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If you had to survive s lely on the fish you catch, you w uld do everything possible to give y urself the best opportunity to not nly catch fish, but also catch th se that taste good and provide b untiful portions. You would check reports bout what kinds of fish are b ting and where they are biting. You w uld make sure you had the ppropriate bait and lures for both the f sh and the conditions. If you d dn't have the right kind, you w uld get them. You would also n ed to know if they could be c ught from shore or if you had to use a b at. For best results, you would kn w all of this before ever dr pping a line into the water. Of c urse, if you didn't have to s rvive on your results, you could p ck up a pole and head off to the w ter whenever you wanted. It wouldn't m tter if you caught anything, as l ng as you enjoyed yourself.That, my fr ends is the difference between a b siness and a hobby. Those who are s ccessful in business give themselves the gr atest possible opportunity to attract not nly clients but also the most pr fitable clients. Only those who want a h bby can be cavalier about how th y fish and the results they g t. Since this is about your l velihood, let's talk about fishing in rder to put food on your t ble and a roof over your h ad.
The right location Are you f shing in the right spots? Are the f sh you want to catch actually th re? Are there other spots -- b tter spots -- that have more of y ur targeted fish? If you are f shing for accountants, do you belong to the l cal accountant association? If not, check to see if th y have associate memberships. If they do, j in immediately and be sure to ttend their meetings and functions. It nly makes sense that, the more you are in the c mpany of your target audience, the b tter your odds are for securing b siness.Could you go to a general b siness gathering and meet an accountant? C rtainly. However your odds of meeting one in a t mely manner would be significantly reduced. To st ck with the fishing metaphor, it w uld be like stopping at a l cal fishing hole and hoping for the b st while your competition goes to the h le loaded with the fish you w nt. Fish where your targeted fish re! The right bait Just because you go to the right spot doesn't mean you're going to catch any fish ... or at least not the kind you want. You have to know what best attracts the fish. Is it live bait? If so, what kind? Is it a specific lure? If so, do you have it? How can you get it? How do you use it to your best advantage and greatest success?The answers to these questions are exactly what you want to know about your target audience. What are their compelling needs, wants, and desires? How do they benefit from what you have to offer? Do they have a perceived need for it? What is it exactly that makes them bite? Without these answers, you can be at the right spot and still not get any bites. The right cast The need for a proper cast seems to never get enough attention. Many people figure you just throw the line into the water and the fish grab on. Oh, if only it were that easy. Depending on the fish, the water, and the conditions, you need to select how and where you are going to cast. It could be as easy as dropping the line over the side of a boat or as grueling as launching a large lure from the shoreline. All that matters is that you are using the proper method at any particular time.The same holds true for marketing your products and services to your target audience. Which is the best method -- direct mail, radio, television, referrals, giving seminars, or other? Is there a more effective method than those you are currently using? Whatever it may be -- one or a combination of several -- how you get your message to your audience not only affects how many fish you catch but also your profitability. Determine the best casts for your purposes and work to consistently improve them.
Landing those you want You've t ken the right steps and have h oked a fish, but there is a h ge difference between getting one to b te and landing it. You need to kn w which techniques give you the b st opportunity to secure it. It c uld be that you have to str p a little line and let him run in rder to firmly set the hook. You m ght have to be a little ssertive and use all you have to get him on b ard. You might need someone's assistance nce the fish is close. At any t me, the answer may change, so be r ady with all that you have at y ur disposal. Nothing else matters unless you l nd the fish.Make no mistake about th s fact. Not every fish you c tch is going to be worth k eping. Some you have to throw b ck, knowing that the experience of c tching it was a lesson in f shing. The same is true for ttracting clients. You sometimes get one th t you are better off releasing. D n't keep it just because you c ught it. It's not worth it.Of c urse, every once in a while, you c tch a fish that is even b tter than the one you went fter. Just because it wasn't your t rget doesn't mean you can't keep it. Aft r all, everyone knows that the b st fish stories aren't about the nes that got away. They aare bout how you attracted and landed the b st fish.Remember, to land the fish th t are going to consistently provide for y u, first determine exactly what it is you are f shing for. Then, fish where the f sh are biting. Use the appropriate b it. Cast your message in the f tting manner. Keep those that are pr fitable, and throw back those that are n t.
The article To Catch More Profitable Clients, Learn to Fish was Submitted by Peter George through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Peter George is the marketing c ach and recognized expert who helps s lf-employed professionals attract more clients, make m re profits, and have more time to njoy life. Immediately download "101 Ways to Attr ct More Clients" at http://MoreClientsMoreProfits.com ... Get it now!
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