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20 Ways to Advance Your Career
To survive and thrive in today's competitive environment, it is not just what you know. You also need to be competent. You must stand out from the crowd - be memorable, impressive, credible, trusted and liked.
"Success is never a destination...
Finding Your Niche
Have you found your niche? If you really want to find out, you need to answer the following questions: 1. Is your business the only one of its kind in town? 2. Do people consider your service first and price later? 3. How can prospective...
How to Grow Your Business in the Marketplace of the New Millennium ©
The "old ways" of doing business have been on the way out for years. Yet, training programs and consultants continue to do things the way they've always been done. Maybe they're stuck in the past. Maybe they're blind to the facts. Or maybe they...
THE “SEVEN Cs”: PARTNERSHIP DANGER SIGNS - Conflict Becoming the Norm – Part 2
A series of articles exploring the seven critical areas that can indicate a partnership is in trouble.
Conflict Becoming the Norm – Part 2
In a previous article, I wrote about how unresolved conflict can create havoc in your business and...
The Top 10 The Top Ten Signs That Your Marketing Message Needs a Facelift
Is your marketing plan dull, flat, and downright boring? Is it lacking the zest and appeal which can penetrate the consciousness of your buyers? If so, you may be driving away folks who could easily buy your products or services. If so, these...
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Customer Focus - Just 5 Simple Things You Need to Think About
In all the businesses we conduct, there are customers. And they are the life-blood to us. It's TRUE! Despite all the million and one things we are doing - we've got to have paying customers! Nevertheless, just five things will dictate success or failure. Have you got them right?
You can boil down the difference between successful businesses and the rest in how they work with their customers, in just five areas.
So, what does this mean?
- What They Want
Selling what your customers really want is just critical. Being on good enough terms with your customers to research, (hey maybe just by chatting with them - radical idea, huh?), helps you find out how you can best serve their needs.
- Price is Right
By balancing the kind of pricing you want to offer with exceptional service levels, there is a fascinating calculation to be made. Prices rock-bottom with inadequate attention to item 5 are not likely to bring profitable consumers rushing to your door. Providers have an ongoing dance between price and service - be aware of it. It is not possible to sustain your business with lowest prices and poor service.
- When They Want It
In the internet world, availability of your
goods and services is measured critically far more than ever before. You may not need to be 24/7, but you certainly need to be aware of it. More traditional customers are also becoming more demanding. So businesses need to be especially sensitive to the hours they trade, whether they sell goods or services, by stores and/or phone.
- Easy To Buy
With the advent of the internet, making it easy to purchase is vital. Why not make purchases
from the comfort of your home study or workplace office? So having your people who are available, exactly when your customer wants them, to make payment for goods and services relly easy is a serious point worth considering. Even in shops, the sensitivity of simply having staff focused on delivering the very best of attention is critical. Every day
there may be threats to different shopping channels, so the adage that you 'only have one chance to make a first impression' is becoming ever more important.
- Trusted Follow Up
By ensuring that you have all your ducks in a row so far, sustainably building whatever business you are in, is vitally dependent on how you handle ongoing customer service. Indeed if you are only focusing on a one-time purchase, then, frankly, you are not going to have much of a future.
Repeat business is very inexpensive for you, so an investment of post-purchase excellence is very worthwhile.
By focusing on these five elements, teasing out the consequences with your management teams, you will have a great chance of making business progress. If you choose not to take the time to
analyse what you truly need to do, there will be a jeopardy for you in the not to distant future.
About the Author
© 2005 Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com. (Note to editors. Feel free to use this article, wherever you think it might be of value - with a live link if you can).
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