Your brand image is everything, and you want that to be backed up by a good first impression of the lay-out and apparent efficiency of your office. Not ostentatious to the point of being vulgar, and not so expensive-looking as to give the impression of profligacy. Potential customers like neither of these things. You must try to make sure that the physical impression you give represents the ideals and image which your company is trying to give:...more
Ok, here's the thing.... Everyone that wants to get started buying and selling (either online or offline) is trying to find that 'bargain buy' - something whose wholesale price is 50% less than the standard retail price. It is possible to find such products but they are rare and as soon as one person starts selling the item, others will jump on the bandwagon and force the price down. The fact is that there are few items nowadays with a huge...more
If you're serious about strengthening customer loyalty, consider this management lesson I learned from an odd source - a car wash attendant. It's an easy customer service concept that may change the course of your business. This guy was amazing. I was speaking at a convention in Washington, D.C. My wife and I decided to rent a car to drive to the Civil War battle site at Gettysburg. Here's what happened as we entered the car-rental location to pick up the vehicleNothing. We stood waiting in front of the counter for at least three full minutes while the half dozen or so employees behind the counter talked on the phone and ignored us. Then another customer entered and, because we're standing at a long counter, he doesn't line up behind us, but beside us. So, now I wasn't only annoyed, I was worried. Maybe we won't even get served next. I tried desperately to make eye contact with the employees engrossed in telephone conversation. I was painfully aware that they didn't know how to juggle a phone caller and a visitor. (By the way, you'll find the secret in an article I wrote called, Test Your Telephone Effectiveness. Download it for free at www.jeffmowatt.com.) Finally! One employee...more
People have been making some good money for years doing online surveys. Companies are always looking for people to take their online surveys. You may ask how can you make money-taking surveys?Many companies need a wide variety of feed backs on opinions and taste from different people of all ages and all backgrounds. This helps them to research...more
You have probably heard before that the real money in real estate is made when the market is bad. Now, we have to say up front that we count all money as real money. We dont care whether you are making it when times or good or when times are hard. If it is money, then it counts as being real as far as we are concerned. However, it is true that...more
Todays technology has provided us with so many forms of communication that we often grab for the nearest gadget without asking an important question, What gadget is best? Or, in more formal terms, What is the most effective method of communicating for this situation?Should you make a telephone call, or would it be better to visit in person? Should you whip off a quick email message or type a formal letter? What about a fax? Should you page the person and have him/her return your call? Is it acceptable to call this person from your wireless phone? Do you need to schedule an in-person meeting or would a videoconference be more efficient? Do you need to arrange a teleconference or will three-way calling suffice? Should you call the other person on his/her wireless phone? Technology offers many options for communicating. To be effective, you want to make the right choice. Start by considering your audience. If an employee hates email, dont use it to convey bad news. If a client dislikes wireless phones, dont call him/her from yours. If your boss is annoyed by pagers, dont page him/her unless its vital. Ask yourself, is it acceptable if there is a lag time between when the message is...more
Wedding Ceremonies The Timing Time of year is fundamental. Not everyone wants a summer wedding, although most brides and grooms tend to favor summertime wedding ceremonies, which means that popular venues are likely to be booked up, well in advance....more
These are tools driven by compressed air. They are strong, rugged, and powerful. They are also now manufactured for every job around the house.Air tools, also referred to as pneumatic tools, have several advantages over electric power tools. For one,...more
Using the Internet merely for email or having a web site is pass. A lot of chiropractors already have jumped to blogging, conducting livestream discussions, hosting forums, and other cyber magic that are just what the Internet-savvy audience craves....more
Everyone who has purchased items from a military surplus or otherwise done business with the department of defense is well familiar with UID numbers, also known as "Unique Item Identifier." This combination of numbers and letters is a unique...more
Hey, as business owners we CAN'T be all things for all customers. I mean it would be fantastic if we could, however, you just cant meet the needs and wants of everyone, you would run yourself ragged trying BUT that doesnt mean you throw your hands...more
Imagine being one of the people responsible for the supplies procured by the US Armed Services. What sorts of supplies does the Department of Defense (DoD) have to track on a daily basis? Consider the sheer number of uniforms, boots, packs, helmets,...more