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Welcome to week 29 of Expressions weekly newsletter. We will inspire you, make you laugh, make you think and help you grow. I will include encouraging tips, words for the day and food for thought, recipes for success and lots of fun every week! |
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" We may sometime lose hope and never think of good things happening into our life. But all of these are just the method of life. Believe in your heart that something good is about to happen. Love your life because it's your life, you're the one who's going to live it. Be happy and dance the melody of life."
Author Unknown
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Check out the Dale Carnegie Blog
How Long Till Marketing Works?
by Jay Conrad Levinson
Whatever you do, don't hold your breath while waiting for marketing to take affect. Instead, hold your horses because it's not gonna happen instantly.
How long does it take for a prospect to become a customer? Well, let's first look into the chemistry of prospects. Prospects are like you except that they're probably doing business with one of your competitors. Fortunately for you, that competitor most likely doesn't know the full meaning of follow-up, with the result that most customers feel ignored after the sale.
These are among your hottest prospects. They already do business with a company such as yours and may be disenchanted because they've been left alone after making their purchase. That's why guerrillas identify their best prospects and then begin the courtship process. It is a courtship and it is a process. Armed with that insight, you can transform them into customers.
Most business owners contact prospects once or twice,...
Jenn's Input:
Follow up is key to building relationships with customers. A#1 is Thank Them for doing business with you! Via a card, phone call, gift, special event invite, VIP savings, do something to make them feel special! If the feedback is negative, GREAT, this is a learning experience. Often times we do not get negative feedback we just lose the customer. The customer may give negative feedback to others. Thus, Negative Word Of Mouth. When it is positive this a motivational tool! I want all of my clients to be comfortable talking with me about the quality and service they receive from my company. They matter! If you don't have a follow up plan in place, make one. It is important not only to your growth but to cementing relationships with your clients.
All businesses make mistakes. Taking an interest in the customer and their input is a good tool to helping you grow. Constructive criticism never hurt anyone! It is how we shape ourselves and evolve! |
Jenn's personal testimony for Word of Mouth Networking.
Having started Expressions Gift Baskets home based in 2007 David and I knew we had a long journey ahead to build awareness of a new business concept in this area. I have lived in Wausau all of my life and I know this community! We are a conservative bunch and I knew that word of mouth marketing for my business was the key to building awareness and gaining new clients. Working on a shoestring budget for marketing, I chose to do a few key things to thrust Expressions into the public eye. First, we started by donating gift designs for local fundraiser events that truly touched my life and I knew would benefit others. Volunteering and donating time in the community. The main priority was to become involved in networking groups that were focused on giving and receiving leads and business referrals. We joined the Chamber of Commerce and began to network through Chamber functions and joined a Chamber leads group for better exposure as well. I was fortunate enough to be invited to a BNI (Business Networking International) meeting at The Rose Garden here in town. I am a person that likes structure and I have to tell you I was very impressed as to how the meeting was conducted. The members were referral focused, passionate about their businesses and asked for what they needed in referrals. I did not know what an elevator speech was. I really did not know how to ask for a referral. I learned these skills with the training programs BNI offered when I became a member. The membership fee is comparable to a Chamber membership or one medium size ad in your local newspaper. I knew that my marketing dollars needed to be spent in the most effective way possible. I focused on word of mouth networking. Through my membership in BNI and the relationships I made with the chapters 25 business professionals, I met hundreds of people through their network of professionals. My husband and I have visited other BNI Chapters in other cities. I have networked on a national level through the BNI website. It catapulted my business to a point that we could go from home based to a retail location. The dollars spent learning how to market my business and myself through the education brought to me by BNI will be something that I have put a very high value on and will remain with me for my lifetime.
I invite you to come have lunch with me at our BNI group and experience word of mouth networking at it's very best! Lunch is my treat! You will be amazed as to how a structured, focused group of professionals can pass referrals and business on a weekly basis. I am proud to say our BNI group was the Million Dollar Chapter in 2008! If you ever want to network with me and visit with a room of professionals let me know. If you have questions about networking or would like to go to another function or need information contact me anytime! I am here to help all of you succeed to great heights. Keep reaching higher everyday for the opportunities for us are endless. Keep talking to people and keep networking! "You never know who they might know"
Best of Success To All!
Jenn Bittner
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