Know the differences between marketing and sales - how each affects your business.

Many small business owners make the mistake of thinking marketing and sales are the same thing.  They are very different, yet equally valuable to the success of business.

Marketing is communicating the value of a product, service or brand to customers for the purpose of promoting or selling that product, service or brand.  

Many businesses hire a marketing specialist to help promote their business in person, online or through various forms of advertising such as social media, television, radio, billboard or print advertisement.

The marketing specialist’s job is to promote the business “brand” and not to conduct sales. 

Sales on the other hand, are just that, sales!  Sales people work to maximize the money spent to marketing the brand. People who are successful in sales want to focus on making the sales and not on branding.

Sales are the heart of a business!  Allowing competitive sales people to focus only on sales not only will make your business successful but will make you and your salespeople extremely happy.  

photo credit: Hannah Morgan

Marketing is for branding and sales are for generating revenue.

Marketing and sales go hand and hand.  Business owners must budget for both for continued success and growth.

How are you marketing your business?

Sharp Realty

400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300 Birmingham, Al 35209

205-879-1995

www.SharpRealty.com 

How to Unplug and Recharge Your Batteries!

All this modern technology helps us stay on top of appointments, work and family. But unfortunately we tend to stay connected at all times. 


Setting some time to unplug can be refreshing.  
Below are a few suggestions.

Making daily times to unplug is vital.  Each day designate a time for all family members to put their phones or computers on silence to enjoy time with each other.  

Developing this habit with “digital native” children is especially helpful as they grow older.

While waiting, stop yourself from browsing with your phone.  Instead absorb the surroundings, meet other people or enjoy quite time and relax.

On the weekend, make a habit of not checking your phone and limit social media.  You will be surprised how much time social media is consuming.

photo credit: Ana Gabriel

Recharging “your batteries” by doing something creative, visiting family, or going outside is especially vital to business owners for staying balanced.


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Sharp Realty

400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300 Birmingham, Al 35209

205-879-1995

www.SharpRealty.com

Why Avoiding Sales People May NOT be a Good Idea!

Have you ever lied to a sales person?  You know, give them the old run around. Yea, sales people can be pushy and irritating, but remember, most sales people get paid by commission which translates to “No sale, No pay!”

There are many reasons on any given day why we avoid sales people. No time, no money, not interested, afraid to say “No”.  Some business owners have even been rude or screamed at sale people instead of simply saying “No, I am no interested.”

Below are three reasons why smart business owners should never avoid or be rude to sales people.

1. Sales people may know other business owners and people in your area. This can be a great asset to your business for contacts, services and new customers. Not to mention the impact of social media if you are rude or lie.

    2. Sales people are consumers, yes they shop! Don’t be rude or disregard their time by rescheduling meetings just to avoid having to say no. You may lose them as a customer and referrals from their vast number of contacts and friends. 

3. Value their time, as you do your own.  They would rather you say “No, I am not interested” so they can move on the next business. It will make your life easier and the sales person will appreciate you being up front and not wasting their time.

Having a network of sales people from your community can be an asset to your business. Learn how to connect and share.

For more great tips follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Sharp Realty

400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300 Birmingham, Al 35209

205-879-1995

www.SharpRealty.com

Professional Office Space For Lease - 400 Union Hill Birmingham Al

Professional Office Space for Lease 

1350 SF at 400 Union Hill, Birmingham AL. 35209

It is a Class A space. It is close to downtown but has access to Highway 280. You will have quick access to Mountain Brook and Homewood City.

Perfect space for attorneys, insurance, Real Estate, accountants and mortgage underwriters or similar.

This space is rarely available and will lease fast.

Contact Rhonda Lusco at Sharp Realty for details.
Ph:205-879-1995
info@sharprealty.com
www.sharprealty.com

Save-A-Lot Grocery Store Opens in Midfield, Al. at West Hills Plaza

The community of Midfield welcomes the new Save-A-Lot grocery store. The small close-nit community welcomes not only a new grocery store but the new jobs and opportunities to the community.

Photo courtesy of the Mayor’s assistant

The grand opening was on Oct. 31, 2014, with Mayor Gary Richardson and members of the local chamber of commerce present.

Photo courtesy of the Mayor’s assistant

Midfield is located in Jefferson County, Alabama. It is south of from the Birmingham suburb of Fairfield.

Save-a-Lot is a American hard discount supermarket chain headquartered in Earth City, Missouri, near St. Louis, United States.

Photo courtesy of the Mayor’s assistant

While stores carry most typical grocery products, they feature less variety than conventional supermarkets. A typical Save-A-Lot is 15,000 square feet with items displayed in their cardboard shipping boxes.

Visit Midfield and follow them FaceBook/Midfield.

The West Hills Plaza is managed by Sharp Realty, LLC.

Sharp Realty,LLC

400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300 Birmingham, Al 35209

205-879-1995

www.SharpRealty.com

3 Tips To Drive Traffic To Your Website Without Paying For Ads.

Customers can now shop in a world-wide market place, obtaining price and quality information 24 hours a day.  If your company website or blog is not receiving traffic on a daily basis, you may not be using social media correctly.

Here are 3 tips to drive traffic to your website without paying for ads.

 

1.  Just don't be on social media, engage on social media! This means interacting, re-posting or re-tweeting with individual followers or other businesses. 

Include photos on your posts. Photos attract more attention than just text.

Also, remember to always say “Thank you” and reply to questions when asked.

2.  Use hashtags, yes the infamous #.  Be part of a conversation tread or create your own. Use hashtags to be included in different conversations. The hashtags help search engines to find your business.

3. Blog about subjects or event that relate to your target audience.  If mothers between the ages 22-35 are your target audience, post about children events, saving money, family travel, DIY, and family recipes. 

Include links to products and services you offer and company contact information at the bottom of the post.

In this age of e-commerce and online services we all have to be in the game or be left behind.

For more great tips follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Sharp Realty
400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300 Birmingham, Al 35209
205-879-1995

www.SharpRealty.com

Fastest Growing Retail Businesses

What do Family Dollar Stores, Apple and Tractor Supply have in common?  Not much you may say.  On the surface it may seem that way but they are all part of the fastest growing retail businesses of 2014 according to 24/7Wall Street.

If you are interested in opening a business or franchise in the near future below are the fastest growing retail stores in 2014. Sharp Realty has many of these retail stores in their U.S. commercial retail shopping malls and retail locations today.

• #10 - Starbucks
• #9 - Signet Jewelers
• #8 - AT&T Wireless

Store location leased by Sharp Realty

• #7 - Whole Foods Market
• #6 - Tractor Supply
• #5 - Apple
• #4 - Family Dollar Stores

Store location leased by Sharp Realty

• #3 - Chick-Fil-A
• #2 - Sherman Williams
• #1 - Amazon
  
  

Contact us below for commercial leasing information.

Sharp Realty

400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300 Birmingham, Al 35209

205-879-1995

www.sharprealty.com