Sometimes Entrepreneurs Are So Stupid

I usually wash my car once or twice a week. I go to one of those express wash that is close to my home. I’ve been going there for at least 4 years, every week at least once. Price is fair, it is close and I never had an issue. Until the last two washes. Last week I noticed that the back of my car was still a little dirty after the wash and when I went to vacuum the car, the vacuum was very weak. I was in a hurry so I just left.

Today we wash the car and the same thing happened. Back more than a little dirty and the vacuum not working. All the other vacuums were taken so I got stuck with that bad one.
We finished cleaning the car and on our way out stopped to speak to the owner to let him know there was something wrong with his equipment. Why did I do that?

He started going on and on about the amount of chemicals he uses and how I was probably off road and the kind of clay from that dirty road is the type that doesn’t come off etc. We said that last week the same thing had happened and we had been in town the whole time.
There he goes again with the same story. We leave the car, showed him that the front of the car was fine, the problem was just in the back and we could take that off by just passing our fingers, so it was not stuck in the car. He said that is why he provides towels and Windex for clients.
Of course, I pay to have the car washed and then I spend my time cleaning the mess that the machine left.

He never once considered that the brush could have an issue, the pressure of water and chemicals, the pressure of the brush. No, it was the dirt from places I’ve been.
With the vacuum the same thing: He takes care of the equipment, he doesn’t know what is going on, now he is going to pay attention to the vacuum.
Then he makes a face and says “If you really want, I can have you go through the wash again”.
If I really want? I don’t want and I don’t need to. There is a really cool car wash that just opened a few blocks away with vacuums that look very modern, same price, new employees with smiles on their face because they got a new job and I can take my loyal business there. The only thing that will change is that I’ll drive two more blocks.

During four years I happily gave him my money, never, ever complained about anything. Washed, vacuum and left. Every week some times several times a week. During a period of time I was even on a monthly program. I’m a dream customer.
Now, let’s think, because unlike him, you can do that very easily: If something is not working well in your business, take accountability, don’t try to blame the customer. Yes, there are people that are a nightmare and try to take advantage of you. Not the case here. I’m a loyal customer that never complained about anything there. Take that in consideration before blaming the kind of dirt I ride on.
Then redo whatever you offer. Don’t tell me that if I really want you can make an exception. Do it.
You cannot afford to lose customers to competition because of stupid things. And learn, for goodness sake, to take feedback. I stopped my day to go tell him there is something wrong with the equipment. Go and check and shut up.

How many other customers didn’t like the result and left never to come back without saying a word?
Don’t be stupid, don’t act like this entrepreneur. Take feedback and take accountability.
Buzz Booster

Strategic Business Planning

There is no such thing as just writing down a goal and visualizing it, and expecting some miraculous result. Or adding affirmations, or powerful quotes, or any sort of voodoo you wish, and expecting your goal to be realized. It's just not going to happen.

Think about some of the great wars, and especially world war two, and imagine if General Eisenhower, who was the Allied Commander, just gave some speculative plan to the allied forces and said, “let's try this plan”. It took a massive amount of strategic planning to clearly define their objective, which turned out to be, to storm the beaches of Normandy. Once that was set, they then drew up a detailed strategic plan to accompany that objective. When that was finished, he outlined a tactical plan that would support the two prior plans.

If this plan had failed, all of Europe would have been under enemy control, and thus would have changed the world as we know it today. The bottom line is, nothing of any major importance should ever be undertaken without completing a goal planning process, as indicated above.

The startup business might be successful for a short period, but without a clearly defined vision and goals that are meticulously written and totally understood by all business participants, the success will be short lived. It’s quite amazing that intelligent people, who have started a small business and outlined a brilliant business plan, have never really learned the exact process of setting and accomplishing goals.

In summation, if you want to have a successful startup, you must set the right goals. In addition to that, you must be using the correct basic formula in establishing and executing those goals.

