With the holidays around the corner, corporate events, and clients looking to make a unique impression, Las Vegas Gift Source is the place to visit. They provide a huge selection of hot and unique Las Vegas gifts, shot glasses, and novelties. With easy 24/7 access to their website at http://www.lasvegasgiftsource.com, you can buy the perfect gift for any occassion.
Whether you are looking for one or two items or for piece quantities of 1,000 plus, Las Vegas Gift Source is the store for you. Ranked top on yahoo, google, and other search engines, Las Vegas Gift Source is the best place to find those unique Las Vegas items. Stocked with dice, card decks, ash trays, paper weights, clocks, at much more, Las Vegas Gift Source is sure to have what you are looking for.
For more information or to see the Hot Las Vegas items visit Las Vegas Gift Source at http://lasvegasgiftsource.com.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Trade shows, Exhibitors, Conferences
What do trade shows, exhibitors, and conferences have in common? The answer, people and people love to be drawn to a booth. The following is a recipe blend on how to increase traffic to your booth, turn cold leads into hot ones, and ensure your company name goes back with the visitor to their office.
First, a booth must be clean, easily identifiable, and inviting to those passing by. The best way is to have tables spaced where the people working the booth can not just stand behind the table(s). This is key as often exhibitors feel more comfortable separating themselves from the attendees. It is best to have a tablecloth with your company name draped across the table making sure it is wrinkle free. Have a sign posted behind your booth displaying your company name and slogan. This will catch the eyes of everyone. The more attractive a booth the more attendees tend to draw in.
Next, pass out cards, brochures, and marketing materials directly to the hands of the attendees and make sure these same items are visible on the booth table. Take an extra step when passing out these items and engage the attendees in a conversation. This is your first chance of an impression. Some exhibitors find that adding music to their booth or having group classes held in a booth are huge attendee drawers.
Finally, people love promotional items and the catchier the item the more the attendees will flock to your booth. Be creative here. An excellent example of the impact promotional items have is during a meeting we had with a new client they had on their desk a trio highlighter set they picked up at a trade show. What made these highlighters so catchy is they looked like cartoon characters with feathers for hair, wearing huge smiley faces. Not only were these highlighters functional, but this person displayed them on her desk as part of her office decor.
Another great way to further connect with your booth attendees, offer a business card drawing. This is a great way to collect cards and follow-up with them at a later date. The pitfall to this method is some companies use the cards and send spam mail. Instead, call the person directly and re-introduce yourself and company.
For more information or for help to build a strong more productive booth at your next trade show or conference, contact us at 702-877-7100.
First, a booth must be clean, easily identifiable, and inviting to those passing by. The best way is to have tables spaced where the people working the booth can not just stand behind the table(s). This is key as often exhibitors feel more comfortable separating themselves from the attendees. It is best to have a tablecloth with your company name draped across the table making sure it is wrinkle free. Have a sign posted behind your booth displaying your company name and slogan. This will catch the eyes of everyone. The more attractive a booth the more attendees tend to draw in.
Next, pass out cards, brochures, and marketing materials directly to the hands of the attendees and make sure these same items are visible on the booth table. Take an extra step when passing out these items and engage the attendees in a conversation. This is your first chance of an impression. Some exhibitors find that adding music to their booth or having group classes held in a booth are huge attendee drawers.
Finally, people love promotional items and the catchier the item the more the attendees will flock to your booth. Be creative here. An excellent example of the impact promotional items have is during a meeting we had with a new client they had on their desk a trio highlighter set they picked up at a trade show. What made these highlighters so catchy is they looked like cartoon characters with feathers for hair, wearing huge smiley faces. Not only were these highlighters functional, but this person displayed them on her desk as part of her office decor.
Another great way to further connect with your booth attendees, offer a business card drawing. This is a great way to collect cards and follow-up with them at a later date. The pitfall to this method is some companies use the cards and send spam mail. Instead, call the person directly and re-introduce yourself and company.
