In the blink of an eye what seemed fantastic has become reality-we've morphed into a high tech society.  Our new marketplace has changed everything- how we live and work, how our clients live, what they expect from us and why someone should do business with us rather than someone else.
 
Technology in many ways has leveled the playing field for all businesses.  Smaller businesses can look and act like its big brothers.  Technology enables astute organizations to provide specialized products  and services ... faster.

 
Ultimately as size is factored out of the equation, "it's not the big that eat the small, it's the fast that eat the slow."  Technology can help you be one of the "fast."
 
However when the playing field is level, players must now find new, memorable ways to differentiate themselves.  Consider "high touch" as your value-added differentiator to encourage someone to do business with you.  The value of developing and maintaining a close relationship with your customers can't be overestimated.  
 
Take these five steps to combine the power of technology with the warmth of human touch to define your organization and to give your customers high value and even higher satisfaction, so they'll do business with you-rather.....
 
1.  Shift your perspective.  Think differently.
Look outside the box to serve your clients.  Search for solutions that both maximize today's technology and customers' needs.
Ask 'n answer-what can you do to exceed your clients' needs today... and tomorrow?
 
2.  Develop faster reflexes.
Fence-sitting is out.  Decision making and a call to action are in.
Ask 'n answer-what processes have you put into place to speed up your response time?
 
3. Simplify.
Search for an better solution, a simpler approach. 
Ask 'n answer-in what ways can you make it easier for your customers to do business with you?
 

4. Listen.
Although the winds of change may howl loudly, the opportunities they carry often whisper softly.  New ideas spring up in the unlikeliest places.  Look for them.  Create them. Ask 'n answer-where have you looked for new opportunities in the last month?  How have you implemented them?
 
5. Execute on your promises.
Talk does not cook rice. Take action! Move forward! Deliver!  
Ask 'n answer-what are you doing right now that you didn't do last month to encourage someone to do business with you?
  

In the face of ever-growing competition, utilize all your resources (especially the advantages of high-touch) to ensure your customers know why they should do business with you...rather than someone else. 
 

About Sam: 

Sam Geist's insights stem from years of front-line business experience. He grew his single sporting goods store into a 15-store $40 million dollar a year national chain before he sold it to his competitor. He opened a marketing and consulting agency, based on the full-service customer concepts he had honed in the retail arena, and went on to learn an entirely new set of skills and experiences.

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