By James Egan

Host a Seminar

If your customer and prospect base is within 100 miles of your location, why not share your industry knowledge? The advantages are a person-to-person contact, they will receive new knowledge and they will meet your staff and see your company. Here are some ideas to consider:

 *Make it Free to attend
 *Keep time limited to 2 hours or less
 *Make it educational, not a sales pitch
 *Try to get outside experts & speakers
 *Send a formal invitation or call
 *Make follow-up calls to confirm attendance
 *Offer to pick up anyone coming over 25 miles
 *Serve some type of refreshment
 *Remember they are your guests
 *Select attendees carefully (qualified buyers)
 *Have them leave with something (literature, sample etc)
 *Try to setup after seminar follow up dates
 *Have a question-answer period
 *Be available after the senimar for more questions
 *Ask if they would attend another seminar in the future
The cost is low but the rewards can be additional business

Barry is a speaker, international business author and business consultant for new businesses. www.idealetter.com

Money Rules for Small Business

Small Business Owners are among the most optimistic people on the planet – I think you have to be to do what you do. But according to recent research, you aren’t feeling particularly great right now. In March, the National Federation of Small Business Index of Small Business Optimism turned downward. That’s not good for the overall US economy (you and others like you are responsible for half of private GDP and half of private sector hiring), but it’s not particularly good for your own business or your own life. Because in my experience when you’re not feeling optimistic, you’re not doing enough to take control of your own financial lives – and your own financial futures.
Having some Money Rules can help. Rules not only save us from societal chaos; they make our lives easier. Rules provide us with a filter. A means of looking at most of the money decisions we’re asked to make and enabling us to simply say: Yes. Or, just as importantly, no. Here are the ones I like best, and can help you make financial decisions for your business and for yourself:

Money Rule: Personal Finance Is More Personal Than Finance
When it comes to your money, you have to make the decisions that are right you, for your family and for your business. It may mean deciding, with your spouse, that one of you will hold onto a corporate job without a lot of potential for advancement because it’s the cheapest way to hold onto benefits. Whatever personal choices you make, make them thoughtfully and with a plan to get you from here to there. That’s key, because along the way, I guarantee there will be stops and starts. There will be emergencies and surprises. And there will be people (sometimes people who care about you) who think you’re doing it all wrong.

Money Rule: Financial plans don’t fail people. People fail to plan.
According to the American College, more than 1/3 of you have never even tried to estimate how much money you’re going to need when you retire. And even among those who have run the numbers, the vast majority – about 75% have no written plan for retirement. In other words, even when you know what you need, you don’t exactly know how you’re going to get there. Even if in your mind your business is your retirement safety net, you still need an actual retirement plan. As small business owners, there are many you can choose from, including SIMPLE IRAs, SEP IRAs, and Individual 401(k)s. If you’re not sure which is right for you, talk to a financial adviser.

Money Rule: Hope is not an investment strategy.
The American College stats also revealed that that’s what too many small business owners seem to be doing -- just hoping. Instead of crossing your fingers and hoping for the best, you need to plan. And the first step in the process is to ask yourself some important questions. Chief among those questions is this one: How long are you going to work? About 80 percent of Americans now tell us they are going to work – for pay – in retirement. Among this number are many small business owners. The average retirement age for small business owners is 73, about 5 years later than that for employees. Many of you may not believe you’ll retire at all. You need savings nonetheless, because your the industry might change around you – or your health might go.
By Jean Chatzky

"Matchmaking Jobs" is coming

Just like the highly successful online dating and matchmaking has changed how many of us meet our significant others and dates the same is coming for jobs. You knew it had to be on the way to make it easier and faster to connect with the best job and employer for the needs of both. The company listing will pay a fee and be asked a series of questions about the position that is currently available. But that listing fee will be much less than the employment agency or placement service cost. The applicant will pay only a nominal fee to be considered and be asked a long series of questions that will help the computer make a close match.

The days of waiting in a personnel agency lobby while the counselor makes calls will soon be over. You will be presented exactly the same to every employer that you match up with and not at the mercy of how the agency person presents you to them. The costs will be less for the matchmaking service so the fees will be less. This will allow more businesses to list jobs that could not afford the agency fees. It is a win win situation and should get better with time.

It is also in the works to place temporary workers and consultants at low cost to both sides. Temps can change jobs quickly and easily without making that uncomfortable personal contact. If an employer does not feel the temp is right for them they can easily have a new one the following day without "firing" anyone. Every industry is changing with technology and finding the right job or employee is no exception.

Barry is a speaker, business consultant and coach who has started 20 businesses and has 6 published business books. www.idealetter.com

How to Choose a Franchise

Some questions to ask yourself BEFORE you sign the franchise agreement and pay the franchise fee.