For more information or for help to build a strong more productive booth at your next trade show or conference, contact us at 702-877-7100.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Promotional Items: Marketing
What are you doing to keep yourself in front of your clients when you are unable to be there yourself? How is it you remind your customers and clients you are still around waiting for them to make their next purchase? Are your advertising dollars being spent soley on generating new business? Promotional items are key to every growing business and with a small budget to a large budget, promoting your business can be cost effective.
When most people think of promotional items they immediately think of the hundreds of ink pens lining their drawers, pen holders, purses, and cars. True, pens are a great way to get your name out there, but there are hundreds of thousands of other promotional items out there ready to catch your targets eyes. For instance, Print Plus More represents over 800,000 promotional items ranging from pens, bags / totes, massage accessories, silk screen / embroidered clothing and apparel, picture frames, and even holiday ornaments.
Promotional items are perfect to draw exhibitors to your booth, increase employee moral, turn employees into everyday sales people without them even saying a word. On the other hand, customers love free stuff or incentives. Offer them alittle something and they never seem to forget you. Best of all, the incentives you give away are often passed onto others increasing your business exposure. The more people see your name, the more they begin to reconize your company.
For more information on ways to promote your business, send us an email and we will be glad to give you a free consultation or visit us at www.printplusmore.com . Email: submit@printplusmore.com
When most people think of promotional items they immediately think of the hundreds of ink pens lining their drawers, pen holders, purses, and cars. True, pens are a great way to get your name out there, but there are hundreds of thousands of other promotional items out there ready to catch your targets eyes. For instance, Print Plus More represents over 800,000 promotional items ranging from pens, bags / totes, massage accessories, silk screen / embroidered clothing and apparel, picture frames, and even holiday ornaments.
Promotional items are perfect to draw exhibitors to your booth, increase employee moral, turn employees into everyday sales people without them even saying a word. On the other hand, customers love free stuff or incentives. Offer them alittle something and they never seem to forget you. Best of all, the incentives you give away are often passed onto others increasing your business exposure. The more people see your name, the more they begin to reconize your company.
For more information on ways to promote your business, send us an email and we will be glad to give you a free consultation or visit us at www.printplusmore.com . Email: submit@printplusmore.com
Monday, November 9, 2009
Best Time To Budget For Next Year
Tis the season to think about your budget for next year. Whether you are a business or private individual putting together your budget, keep in mind it needs to be done before January 2010. Setting reasonable and obtainable budgets will help to keep your finances in out of the red and into the black.
Budgeting tends to be thought of time consuming, often challenging when thinking ahead 12 months out, and even intimidating because you never know where to start. The first step to putting together a budget is being reasonable on your expectations. Most budgets fail because people tend to under estimate their actual expenses. They tend to say "I will only eat out 2 times a week for lunch" when in actually they eat out 4 times a week based on their current lunch system over the past 3 months. Always give your self a bit of room, but again keep it realistic.
If your goal is to cut back on expenses list all your current expenses you have incurred over the past 3 months and look at what items you can cut back on comfortably. If it have your nails manicured weekly, maybe shift it to bi-weekly or perform your own manicures. Business budgeting is no different. If office supply costs are hurting your pocket book, evaluate all the items you have been purchasing and decide what to continue ordering and what can be cut out. A great way to save money on office supplies, buy standard yellow colored post it notes versus decorative ones. Decide if you really need fancy everyday office pens or can your employees use standard pens.
Budgets need to be outlined and categorized. This will help create a picture of the overall expenses. Once all expenses have been defined next set-up a flow chart of cash flow. Be specific when you anticipate money coming in identify these dates. Once you have the dates in place, proportion your expenses in a 50/50 ratio of in/out cash flow. By creating a 50/50 ratio the less likely you will experience a funds shortage.
For helping setting up budgets refer to a financial advisor, planner, tax consultant, CPA, accountant, or a business strategist.
