29 Aug

5 Pointers On Developing Strong Customer Relationships

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 29.08.14 by John Meloche

Mature Caucasion business male and female shaking handsThe act of spreading awareness is a team effort. It would have to be, right? How else can one define awareness if it isn’t the spreading of news between more and more people as time goes on? That means that getting people on your team is a very important step in getting even more people to know about you. When you’re promoting your business, it’s wise to remember that the more people you make happy, the better.

Yes, happy. Keep in mind that the customer experience is often rated above the actual products and services offered when it comes to reasons that customers stay loyal to certain brands. If you want to truly spread the good word about your business, you’ll go all out to make your current customers happy. They, ladies and gentlemen, are the most important members of that team we mentioned at the beginning of today’s blog.

When you have your customers spreading awareness about your brand for you, you have secured the best possible type of promotion there is: word-of-mouth. Remember, for great word-of-mouth promotion to occur, you have to make your customers happy. That means doing more than just providing great products and services. It means developing strong relationships. On WikiHow.com, a few pointers are provided to help you get this done.

1. Network. One of the keys to developing strong customer relationships is developing good business relationships with other professionals in your industry. This will help you to see how your like-minded contemporaries are doing it. As well, “it provides you with opportunities to learn about your competitors, ask for referrals, form mutually beneficial partnerships in complementary industries and spread awareness about your business,” says the website.

2. Build business partnerships with other organizations. It’s one thing to network – which certainly has its benefits – but it’s another thing to join forces with other business owners. It helps for your business to be seen by so many more people. As WikiHow.com points out, business partnerships make it so that “whenever you think of one brand, the other brand comes to mind, and vice-versa. Business partnerships can be very effective advertising tools.”

3. Develop relationships with your customers. Well this is the whole point, isn’t it? “Customers are people — not numbers — and it is important that you put consideration and effort into building personal relationships with them,” says the website. “For example, when you send out Christmas cards each year, you not only gain customer loyalty but you also inspire customers to promote your business to the people they know.”

4. Rely on the power of social networks. If we check back on the history of the Synergy Marketing Blog, we’d probably find this tip as the most popular one to be found in our many business-boosting-idea blogs. Is there a better way for word-of-mouth promotion to spread than through the Facebooks and Twitters of the world? “Social networks have become the new darling of advertising because much of the legwork is being done by dedicated fans, for free,” reads WikiHow.com.

5. Offer freebies. Just as popular as the social media tip has always been, the handing out of freebies ranks among the top pieces of advice we could ever give. “Pass out merchandise with your company’s name and/or logo on it to everyone you meet at networking events, trade shows, client meetings and even personal social gatherings,” states WikiHow.com, “Things like pens, magnets and calendars are good merchandising ideas, as these tend to stay in use, and within view, for extensive periods of time.”

You do know, of course, where you can get the best promo products in the business, right? Call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 today!

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28 Aug

5 Steps To Increasing Your Brand Awareness

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 28.08.14 by John Meloche

Marketing And AdvertisingRaising awareness has been a big theme on the Synergy Marketing Blog this week. With the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge sweeping the globe, it inspires so many other ways that we can raise awareness for other causes. Naturally, business owners tend to have that whole “raising awareness” thing on their minds regularly. As we pointed out in yesterday’s blog, there are a variety of ways to create your own awareness campaign.

Whenever you begin a campaign that elicits help for worthy causes, you’re doing a good thing for those in need. But as a business owner, you can’t help but bear in mind that your campaign is good for your company too. After all, without promoting your brand, how else can you secure your living? Naturally, you depend on the success of your business to support yourself and your family. So the act of spreading brand awareness is basically your full-time job.

On Chron.com, John Csiszar writes that “creating a brand is an important step in a product’s long-term success.” However, even if your company offers the world’s greatest product, you won’t have any customers without creating an awareness of that product. Word-of-mouth promotion plays a big role in your company’s success, says Csiszar. He goes on to provide five steps to increasing your brand awareness.

