Packaging Your Services: Create Multiple Streams of Small
Business Income
One of the ways you - as an owner of service businesses - can
increase your profits is to create muliple streams of small
business income. And the place to start is by designing
informational products. The products could be based your
knowledge - things like CDs, e-books, booklets, teleseminars,
and articles. You know -- these are the very things you've been
watching me develop over the years. And if you're a US resident
who has taken one of my TeleSeminars, you may have received one
of my "test" CDs in the mail! They include an ebook and audio of
the class. And you can create such products, too.
Another way to boost your income is to develop products that
will help your ideal clients. And it's easier then you think IF
you really, really, really listen to your clients. For example,
my clients complained that they had lots of ideas and that I was
also giving them even more terrific marketing ideas, some of
which could be used "later." Many of the ideas they'd been
keeping were written on many bit of paper. (Can you relate?)
What I heard was that they wanted a SIMPLE way to organize their
ideas for future use that did not include rewriting (or retyping
them) in a software program. So, I created SIMPLE IDEAS Folders.
What are other ways to create a variety of packages and
products for your service business?
-- Take a service you offer and package it with different
products, different services, different lengths of time (if
applicable).
-- Many business owners place a pricing structure on their
websites. Using the industry name, plus the word "rate" or
"fees" or "quote," you can find those sites on the Internet.
-- Always consider the client and customer service when pricing
your services, too. If what you sell requires training for your
customers, you can offer a block of training hours included in
the initial price, with additional training charged separately
at an hourly rate of ___. The training hours can be in person,
over the phone, or via email.
-- Some people do advertise their prices; others don't. Some
people charge by the hour; others charge by the project (which
is perceived to be more professional).
-- If you list your prices - be specific. List what is included,
for how many hours and/or for how many people. You might want to
include a form for potential clients to complete so prices can
be calculated.
-- Consider charging a licensing fee. When you create a document
for use by your clients, it might be a product they want to
share with their clients. If so, create a licensing fee policy
for that document, ebook, ereport, program, etc.