How Starting Your Own 'Country Club' Can Skyrocket Your Revenues!
- Date: 2007-11-01 - Word Count: 736
Share This!
My mom was visiting recently and during our mother-daughter shopping time I noticed something interesting. Almost all of the stores I made a purchase at asked me if I'd like to get on their mailing list. That's very smart.
However, the WAY in which they did this made a big difference in my answer. I said NO to almost all of them because they simply did not make it enticing for me. I mean, who WANTS more junk mail? So if you simply ask me if I'd like to be on your mailing list, the answer will usually be NO.
But one store in particular got me. First of all, it was a designer clothing store I loved. Second of all, they didn't ask me if I wanted to be on their mailing list. They invited me to become a "VIP Client".
Say the words "VIP" to me and my ears perk up. It of course stands for "very important person". And in general it indicates a level of advantage and prestige. Suddenly I WANTED to be on that mailing list, especially when the salesman explained to me it came with certain benefits, such as early notice on new arrivals, a personal shopping service, and private trunk shows.
And you know what? I would have even paid to be part of that - to be regarded as a VIP.
You see, people WANT to be part of something special like ezine writing. The example above was free. But don't underestimate how much your clients or customers will PAY to do that, either.
Example: A friend of mine recently shared he pays $15,000.00 a year to belong to the President's Club of a local playhouse, even though he and his wife could attend each show there for just $150.00. Why would even a loyal attendee want to pay 100 times more? Special treatment like preferred seating, valet parking, invites to VIP functions, private restaurant for members only, networking with a higher level of people, etc.
Another friend of mine pays for membership at a private nightclub here in Los Angeles up on Sunset Blvd. for many of the same reasons (but more so, I believe, because it impresses his dates ; )).
My marketing mentor Dan Kennedy taught me there is a segment of virtually EVERY customer or client group or market who will happily pay FAR above standard prices for convenience, status, and special treatment.
I call it "country clubbing" your business. Why be the driving range with an hourly charge when you can be the classy six-figure membership club down the street? You can offer both of course, but look at what will skyrocket your business FASTER, with less transactions and higher quality clients.
One example of this is my private Platinum Mastermind program, which I launched in 2006 due to overwhelming demand for my personal coaching. This group of 15 serious small business owners each pay $15,000.00 a year to have greater access to me than anyone else, and in a small group setting where we meet 3 times a year at luxurious 4- and 5-star hotels and resorts.
My Platinums are, essentially, VIPs in my world! And because I maintain a bit of mystique about the group, people seem to want "in" even more. (One of my members got cornered in the ladies room at my last Online Success Blueprint Workshop by several attendees who demanded to know how they could get into Platinum!)
I share this not to impress you, but to impress upon you that in YOUR market (yes, *yours*) there IS a percentage of folks who will gladly pay MORE - much more - for a higher level of service or treatment. Remember, you're not trying to please EVERYBODY, just the select few who can afford that level of service.
So now, take a minute or two and consider how YOU can start your own "country club" for your clients and customers. Whether it's a VIP level of service or a private client group that meets a few times a year.
To get your wheels turning, imagine this... if you can get 10 people to commit to some type of program that is just $10,000.00 a year, that's an extra $100,000.00 this year for YOU!
Online entrepreneur Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen," publishes the award-winning 'Straight Shooter Marketing' weekly ezine with 20,000+ subscribers. If you're ready to jump-start your marketing, make more money, and have more fun in your small business, get your FREE tips now at ezinequeen.com
However, the WAY in which they did this made a big difference in my answer. I said NO to almost all of them because they simply did not make it enticing for me. I mean, who WANTS more junk mail? So if you simply ask me if I'd like to be on your mailing list, the answer will usually be NO.
But one store in particular got me. First of all, it was a designer clothing store I loved. Second of all, they didn't ask me if I wanted to be on their mailing list. They invited me to become a "VIP Client".
Say the words "VIP" to me and my ears perk up. It of course stands for "very important person". And in general it indicates a level of advantage and prestige. Suddenly I WANTED to be on that mailing list, especially when the salesman explained to me it came with certain benefits, such as early notice on new arrivals, a personal shopping service, and private trunk shows.
And you know what? I would have even paid to be part of that - to be regarded as a VIP.
You see, people WANT to be part of something special like ezine writing. The example above was free. But don't underestimate how much your clients or customers will PAY to do that, either.
Example: A friend of mine recently shared he pays $15,000.00 a year to belong to the President's Club of a local playhouse, even though he and his wife could attend each show there for just $150.00. Why would even a loyal attendee want to pay 100 times more? Special treatment like preferred seating, valet parking, invites to VIP functions, private restaurant for members only, networking with a higher level of people, etc.
Another friend of mine pays for membership at a private nightclub here in Los Angeles up on Sunset Blvd. for many of the same reasons (but more so, I believe, because it impresses his dates ; )).
