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Keep The Fires Burning For Your Business.

"There are more than 5.6 million small to medium size businesses in the US[1] and with the increase in corporate layoffs, cross-industry mergers and economic bi-polarity, this number is forcasted to rise. People are looking towards themselves and using their talents to bring home a piece of the bacon. That includes myself, those of you reading this article and many others you may know. In this new era of entrepreneurship, business starters and owners realize quickly that customer satisfaction is key to a lucrative business. Even when your company is experiencing a down period, it is still important to keep the fires burning for your business. So how can you make your company stand out from the pack and make it the first thought on your prospective client's mind?..."

There are a few things I've seen some of my business associates practice and things I've learned while developing my company. One main thing I've seen consistently is - fulfill your customer's needs and provided added value and you are on your way to building a successful business. Here are other frames of thought for you to consider in reference to your business:

Learn From Your Past - Mistakes & successes
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result." - Albert Einstein
How many times have you scheduled two meetings within one hour of each other, knowing that it will take you 45 minutes traveling time (if there is no traffic)? Everytime you find yourself around ten minutes late and having to apologize. Even still you continue this practice in the hopes that one day, there will really be no traffic! :) This example is a personal experience for me and something that I've been working on and altering because being on time is very important for you and your clients for so many reasons, I won't begin to list them. I realized that if I'm going to represent my business in the best light, I have to learn to schedule more realistically.

Remember It's About the Individual. Take care of each clients needs.
Don't forget why you are in business and what your company has proposed it will do. Have you ever gone into a store and the clerk acts like you're bothering them for asking to try on a pair of shoes or to get a closer look at a piece of fine jewelry. This attitude is the total opposite to what good business is about. It is the customer that allows businesses to exist and when you keep that in mind your customers notice this and remember how you made them feel while you were providing your product or service.

Be Mindful of Your Business Environment. Keep up on the latest trends, new software or hardware that may help your clients.
In the information technology industry, there is something new on the market almost every week. In marketing and advertising, new ways to promote and brand a company's product or service are being developed, with trash cans, cellphones and even human bodies being used as billboards. Reading up on your particular trade or industry will keep you in step with other opportunities that your clients may be able to take advantage of, as well as yourself. One client of mine sells custom designed jewelry and need an online outlet to sell them at a relatively low cost. She didn't know about Paypal as a great alternative to hosting your own secure shopping cart and credit card processor. Because I did, she was able to add another revenue source to her current sales platform. Think of certain advancements in your industry that may be able to help your customers.

Always Want to Learn.
Sometimes, your customer will teach you something that can help your business, but you have to listen. Good listening is a trait held by many successful business owners and with listening comes learning - learning about the individuals desires, wants and needs. Try to think about a past conversation you had with a prospect or another associate who had a suggestion for your business and its products. Did you really listen to what they were proposing? Were you ready to learn if you were sitting on a gold mine and didn't know it? I'm not saying that everything someone tells you, you should run out and do, but, don't be so quick to shut people out in your mind when they suggest something that you never thought about or considered doing in your business.

Put the Customer Back in Customer Service. Resolve issues, return phone calls and adhere to guarantees made.
Without customers and without a need for your business, you do not exist, especially for those businesses who are service orientated. Resolving issues as quickly as possible, returning phone calls promptly and holding up your end on guarantees made are what will make your company memorable for clients and draw repeat business. Funny enough, my mother wanted to do business with this fencing company and upon leaving four messages and receiving no call back after 5 days, she solicited another company. When Company A, FINALLY called back, apologized and attempted to regain her business, my mother explained that if they would have simply returned her message she would not have taken her business elsewhere. Many small, positive habits add up.

Bonus: Make Your Client Happy They Did Business With You.
If you pay attention to each of your clients, you will find that there is something that each of them is particularly excited about. It could be a client that loves boxing or shooting pool; Or a client that loves to read or is a computer game fan. Now I'm not suggesting that you go out and buy first row tickets to a Heavyweight boxing match (although, if you can afford to, do it) but, what I'm suggesting is if you have that client's birthday on hand, send them a small token from your company that is boxing related. The holidays are a great time to send some of your top clients gifts of appreciation for doing business with you. Treat your customers special.

Article Source: http://www.dummiesguideto.com

Dannielle Brantley, is the founder of Mocha Works, Marketing - Web Design, Print Design and Marketing Consulting for Start-ups, Entrepreneurs & Small Businesses. www.mochaworksdesign.com. Email at dbrantley@mochaworksdesign.html.

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