​I am a Business Coach, and my work brings me into contact with many Entrepreneurs in all sorts of businesses.  Mostly their companies are at early stage, growing or just ‘stuck’.   When I ask them how I can help, they ask me ‘How can I increase my sales?’  Then they tell me they have a couple of clients that they depend on for survival, but struggle to bring in new customers.   So we start our coaching sessions by figuring out what’s happening in their business environment; then move on towards finding realistic ways to increase sales and achieve success.

One of my opening questions is always ‘If you double or triple your sales, how will this impact on your capacity to deliver?’  Inevitably, my entrepreneurs tell me not to worry, they’ll figure that out!  And mostly they do, even if there are a few hiccups along the way.  (But that’s another story.)

So over my years of working with Entrepreneurs I have developed a Magic Formula to help them to attract new business. 

No … it doesn’t include a wand or a wizard or even any broomsticks.  It’s mostly just about gaining awareness, and using that awareness to know where to direct their energy.
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And yes … It’s a formula that has to be applied consistently, every single day.  

​​First of all, think about what business problem your company can solve?  
And how you can make customers aware of your brand of magic?  
​From as many customers as possible find the answers to these questions:  What do they read?  What do they need?  Where do they look?  Where do they hang out?  How can you best get their attention?

​Critically assess your external environment and gain knowledge of the risks & opportunities out there and how that could affect your business. Being aware of what’s going on will help you to build your magic circle of resilience.   
Remember there are plenty of competitive hobgoblins lurking around your business.  They want the biggest market share for themselves.  As you get better at your business, they may even use your improved offering, to improve their own.  So keep strengthening your magic circle, and always be aware of the competitors and market forces circling that could make your magic less powerful.

​​By now you’ve answered questions like: 
Where do they go? What do they read? What do they need? Where do they look? How do I find them?
The answers to these questions will direct you to the right places to be seen by your target audience. These places may be physical (meetings, magazines, networking groups) or on-line (website, social media, blogs). Wherever they are you should be there too …. And be seen to be offering what your customer needs.

Watch this space....next three spells to be posted within a week!