Being a successful executive requires a different skill set than those of a successful sole proprietor. Sometimes this is a difficult transition for an entrepreneur. This recent blog post shares advice from individuals who have made this transition, and you may find this helpful - I know I did.
14 Mistakes Founders Make as They Transition From Solopreneur to Manager
Write me back and let me know what you think.
Respectfully,
Michael Bennitt
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4 Ways to Delight Your Customers in 2016
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When you're in business, there are two tasks you need to do right.
First, your products or services need to be spot on, solving the problem that drove your customers to you in the first place. Provide even more than your customers expect and they'll return time and time again. Second, and this is just as important, you need to make it your personal goal, your heartfelt pleasure, to provide customer service that puts all of your competitors to shame. Great customer experiences are made up of the tangible and the intangible. The tangible is your product. The intangible is how you and your company make your customer feel. Here are four tweaks to make sure you are providing the best service you can. Listen Up!
You'd be surprised how many people lose repeat business because they don't really listen to their customers. If customers take the time to provide feedback, listen to what they say- whether good or bad! Make adjustments accordingly.
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January 2016
Volume 6, Issue 1
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Stay Connected
 
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We work with business owners (like you) to grow and increase their profits by doing their online marketing for them.
Our specialty is making sure future customers can find you online and choose you over your competitors, even if they don't know your name - with Social Media, Search Engines and Mobile devices
. About Us
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Base Your Business on What Your Customer Really Needs
Sometimes people think they want what they want - like a vacation in Hawaii. What they really need, however, can be very different - like a way to reduce the aches in their body from sitting at a desk all day. Learn how to discern the difference between what they want and what they really need, and give your customers what the need and want.
Surprise Them!
Give a little more than what is expected- especially when it doesn't cost you much to do so. Speaking kindly doesn't take any more energy than speaking rudely. Write a personal note- on paper, with ink. You'll be shocked how quickly this builds customer loyalty.
Give 'em Your Number
Make sure your customers are able to contact a real person, not just by email, but on the phone as well. It's in anonymity that the worst of human frailty comes out - on both sides of a transaction. By being accessible to your customers rather than hiding behind a counter, door, or computer screen, you will find the secret to creating a remarkably loyal base of folks who wouldn't dream of doing business with anyone but you.
When you are doing business, especially online, extraordinary customer service will set you apart from the competition. By implementing these ideas in your business, you can make sure you are set apart as the best, and not the other end of the equation.
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Fascinating Facebook Facts
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Sure, Facebook is a great source for drool-worthy recipes, political posturing, and cute cat videos. But it's also a marketing powerhouse no business can afford to ignore. Some facts you'll want to know from 2015:
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1.55 billion monthly active users
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Average time spent on Facebook per day (that we'll admit): 20+ minutes
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91% of millennials (15-34) use Facebook
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31% of all US senior citizens use Facebook
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Estimated number of daily Facebook users in the USA by 2018: 169.2 million
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6 Habits of Winning Small Business Owners
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Owning a small business isn't easy. As the chief cook and bottle washer, you'll find yourself with a dozen different hats to wear as you successfully operate your small business. There are several habits really great small business owners establish to help them stand out from the masses. here are six you can start implementing today.
Put Yourself on the List. The single most important thing you can do to make your small business a success is to take care of yourself. Eat healthy foods, get some vigorous exercise and make sure you carve out time for rest. Sleep is crucial and so is having time in your week to relax and refresh.
Keep Your Eyes on the Road. Don't get lost in the past or get dragged off on the path of "other things." Keep looking forward and your business will follow.
Make a Decision. The first step in any action is a decision. Learn to make solid decisions quickly and then stick to them. You're the leader, so act like it!
Relationships matter, both at home and at work. Tend to your people. Nurture both your family and your employees. Your family needs to know they matter most. Your employees need to know you appreciate them.
Get a life. Yes, your business will ALWAYS have things that need to be done, but you will be much more effective, not to mention nicer and happier, if you have time for family and friends as well. Don't become so wrapped up in business you never leave. That's a surefire recipe for burnout.
Use a planner. Face it, you've got too much going on to remember everything. Great leaders start on time, end on time and deliver when they say they will. Schedule your meetings, appointments, tasks and down time. Then, stick to your schedule.
Being a great small business owner isn't as hard as you think. Develop these six habits and you'll find yourself on the top of the heap, and on top of the world.
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