Long ago, I read in marketing materials you must develop multiple streams of income. Having been a sales professional prior to becoming an entrepreneur, the idea appealed to me. However, creating the multiple streams takes time, creativity and much thought.
Over the next couple of years, I created a product line. However, upon first viewing my setup as a vendor at a conference, a marketing expert advised I redo the look of the products. Each one was different and I was advised a uniform design would develop my brand and provide a professional appearance.
Multiple experiences
As the years progressed, I expanded the types of training provided from initial in-person workshops to webinars and videos. And I grew from speaking solely on sales and business development to applying these skill sets to other endeavors such as interviewing and writing a book.
The past two years, I learned much about social media and collaboration. It became evident that the original advice of multiple streams was finally coming into being in more ways than originally anticipated. For me, the concept developed new meaning.
Multiple streams, I found, enabled me to reach many new types of audiences. While everything was sales and business oriented, I now have off shoots applying these skills. In fact my new book, HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews, led me to participating in a Career oriented conference. The contacts in regard to my new book and new course material were a perfect match for this group. I will also be speaking at two different colleges to students helping them understand what it takes to define a career and how to get started on the right footing.
Pull instead of push
I came to realize that growing a business is very similar to the analogy of an umbrella. Your core business is equivalent to the covering of the umbrella and slides down the center becoming the handle enabling you to grasp everything in your reach. The spokes of the umbrella represent your multiple venues, crossing one another yet complementary and working in unison to support your core business or the covering of the umbrella.
As you build your business outward you also build it upward by attracting many more types of audiences as long as each venue complements what is already in place. The variation on services attracts a greater variety and increased number of prospects and clients to come your way. It becomes business development on auto-pilot putting you in the leadership position. This, in turn, encourages repeat business, referrals and testimonials – all driving up the opportunities and your revenue.
Finally, when you add social media and collaboration to your mix, you have a very strong formula pointing to success. With millions of people nearby with the click of a mouse, you are bound to attract multitudes more to your business.
The only caution is a few parameters have changed with the development of social media. This venue is called attraction marketing vs. the old-fashioned “push” selling. You must give a helping hand first and work to attract people to who you are and what you do. Only a small portion of the time should you provide links and requests, and you must show appreciation for those who bring you to the forefront. It is a level playing field where anyone may succeed when you adhere to the social rules.
Complementary venues in all forms will lead you to a continual Smooth Sale!
