Unusual January Holidays

Here are some real but unusual holidays that you can use in you business for fun and profit.

 1 Get a Life Day
 2 Happy Mew Years (cats)
 3 Festival of Sleep
 4 National Trivia Day
 5 National Bean Day
 5 Bird Day
 8 National Bubble Bath Day
 8 Postal Day
 10 Volunteer Fireman Day
 13 Blame Someone Else Day
 14 National Dress Up Pets Day
 15 National Hat Day
 17 Pig Day
 18 Winnie the Pooh Day
 18 Jazz Day
 19 National Popcorn Day
 20 Basketball Day
 21 National Hug Day
 23 National Pie day
 25 Opposite Day
 27 National Toilet Day
 28 National Kazoo Day
 29 National Puzzle Day
 30 National Croissant Day
Use these for a fun promotion, sale or dress-up and let the media know!

Barry is a marketing & business relationship speaker.  www.idealetter.com

Meet Your Customers

If you do your business using email, by phone, mail or text you may not have met many of your customers personally. Some will say that's the old-fashioned way but the business world is now leaning toward more relationship marketing. There is nothing better for both sides of a transaction than shaking hands, looking each other in the eye and with a smile saying, "Thank You for your business". And yes, women can and should shake hands and extend their hand to a man or other women first. It's a bond between seller and buyer that you can't get any other way than in person. That connection will last longer and build more loyalty than a simple Thank You on the phone, email or text.

But you might say that you can't meet all your customers because they are all over the region, country or world. This is when you make an effort to attend trade shows, conferences, conventions and meetings where they might be. One or two trips a year can pay for itself many times over in developing that business relationship that you can't get any other way. The conventions and trade shows can be for their industry, not yours but you know many of them will be there. You don't need a booth, possibly just a hospitality suite where you can get to know them personally. It's also a great time to find out what they would like to see you change or add in your business. So meet as many customers as possible and start creating that long term relationship loyalty.

Barry is a speaker and trainer at conventions, conferences, trade shows and company meetings. Topics, ideas and bio at www.idealetter.com

The New Year and Goals

As we approach the new year we can always look back and see if we accomplished the goals we set last year. If you did, great and you will be ahead of most other business people. But did you set those goals too low or easy to attain? If you didn't reach your goals for the year but got close that's just as good. Your business goals should be just a little out of reach so it is not too easy but still possible. Stand near a wall and raise you arm so you touch the wall with your longest finger. Now with your arm still up move about 4-5 inches away from the wall. You are no longer touching the wall but if you stretch and make an effort you may still be able to touch the wall.

That is where your realistic goals should be, just out of reach but still possible. If your sales always increase every year because inflation or other factors at least 10% then your goal should not be to increase 12%, that's too easy. Shoot for a goal of 15-16% increase that will make you you put some effort and new ideas into your business to reach it. Also if you set a goal at 50% sales increase (when you usually get 10%) the chances of reaching it will be slim and you will lose interest in trying to make it happen. Realistic goals that are just out of easy reach will motivate you to try new things, offer a better customer experience and make your marketing pay off.

Barry is a meeting speaker on The Customer Experience, Building Business Relationships and Using social media/networking to generate profit. www.idealetter.com

Licensing or a Franchise

Licensing

Much like the state government granting individuals a license to give them permission to drive, businesses sometimes grant other organizations licenses to give them permission to use their intellectual property. A license is a contract through which one party grants another permission to use its patents, trademarks, copyrights, designs or trade secrets. The organization receiving the license, or licensee, compensates the licensor by paying a flat fee, royalties or a combination of the two. The agreement does not transfer ownership of the intellectual property. By licensing to third parties, small business owners can expand their businesses' reach and grow sales without having to invest in new locations or distribution networks, and risking failure.

Franchising

Franchising grows a business in a similar way but the franchising party or franchisor gives the franchisee permission to not only use its intellectual property but also its operating system. In addition to their trademarks, franchisees often use frachisors' distribution systems and marketing campaigns to sell the franchisors' products or services. In return, the franchisee usually pays the franchisor an upfront fee, royalties, and sometimes even a monthly or annual fee. Like licensing, franchising can help a small business grow rapidly and, although it requires more set-up and investment than a pure licensing deal, franchising remains considerably more affordable than opening new locations.

By Oscar Guzman

Why a Blog?

There are places where you can have a free blog to post information (Google & Wordpress are two of them) so that people can feel that you are an expert in your chosen field. It's a place where you can share ideas, tips and yes key secrets in your industry or vocation. Short 2 to 3 paragraph articles are best for busy people to read and absorb.If you know more that most people in an industry why not share it and assemble a group of people who check your blog often. You can find new customers and clients who will build a trust in you over time.

You should post to your blog once or twice a week so that when people check it they will find something new and informative. If people learn something or get reminded of an idea they will visit your blog often and not others that may be competitors. You can also also send your blog posts easily to Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus. You will need to copy and paste the link to Linkedin and anywhere else you want to share it. Visitors can also go back and see your previous posts and you will get to see how many hits you get. I am over 71,000 hits and I hope you keep reading!

Barry is a speaker and trainer on social media basics, customer satisfaction and building business relationships. To have Barry speak at your next meeting or conference go to www.idealetter.com

Social Media Presence

Most of us use social media in different forms to share our business ideas and promote our products and services. This is the new future and the first step in relationship marketing and it does make a difference. You may not see results after every post but it will build as people get used to seeing your helpful posts and advice. I always felt that jumping right into a sales pitch would turn many potential clients and customers off and they would just ignore you. It's like someine asking you for your credit card number to pay for something when no trust has been established yet.

