How To Build a Profitable Business

It's never too soon to start saying thanks to your clients, vendors and referral sources for what they contribute to your business. Everyone loves to be appreciated and acknowledged, so start now and do something every month.

Keep in contact with your clients and vendors by sending articles you have written or that would be of interest to them. Add a little "How are you?" note to these people and keep the lines of communication open. Include current information about any new value-added products or services, such as a newsletter, or tele-class you will be presenting.

Marketing doesn't have to be expensive. You just have to do it.

Communication and relationship are the keys to marketing. Attending numerous networking meetings may be worthwhile to some, but that strategy doesn't work for everyone because, as someone once told me, the people who love you will always refer business to you.

The people who are your advocates or supporters are the ones who require nurturing. Send them an e-mail, e-zine, note, or article at least once a month.

Gather your internal and external management teams in an informal meeting such as breakfast or lunch. Advise them of your upcoming plans, get feedback and give acknowledgement for all their support and advice.

Check in with former clients to see how they are doing. Don't be afraid to dispense free information to these people. Generosity is its own reward. If you keep a timer on your desk, you can be sure of keeping the conversation brief as well as focused. Then, send them more information.Follow up in about two weeks to see how the seeds of your generosity have blossomed.

Information is available to everyone, through the internet, magazines and newspapers. Only you can provide customized data to your clients that will be appreciated as well as remembered.

Review your brochures, marketing letters, and newsletters in a new light. Does this information speak to your "Ideal Client"? Do you know who your "Ideal Client" is? Reinvent these documents as needed after you have thoroughly defined this client. Give these documents to your management team and get their feedback.

Does your collateral material speak to what you do? Is the information clear or does it require interpretation? Spend time on this now and review it every ninety days.

If the cost of a new brochure is prohibitive, or if you think your business will be adding more products or services in the near future, create an Information Letter.With this type of document, you can update your advocate group as well as former and potential clients. Again, it's not costly and serves a specific purpose.

This letter can include updates on your particular industry or market. You also can advise them of your continuing education and how it will benefit them.

About those referral sources, they deserve a little extra attention. Remember, they thought of you first! Consider seasonal flowers, plants, a book or a special card.

You want them to keep remembering you! Nurture all these relationships and your business will grow and glow.

About The Author

Joanne Victoria works with independent professionals who want to simplify their lives and professional practice and small business owners who want to streamline their operations in order to achieve more.

Sign up now for Joanne's FREE monthly e-zine: Lighting Your Path!-Find Your Inner Truth at: mailto:JoanneVictoria-subscribe@topica.com

Joanne Victoria ? Coach, Speaker, Author

Tel:415-491-1344 mailto:joanne@joannevictoria.com

http://www.JoanneVictoria.com/programs.htm

In The News:


APAC Customer Services Expands in Panama
MarketWatch (press release)
BANNOCKBURN, IL, May 23, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- APAC Customer Services, Inc. (APAC) announced the opening of a new, state of the art contact center in Panama. The new site commenced operations on May 17th. The opening included a gala event and ...


Bottomline Technologies Named 2012 Quality Service Provider of the Year
MarketWatch (press release)
The Awards, sponsored by the Institute of Customer Service, highlight and reward organizations and individuals that have implemented successful customer service strategies. The participants in this prestigious event include many of the largest ...

and more »

Moneycontrol.com

Vodafone Wants to Replicate Amazon's Customer Service Success
Wall Street Journal (blog)
“Vodafone wants to be the Amazon of telecos,” not in terms of selling but rather top-class customer service, Mr. Colao told reporters at a lunchtime briefing. The UK-based company plans to refit 75% of its 2200 stores around the world by 2015 to give ...
Vodafone CEO details 'Supermobile' strategy to mimic AmazonFierceWireless

all 58 news articles »

Augusta T-Mobile customer service center not affected by restructuring
The Augusta Chronicle
By Gracie Shepherd T-Mobile announced a corporate restructuring plan this week that will result in 350 net job reduction, but it will not effect the Augusta customer service center. Approximately 900 positions are being eliminated as a result of these ...
T-Mobile in Springfield holding hiring eventKSPR

all 2 news articles »

Is Your Customer Service Multichannel?
Huffington Post
The Challenge: Just as businesses must provide customers with a wide variety of marketing channels to choose from, they must allow a choice of multiple service channels. As we've discussed previously, multichannel marketing enables delivery of messages ...