1. Leverage the web. We all know, by now, that most businesses have websites. The importance of promoting your brand online should never be understated. Csiszar not only recommends developing a strong website, but learning the process of how to get your site noticed in web search results. SEO, or search engine optimization, plays a huge role in just how aware people can be of your brand.

2. Create a social media presence. Always a popular tip, using social networking sites to get the word out there is practically mandatory these days. “Social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter can be vital tools in developing brand awareness because they serve as forums where consumers discuss their lives, including their purchases and items they like,” writes Csiszar, “When a customer likes your product and tells people about it, she’s doing free work to increase your brand awareness for you.”

3. Advertise using traditional methods. At Synergy Marketing, we’ve long believed that traditional advertising methods are going the way of the dinosaur. And why’s that? Well as Csiszar admits, the use of print media is declining in the face of electronic communications. As well, running print ads, radio spots and television commercials tend to be too expensive for the average small business owner. This is a tip we’d probably leave out, to be honest.

4. Sponsor public events. Here’s a tip that we’ve actually made mention of in a number of past blogs. This is especially helpful during the summer. But now that summer is drawing to a close, don’t assume that there are no events to sponsor for the rest of the year. Csiszar suggests that you host your own event. As well, you can also “contact local charities you support to gauge their level of interest in your sponsorship.”

5. Display your product prominently in stores. At the end of the day, it all comes down to selling more of your products, right? As important as it is to promote them, you should never forget to make them highly visible in your store. “There is no more fundamental way to increase the awareness of a brand than to place it in potential customers’ line of sight,” says Csiszar, “Sell your product at locations where people congregate, such as a check-out line.”

And, by the way, promotional products work excellently at public events and pretty much any other circumstance when you come in direct contact with customers. Learn more about the power of promo gifts and order ones that will work perfectly in spreading awareness about your business by calling Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 today!

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27 Aug

5 Ways To Start Your Own Awareness Campaign

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 27.08.14 by John Meloche

Person Holding Attention Sign in Crowd to be RecognizedIn yesterday’s blog, we discussed the worldwide phenomenon that is the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. By the time we got to the end of our blog, we suggested that Canadian business owners come up with their own viral campaigns to raise awareness for the many other important causes that deserve our attention. But why would it be advantageous for business owners to start such campaigns?

Well, it’s pretty obvious that social media has become the world’s number one way to communicate. Through posts, comments, pictures and of course, videos, people are spreading the word about all kinds of issues. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge just so happens to be the most popular online campaign ever. At least is seems that way. To date, upwards of $80 million has been raised towards ALS research.

Perhaps, you don’t necessarily need to raise awareness to the scale achieved by the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. And maybe you’re not sure exactly how to create a campaign to raise awareness for your worthy cause. But it’s important for business owners to remember that a viral campaign of any kind is bound to shine favourable light on your brand. On DoSomething.org, a few suggestions are provided to help you start an awareness campaign about a cause you care about. Here are our favourite five.

1. Post signs and hand out flyers. The site reminds us that not every campaign in the world is bound to go viral. While the internet is still the world’s most popular communication tool, there is still much worth in using a few old school methods. This is especially true if you’re looking to raise awareness in your local communities. The site recommends that you visit schools, local businesses, public libraries and other high traffic places with your signs and flyers.

2. Discover details about your cause in your area. DoSomething.org also reminds us that causes that are relevant in your area have the best chances of getting support. The site advises that you research the details of various issues in your local communities. Alcoholism is one example that is given. Of course, there are numerous diseases that deserve attention and, as mentioned yesterday, other social issues such as hunger and homelessness can inspire worthwhile causes.

3. Get a quote from an expert. There’s nothing like a good old stamp of approval from a noteworthy individual to spark interest in your cause. It certainly helps if the person offering their public support of your cause has direct experience or knowledge about the issue you are raising awareness for. As DoSomething.org insists, “real stories are powerful!” The site suggests you track down a university professor as someone who may be able to offer some insight.

4. Recruit speakers. To reiterate that last point, you may want to consider hosting an event to launch your new awareness campaign. Getting your expert to speak at your event can have quite the impact. The site recommends that you have your expert speaker “come in and speak to students at your school, church, or community center about your cause. If your cause is discrimination, visit your local synagogue to see if someone can come in and speak about Antisemitism.”

