August 22, 2009
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When you go into a store to purchase an item or call a company for their service, most times you are using that company because you have had a satisfied experience. Perhaps the customer service people know your name, they know that you like a certain brand of item or that you really do your homework so they aren’t going to haggle you on choosing a different item. They just know how you like to be treated. The people at that store know YOU.
Shouldn’t that be the way every business is? If yours isn’t running this way maybe it’s time to reevaluate your number one priority and that’s the customer. Here are a couple tips to showing a customer your business cares:
- Associate unique experiences with each individual, not just a carbon copy of every interaction you have with every customer
- Get feedback from customer or clients after the sale, don’t just let them walk away to never hear from you again
- Get a lead database to keep track of customers and clients so that you can make notes about what clients and customers like that come to you
- Treat customers and client the way you would like to be treated, just like when you go into your favorite store.
It may sound like common sense but showing a client or customer right off the bat that you care and are interested in their needs can lead to them being a long standing customer.
Posted in
Customer Service
August 5, 2009
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It’s hard to believe that summer is almost over! How did you manage work and home life with the kids out of school this summer? With school starting soon there will be more challenges when it comes to balancing the time you spend on your business and school activities. While there is no magic wand that can make things run smoothly for everyone, there are a few tips you can follow to try to keep your sanity!
Keep a Calendar
You are probably implementing this in your business but how about for your life outside of work? Have 4 different people going in four different directions can be confusing so keep track of activities with a calendar. Try using different color pens for different people so you can just take a quick glance to see what you’re looking for.
Make Lists
A calendar can keep track of your kids but who keeps track of the “to do’s”? A list is a great way to keep way to make sure that everything gets done, purchased, completed, or dropped off. You can use a small pocket sized notebook or your PDA. Whatever you choose make sure it works for you.
Keep Work Time-Work Time
When you work from home it is already a challenge to separate your business from your family because there is no “daily commute” and “working late” probably means you fire up your computer after dinner (don’t get me wrong these are great things) but when there are little ones lurking around all the time it’s probably seems more like Chucky Cheese than My Business, Inc. Structure your day so that when you are at work you are working and when you’re at home you are at home, not both jumbled together.
Hopefully using these little tips will help your family and business run smoother and let you enjoy it to it’s fullest.
Posted in
Small Business
