New product developmentcustomers are smarter than you

Current problems in NPD

● Companies guess what the customer wants

● 25% success rate with new products

Solution

● Conducting a customer profile● Revenue● Geographically based● What drives the decision-making (price, service,

convenience)

● ‘’Your customer is smarter than you’’

● The correct conversation

Word of mouth marketing

WOMM

● Most valuable form of marketing

● The cheapest marketing form there is

● The one that customers trust above all others

● Most likely to drive sales for your company

How to achieve it?

● Provide top-notch products and services

● Excellent customer service

● Be friendly

● Thank your customers for their business

● Keep in touch with customers regularly

The tips on WOMM

● Be personally visible to your market

● Be active in social media

● Offer to be a speaker (conferences, industry

meetings, libraries)

● Take use of testimonials (!)

● Publicize any publicity you get

Facebook marketing

How to increase sales?

The three core goals

1. Increase page likes

2. Improve engagement

3. Increase sales

Increasing page likes

● Contests

● Coupons

● Educational content - ebook

● Facebook Ads

● Exclusive content

Improving engagement

● Run polls using the ‘’Question’’ feature● Industry or other ‘’hot’’ news● Respond to FB comments● Posting self-made videos● Embed the slideshare presentations● Photos from events

Making sales happen

● Links

● Online store

● Calls-to-action

● FB buttons

● In posts

Conducting a call to action

● Include an action word● Keep it to the point● Promote a benefit and not a product● Ask a question● ‘’Free’’ is the best keyword

The annoying networker

● Read your customer

● Don’t go after everybody

● Be interested in them

● Use social media

● Stop talking so much

● Follow up and don’t forget about them

Network Marketing

Marketing is a powerful tool and network marketing can increase thatpower, provided you are self motivated. In a simple visual, see aproduct and remove the advertising agency from it. It is up to you to dothe marketing and advertising.

Donald Trump

People are different.Someone likes to attend an event, someone else does not.

7 Strategies for People Who Hate Networking

1. Smile. Before you step out of your car or hotel room, take a deep breath and smile.2. Rescue someone. You're not the only one who doesn't enjoy going to networking events; go over to them and make them feel comfortable.3. Don't worry about what you're going to say. Let them talk. When the time is right the conversation will naturally turn to you and you'll be able to share.

4. Relax. Remember that this is nothing more than a conversation. Don't try to sell. Don't try to impress. People buy from people they know, like and trust. Establish a relationship.5. Don't try to meet everyone. Prefer to get to know a few people well than to have superficial conversations with everyone.6. Follow up. Very few people follow up after networking events. Tell your new friend how and when you'll be in touch after the event so that they expect it.7. Attend the same networking group regularly. The more often you go the better you will know the people.

The Five Biggest Business Networking Mistakes1. If you're going to networking events focusing on getting clients, you'll miss out on what you COULD find: connections.2. If you think passing out business cards is a numbers game, you're sadly mistaken. Instead, focus on getting to know people -- and get their cards as well.3. Don't jump in with your offer. Get to know more about them and their business; Try and find ways that you can be of service or help them.

4. It's ok to talk about what you do or offer, but where you cross the line is when start selling and pushing your product or service on them. Remember BEFORE establish a relationship with them.5. When you follow up with people after networking events, don't start selling them. Seek to be of service and continue to build that relationship.

Keep in mind that networking is about being genuine and authentic:building trust and relationships, and seeing how you can help others.

Ask yourself what your goals are in participating in networking meetings so that you will pick groups that will help you get what you are looking for. Some meetings are based more on learning, making contacts, and/or volunteering rather than on strictly making business connections.

Visit as many groups as possible that spark your interest: you can see if the groups are useful for you or not.Hold volunteer positions in organizations. This is a great way to stay visible.Ask open-ended questions in networking conversations: This form of questioning opens up the discussion and shows listeners that you are interested in them.Become as a powerful resource for others: people remember to turn to you for suggestions, ideas, names of other people, etc. This keeps you visible to them.

- Be able to articulate what you are looking for and how others may help you. Too often people in conversations ask, "How may I help you?" and no immediate answer comes to mind.- When people give you referrals, your actions are a reflection on them. Respect and honor that and your referrals will grow.- Express that you enjoyed meeting them, and ask if you could get together and share ideas.

5 Simple Networking Follow-Up Strategies

1. Decide how and when you will follow up with people after the event.- Send an article that is a good follow up to most of yourconversations that represent what you do and is of value to readers.

- Pick up the phone and call.2. Bring a sharpie with you to all networking events3. Bring extra business cards (or even blank cards)

- If someone you meet doesn't have a business card (many people don't bring enough) you can write his or her information on one of your own card or on a blank one.

4. Tell them how you will be following up - When you tell them what to expect it makes it real for both of you.5. Just because someone doesn't call back or respond to your email does not mean they are not interested- Touch base with them regularly. Continue to give information of value and interest to them, so you become someone they trust.

Thank you for your attention!

Presentation done by Arturs Viksne (sl. 1-16) and Marco Masu (17-28)

Hieroglifs International Latvia