Business Pain Defined

Every company has business pain, but the pain does not necessarily mean that they have a success problem. Pain can be anything from a minor dent, as when a marketing event does not produce the anticipated results, to a major process issue, as when reporting is not accurate. As you set out to find your customer's business pain, you should remember that you are not necessarily looking for huge issues, rather you are looking for issues that hurt the profitability of the company.

For example, I once worked with a company that sold calculators. This company had a process in place that automatically ordered more calculators when the computer showed only one left in stock. On one occasion they were getting rid of old stock and ordering newer models for sale. When the old stock's level hit one, the order system automatically sent a P.O. to accounting for ordering fifty more of that model. Sometimes the accounting department would catch the error and other times it went through. It became a real annoyance to send back-orders they did not need. The computer system was a business pain.

Instead of fixing the system, they relied on the accounting department to make the adjustments. When the suppliers started to get annoyed, they then recognized this as something that needed to be fixed. Sometimes it takes an organization a long time to admit that they have a business pain that needs to be rectified. More often than not, they will not know that they have the pain, they will only feel a dull ache.

All the minor aches of a company should be recorded somewhere on your power page. These are the ones that you are not likely to put into a CRM system, but they are ones that can give you leverage if you have a simple solution.

Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone to tell and excite. She decided to find the best ways to get people's attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products, getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the "Networking Queen". Blueprint for Networking Success: 150 ways to promote yourself is the first in this series. Blueprint for Branding Yourself: Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in 2005. For more information visit http://www.BlueprintBooks.com

---

How Mastering 5 Essential Money Making Ideas Can Lead Your Business to Longterm Cashflow

Essentially there are 5 tremendously powerful methods to make money... Read More

Marketing a New or Small Business on a Budget

There are almost as many opinions and views on marketing... Read More

What is Rule 15c211 and Reverse Merger

Rule 15C211Under SEC Rule 15C211, a U.S. securities broker or... Read More

Computer Tips that Help Small Businesses Operate Profitably

When working properly, computers enable small businesses to make big... Read More

Keeping Business Alive

Who is responsible for maintaining the business relationship?Nurturing a business... Read More

Provide Affordable Health Care To Employees At Little To No Cost To You

You can provide affordable health care plans to your employees.... Read More

Is Brick and Mortar A Passing Fad?

Q: Is the online world the best place to sell... Read More

Get Out Of The Rut And Back On the Track

Do you sometimes find yourself just going "through the motions"... Read More

How Do I Choose The Right Business Opportunity For Me?

First you have to start with knowing your budget and... Read More

Got Stimulation?

An observation while returning home from a seminar: Getting away... Read More

Six Sigma for Small Business

It is not surprising that some people may perceive Six... Read More

Buying a Business

Start thinking about buying an established business if you want... Read More

Self Serve Car Washes in the United States

In the 2003 Auto Laundry News Survey it was determined... Read More

Starting a Business in New Hampshire

Hew Hampshire car wash market. Well we have visited every... Read More

The Beauty of Focus and Plan B

Did you ever have one of those days or weeks... Read More

Do You Own Your Business Or Does It Own You?

What was your aim when you went into business for... Read More

Small Business Support Equals Survival

Support is critical for your small business survival. You may... Read More

Going Public: The Process for Small and Mid-size Companies to Go Public

It's the dream of every person who starts a business... Read More

Accounting Methods ? Cash and Accrual

When starting a business, you have to determine the method... Read More

Four Reasons Why Small Businesses Succeed (or Fail)

The American system of business management has been admired and... Read More

Too Many Lawyers in Franchising Today

Attorneys and Lawyers are ruining the franchise industry. It is... Read More

Local Government Relations for Small Business

Most small businesses simply go about their daily business and... Read More

How Is the LEGAL SYSTEM Dishing Out JUSTICE in Your Town?

Thankfully, most of us will never find out. That is... Read More

Find Some Sample Payroll Check Stubs on the Net for Easy Reference

Starting a business? For many people, the bravery to venture... Read More

Are You a Small Business Casualty?

When a person knows and knows not that he knows.... Read More

Making a Donation to Bring MORE Business

How a donation is different from a sponsorship and what... Read More

Most Franchises Are Small Home Businesses

Many of our nations 400,000 franchisees run their businesses out... Read More

How to Profit from a Concrete Roof Tile Business

Concrete Roof Tile Business: During the 2004 summer season, storms... Read More

Finding the Right Virtual Assistant for Your Small Business

Articles abound advising the business community how to properly screen... Read More

How Disabled Veterans Can Win Government Contracts

The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) is a program that... Read More

Postcard Marketing Your Small Business

One of the best marketing strategies a business or organization... Read More

Cleaning Service Stations with a Pressure Washer

Fuel prices these days are quite high and they take... Read More

Real World Accounting for Small Business Owners

If you're like me, you love accounting. It's so fascinating... Read More