Consider the possibilities. At any given moment in your area and around the world there is business happening. What most of us in home businesses are hoping for is some of that business.

Hoping alone will not make it so. Marketing, advertising, networking and volunteering will go a long way to help us get a piece of the action. However, if you are not clear on what business you are in and do not “position” the business to connect with its market, most of your advertising and networking will miss the mark.

What business are you really in? Just because your business uses special equipment or produces a specific product or service doesn’t mean that it has to fit the image of the past. Find out more about your customers. Find out what they would like from your business. Make up a questionnaire to get feedback. Make the necessary changes in your business in order to fill the need.

Many businesses are in the “customer service” business and their offerings are secondary. Some large companies have recognized this and have changed the focus of their business from hardware or products to people.

Fast food giants feed large numbers of people daily but they are in the “customer service” business, not the food business. Their establishments are clean. Their products are consistent. Their service is fast and polite. Issues regarding complaints are handled quickly and professionally.

The “customer” is always right. Satisfaction is guaranteed! Wow, what a concept. Can we learn something from this? “What do you mean it’s cold, we’ve served three-hundred of these today and nobody else has complained?”

The greeting card companies have recognized that they are in the “event/emotion business” and the specialty chocolate companies in the “celebration business”. What a difference this makes in the direction and focus of their marketing and advertising.

What a difference there will be when you make the connection with your company.

So, now that you have connected it is time to analyze your target market in order to decide; what products/services will sell; what quality will sell; who will buy; when will they buy; how and when will they pay.

Evaluate your customer’s needs and buying patterns and make it easy for them to buy your products. This can be a significant competitive edge.

In many businesses there are typical scenarios that are expected. Waiting rooms, expensive repairs, no refunds, pain, noise, discomfort, confusion and poor service are all negative expectations when visiting certain types of businesses. I’m sure you can put names to many of them. They are not easily forgotten.

Wouldn’t it be refreshing not to have to wait where it was usually a given. How about no pain? You get the idea? Can you apply this concept to your business? It’s about breaking out of the ordinary and moving toward the exceptional. This could be another competitive advantage for your business.

Knowing what business you are in, what your customers like and who they are, will give you some of the necessary information to fine tune your business offering.

Now, please form a line to the right to place your order and wait for your number to be called!