If your current marketing strategy is netting less-than-desirable results, here are 5 simple steps you can implement today that will have a positive impact on your marketing efforts.

1. Don't procrastinate - do it, do it now! No matter what you've got scheduled for the day or the week, stop putting off that nasty little bit of marketing that you really don't like to do. Items such as follow-up calls, cold calls, or whatever aspect of marketing your business isn't your cup of tea, focus on it and get it done. Just think of how good you'll feel when it's out of the way, and you've gained new clients because of it!

2. Spend 1 hour a week working ON your business instead of IN your business. This is a most valuable tip I picked up from one of the many newsletters I read. You know those long hours you log developing your strategy for the year? Well, if you're not continuously re-evaluating it to ensure that it still makes sense and that you're on-track with your goals and objectives, then what's the point?

Set aside just 1 hour per week to dig out your marketing strategy, take a step back, and continue developing or honing your plan. If there's a component that you included at the first of the year and you still haven't implemented it, ask yourself why. If it still makes sense, then get it done. If it doesn't, take it out and replace it with something that does.

3. Improve or increase your networking. I don't know anyone who can take credit for getting 100% of their customers on their own. Referrals and networking play a large part in getting clients no matter who you are.

If you don't belong to a networking group, check a local chapter out (I recently attended at BNI meeting at one of our several local chapters, and was impressed by the quality of the members). Or, if physical glad-handing isn't really your style, there are more and more online forums for interaction. Attend trade shows or industry meetings where your customers are most likely to be found and get your name out there.

4. Focus on repeat business from existing clients rather than getting new clients (unless you're building a new business). This is a point that 90% of businesspeople forget about. The most cost-effective and profitable way to increase your revenue is through repeat sales. Now, you obviously can't neglect targeting new business, but narrow your efforts to focus on quality clients rather than quantity, and go after those repeats.

5. Sell the experience of dealing with you. This one really goes hand-in-hand with point #4. If your customers enjoy dealing with you, that is, if you've got their best interests in mind and can truly help enrich their lives in some way, that creates a favourable experience for them.

I'm not saying you need to become best friends with your clients. Deal with them in a friendly, professional manner (as I'm sure you already do), but also maybe keep on top of information that may be useful to them that you can pass along. Perhaps it's newspaper clippings or tidbits of information from newsletters you subscribe to. By keeping their interests in mind and passing along information that's of value to them, you're selling the experience, and building the relationship with your client.