5. Use pictures. Although viral videos can be argued as the most impactful ways to use social media to raise awareness – the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has helped to prove that – pictures are still worth a thousand words, as the saying goes. “Sometimes pictures make stronger statements than words, so don’t be afraid to use them. If you campaign for locally grown food, take a picture of a farmer’s produce,” reads DoSomething.org.

Good luck!

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26 Aug

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Sweeping The Globe

Posted in News on 26.08.14 by John Meloche

Ice bucketIf you’ve yet to hear about the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, you are most certainly living under a rock. Arguably, the most popular online campaign to raise money and awareness for a cause ever, this campaign has seemingly gotten the whole world paying attention to an important issue. As Alsa.org explains it, “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as ‘Lou Gehrig’s Disease,’ is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.”

It would be understandable if you hadn’t really heard much about this disease prior to the Ice Bucket Challenge, that has seemingly swept the globe. To raise awareness, people are posting videos of themselves online dumping buckets of ice water over their heads. Supposedly recreating similar feelings to that of ALS sufferers, the act is coupled with making a donation towards ALS research.

Canadians are encouraged to do so by going to www.als.ca. Participants in the challenge also nominate at least three other people to take the challenge and donate to the cause. And so the process continues. And, at this point, it’s hard to determine if and when this widely-popular phenomenon is going to stop. Not that it’s a bad thing. More money has been raised for this cause than ever before.

Alsa.org reveals that “As of Monday, August 25, The ALS Association has received $79.7 million in donations compared to $2.5 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 25). These donations have come from existing donors and 1.7 million new donors to The Association.” It should probably go without saying that social media has completely changed the ways in which people are able to spread the word about pretty much anything.

The Ice Bucket Challenge is certainly not the first, and definitely won’t be the last social media-driven campaign to raise money and awareness for a cause. The campaign has not only caught on worldwide but it has captured the hearts of people from all walks of life. Some of the world’s most popular celebrities have gotten in on the action. Actors, athletes, musicians and even politicians have participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge.

We’re happy to report that many members of the Synergy Marketing staff have already posted their Ice Bucket Challenge videos and made donations towards ALS research. Naturally, the entire campaign has inspired questions about the ways in which such campaigns can continue to help other causes across the world. Obviously, ALS is far from the only disease or cause that requires our attention.

Is there a cause that is close to your heart? Perhaps, you can come up with a viral campaign to raise awareness for another disease. Of course, diseases aren’t the only things worthy of money-raising campaigns. Hunger and homelessness are just two of the many other social issues that deserve worldwide attention. With the use of social media, anything is possible. How can you use it to promote awareness for your cause?

As a business owner, you undoubtedly think of ways to raise awareness for your business all of the time. By starting a new viral campaign for a worthy cause, you automatically raise awareness about your brand. Can you come up with something as big as the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? Not that you need to, of course, but starting a viral campaign of your own can clearly have many benefits no matter how much money you raise.

In tomorrow’s blog, we’ll explore some ideas on how you can do just that!

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25 Aug

Enjoying Our Time In The Spotlight

Posted in Promotional Products, Social Media on 25.08.14 by John Meloche

SpotlightLast Friday, Synergy Marketing was featured in a “Client Spotlight” blog on the MeloTel website. It’s fair to say that MeloTel has been a Synergy Marketing affiliate company since its inception. Founded by our former VP of Marketing, John Meloche, MeloTel started out as an upstart VoIP telephone service provider. Today, his company is known as “Canada’s Hosted Company” providing a wide variety of services covering everything businesses could need!

From blogging to website design, logo creation to voice production, MeloTel is certainly a one-stop shop for companies looking to grow their prestige. We’re happy to say that MeloTel has been our longtime provider of our phone services as well as our website design and maintenance. We couldn’t be happier with their service and we’re only too proud to be acknowledged as one of their longest-standing customers in their recent blog.

