Power Message – The Power of Face-to-Face Networking

Growing a successful business means you have to network. Networking is simply connecting people and among those are YOUR customers. Networking opportunities come in a variety of forms through social media, business associations, and industry specific organizations, to name a few. I want to share an article that gives excellent advice on how to use networking effectively. I encourage you to use the tips as your action plan in making networking a successful marketing tool to help grow your business. Get out there and connect with your clients!

The Power of Face-to-Face Networking | SBA.gov.

Related articles

• The Pros Share 8 Tips On Turning Contacts To Connections (businessinsider.com)
• 10 Easy-To-Digest Small Business Social Media Tips (amsterdamprinting.com)

Social Media to Market Your Business

Social Media is alive and well and getting bigger. About.com defines Social Media as a social instrument of communication. With traditional methods of communication such as a newspaper or magazine you are simply given the information. Social Media interacts with you while giving you the information. Today, if a customer has a need, they turn to the internet and their friends. Social Media allows the two to combine by allowing interaction through the ability to make and read reviews on products and services. I attended a seminar that showed the Nielson Ratings for consumer trust by advertising type. Radio, billboards, magazines, newspapers and TV rated between 55% to 61%. The top two ratings were from consumer opinions online at 70% and recommendations from someone known at 90%. (Understand the consumer opinions online are from anyone and not usually known by the customer searching for the information.) Social Media is a must for marketing a business in today’s environment.

Need to learn about Social Media? Tune in for the Social Media educational session streamed live from the National Small Business Week Conference in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, May 22 from 3 – 4:30 PM EST.

This panel includes insights on ever-changing advancements in social media and how small business can take advantage of them. Speakers include experts: SBA guest blogger and GrowBiz Media CEO Rieva Lesonsky, Wall Street Journal’s Brian Moran, and business leaders from Yelp.com, Constant Contact, Twitter and Google. Special guest Sarah Bernard, Deptuy Director for the White House Office of Digital Strategy, will also join the forum.

For more information on how to watch these live webcasts, visit the National Small Business Week website. You can also follow SBA on Twitter and Facebook for more details nearer the time.

Let me hear from you and how you are connecting to your clients through social media. Hope to see you out there tweeting and blogging with the best of them!

QuickBooks Tip – Connect with Customer Messages

Connect with your customers using the Customer Message field. QuickBooks has default messages to choose from or you can create you own. The message field is available for Invoices, Sales Orders or Estimates. Use the customer message to market your special offers, thank your client, or ask for referrals. Be sure to update the messages as needed. One more way to connect to your clients.

Social Media to Market Your Business

Social Media is alive and well and getting bigger. About.com defines Social Media as a social instrument of communication. With traditional methods of communication such as a newspaper or magazine you are simply given the information. Social Media interacts with you while giving you the information. Today, if a customer has a need, they turn to the internet and their friends. Social Media allows the two to combine by allowing interaction through the ability to make and read reviews on products and services. I attended a seminar that showed the Nielson Ratings for consumer trust by advertising type. Radio, billboards, magazines, newspapers and TV rated between 55% to 61%. The top two ratings were from consumer opinions online at 70% and recommendations from someone known at 90%. (Understand the consumer opinions online are from anyone and not usually known by the customer searching for the information.) Social Media is a must for marketing a business in today’s environment.

Need to learn about Social Media? Tune in for the Social Media educational session streamed live from the National Small Business Week Conference in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, May 22 from 3 – 4:30 PM EST.

This panel includes insights on ever-changing advancements in social media and how small business can take advantage of them. Speakers include experts: SBA guest blogger and GrowBiz Media CEO Rieva Lesonsky, Wall Street Journal’s Brian Moran, and business leaders from Yelp.com, Constant Contact, Twitter and Google. Special guest Sarah Bernard, Deptuy Director for the White House Office of Digital Strategy, will also join the forum.

For more information on how to watch these live webcasts, visit the National Small Business Week website. You can also follow SBA on Twitter and Facebook for more details nearer the time.

Let me hear from you and how you are connecting to your clients through social media. Hope to see you out there tweeting and blogging with the best of them!

10 Important Customer Service Tips for Small Businesses

Manta offers some great tips for Customer Service for Small Businesses. Click on the link below to read  them and compare to your customer service. In today’s competitive market, delivering quality customer service may be the one factor that gives you the edge over your competition.

10 Important Customer Service Tips for Small Businesses | Manta Small Business Center.

In the last week I have experienced sales clerks that do not smile, coffee shop staff that do not utter a word when they give you your coffee, and a professional interrupt an active conversation to conduct their business. All these actions reflect on the business they represent. It appears some very basic lessons in manners would be beneficial.

What happened to “Service with a Smile”? Adding a simple thank you to the end of an order goes a long way in leaving a customer with a positive experience. As employers, we need to understand that simple manners are not always taught at home. You may find yourself with the need to instruct staff with basics of  “it is not polite to interrupt when someone is talking”.

I noticed two important words on a business card I was handed this week…Expect Excellence. I really like that. This firm understands the importance of identifying their customers needs and desires, and then delivers. Wouldn’t you like to do business with someone whose goal is to deliver excellence? We all would, including your clients.

Ask yourself:

• Does your firm promote a Spirit of Excellence?
• How can you improve your customer service giving your clients an expectation of excellence?
• Can you think of new ways to enhance your customer service to deliver excellence?
• How are you training your staff to deliver quality customer service?
• Do you set an example to your staff that promotes a spirit of excellence?

I challenge you to re-define your customer service using a spirit of excellence. Your efforts will be rewarded through the successful growth of your company. Positive actions deliver positive results.

I know excellence is out there! Share your story on your experience with a spirit of excellence. Get it the spirit and post your comments!