Matching Customer Needs and Improving Sales

Customers are needy creatures that are willing to pay for those needs if the right items or services are available. When companies have better focus on meeting those needs they are able to increase sales and improve marketing performance. At the end of the day, performance is about discovering needs, fulfilling those needs and converting those needs into sales.

One of the first things to assessing customer needs is understanding your core customer demographics. Once you have a grasp of your customer's spending habits, income, location, and interests you can find those products generate significant market appeal.

Beyond finding marketing driven products you will need to poll and question your customers to determine which specific features, brands, services and products appeal to them the most. Obtaining your general customer demographics and specific needs will help you develop offerings that serve those needs.

Finding your customer needs is one thing but getting them to make a purchase is another. This will require tapping into their motivational interests. In many cases this is based in their self-esteem needs while in other cases it is more related to to their specific utility.

The marketing campaigns you create should tap those interests and provide specific information on how to make a purchase. Making this process as easy as possible lowers the annoyance factor associated with buying. Conversion is related to the ability of making purchases easy as possible.

Revitalizing Small Farms

Small farms were once the backbone of the country from the first day settlers got off the boat. These small farms started with almost nothing.  Families cut out new land, built houses, and created a life where many would have perished. Life wasn't always easy but the did create a culture of individualism and self-reliance. Changes in work situations may allow younger generations to move back to farming as an occupation.

Today's online employment opportunities offers chances for younger people to start their own farms and still keep their jobs. This is an amazing advancement that could be used to repopulate small towns and rural countryside.

The problem with many of these areas is that people can't' find good paying jobs, don't have the capital to start farms, and have few options. Younger people are forced off of their family land and then into larger cities where the lifestyle changes.

To keep people on their farms and starting new farms means giving them employment opportunities. They need a chance to not only make money on their farm activities but also somewhere that provides a reasonable income and medical benefits.

Micro farms can start small and then make their way into something larger as they progress and find new markets. It is just like running any other business. However, with a solid job to support the family the process becomes much easier. Some may stay small micro-farms for personal use while others could grow into something bigger. The trend can be reversed.

Keeping Up with Your Yoga Routine

When your busy and working a lot you will naturally lose track of time and shift around your daily agenda. Naturally we start putting our fitness and health routines to the side for more pressing "to do" issues. The problem is that these "to do" items will be never ending and they will never truly be done Set aside a time each day and keep up with your yoga practice.

Good health is built on daily choices that add up over time. We fall into the rut of putting aside those things that don't have immediate consequence for us and we may find that these problems arise over time. All is going well and one day we have an heart-attack, stroke or other medical issue that damages our life in some way..

Thinking ahead is helpful because it allows you to avoid those issues in the long-run while still improving lifestyle now. Set aside some time each day and complete your yoga routine. It doesn't matter if it is morning, middle of the day or night. Get started and you will continue through.

Cardio benefits improve upon your awareness, health and mood in the short run and your heart in the long-run. Resistance postures maintain your muscle strength while stretching ensures you have flexibility. Yoga is seen as total body fitness program that covers the physical, cardio, balance, flexibility and meditative aspects of health.

The excuses will creep in and you will feel like you should put your program aside for a while and then you run out of time. Find a solid hour to engage in fitness and then don't allow anything to get in the way. Make sure your home and ready to do this practice just like you were going to work. The consistency of your routine will be a big part of improving your health.

Downhill Skiing and the Power of Fresh Powdered Snow

Downhill skiing isn't for the faint of heart and requires a little practice to master. Some of us have grown up on ski hills while others learned over time. Whether you enjoy downhill skiing or snowboarding you gain a new level of respect for outdoor sports and the accommodations of a warm lodge. Local ski hills attract locals and tourists and provide a good opportunity for outdoor recreation.

I grew up on a ski hill and enjoyed the beauty of taking off from my father's yard into the side of the hill. It wasn't a big hill but it provided lots of childhood fun. At one point I considered getting on a team and skiing competitively. Never happened, but I have always enjoyed the sport and the life around skiing.