Synergy Marketing’s President, Marshall Rosen had the following to say about MeloTel: “From the moment I contacted them, I have been completely astonished with the way that I am treated as a customer and I love that that when I call them, they are available fast, and do everything they can to help. They have helped us even on occasions when it was determined the problems were our fault. The call quality, and flexibility in their phone platform is incredible.”

It probably doesn’t need to be stated that we offer our full support of MeloTel and would recommend them to anybody. If you’d like to take advantage of impeccable phone systems that can have your entire office communicating with your company’s clients with ease, MeloTel is the company to call. Not to mention, if you want a business-enhancing website with all of the necessary features, we’re happy to say that you can’t go wrong with MeloTel.

We’re quite thankful to say that the feeling is mutual. In their blog, MeloTel wrote that “Synergy Marketing’s site (TheBestPromoProducts.ca) brings visitors into a world where they are able to choose from a vast variety of amazing promotional products. As the website domain name reveals, Synergy Marketing is known throughout Canada as the provider of the best promo products in the business!”

As you can imagine, there are a number of promotional products out there bearing the MeloTel name and logo. As they have affirmed, our promotional products help to shine an entirely new light upon the businesses that hand them out. Customers appreciate the “thank you” that promo gifts connote. But, just as importantly, promo gifts help to keep the names of businesses on the minds of their recipients on a regular basis.

Promotional products, as you know, are unlike business cards in many ways. Sure, they both have the ability to offer your contact information. But promo gifts are useful items that don’t get quickly thrown away. Instead, items such as pens, flashlights, key chains, calendars, water bottles and so much more remain with their recipients and get used on a daily basis. What could serve as better reminders to your customers about where to shop?

MeloTel has done a fantastic job of keeping our website in tip-top shape so that our customers are kept aware of this fact. Regularly updated, our website features a number of pages that display the various promo gifts that we have to offer. They can all be found listed under particular headings that direct our site’s visitors to the promo product styles of their choice. As well, the site gives easy access to our blog and social media pages.

If you’re looking for help getting your website in order or you’d like to improve your phone systems to the advanced VoIP-based services that are the wave of the future, contact MeloTel at 1-888-MELOTEL. And, of course, if you’d like to take advantage of all of the benefits that promotional products have to offer your company, give Synergy Marketing a call at 1-877-748-9884 today!

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22 Aug

5 Ways To Help Your Business Fly This Fall

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 22.08.14 by John Meloche

winner businesswoman with raised armsWith exactly one month of summer left to go, many business owners are considering ways that they’ll be promoting their brands during the fall. And to be honest, by a “month”, we really mean a couple of weeks. Because while the calendar tells us that we have until the 22nd of September to enjoy the summer season, the kids will be back in school closer to the beginning of next month. The back-to-school season is generally considered summer’s end.

With that said, it seems pretty obvious what business owners should do to bring in more customers in the coming weeks. A couple of weeks ago, we blogged about the importance of running “back to school” promotions to speak to the needs of both students and their parents. And hey, you can’t leave teachers out either! But what else can you do to get your business of to a flying start this fall? Here are five great ideas.

1. Celebrate all of the holidays. According to SeverityDesign.com, it’s important to take advantage of all of the holidays that the fall brings our way. And we’re not just talking about Thanksgiving and Halloween here. There’s Remembrance Day, Black Friday and as the site reminds us, Grandparents Day and Boss’s Day too. You may even want to create your own “holidays” to create special events at your place of business to attract curious consumers.

2. Say thank you. SeverityDesign.com also recommends that you send out emails to your clients and customers in order to provide them with genuine “thanks yous” for their support. In addition, you may want to “list a few accomplishments the company has achieved because of their support. This is a chance to not only show appreciation, but also to put your face in front of them to continue to nurture and foster your business relationship.”

3. Host fundraisers and open houses. The summer is a time when most people enjoy coming out of their homes to enjoy the outdoors. When the fall season hits, it’s generally reason enough for most people to stay inside more often. By holding special events at your place of business, you give customers a good reason to visit you. “Keep the primary purpose for the event social so people don’t feel like they are being marketed to,” advises SeverityDesign.com.

