Want More New Business For Your Service Business? Here Are 5 of 25 Things You Can Start Doing

To start the list of 25 things to do, here are five, which virtually all service professionals can apply to help generate more new business.

25. Open Your Mind To Change

Brain research tells us that every action starts with a thought.

That means that each and every one of the actions that follow starts with a thought.?

For best results, all of these thoughts, including the one that triggers this action, starts with “I can…”

For example: “I can open my mind to change.”

Consider Henry Ford’s famous quote:

'if you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right. '

Those words illustrate how incredibly powerful our minds are.

Our thinking translates to our words, and our words become our beliefs. These beliefs drive our behaviors and actions.

Unfortunately, it’s not always as easy to switch our mindsets from I can’t to I can.

Delving into the vast resource pool of wisdom and knowledge is beyond the scope of this article.?To learn more, Jack Canfield’s Success Principle Release The Brakes (#10 from his book The Success Principles) would be an ideal starting point.

24. Become More Mindful

As experience has taught us, things become clearer and easier as we take action.

That’s the good news.

But the bad news is that some activities can become so much clearer and easier that we can perform them virtually automatically…like on autopilot.

Certainly performing routine tasks with minimal thought and effort can boost efficiency.

But what happens when that automatic response to a client’s question misses a critical issue? Or how about that mindless distraction into an intriguing new opportunity that becomes a resource drain and obstacle to your success?

Increased mindfulness is the best way to ensure that all critical issues are addressed.

Similarly, more strategic thinking (as in how will this action help get me to where I want to be?)?can help keep us on track toward the ultimate achievement of our goals.

In practice, both increased mindfulness and strategic thinking are the actions that give meaning to Stephen R. Covey’s advice:

“To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know where you’re going so that you better understand where you are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right direction.”

In serving clients, the “end in mind” is helping them address and resolve their issues.

23. Listen More Than You Talk

Given today’s endless array of communication tools, there is incessant, never-ending talk…spoken, recorded and in print.

Among the best observations about the phenomenon of talking too much, here are 12 words of wisdom from Virgin founder Richard Branson:

“… listen more than you talk.

Nobody learned anything by hearing themselves speak.”

Enough said; what’s the lesson to be learned?

22. Gather As Much Accurate Relevant, Information As Possible

For whatever reason too many people, including service professionals, make the most of the least information.

Perhaps one reason might be talking so much that they miss whatever information others might have shared…if they even had the opportunity.

In effect, this practice takes the form of making assumptions, jumping to conclusions or simply the mindset—my mind’s made up, don’t confuse me with the facts.

Without a doubt, the best decisions require the best information.

Don’t your clients…and you, yourself..deserve the best?

And the best information is accurate, complete and relevant.

21. Share Helpful Information

Information is one of the fundamental lubricants that help our modern world to function.

Accurate, complete and relevant information is as essential to the largest organizations worldwide to local one-person service businesses.

For service professionals, helpful information … as well as the sharing of this information … serve several important functions.

When working to attract more ideal clients, educational information can help potential clients as well as referral sources what distinguishes you from the competition and how this distinctiveness benefits clients.

Specialized information, combined with the experience-based know-how of how to apply it, is the very foundation of client service.

In its most fundamental sense, networking is more about sharing potentially helpful information than it is bragging and telling self-serving stories. There is no better way to build new relationships and enhance existing relationships than by sharing helpful information.

And when it comes to keeping in touch with network contacts and clients, sharing new and helpful information helps remind these folks how well you serve and satisfy clients.?What a great way to generate repeat and referral business!

One final point on sharing information.?

By sharing helpful information you are not giving away your most valuable and salable services.

You are giving free samples or strategic taste tests, to help your audience understand and anticipate the benefits that they can expect from hiring you.

When it comes to applying the information that you choose to share nobody can do it as effectively as you can.?

And that’s the true value that you deliver.. and for which, satisfied clients willingly pay you.

Your Turn

Of the above five suggestions, which one is most likely to help you generate more new business?

How can you apply that suggestion to start to make a difference?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Note:

This article is the first in a series of five that will offer 25 suggestions for things to start doing in order to generate more new business.

This series of articles is the second element of a three-part process to help service professionals like you generate more new business.

The first element was a series of five articles that offered 25 suggestions for things to stop doing in order to generate more new business.

The third element is a free 7-day marketing training program in which you will learn new skills and concepts to help generate more of the new business that you want and deserve.