12 May

4 Steps To Bettering Your Business Following A Bad Experience

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 12.05.16 by John Meloche

customer satisfaction survey form with checkbox showing marketing conceptIn yesterday’s blog, we touched upon the topic of rebounding from a loss. This generally tough task is not one that is shared by professional sports teams alone. Businesses of all sizes experience losses that they must overcome. In addition to the attitude adjustments outlined in our blog yesterday, there are some important steps that can be taken to better your business following a bad experience.

Here are four:

1. Make use of the knowledge you’ve attained. All mistakes are worth making as long as you’ve learned from them. The longer you take to get over your bad experience, the worse you are making things for your business. To put it bluntly, get over it. And the best way to do that is to implement what you’ve learned into your next venture. On TinyBuddha.com, Lori Deschene explains the importance of acting on what you’ve learned.

“Anything can be useful if we learn from it and then do something with that knowledge,” she encourages, “The second part is where a lot of us get tripped up, and understandably so. On the one hand, we know that consistency is crucial to creating positive change. On the other, we know that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

2. Pinpoint the root cause of the problem. Of course, in order to avoid making the same mistake again, you’ll have to have a clear idea about what the mistake was. Too often, people make the mistake of sticking to their guns when their guns aren’t loaded. In other words, change what you’re doing if you expect different results. As Deschene pointed out, it’s insane to do otherwise!

And as Jose Vasquez communicates on HuffingtonPost.com, it’s important to reflect on the root cause of your problem in order to avoid it in future. “There isn’t always a single identifiable root cause, but do what you can to sort out the reasons for the failure,” he writes, “Sometimes these are internal, sometimes these are external and sometimes they’re completely random. But you have to understand them if you’re going to learn anything.”

3. Don’t take it personally. When you make a mistake that costs your business money, it’s pretty difficult not to take it personally. You feel bad for making the mistake and don’t want it to reflect poorly on those associated with your business. But remember, it is just business. And what people may think of you, because of your business-related error, doesn’t make you a bad person.

“As much as we’d like to believe hard works always pays off, sometimes there are things beyond our control that have nothing to do with what we did or didn’t do,” Deschene reminds us, “This may be the reason a lot of people try and try again only to achieve the same results. Some things are just harder to do than others… We can always find room for improvement, but sometimes we need to accept that results aren’t always reciprocal to efforts.”

4. Apologize! To be honest, this step belongs at the top of the list. Saying “sorry” goes a long way in repairing relationships marred by mistakes. At Synergy Marketing, we’ve learned that one of the best ways to apologize is through gift-giving. To place your order for the promo gift of your choice, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST or email us at info@gosynergygo.com! You can also sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

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11 May

Learning How To Rebound From A Loss

Posted in NBA, News, Synergy Suggestions on 11.05.16 by John Meloche

Depositphotos_36087101_s-2015The Toronto Raptors lost quite the heartbreaker in Game 4 of their East Conference Semi-Finals showdown against the Miami Heat this past Monday. Having to be decided in overtime for the third time in the series, the game ended in a 94-87 loss. It was a hard one to swallow for Raptors fans who saw their beloved team lead for the majority of the game. With Game 5 back in Toronto tonight at 8 p.m., the tension amongst fans has arguably never been higher.

Perhaps, anxiety is a better word for it. The Raptors have taken their fans on quite the roller coaster ride throughout this postseason. It seems like they win games you think they’re going to lose and they lose games you think they’re going to win. One of the biggest problems the Raptors faced in the overtime period of Game 4 was a lack of rebounding. Tonight, they’ll have to rebound against the loss.

With the exuberant Toronto faithful backing them both inside and outside of the Air Canada Centre, there will certainly be no shortage of encouragement for the team. And, as always, the ups and downs of Toronto’s pro sports teams reminds us, here at Synergy Marketing, that businesses go through very similar ups and downs. And just like our favourite teams, they too must learn how to rebound from their losses.

What should business owners do to rebound from their losses?

It starts with accepting failure. Making excuses and not accepting the fact that you’ve failed is a great way to not learn from your mistakes. It’s important to carefully assess where you went wrong, admit it, accept it and discover ways to remedy the problem you encountered. Accepting failure is not giving up. It involves understanding that you can’t necessarily do things the way you first believed you would. Finding a new path will help you reach success quicker.

