by Daniel Felsted

"Ideas Are The Currency Of The 21st Century." These words rung true as I read them for the first time. After all, I named my business the Image Foundry and I am a marketer of ideas.

I am troubled by what I see in the business community. How many of us are willing to take advantage of the ideas that come to us? How many of us listen to the great ideas our employees offer us? I've been told stories about bosses who have belittled employees for making suggestions in the workplace. I've seen companies who do not communicate with their employees. I've worked with companies who say "Do as I say, not as I do." I've even talked to employers who don't like their employees!

Jason thought of a more efficient way to perform his assigned job and informed his manager of his discovery. Offended by the suggestion, his manager put Jason in his place in no uncertain terms and told him to do the job the way he was taught. As it turned out, the manager was responsible for developing the original job protocol and resented the suggested change. Because of the way the manager reacted to the suggestion, henceforth Jason performed his job as instructed and never offered another idea. What a waste! Is the arrogance of one employee alienating his co-workers and hurting your chances of increasing efficiency and the subsequent success? "Recognition is one of the most motivating factors for human beings."1 But, when there is no recognition or there are negative reactions to original suggestions, motivation is squelched and a desirable interdependent relationship cannot be established.

Your Greatest Asset
As Roy H. Willams rightly declared in his best selling book The Wizard of Ads "Employees with initiative are needed, they are needed badly. They are needed in every business in America. They are needed because they find solutions for the problems pointed out by the merely ambitious. They are the glue that holds a business together." I am convinced that this is true and I ask: Are we humble enough to accept the changing business environment we are now facing? As our community grows change should be welcomed and innovative strategies need to be implemented to accommodate the growth. I propose that we use the ideas that our employees have to grow—even double—our business.

Steven R. Covey said, "90% of the people in an organization have more creative ability, talent, resourcefulness and intelligence than their present jobs require or allow." At our service is most likely a staff full of ideas on how to make their jobs and our businesses even better—after all—they are there everyday and have an entirely different perspective on it than we do.

Are we taking advantage of our #1 asset—our employees? Are we cultivating their unique knowledge of our customers, products, services and our businesses? Are we looking for innovative ways to engage our customers in order to retain their loyalty? Our employees can help us conceive of them.

My experience has shown me that our employees can give us valuable insight into our businesses that we simply can't see as owners and leaders. Sometimes an outside eye can see so much! Ask questions of your staff. Treat them as partners, if you will, in your business.

Look at everything as an opportunity. Train your staff to take advantage of the opportunities to help educate your customers of the value you add to each sale.

Pay more attention to the simple concepts of customer service. We can easily double our business if we implement great customer service strategies into our marketing plans.

We Change The Subject
Customers tell us that they want to have a relationship with us. In fact, statistics consistently show that a good quality product and a relationship rank higher on the customers list of importance, more than price.

Many have argued that all customers care about is price. It is my contention that this is false in most cases and to make it worse, we train them to act this way. And to prove my point further I will make my book: Great Customer Service: The Best Way to Avoid a Discounted Sale available to anyone who wants to download a .pdf of it for FREE.

In my book you will learn when and to whom to offer a discount, how to make your employees give their all to your business and dozens of proven strategies that get your customers to pay more and do it happily!

You will also learn how to leverage the strength of your employees and make your combined ideas into the currency that helps your business grow—even double—if you have the courage to embrace the changes and ideas that lie ahead for you.

Get a copy of this great book. Click Here!

106. Tap Into The Emotions
Emotions are the key to selling. Once you have made an emotional connection between the product and your customer it is easy to get their money. Their intellect will convince them to buy the product.

Explore the e-factors at: see www.IFmarketing.com/e-factors.html

It is packed with 111 easy-to-use insider marketing tips. Tips that your competition should be using but isn't. If you really care about growing your business order this guide now. It is guaranteed to show you how to sell more stuff to more people for higher profits or I'll return your money no question asked.

Call today 435.881.4770 to get this must-have guide that will help you grow your business to the level you want to!

Buy your own copy now. Click Here >>

Forget everything you have ever been taught about marketing. The new first rule of marketing is this...

Q: How can I lower the risk my customers feel when deciding whether or not to buy from me?

A: By understanding what e-factors are and how to use them.

Read more about e-factors. Click Here! >>

#12. Money
Money is not the best way to demonstrate appreciation for a job well done. Look to use non-cash rewards. They will make a lasting impression. Start with the three R's motivation, give more responsibility, more recognition for a job well done, and then use rewards such as gift certificates or gift cards.

Get your own copy now. Click Here >>

Strategy 5: Testimonials
Sharing a testimonial is the most powerful advertising you can ever do. Many customers don't readily believe advertising. They think it is false, overstating, exaggerated and discount it. Ask your customers for testimonials. If you have gone out of your way to satisfy your customer they will happily give you testimonials. Post them so your prospective customers can see how you will treat them when they become customers.

CustomInk.com has amassed 10,000 testimonials. When they can get a customer to visit their testimonial webpage they have a five times higher chance in making a sale! Does any of your current marketing have a response rate this high? Call today and will help you start earning higher profits tomorrow. 435.881.4770. Gather and post as many testimonials as you can. It will have a significant impact on your customers buying decisions!

Following are a list of testimonials. What do you think? Are they stronger and more convincing that any advertising you have read in the past month?

Examples of Testimonials
"Daniel brings together insights from many other marketing professionals in a unique and exciting way. His ability to get to the root of the problem and use sound principles to discover creative solutions that work is refreshing. If you want to significantly increase your profits, take Daniel's ideas to heart - you'll be glad you did!"
—Ron Hayes, Marketing Manager, Alco Mfg

"Daniel has many skills in the area of creativity, design, marketing, and finding solutions to problems, but one of his most remarkable skills, in my opinion, is his natural talent in the area of customer service."
—Brian D Rasmussen, Marketing Manager, Kimco USA, Delta, Ohio

"Daniel, you are very intuitive; excellent DM (Direct Marketing) instincts! You have a great gut sense for DM. That is something that can't be learned. Keep up the good work!"
—Kristine Kirby Webster, Principal, The Canterbury Group

Call today and find out how your business can double it's sales by incorporating e-factors and internal marketing strategies. (435) 881.4770.

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Knowledge is power.

Marketing = Selling = Persuasion; No persuasion = No Selling = Wasted Marketing.

I will never share your emails addresses with anyone. Ever!

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Thank you for reading and participating in this newsletter.

I help company's double, triple or quadruple their revenue by developing internal marketing strategies that blow away customers and stamp out the competition. These strategies help you sell more stuff to more people more often and for higher profits. I will show you how to strengthen your two most important assets —your employees and your customers. I will show you how to use them to grow your business virtually as large as you would like.

Strengthen Your Company By Strengthening Your Assets!

Please direct comments or questions to Daniel Felsted at 435.881.4770, or send an email to danis@IFMarketing.com.

A special thank you to my editor Katarina. katarina@agemni.com

Send me your comments "What's your opinion"