Why does a service-based business need to know about packaging? Because it just may be what’s missing from your current marketing efforts.

Packaging can help you add more perceived value, increase fees, and attract more business. It helps a small businesses like yours stand out from the crowd.

So what is packaging for a small, service-based company?

The packaging as it relates to a service business is about how you communicate through images, verbally, and in writing. Every time you speak about your business or put your materials in front of someone, you are packaging your business.

Packaging helps to make your business more tangible while it helps carves out your unique positioning in the marketplace. Most small business owners don’t understand the power of this idea and end up ignoring it. And that can be detrimental to the growth of their business growth.

As a service-based business provider, you face some unique challenges. Selling services is not like selling products or retail. These challenges are what prevent many people from taking action towards becoming your clients.

Do you recognize these challenges for your business?

1. Your services are intangible. They can’t be seen, heard, or felt. The benefits of your services aren’t realized until after the service has been provided. That makes it more difficult to convince your prospects versus selling a hard good.

2. Because services are intangible, it’s more difficult to convince prospects and clients of how you’re different from everyone else who says they do what you do. Too often you’re forced to compete on price.

3. Raising your fees to grow your business is not much of an option. Prospects typically find it more difficult to understand the true benefits of what your services can do for them. So paying a premium is out of the question.

The good news is that packaging can help you fairly easily overcome these obstacles. Packaging your services clarifies your marketing communications. It helps your clients understand what they will get and what your services will do for them. It will help you generate attention, interest, and a willingness to take action.

Take a good hard look at what your packaging elements such as your business identity package, your introduction, your customer service model, your service offerings and names, etc. are saying about your business.

About the Author:

Kevin Dervin is focused on helping small businesses that are ready to grow, but struggle with how to consistently attract more clients. Visit http://www.proven-small-business-marketing-solutions.com for more great marketing information you can put to use in growing your business today.

Follow his Small Business Marketing Tips and Ideas weblog at http://www.proven-small-business-marketing-solutions.com/small-business-marketing-tips.html

Find Kevin’s Kansas City based KPD Marketing practice at http://www.ABCDgrowth.com and subscribe to his free ezine called ABCD Grow.

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The following tips will help you communicate more effectively with your employees:

1. Let employees know that having feelings is okay. Feelings are facts and need to be dealt with.

2. Praise in public, criticize in private. Nothing improves a person’s behavior better than well-timed, sincere, and justified praise. Nothing builds resentment faster than being yelled at in front of others.

3. Listen to employees and accept suggestions. It’s easier to give advice than to receive it, but you don’t learn much listening only to yourself.

4. Pay as much attention to how you say something as to what you say. Begin the conversation with a positive comment and/or statement that shows you are empathizing with the individual. Be sure your face says the same thing as your words.

5. Refrain from saying “should,” “ought,” and “don’t.” When you give advice or directions do it directly and politely. “Please take this material to the front office.” It sometimes helps to phrase things as questions: “Have you thought about doing it this way?” “What if we did this. . .?” Use “I” or “me” statements: “I do it this way” “I try to. . .” In response to incorrect behaviors express your feelings rather than blaming: “I’m bothered when you do that. It makes me feel . . .”.

Copyright AE Schwartz & Associates All rights reserved. For additional presentation materials and resources: ReadySetPresent and for a Free listing as a Trainer, Consultant, Speaker, Vendor/Organization: TrainingConsortium

CEO, A.E. Schwartz & Associates, Boston, MA., a comprehensive organization which offers over 40 skills based management training programs. Mr. Schwartz conducts over 150 programs annually for clients in industry, research, technology, government, Fortune 100/500 companies, and nonprofit organizations worldwide. He is often found at conferences as a key note presenter and/or facilitator. His style is fast-paced, participatory, practical, and humorous. He has authored over 65 books and products, and taught/lectured at over a dozen colleges and universities throughout the United States.

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Do you find your employees are avoiding meetings?

Are you finding yourself dreading your next meeting?

Have you join the legions of people that now believe meetings are a total waste of time?A widening body of research is now showing that employees equate meeting rooms with wasted time. Many feel that time spent in the meeting room is time that takes them to totally away from their responsibilities.

Here are two innovative suggestions to make your meetings more effective:

1. If your meeting lasts a half-day or more, hold it at a local hotel or conference center. Although this is the expense, you’ll find your meeting will be much more productive and you will makeup the time (and expense) through increased productivity as meeting participants have a rush of productivity when they return to the office.

2. Use “Photo Op” thinking when selecting a meeting spot. oliticians have learned to introduce legislation or concepts at an appropriate venue. If they’re talking about education, they go to a school. If they are talking about health-care, they may stand outside a hospital. Likewise, think about where you’re holding your meeting. If your meeting is to discuss a new shipping system, hold the meeting on the shipping dock. If nothing else, the noise of the shipping dock, will eliminate small talk and sidebar discussions.

Rick Weaver is an accomplished business executive with a wealth of experience in retail, market analysis, supply chain enhancement, project management, team building, and process improvement.

Rick career began in retailing as a stockclerk, eventually becoming the Director of Vendor Development at Kmart Corporation during it’s heyday. In this position he worked with hundreds of Kmart’s suppliers to improve mutual processes, procedures, and profits. As a consultant, Rick has worked with companies in various industries to develop leadership and business strategies. As an entrepreneur, Rick has founded or co-founded six successful organizations, including non-profit and for profit. Now in his role as president of MaxImpact, Rick uses his vast experience helping individuals connect to their dreams and teams connect to a common vision.

Rick’s presentation style of blending humor, real life examples, and easy to implement ideas has made him a popular speaker at seminars, workshops, and conferences in in 43 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

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