The Need

Your business needs new customers in order to thrive. Whether your goal is wider recognition or increased sales, it can be achieved by communicating clearly about what your company offers and how it satisfies your customers' needs.

But it can be challenging to decide when and where to spend your hard earned dollars on increased exposure. Whether you use the Internet, print, or digital media to communicate with potential customers, quality and cost-effectiveness are paramount. Your time is precious, and hiring additional full-time employees is not always feasible. Members of the Apple Consultants Network are skilled at utilizing web, database, and e-communication tools, and they are experts at working within your budget to help grow your business.

The Expertise

Every company has unique needs. Members of the Apple Consultants Network are experienced and certified in the Apple technologies necessary to provide personalized solutions, such as:

With this wide variety of expertise, you can customize your team on a per project basis. Hiring a consultant reduces your overall development costs by ensuring each dollar you spend is used effectively.

The Steps

Step 1: Preparation — Determine your needs, audience, and budget

First, assess your current customer acquisition process. How are customers finding you, and what are you doing to find them? Decide whether your needs are related to spreading the word about your company (advertising), finding new customers (lead generation), or closing the deal (sales). 

Next, decide on the desired outcome. Are you focused on increased revenue, new customers, or additional exposure? Understand who your current customer is and who you want to attract. Knowing your target audience and how they are affected by what you offer will inform you on how to reach them most effectively.

Finally, develop a budget based on the type of materials you want to deliver to your audience and the infrastructure required to handle the resulting increase in traffic.

Step 2: Development — Incorporate effective technology solutions

To communicate effectively with your target audience, you must be equipped to design, deploy, and track your communications. Whether you're designing a website or a sales presentation, this development begins with hardware, such as the Apple display for high resolution visual design, Mac Pro with SuperDrive for fast processing and DVD burning, and Xserve for web and database hosting.

Apple Consultants Network members can advise you on hardware purchases, and offer a wide range of set-up and training services to get you started. They can also help you realize the full potential of software such as FileMaker Pro, for managing your customer database, and iWork for designing promotional brochures, advertisements, and creating high-quality presentations. In addition, consultants help to increase the benefits of Apple software products such as iLife and .Mac, so that you can use them to design and deploy your e-communication vehicles. And, they can even help you better understand how to use powerful third party applications such as the Adobe Creative Suite 2, Macromedia Freehand MX, and Print Explosion Deluxe.

Step 3: Implementation — Design, deploy, and track your communications

Determine your key message by focusing on what you'd like to achieve and who you'd like to reach. Then design the layout of your materials to fit your audience and message.  Deploy your message in the way that best reaches your audience. Presentations and e-commerce websites are often utilized for sales, while email blasts and online or print advertising are common marketing vehicles.

Step 4: Retention — Maintain and support your success

Based on the success rate of your initial efforts, you may want to reassess your target audience and how you approach them. Apple Consultants Network members provide training and follow-up support to ensure that your promotional investment doesn't end when you complete your first DVD or send your first email. Your relationship with a member can be ongoing, utilizing different aspects of their expertise as your business grows and your needs change.