4 Basic Marketing Principles

1.  Targeting

It’s better to have a single, well targeted bullet than to spray randomly all over the place. It’s more efficient and less wasteful – of both resources and time.

In practice this means getting to know your market and what they want and need (which may not always be the same thing). Then it means designing or adjusting your products appropriately.

     2.       Be in it for the long haul

Marketing works over time, and if you keep building on it, can go from strength to strength. It’s not

something you can just do a short burst of and then leave it forevermore. It should also have a many pillared approach, rather than relying too much on a single ‘prong’. Look at all the alternatives that are available to you, including: social media, website promotion, direct mailing, print advertising, networking etc.

   3.       Focus on benefits, not features

People don’t care that a car has a state of the art alarm system, they care that the car isn’t going to get stolen. They don’t care if they website is W3C compatible or future proof, they want to know that it’s going to improve their bottom line and not be a money sink.

In summary, don’t focus on the features of your products and services, focus on the tangible benefits they bring to your customers.

  4.       Be consistent and specific

Don’t try to be all things to all people, a constantly changing chameleon. By spreading yourself too thin, you’ll end up appealing to nobody instead. It’s better to decide what your brand represents, whether that’s based on your own intrinsic principles or what you’ve ascertained your market wants, and stick with it.

Click here to read about Chelsea Singh.

The 4 Ps of the Marketing Mix

You’ll sometimes hear business people talk about the 4 Ps, or the marketing mix. These 4 Ps are: Price, Place, Promotion and Product. Let’s look at each of these in a bit more detail.

The Right Product

The product has to have the right features and benefits to appeal to the customer and meet their needs. If there simply isn’t a desire for that product then the best marketing in the world isn’t going to sell it.

The Right Price

The price needs to be right from two points of view – the customer’s and the seller’s. From the customer’s point of view, the price has to be low enough to be affordable, but not so low it gives the impression of poor quality. The seller has to choose a price that will attain the optimum balance between sales volume and profit margin.

The Right Place

Products have to be in the right place at the right time. A good example of this is umbrellas when it’s raining and ice creams when it’s very hot. If the product isn’t there when the customer feels the need for it, it won’t get sold.

The Right Promotion

You could have the best product at a great price, and be in the right place, but promotion is still necessary to give that final edge over the competition and drive enough sales to make a product profitable. Promotion can take many forms and will usually have a multi-pronged approach.

Click here to visit the Chelsea Singh Investment website. 

Inspiration Quotes About Goals

"Who aims at excellence will be above mediocrity; who aims at mediocrity will be far short of it."
Burmese Saying

"Arriving at one goal is the starting point to another."

John Dewey

"Your goal should be just out of reach, but not out of sight."
Denis Waitley and Remi Witt 

"A goal is a dream with a deadline."
Napoleon Hill 

"Every ceiling, when reached, becomes a floor, upon which one walks as a matter of course and prescriptive right."
Aldous Huxley

"The virtue lies in the struggle, not in the prize."
Richard Monckton Milnes

"It is not enough to take steps which may some day lead to a goal; each step must be itself a goal and a step likewise."
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 

For more information about Chelsea Singh as an business investor, visit his website.

What makes a millionaire?

The Director’s Centre, which aims to help businesses become more profitable and fun to run, ran a survey called the ‘Magic Million Survey’ to try to get to the bottom of what makes one person able to become a millionaire and another not.

High achievers had a strong sense of self belief and a tendency to take responsibility for themselves and the factors around them. Whereas, those who got stuck in a rut and failed to progress and grow their businesses tended to blame external factors and have self-limiting beliefs.

They identified attributes, traits and characteristics of successful business people and discovered that the biggest difference between achievers and wannabes was the approach to success.

Fear is often the main factor in a lack of success, as people are afraid to risk losing what they have, are afraid of failure or are afraid to relinquish control of any aspects of their business (critical for a truly scalable business).

