How To Build a Profitable Business

It's never too soon to start saying thanks to your clients, vendors and referral sources for what they contribute to your business. Everyone loves to be appreciated and acknowledged, so start now and do something every month.

Keep in contact with your clients and vendors by sending articles you have written or that would be of interest to them. Add a little "How are you?" note to these people and keep the lines of communication open. Include current information about any new value-added products or services, such as a newsletter, or tele-class you will be presenting.

Marketing doesn't have to be expensive. You just have to do it.

Communication and relationship are the keys to marketing. Attending numerous networking meetings may be worthwhile to some, but that strategy doesn't work for everyone because, as someone once told me, the people who love you will always refer business to you.

The people who are your advocates or supporters are the ones who require nurturing. Send them an e-mail, e-zine, note, or article at least once a month.

Gather your internal and external management teams in an informal meeting such as breakfast or lunch. Advise them of your upcoming plans, get feedback and give acknowledgement for all their support and advice.

Check in with former clients to see how they are doing. Don't be afraid to dispense free information to these people. Generosity is its own reward. If you keep a timer on your desk, you can be sure of keeping the conversation brief as well as focused. Then, send them more information.Follow up in about two weeks to see how the seeds of your generosity have blossomed.

Information is available to everyone, through the internet, magazines and newspapers. Only you can provide customized data to your clients that will be appreciated as well as remembered.

Review your brochures, marketing letters, and newsletters in a new light. Does this information speak to your "Ideal Client"? Do you know who your "Ideal Client" is? Reinvent these documents as needed after you have thoroughly defined this client. Give these documents to your management team and get their feedback.

Does your collateral material speak to what you do? Is the information clear or does it require interpretation? Spend time on this now and review it every ninety days.

If the cost of a new brochure is prohibitive, or if you think your business will be adding more products or services in the near future, create an Information Letter.With this type of document, you can update your advocate group as well as former and potential clients. Again, it's not costly and serves a specific purpose.

This letter can include updates on your particular industry or market. You also can advise them of your continuing education and how it will benefit them.

About those referral sources, they deserve a little extra attention. Remember, they thought of you first! Consider seasonal flowers, plants, a book or a special card.

You want them to keep remembering you! Nurture all these relationships and your business will grow and glow.

About The Author

Joanne Victoria works with independent professionals who want to simplify their lives and professional practice and small business owners who want to streamline their operations in order to achieve more.

Sign up now for Joanne's FREE monthly e-zine: Lighting Your Path!-Find Your Inner Truth at: mailto:JoanneVictoria-subscribe@topica.com

Joanne Victoria ? Coach, Speaker, Author

Tel:415-491-1344 mailto:joanne@joannevictoria.com

http://www.JoanneVictoria.com/programs.htm

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Create a Positive, Upbeat, Can-Do Workforce and Dazzle the Customer with Your Caring!

Given the choice of dealing with a positive, upbeat employee... Read More

Dont Work with Jerks: How to Recognize a Difficult Client Early

Five minutes into the call I knew this client was... Read More

How To Handle Customer Billing Snafus

Q: I just discovered that for the past six months... Read More

What Every Employee Should Know About How to Prevent Customer Service Conflicts

There are five techniques that have been proven to be... Read More

Your Career Plan--Think Like A CEO

You've been going 6-to-late; exhausted by running the supersonic treadmill... Read More

Dont Eliminate The Middle Man - Add One

Today, there are situations when we actually add a "middle... Read More

Making Your Contacts Work For You

The best way to explain this concept is to tell... Read More

Customer No Service - How to Lose a Loyal Customer!

So today was the day where I almost stopped going... Read More

Ten Ways to Help You Improve Your Customer Service

1. Stay in contact with customers on a regular basis.... Read More

A White Paper: Profiting with Kindness

In 2002, there wasn't much interest for Kindness in business,... Read More

Call Center Software - Your Tool of Choice in Customer Relations

The call center represents your first line of communication with... Read More

Foolproof Customer Service Strategies (That Only A Fool Would Try!)

Ever notice how customer service varies from store to store?... Read More

Cheap To Keep

You've heard it all before when it comes to stats... Read More

What Type Of Software Is This?

The other day while at the book store, I came... Read More

Provide Exceptional Value - Grow Your Business

The primary objective of a business is to get and... Read More

How To Boost Your Bottom Line With Two Little Words

I hate to sound like one of those cheesy get-rich-quick... Read More

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

However, in the world of business, this cliché may not... Read More

Post Office, Incredible Lady Postmaster

There are two Post Offices that I routinely visit. One... Read More

Over Delivering Provides Big Results

Over promising is a problem only when you under deliver.... Read More

Marketing as a Spiritual Practice

"Marketing as a spiritual practice." It sounds contradictory ? how... Read More

Customer Service - How Good Are YOU?

At 8.30 am a wealthy client (on his way to... Read More

Poor Customer Service - Are Your Customers Driving Away Other Customers

Every customer you have is a word-of-mouth advertiser for you.... Read More

Putting The Serve Back Into Customer Service

Good service is easy to spot and hard-to-find. Mediocre service... Read More

Customer Service and The Human Experience

Historically, customer service was delivered over the phone or in... Read More

How to Provide Instant Customer Service

Customer service is an essential component of any business. Clearly,... Read More

CRM = Customers (dont) Really Matter

CRM was supposed to bring companies closer to their clients.... Read More

What You Need to Know About CRM

1. It's all about the customer. Some companies focus too... Read More

Customer Service: Everyone is Fighting Their Own Personal Battles

Relationships... Money... Health..The Past...Failure..Mental and Spiritual Battles..Time Constraints...Professional pressures..At any... Read More

First Contact: The Source of Customer Loyalty

With customers being smarter, more cost conscious, more product knowledgeable... Read More

In the Villa of the Sick Cat -- A Lesson in Customer Care

If you're a pet owner, you know the stress of... Read More

Your Actions Tell Your Clients How You Expect To Be Treated

There is a widely accepted principle of human behavior that... Read More

Profit from a Customer Service Recovery Program

A client recently said to me: "Most days things seem... Read More

What Every Manager Should Know About Seeing the World from Where the Customer Is Standing

It is important to remember that the customer doesn't necessarily... Read More