Jose Vasquez of HuffingtonPost.com insists that you accept your failures. “The first step is sometimes the hardest,” he writes, “Admitting you’ve failed is difficult even for the most mature, experienced entrepreneurs. True, you should never give up on something you truly believe in. But if you’re going to keep moving forward, at some point you have to acknowledge the walls that are blocking you.”

It’s also important to take responsibility for your actions. No one likes being the scapegoat. But sometimes, owning up to your “bads” can make or break the reputation you have with those who work for you and with you. Be honest about your missteps and take measures to apologize for them. This humbling of yourself will do you a lot more good than harm in the long run. It will help you to gain favour with those you may have disappointed and can earn you a second shot.

“Even if the failure wasn’t your fault, you have to take responsibility,” insists Vasquez, “It is now your job to make sure this doesn’t happen again. Brainstorm with your team, hold discussions, and be open — but take ownership of the failure and drive a new change.” He goes on to encourage mistake-makers to set new goals so that they can still make their businesses the successes they’ve always dreamed of.

Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s blog as we continue to examine ways in which you can help your business to rebound from a loss. And say it with us…Let’s Go Raptors!

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06 May

3 Ways To Become A Star In The Eyes Of Your Customers

Posted in Small Business Advertising, Synergy Suggestions on 06.05.16 by John Meloche

3d illustration of golden stars rating symbol, over white backgroundIn yesterday’s blog, we listed a number of ways that you can gain new fans for your business. As we’ve pointing out on the Synergy Marketing Blog all week long, being a business owner is not too different than being a pro sports team coach. One, it’s your job to ensure that your team members are working well together and performing at their best. Two, it’s your duty to ensure that your organization is one that is able to continually gain favour with the general public.

So what can you do to become a star in the eyes of your customers? Here are three ways:

1. Team up with other businesses. If you’re looking to expand your fan base, why not attempt to attract the fans of other companies by joining up with them? Working out a “scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” agreement with business owners who don’t represent your competition is a fantastic way to get introduced to consumers you otherwise would never meet. On Entrepreneur.com, Brad Sugars further describes such an agreement.

“Another way to leverage available resources is through what’s known as a ‘host-beneficiary’ arrangement,” he explains, “In this arrangement, another business with the same target customer will use their database to promote your business. They might attach a gift voucher or other discount offer for your products at the end of one of a newsletter or mailing. Examples of this include: a high-end hair salon and a high-end car dealership or an attorney and an accountant.”

2. Offer free trials. There are few things that entice customers to try products more than being able to do so for free. At Synergy Marketing, we highly tout the concept of free giveaways considering that our promotional products have notoriously worked so well in gaining business owners greater support. Use the same concept by offering up free trials of your products to get new customers to realize just how great they are.

On Bplans.com, Briana Morgaine explains that, if you are confident in the products you sell (and you certainly should be, or shouldn’t be selling them!), it will be worth your while to allow people to try them out at no cost. “Instil in this potential customer the value of your product (by offering a free trial), and make it clear that your product or service is truly exemplary,” she writes, “Do this, offer great service, and you’ll likely be able to convert them into a loyal customer.”

3. Offer free services in exchange for customer testimonials. If you offer services as opposed to products, the “free giveaway” concept can still work wonders. In this case, offer up new customers the opportunities to try your services out for free. In return, request that they share their positive experiences with working with your company. This provides a double benefit. Firstly, provided that you satisfy the new customer, you’ll likely secure him/her as a new loyal supporter.

Secondly, his/her testimonial will encourage other consumers to become fans of your brand as well! “If you are a service-based business, offering your service for free, in exchange for the client serving as a ‘case study’ or providing a detailed account of the benefits of your service can be a great way to get new clients,” assures Morgaine.

If you’d like to add high-quality promo gifts bearing your company’s name and logo to your free giveaway marketing strategy, you know who to contact! To place your order for the promo gift of your choice, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST or email us at info@gosynergygo.com! You can also sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

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05 May

3 Ways To Gain New Fans For Your Business

Posted in Small Business Advertising, Synergy Suggestions on 05.05.16 by John Meloche

smart business team winning a competitionOver the past week, it is highly likely that there are many Canadians who have become basketball fans. A special type of frenzy has been sweeping the nation as Canada’s only NBA team, the Toronto Raptors have made it into the second round of the NBA Playoffs for only the second time in the team’s history. Add that to the fact that not one single Canadian team made it into the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs this year, and you have a country obsessed with basketball!