On the other hand, successful entrepreneurs are usually more self-aware, and know that they are often the bottle neck, holding the business back from even more success.

The successful business owners who took part in the survey all presented the following traits in one combination or another: charismatic leadership, a ‘can do’ attitude, a fast-moving, exciting business environment, motivational rewards systems for staff, a good body of staff… and luck.

You can read the original article here.

For more information about Chelsea Singh as an business investor, visit his website.

Principles for Strategy

To fail to prepare is to prepare to fail.

But having a strategy is no guarantee of success. External factors are always changing and new information becomes available and the environment changes.

So what makes a successful strategy? Below are three principles that underlie a good strategy.

Keep it Simple

A good strategy will have a very simple objective at its core, that can be described in a single sentence and instantly understood, such as Steve Jobs’s ‘1000 songs in your pocket’ for the iPad. By having a clear centre, the strategy will be solidly grounded and anchored to this concept.

Be flexible

It’s a tricky balance to know when to stick to your guns and when to change tactics. But this is one of the most important skills you can have as a strategist, as no plans survive first contact intact. The strategy should have flexibility built into it, with some of the most likely changes in scenario accounted for.

Avoid assumptions

The biggest pitfall of strategies is making incorrect assumptions. When developing a strategy, you should question everything you think you know and make sure you get solid facts. Even better, make sure your strategy relies on as few assumptions as possible – that way it will be as strong as it can be. For more on this, look up ‘Occam’s Razor’.

Contact CS Investments for strategic consultancy service

More Entrepreneurship Quotes

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”

– Winston Churchill, British Politician

“The most valuable thing you can make is a mistake – you can’t learn anything from being perfect.”

– Adam Osborne, American Author

“Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.”

– Henry Ford, American Industrialist

“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.”

– Vince Lombardi, NFL Coach

“Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”

– Winston Churchill, British Politician

“If I had eight hours to chop down a tree I would spend six hours sharpening my axe.”

– Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States

“The best reason to start an organization is to make meaning – to create a product or service to make the world a better place.”

– Guy Kawasaki, Entrepreneur, Investor, Author

“Choose a job that you like, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

– Confucius , Thinker and Philosopher

“Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.”

– Richard Branson, British Industrialist

 

“Some people dream of great accomplishments, while others stay awake and do them.”

– Anonymous

“The entrepreneur in us sees opportunities everywhere we look, but many people see only problems everywhere they look. The entrepreneur in us is more concerned with discriminating between opportunities than he or she is with failing to see the opportunities.”

– Michael Gerber, Author and Entrepreneur

“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”

– Albert Einstein, Theoretical Physicist

“Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”

– Chinese Proverb

Click here to read about Chelsea Singh.

Chelsea Singh on Leadership

Leadership is a key factor in business, but there are many different types of leader and ways of leading people. We all need leadership at various times in our lives, and we will turn to different people for guidance in different areas. Sometimes we need to be motivated to get up and go and make important changes in behaviour, and other times we might need a role model for some more personal reflection.

Some leaders are very charismatic and inspirational, and draw people to them like a magnet. People feel stronger when spending time with them and more motivated to make changes in their lives. These types of leaders usually have strong visions, they know exactly where they want to go, and they have no time for naysayers – they’re too busy getting on with it! They can be radical, and will usually have enemies as well, as some people prefer things to always stay the same and fear change, so these people will find them unsettling, and will react negatively.

These types of leaders tend to be politicians and high-profile entrepreneurs.

But there are also modest leaders. Those who shy away from the limelight and keep a low profile. There are plenty of powerful people who have created huge, influential organisations, but of whom you will have heard. These people prefer a slow and steady approach, and they tend to be committed to the success of an organisation of movement, rather than personal achievement.

These people tend to be spiritual leaders, authors and teachers.

Click here to read about Chelsea Singh.

Do you need to have a degree in business studies to become an entrepreneur?

