Business Tips Archives | Page 3 of 13

January 23, 2017January 19, 2017

TeamUp – Reviewed Part One

TeamUp is an online group calendaring tool that I found and am now using heavily for my 6 person content creation team. My team works remotely. We share files via Google Drive and had tried using a joint Google Calendar, but that just never seemed to have caught on with my team.

So, before I went on vacation I started looking for an easy to use, user-friendly online calendaring app to keep my team on track.

First, I do want to say that I am not being paid by team up or receive any consideration from them, I am simply a user turned advocate.

In fact I am using the free version right now although they do have a premium version and I am carefully scoping it out.

Here’s what I like and why you may want to consider using TeamUp too.

Easy to set up
I was calendaring tasks for my team in less than 10 minutes and the application was intuitive. I did not even have to read the documentation, although they do have nice videos and startup guides.

Color Coded
Each team member has their own color. I can see at a glance who has tasks to do and each team member can click their own color and see only their tasks in the group calendar.

SmartPhone App
My team has Apple phones and I have an Android one. Whatever I selected to try had to have an app available for iPhone and Android. TeamUp’s app in Android looks prettier. The Apple version looks more like a daily agenda list.

Come back Wednesday January 25th to read the rest of my review.

January 2, 2017December 29, 2016

What Are You Worth? “Just Nancy”

Have you ever wondered what you were worth when it comes to the value you offer clients? If you are new in the business, you may not have a clear idea of your worth, but if you are a seasoned professional you probably have an idea of what you bring to the table in regards to customers.

Here’s how I’ve found out my own worth:

I’ve chatted with clients when they have not purchased a service. In several cases, I found that my prices were too low and actually scared a customer into feeling that others were more valuable as they charged more.

In one particular case, I actually got the client back when the higher priced resource shot themselves in the foot by not providing attentive customer service. I learned from that situation that sometimes having a low price is not a good thing.

I’ve provided white label services and have seen the markup that is put on my own price and resold without additional value. In this case I found out that I was priced lower than the market and clients were willing to pay more for quality hands on, attentive service.

I watch how busy I am. If I am having trouble staying on schedule as I have too many customers, I know that I may need to review my pricing and consider adjustments or packaging of services together. If on the other hand, you are not busy and just getting established, you may need to drop your price to pick up business.

I think the key is to gauge what is happening in your industry and in your own business. If you have not done a market survey and even blind shopped your own marketplace, now’s the time. It is important to make sure you are not priced too low, but especially not priced too high.

July 27, 2016July 22, 2016

How to Create Client Advocates for Your Business

Want to grow your business even more? What are you doing to cultivate your existing clientele?

I have found one of the best ways to grow my own business is by providing seriously on-point customer service, valuable and regular communication with clients, and by offering referral incentive programs.

When you have a really happy customer, who likes your approach and what you do, they become an advocate for you. Specifically that means in meeting with colleagues, they talk you up, encourage others to call you for services, and share, with pride, the things that you have done for them or how you have helped them.

Advocates for your business, make it easier for you to close a sale to a recommended party, do away with low price conversations, and really help to grow your business.

I thank all clients that refer a new customer to my business by sending a $50 Visa gift card. There is no limit to how many of these I will send to a client, but I do send these thank you’s typically only when the new customer’s monthly sale will be over $1,000.

I don’t post or tell clients about my special incentive program, but always follow-up with them about the success or lack thereof of any referrals they do send to me. It is funny, but they like to know how things turned out. When they get their gift from me, many have express surprise and even shock to receive anything for the referral.

I’ve found that growing your business starts by taking exceptional care of your existing customers and building long term relationships, but by showing appreciation too.

Find out more about how we do business by visiting our website today at www.McCordWeb.com.

July 11, 2016July 8, 2016

Is It Okay to Allow Other to Pick Your Brain?

Expect the unexpected. — Expect the unexpected from a quality AdWords consultant when you call – a free helpful informational chat.

All paid consultants regardless of the industry deal with this issue – is it okay to let someone pick your brain and when do you try to move them into a paying customer category.

For me, I will share information freely with a potential client as I feel that helping people to make good decisions, whether they trade with me or not, is very important. Not only do I freely share information on the phone, but at events and parties I am happy to share my knowledge when asked and appropriate and if not boring to others sharing the conversation.

I have however had a few prospects really take advantage of me and so I have a few guidelines that I use for my own business that may be helpful to you.

When a prospect calls me, I will always chat for 15 minutes to an hour if I have time in my schedule. I do however start my clock to time every phone call. If I am pressured for time and have a production deadline, I will make an effort to end the call after 15 minutes, so I do not lose my production schedule for the day. Depending on the query, I may send additional information by email and possibly even schedule a free follow-up conversation so I can be thoughtful in responses.

When a prospect has called several times and I have spent typically one to two hours on the phone with them and they have not made a purchase, I will then ask to move them into the paying client category. I then move them to an hourly rate for additional conversation. I have found that those who really just want free information will not move further into the process, but then they will stop calling me as well.

I love to share information freely, but some days I have more time than others to simply chat. My policy has never been to immediately move a prospect into the paying customer arena as I feel that they simply must have time to get to know me before money and a contract are enacted. But I do keep a careful eye on how much time I am spending chatting and investing in a client to identify if I may or may not be a good match for a potential client.

Need some help right now? Pick up the phone and call me at 540-693-0385, I’d be glad to chat.