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Winning Ways at Interviews
Let’s face it, job interviews are about as much fun as a hot wax with no anaesthetic. After all, attempting to showcase your talents to a bunch of strangers, usually against the clock and on someone else’s turf is not a natural act. Nevertheless, if you really want the job then you have to crack the interview conundrum. Giving ‘good interview’ is all about the three Ps - preparation, presentation and positive thinking. All interviews are basically made of the same hellish stuff, so let's start at the

n with the question about following up could send out weekly, biweekly or monthly tips on decorating. Maybe it's a quick painting or color tip or trend. Or, maybe it's educational information about decorative painting.

Your Prospects Buy When They're Ready, Not When You Are

It is important to remember that just because you are ready to sell your product or service, does not mean your prospect is ready to buy it. They'll bu

Do You Feel You've Hired the Right Graphic Designer for Your Small Business? Here are 5 Indicators
As a kid, did you ever find a shiny yellow rock that you thought might be gold? Well growing up in Ohio I came across a number of rocks that had a flash of golden metal that I thought were exceedingly valuable, so much so that I took the rocks back to my parents to find out how rich I was going to be. As you’ve probably guessed, they weren’t worth much. In fact, they were not worth more than the paper sack I had carried them in.While they aren’t looking for rocks, I’ve found that business ow

One of my clients recently asked me the following question...

"So I have the new prospects and I send them 'Good to meet you' cards. In three months I send them another card ... then what? How do I develop and build relationships with busy interior designers so they'll think of me for decorative painting?

Building Relationships Takes Dedication and Frequency

In marketing, it's all about frequency. Sending out a "good to meet you card" is great, but waiting three months is way too long. By that time, your prospect has probably already forgotten about you.

The 3-10x Rule

Did you know that you need to hit your prospects at least 3 to 10 times in order to get their attention and move them to action? Maybe even more. So, it's crucial that you set up a marketing system that allows you to repeatedly follow-up with your prospects at least this many times.

There's a reason when someone subscribes to my email list that they receive three email messages within the first 7 days. And, there's a reason I take the time to write and distribute this Ezine every single week.

It's because I know that even if my subscribers don't read every issue, I am reminding them every single week that I am here, sharing valuable information and letting them know I am available to help them with their marketing, if they are ready for some help.

You Must Provide Value

In my experience, the best way to build relationships is by providing value. While sending the occasional postcard or promotional letter may serve to remind your prospects about your product or service, it won't do much to build a relationship with them.

You must provide them with valuable information. Maybe my subscriber who wrote in with the question about following up could send out weekly, biweekly or monthly tips on decorating. Maybe it's a quick painting or color tip or trend. Or, maybe it's educational information about decorative painting.

Your Prospects Buy When They're Ready, Not When You Are

It is important to remember that just because you are ready to sell your product or service, does not mean your prospect is ready to buy it. They'll buy

Self-employment: A Career Choice For Introverts
Despite the hard work and moments of uncertainty, many self-employed people feel their career choice gives them a freedom and sense of fulfillment few cubicle careers can compare with. Unfortunately, introverts are sometimes hesitant to consider starting a business because of the socializing involved in marketing and networking. With the right planning, though, you don’t need to be a social butterfly to run a successful business. If you’re tired of being told you’re “too shy” to be self-employed, here ar

to meet you card" is great, but waiting three months is way too long. By that time, your prospect has probably already forgotten about you.

The 3-10x Rule

You Must Provide Value

Your Prospects Buy When They're Ready, Not When You Are

It is important to remember that just because you are ready to sell your product or service, does not mean your prospect is ready to buy it. They'll bu

Get Career Success By Building Rapport With Everyone You Meet
If you're grumbling and muttering all the time, complaining about your job or your situation, you aren't going to get very far with building your career success.People like to be with people that make them feel good and, frankly, no one enjoys a whiner. Boosting your career success can be as simple as building rapport with others you meet, even if you might not think they can influence the way your career develops. What's more, it's a far better sort of person to be!These ideas show how you

is many times.

You Must Provide Value

Your Prospects Buy When They're Ready, Not When You Are

It is important to remember that just because you are ready to sell your product or service, does not mean your prospect is ready to buy it. They'll bu

Business Needs Vs. Network Performance: Critical Challenges Facing Network Managers
Networking is getting tougher. Networks must deliver a growing range of services, from ERP, CRM and email to VoIP and web services applications, each of which has its own idiosyncrasies and requirements. Each new service introduced onto the network contends for available resources with every other service, impacting the network’s ability to support the business.Meanwhile, the network itself is constantly changing. New locations are added – some of which may be in another country or on another cont

p them with their marketing, if they are ready for some help.

You Must Provide Value

Your Prospects Buy When They're Ready, Not When You Are

It is important to remember that just because you are ready to sell your product or service, does not mean your prospect is ready to buy it. They'll bu

Stop Managing and Start Leading
Ask any group of managers if they view themselves as an elite within their organization and you can be sure they will deny it. You'll hear comments such as: "I have an open-door policy" and "I take pride in always being accessible and approachable." And in most cases, these managers will really believe what they are saying. What they don't realize, however, are the many invisible barriers — the "glass doors" — they put in place.Leaders remove these barriers and that is part of what separates them

Your Prospects Buy When They're Ready, Not When You Are

It is important to remember that just because you are ready to sell your product or service, does not mean your prospect is ready to buy it. They'll buy when THEY are ready or have an imminent need for what you are offering. Until that time, your job is to provide value, educate them and remind them you are there and available whenever they are ready.

Don't Worry About Being A Pest

If you are providing value, you really don't have to worry about following up too often. If however, you are only following up to ask for the sale, you'll become a pest relatively quickly.

And regardless, you will lose some prospects along the way. People will no longer be interested in what you offer or they may not want to hear from you. But consider this ... if they don't want to hear from you, odds are they weren't going to buy from you either. If they ask to be removed from your list, they're just helping you out by improving the quality of your list.

So don't take it personally. Remember it's just business.

It Takes Time ... Sometimes a LONG Time

I have had people on my list for over a year before they decide to purchase anything. And, I know that some people on my list may never make a purchase. That's why having an automated way to follow up (like a weekly Ezine) is so important. Because it doesn't take any more effort on my part to follow up with 10 people or 10,000 people.

Your Marketing Step

Take a look at your follow-up system this week. How often are you following up with your prospects? Do you have a system that ensures they hear from you repeatedly? Is that system automated? Are you providing value?

Make sure you are not stopping after one, two or even three contacts. Create a long-term follow-up system that provides lots of value to your prospects and start building relationships for the long haul.

It may take some time

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Are you a Bakersfield resident who just recently learned that you have a mold problem? If you are, you will want to get it taken care of. Not only can some molds be dangerous to your health, but they can also be dangerous to your home.

Most customers feel that the service department will take more time with a warranty repair because there is no extra money for the service department. This may be the case, but it should not be. The timely warranty repair is the most important thing for the service department. If the repair takes second place, then there may never be a non-warranty repair. The customer will just find another company. The warranty repair is the first and best opportunity the service department has to make a good impression with the customer.

This TQM article is written about a Baldrige Style Assessment in Human Resource Focus Category 5 guided by Baldrige Approach. Included are some common assessment findings derived from companies being assessed by a group of trained and experience senior assessors. Reader may benchmark it for their improvement case studies in TQM implementation project.

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