 *What are my realistic goals in owning a business?
 *Do I want to use the skills I have or learn new ones?
 *Do I like selling to consumers or businesses?
 *Do I want to work in a store, office or at home?
 *Do I want a lot of employees, a few or none?
 *Do I enjoy training & supervising employees?
 *Do I want to wear a suit/dress, uniform or just casual?
 *Will I have family members working with me?
 *Will I like a lot of guidance & supervision from the home office?
 *Do I want a large or small national chain?
 *Do I like working early in the morning or late at night?
 *Do I like selling?
 *Will I use advertising or other marketing to get customers/clients?
 *Will I work weekends or just Monday thru Friday?
 *Will I work in the business myself?
 *Do I want more than one location?
 *How big do I want to get?
 *Do I have the initial investment without borrowing?
 *Did I review 3 or more franchises in the industry?

By Barry Thomsen, business & franchise coach. Author of "90 Days to Success as a Small Business Owner" available in print or ebook. www.idealetter.com

Sock it to Me

The recession may be behind us, but men aren’t exactly rushing to the stores to refresh their wardrobes. Global Information firm NPD Group released its Consumer Tracking Service for 2012 last month; it shows men’s apparel only grew 1 percent last year to $57 billion. This runs counter to the trend in the previous few years when, NPD reports, “Growth in sales of men’s apparel consistently outpaced growth in women’s” clothing.

But this doesn’t mean men stopped shopping in 2012. However, instead of buying shirts and jeans, they’ve gone casual-spending their money on underwear (up 13 percent), socks (up 12 percent) and shorts (up 11 percent). Marshal Cohen, NPD’s chief industry analyst, says, “In addition to updating the basics of their wardrobe-underwear, socks and other essentials-this year men started to feel comfortable about taking more fashion risks. They invested in ‘dressing down’ with spending on colorful socks and bottoms.”
I grew up in this business, my dad owned a men’s clothing store for more than 20 years-and it’s clear to me the opportunity for entrepreneurs here is where men are shopping. NPD Group reports men are buying their colorful socks and underwear (emphasis on colorful) from specialty retailers and not at the national chains or mass retailers-and they’re looking to save money when they’re shopping.

These items are ideal for online retailers to sell as well. Since socks and underwear don’t vary in fit as much as clothing does, there’s less guesswork involved in buying, likely resulting in fewer returns.
Also important to note is the fact that more and more men are shopping for themselves-65 percent of men’s apparel was purchased by men. So if you thought it was the wives and girlfriends who did the shopping, think again.
By Rieva Lesonsky

Startup Blues

When opening a new business of any type, nothing will happen without marketing. Everything else is useless without customers and clients to support your business. You must tell your targrt customer group who your are, where you are and what you can do for them. They also need to know why they should consider buying from you when you have no track record. And you must tell them over and over again. Here are some ways you can use marketing to promote your new business.

 *Have your website up and ready (yes you need one)
 *Send direct mail announcements to potential customers/c;ients
 *Conside small yellow page ads, print and online
 *Distribute coupons and special offer flyers
 *Send press releases to newspapers, radio & TV
 *Join or visit many networking groups
 *Be a free speaker at networking, Rotary or chamber meetings
 *Hang up Opening Soon posters and banners
 *Hand out LOTS of business cards, everywhere
 *Find cross-promotion partners
 *Place ads or announcements in trade journals
 *Join or vist your local Chamber of Commerce
 *Use a welcome wagon of new business service
 *Send an every-door-direct mailing to closest areas
 *Consider billboards if they can reach customers
 *Get list in web search engines
 *Tell everyone everywhere about your ne business

Barry is a speaker, author and business coach who helps new businesses get started on their way to Success.

Product Promotion Strategies

When it comes to promoting a product there are definitely tools and tactics that work best. Much of the success of these tools will depend on when in the promotion cycle they’re implemented, the type of product, and of course your target audience. Assuming you’re marketing to an opt-in list, here are a few suggestions for perfect product promotion strategies.

Make sure you’re not over promoting in your email communications
Email communications, like ezines and newsletters, are meant to be informative first and promotional second. That doesn’t mean you can’t promote in them, but it’s important to keep it to a minimum. A general rule of thumb, and this is by no means a hard and fast rule, is to make sure at least 90% of your content is valuable and informative. How to articles, reviews, case studies and so on are great ways to provide value to your opt-in list. The other 10% can be promotional content. This can be an advertisement, links within your content, banner advertisements, promotional message at the bottom of your content and so on. Test and track to find the best mix and strategy for your audience.

Make sure your content is valuable and beneficial
One excellent strategy to provide 100% valuable content to your audience is to provide a review of the product you’re promoting. Reviews, particularly if they’re written in an unbiased tone, give your reader insight to a product. A well-written review will summarize the product’s purpose, highlight the strong points, perhaps tell a story about your experience with the product and then list a drawback or two. The drawbacks can be written to sound benign or like strengths – much like you would do in an interview when the interviewer asks for you to tell them about your weaknesses. You turn your weaknesses into strengths. Then a quick sentence or two summary and of course a link to the product and voila, you have a great review (and promotional material for your product).