With worldwide University attendance rates at their highest ever (though watch this space to see how the increased fees will affect UK students), it’s commonly believed that you can’t get anywhere in life without that little piece of paper that says you spent four years or more attending lectures, and sitting exams at the end.

 

But research shows that most students remember almost nothing of what they learned at school or university. So is it worth going to university if you want to make it big in business?

The answer is that while university will be very helpful as a character building experience and to make friends that will last a lifetime, there are many examples of people who dropped out of college, had terrible reviews from their teachers and lecturers and turned out to be some of the most successful business people and entrepreneurs of our time – these include Richard Branson and Bill Gates.

So, there’s nothing wrong with qualifications, and getting an education is no bad thing, but a degree in business studies does not a good business person make, and it’s very possible to strike it rich without a university degree.

Click here to visit the Chelsea Singh Investment website.

Industries of the future

Entrepreneurs are constantly thinking about the future and modern society is moving and developing faster than our human ancestors of the past could have ever imagined.

So what are the industries that show the most promise for transforming how the future looks?

Bioengineered renewable fuels

 

Energy is the word on everyone’s lips. We all know that the fossil fuels aren’t going to last forever, and renewable sources such as wind solar and geo-thermal and being developed, but not yet fast enough. There have been some complications to bio-fuel development – notably the impact on the food market, but algae and other bioforms seem like a good alternative if and when they can be developed efficiently in the future.

Medical advances

Spray on artificial skin for burn victims is already a reality – now it just has to pass all the safety regulations and it will change the lives of those with fire and other skin damage. Personalisation is the keyword for the future of medicines, with our personal physical make-ups being closely analysed and noted and medicines and therapies being tailor-made to suit our specific individual requirements.

Robots

Humans have been obsessed with robots for many decades, even centuries, and we’re now bringing the field of robotics into a phase that we can recognise from sci-fi movies and novels. There are bionic arms that can be attached to people who have lost limbs and controlled solely by the mind, and there are humanoid robots that can complete obstacle courses – with serious impact for military strategy.

Click here to read about Chelsea Singh.

Doctor Xpress Launches!

CS Investments is pleased to announce the launch of Chelsea Singh’s latest business: Doctor Xpress, providing medical services to your home, hotel or place of work.

Doctor Xpress is a new concept in medical care, aimed at providing convenience and efficiency that matches the needs of today’s demanding modern society.

When you’re feeling poorly, the last thing you want to be doing is traipsing over to your GP, and it’s probably one of the worst things you could be doing. Not only are you putting yourself at risk of the elements and exertion, but if you’re contagious, you’re putting others at risk as well. And once you get to the surgery, you’re exposing yourself to all kinds of other illnesses – whilst in your weakened state!

Doctor Xpress addresses these problems and offers a unique new service, where medical services and experts are mobile, travelling to where they’re needed most.

Services include flu vaccinations, travel clinics, sexual health consultations and private GPs. All our staff are professionally trained and registered with the General Medical Council.

The service is available 24/7, every day of the year, so emergency medical help can be with you as soon as possible, when you need it most.

Check out our new website to find out more about the service and what it can offer you.

Inspirational Quotes

“I don’t regret the things I’ve done, I regret the things I didn’t do when I had the chance.” – Unknown

“I want to be all used up when I die.” — George Bernard Shaw

“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” - Joshua J. Marine

“Good things come to those who wait… greater things come to those who get off their ass and do anything to make it happen.” – Unknown

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” — Mary Anne Radmacher

“In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.” – Bill Cosby

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” — Winston Churchill

“It is never too late to be who you might have been.” — George Eliot

Dont be afraid to stand for what you believe in, even if that means standing alone.. - Unknown

“The best revenge is massive success.” – Frank Sinatra

“Life is like photography. You need the negatives to develop.” – Unknown

“That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” — Friedrich Nietzsche

 

Click here to read about Chelsea Singh.