My marketing mentor Dan Kennedy taught me there is a segment of virtually EVERY customer or client group or market who will happily pay FAR above standard prices for convenience, status, and special treatment.
I call it "country clubbing" your business. Why be the driving range with an hourly charge when you can be the classy six-figure membership club down the street? You can offer both of course, but look at what will skyrocket your business FASTER, with less transactions and higher quality clients.
One example of this is my private Platinum Mastermind program, which I launched in 2006 due to overwhelming demand for my personal coaching. This group of 15 serious small business owners each pay $15,000.00 a year to have greater access to me than anyone else, and in a small group setting where we meet 3 times a year at luxurious 4- and 5-star hotels and resorts.
My Platinums are, essentially, VIPs in my world! And because I maintain a bit of mystique about the group, people seem to want "in" even more. (One of my members got cornered in the ladies room at my last Online Success Blueprint Workshop by several attendees who demanded to know how they could get into Platinum!)
I share this not to impress you, but to impress upon you that in YOUR market (yes, *yours*) there IS a percentage of folks who will gladly pay MORE - much more - for a higher level of service or treatment. Remember, you're not trying to please EVERYBODY, just the select few who can afford that level of service.
So now, take a minute or two and consider how YOU can start your own "country club" for your clients and customers. Whether it's a VIP level of service or a private client group that meets a few times a year.
To get your wheels turning, imagine this... if you can get 10 people to commit to some type of program that is just $10,000.00 a year, that's an extra $100,000.00 this year for YOU!
Online entrepreneur Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen," publishes the award-winning 'Straight Shooter Marketing' weekly ezine with 20,000+ subscribers. If you're ready to jump-start your marketing, make more money, and have more fun in your small business, get your FREE tips now at ezinequeen.com
Related Tags: ezine, ezines, ezine advertising, ezine marketing, e-zine, speaking opportunities, ezine writing, e-zine advertising, ezine newsletters, e-zine starti
Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Dating Articles - 3 failureproof mind powerplay that will work on your ex; before your ex knows it,he/she will come r
You should make your ex realize that he made a big mistake breaking up with you by serving him the s - Family & Parenting, Can You Even Trust Your Own Family?
My brother Joachim is down from Chicago to defrost for about a week until he goes back to the - Website Promotion, What You MUST Understand About Your Web Numbers
Six years ago, when I first started selling online, I focused on doing what I did best: generati - Current Affairs, Dalai Lama Reiterated Non-Violence Stance To China
The red - robed monk officially expressed frustration at China's refusal to talk with the exiled - 7 Easy Ways to Ease Ezine Writer's Block?
If you publish an ezine regularly, inevitably there are times when you get stuck and can't qui - Cyclone Sidr hits Bangladesh
A cyclone killed 242 people and left much of southern Bangladesh cut off from the rest of the - Why Use Private Label Articles For Ezines
Putting together content for your Ezine or Newsletter would seem for many to be a long drawn o - Discover the Easy Way to Writing Articles that Get Results
I shouldn't be telling you this but writing articles are easy, once you know the formula. I gu - How to apply for your Newsletter Editor's License? By Michael Green
For many people Newsletter or Ezine creation is shrouded inabsolute mystery.How do I know?Well - Getting Your Newsletter Read How Great Newsletters Adapt To Perfectly Match Their Readers. By Michae
One exciting feature of newsletters - frequently overlookedby their editors - is the ability t
Most viewed articles in this category:
- It's time for a Change
It's Time for a Decision As a dependent corporate employee, you have absolutely no control over ho - Rewards then who publish your article
Information about article marketing and importantness of article to make traffic on your website - Should Freelance Writers Have a Minimum Wage?
With election season here, raising the minimum wage is a hot topic. This got me to thinking about fr - Recent Laws Affect Student Loan Consolidation
Recent Laws Affect Student Loan Consolidation Legislation recently passed is expected to turn the - 8 Reasons Why Ezines Are Here to Stay
It doesn't matter what technological advances and marketing tools are the new fad du jour. Ezines - Real Businesses Send Spam, Too!
Unsolicited Commercial Email or Spam has grown at epidemic proportions. It is rapidly becoming the - CONTINUING EDUCATION HELPS MEETING THE PATIENTS' NEEDS
CONTINUING EDUCATION HELPS MEETING THE PATIENTS' NEEDS By Dr. Muhammad Imran Yousuf Lect - Delphi Technique
The Delphi Technique By Dr. Muhammad Imran Yousuf Lecturer, Division of Continui - GIVING DISTRESSED STUDENTS A FEELING OF SAFETY AND SECURITY
GIVING DISTRESSED STUDENTS A FEELING OF SAFETY AND SECURITYByDr. Muhammad Imran YousufLecturerDiv - How to Win Friends, then Make Money On-line
Feel free to use this article in your E-zine, or on your web site,as long as you use it unchanged