Small Business Marketing Tip ? Putting the Customer First.

I am a great believer in the keeping to the basics ? the totally obvious things that we all learn in Running Your Business 101, and then promptly forget. I often have people come up to me after a speech and say, "This is all blindingly obvious, just common sense." And they are right, but my immediate response is always the say, "So are you doing it??"

This question is usually followed by a moment of silence before they explain they have moved on to other approaches now. You cannot forget the basics, because if you do you stop marketing. So if you find yourself by the end of this article saying "this is just common sense," do a reality check, and see if you have stopped using your common sense. I know I often do.

The most important basic to remember is that Marketing is an Attitude to Business that Puts the Customer First. If you and everyone in your business understands this then everything else about marketing falls into place. You have to make your entire business marketing oriented. It's seems not to be a popular concept in the west, but we are here to serve our customers. If we don't they will go elsewhere. Let me relate a story.

Some years ago, late on a Saturday afternoon my eldest daughter remembered she didn't have any school shoes for the start of term the following Monday. Panic! We rushed to a nearby and surprisingly empty major chain store where three members of staff were wrestling with a till roll. I waited... and waited... and waited... Eventually I said, "Can you help me please; my daughter needs some new shoes?" A girl looked up; surprised and apparently irritated by my presence, she pointing across the store said, "The children's shoes are over there, if you find a style you like I'll see if we have her size."

We left... and we raced 15 miles to another town (the stores closed at 5.30 pm) where I knew there was a small privately owned shoe store. When I walked into this little double fronted store it was in chaos. They clearly were having a very busy day. There were empty shoe boxes and children everywhere and the owner of the store was on his knees in the middle of the store checking the fit of a pair of shoes.

As I entered a bell rang on the door. He looked up immediately and said "Oh hello, I'll be with you in just a moment." And he was. I said "My daughter wants fashionable shoes for school but she can destroy a pair of Doc Martins in a week." "I know exactly what you mean," he said, "Let me see what I have." He quickly measured her feet and a minute later returned with two pairs of robust, but very fashionable shoes, one of which my daughter immediately loved.

I have never forgotten that day. This was a man who understood service and delivered it so well that he was able to undercut the chain store prices. He is still in business today 10 years later ? the chain store I am pleased to say, is not. You have to take this kind of attitude in everything your business does.

I walked into an office once and there was a big poster on the wall.

Rules of Our Business
Rule 1 - The customer is always right
Rule 2 - When the customer is definitely wrong ? Re-read Rule 1

If you constantly think how can I make my customers feel great about doing business with me, then they will keep coming back, they will keep telling their friends and you will tap into one of the most powerful marketing technique of all, viral marketing, where doing business with you becomes infectious, and your marketing is done almost entirely by your existing customer evangelists telling their friends how great you are.

About the Author:

Founder and First President of the Professional Speakers Association (PSA), Rikki Arundel is a truly unique International Keynote Speaker, Trainer and Writer. She is openly and proudly transgender and an expert in sales and marketing communications with an impressive track record, and being transgender has provided her with a unique understanding of the differences in the way men and women communicate in business. http://www.RikkiArundel.com

Get your free copy of How to Get Customers Queuing up to Buy at http://www.SpeakingandMarketingTips.com

---

Is Most Marketing by Small Businesses KILLING THEM?

I just collected my mail. As usual, more than 80%... Read More

The Secret to 100% Success With Your Marketing

There's a secret to marketing, which is so simple, yet... Read More

Produce More Sales from your Email Promotions - Part 2

Do sales come from your ezine regularly? How many well-written... Read More

Business Promotional Items ? How to Stimulate Word of Mouth Advertising

If the promotional items you give out end up in... Read More

Easy Marketing Methods with Letters, Post Cards, Referrals and Testimonials

Easy Direct Marketing Methods for Insurance AgenciesThis Month: Strategies for... Read More

No One Gives A Damn About Your Business. Unless You Give em A Reason To

The good news is that there are thousands of people... Read More

Your Marketing Message

Your message is first among your weapons in the battle... Read More

Budget Your Branding

It is very important to regularly monitor your advertising activities... Read More

Top 10 Dos and Donts for an Effective Business Referral Network!

Every business - particularly small, entrepreneurial or professional businesses -... Read More

Fundraising Renewal Letters: Four Goals to Strive For With Each One You Write

In the fundraising profession, appeal letters that you mail to... Read More

Free Sample Sales Letter: Example of How to Write a Persuasive Business Marketing Letter

Here is an example of a business-to-business sales letter mailed... Read More

The Future of Marketing Part 1

It used to be if you were a small business,... Read More

10 Effective Ice Breaking Questions

Whether you go to a Chamber of Commerce event, a... Read More

Why Most Marketing Videos Dont Work

Every now and then I will meet someone who has... Read More

Do You Really Know Your Prospect?

I'd like to introduce you to someone. I don't actually... Read More

Put Your Marketing To The So What? Test

Want to get Better at your Marketing today?For many service... Read More

Thinking About More Business

What does an old Russian joke have... Read More

Using Purchased Leads

A little advice about using leads that you purchase from... Read More

What Does Your Business Card Say About You? - Making A Great First Impression!

Interesting article in USA Today that I read this week... Read More

Marketing ? Like a Game of Chess

Have you started thinking about your Valentines Day Promotion yet?It... Read More

Marketing Operations Elevates Public Relations and Communications Professionals

Is your marketing department taking advantage of MOM and MRM?... Read More

Marketing Tips- Who Are You Competing With?

Before you can market, you need to know who you... Read More

SMS for the Estate Agent - Targeted Marketing Tool, or Legal Minefield?

Imagine having at your disposal a means to immediately inform... Read More

One-Two-Three Punch Marketing

Printed material is just as important today as it was... Read More

Freebie Seekers? Turn Them Into Clients and Referrers - or Turn them Far, Far Away

Many service business owners these days are "giving away" their... Read More

Knowing When To Charge More and To Charge Less

More And MoreIt was notable that when I started my... Read More

Dont Think Like A Package Designer - Think Like A Customer

Some of the most successful package introductions have come from... Read More

The Anatomy of Hype

On a copywriting board I frequent, someone expressed bafflement that... Read More

Developing A Focused Marketing Strategy

You want all of your marketing messages to have a... Read More

The REAL Key To Successfully Marketing Any Product!

The REAL key to successful marketing of any product is... Read More

Four Super-Deadly Marketing Sins - And How To Fix Them

It seems nowadays every marketing guru and their brother-in-law has... Read More

Are You Marketing Backwards?

Marketing is like rowing a boat. When you know how... Read More

Is It Time To Revisit Your Marketing Strategy?

Small & Mid Sized Business owners, have you revisited your... Read More