Unlocking Growth: Mark LeBlanc's Ten Strategies for Small Businesses
Mark LeBlanc, a seasoned business development expert, is here to guide small business owners toward success with his concise and actionable advice. His mantra is clear: don’t overthink your approach to growing your business. With decades of experience and numerous publications, including the revamped edition of his bestseller,
Growing Your Business!, LeBlanc emphasizes the importance of sustained effort over complex strategizing.
1. Refine Your Email Signature
Start simple—enhance your email signature to reflect your brand. A strong signature leaves a lasting impression and can even encourage a response or action from your readers.
2. Refresh Your Voicemail
Rotate your voicemail message monthly. This not only keeps your communications fresh but also conveys dynamism to your clients and contacts.
3. Offer Value Online
Create something valuable to give away online—whether it’s a digital resource or promotional material. This not only builds your email list but also showcases your expertise.
4. Daily Personal Touch
Set a goal to send a personal note or card every day. Such gestures of kindness can strengthen relationships with clients and partners.
5. Instant Promotion
Design a promotional piece in a color PDF format. Having this readily available can facilitate quick decisions for potential clients and partners.
6. Strategic Networking
Identify environments that are ripe for networking. Choose places or events that will allow you to connect with your ideal audience.
7. Define Your Ideal Client
Sketch out a detailed profile of your ideal customer. This visualization will guide your marketing and engagement efforts and streamline your outreach.
8. Regular Newsletters
Develop a newsletter or memo that goes out quarterly or monthly. This helps keep your audience engaged and informed about your business activities.
9. Concise Communication
When communicating, remember to keep your notes and emails short. Respect your audience's time and present clear, direct messages.
10. The Advocate Strategy
LeBlanc highlights a powerful marketing avenue—the advocate strategy, which emphasizes the importance of nurturing relationships with champions of your work. Here are steps to implement this:
- - Identify five or more advocates who believe in your work.
- - Establish a routine of connecting with them monthly or quarterly.
- - Keep your communications simple; avoid asking directly for referrals during these exchanges.
- - Invest minimal time and resources to maintain this relationship effectively.
- - Regularly update your list of advocates to keep it relevant.
Why Simplicity Matters
LeBlanc acknowledges that while these strategies might appear basic, they lay a strong foundation for any business. It’s essential to master these fundamentals before scaling up to more elaborate initiatives. Simple strategies that yield consistent results are often the most powerful.
With over 2,000 presentations under his belt and a dedicated forum for independent professionals—the Achievers Circle retreats—LeBlanc blends practical advice with motivational insights. His goal is to forge strong connections amongst small business owners and foster an environment where ideas can flourish.
LeBlanc's commitment to mentorship extends beyond his book endeavors; he has also founded the Mark LeBlanc (Y.E.S.) Foundation, supporting aspiring entrepreneurs through grants. His philosophy is straightforward: it’s not just about growing your business; it’s about building meaningful relationships to support sustainable growth.
Emphasizing practical steps while maintaining a clear focus on relationship-building can lead you to a path of success. By adopting these strategies from LeBlanc, small business owners can empower themselves and transform their growth journey into a triumph.
Transform your business today by starting with one of these strategies!