many not all from you but other companies, !!!!! I started to relax and answer all their questions, all my hard work, research, and enthusiasm over the last 12 months has finally paid dividends.

They were very impressed with the concept behind ABC advantage and they practically told me to get in and join.

Once the paperwork has been finalised the cash will be in my account in about 5 - 10 days then I will immediately sign up with ABC advantage and attend my first breakfast club meeting in Bury St Edmunds. Oh and start work!!

On a final note, I want to thank you for all the help and advice you have given me over the last few months and I look forward to having a happy and prosperous business relationship with you and ABC advantage.

Kind Regards
Tony
ALB Couriers
01708502488
07864380517

I sat and smiled, as my wife Becky read this over my shoulder, “0h didn’t we do well” she said. This is what makes the job as good as it gets, networking, speaking to people and hooking up contacts, all to get the results people are looking for.

Now don’t forget to go to www.abclocal.biz and advertise your business online for FREE.

Speak soon

Mark

www.abcadvantage.biz

Thinking Outside The Box...

Thinking outside the box, I guess the expression ‘thinking outside the box’ doesn’t really apply to me, as I am the one person who would never get in the box to start with! Over the years, I have come up against all sorts of competition in lots of different business fields, and it never ceases to amaze me how some people feel so threatened. I suppose it must be down to one of two main factors.

1) They are not really sure that what they have to offer is as good for their customers as they tell them it is.

2) They know what you offer is a better product or service and are scared they will lose business.

I believe you are on a slippery slope when you start to think like this, as without fail, I have always found that it is better to work with people rather than against them. Generally, you find if you put someone’s back up they will go out of their way to make your life more difficult. Since Kevin and I started to promote the ABC and all the aspects of it, we have had several people say, “isn’t that like what Joe Bloggs does” and we would say NO, fortunately, there is nothing out there like ABC.

Business without a doubt is about making contacts, working with those contacts, and exploring the opportunities for business with those people and their businesses. There are so many places now to network it is unreal. On-line alone, there are hundreds of new sites to network on. Don’t get me wrong, I belong to lots of these sites and get some great business contacts from them. However, you have to look at the big picture, like outside the box. We have, and you should see what’s out here!.

Let me just point out a few facts about business as a whole and how things are going to change this coming year. I speak with hundreds of business people each week, and at the moment, they all say the same thing, “THINGS ARE BAD”. Not because they know they are, just the media told them it was, so it must be. But inside the box, they believe what they are told! So if things are bad, in the box, this is what will happen and you won’t be able to change it.

1) Businesses will only have so much to spend on advertising.

2) Businesses will want proof of what that advertising is bringing them.

3) Businesses will want to get more customers, but at know extra cost.

4) Businesses will want to network with more businesses at know extra cost.

5) Businesses will want to save money and get more benefits.

I think you get the point. I could go on, but it would only depress us both!
So what are the options for the everyday business person with only so much to spend?
I guess the common one is, to keep doing what you have always done and get what you have always got…..

… OR TRY SOMETHING NEW!

How does this sound, for the last 3 years Kevin and I had a dream; to launch the Advantage Business Club. It would offer its members one simple thing, a way to get more business at no extra cost. Let me clarify what I mean.

Businesses spend money on advertising in lots of different ways, so we thought let’s bring it all under one roof.

Business Breakfasts
Coffee Mornings
Evening Buffets
Business News Letter Advertising in The Advantage
News Articles
Search Engine Listing
Banner Advertising
Key Word Search
On-line Networking Sites
Profiled on Busy Sites
15% of Meals at the Chez Gerard’s Group
Put Your Business Cards, in Business Card Dispensers in Busy Outlets
Spot Light Your Business at Meetings

Just to name a few and we have only been launched a month!

Backed by a company who do both online and off line advertising to promote all of the above. Oh, did I mention the fact that we are looking to launch a Charity to help start up businesses. Strange what you can think of over 3 years.

I know you’re thinking, “They can’t do all that”, well, you’re wrong, as the grass is greener on the other side, and in this case, it’s outside the box!

Add up what you would spend on all the above, if you could even get it. Then have a look at our website and let us know what you think about what we are doing. If you don’t like it, the worse case scenario is, you can register on our search engine for FREE.

Speak soon and check out the site.

Mark

http://www.abcadvantage.biz
http://www.abclocal.biz/