Have you ever been in a situation where someone was attempting to sell you their product and their focus was on the physical features or listed the chemical and natural components of their product…SURE YOU HAVE!

Some consumers may understand exactly what that salesperson was talking, but most consumers are really looking for the answer to a problem or an object/device that does what they want it to do. 

Product marketing should involve sharing the benefits of a product to the consumer, rather than selling the product and talking about its features. The initial attraction to a product is due to the fact the product provides a physical or emotional satisfaction to the consumer.

For example, using a filtered water picture instead of purchasing bottled water, by cases, has the benefit of allowing the consumer to always have healthy, purified drinking water at their fingertips, therefore saving time and money for the consumer.

People don’t like to be sold to…they like solutions to their problems. Most buy based on emotion not logic. When logic and emotion come into conflict, emotion always wins.

Tonight, I saw on commercial on TV which began with a woman talking about her COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). She said “I couldn’t take a deep breath. I have problems walking upstairs, gardening and painting.”

She talked about the product her doctor suggested she use. She uses it and states, “I love what it does, and it opens the airways…BINGO!!!

The seller of this product addressed a problem consumers have. This is the key, because although they were not selling this product, they actually were, because they provided a solution for a COPD patient and therefore it will result in a sale.

The same approach needs to be used when you do direct sales. If a product claim answers a solution to a problem that is a benefit.

Of course, all benefit claims need to be 100% true. You should be prepared to prove any statements of benefit claims you make to customers. This can be done with testimonial, before and after photos, etc.

Sometimes sellers get all caught in talking about the features of product such as the formula. A desperate consumer isn’t thinking about features…they want a solution.

Pointing out benefits is where the power of making a sale comes in.                           

Here’s an old classic to keep in mind: “Features tell, and benefits sell.”

If you just started a home business, you’ve probably realized how easy it is to become distracted.  Distractions can really hurt your business, contribute to stress and actually cause you to lose money.

These are a few common distractions you could find yourself dealing with:

Personal Phone Calls

 A friend or family member knows you’re home and want to chat. A short quick conversation is fine, but these calls often turn into 30 minutes or more…DISTRACTION! Let’s not forget you are running a business. You wouldn’t or shouldn’t be hanging on the phone at a job outside of the home.

 Try using your caller ID or voicemail to screen the calls. You’ll know the calls you have to take, but otherwise, while you’re working, use the phone for business related calls.

Social Networking

 This is a “BIG ONE”. Social sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are great for meeting new people, developing relationships and getting additional clientele.  Sounds good…right?  So what’s the problem?

The problem starts when you begin to lose other opportunities, due to countless hours on a social network.  You begin clicking on this, clicking on that and none of it has anything to do with your business. Your productivity will drop and “Production is exposure.”

Also, it is important to be sure you have some very good anti-virus software in place. Some    people find it amusing to send spam and malware attacks using social networks.

Try sticking to a schedule where you allow a block of time for social networking.

Email

 If you’re like me, you get tons and tons of emails all day and it’s not only one email account you have, it’s from two, three or more. It makes me nuts sometimes, but it’s necessary to have just more than one email address. You want to stay connected to multiple social venues. You find a nugget of gold in a variety of places. You want to stay connected to multiple social venues. You find a nugget of gold in a variety of places.

 If you’re unable to control your compulsion of looking at every email notification you get, turn off the new message notification or keep your email program closed. This will eliminate the urge to check it constantly.

 Another thing you can do is, schedule email times. For example, check your email before you start you work day, during your lunch and then right before you quit for the day.  Don’t forget to put a time limit on checking your email.

Television

 You heard Dr. Phil was going to have on a “Don’t Miss” episode, so when it comes on you feel compelled to watch it…there goes one hour.  Judge Judy has been on roll in her courtroom. She’s so darn good about getting her point across… “No-holds-barred”.  Bye bye 30 more minutes.  

 You can really get enthralled in some programs and if you’ve been working on that article, blog post, video, etc, you’re not going to finish it in a timely manner.

 Try scheduling your TV viewing around your work schedule or turn on the radio instead, but keep the volume low. It will help the silence.

