It’s 1:00 p.m. You’re on what feels like your 300th sales call of the day, and despite employing enhanced value propositions in your pitches, you’re getting nowhere fast. At this point, all you want is to move one lead forward so you can have something to show for your efforts. The grind of chasing customers, a fundamental drive behind value-added marketing strategies, is wearing you down.
But, what if I told you there’s a way to flip the script? Imagine a scenario where customers are the ones seeking you out, eager to engage with your brand. Sound too good to be true? This is where the magic of value-added marketing comes into play.
By enhancing your products or services with additional benefits that go beyond the expected, you not only differentiate yourself from the competition but also create a compelling reason for customers to come running to you. Let’s dive into how making value-added marketing a cornerstone of your strategy can transform your sales approach and turn the tides in your favor.
It isn’t. But, it does involve redirecting your acquisition strategy so that the customer comes out feeling like a winner without giving away the shop. You do so by differentiating yourself from competitors through adding value to your products or services in a way that sets you apart.
The Value in Adding Value
When you calculate the cost of customer acquisition in relation to time invested, how much of a return are you getting?
We’re not necessarily talking about monetary value, but something that’s a little less tangible and ultimately worth more in terms of brand loyalty, social proof, and long-term growth. Done right, you’re able to humanize your brand and connect with leads on a deeper, more sustainable level.
Four Ways You Can Add Value to Your Acquisition Strategy Today
When you present customers with the same thing everyone else is offering, it becomes the baseline. You’re simply doing what’s expected of anyone in your industry.
Anyone can be basic.
You can shift the dynamic by being extra. Whatever the other guy offers, put a plus sign after it.
There are four relatively painless ways to increase perceived value to your acquisition strategy.
Understand Factors That Drive Value
The best way to determine what the public values is to ask them. Is there something missing from similar products in your niche, a better way of doing things or a factor that’s been overlooked?
Find out what’s missing from the equation by getting feedback, conducting surveys, and reading customer reviews of similar products. I can’t remember all of the times I’ve gone into an customer review section on Amazon or a similar forum and read “I really liked this product, but …”
Your goal is to take the “but” out of the equation and turn it into “This product gave me everything they promised and more.”
Assess How Your Proposals Create Value
Once you’ve determined what is lacking, you need to decide how you’re going to address the gaps and fill in the void left by competitors. Customers perceive value by how much your product adds to their life or benefits them in some way, minus the cost.
Keep in mind that cost goes beyond the price tag to include the cost of ownership or use. How much of their lives will they need to devote to owning, using, or replacing your product? Minimize that whenever possible.
Identify Audience Segments That are Hungry for More
Not every customer is going to perceive value in the same way. You’ll advance your efforts by identifying where individual audience segments are in their journey, determining what they need at that point to move them farther along, and having a plan to meet that particular need in that moment.
Present Your Proposals in a Winning Way
If a customer isn’t feeling you in the moment, they’ll have no problem walking away no matter the savings. When customers perceive that they’re getting value beyond price, they’re willing to pay more to gain the promised advantages.
Present your proposal in a way that makes the customer feel like they’re taking the win. This can be achieved through stressing convenience or simplicity, by adding incentives, and by highlighting long-term benefits.
Final Thoughts
In the end, the ultimate value of your business is measured by how you value customers at every point in the acquisition process and beyond. In addition to the above suggestions, allocate resources toward audience segments that you can provide with the most value, and who will offer the greatest return for your efforts.
Do you face challenges when it comes to bringing in new business? When you’re ready to ramp up your brand strategy, Level343 can help.
