Digg it UP - Business

Turning a Difficult Customer into a Customer that Comes Back
I really hate it when things don’t go as they should and you have to spend time and effort sorting it out. I have hanging onto a phone line being told that “my call is important”, when I have far better things to do. Many companies are turning away possible loyal customers, because they do not know how to turn a complaining customer into a thankful customer who will come back to buy from you again. Here’s our suggestion. Firstly, I think that you have to put yourself in your customer’s shoes – why do they consider it necessary to come into the store to complain? Then ask yourself, what will resolve your customer’s problems? If someone is angry

ey think they need.

What new combinations of products, or products and services, or subscriptions, or renewable services, or… It boggles the mind how many ways there are to increase the value of each individual purchase. How many of these new offers have you made to your prospects and clients in the past six months? (I'm not even going to wait for your answer.)

If you meditate on each of these questions like a Zen Koan-- you will assuredly invent at least two--and perhaps many-- new ways to increase your business.

Of course, these aren't the only things you can do, but they are a great start.

Can't come up with any ideas? Let your clients do the work for you--after all, it's in their own best interests. Do a survey--call up 10 or 20 and find out what they need from you that they can't get. Even simpler--use one of the online survey tools like

Franchise Territories for Mobile Businesses; Why Limitations
In franchising an individual desirous of their own business will sign on with a franchising company and use their brand name, know how and expertise to make a living. The franchisor will generally assign an exclusive territory with limitations. In our franchise company we have mobile service units, which clean cars and we have to have territories to prevent in-fighting from franchisees which might inadvertently end up competing with one another.Let us first talk about boundaries. Let us talk about why we have territories in the first place? Historically we have had in our mobile car wash industry one-man operations that may work in multiple cities. A young man or a youn

What does an old Russian joke have to do with getting new business?

Did you increase your business in the past 12 months? Don't discriminate between more new clients or old clients spending more money--count the increase either way. If you didn't, you really should be asking yourself why not.

Yes, I know--it all started with the Internet implosion. Then came terrorist attacks. Next, the global recession. And after that a war that threatened to destabilize the worldwide political structures for peace and harmony. Who knows what's next, but the fact is, none of these "cataclysmic" events has really mattered.

How can I say such a thing? Because for most of us, several more clients or a few additional transactions can turn a mediocre year into a great one. And large scale macro-level trauma and transition don't really impact our micro-level ability to find that next client or do the next deal. The only place those macro-things matter is in your head, but-- for good or for bad--what happens in your head tends to powerfully affect what happens in your business.

Yefim, a Latvian ?migr? who worked for me years ago told a joke (if you can call it that) from the old Soviet Union. He said, "What's the difference between an American and a Russian?" "The American expects things to get better, and the Russian hopes they don't get worse." Well, after a year or two of lackluster, even dismal, business, you're probably getting more like the Russian: not sure if things can ever get better. And you're questioning whether you can expend any resources to do anything about it.

When you believe the world is going to hell in a hand- basket, not taking steps to improve your business seems natural. You expect that clients and prospects will say no to even your best proposition. After a while you simply stop trying.

Thinking about more business starts with thinking such a thing is possible--nay, probable--but if you've read this far you still may be a believer. And if you think increasing your business is possible--despite what's reported on the evening news--then it is time to get busy. No more excuses. Not the weather. Not the season--I don't care if it is Summer or Christmas or Ramadan. Not even the economy.

So what's the good news? In 1966, Richard Farina wrote a book called "Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me." Feel that way? Great, because making a difference is going to be easy. You've probably been dormant so long, any improvement will look simply marvelous.

Here's the secret.

There are only three ways to grow your business: you can find new clients, you can have your clients buy from you more often, and you can have clients--old and new--buy more each time.

"You mean that's it?"

Listen closely, grasshopper. This little formula can yield great insight into how to approach your business right away--if you let it. Want help? Answer the following questions.

What ways are you currently using to find new clients now? Go ahead--make a list, even if it's only in your head. Are those ways working? (No--probably not, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this.) Are they the same ones you were using a year ago? (Shame on you--they weren't working a year ago, why should they work better now?)

What new products or services have you introduced in the past six months to help your current clients? (You haven't-- no one's spending any money.) Of course not, they already have all the stuff you sell they think they need.

If you meditate on each of these questions like a Zen Koan-- you will assuredly invent at least two--and perhaps many-- new ways to increase your business.

Of course, these aren't the only things you can do, but they are a great start.