Okay, perhaps “obsessed” is a strong word. But it’s certainly safe to say that the Toronto Raptors have gained themselves many new fans over the past week. With that said, it reminds us that no matter how old your enterprise is (the Raps have been around for 21 NBA seasons now), you always have opportunities to grow. That is certainly true for your business. There are many ways to gain it some new fans!

Are you looking to gain new fans for your business? Here are three ways to do it:

1. Reach out to younger audiences online. It’s no secret that the internet is where the young people are. If you’re looking to gain new fans for your company, it’s a smart idea to become more active on social media. Learn to use hashtags in your tweets and Facebook posts, and be sure to like and comment on the posts of others. Being interactive with the online community will bring a lot more attention to your own profiles, and therefore more traffic to your website.

On Entrepreneur.com, Brad Sugars writes that “even older people are increasingly turning to the Web — making it a definite jumping off point for any advertising strategy. To tap into this medium, your first step is to establish a Web presence if you don’t have one already. Then, depending on your target customer — consumers at large or other businesses — pick your Web channel. LinkedIn, for instance, is a mainstay among businesses, CEOs and other owners and entrepreneurs, while Facebook remains wildly popular among consumers.”

2. Become an expert networker. While using social media to network with people all over the world will likely be a popular source of gaining greater attention well into the future, it will never be able to replace the good old face-to-face meeting. With summer coming up, you are bound to have many new opportunities to attend events and introduce the face of your company to new people. Be sure to network and make yourself memorable each time you do.

Sugars advises that you take such opportunities to secure referrals for your business. “Landing referrals from networking or past business associations isn’t just a cheap way to pick up new business,” he writes, “It’s also a way to pick up customers with the highest retention rates. What’s more, referral customers tend to purchase more over time and in turn become a source of additional referrals.”

3. Speak at special events and industry gatherings. Fans look up to their heroes and idols. The best players in the game are often the ones who have their posters adorn the walls of their staunch supporters. This isn’t to say that people will begin wanting posters with your likeness if you give them additional reasons to like you. However, when you show how much of an expert you are by speaking at industry events, you’ll gain a great deal of respect.

“You have plenty of expertise in your field—why not get involved in the community?” asks Briana Morgaine on Bplans.com, “By sharing your experience and getting involved in your industry at a local level, you’ll have the opportunity to grow your connections, as well as your reputation as a thought leader in your industry.”

Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s blog as we continue to list ways that you can become a star in the eyes of your customers!

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21 Apr

3 More Ways To Boost Sales During Your Normally Slow Summer

Posted in Small Business Advertising, Synergy Suggestions on 21.04.16 by John Meloche

Piggy bank on beach backgroundIn yesterday’s blog, we reached out to business owners who normally experience slow summer seasons. It’s important to know that all hope should not be lost if you have such a seasonal business. There are a number of steps that can be taken to turn your summer around and make it a successful time of year for your business! In today’s blog, we’ll continue to look at ways that you can boost sales during your otherwise least successful time of year.

Here are three more:

1. Try upselling to your loyal customers. Too often, business owners get focused on attracting new customers, so they neglect those who have already supported their brands. It’s important to never lose touch with those who have been helping your business to be successful since its inception. Call up your loyal customers and inform them of the various products and services you have available that may add value to the purchases they’ve already made.

On Hubspot.com, Emma Brudner writes that upselling to current customers is a top way to crawl out of a summer sales slump. “Since you’re calling happy customers anyway, you might as well inquire about their usage of your product or service, and ask if they’re bumping up against any of the limits,” she suggests, “If so, time for an upselling conversation. Remember — sales isn’t all hunting, all the time. Farming can be just as profitable (and is often far easier).”

2. Target “staycationers”. The summertime is a popular time of year for people to plan vacations. Not everyone is doing it, however. There are those who would much prefer the comforts of their own homes when it comes down to spending time away from work. Create a marketing campaign that offers some special savings for those who are on “staycations”. On Entrepreneur.com, Grant Cardone offers up some tips for how to focus these efforts.

“Focus some of your marketing efforts on prospective customers who plan to be around in July and August,” he suggests, “Remember that these are clearly busy people who are pressed for time and can’t afford a vacation or leisurely summer work pace. Take the initiative by distributing flyers, getting on social media and updating your website to let people know you will be around, too, and can offer something valuable to help them deal with their time constraints.”

3. Network while on vacation. Perhaps, you already have your summer all planned out. You’re going on vacation! After all, it is your slow season and this is what you’re used to doing each time July and August come around. Take steps to improving your business this summer by networking while you’re on vacation. You just may find that the summer can be a very lucrative time of year for you.