Budgeting tends to be thought of time consuming, often challenging when thinking ahead 12 months out, and even intimidating because you never know where to start. The first step to putting together a budget is being reasonable on your expectations. Most budgets fail because people tend to under estimate their actual expenses. They tend to say "I will only eat out 2 times a week for lunch" when in actually they eat out 4 times a week based on their current lunch system over the past 3 months. Always give your self a bit of room, but again keep it realistic.
If your goal is to cut back on expenses list all your current expenses you have incurred over the past 3 months and look at what items you can cut back on comfortably. If it have your nails manicured weekly, maybe shift it to bi-weekly or perform your own manicures. Business budgeting is no different. If office supply costs are hurting your pocket book, evaluate all the items you have been purchasing and decide what to continue ordering and what can be cut out. A great way to save money on office supplies, buy standard yellow colored post it notes versus decorative ones. Decide if you really need fancy everyday office pens or can your employees use standard pens.
Budgets need to be outlined and categorized. This will help create a picture of the overall expenses. Once all expenses have been defined next set-up a flow chart of cash flow. Be specific when you anticipate money coming in identify these dates. Once you have the dates in place, proportion your expenses in a 50/50 ratio of in/out cash flow. By creating a 50/50 ratio the less likely you will experience a funds shortage.
For helping setting up budgets refer to a financial advisor, planner, tax consultant, CPA, accountant, or a business strategist.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Time Management Tips
Time is the more valuable than money. Time is something you can never get back. All too often we put things off until another day, yet we never seem to catch that next day. We hear the term time management, but what does it really mean?
1) The term time management actually refers to managing ourselves rather than time, because no matter what you do to change, there will always be 24 hours in a day. It is how we budget our time which is controllable.
2) List everything you do in a course of day that takes your time away from being productive. Internet surfing or reading wants ads during the time when productive work should be performed steals time. Create a daily activity log to help define where your time is being spent.
3) Set time goals to help modify your behavior.
4) Take the next step and implement a reasonable time schedule. By doing this step you will increase productivity and reduce stress. As you analyze your progress you will begin to modify your behavior.
5) Use time management tools to help stay focused. Software programs are a great way to keep you on task moving forward. Adhere to the calendar, remind yourself in advance of tasks or events.
6) Get in the habit of prioritizing. decide what tasks are most important and need to be completed immediately.
7) Delegate or outsource to others. Never be afraid of saying no periodically.
8) Get yourself on a routine. The best rule of thumb, perform something for 30 days straight and it will become a habit.
9) Setting time limits for tasks will further help to keep you balanced.For instance, reading and answering email can consume your whole day if you let it. Instead, set a limit of one hour a day for this task and stick to it.
10) organization is key to time management. Not great at organizing hire a professional organizer who will create systems based on your needs, routine, and style. Make sure files are organized, desk tops, papers, etc.
11) Waiting is a time muncher. Waiting for a client, respond to emails while you are waiting. Eating lunch, write a grocery list, drinking your morning coffee, plan your day.
By using these 11 tips, you will improve your time by being more productive.
1) The term time management actually refers to managing ourselves rather than time, because no matter what you do to change, there will always be 24 hours in a day. It is how we budget our time which is controllable.
2) List everything you do in a course of day that takes your time away from being productive. Internet surfing or reading wants ads during the time when productive work should be performed steals time. Create a daily activity log to help define where your time is being spent.
3) Set time goals to help modify your behavior.
4) Take the next step and implement a reasonable time schedule. By doing this step you will increase productivity and reduce stress. As you analyze your progress you will begin to modify your behavior.
5) Use time management tools to help stay focused. Software programs are a great way to keep you on task moving forward. Adhere to the calendar, remind yourself in advance of tasks or events.
6) Get in the habit of prioritizing. decide what tasks are most important and need to be completed immediately.
7) Delegate or outsource to others. Never be afraid of saying no periodically.
8) Get yourself on a routine. The best rule of thumb, perform something for 30 days straight and it will become a habit.
9) Setting time limits for tasks will further help to keep you balanced.For instance, reading and answering email can consume your whole day if you let it. Instead, set a limit of one hour a day for this task and stick to it.
