We are jetting off to visit a member of our client family that benefits from a much warmer climate than ours today, and it got us thinking... why don't all business operate on a global business model to enhance the growth opportunities and live a more freedom-filled life? Probably because they don't know how. A lot of what we do with our clients is lead generation, but we also add a global component to their business when it is applicable. Lets look at how this works.
You are thinking out of the gate that it is really easy to operate globally as a marketing firm because it doesn't matter where we live, we know the fundamentals of marketing and their application. Exactly. But that doesn't discount your opportunity to take advantage of the same style of business that we have built our company on. We have plenty of local clients as well, and that equals a more in person focused client relationship but we saw more potential, so we pushed to grow.
How do other industries manage the same style of growth? Consultants have an outstanding opportunity to expand their reach and build niche markets for themselves with unlimited growth potential by offering a digital consultancy package. They save money on travelling to clients in favour of hosting web-based meetings that meet the same goals. Some of our clients in the consulting world have clients that prefer the web meetings over in person despite being local. Time savings matters for busy professionals.
Our construction clients sell plans through an e-commerce platform. They are basic plans for decks, pergolas, outdoor kitchens and the like, but they sell. While the income from this (roughly $12,000/year) doesn't seem initially compelling, it is an extra $12,000/year that they aren't working for. It just comes in through their digital presence which is being optimized by the marketing strategy they are employing for their main business... construction!
We have clients that own restaurants and have found that their recipes leave their in-store customers craving more. They created digital cookbooks that are selling on amazon. An additional $1200/month for this client is making the difference in being able to have a hostess at the front of the restaurant. This talent has brought better Yelp and Google reviews and that has resulted in a busier dining room. The ripple effect is substantial and they made one small change to their operation to achieve that status.
So now that you see three industries that we have pulled into the global business model you are wondering how you monetize your existing assets for digital commerce. First, consider the things that you offer to the potential consumer. Keep things basic, the DIY client (often who we go after in the digital marketplace) wants to achieve simplicity with beautiful results. That spans across the renovation, crafting, fashion, food, web and other industries. Simple is king.
Once you've established what it is that you can offer you should start to consider the platforms by which you can take that product or service to the marketplace. Some ideas to start the marinating process are Etsy, Ebay, E-Commerce, Pow-How... look at these and similar marketplaces that you can use to sell your wares.
Global opportunity is everywhere, you just have to step outside of your typical role to see how you can make that change for your business. As always, we'd love to help! To get you started in considering your digital presence push, connect with us for a completely free, no-obligation consultation to see if H&C Inc. is the right fit for your business. Reach out to us here!