Brudner insists that you still work to grow your business even when you turn off your phone and laptop while on vacation. “Just because you’ve cast your go-to tools aside doesn’t mean you have to stop networking,” she says, “And isn’t networking the basis of every strong sales process? Chat with the people at your hotel, or strike up conversations with the folks one umbrella over on the beach. You might just find a referral source — or better yet, a new prospect.”

Of course, it’s always good to take your company’s promotional gifts with you wherever you go! To place your order for the promo gift of your choice, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST or email us at info@gosynergygo.com! You can also sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

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20 Apr

3 Steps To No Longer Have Summer Be Your Slow Season

Posted in Small Business Advertising, Synergy Suggestions on 20.04.16 by John Meloche

Summer piggy bank with sunglasses on the beachSummer is an exciting time for most Canadians. The majority of us can’t wait for the snow to melt, the temperatures to rise and the sun to shine. Most business owners are part of this group of people. They revel in the fact that warmer weather encourages more people to come out of their homes. As a result, they have more customers to welcome into their stores so that they can enjoy even greater successes than they’re used to.

Summer success isn’t the same for all business types. There are those that actually experience a downturn during the warmer months of the year. Let’s suppose you specialize in winter sports equipment, for example. You’re likely to be the type of business owner who sees the advent of summer as a bad thing. There is, however, a way to turn your slow season into a successful one.

It just requires the taking of a few important steps. Here are three of them:

1. Change the mindset of your entire team. If you’re one of those business owners who dreads the beginning of summer, it’s likely that your staff feels the same way. It’s important to change the mindsets of everyone involved in your company before you implement any steps towards improving your business. Avoiding another slow season will require a positive attitude. According to Grant Cardone on Entrepreneur.com, this is the first step to turning your summer around.

“Make a firm decision not to participate in a slowdown,” he insists, “Don’t allow your employees to buy into this thinking because I assure you that they will make a summer slowdown one of the first excuses if there are any issues with their job performance. Hold a daily meeting to discuss what you are going to do to prosper–not contract—this summer. Set clearly defined goals and list the activities that need to be undertaken to achieve them.”

2. Get in touch with your most supportive customers. Sometimes, the most sensible step to take is to reach out to those who you can trust the most to support you. Your most loyal customers deserve to know that their patronage is greatly appreciated. Make shopping at your place of business worth their whiles this summer. Offer them some exclusive discounts to show how grateful you are for their support. It should go a long way in boosting your summer sales.

“Get out in front of the summer slowdown and let your best customers know you’ll be available all summer,” recommends Cardone, “Target anyone who has bought from you in the last 90 days through direct mail, phone calls, emails or social media. Get into regular communication with these customers and figure out how to expand your business with them. For example, find out what you can do to assist as they prepare for vacation or to help fill a gap in their absence.”

3. Start up a summer referral campaign. Once you’ve secured the support of your loyal customers, you’ll want to take things one step further. Remember that your happiest customers are the best possible promoters of your brand. Kindly ask them to refer your business to others and offer them incentives and other advantages for doing so. A new summer referral program will help introduce you to many new members of your customer base.

On Hubspot.com, Emma Brudner offers up some advice on how to get this done. “Call up your customers and ask if they know anyone who could benefit from your product or service,” she recommends, “Because you’ll be kickstarting your relationship with the referred prospect with a personal recommendation instead of having to earn trust from scratch, the deal can close that much faster.”

Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s blog as we continue to list ways that you can boost sales during your normally slow summer!

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12 Feb

3 Reasons To Make Changes To Your Sales Team

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 12.02.16 by John Meloche

Competitive businessman wearing hockey equipmentThis past week, the Toronto Maple Leafs pulled off a blockbuster 9-player trade that involved unloading the huge contract of their now-former captain, Dion Phaneuf. The swap made with the rival Ottawa Senators sent shockwaves throughout Leafs Nation. Readers of our blog may know that many members of said nation are part of the Synergy Marketing team. Being headquartered in Toronto, Ontario makes the hiring of Leafs fans a common occurrence.

Over the past couple of days, since the trade was pulled off, members of our team have debated its merits. Some argue that Phaneuf was a great team leader who was adored by his teammates, so the Leafs have suffered a loss in parting with him. Others (the majority, we might add) are thrilled that their beloved Buds have freed up salary cap space to make way for better players who are bound to help the team win.