and more »

Rio Bank Enhances Customer Service and Teller Efficiency with Self-Service ...
MarketWatch (press release)
The Cummins Allison self-service coin counter has helped Rio Bank differentiate themselves from other banks in their market, deliver personalized customer service and streamline teller efficiency. Prior to the coin counter, tellers used a mostly manual ...

and more »

Customer Service Rep
WEAU-TV 13
The cost per job listing is a mere fraction of similar services, while reaching a substantial local audience. To list a job, please click the "Post a Job" icon. All job listings will remain on the Job Board for 30 days. WEAU 13 News will archive all ...

and more »

Coveo Survey of Customer Care Executives Finds Customers, Executives and ...
MarketWatch (press release)
In the survey of more than 120 customer service and support executives conducted April 17 at the 2012 Customer Care Leadership Forum in New York, only 15 percent reported that their customers, if asked, would say that they could get to information they ...
Companies Lack Contextual Customer Data1to1 Media (blog)

all 3 news articles »

SciQuest Names Customer Service and Operations Management Leader Teresa B ...
MarketWatch (press release)
Jamison brings more than 23 years of experience and proven success in customer service and training and operations management at leading healthcare IT organizations to SciQuest. As vice president of customer operations, she will lead SciQuest's ...

and more »

Marketron Focuses on Customer With Company Realignment
Sacramento Bee
By Marketron HAILEY, Idaho, May 23, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Marketron, the leading provider of software solutions and services for the media industry, today announced a reorganization of its leadership team to better serve and support its customers and ...
Marketron reorganizes senior-level management into sales and client serviceRadio-Info.com

all 16 news articles »
Google News

Whats Love Got To Do With It?

Customer Loyalty, we all want it. Don't we?Some people say... Read More

Client Service as a Competitive Advantage

As someone who has been heavily involved facilitating strategic planning... Read More

What You Need to Know About CRM

1. It's all about the customer. Some companies focus too... Read More

At the Carwash; The Customer really is always Right

You have no doubt heard the saying that the customer... Read More

Becoming A Solution To Your Customers Problems

Those of us in home based and small businesses are... Read More

Invalid Excuses for Poor Business Results - The Weather

Note to Kmart: It wasn't about the weatherIn the 1970s... Read More

Identify Your Silent Customer Service Message

With the growing number of people in every business sector,... Read More

How to Succeed in Business Without Compromising Your Integrity

I spent some twenty years in the corporate world, for... Read More

Are You Putting Technology Before Your Customers?

Which is more important the technology or the customer?The one... Read More

Ten Ways to Help You Improve Your Customer Service

1. Stay in contact with customers on a regular basis.... Read More

How to Walk the Floor and Talk to Customers

This may seem a strange topic to introduce. Yet, it... Read More

Adjustment DENIED

It's just a simple thing ? I bought a new... Read More

Setting Up a Customer of the Week Program for a Mobile Car Wash

In a mobile detail or mobile car wash business you... Read More

4 Customer Service Mistakes Companies Should Avoid Making

1) Being placed on hold endlessly. Don't you just love... Read More

Transforming Disgruntled Customers into Your Biggest Advocates

"I am writing to complain about the widget I bought... Read More

Loyalty Programs May Keep Customers Coming Back ? But First You?ve Got to Earn their Trust

Remember trading stamps? If you're over 40, chances are you... Read More

Reducing Customer Resistance to Your Product or Service

Resistance has to do with putting up blocks that prevent... Read More

How To Build a Profitable Business

It's never too soon to start saying thanks to your... Read More

Quality vs. Quantity

There is a battle in Call Centers. The teams are... Read More

How to Keep Customers

Who was it that said - "The customer is always... Read More

Service Equals Performance Equals Service

Service can be described as a "performance" of some kind... Read More

Profit from a Customer Service Recovery Program

A client recently said to me: "Most days things seem... Read More

Over Deliver - The Key to Customer Satisfaction

Client satisfaction starts with meeting or beating the contractual obligations... Read More

Foolproof Customer Service Strategies (That Only A Fool Would Try!)

Ever notice how customer service varies from store to store?... Read More

Become a Customer Enthusiasm-Guru!

One thing all successful small business owners have in common... Read More