This article is about the simple, basic mistakes you must avoid in order to make consistent profits with your business.

1. Failing to Master the Primary Function of Your Business

It amazes me how many businesses don't master their core business. By this I mean, if you own a grocery store in town, do you have the basic items and brand names your customer buys on a daily basis… in stock all the time?

You should, as your customers rely on you to have these items in stock when they need them. And if you don't, they'll shop somewhere else.

Now think about your business. Do you have a system in place for you business, which allows you to master the primary functions in your business so your customers are happy in their dealings with you?

You don't need to master marketing or become a business guru. Simply set up a solid system and master your core business, so your customers get what they wanted from you in the first place.

2. Not Specializing and Targeting a Specific Market

Small business owners seem to 'forget' who their customers really are and don't realize they need to specialize. Seeing they don't have a huge advertising budget, almost all small businesses need to specialize.

This allows them to compete with a small advertising budget.

Decide what you what to specialize in and decide which customers you want to go after. And then simply go after your target market every day.

3. Failing to set up a Database of Prospects and Clients

You may think this is obvious, but I still come across many entrepreneurs who are too lazy to set up a database of prospects and clients. If you have a brick and mortar business, you too can easily do it too.

Simply collect the email addresses of every prospect and customer you meet and add them to an autoresponder program such as aweber.com.

Then build a relationship with them by sending them valuable content and offers you can sell to them.

4. Not Systematically Following Up on Leads

Make sure you keep in contact with your existing prospects and customers at least twice a month. I notice many small business owners 'forgetting' this step too. If you don't keep building a relationship with your prospects and customers, they'll forget about you and buy elsewhere!

Remember they've already purchased from you and trust you. Selling additional products to them is easier than find and selling to new prospects.

5. Failing to improve the Usability and Conversion of Your Website

How many visitors on you blog or website are you converting to subscribers or customers? How easy is it for your visitors to understand what to do on your site?

To improve the usability of your website, make sure all links are blue and underlined, for example. Web visitors are used to seeing blue links.

You can also increase the size of your "Buy" or "Subscribe"buttons. It almost always increases conversions. Also make sure you eliminate all distractions which will stop your visitors from buying or subscribing on your site, especially on the order pages.

Distractions could mean links to other sites or any unnecessary things which distract your visitors from buying or subscribing on your site. This also increases conversions.

So study your websites and blogs, and make sure it's clear what your visitors must do on your site. Also investigate how you can increase the conversion rates so you can turn more visitors into buyers.

Do you have any additional marketing mistakes we should watch out for?