10) organization is key to time management. Not great at organizing hire a professional organizer who will create systems based on your needs, routine, and style. Make sure files are organized, desk tops, papers, etc.
11) Waiting is a time muncher. Waiting for a client, respond to emails while you are waiting. Eating lunch, write a grocery list, drinking your morning coffee, plan your day.
By using these 11 tips, you will improve your time by being more productive.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Busiest People Have More Time
The busiest of people have the most time because of four key elements in their life. These elements while are not always ingrained in their genetic make-up they are often instilled over time. Only those who have the discipline to adhere to these four elements have the time many of us wish we had.
The article The 4 Reasons Why the Busiest People Are Always on Tim found at http://ezinearticles.com/?The-4-Reasons-Why-the-Busiest-People-Are-Always-on-Time&id=1920288 gives a step by step approach to always being on time. Below is only a piece of the article, but enough to give anyone the jump on time.
# 1 Plan Ahead.
Busy people have a plan. They write it down on a Day-Timer or calendar. They have a schedule and they have personal things scheduled months in advance and meetings planned days and weeks in advance. They make sure there's room for impromptu meetings, hallway chats, paperwork, research and whatever they need to do because it's on the schedule. The kid's soccer games, dates with their spouse,,,it's all written down on the schedule and planned.
# 2 Prioritize
They respect their plan and prioritize accordingly. Busy people put a good deal of thought into their time and schedule. Isn't it interesting that the more time you spend thinking and planning about how to use your time, the more time you have?
# 3 Delegate
Busy people effectively delegate tasks both at the office and at home. If a busy person volunteers to organize or chair a fundraiser event, they eagerly delegate to others so as not to clog up their personal or business plans.
# 4 Don't Procrastinate
More importantly they don't put off tasks they can do right now, I mean right here and right now, today, not after lunch, now.
The article The 4 Reasons Why the Busiest People Are Always on Tim found at http://ezinearticles.com/?The-4-Reasons-Why-the-Busiest-People-Are-Always-on-Time&id=1920288 gives a step by step approach to always being on time. Below is only a piece of the article, but enough to give anyone the jump on time.
# 1 Plan Ahead.
Busy people have a plan. They write it down on a Day-Timer or calendar. They have a schedule and they have personal things scheduled months in advance and meetings planned days and weeks in advance. They make sure there's room for impromptu meetings, hallway chats, paperwork, research and whatever they need to do because it's on the schedule. The kid's soccer games, dates with their spouse,,,it's all written down on the schedule and planned.
# 2 Prioritize
They respect their plan and prioritize accordingly. Busy people put a good deal of thought into their time and schedule. Isn't it interesting that the more time you spend thinking and planning about how to use your time, the more time you have?
# 3 Delegate
Busy people effectively delegate tasks both at the office and at home. If a busy person volunteers to organize or chair a fundraiser event, they eagerly delegate to others so as not to clog up their personal or business plans.
# 4 Don't Procrastinate
More importantly they don't put off tasks they can do right now, I mean right here and right now, today, not after lunch, now.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Buisness Cards With Pictures
Take your business card to the next level by adding photos or graphics. Whether you are a large corporation with a vast amount of employees or the one person business adding images to any business card is proven to add life and build trust. The purpose of a business card is to sell products, services, and yourself.
The use of graphics helps to stand your card apart from the many other cards that are collected. Think about it, you are at a networking event and you meet three different artists. Each of them hand you their business card and the next day you pull these same cards out looking to purchase an art piece. One card is plain white with black text no graphics, one has bright color stock (paper) again with no picture, and the last card has a graphic of one of the artists art pieces with their contact information. Who do you think is more likely going to be remember more…the last artist. The reason, their card is a direct reflection of their work.
Take a look at a business card of someone who has their picture on it. When you look at the person you feel like there is a connection between you and the person because you see beyond the paper, you see the person directly. Pictures help to build trust and familiarity between the person on the card and the public. Using personal pictures helps to confidence and strengthens relationships.