Make sure you’re not promoting all of the time
While your opt-in list expects and accepts that you will be promoting your business products and services, they don’t want to be inundated with promotions all the time. Time your promotional content right so that it coincides with launches, special promotions and even the holidays. Your subscribers have come to expect the best from you, and product promotions are going to be held up to the same high standards. Treat them with respect, continually offer value and time your promotions well, and you’ll be on the road to more profits and a growing subscriber list.
By Kelli Claypool

Ways to Give More Love to Your Best Clients

1. Give them additional time with you

2. Give them extra products

3. Offer new products and services to them first

4. Promote them on social media

5. Give them referrals

6. Send personal notes in the mail

7. Share valuable resources with them

I hope you’re starting to see the value of making the time to evaluate your client base. Once you know who’s who, you can prioritize the amount of time and attention you give the most to your best clients. And when you do this, you’ll have more fun in your business and be more profitable.

By Stephanie Ward

Start-up Pitfalls

The U.S economy is driven by start-ups. They play a vital role in the net job creation. However, INC. magazine reports 33 percent of all the new businesses face failure within the first 6 months of operation. 50 percent go on to fail after 2 years, while 75 percent see the wrath after three years. So what are the pitfalls that startups need to avoid in the first 6 months? Let’s take a look at some of the biggest mistakes that startups need to carter to, and the dangers of not avoiding these holes;

1. Poor management

Even though Bachelors or Master degree in Business Administration teaches about the theories related to corporate business level operations, it doesn’t really teach individuals practical business skills on how to run a business.
Poor management can lead to several problems for startups. They may work on a strategy that is weak, failing to bring ideas to validation before working on product development. A poor management team can also face execution problems, which would lead issues in the product manufacture or the time of manufacture. If the management at the top is poor, the effect will go on to lower levels and new employees coming in.
Poor management can also lead to problems and violations in business contracts, but this can be avoided by opting for contract management software like Contract Logix.
Great resources for learning practical skills include Small Business Administration and sometimes the local Chamber of Commerce. There should be continuous study of market research, while customer data should be analyzed and examined frequently. Successful management does well when it comes to strategic thinking, and have the skills to convert a vision into reality.

2. Low start-up capital

Lack of capital for operating the business in the long-run is a common reason why many startups fail. The owners fail to calculate how much capital was required, and as a result, they close down even before the business had a fair shot at gaining some attention.
Lack of sufficient capital means the business will realize poor cash flow sooner or later, making way for pending bankruptcy, and even the headline ‘Start-up business goes bankrupt within the first few months.
It would be wise for startup business owners to have at least 24 months of expenses covered for operations whether through borrowing or saving as most startup businesses take a year or two to get going. This would mean the business has enough funds to cover operational costs until it starts realizing sales to reach the breakeven point and cover the expenses from the revenue made.

3. Lack of planning

Success for a startup business requires a well-thought out, logical plan. Lack of planning is one of the major causes of startup failure within the first 6 months. Failure to set realistic goals and planning with over expectations is what makes a business suffer the ultimate demise–bankruptcy.
A proper plan includes the identifications of problems that may arise and how they would be solved, the needs of the workface, the vision and goal of the business required for success, competition analysis, marketing and promotional strategy, cash flow analysis, forecast of revenue and expenses, income statement and everything else that needs to be kept in mind.
A business plan would also be helpful to secure additional capital after few months of operation if the need may arise.
All these potential problems don’t mean startups can’t succeed in the first 6 months. Frequent planning and openness to new things by everyone attached to the business will help avoid most mistakes and increase the chances of business success.

