prudential artisan market

Learn great money saving tips with online shopping as they could really give you huge savings if you practice them well. Internet online shopping has been gathering popularity as you can easily sift through many online stores in the shortest time frame to get the best deal, at the click of a mouse button. With discount vouchers, discount codes or promotional codes, you can save even more when shopping online.

5 Essential Money Saving Tips With Internet Online Shopping

1. Always aim for the best deal and save more for the item(s) you desire. Do not immediately settle down with your purchase on the first online store that you come across. Scout through a few of them and make your price comparison to get the best deal. Lookout for sale items especially. Sale prices can be dramatically lower than the standard prices and help you to save big.

2. Always use coupons or discount voucher codes if you know where to check online. There are many websites out there that offer thousands of coupons to almost every online store.

Typically you pay 20% more for an item for shipping fee, and if you are able to save that much with discount vouchers, you are essentially getting free shipping for your items. Every time you get to the last checkout page, just key in the promotional code into the little box will do.

3. Always keep an eye for online rebates given by retailers that can help to save a huge percentage on the selling price. Simple fill out a little form and cut out the UPC code. Use these rebates and save big.

4. Always look out for sites or items that come with free shipping. As mentioned above, shipping fee is normally 20% more than the item price itself. Saving on your shipping can be tremendous if your item costs a lot.

5. Do not miss out those state retailers that do not charge sales tax for your items for your state. The money saving here could be significant too.

With money saving tips above and if you have practiced them well, you can add up and see how much you have easily saved for yourself. The best part is, you don’t even have to walk into a store to save a bundle. Spend some time to search online and I am sure you can find more money saving offers and tips out there. Start saving and enjoy living debt free today!

As an entrepreneur, you may know every detail about your small business, but can you say the same about your customers? In order to effectively market your products or services, you need to know who’s purchasing them! Market research consists of gathering and analyzing data about your customers in order to understand them better. “By gathering as much data as possible about your clients you can not only keep the customers you already have but also find more customers and increase your profits,” says Louise Johnsson-Zea, small business marketing consultant at ACCION.

You don’t need to hire a pro to conduct research on your target market-put your own investigative skills to use and do it yourself! For example, as a storefront owner, you can gather data inexpensively by conducting a survey at your store. By following the steps below, you’ll be well on your way to understanding the market your business serves.

Step 1: Determine the Questions You Need Answered. In order to understand your customers, list the questions that are relevant to both your customers and your business. Johnsson-Zea recommends asking yourself and your customers the following:

-Who are your current or potential customers? Where do they live?

-What do they like about your product or service?

-What suggestions do they have for improvement of your product or service?

-How did they hear about you?

-What newspapers do they read? What radio stations do they listen to?

-How much are your customers willing or able to pay for your services?

-How much are your competitors charging for similar products, services?

-How unique is your product? What makes it unique?

Step 2: Get Data from Primary and Secondary Sources. By using basic surveys, information you already have in hand, and conducting basic internet research, you can find the answers to your research questions.

Primary sources. This is information obtained directly from your clients through surveys or by analyzing information you already have available in your records. “You can do a simple analysis of billing zip codes to determine where your customers live or look at their title (Mr, Ms., or Mrs.) to find out their gender,” suggests Johnsson-Zea. “Also, simple observation of customer behavior can go a long way. Determine areas of your store where customers linger at make note of what products they ask for.”

Secondary sources. This is information that has already been gathered and published by someone else, such as the U.S. Census Bureau statistics. Visit your local library for resources, or spend a few hours online. You can access census information at http://www.census.gov

When it comes to business development, picking the low hanging fruit is easy, uncomplicated, and a fast way to results. That’s a lesson that some people forget – that beyond your own clients the first place to focus is on clients and organizations with which other attorneys in your firm already have relationships. They are the low hanging fruit.

Be proactive from the start. Offer to do something for other practice areas and their clients BEFORE you ask them for help. Not only will you build on the business you already have…you’ll also reinforce how important your firm is to the client.

Working With Your Colleagues Inside the Firm

Cross selling builds on relationships the firm already has. Lawyers refer work to other lawyers they know and trust. It’s your goal to BE that one they know and trust.

Two parts….

List OTHER firm practice areas that YOU could cross sell to YOUR clients and which attorneys YOU can help, and set a date for a meeting

List YOUR practice areas that OTHERS could sell to THEIR clients and which attorneys can help you, and set a date for a meeting.

Working With The Firm’s Marketing Department

Far too many attorneys treat their firm’s marketing department as a nuisance. Support their needs, and YOU benefit.

First, set a meeting to discuss Marketing’s needs and how you can help THEM.

Some possibilities…

They need content for the website to keep it fresh. (Case studies etc.) They need articles for newsletters and alerts. They need experts to comment on issues when the press calls. They need firm representation at community and business functions. They need speakers for both internal and external audiences. They need support when creating a new business development initiative. They need help gathering information on the firm’s presence in organizations. The number of firm attorneys in various organizations has widespread implications…who should they send to conferences, who can help if someone is running for the Board of that organization, etc.

Second, set a meeting to discuss how Marketing can help YOU can achieve your objectives.

Some possibilities…

You need marketing materials ready at a moment’s notice so prepare several samples. Never give a prospect everything the firm has at once. Have Marketing help you plan a three-stage process, so that you can create true points of contact with this prospect or referral source. You need visibility, so consider how Marketing can help you create speaking and writing opportunities to build credibility. You may need Marketing’s help strategizing and preparing materials for a presentation or meeting.

Make marketing a habit—Do something every single day.

This article has been excerpted from “The Little Black Book: A Lawyer’s Guide To Creating A Marketing Habit in 21 Days.”