Let
me reign you
in for just
a moment to
give you an
important
message. This
may NOT be
the best the
time to chase
the next biggest
thing, no
matter how
bright and
shiny it looks.
In
this still-tentative
economy, in
these easy-living
summer months,
now is the
best time
to get back
to basics
and focus
on being the
best at what
you do best.
Back
to basics
This
has been
a rough
time and
no doubt
it exposed
some of your
organization's
vulnerabilities
- and you
may not have
wanted to
see them.
So while it's
tempting to
distract yourself
with some
new undertaking,
I suggest
that you take
a deeper look
at what you
and your business
are trying
to accomplish
each day.
Communications
and customer
service are
two basics
that can always
use some attention.
One company
I just started
working with
has been trying
to save money
by getting
away from
direct mail
and prospecting
calls. Yes,
they're being
more efficient
with their
resources,
but at the
same time
they didn’t
create a well
thought out
strategy to
maintain personal
and regular
contact with
current and
potentially
new clients.
As a result,
they're struggling
to maintain
current client
relationships
and also not
bringing in
what they
need for new
business.
So
I’ve
been asking
their sales
people each
week, "How
are you reaching
out to your
current customers?" Wanting
to remind
them of the
importance
of using customer
service to
keep relationships
strong and
protect their
base of current
clients. It's
about going
above and
beyond the
call of duty;
it's about
reaching out
AND listening;
it's about
expressing
your appreciation
for their
business and
their loyalty.
Above
all, people
do business
with people
they know,
like and
trust. They
may deviate
and perhaps
have even
taken the "cheap" route
out of fear
of the economy,
but if you've
tended the
relationship
they will
come back.
Be
the best
at what
you do best
Business
is probably
down for you,
and it's down
for everybody
else. That's
why you need
to stay focused
on what sets
you apart.
It may not
be the most
glamorous
or newest
thing, but
it's solid
and consistent
and your customers
can count
on it.
And
as we talked
about last
month, it's
not enough
to just be
your best,
you also have
to sometimes
toot your
own horn a
bit and do
some self-marketing.
You need to
remind everyone
what your
strengths
are and what
makes you
special.
So
if your
business
is a well-oiled
machine, your
work culture
is positive,
everything
is running
smoothly and
your customers
are confident
and loyal,
then go ahead
and carefully
venture off
into a new
direction.
Otherwise,
take some
time now and
get back to
the basics.
Making
a commitment
What
are you
willing
to commit
to getting
done in the
next month,
by the time
you open up
your copy
of next month’s
newsletter?
Make that
promise to
yourself,
and if you
really want
to achieve
it, commit
it to someone
else as well.
Would
you like
to sit down
with me
for a few
minutes and
get started
on your daily,
weekly and
monthly actions?
Visit my website
today to send
me a message
and we’ll
coordinate
a time that
works best
for both of
us to focus
on what’s
best for you.
Keeping
the Main
Thing the
Main Thing. Go
For It!
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