When deciding to add a personal picture to a business card it is best to seek the help of a professional photographer. Many photographers will not take what is called “head shots”. Head shots are business pictures taken of the upper body to the head area. Models, actors, and actresses submit head shots when applying for roles and jobs. The better the head shot, the greater chance of landing the role or job. Your picture for your business card should be viewed the same.
The use of graphics helps to stand your card apart from the many other cards that are collected. Think about it, you are at a networking event and you meet three different artists. Each of them hand you their business card and the next day you pull these same cards out looking to purchase an art piece. One card is plain white with black text no graphics, one has bright color stock (paper) again with no picture, and the last card has a graphic of one of the artists art pieces with their contact information. Who do you think is more likely going to be remember more…the last artist. The reason, their card is a direct reflection of their work.
Take a look at a business card of someone who has their picture on it. When you look at the person you feel like there is a connection between you and the person because you see beyond the paper, you see the person directly. Pictures help to build trust and familiarity between the person on the card and the public. Using personal pictures helps to confidence and strengthens relationships.
When deciding to add a personal picture to a business card it is best to seek the help of a professional photographer. Many photographers will not take what is called “head shots”. Head shots are business pictures taken of the upper body to the head area. Models, actors, and actresses submit head shots when applying for roles and jobs. The better the head shot, the greater chance of landing the role or job. Your picture for your business card should be viewed the same.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Value of a Business Card
Business cards are a very important piece to advertising any business. The purpose of a business card is to get your name out there and keep you accessible to everyone. They are also a great for of marketing, so the more impactual a card the more people will tend to remember you.
When considering having a buisness card design make sure that it is easy to read. Sometimes working with shadows actually causes text to be difficult to read and may lose the interest of the audience. Content is very important as well and too much or too little will also lead to a non-productive card. The best cards are the ones that have these key points:
- Logo
- Company name
- Web address
- Contact numbers
- Email address if applicable
- Mailing or business address
- Tag line
Cards can either be one sided or two and makes relatively no difference as long as all the information is pertinent. Some companies add referral rewards or coupons on their cards to help increase revenue generation from each card.
Carrying cards with you at all times an do not hesitate to pass them out. The cost of a business card is pennies on the dollar giving more value to marketing your business with a lesser sticker price.
When considering having a buisness card design make sure that it is easy to read. Sometimes working with shadows actually causes text to be difficult to read and may lose the interest of the audience. Content is very important as well and too much or too little will also lead to a non-productive card. The best cards are the ones that have these key points:
- Logo
- Company name
- Web address
- Contact numbers
- Email address if applicable
- Mailing or business address
- Tag line
Cards can either be one sided or two and makes relatively no difference as long as all the information is pertinent. Some companies add referral rewards or coupons on their cards to help increase revenue generation from each card.
Carrying cards with you at all times an do not hesitate to pass them out. The cost of a business card is pennies on the dollar giving more value to marketing your business with a lesser sticker price.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Mirroring Your Audience
Being a Las Vegas transplant living in an outskirt city of Phoenix where life is practically at a standstill I have had to learn to adjust to my audience when approaching someone for their buisness. While this has been a bit of a challenge for myself, the rewards in the end have proven to be quite fruitful. Looking around and listening to others you will begin to notice we all have our own approach styles and have you also noticed that often times these styles are rarely changed to mirror the tone of the audience?
Relating to my experience when I first moved to the area I had my Las Vegas flash and attitude. Being use to a city like Las Vegas where the majority wants immediate results, products or services delievered upon 3 weeks ago when the request was made only yesterday made my now situation frustrating because here decisions are made much slower. Going on appointments I began noticing I spoke alittle too fast for the area, my dresss attire made me stand out more and sometimes caused intimidation, and my overall demeanor was considered over the top for many. While I am well spoken, highly personable and always professional I came across as un-relatedable with my clients. My close rate at the time was less than what I was ever use too and I began feeling as though I was missing the target.
