Great Business Management
Congratulations, entrepreneur….you’ve made it through another year of doing business. There is always room to improve, and my golden rule is, “If a client is not coming back for more services from you, you are doing something wrong.”
Too many times, we are living in the business moment and looking for instant financial gratification instead of building a great relationship with a client(s). There are ways you can improve your services that you may be overlooking.
I would strongly suggest avoiding all debt that you can, like small business loans or small business credit cards, but if you have to do it, then you just have to.
Good Business Ideas
I made this decision last year. You can offer great service all day, but just like there are some clients who will be dedicated to you, there are others who will be dedicated to your competitors or who may not believe in what you have to offer or see the benefit or they may just not like you.
In order to have the best business management and business strategy, you have to stop wasting your time and your business self-worth and esteem by chasing dead clients who, no matter how much you say or do, will never support you. Move on and spend your time looking for clients who do want to support you.
Improve Customer Service Skills
Once again, if NONE of your clients are coming back to you repeatedly, you are doing something wrong, and there is a great possibility that you may offer a great service by the way you do business sucks.
There is no room for growth in you keep begging for support, and after a while, you will appear desperate, and you will annoy your potential clients, who will steer even further from you and they will start avoiding you. Look at your competition to see what they are doing better than you.
You may not be able to offer what they are offering, but you can offer SOMETHING that they don’t or are not that will make your service more valuable to clients.
Over Deliver
If you expect to deliver something on Tuesday…. tell the client you will have it by that Friday. This has a two-fold benefit. The client will get what they want early and if you have a problem you have more time. Once you deliver, you will shine bright in your client’s eyes and this is a great way to establish a great client/business relationship.
Ask Your Clients, How you CAN Help instead of asking FOR help.
In my business, I never “beg,” and neither should you. Calling someone and saying ‘gimme, gimme, gimme’ is annoying, and it’s usually the mistake most of the other people calling that client are doing.
Study what the potential client is working on and then call them with suggestions on how you can help. That’s very impressive, and you can work something in the deal where they spend money with you.
Do a Client Visit or Luncheon
This is a dying art and proper good business etiquette. Unfortunately, it is one that I, too, have been guilty of not doing enough. How are you going to establish a relationship if you don’t get to know your client one-on-one? Take them out to lunch and pay for it.
Treat everyone with Respect. You Never Know Who you May Need.
The other day I was talking to a client who once needed someone to help him; the person refused and was a complete jerk about it, taking complete advantage of his power.
Now years later, the shoe is on the other foot, and the guy who couldn’t get any help is not refusing to help the guy who would not help him.
It is best, if nothing less, to at least respond to people who reach out to you, and it takes very little effort to do what you can to help in certain situations. If you are in a position to do it…. do it.
Update your website and hire an SEO Expert and Website Builder
Many sites in my industry leave a lot to be desired. It is beyond evident that many people in my industry are still not convinced of the power of the internet, and they are going to pay dearly for that.
Make sure you understand the advantages of social networking and how the internet works so that you can be in a position to offer your client FULL service. If you are not doing anything online, your business will look antiquated and out of touch.
If you don’t know what you are doing when it comes to building your business website, it’s best to hire someone. It can be extremely cumbersome. You want to have the absolute best website design for the money.
Keep a Diary
Keep a diary of your transactions with clients. Many times they will tell you to call them back on a certain day, and it’s easy to forget that. If you don’t keep a diary, at least consistently update your calendar.
What are your Competitors’ Weaknesses
Any competitor who does what you are doing has strengths and weaknesses. Instead of trying to be better, be different. What can you offer that your competitor is not?
Offer Additional Services
Could your business benefit from offering additional services? Think of ways you can add to what you are presently offering to improve your services.