Bt Kevin Kaiser

How to Use Promotional Products at Trade Shows

Many small business owners rely on trade shows to market their companies. Having a small booth at a large convention can make a world of difference for an independent entrepreneur who wants to break into new markets. In most cases, consumers from all over the country attend these events so small businesses can reach leads without expanding into a new area.
There are many features that entrepreneurs should have in their booths. A large sign, business cards and brochures can be extremely beneficial for forging relationships with potential clients. Additionally, promotional items are great tools for opening a dialog with attendees.
Who should receive a giveaway
A common misconception is that every consumer should receive a giveaway. Business owners believe that they can generate more leads by marketing to a large group of attendees. However, this isn't always the case. The Trade Show Advisor notes that promotional marketing products should be hidden and unavailable to every passerby. The branded items should only be distributed to attendees who speak to a company's employees. For instance, if a potential buyer asks a representative about pricing then a small gift can be given. People who are just walking by shouldn't receive presents from a business.
Lead generation at a trade show is more about quality than quantity. Entrepreneurs who distribute giveaways to every attendee aren't necessarily starting the strongest possible relationships. By limiting who receives a promotional item, a company is establishing a rapport with high-quality prospects who are likely to become loyal buyers down the road. This means that the branded products can result in a high return on investment. Ultimately, being selective with giveaways allows small business owners to find the best leads at every trade show.
Think about attendees
According to the Small Biz Bee, entrepreneurs should think about their customers when selecting unique promotional products. Before attending a trade show, small business owners should research their clients to determine what giveaways would be most effective for generating new leads. Choosing the right items can help ensure that attendees are interested in a company and help forge potential relationships. The news source also recommends conducting a survey to determine what products consumers like the most. A quick poll would allow entrepreneurs to understand what giveaways to bring to a convention. Additionally, this information can be used for other marketing campaigns to solidify a brand in the future.
By Myron.com

You Tube and Small Business

At some point or another you must have heard success stories of people being discovered on the internet. Many singers and actors have been discovered through online sharing sites such as YouTube. This seems to be the new trend that is quickly catching on as no longer do you have to sign up with an advertising agent and get a production team to make a video.


All that is required is for you have a decent recording device, make a video, and just upload it to the internet. After reading this you will learn how to make YouTube and Your Small Business work for you.

Creating a YouTube channel is not hard. The main purpose of the channel is to build your brand and keep your audience entertained. No one will watch your videos if what you are saying isn’t captivating. Here potential clients will be able to watch videos that you have posted. If you get them to subscribe to your channel they will be alerted instantaneously when you have uploaded a new video to the channel. Additionally, you can give background information about yourself and the company and provide a link to the company’s website.

If you make the decision to incorporate YouTube into your small business ensure that you always keep the camera rolling. What this means is that if you see an opportunity to make a video take it. You can make tutorials on how to use products that your company builds or even speak about the services that your small business offers. Similarly you can look at recorded customer testimonials. This is a key marketing strategy as here viewers will be able to get the opinion of someone who has used your product and has experienced firsthand what your small business has to offer.

When posting a video ensure that you display keywords. This is important as you want to ensure that what you are saying matters to the viewers and also that it stands out. In the video description and tags you can put the keywords so this will act as a form of reinforcement for the viewers. Also adding the keywords to the title of the video is extremely useful as viewers are able to search for your videos outside of your website and social media page.

When looking at YouTube and Your Small Business it is important to remember that there are other companies out there that are similar to yours. Keeping this in mind, one has to look at what exactly sets your small business apart from others. Get creative with your videos. It is extremely boring to just have someone sit and and read as if they are presenting the nightly news. Make sure that when you are uploading videos your company logo is at the beginning or end of the video. You can even have it displayed in the corner of your video as well. Prompt your viewers to visit your website or give them the address to your physical location if you have one.

YouTube can help you build recognition and awareness of your small company. You can increase your customer base enormously if you market your company the right way. The numbers of persons using YouTube is increasing on a daily basis so why not capitalize on this fantastic opportunity and watch your business grow.
By Jim Smith.

Great Website Ideas

A great website is simply one that works: that brings prospects to it and converts them into customers. We are going to take a look at the elements that can contribute to making a website work for you, and increase your odds of creating a great one.

It builds your brand. A great website should be consistent with your other branding efforts. If you have a logo, display it prominently. If you do not have a logo, consider hiring a graphic artist. A logo can tell people many things about your company without the use of words. Think about McDonald's golden arches. How is it that kids who are under the age of 5 can point out a McDonald's without the ability to read? It is the identifying colors and shape of their logo.

Your logo can let people immediately know they came to the right place. If you don’t have a logo, or don’t feel you can afford to have one professionally created, use a consistent font in your business name. Use that same font on business cards, flyers, print ads, and of course, on your website.

A great website is one that adds fuel to your marketing efforts. It helps build your brand.

It contains calls to action. A website that doesn’t include calls to action is like a salesman who never asks for the order. You must ask your visitors to do something. Examples of simple CTAs include: sign up today, find out more, call for more info, and get started now. Keep the calls to action above the fold, available for viewing without scrolling down on the page.