I like to add more friends and connections but may be hestitant to accept those that don't have have a picture and some information about themselves in their profile. How can you build any trust at all in someone you know nothing about. I will see and listen to what they have to say if I know where it is coming from and a little about who is sending it. I try to put information in my profile that will make people be more comfortable when they see my posts.

The social media I like to use is Facebook (and groups), Linkedin, Twitter and my blog which you are reading now. I feel to create interest and trust you need to put something in the first 3 every day and post to your blog several times a month. Your friends, connections and blog readers will get to know you and what they can expect. Don't go on a rant on social media even if you feel strongly about something, state your case and let others decide their own feelings. By posting often and giving useful information you can build the trust it takes to consider you as someone people may consider spending money with in the future.

Barry is a speaker at conventions, conferences, trade shows and company meetings. More info at www.idealetter.com

Reduce Customer Acquisition Cost

Customer Acquisition Cost, a fancy term that only asks you what it costs to get a new customer or client. You may not know the exact number (you should) but you know that in many companies it is not cheap. So if you can reduce that cost and keep getting new business it would be a big advantage. The big companies spend millions on advertising that blasts their offers and brand names in our faces constantly but as a smaller business we can't afford to to that. So how can you increase your customer base and still stay within your marketing budget? We all need need new customers to grow and prosper.

Why not use the method that does not cost money and should already be part of your Customer Experience.  One way is to encourage more referral business from those already pleased, happy and excited about your business. But to get those referrals you must be providing outstanding products and service all the time. Offering a low price does not build loyalty over a long time, just loyalty for that one order. If you give your current clientele the best they can get anywhere and do it all the time you will build that loyalty that breeds referrals. Referral business is more valuable than any advertising you can buy. And don't forget to ask for those referrals after every transaction so people will know you really want them.

Barry is a professional speaker on The Customer Experience and Building Business Relationships. More info at www.idealetter.com

Do You Still Say Thank You?

These are 2 little words that should end ever transaction you make in your business, Thank You. It seems so obvious but are you really saying it EVERY TIME? I ask the people I speak to at conferences and conventions if they still say it every time they make a transaction, regarless of how well they know the customer or client. I usually get a hesitated yes, of course but see a vague look on their face as they think about it. We all know about saying Thank You but may forget it when we are busy or pre-occupied with something else, instead of the customer at hand.

Your customers and clients may not always remember when you say Thank You because it's just part of the transaction but don't say it and they may wonder why. Are you now taking their business and money paid for granted? Should they consider checking out some of your competitors for a better offer? Have they become such a regular customer that they don't need to hear it anymore? I think not, it's important Every Time. These are the people who are supporting your business, employees, growth, your family and paying your mortgage. Don't forget to thank them for it, every time.

Barry is a professional speaker on topics like The Customer Experience and Building Business Realationships. More info at www.idealetter.com

How Employees Treat Customers

Do you know how your employees with customer/client contact really treat and service them? Do you ever watch from a distance to observe the way they handle non-routine requests, questions and problems? Are they giving the same outstanding help and service at 2PM that a customer gets at 9AM? Do you have some people who should not be interacting with customers and would be better off with another position behind the scenes? Do you let problem employees just stay on because it is too much of a hassle to move them or replace them? Do you really care about your customer experience.

It has been said that the way management treats it's employees will establish how those employees handle customers. If they get abrupt answers or "I'm too busy" when they have questions it may filter down to the people who actually support the business, customers and clients. Train them to respect customers and their questions even if they heard it many times before. Remember that customers would not ask the question if it was not important to them. A good rule for management is to treat employees just like they would treat customers because that is what filters down anyway.

Barry is a speaker on marketing and customer loyalty. www.idealetter.com

Every Business Has Them

Every business has an advantage over it's competitor's that will increase sales, grow profits and create customer and client loyalty. But every business is not using that advantage because the owner or executives have not figured it out yet. They go along "business as usual" and wonder why their growth is slow or non-existent. There is a way to outsmart the your competitors and become the THE ONLY CHOICE in your industry and it's not a low price. Don't just be one of the guys, be the leader.

Step back and look at your business from a customer's point of view. What are they asking for that you don't provide now? What extras do they want that you are not offering? How much quicker can you deliver special order items? What add-on benefits would make customers say "WOW" and buy more? The answer is in your mind if you just search and find it. You can always be better without adding much cost, if any, so take the time and find the answer. Actually you already know the answer, you just have to think it out.

Barry is a convention & conference speaker on The Customer Experience, Relationship Marketing and Ways to grow your business. www.idealetter.com

Unusual December holidays

Real but little known holidays that you can use.

 1 Eat a Red Apple Day
 2 National Fritters Day
 4 Wear Brown Shoes Day
 6 National Gazpacho Day
 7 National Cotton Candy Day
 8 National Brownie Day
 10 Human Rights Day
 12 Poinsettia Day
 13 Violins Day
 15 Bill of Rights Day
 16 Natl Chocolate Covered Day
 17 Underdog Day
 18 Bake Cookies Day
 19 Oatmeal Muffin Day
 20 Games Day
 21 National Flashlight Day
 24 National Egg Nog Day
 28 National Chocolate day
 31 Unlucky Day