It is important to know what all of your competition offers, as well as how you sell your services as being unique. One industry that has grown tremendously over the past 20 years as a result is the direct mail marketing services. I’m sure you receive three or four coupon books in the mail every month. I honestly don’t remember seeing them before the early 80’s. Businesses who use these services are generally the ones that survive during lean times, but they’re typically retail services.
This is absolute proof that reaching your target audience is based on your knowledge of who your audience is and how to best keep your business name in front of them at all times.
One of the easiest and least expensive methods to expand your knowledge is reading. Every year at least a hundred books are published for improving business skills. There are books on motivation, organization and any topic to make sure your business is going to stay competitive.
If you think you don’t have time to read, you can find a few moments each day to skim at least a few pages of a book or business related article. You can then consider what you’ve read and how it applies to your business as you go about your day. It’s simply a matter of adapting to the discipline.