Lucy Loves Business – Page 2 of 27 – Brilliant Business Things

Everything you’ve done up to now…

If there’s one thing that everyone says about their Thing is that they WISH they’d known what it was BEFORE. And I can see the logic–as surely if you’d known what your Thing was before, you wouldn’t have done all the other things you had (well, all the ones you didn’t like at least!). And it doesn’t matter what age you are when you work out your Thing (I’ve worked with people in their 20s through to their 60s), the frustration is always the same–if only I’d known this before…

Same Thing. Different Recipe.

Much as I would love them to request raw veg and seeds, sometimes the small people want cake. And, specifically, last weekend they wanted brownies. So I of course had to oblige (nothing to do with me wanting to eat any, of course **coughs**). I don’t have a go-to brownie recipe in my head so I dug out my cookbooks–which are a rather eclectic selection I have to admit–and compared recipes.

This isn’t it

What your Thing isn’t is as important as what it is. Sometimes it’s expected that when you’re good at something you’re good at ALL of it. Take Marketing (for an example close to my heart!): I LOVE ideas, strategy, plans, visions, creative concepts, copy and the communication side of Marketing. Do I love the stats, […]

Structure sells

When you have a fabulous Thing–especially when it’s simply something you see and get that other people don’t see or get–it’s important to build structure around it when selling it.

Give Info Sell Action

This is something that can be hard to get your head around at first, especially when you’ve just realised your Thing and you want to keep it well protected. But the best thing you can do with your Thing is give it away.

Publish ‘something’ to sell more

You don’t need a website to be able to sell your Thing. OF COURSE a website helps and provides a great focal point for prospective clients to learn about you, understand your Thing, see examples of your work, read your story, watch you in action (assuming you have videos!) and compare your offers. But you don’t need a website.

Knowing and doing are very different things…

I know loads. About all sorts of things (not just Thing-related). But knowing and doing and two very different things.

You’re better than you think you are

I’m good at this. Maybe you’re good at this too? Thinking you’re ‘not that good’ at things and underestimating your talent and value. But the chances are you are good, or at the very least ‘good enough’.

Location Location Location (where it matters)

Apart from being one of my favourite telly shows (who doesn’t love a bit of Kirstie and Phil banter while snooping round other people’s houses?), Location Location Location is an important consideration too when working out where to sell your products and services. I’m not an expert in Retail, but I know enough to know it’s important to choose a location that works–lots of foot traffic, easy parking–that sort of thing. And location is as important when you offer a service too.

Listen very carefully (your market is speaking)

Most of the answers you need for your business are all around you–it’s often simply a case of listening more carefully.

Why selling everything might be too much

I get it. Trust me I REALLY get it. You want to sell EVERYTHING YOU KNOW. The thing with your Thing is that when you realise you’ve got this better, quicker, smarter, cheaper, more detailed, simply ‘better’ way of doing something, you want to help–and you want to give people EVERYTHING you have.

Using what you’ve got

When looking to create new products and services, do make sure you’re using what you’ve already got first. The same is true for marketing content and pretty much anything–until you’ve exhausted new markets and new audiences, it’s a really good idea to use what you’ve already got.