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

---

Learning from Your Employees and Customers Complaints

Listening to complaints, whether they're reasonable or not, is a... Read More

Becoming A Solution To Your Customers Problems

Those of us in home based and small businesses are... 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

Are You A Coward? I Was

Over the last month, I have come to hate emails... Read More

Customers - Hold Onto the Ones Youve Got

You probably spend a great deal of your time looking... Read More

How to Win the Hearts of Your Customers and Friends

Those of us doing business over the internet have to... Read More

Proofs of Delivery and Logistics: Speeding Throughput and Avoiding Pitfalls

It should be a straightforward business scenario: making sure that... Read More

More Customers - Watch those Little Things

Two situations, two perfectly acceptable experiences, but in one case,... Read More

CRM For Beginners ? Customer Relationship Management Basics

In order to maintain a successful business, the business must... Read More

Finding Out Why a Potential Customer is Calling On You

Our challenge as the business owner/sales person answering the telephone,... Read More

To Complain and Win! - My Personal Recipe

Prime directive: Make sure your claim is reasonable! Otherwise, forget... Read More

Boomerang Customers- What You Might NOT Think Brings Them Back!

With all of the calendars and PDA's and lists I... Read More

Businesses Need to Rehumanise

Big companies and corporations have lost the human touch. The... Read More

The Drawback of Hacking Off a Blogger Through Weak Process Gaps and Pathetic Customer Service

With all of the recent data theft in the financial... Read More

How to Easily Increase Your Profits

Do you remember the last time you went into a... Read More

Customer Service Has Moved Toward Customer Care

As I waited for an answer to my VCR inquiry... Read More

What To Do When Youve Blown It

It's bound to happen sooner or later ? yes, even... Read More

Adjustment DENIED

It's just a simple thing ? I bought a new... Read More

Over Deliver - The Key to Customer Satisfaction

Client satisfaction starts with meeting or beating the contractual obligations... Read More

Restaurant Owners ? How Important are People Skills?

You are serving great food. Your establishment is new, spotless... Read More

The Number 1 Rule for Businesses - Be Professional

Have you ever walked into a store and things looked... Read More

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

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

Whats The Customer Service Buzz About Your Business?

If you're a regular reader of my column you know... Read More

Customer Conversion Mistakes That Will Cost You

The following are common mistakes that Sales Managers and Owners... Read More

Your Voice Print

"Mountains are built one pebble at a time and climbed... Read More

Loyalty Programs May Keep Customers Coming Back ? But First You?ve Got to Earn their Trust

Remember trading stamps? If you're over 40, chances are you... Read More

Turning Customer Mistakes Into Raving Fans

When you make a mistake with a customer, should you... Read More

Minimize The Pain of Check Recovery

$350 million in bad checks are written each and every... Read More

How to Succeed in Business Without Compromising Your Integrity

I spent some twenty years in the corporate world, for... Read More

Dont Eliminate The Middle Man - Add One

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

Customer Neglect

What have you done for your existing customers lately? Probably... Read More

One of the Secrets of a Great Customer Experience

A few weeks ago we conducted our annual "Customer Experience... Read More

Customer Service and Call Center Outsourcing, Whats The Buzz?

The buzz is all about customer service and call center... Read More