It wasn't until I sat back one day and looked around. I began noticing how people spoke, more on a slower pace. I then noticed the attire was more on the conservative side. Ladies had their nails done in more of a subtle color like a french manicure versus my ruby red nail polish, their make-up looked more natural, and people in general here wanted to take the time to really get to know the person they were doing business with. It was at this time I decided to try something new.
Over a period of time I transformed myself to someone more approachable and relatable. I changed my wardrobe, begin softening my make-up, began speaking to my audience and developing more of a personal relationship with each of them. Within a matter of 1 day, the reception I received from people had flipped 180 degrees. Now have I compromised myself, not in the least bit. In fact, I still wear my ruby red nail polish and shoes that are flashy, but I have found this works for me.
My sales increased, my close ratio increased back to my normal close rate, and in the end I have made stronger connections with my clients than I ever have in the past. Changing my approach has even increased my client retention. My advice, if you are feeling the same way I felt, perform a self evaluation. As your friends, family, even your customers for their feedback. Take it all into consideration and figure out where you can find your balance. Sometimes the simplest solution is the one that takes no effort at all.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Sit Back and Lose
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given, than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing." Author Unkown
We are all guilty at one point or another of thinking, feeling, or stating how bad things have gotten. How there is no light at the end of the tunnel, or how things are never going to go back to the ways things once were. The reality, impossible is merely a mindset and not a true action, intent, nor is it a final result. The question, how do we go from the impossible to the possible?
The first step is tuning out the news. Avoid the morning broadcast while driving into the office. Change from reading current events to learning more about history. If you do not know today's turmoil or devastation, how can you be influenced by negative publicity?
Next, listen to those around you in your social sphere. What is their mentality? Do your peers stand around the water cooler and complain about rising prices or complain about a dip in sales? Does your social realm seem to be depressed? Not long ago I was standing in a group of well educated, well rounded gentlemen and for about 10 minutes all they did was complain about how this and that was effecting their revenue. After a lull in their conversation they turned to look at me. I smiled while nodding my head and then asked them all "so, what are you doing to correct your situation". It was at this moment each of them went blank faced. Not one of them was able to give a solid answer other than stating the obvious..."Things should pick-up".
Finally, buy out instead of buy in. Know and tell yourself while the economy is proving to be a bit challenging know this is a time to shine the biggest and brightest over your competition. The reason, your competitors will fall by the ways side while you on the other hand are continuing to plunge forward. Invest more money into your marketing, spend more time training your employees to be better focused on customer service, go the extra mile to ensure your customers needs are fully met.
Mark Twain said it best "Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising". Send the message loud and clear that your buisness is growing, brag your service is outstanding, define yourself and do not be afraid to tell someone that sucess is based purely on attitude and we all have a choice as to what attitude to carry with us.
Please email us with your thoughts and opinions on this article to submit@printplusmore.com
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Jump Out!
Out of the shadows and into the hands of customers should be the goal of every business. The problem for some is how to break away from the norm and get recognized. Recognition comes in many forms from sex appeal, colors, images, sounds, rhythmic sounding slogans, icons, etc. When it comes to marketing think, think, and think more.
3 seconds is all we have to grab the attention of a new customer. The message we send has to be short, to the point, and memorable.
Here are a few suggestions:
1. Before and after pictures: Great to display your work. Painter, organizer, dentist, etc.
2. Slogan Rhythm: "Keep your clutter in the hands of the simply organized mother"
3. Animation: Talking lizards, stacks of money, etc.
4. Star Endorsements: Find a celebrity who uses your products or services and ask for them to publicly endorse you.
5. Colors: http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/ defines the meaning of colors and what the colors represent.
For more information on how to stand out visit http://www.printplusmore.com/.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Got Image?
Remember the phrase "A picture is worth a thousand words"? How many times have you been driving down the road passing signs or store fronts and have thought to yourself, "what were they thinking". Ever stopped and asked that owner of that same store the question why did you choose that name or logo?
