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Hub You - Customer Retention - Do You Know Who They Are?
The Art of Storytelling (eg. 'Branding')A few years ago at a conference for a large, multi-national corporation, I sat and waited for the keynote speaker. She was described in the program as a woman with all the appropriate credentials. At the podium, she said she forgot the notes for her speech and she would tell a story instead.The grey suited crowd shifted in their chairs, glanced left and right at each other. She began by asking for the lights to be turned down and for all of us to close our eyes. She then told a story about a young girl who had lost he
Its amazing how many business owners put so much effort into trying to bring customers to their business but neglect to plan for their arrival.
If you have staff, you want to make sure that any and all tips, specials, information, new products or special order opportunities are clearly communicated as often and clearly as possible. Don't take that for granted!
If its just you, then make sure you have documentation (flyers, brochures or a website) that can answer questions or peak interest so you can be two places at once.
Do no take your knowledge for granted.
Just because you know things about your product and your business does not mean your staff or your cus
What is good customer service? That’s a question that often haunts both marketers and consumers alike, mainly because their definition of this sometimes elusive concept is at odds with one another. Young people who work the counters will often lament what they consider to be the outlandish expectations of their customers, which they feel are over and above the call of duty.Meanwhile, the older fold will criticize the service industry workers today for not taking enough care and attention to their needs like they did in “the old days”. Perhaps only the professionals can come up with a firm definition of what cus
But every day, business owners and managers let their hard earned money go right out the door and don't even know it.
It leaves due to lack of attention, lack of focus and lack of long-term thinking. And here's what you can do to make it stop!
Who are these people?
Whether you spend just hundreds of dollars or thousands on marketing your business, you should simply stop it all together if you don't take the time to figure out who your customers are. How do you do that?
Why not ask?
As far as I'm concerned, an ad that brings a propect to your business is just as effective as an ad that brings a buying customer to your business. It's all about foot traffic (or virtual traffic as the case with website commerce.)
However, most folks are so busy in their everyday affairs of running their business that don't take the time to see it that way.
So tip number one is think of tomorrow and find a way to get contact information of everyone that walks in, calls or emails your business. Maybe its a guest book or a newsletter or simply through conversation, but get it and log it somewhere. We'll talk about why in a second.
Why did they come in?
Find out what brought them to your business to begin with. More than likely this will involve you or someone from your staff interacting with the customer to find out.
In our office, when the phone rings with a potential customer looking for marketing advice or web site details, I immediately insert "so how did you hear about us?" into the conversation.
Why does it matter? Well because the second tip is to find out what kind of advertising (or "non-advertising") actually brings folks to your company. What I mean by "non-advertising" is that quite often, folks come in due to a referral or walk-by traffic.
If you have some resources to allow this, try having a few different phone numbers and running them in your television or print ads. If the numbers are not published, then its a good tracking method for those phone calls.
If you're spending money on advertising - you need to know what works and what doesn't. The smart way to market is to find out what works and get rid of everything else. Unless, of course, you enjoy losing money!
A list worth its weight in gold.
Now the good thing about creating your customer list and adding to it whenever possible (this is also called a database) is to use it to your advantage. If you have your list and don't use it, again you're wasting money and effort.
The third tip is to communicate on a regular basis with that list. Send an email or mail them a letter. Hire an intern to make phone calls and offer special savings for help with a customer survey. Learn from your list and use it to make sales and grow your business. These people konw who you are and what you do - so work that to your advantage!
Communication internally is just as important.
Its amazing how many business owners put so much effort into trying to bring customers to their business but neglect to plan for their arrival.
If you have staff, you want to make sure that any and all tips, specials, information, new products or special order opportunities are clearly communicated as often and clearly as possible. Don't take that for granted!
If its just you, then make sure you have documentation (flyers, brochures or a website) that can answer questions or peak interest so you can be two places at once.
Do no take your knowledge for granted.
Just because you know things about your product and your business does not mean your staff or your cust
Do you get discouraged or stuck in building your business because you think there's too many others to compete against in your niche? A lot of solo business owners feel this way, especially when they are first starting out. I don't want you to give up before you really get started, so I'd like you to consider thinking about your competition in a different way.1. There's an abundance of clients and customers for everyone.2. Your competitors are potential collaborators and strategic alliances for you.3. The better you come to know your competitors, the more you will become aware of the uniqueness of
However, most folks are so busy in their everyday affairs of running their business that don't take the time to see it that way.
So tip number one is think of tomorrow and find a way to get contact information of everyone that walks in, calls or emails your business. Maybe its a guest book or a newsletter or simply through conversation, but get it and log it somewhere. We'll talk about why in a second.
Why did they come in?
Find out what brought them to your business to begin with. More than likely this will involve you or someone from your staff interacting with the customer to find out.
In our office, when the phone rings with a potential customer looking for marketing advice or web site details, I immediately insert "so how did you hear about us?" into the conversation.
Why does it matter? Well because the second tip is to find out what kind of advertising (or "non-advertising") actually brings folks to your company. What I mean by "non-advertising" is that quite often, folks come in due to a referral or walk-by traffic.
If you have some resources to allow this, try having a few different phone numbers and running them in your television or print ads. If the numbers are not published, then its a good tracking method for those phone calls.
If you're spending money on advertising - you need to know what works and what doesn't. The smart way to market is to find out what works and get rid of everything else. Unless, of course, you enjoy losing money!
A list worth its weight in gold.
Now the good thing about creating your customer list and adding to it whenever possible (this is also called a database) is to use it to your advantage. If you have your list and don't use it, again you're wasting money and effort.