4. Create holiday mobile apps. If this sounds like a huge undertaking because you don’t consider yourself very tech-savvy, don’t worry, you’re not alone! The website even admits that “if you’re a business that’s taking advantage of mobile applications, you’re already ahead of the competition.” You see, many people use their smart phones and tablets to research businesses. The more you take advantage of this, the better. At the very least, make sure your website can be viewed on these devices.

5. Hand out promo gifts. A piece of advice that is bound to make it on nearly all of our advice lists, promotional gifts truly work all year round. But when people visit your store this fall, you should provide additional incentive for them to return. Promo gifts are great ways to say thank you to your loyal customers. They are also great ways to begin new relationships with people who visit your store during your special events.

Order the promo gift of your choice today. Doing so is easy! Simply call one of our friendly and knowledgeable Synergy Marketing sales reps at 1-877-748-9884. As SeverityDesign.com advises, “don’t wait for the last minute to get these marketing items in order and begin thinking about taking advantage of this high traffic driven season. This is the best time right now to begin to plan for making the most of the fall and winter months to make it the best end of quarter thus far!”

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21 Aug

6 More Tips On Conducting The Perfect Business Meeting

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 21.08.14 by John Meloche

Audience Listening To Presentation At ConferenceIn yesterday’s blog, we addressed a very important issue within the business world. And that would be the business meeting. All companies conduct them, right? But are they effective? Are they really getting employees on the same page? Are they moving companies forward in a way that is productive? According to Louise Balle of Chron.com, “Business professionals waste an estimated 31 hours a month at unproductive meetings.”

So how can they go from being unproductive to productive? Balle lists a number of steps that she advises business owners to take to make the most out of their business meetings. Yesterday, we covered the first six steps on her list. Many of them highlight the need to stick to a schedule. In today’s blog, we’ll conclude our look at that list in hopes that it will assist you with conducting the best possible business meetings with your staff.

1. Follow your agenda closely. Speaking of sticking to a schedule, Balle insists that you don’t veer off of the order of issues that you plan on discussing. Many business meetings falter by allowing for too much time to be devoted to one subject, forgetting to address numerous other important points. “Appoint a parliamentarian–sort of a neutral mediating party when discussing issues–to help you keep the meeting on track if necessary,” she writes.

2. Prohibit chaos. This may be one of the harder tips to pull off. Balle reminds us that there are times when meetings become a little heated and emotional. It’s clearly very important to prevent meeting participants from insulting others, interrupting those speaking or raising their voices to overpower other individuals. Meetings aren’t meant to start fights. Those who are disruptive should be asked to leave.

3. Don’t backtrack. Once you’ve completed a point, it’s time to move on. Don’t go back to that point. Instead, be sure to transition to the next item on the agenda. This entails being a pretty diligent moderator. “Moderate the meeting if necessary by giving each member the go-ahead to speak his mind on the issue. Ask each person to limit her point to two minutes or less,” recommends Balle.

4. Leave time for questions. It can be argued that no meeting is productive without attaining feedback from its participants. It’s important to know how your team members feel about each of the issues. Make sure that there is time at the end of each meeting for a short question and answer period. This way, you’ll be able to clarify any points of confusion. You will also allow people to voice relevant points that can add to the proceedings.

5. End your meeting on a positive note. It’s very important to inspire action with each meeting. And one of the best ways to do that is to have your team members leave the meeting with upbeat and positive mindsets. You may want to summarize what each member is required to do moving forward and offer some motivational words to encourage everyone to accomplish the goals outlined in the meeting.

6. Give out promo gifts. If you think that we just snuck that last tip in there, you’d be right! But it doesn’t mean that it isn’t relevant. Promo gifts are very often used to reward job performance. And acknowledging jobs well done publicly is a great way to motivate your team members to perform to the best of their abilities. Select promo gifts that you know your staff would like and use them to reward your top producers at each business meeting.

To get your hands on the perfect promo gift, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884.