In any event, the big trade highlights something significant about all business types – change is inevitable. It may be cliché to say that “change is good” – but Leafs fans certainly seem to be agreeing with the idiom at the moment. Apparently, most of them see the Phaneuf trade as a major improvement to the Maple Leafs squad. Are there changes to your team that are necessary in order to improve it?

Here are three reasons to make changes to your sales team:

1. It helps for your team to develop new skills. Adding new and talented members to your team can introduce skills that it was once lacking. This is generally the point of a trade, is it not? Perhaps, your staff could use a little bolstering from a savvy new employee who can offer both inspiration and insight on how to improve performance. “Constant change allows your team to learn new skillsets that can take their selling game to the next level,” writes Sandler Training CEO, Dave Mattson.

2. It will shake things up with your business. Do you ever feel that your working environment is getting stale? Is your office the type that elicits such responses as “same old, same old” when its employees are asked “so, how are things at work?” If so, change is necessary. “Sticking with traditional selling tactics in a changing sales environment can lead to failure,” says Mattson, “Refresh and reinforce your sales team with continuous reinforcement training to prevent their sales systems from stagnating and causing a sales slump.”

3. It can help staff members better learn from their mistakes. Change doesn’t always have to come by way of new team members. You may also want to change certain policies and procedures in order to improve upon your employees’ talents. This will encourage them to become stronger after making certain missteps that may have diminished their confidence in their abilities. Mattson writes that failing can actually strengthen your sales team.

“Overcoming poor sales experiences helps your team learn from failures and improve in the future,” he offers, “Constant changes in the sales climate require adaptation to continue thrive. The only other option is gradual and inevitable failure.” Mattson goes on to remind us that without change, improvements are hard to come by. “Change triggers progress and guides salespeople towards new and more effective techniques,” he writes.

Here’s hoping the changes you make to your team will grow your company’s success. At Synergy Marketing, we’re in the business of helping companies become more successful. To order a great promo gift to advertise your brand with, call us at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST or email us at info@gosynergygo.com! You can also sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

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29 Jan

3 More Sound Solutions For Growing Your Business

Posted in Small Business Advertising, Synergy Suggestions on 29.01.16 by John Meloche

Concept of growth of a companyIn yesterday’s blog, we revisited that ever-popular topic of growing your business. At Synergy Marketing, we specialize in low-cost solutions for business growth. Our cost-effective promo gifts, of course, are prime examples. However, our blog is also adept at listing a number of budget-conscious solutions to taking companies to the next level. Let’s pick up where we left off yesterday, shall we?

Here are three more sound solutions for growing your business:

1. Add value to the lives of your customers. People don’t just want to go home with good products. Sure, getting a quality product is the initial objective when selecting an item to buy. But people also enjoy knowing that they can depend on certain brands to solve their problems. This is where developing strong relationships come into play. It’s important that you know what your customers need and how your company can meet those needs. This is how you add value.

“Providing value in the lives of your customers is extremely important when thinking about creating lasting business success,” says Matt Mayberry on Entrepreneur.com, “If you are not changing or adding extreme value to your customers’ lives, your business will hit ‘stall mode’ very quickly. The stall mode is when you truly believe you are doing everything right and working extremely hard, but the results and success aren’t present to show for it.”

2. Take time to address your emotional state. In all of the lists of tips that we’ve provided over the years, we sometimes forget to address the mental and emotional impact of assuming the role of business owner. That isn’t done purposely, as we know just how tough a grind it can be to be so focused on business all the time. One way to help improve things at your company is to take time to improve your own state of emotions.

“Take a few moments to assess the day’s emotional challenges,” insists the Reader’s Digest website, “Almost as important as your to-do list is a ‘be prepared for’ list. Inventory the tough phone calls, boring meetings, challenging customers, frustrating red tape, infuriating rush-hour drives, droning detail work, and other challenges you may face.”

3. Make customer service your top priority. We’ve said quite a lot about providing high-quality products over our past few blogs. And there will always be a lot of emphasis placed on product quality. That should go without saying. However, it’s also a well-known fact that it doesn’t matter how good your products are, if your customers are unhappy with your service, they will not likely return to your place of business.

“It boggles my mind when I see a business pay more attention to what they think is right rather than to what the customer has to say,” reveals Mayberry, “Listen, we all make mistakes and some of the best business people fall into this category as well. If a customer isn’t satisfied or happy, you have to do everything in your power to make that customer happy…Even if your customer was the one who was wrong, take the initiative to fix things and correct them immediately.”