The third tip is to communicate on a regular basis with that list. Send an email or mail them a letter. Hire an intern to make phone calls and offer special savings for help with a customer survey. Learn from your list and use it to make sales and grow your business. These people konw who you are and what you do - so work that to your advantage!
Communication internally is just as important.
Its amazing how many business owners put so much effort into trying to bring customers to their business but neglect to plan for their arrival.
If you have staff, you want to make sure that any and all tips, specials, information, new products or special order opportunities are clearly communicated as often and clearly as possible. Don't take that for granted!
If its just you, then make sure you have documentation (flyers, brochures or a website) that can answer questions or peak interest so you can be two places at once.
Do no take your knowledge for granted.
Just because you know things about your product and your business does not mean your staff or your cus
One of the most emotionally crippling aspects of unemployment is the sense of powerlessness it engenders. Job layoff triggers financial pressures, emotional distress, family turmoil, and dashed career hopes. It is forced on us by unrelenting fate, an emotionally disengaged employer, and economic currents that have little to do with us personally. We feel that we have no control over our situation, our lives, our future.As we work through the anger, resentment, depression, and fear which is the common lot of the jobless, we can take some steps to regain our balance, reclaim a positive focus, and reassert person
Why does it matter? Well because the second tip is to find out what kind of advertising (or "non-advertising") actually brings folks to your company. What I mean by "non-advertising" is that quite often, folks come in due to a referral or walk-by traffic.
If you have some resources to allow this, try having a few different phone numbers and running them in your television or print ads. If the numbers are not published, then its a good tracking method for those phone calls.
If you're spending money on advertising - you need to know what works and what doesn't. The smart way to market is to find out what works and get rid of everything else. Unless, of course, you enjoy losing money!
A list worth its weight in gold.
Now the good thing about creating your customer list and adding to it whenever possible (this is also called a database) is to use it to your advantage. If you have your list and don't use it, again you're wasting money and effort.
The third tip is to communicate on a regular basis with that list. Send an email or mail them a letter. Hire an intern to make phone calls and offer special savings for help with a customer survey. Learn from your list and use it to make sales and grow your business. These people konw who you are and what you do - so work that to your advantage!
Communication internally is just as important.
Its amazing how many business owners put so much effort into trying to bring customers to their business but neglect to plan for their arrival.
If you have staff, you want to make sure that any and all tips, specials, information, new products or special order opportunities are clearly communicated as often and clearly as possible. Don't take that for granted!
If its just you, then make sure you have documentation (flyers, brochures or a website) that can answer questions or peak interest so you can be two places at once.
Do no take your knowledge for granted.
Just because you know things about your product and your business does not mean your staff or your cus
The Delaware Corporations Code is the set of laws that pertain to corporations and business entities registered in the state of Delaware. The important sections of the code are the ones on corporations, commerce and trade, counties, courts and judicial processes, decedents’ estates and fiduciary relations, state government, and state taxes.The corporations section primarily handles issues related to general corporation law, corporation franchise tax, and professional service corporations. The commerce and trade section touches upon the various forms of business incorporation. It gives information on laws pertai
A list worth its weight in gold.
Now the good thing about creating your customer list and adding to it whenever possible (this is also called a database) is to use it to your advantage. If you have your list and don't use it, again you're wasting money and effort.
The third tip is to communicate on a regular basis with that list. Send an email or mail them a letter. Hire an intern to make phone calls and offer special savings for help with a customer survey. Learn from your list and use it to make sales and grow your business. These people konw who you are and what you do - so work that to your advantage!
Communication internally is just as important.
Its amazing how many business owners put so much effort into trying to bring customers to their business but neglect to plan for their arrival.
If you have staff, you want to make sure that any and all tips, specials, information, new products or special order opportunities are clearly communicated as often and clearly as possible. Don't take that for granted!
If its just you, then make sure you have documentation (flyers, brochures or a website) that can answer questions or peak interest so you can be two places at once.
Do no take your knowledge for granted.
Just because you know things about your product and your business does not mean your staff or your cus
More and more companies use phone interviews these days to reduce the pool of applicants to a manageable size for interview, especially for national recruitment campaigns like graduate or trainee schemes, or for mass recruitment required with the opening of a new company - store and the like.You can be 'phone-interviewed' in two ways: By invitation, when you are given a time to call or a time to receive a call. Without invitation, i.e. unexpectedly!So, while you're actively looking for a job, it's important to be prepared for a phone interview at a mom
Its amazing how many business owners put so much effort into trying to bring customers to their business but neglect to plan for their arrival.
If you have staff, you want to make sure that any and all tips, specials, information, new products or special order opportunities are clearly communicated as often and clearly as possible. Don't take that for granted!
If its just you, then make sure you have documentation (flyers, brochures or a website) that can answer questions or peak interest so you can be two places at once.
Do no take your knowledge for granted.
Just because you know things about your product and your business does not mean your staff or your customers do.
You can never share too much information with your staff or your customers when it comes to the benefit of your business.
Find a way to make a customer
The final point is to think of your customers needs before they do and take advantage of that knowledge or skill.
Your customer has options (unless you're wicked fortunate to be in a non-compete industry!) It's your job to convince them you are the best choice for their needs. The best part - most of the time they really don't know their needs.
Its scary for someone to make a commitment or a decision without feeling completely comfortable. So make them comfortable. Offer to give them free advice or a free analysis of their project.
Give them some pointers based on your professional experience.
Perhaps some handouts or sit down meeting.
This can be a free or cheap service. Heck, you may lose money or break even at best. But what it does is give you an insight as to their real needs or, even better, insight as to other ways your business can help them!
Always be willing and prepared to help your customer know more, get more and see more about your business and you'll stop sending money out your doors!
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