Planting Seeds in the Cold

Good morning!

“I live in a small town in New England. The only time we lock the car up is the month of August. Why August? Because if you go out for an errand and you don’t lock up your car, when you get back to it the backseat will be full of squash and tomatoes!”

Reader’s Digest, circa 2010

There is never a bad time to plant a seed … even in the winter.

Let’s say you’re walking through Home Depot in search of a new snowblower. Walking toward that department, you come across this odd-looking curved saw at the top of a long pole. You’ve never seen such a thing and you ask a local clerk what it’s used for. You come to find out, this is the kind of thing used to trim the branches well above your head. In fact, it telescopes up to over 20-ft. “Cool,” you think, and you continue your journey.

Roughly a year later, a windstorm comes through and damages the trees in your yard. Surveying the mess, you realize most of what needs to be cut is out of your reach. That’s when you remember your trip to Home Depot and that funny-looking tool with its unique capabilities. The seed that was planted has bloomed and brought you benefit.

Just like harvesting a garden, harvesting your printing sales can only happen if you plant seeds. No matter what time of year you are viewing this tip or reading this tip, now is the time to throw some seed down.

Talk to your existing customers about your capabilities. This is your low-lying fruit (see what I did there?). Educate them on what your company is capable of doing. Give some examples. Tell some stories. Share some links. While you might not see any immediate growth, you’ve just planted your future sales.

Just imagine what your sales would look like today had you done something six to 12 months ago. Likewise, just imagine what your sales could look like a year from now.

The Japanese have a proverb: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.”

Opportunities grow at all times of the year, but you must first plant some seeds.

Today.

Just like these tips are common sense, growing sales comes down to the fundamentals. That’s Bill’s approach to everything. If you aren’t happy with your sales, look into the books and programs he offers at BillFarquharson.com.