Thanks if you've taken the time to fill in my brief survey (if you haven't click here to do so - it'll help me provide you with the tips you want!).
One of the topics you were interested in most, was how to grow your business. I've developed a simple diagram:

Grow your business by identifying ways to:

1. Sell more of your existing products to your existing customer groups. So, I can sell my "Starting a tourism business" course to more people in the South Island who want to start a tourism business.
   
2. Sell more of your existing products to new customer groups. I could sell this course in Auckland or Australia.
3. Develop and sell new products to existing customers. I could develop a new course for people that have done one of my other courses.
4. Develop and sell new products to new customers. I could sell this new course online to people all around the world.

So, how does this diagram apply to your business, customers and products? Where are your opportunities?
Write down all options and then prioritise the actions that will bring you the best results.

When you do your business and marketing planning, you can use this diagram to help you grow your business!

Have a great weekend! Till next week, Marijke
NOTE: Registrations are open for the "Starting a Tourism Business - Hit the ground running" course in Dunedin on 30 March 2017 - see below!

If you want to be successful in business, you need to stand out! Be remarkable! Here are 8 ways to help you stand out from your competition:

1. Make a wish list from your customers’ point of view – what would make your product or service even better? (and better than your competition!). Have a look at your product reviews - they will tell you a lot about what they like and don't like. Then come up with the wish list.
   
2. Focus on a niche market that is different from your competition and offer a product tailored to the needs of the customers in that niche.
3. Who are your best customers? (I mean the ones that LOVE your product, are happy to pay the price you set and tell lots of people about it) How can you get more of them?
4. Offer better service than your competition (this one should really be at the top!!)
5. Have a clear point of difference from a customer’s perspective. What are the reasons your customers would recommend you?
6. Offer a high end (exclusive) version of your product.
7. Make it easier and more convenient for people to buy or book your product than your competition’s. (that’s good service too!)
8. Think of ways you could make your product either the best, the cheapest, the most exclusive, the fastest, the slowest, the newest, the oldest, the biggest, the smallest etc. and ensure it’s different from your competition.

Brainstorm the above with your team - you'll be amazed at how you can improve and stand out from your competition!

Till next week, Marijke

Have you ever had to come up with a name for a new business or product? If you have, you know it’s not an easy thing.
There aren’t really any rules when it comes to business or product names, but there are some things to think about that will make it easier. Whether you are setting up a new business or are developing a new product, you’ll have it for a while (hopefully)…

Here are some tips to help you come up with a good  name:

The do’s:
•    Make sure the name is simple, easy to pronounce, memorable and easy to spell.
•    Research the web, the companies websites etc. to ensure the name isn’t already taken
•    Ensure the domain name you want is available (and relates to your name – preferably the same word as your name so it’s easy to find online)
•    Ensure it’s different from your competition
•    If you’re considering trademarking the name, ensure someone else hasn’t already done so

The don’t’s:
•    Stay away from negative connotations
•    Make sure the name doesn’t mean something negative or inappropriate in other languages
•    Don’t restrict your name too much (with the eye on future growth) or limit yourself to a place name (in case you move!)

Ideas on how to generate names:
•    Brainstorm words that relate to the product / service
•    Words that relate to the benefits for the customer
•    Words that relate to the values/quality of the company and products
•    Words related to colours, animals, plants, your industry, your types of customers etc.
•    Use a thesaurus to look up related names/words
•    Consider combining words
•    Ensure your name is meaningful rather than too generic
•    Use adjectives
•    Use humour
•    Does it evoke emotion?

A little plug for the 2016 Marketing for Success Programme, starting in April. Don't miss it if you want to bring your business to the next level! Click here for more info!

Till next week, Marijke

I was just reading Destination Queenstown’s newsletter and see that several tourism businesses are having their annual locals’ day.
What a great community and marketing initiative! They offer their tourism activity at a heavily reduced rate, and often the money goes to a charity.

Why have a locals' day? Well, it's a great initiative that achieves the following:

• Locals experience the activities and are likely to recommend it to others (tourists to the town or visiting friends & relatives). Word of mouth & recommendation is still one of the biggest sources of information for people to book/buy your product.
• Locals will ‘brag’ about it in social media
• It is a good way to encourage Tripadvisor ratings
• Businesses that donate to charities or community projects create goodwill and are more likely to get chosen by customers over businesses that don’t
• It’s an opportunity to create some business over the quiet times
  
• It will increase awareness of your business
  
• Promoting your locals’ day will generate some free publicity!

So, what can you do to get locals to experience your product or service?

Till next week!

Marijke

To view the presentation below in full screen, scroll sideways and click :

Or click on: http://www.slideshare.net/fullscreen/MarketingwhizzNZ/3-ways-to-grow-your-business-in-2014-28818579/1