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Why you shouldn't start your own agency in 2024 (and what you can do instead)

10/31/2023 | by Patrick Fischer, M.Sc., Founder & Data Scientist: FDS

It is always a risk to start your own agency. It is not only a financial investment, but also an investment in time and energy. If you don't have the necessary experience and skills, or if your budget is limited, it might be difficult to start a successful agency.

Instead, you might consider purchasing a franchise or taking over an existing agency. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages. A franchise can give you a proven business model and a strong brand, but it may also require a large investment. If you take over an existing agency, you already get a client base and some experience, but it can also be difficult to align the agency with your vision.

However, if you want to start your own agency, there are some steps you can take to increase your chances of success. First, you should learn about the business and create a good strategy. Then, you should familiarize yourself with the relevant laws and regulations. You should also familiarize yourself with marketing and advertising so that you can effectively promote your business and attract customers. Finally, you should network and exchange ideas with other entrepreneurs to benefit from their experiences.

Whether you start your own agency or take over an existing one, you will need to invest a lot of time, energy and commitment to succeed. Therefore, you should think carefully about whether starting your own agency is really right for you.

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Objection "Too expensive" - How to handle objections successfully in B2B

10/30/2023 | by Patrick Fischer, M.Sc., Founder & Data Scientist: FDS

In the world of business-to-business (B2B) sales, the "too expensive" objection is a pervasive obstacle that continues to challenge sales professionals. Customers today are better informed and more price-conscious than ever, which means they often cite price as the main reason for their concerns. But successful B2B salespeople understand that this objection is often more appearance than reality and have developed proven strategies to deal with it. In this article, we will show you how to successfully deal with the "too expensive" objection.

1. Understand the real objection:

The objection "Too expensive" is often just the tip of the iceberg. Customers may have various fears and insecurities that manifest themselves in this objection. Your job as a salesperson is to identify these real concerns. Start by asking open-ended questions to find out why the customer sees the price as a problem. It may be concerns about benefits, quality or long-term costs that are behind this statement.

2. Emphasise the value:

Once you have identified the real concerns, you can shift the focus to the value of your product or service. Show how your offering can solve the customer's specific problems and what benefits it brings. Highlight the unique features and benefits that differentiate your product from the competition. This will make the customer realise that the price is reasonable compared to the benefits offered.

3. Compare costs and benefits:

An effective way to address the "too expensive" objection is to provide a cost-benefit comparison. Show the client that the long-term benefits and savings outweigh the initial costs. Visualise how your offer fits into the client's business strategy and how it will lead to cost savings in the long term.

4. Flexible pricing:

B2B sales often require flexible pricing options. Make sure you have different pricing plans or offers up your sleeve to cater to the different needs of your customers. This will allow you to find a solution that is acceptable to both parties.

5. Offer additional benefits:

To compensate for the price disadvantage, offer the customer additional benefits. This could include advanced training, comprehensive support or exclusive upgrades. Customers are more willing to accept a higher price if they feel they are getting more value for their money.

6. Use social proof:

Reflect satisfied customers and success stories to build customer confidence. Social proof is an effective tool to show that your product or service is worth its price.

7. Temporal urgency:

Create a sense of urgency by highlighting limited offers or discounts that are time-limited. Customers are more likely to opt in if they fear missing out on a good offer.

Conclusion:

The "too expensive" objection in B2B sales can be challenging, but it is often surmountable. By understanding the customer's true concerns, emphasising value, using flexible pricing options and providing additional benefits, you can successfully address objections and convince the customer that your offer is worth the price. Always keep in mind that successful B2B selling is not just about lowering the price, but making the value of your offer clear.

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What are the key best practices for a successful PR campaign?

10/27/2023 | by Patrick Fischer, M.Sc., Founder & Data Scientist: FDS

A successful PR campaign requires careful planning and implementation. Here are some key best practices that can help:

Set clear goals: Define clear goals for your PR campaign. Would you like to increase awareness, improve your image or win new customers? Setting concrete goals allows you to measure and adjust the success of the campaign.

Target group analysis: Understand your target group exactly. Research who your potential customers or stakeholders are, what media they use, and what type of messages appeal to them. This helps you to develop targeted messages and choose the right communication channels.

Consistent Messages: Define clear and consistent messages that reflect your core messages and values. Make sure your messages are consistent across all communication channels including press releases, social media, interviews, etc.

Use Storytelling: Tell a story that makes your company, product or service interesting and relevant. Use storytelling techniques to present your messages in a vivid and engaging way. A good story can engage your audience emotionally and grab their attention.

Build media relations: Maintain good relations with relevant media representatives. Identify journalists, bloggers and influencers who matter to your target audience and build a personal relationship with them. Offer them exclusive information, interviews, or guest posts to grab their attention.

Take a multi-channel approach: Use different communication channels to spread your messages. Use classic media such as press releases, interviews and trade journals, but also digital channels such as social media, company blogs and influencer marketing. A multi-channel approach allows you to reach a broader audience.

