Providing value. One of the topics I’m most passionate about. A lot of companies are stuck in the old ways of doing business. “It’s a numbers game, sell, sell, sell”. The more people you get your name or product in front of, the more you’ll sell right….WRONG! That type of thinking is no longer valid in today’s business world, especially online.
Ask yourself these questions: What makes your business any different than your competitors? Why should people come to you for their purchases over any other? The answer to this shouldn’t be “My prices are lower”. To get the edge on your competition, you need to provide more value.
Think about the last time you had a great experience with an online or offline retailer. What made it great? Did you tell your friends and family about your experience in conversation? Why? Chances are it wasn’t because of price, or at least not entirely.
The great thing is that standing out from your competitors and providing value doesn’t necessarily need to cost you anything. Be creative. Always look at your customers experience through their eyes. See things from their perspective. Once you master this, you’ll find it very easy to do little things that make a huge difference.
If you’re in the service industry, one of the BEST ways you can provide value is to follow up with your clients. Call them a day or two after you’ve performed your service and make sure whatever you fixed or installed is working as it should. Such a simple thing right? You will be AMAZED at how far this goes! Following up instantly makes them feel that you truly care about them and that you take pride in your work.
Most importantly from a business perspective, providing value makes your customers talk. They’ll tell their friends and family how great your service was and we all know what the best way to grow your business is: Word of Mouth.
I’ll leave you with this thought: If your customers are telling you that your products or services are too expensive, it’s because you haven’t done a good enough job at demonstrating your value to them. It’s not always about price and there’s a shift happening in the business world especially online. People expect you to provide value above all.