This morning I took off to Pine Mountain Resort for the $12 all you can eat buffet and the fresh blizzard snow. Puffy white powder is what you want before it is packed by the rush of skiers and snowboarders who create slick spots. In this case I was within the first wave of sportsmen to hit the hill.

I enjoy the fitness activities that improve leg strength as well as the cardio benefits of slaloms.  Of course who doesn't enjoy the great outdoors or the lodgings? Sitting by the fireplace after a few hours of extreme weather and more extreme sporting and you get why people come here.

Small establishments like Pine Mountain Golf and Ski Resort encourage new local tourism. People come from 100s of miles around to ski, golf, lodge, and dine in the area; something the local economy really needs. While the ski resort may be seasonal the golf resort offers opportunities for year round recreation. Put on your warmest gloves and ski pants and head for the lift.

Following Up for Business Reputation

Businesses often succeed and fail based on their market reputation. When that reputation is strong the business will continue growing on word-of-mouth marketing, strong brand image and repeat customers. However, when its reputation is poor it looses customer and fails to gain new ones as competitors brand image wins out.

Once I hired a contractor that nearly finished the job and was paid appropriately. He said he would drop off the elbows to the downspouts on a building in a few days. He didn't show up. Thinking he forgot, I inquired again and he apologized. Again he didn't show up! After a three more tries I gave up.

Darn contractors!!!!

What impression did the contractor give me? I had more work for him to do but now he will likely never see that additional work because he gave the impression he is not trustworthy. If he cannot spend the few minutes to drop off a couple of pieces worth a whopping $40 out of the $700 I paid him then he cannot be trusted to do more expensive work.

Particularly, he is teaching customers that he should not be paid until he puts the last bolt in because he won't show up again to finish the job. No care, no concern, he made selfish choices that will follow him. His future reputation and income will suffer because he has lost additional work and will have fewer future referrals.

It is important to remember that reputation is one of the most important assets a business can develop. Small towns and small businesses are even more subject to the overall the powerful impact of reputation. The contractor could follow up and ensure all of the work is completed and therefore save his reputation...yet he chose an approach which will lose a future potential customer and tarnish his image.

The Rugged Cold-Hiking in the Tundra

Ok maybe its not really the "tundra" where tree growth is hindered but you can get the feeling when it is 2 degrees with a -20 windchill factor. Whether you engage in hunting, hiking, photography or just like to be out in nature realize there are places in this world that are relatively untouched by human hands. You get that eerie feeling when your cell phone no longer works, you haven't seen cottages in a long while and no more cars pass you on the snow covered road.

Out there is there is a truth to life. A place we all began in the nature. Not a soul around and the only sounds are the trees cracking in the wind or that of a wood pecker or other creature of the forest. Your breath pushes puffs steam and your mustache accumulates ice. No matter how many layers of deep cold gloves you wear your fingers are still cold.

Despite its downside and the nipping air you can also feel as though you can clear your mind and enjoy just the state of being in nature. If you are a hunter you can track your next catch and if you enjoy photography you can get a few pics off the beaten paths. You are free to just live and walk much like your ancestors did before modern cities and conveniences.

Making it Through Chaotic Times-One Step at a Time

We all run into those times when we have so much to do, so many different things going on, that we have to adjust our normal patterns to get the things done. Before you get too excited it is beneficial to stop for a moment and get your bearings by putting things in perspective. After that, you can move forward by putting one foot in front of the other.

Much of our life is subjective and what we feel is important today may not be important a few months or years from now. Therefore, it is beneficial to evaluate what is truly important now and then prioritize that work. When you prioritize the work you will find that much of the lesser important things will not matter and they will put put in proper perspective and not clutter your mind.

Once you have your bearings then you can move toward figuring out how you will get those critical things done that are necessary. You may wish to combine projects, ask others for help, or pay someone to help you do some of the work. Putting together a plan that is efficient without wasted steps will help you save time.

Then you will want to put one foot in front of the other. Don't get bogged down in worry because the frustrating time will soon be over. Just move from necessary action to the next and by the end of the day, week, or month you will find out that you accomplish what you needed. Keeping your cool and taking a few extra moments to prioritize, plan and then act will make a big difference and save you aggravation.