Housework

 Chances are you clean your own house. You not quite there, where you can afford to have someone come in do the cleaning for you. Since you’re working  from, the family thinks clothes should be washed, bathrooms sparkling clean, furniture dusted, carpet vacuumed…I could go on.

 As tempting as it may be to clean instead of working, it’s vital to separate the housework from the work you’re doing to make money.  The family should be pitching in to help with the housework. Your work from home is no different from when you worked outside of the home.

Children

If you still have little ones at home, who are not old enough to attend pre-school that could be a HUGE distraction. They have needs and wants… you cannot shut them out. You’re obligated to make sure they needs are met. Part of working from is so you can be with your kids.

It’s not impossible to be a “stay at home mom” and a “work from home mom”.  You can do this by doing your work a couple to a few hours at a time.  Make a schedule for feedings, activities and nap time, then stick in times when you know you will be able to get some work done. As hard as we try to stick a schedule, there’ll be times the day won’t go as planned. No worries…try to get back on your schedule as soon as you can.

A home business can be a great way to stay at home while earning money. However, it is not a piece of cake. The fact is that it takes hard work. Distractions can set you back or impede your success.  Set yourself a schedule to follow daily or some refer to having a “DMO” (Daily Method of Operation). Stay disciplined and your productivity will grow and your income potential will grow as well.

So, you have found more than a few good blogs you like to read. They caught your attention for they were in your niche and have excellent content.

All blog themes will have a place to leave a comment or the word “comment” which you click on to bring you to the comment form.

LEAVE A COMMENT! You liked the post…let the writer know.

It may be a post which helped answer one of your “burning questions.” Let them know how helpful they were to you. Contribute a comment and share your expertise.

• DON’T promote your business; discuss your experience and outlook on the topic.
• If you don’t agree with a post you can still comment, but always and remain professional.
• Remember that your comment on a blog is considered content by search engines.

Suppose, you share a common interest in regard to a blog post, such as playing golf; comment about some of your favorite golf courses, etc. Whatever the interest may be, engage the blogger. Before you know it, you will have established a relationship with this person.

It is important to note: make sure your comments are courteous, respectful and useful AND make sense. DON’T leave a nasty negative comment. You’ll only do YOURSELF harm within the blogging community.

Asolutely NOT…it is a Revolution!

If you are not using Social media…don’t you think it is time to get started.  It is a valuable tool for any business.

The answer is YES without a doubt!

The primary role of a blog is to inform and brand you.  A blog consists of pages of static content, images, video and a contact form.  It is the easiest and cheapest way of telling the widest audience about you and your business. Branding you and providing valuable information to the visitor is a must. You need to brand yourself to attract friends, clients, and many employment and business opportunities. If you are in business, it is extremely important that you have a personal brand. The way to grow any business whether it be in the on or offline world is to get people to know, like and trust you. By having a picture and a logo that represents who you are, you will connect with people on a more personal level. This is important, because at the end of the day people don’t want to join a company, they want to partner with a real person.

Branding yourself is a way to differentiate you from the competition, and create loyalty. The content of a website, its style and tools such as newsletters allow for many ways to differentiate yourself, make the visitor feel good about you. If you do not have a blog, a competitor may snatch not only your prospect, but also their loyalty away from you with their blog! Eat, or be eaten!

Some reasons to have a blog:

1.   Your Competition Has a Blog - If you are in direct competition with another that has a blog, they have a clear advantage – especially if they are adequately marketing their website.

2.   Promote Your Self - A blog is a great tool to promote yourself and build trust. A well-put together blog can convey trust and credibility, making people want to do business with you.

3.   Share Information – A blog allows you to share usual information with like-minded people all over the globe. It also allows you to easily explain things by means of adding audio, video or animation to your website.

4.   Millions of People Use The Internet - That’s a lot of people. Many of those people are looking for what you have.

5.   Establish More Leads - Having a blog will significantly improve your chances in acquiring more leads, no matter what services or products you are offering.

 Success does not come from doing one thing right. What you need is a marketing mix, and a blog can be a powerful ingredient. The fact is the internet is an excellent way to do this and you can create a real community of people with the same ideas, hobbies, and beliefs as yourself. It’s also great way to meet people.