Calls to action are asking for the order. The “order’ may be in the form of getting them to join your mailing list or asking for further details. You want them to initiate contact and that is not likely to happen without a call to action. Call to actions can be made more effective by including a benefit. An example would be "Get started today and make money tomorrow!"

Have compelling reasons to use your CTA. Experts say you may only have about 8 seconds to catch the attention of a visitor before you lose them. You need quick, powerful reasons for them to use your calls to action. What's the incentive to click on your join my mailing list (JMML) or request for information (RFI) buttons? It may include free information or access to premium or exclusive content only you can provide.

Brief one- or two-sentence testimonials that show or confirm a benefit can also be compelling reasons to use a CTA.

Use professional photos that are your own. Do not use all stock photos or graphics. Hire a photographer and, if necessary, use a few stock photos for fill. If the site includes a photo of you, make sure it is taken by a professional. Professional photography shows that you are serious about your website and goes hand in hand with your branding. A cellphone headshot is not acceptable for use on a great website.

Use video. According to video production company SundaySky, almost half a billion online content videos were watched in 2012. Videos fall into a variety of categories, but each can be compelling. Videos will engage your viewers and may increase conversions. Some videos are designed to demonstrate or instruct; others are informational or promotional. There are those that feature testimonials, and some simply exist to entertain. They also share the following:

• 56% of consumer web traffic is now video.
• The average video content duration was 6.3 minutes
• The average video ad duration is 24 seconds

When implementing videos on your website, you can increase viewership by keeping them short and making them as relevant to your visitors as possible. The presence of videos alone will not ensure viewership, so invite viewers to watch with enticing or provocative captions.

Mobile accessibility is a must. More than 90 million smartphones are in use in the U.S. alone. How many are being used to browse the net? A whopping 84%. Additionally, tablet ownership reached 22% in late 2012. Yet today, most websites are either not mobile capable or mobile friendly. Keep in mind, not all mobile users are teenagers. A full 50% of smartphone users are 35 years of age or older, and are a valuable market. If your website is not mobile friendly, you are missing out on an opportunity, and a market that continues to grow rapidly.

Mobile users want information quickly. They are not likely to have the patience to sift through detailed information. Their screen sizes are smaller, and they will see your website vertically and horizontally. Your website will need to be optimzed for these smaller screens and various shapes. This is typically done by experienced web designers.

Keep it social media friendly. Having a social-friendly website can boost traffic by leaps and bounds. This doesn’t have to be difficult but it will take fresh content -- blogs, infographics, videos and more. Allow your visitors to easily share your content via email, Twitter and Facebook. Link your website to your Facebook page as well. Make sure you respond to inquiries generated by social media. You may even want to stream your social media content to your main page.

Use appropriate search engine optimization tactics. You can’t have a great website if it can’t be found. Making sure your website suits search engines is a critical step. Do not utilize black hat techniques (like keyword stuffing and hidden links) in an attempt to improve your rankings. Such techniques are not only unethical, they can also provide a bad user experience.

Utilize keywords but do not overstuff them. Keep content fresh. Build a growing list of pertinent back-links. Familiarize yourself with Google’s Penguin algorithm and follow its guidelines. You are likely to be rewarded with increasing rankings.

Conclusion

A great website is one that builds your brand and coverts visitors to customers. It does this by giving them compelling reasons to follow through on your calls to action. A great website will use quality custom photos and relevant videos to make an impression, and it will be mobile and social media friendly. A great website that works will drive visitors by using appropriate SEO techniques. A great website -- an asset for any organization -- deserves appropriate attention.
By Touching Clients

 

Keep Your Business in Motion

In this fast paced world nothing that is successful stands still. Your business is no exception and using new ideas and enhancing old ones will keep you ahead of the pack. Start today and find ways to make changes that will move your business to first place in your customer's and client's mind. Be the one they think of because you always have something new to offer. Don't just chase or follow others in your field trying to imitate or figure what they are doing so you can do it also.

The Hall of Fame hockey star Wayne Gretsky once said, "I don't go where the puck is, I go where it's going to be." Why can't you do that with your business or organization? Anticipate what customers, clients and members need or want and be the first one to offer it. You can learn what they want want by asking them, reading trade publications or visiting industry trade shows and conferences. Be on the cutting edge and let competitors chase you. When they get closer start using even never ideas and concepts. Sure it's a lot of hard work but doesn't success demand hard work? How bad do you want to be the winner every time?

Barry is a speaker, international author and business advisor www.idealetter.com