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20 Aug

6 Steps To Conducting Business Meetings The Right Way

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 20.08.14 by John Meloche

Mixed group in business meetingRunning a successful business requires the cooperation of several people. In some cases, that may only be two people. And in others, it requires the unification of a large group. No matter the size of your business, teamwork is an imperative part of making it grow and prosper well into the future. And how can you ensure that all of your staff members are on the right page? It’s important to conduct business meetings the right way.

Now, this may seem like an easy task. And it may also seem like a no-brainer piece of advice. All business owners know how to hold business meetings, right? But are they holding them in a way that promotes productivity and efficiency? On Chron.com, Louise Balle writes that “sometimes a meeting isn’t productive due to the lack of well-established rules.” She goes on to offer a number of steps to help guarantee a worthwhile outcome.

1. Start on time. A lot of business meetings get off to an unproductive start simply because they do not start on time. Balle insists that you call your meeting to order at its scheduled start time regardless if people are running late or not. Latecomers, she says, will simply have to catch up during or after the completion of the meeting. This will encourage everyone to show up on time. Those who consistently do not will require some feedback about their tardiness.

2. End on time. Sticking to a schedule is important. Remember that all meeting participants have jobs to do and keeping them in meetings longer than expected can inhibit their plans to meet deadlines on projects that they are working on. Keeping your meetings within specific times will help you to address all of your concerns effectively. “If you can’t cover all of the points within the allotted time, move it to the agenda of the very next meeting,” suggests Balle.

3. Take minutes. It’s important to be able to recall the points made at your meetings. This will be the best way to follow up with your team to ensure that they are following suit on the various plans that you’ve set forth. Having a record of what was discussed will keep you on track. “Ask a secretary or other meeting participant to take minutes at every business meeting so that everyone will recall what was discussed and decisions made,” advises Balle.

4. Pass out a written meeting agenda. To clarify the direction of your meeting, each participant should receive literature covering the major points to be covered. Balle writes that it should also cover how long each point will be discussed during the meeting while allowing time for discussion about these points. As well, she notes that the minutes from the last meeting should be handed out as well. This will keep everyone in the loop about the company’s progress.

5. Introduce guests before the meeting begins. Sometimes your meetings will call for a guest speaker. You may know some industry experts who you’ve had the opportunity to meet over the course of your career. Perhaps, you could hire a motivational speaker who is an expert at boosting employee morale. Don’t leave your speaker or your meeting participants hanging. Start the meeting off with a proper introduction.

6. Summarize the purpose of the meeting. Balle suggests that when the meeting begins, you inform your staff about the various points you plan on covering. You’ll notice that her tips insist upon being very thorough and forthright with your employees. Ensuring that everyone knows what will be discussed is an important step in getting the meeting off on the right foot. Then begin with the first item on the agenda, she advises.

Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s blog as we unveil some more tips on how to conduct the perfect business meeting!

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19 Aug

3 More Ways To Boost Your Brand To The Next Level

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 19.08.14 by John Meloche

To hit the markIn yesterday’s blog, we revisited the topic of business growth by looking at some very unique ideas from a couple of industry professionals who posted their views online. Deborah Sweeney of Bplans.com believes that customer service is key. Simon Reynolds of Forbes.com insists that you remain focused on current business while devising plans for growth in the future. Of course, there is no wrong piece of advice.

And the many tips that continue to come your way should be used in cooperation with each other to make for the best business plan possible for your brand. In today’s blog, we’ll continue to look at some points made by each industry expert. Because, after all, there will never be a time when growing your business is not important. It is likely at the forefront of your mind on a daily basis. Here are three more ideas to help you out.

1. Spend three hours a day calling potential buyers. If you read yesterday’s blog (and why wouldn’t you?), you may have noticed that Reynolds insists upon putting specific deadlines or limits on the amount of time you devote to each promotional practice. This point of view demands diligence and results within certain time frames. Given its results-driven focus, his advice is certainly worth taking.

“In my experience, 80% of businesses suffer from the owner not spending enough time connecting with people who can write a cheque,” writes Reynolds, “If your business isn’t growing then get on the phone and reach out to potential clients. It’s not fancy, and for many it’s scary, but generally it will get the cash registers ringing faster than any other method.” Worth a try, don’t you think?