We all have ideas as to how we “think” our product or service should look, feel, or grab customers, but the reality is unless we have a background or proven track record in being successful with our ideologies, we need to hire the “right” talent to help us grow our businesses and define our images.
Think about what comes to mind first. I was driving one day close to the downtown area and as I looked to my left there was a cartoon like sign with an image of a females hips showing. She was wearing short shorts and a white mid drift top. The name of the business was Bandaids. Now the image alone gives you one thought while the name takes you to several other thoughts. Those thoughts turning from happy ones to maybe some that give a negative visual. Another
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Think You Know SEO
SEO is a fancy acronym for Search Engine Optimization. So what is SEO exactly? Think of it as your online business card. SEO is the most important, yet most neglected element of a website. Without website Search Engine Optimization companies actually lose traffic to their sites as potential customers are unable to locate them.
You want your website to be striking to the search engines so they will give you a top 10 rankings in their search results. These search engines send out crawlers to look for websites who think you are credible and then they use an algorithm to determine where you should rank. Crawlers rank your site based on meeting particular criteria and strategically place your site within their search engine results.
One of the misnomers people have about SEO is they believe having a new website or domain will automatically give them high search engine rankings. The truth is search engines reward older domains in the manner of giving them higher rankings.
Hiring an SEO consulting firm rather than relying on your own knowledge gives you the advantage on the web by increasing product and client awareness. A better way to justify the added expense of hiring an outside firm; can you afford to lose business?
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Increase Customer Rentention
Retaining customers is as easy as asking them for their feedback. Businesses spend thousands of dollars trying to bring in new customers, but often make the mistake of not working towards retaining customers. The old addage "It takes money to make money" can be applied to customer retention. So what is the best way to retain customers? Ask for their feedback on products or services received and ways they feel these products or services can be best improved upon.
Simple survey or comment cards are one of the fastest ways to learn from customers. Surveys or comment cards can be issued directly from a cashier or service represntative, be inlcuded inside delivery packages, can be located on the bottom of customer receipts, or can even be added to telephone hotlines. Some businesses offer suggestion boxes located in plain sight for customers to immediately drop their thoughts and opinions in for processing. A few dollars spent on printing, survey design, or survey telephone lines with a few added dollars spent on processing these feedbacks WILL increase revenue.
For businesses who desire a faster more efficient return on customer feedback tend to rely on professional surveying companies to gather statistics. Survey companies gather information based on specific questions provided to them by "The business". The business then controls the number of questions asked, the wording of the questions, provide targeted lists for the company to contact. The data then is gathered over a specific period of time and statistically packaged for the business to review and decided where improvements need to be made. Now hiring a survey company is a bit more costly on the business, but considering the original cost to earn the business of a new customer versus retaining a current one equates to pennies on the dollar.
Simple survey or comment cards are one of the fastest ways to learn from customers. Surveys or comment cards can be issued directly from a cashier or service represntative, be inlcuded inside delivery packages, can be located on the bottom of customer receipts, or can even be added to telephone hotlines. Some businesses offer suggestion boxes located in plain sight for customers to immediately drop their thoughts and opinions in for processing. A few dollars spent on printing, survey design, or survey telephone lines with a few added dollars spent on processing these feedbacks WILL increase revenue.
For businesses who desire a faster more efficient return on customer feedback tend to rely on professional surveying companies to gather statistics. Survey companies gather information based on specific questions provided to them by "The business". The business then controls the number of questions asked, the wording of the questions, provide targeted lists for the company to contact. The data then is gathered over a specific period of time and statistically packaged for the business to review and decided where improvements need to be made. Now hiring a survey company is a bit more costly on the business, but considering the original cost to earn the business of a new customer versus retaining a current one equates to pennies on the dollar.
To entice customer feedback offer value to the customer by giving them an incentive. Try offering a dollar or percentage discount, a chance to enter a drawing, or offer a free gift. Along with the surveys ask the customer for their permisson for their comments to be posted or published for others to view which will increase customer awareness.
For more ideas visit http://www.printplusmore.com
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