Tick tock, tick tock. Your heart is pounding and your palms are sweaty. Every minute that ticks away, is another minute closer to your impending doom. No one plans to be placed in a situation where their life is hanging in the balance, and it's "get a wad of cash quickly or face the chopping block," but sometimes, things just happen. When you're up against the wall with all your lifelines used up, and you're running out of time, there's one solution that can get you the cash you need to save your life; trading forex currency online. If you're skeptical about how trading forex currency … [Read more...]
The Value of Listening: Customer Service
July 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Image by Getty Images via @daylife It’s an easy dismissal -- a client stumbles over words and technical meanings, fails to name the source of his (growing) frustration; you listen, distracted. His tone doesn’t impress. His complaints don’t concern. He is just one of the thousands you’re forced to deal with each year: who didn’t read the instructions and didn’t follow the rules. Your job is a tribute to public laziness and you offer it the apathy it deserves. That apathy proves damning, however, when the client turns suddenly angry -- tired of being ignored, of being … [Read more...]
Communication in Business: Customer Service
July 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Image via Wikipedia Profanities string together, spilling out across the telephone. The words are vulgar, loud and inescapable -- with a client shouting out his anger, claiming dissatisfaction with a business, a product and... you. Your position within customer service brands you the voice of a company. It’s easy therefore for men to blame you for every single problem. And you blanch as further obscenities are given. They’re becoming more and more personal as the seconds spin on. You decide there’s only one action to take: you yell at him, releasing all of your frustration for a … [Read more...]
Providing Excellent Customer Service
June 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Image via Wikipedia In an economy that has had its up and downs, ebb and flows, diminishing companies at every turn, it is normal to have concern over the future of a company. It is known that customers are loyal to certain brands. They become familiar with a product or service, based on the name and continue using these products or services. As shifts in the economy take place, businesses need to work at providing excellent customer service, since combined with brand loyalty – this will keep clients returning. Customers want to be recognized for their loyalty. They want to … [Read more...]
Add Value to Your Services with Increased Data Security
May 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
If you are doing business online, the number one priority of your customers is security. They want to be absolutely certain that when they deal with you, information about them and what they are doing online is not shared with anyone else. It is your responsibility to protect your customers privacy and that means taking every precaution possible. The front line of defense is to make sure that any information coming from your customers to you is properly encrypted so that credit card numbers and other data is not intercepted. Security encryption is just the beginning. However, you also must … [Read more...]
Are Your Team Members Doing Their Best?
May 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment
As a business owner or an HR person, you know the importance of your team. These are your employees who interact with your customers and who represent your business. Without them, you would be unable to open your business's doors, much less profit from the business. The good news is that you can improve your employer to employee relationship. Helping Your Employees It is a good idea to spend some time working on building employee recognition within the workplace. These tips can help. Profit sharing can be an excellent tool to help your sales-minding staff to get more active. By sharing … [Read more...]
Setting Sail on Unexplored Waters
April 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Image by Stuck in Customs via Flickr Many people believe that when a marketer sets off into a marketing campaign, there are lots of well established rules he or she has to follow. But when it comes right down to it, there really are no rules. It is all about the mindset you bring into your marketing efforts. It has been said that even though a boat is perfectly safe in the harbor, boats were not designed for such safe travels. In a sense, your marketing effort is like a small boat taken out on uncertain waters. While you might just find the adventure of a lifetime, you might … [Read more...]
The Importance of Your Net Promoter Score
April 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment
If your business is having trouble selling its products or services you should consider taking a hard look at your net promoter score. NPS is a simple system that divides your customers into three categories, allowing you to see how your business is doing through your customer’s eyes. The three categories are: Customers who promote your business because they are happy with your services Customers who are neutral but happy Customers who are dissatisfied Dissatisfied customers can give you the best feedback on what you're doing wrong, but all customers can help you … [Read more...]
Getting Money for your Business from Family
April 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Image by Getty Images via @daylife If you are thinking of starting your own business, you will probably need some funds to begin with. If you haven’t saved up enough, it would mean you have to borrow some external sources. When anyone says ‘external financial sources’, the first thing that pops into your mind is a bank. However, family can be your creditors too! You can always turn to family and friends to loan you some money to help out with your start up. There are several perks of borrowing from the family too! Trust - To begin with, you trust your … [Read more...]
Build a Successful Business through Education and Good Budgeting
March 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment
There are several things that go into making a successful business, but two factors at the top of the list is an education for the businessperson/entrepreneur and financial planning. Getting a solid college education provides the knowledge foundation that is necessary for running a business. With a good education, you will understand things such as business finance, organizational behavior, marketing, and customer service. Many of these keys apply to your personal life, too. A proper education gives you the foundation to be successful throughout your life. This is very critical if you … [Read more...]