2. Keep up the employee morale all year long! Sweeney reminds us not to forget about our sales staff. Of course it’s important to reach out to customers in order to keep them close. But who is going to be doing all of that reaching out for you? Your employees! Keeping them happy is what is going to keep your customers happy. Finding ways to keep employee morale high all year long will work wonders in giving your brand a great impression.

“Get creative!” insists Sweeney, “You could reward office goals that are made with lottery tickets, or you could just send an email out at the end of each month highlighting something positive that every team member did. Whatever you do, make it known that you care about your staff and all of their hard work and contributions all year long. Everyone works better when they feel they are appreciated and the working environment is always a positive one.”

3. Constantly see yourself as a top level entrepreneur. Self-confidence is not something that we find as an important point listed in the many business growth idea lists we’ve researched online. But its importance should not be understated. It’s critical to impress your customers and to keep your staff members happy. But as Reynolds points out, “you will only be as successful as your self-identity allows.”

“Nobody can consistently perform at a higher level than they deep down believe they should be at,” he continues, “So be careful what you think about yourself…Work on your self-image, treat yourself as a top level business person and then behave in accordance with that vision. In the end, business success is a mental game – you need to take the time to work on your positive mindset daily.”

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18 Aug

3 Fantastic Ideas To Grow Your Business

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 18.08.14 by John Meloche

Depositphotos_25582973_xsAll business owners want to grow their businesses. It’s the tie that binds them all. You see, it’s one thing to run a business, but it’s another thing to run a successful business. So what exactly is the difference between the two? Successful business owners embrace change and continually adopt new ways to grow their brands. They’re constantly thinking of new ideas to reach more customers, learning to be able to address their ever-changing needs.

Growing a business isn’t easy, of course. It takes a lot of planning and working hard to carry out those plans. It takes speaking with customers to learn about what they’d like to receive from the business. Who better than your customers to teach you how to improve things, right? On Bplans.com, Deborah Sweeney speaks to this point by listing a few ways that business owners can grow their companies. Her first point highlights the importance of customer service.

1. Give your sales team a customer service pep talk. “Exceptional customer service is something that separates the okay businesses from the great businesses, the businesses that have a pretty even flow of customers and the businesses that have customers coming back for years and recommending friends along the way,” she writes, “Customers want to feel like favourites or regulars within an establishment and feel like they belong there.”

She encourages company owners to have their staff members “brush up on their conversation skills.” It includes having genuine and friendly conversations with customers so that they feel as though they are friends and not just numbers. Getting to know your customers will go a long way in securing their loyalty. This is a point we’ve made a number of times in our blog. It really is all about your customers.

2. Vow not to complicate things. “Sometimes, employees and business owners will devote too much time into thinking about what direction they want to take a project in, and not enough to the actual project,” writes Sweeney. This is true. Too often, people put so much thought into their planning that they actually forget to carry those plans out by a specific date. This isn’t much different than procrastination.

She admits that “starting a project is the hardest part” so be sure to get your plans off of the ground within a specific timeframe that you’ve set out for yourself. “You can always go back and make some changes and edits,” reminds Sweeney. Deadlines are actually important elements of a good business plan. It’s important to use your time wisely so that you’re carrying out your plans by a certain date.

3. Work on new business only until 11am. To reiterate that last point, Simon Reynolds of Forbes.com writes that “too often entrepreneurs get caught up in all this non sales related activity then suddenly realize the day has ended and the company once again has not increased its revenue.” So just as important as it is to set deadlines for your plans to be carried out, you should set limits on the amount of work you put into your plans each day.

After all, you do still have to tend to the day-to-day requirements of your company for its current customers, right? “One of the best ways to do that is to have a rule that you and the key stakeholders in your company spend their mornings until 11am on income increasing activities,” recommends Reynolds, “Unless you do this important stuff first each day you will usually find it doesn’t get done at all.”

In tomorrow’s blog, we’ll continue our look at some more fantastic ideas to grow your business.

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