Monitoring and Analysis: Continuously monitor the success of your PR campaign. Use media monitoring tools to track coverage of your business. Also measure quantitative metrics like reach, engagement, and conversion rates. Based on the results, you can adjust and optimize your strategy.

Prepare crisis communication: Plan in advance how you will deal with possible crisis situations. Create a crisis communication plan that defines clear responsibilities and courses of action. Responding to crises quickly and effectively can protect your company's reputation.

Build lasting relationships: PR campaigns shouldn't be limited to one-off events. Strive to build lasting relationships with your audiences, including media, customers, employees, and influencers. Ongoing communication and interaction helps build trust and credibility for your business.

Evaluation and Learning: After completing the PR campaign, take the time to evaluate and analyze the results. Identify what worked and what didn't to learn for future campaigns. Continuous improvement based on feedback and experience is crucial to the success of your PR activities.

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How to work successfully with journalists?

10/26/2023 | by Patrick Fischer, M.Sc., Founder & Data Scientist: FDS

Successful collaboration with journalists requires careful planning, communication and an effective approach. Here are some tips on how to work successfully with journalists:

Research and Selection: Identify the journalists relevant to your topic. Familiarize yourself with their work and choose those who regularly write about similar topics.

Target Audience: Understand the journalist's target audience. Take their interests and needs into account in order to align your cooperation with them.

Build personal relationships: Invest time in building personal relationships with journalists. Attend networking events, attend press conferences or invite journalists to informal meetings to get to know each other.

Provide relevant information: Provide journalists with relevant and interesting information. Make sure that these are well researched, clearly structured and understandable. Provide additional material such as statistics, case studies, or expert interviews to support the article.

Communicate Clearly and Concisely: Make sure your message is conveyed clearly and concisely. Avoid technical jargon and explain complex issues in an understandable way. Respond to journalists' inquiries in a timely manner and give them the information they need.

Be authentic: Be open, honest and transparent. Journalists appreciate being able to work with credible sources. Avoid PR talk and overblown marketing messages.

Offer exclusive content: Offer journalists exclusive information, interviews or insights to grab their attention. This can increase the likelihood that they will cover your topic.

Cultivate relationships of trust: Cultivate long-term relationships with journalists. Show interest in their work, send them relevant information, and thank them for their coverage. A trusting relationship can help journalists prioritize your news and have a positive attitude towards you.

Response to Inquiries: Be ready to respond to journalists' inquiries quickly. Journalists often work under time pressure, so timely feedback is important to facilitate their work and encourage collaboration.

Leverage press releases and media outreach: Send press releases to journalists to share important announcements or news. Also build relationships with media contacts, such as press offices or PR agencies, who can assist journalists with reporting.

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The Dark Side of Online Coaching: Why Fake Business Gurus Are a Problem

10/16/2023 | by Patrick Fischer, M.Sc., Founder & Data Scientist: FDS

Online coaching has created the opportunity for people from all over the world to learn and work from home. However, as in any industry, there are black sheep in online coaching: fake business gurus who promise to make people rich and successful, but in reality are only out for their own financial interest.

What are fake business gurus?

Fake business gurus are people who claim to be experts in certain business fields and share their knowledge and experience with others. They pretend to help people take their careers and businesses to the next level, but in reality they often have no experience or success in the areas they claim to be experts in.

Why are fake business gurus a problem?

Fake business gurus are a problem for several reasons:

They deceive people: Fake business gurus deceive people by making them false promises and creating unrealistic expectations. They promise that they can make people rich and successful if they just buy their services. In reality, the promises are often empty and the results unattainable.

They are greedy for money: fake business gurus are often only out for their own financial interest. They sell expensive courses and coaching services that often don't deliver what they promise.

They harm the online coaching industry: Fake business gurus harm the online coaching industry as a whole by undermining people's trust in reputable online coaches and courses. People who have had bad experiences with fake business gurus are often suspicious of other online coaches and services.

How do I recognize a fake business guru?

It can be difficult to distinguish a fake business guru from a reputable online coach. However, here are some signs to look out for:

Promises of quick wealth: if someone claims they can bring you wealth and success in a matter of weeks or months, you should be skeptical. Success and wealth require hard work and time.

Lack of experience or success: If someone claims to be an expert in a particular business area, but has no experience or success in that area, you should be wary.

Overpriced courses or coaching services: If someone is selling overpriced courses or coaching services, you should consider whether the price is reasonable and whether it is worth investing the money.

Conclusion

Fake business gurus are a problem in the online coaching industry because they deceive people, are money hungry, and damage the reputation of the industry. It is important for people who want to use online coaching services to be attentive and discerning in order to avoid fake business gurus and instead find reputable and experienced online coaches. When you're looking for an online coach, look for signs of respectability, such as references, recommendations, transparent pricing, and a clear description of services. By carefully checking who you are putting your money and trust in, you can ensure that you are benefiting from an experienced and qualified online coach and not falling for a fake business guru.

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