Have You Tried Being A Customer Of Your Business Lately?
Have You Tried Being A Customer Of Your Business Lately?
I was discussing this earlier today with a client whose business has stagnated after he moved into a new office last year and we were looking at possible reasons why that would be.
We looked at the products he was offering, how he was conducting his marketing, what factors locally had changed, was the "credit crunch" likely to be an influence, and so on. We spent an hour or so brainstorming and quite by chance I asked him how people got in touch initially to make enquiries before becoming a customer.
His reaction was quite surprising. He said that the business had moved but he was using up the marketing materials and letterheads from before the move. Of course, the phone number and address had changed with the move but he was loath to dump his old literature. Instead he had a redirection of the phone and post and thought that would do.
On impulse, I picked up the phone and dialed the office number which was being redirected and guess what? yup, it was unobtainable. I then asked him if the bundles of re-directed post were still being delivered at the office and he thought for a moment and said they had seemed to dry up a while ago and he thought the new address must have filtered through to the customers.
Another quick phone call to the Post Office revealed that he had redirected the post for 6 months, but then not renewed it.
Here then we had something concrete. It is not surprising that business has been hard to come by lately - his customers could not get in touch easily. Those who had his mobile number were lucky, but others didn't, and any new prospects certainly wouldn't have.
The moral to this tale then... regularly check that all your lines and methods of communication are open for business all the time.
You should aim, at all times, to make it as easy as possible for people, customers and prospects alike, to get in touch - and keep checking them all regularly - just in case!!!
Have You Tried Being A Customer Of Your Business Lately - To learn more about this author, visit Ray Stewart's Website.
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This may sound odd - but have you looked at how you treat your customers recently?
I was discussing this earlier today with a client whose business has stagnated after he moved into a new office last year and we were looking at possible reasons why that would be.
We looked at the products he was offering, how he was conducting his marketing, what factors locally had changed, was the "credit crunch" likely to be an influence, and so on. We spent an hour or so brainstorming and quite by chance I asked him how people got in touch initially to make enquiries before becoming a customer.
His reaction was quite surprising. He said that the business had moved but he was using up the marketing materials and letterheads from before the move. Of course, the phone number and address had changed with the move but he was loath to dump his old literature. Instead he had a redirection of the phone and post and thought that would do.
On impulse, I picked up the phone and dialed the office number which was being redirected and guess what? yup, it was unobtainable. I then asked him if the bundles of re-directed post were still being delivered at the office and he thought for a moment and said they had seemed to dry up a while ago and he thought the new address must have filtered through to the customers.
Another quick phone call to the Post Office revealed that he had redirected the post for 6 months, but then not renewed it.
Here then we had something concrete. It is not surprising that business has been hard to come by lately - his customers could not get in touch easily. Those who had his mobile number were lucky, but others didn't, and any new prospects certainly wouldn't have.
The moral to this tale then... regularly check that all your lines and methods of communication are open for business all the time.
You should aim, at all times, to make it as easy as possible for people, customers and prospects alike, to get in touch - and keep checking them all regularly - just in case!!!
Have You Tried Being A Customer Of Your Business Lately - To learn more about this author, visit Ray Stewart's Website.
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David AchesonDavid Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns. David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website |
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David BarrDavid Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website |
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Leanne Hoagland-SmithAre your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
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Cheryl MatthynssensCheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com - Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website |
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