Starting a Business

In the current climate with even long established businesses going to the wall and many companies struggling to stay afloat there are increasing number of people being made redundant and many of those people consider starting their own business with their redundancy package.

But most businesses fail within the first year – why is that?

Unrealistic expectations

Some people think that running your own business means being able to do what you want to do all the time. That it means waking up at whatever time, staying in your pyjamas all day and taking days off willy nilly. Unfortunately this is pretty much the opposite of the reality of running your own business.

People who start businesses usually work longer hours than those who do 9 – 5 , and  a lot of entrepreneurs are naturally workaholics. If you’re choosing starting a business because it’ll be an easy option, it’s the road to disaster.

Lack of Planning

Many startups think they’ve got a good idea, but fail to do the nitty gritty maths and calculations that are required to work out whether it is actually a viable business or not. Sure, projections of new startups are notoriously difficult and can be wildly wrong, but if it’s going to be literally impossible to make it add up, it’s better to see it from abstract calcultaions than a year later in your bank balance.

Another area where inexperienced people fail is by not checking out the competition properly and assuming customers will be battering down their door. Knowing what you’re up against and having a clear reason for people to buy from you instead of them is critical and you don’t want to be discovering your nemesis later down the line.

Lack of adequate funds                                                             

Businesses need funds to get started. Even starting on a shoestring means having at least a few hundred or thousand. The minimum a business needs to start is a phone, a business card and a website. But most successful business people know that to make a business a success you need to start off by investing.

With the right funding for marketing and giving a professional impression, trust is built quickly and customer bases can be expanded quickly, turning the company into a profit maker rather than having it creep along without breaking even for years.

If you want to give your business the best chance of success, then why not contact Chelsea Singh, via his personal website or check out CS Investments.

Chelsea Singh’s latest Business Quotes

Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.
Mark Twain

Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.
Dale Carnegie

No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.
Niccolo Machiavelli

A budget tells us what we can't afford, but it doesn't keep us from buying it.
William Feather

It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.
Adam Smith

All lasting business is built on friendship.
Alfred A. Montapert

Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations.
Steve Jobs

 

Click here to visit CS Investments.

Tips for getting investment for your new business – from Chelsea Singh

If you’re thinking of starting up a new business, there’s a good chance you’re going to need investment to get your venture off the ground – even if you are starting on a shoestring budget.

So how do you convince potential investors that you’ve got the goods?

Here are a few pointers to get you going in the right direction.

Do the sums

Any serious investor is going to start talking about numbers, and you’re not going to get anywhere if you’re afraid of them. It’s true that projections for start-ups are notoriously hard – and the real figures are often wildly different – but that doesn’t mean it’s not a worthwhile exercise that may highlight problem areas and determine whether the idea really has any merit to begin with.

Be realistic

You may think that everybody’s going to be beating down your door to purchase hundreds of Thingummywatsits from you, but until you’ve tested the market, you really can’t know. Yes, entrepreneurs need to believe in themselves and have passion and drive, but that doesn’t mean being blindly optimistic.

Do your research

Test the market and find your competitors. This might sound daunting if you’ve never done it before, but you will be in a much stronger position if you get it together enough to do this research. Search the internet on terms that you want people to search for your products on, and see what comes up. Then try a bunch more. You’ll be amazed how many ideas have already been thought of and implemented…

Chelsea Singh is always on the lookout for new investment ideas.

Find out more at CS Investments.

More quotes about making it in business, from Chelsea Singh

Hell, there are no rules here - we're trying to accomplish something.

Thomas A. Edison

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.

Colin Powell

I want to put a ding in the universe.

Steve Jobs

Business, more than any other occupation, is a continual dealing with the future; it is a continual calculation, an instinctive exercise in foresight.

Henry R. Luce

There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.

Sam Walton

Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.

Napoleon Hill

The hardest thing to understand in the world is the income tax.

Albert Einstein

Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.

Bruce Lee

I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.

Bill Cosby


Click here to read about Chelsea Singh.