Conquering the FEAR of Networking
One of the main reasons connecting with new people at a ‘networking function’ is so tough for so many is FEAR. We are at times paralyzed by internal questions:What will people think when I walk across a room and approach them to start a conversation? Will they think I am stupid, boring, pushy? How’s my breath?It can be intimidating to approach someone and start a conversation. Ralph Waldo Emerson knew the way around this universal fear, but most of all he knew the way through it: “Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain.”Progress Agents (TM) committed to cracking the networking code get all the butterflies in their stomach to fly in formati

ity to find that next client or do the next deal. The only place those macro-things matter is in your head, but-- for good or for bad--what happens in your head tends to powerfully affect what happens in your business.

Here's the secret.

There are only three ways to grow your business: you can find new clients, you can have your clients buy from you more often, and you can have clients--old and new--buy more each time.

"You mean that's it?"

Listen closely, grasshopper. This little formula can yield great insight into how to approach your business right away--if you let it. Want help? Answer the following questions.

If you meditate on each of these questions like a Zen Koan-- you will assuredly invent at least two--and perhaps many-- new ways to increase your business.

Of course, these aren't the only things you can do, but they are a great start.

How to Transfer the Client to Become a Hot Lead-6 Golden Rules
Business exhibitions are unique occasions, special opportunities to interact with potential clients and to become aware of their real necessities. They reflect all that happens on the real market, gathered at one business event. On one side, there are the companies/suppliers that offer various products and services, each one wanting to overcome the competition, and on the other side, the client, of course, who sees all the options and suppliers trying to convince him to choose them.All companies that participate in a business exhibition wish to gather most clients (if not all of them) around their stand. These events are indeed the ideal way to put your services and prod

ients and prospects will say no to even your best proposition. After a while you simply stop trying.

Here's the secret.

There are only three ways to grow your business: you can find new clients, you can have your clients buy from you more often, and you can have clients--old and new--buy more each time.

"You mean that's it?"

Listen closely, grasshopper. This little formula can yield great insight into how to approach your business right away--if you let it. Want help? Answer the following questions.

If you meditate on each of these questions like a Zen Koan-- you will assuredly invent at least two--and perhaps many-- new ways to increase your business.

Of course, these aren't the only things you can do, but they are a great start.

First Job is the Worst Job
After spending months looking for first post-college job, many recent grads settle for a job they really don’t want. It’s common for new grads to feel trapped in their first job and many stick around longer than they should. Most twenty-somethings stay at their jobs because of credit card debts, student loan bills or just to appease their parents. However, recent studies and some first job advice may give help to these miserable entry-level hires.Many new career hopefuls stay at their jobs because of fear that there isn’t anywhere else to go. With financial burdens faced by most real world newcomers, losing a consistent paycheck is more threatening then prolonging unhappin

clients, you can have your clients buy from you more often, and you can have clients--old and new--buy more each time.

"You mean that's it?"

Listen closely, grasshopper. This little formula can yield great insight into how to approach your business right away--if you let it. Want help? Answer the following questions.

If you meditate on each of these questions like a Zen Koan-- you will assuredly invent at least two--and perhaps many-- new ways to increase your business.

Of course, these aren't the only things you can do, but they are a great start.

Your Company Logo and Your Business Presentation
The way that your company logo is displayed is probably the most important part of your over all business presentation and company image. Your logo must always be displayed in a crisp and clean way and if you fail to do this you have missed your golden opportunity to maximize your company’s first impression on the consumer or your potential client. Crisp and clean is what you should be thinking on your company signage, whether it is on a building, vehicle or on a four-color brochure.Below your logo should be your simple and too the point message to your customer. It must be crisp also and add to your logo not over dominate it. All too often the company logo is blurre

ey think they need.

If you meditate on each of these questions like a Zen Koan-- you will assuredly invent at least two--and perhaps many-- new ways to increase your business.

Of course, these aren't the only things you can do, but they are a great start.

While you're at it, you may want to insure that your core product still makes sense. After all--clients aren't buying it like they used to. That can only mean a few things-- either you're doing a bad job telling people why they want it, or they just don't want it.

Both of these problems can be fixed, but it's important to make sure you're fixing the right one. If you fix your marketing and tell people about something no one really wants you're just wasting money. On the other hand, if your products really are right for the market, but you're not communicating effectively--you might end up changing your products unnecessarily.

I hope you realize from this simple exercise how easy it is to quickly begin generating new and increased business. Just ask yourself good questions and invent some good answers. After all, that's what thinking is.

Then take those thoughts and put a few into action.

--PL

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Leaders need to be aware that their employees are exchanging 1/5 of their valuable time for something provided through your organization. For some, exchanging time for money is enough, but most require more.

How much longer are you going to do the same thing and expect a different result?

Are you a Modernist, Heartlander, or Culture Creative? Learn about these three values subcultures uncovered by researcher Dr. Paul Ray and discover how to use them to your benefit in your midlife career search.

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