Synergy Marketing’s promo gifts are well known for helping business owners to grow their businesses. Don’t forget to place your order for the promo gift of your choice by calling us at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am to 5pm EST or by emailing us at info@gosynergygo.com!

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28 Jan

3 Ways To Foster Your Company’s Growth

Posted in Small Business Advertising, Synergy Suggestions on 28.01.16 by John Meloche

business woman happy with her growth and success - isolated over a white backgroundOkay, so January is just about over. How are your New Year’s Resolutions coming along? If your 2016 hasn’t quite gotten off to the start you were hoping for, here’s something you should keep in mind: there’s no time limit to making your dreams come true! Of course, it’s always good to set deadlines. But when those deadlines pass, it only means that new plans should be put in place to take your company in a new direction.

Have you tried out some strategies that haven’t worked? If so, you’re not alone. Running a business is tough. All business owners of all sizes know that. This is why Synergy Marketing is so intent on providing entrepreneurs all across Canada with the means to grow their businesses in cost-effective ways. If you checked out yesterday’s blog, you’ll know exactly why it’s a good idea to choose us.

But what else can you do to foster your company’s growth? Here are three ideas:

1. Remember that you can never stop learning. Most business owners consider themselves experts in their fields. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Having confidence is important in your role. However, it’s also important to know that the old “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” adage is a sham. That’s not to say that you’re an “old dog”! It’s just meant to communicate that you should always be trying to learn more about your industry.

“No matter what category your business happens to fall in, one thing is necessary in order for you to provide your customers extreme value: to make the commitment to continuously learn and study what’s ‘hot’ in your field,” writes Matt Mayberry on Entrepreneur.com, “If you spend an hour a day to learn about and research your field, you will instantly start to set yourself apart from your competition.”

2. Write two to-do lists. This particular piece of advice comes courtesy of Reader’s Digest. Most people have to-do lists to keep them on track with all of the things they have to do each day. This is an especially important task for the busy business owner. But why write two to-do lists per day? According to the publication’s website, each list is categorized by the priority ranking of the tasks that are required of you to complete.

“The first should contain everything that you need to get done soon,” Reader’s Digest explains, “It should be a comprehensive list of short-, medium-, and long-term projects and work, and you should constantly adjust it. The second to-do list should be what you can reasonably expect to get done today, and today only.”

3. Strive to offer unbeatable products and services. In case you haven’t already been able to tell, Synergy Marketing prides itself on its high-quality products and top-notch customer service. We know that these two traits are the markings of a successful brand. Take note of the products that your customers seem to enjoy and the ones that aren’t so popular. Accept feedback about your customer service practices. With all of this in mind, make necessary changes.

Mayberry agrees that this is how you help to make your company one of the best around. “One of the quickest ways to set you apart from the competition is to provide your customers with high-quality products at the same price as your competitors,” he believes, “Quality is everything when it comes to growing your business. Spend the time to plan, organize and deliver top-notch quality products/services in everything you do.”

Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s blog as we continue to provide sound solutions for growing your business. And don’t forget that to place your order for the promo gift of your choice, you can call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am to 5pm EST or email us at info@gosynergygo.com!

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19 Jan

3 Smart Ways To Increase Customer Retention

Posted in Small Business Advertising, Synergy Suggestions on 19.01.16 by John Meloche

customer retention memo post illustration design over a white backgroundIn yesterday’s blog, we touched upon the subject of growing customer bases. This is something that all business owners are interested in doing. But what are the best ways of going about it? Yesterday, we highlighted the fact that impressing your current customers is part of the all-important first step. Making your current customers happy is the best way to get the good word about your company spread to others.

“To increase your customer base, it is necessary to stay in constant contact with potential and existing customers and the more value your business can offer, the more likely they will remain loyal,” writes Steven MacDonald on SuperOffice.com, “A 5% increase in customer retention can result in a 75% increase in customer value. The challenge is how to improve your retention by 5%.” So what can you do to increase customer retention?

Here are three smart ways:

1. Make use of content marketing. Content marketing is all the rage these days. Why do you think that Synergy Marketing posts a new blog to its website each business day of the week? Our website now boasts a wealth of amazingly useful content that has helped for it to be picked up in search engines a lot more than it used to. Another way to use content marketing to your advantage is to send out free newsletters to your current customers.

Keeping in touch with them will help to keep them your customers. “Free is something that everyone can afford, from small businesses to global corporations,” reminds MacDonald, “When you offer a free newsletter, you are informing your potential customers that you are willing to provide free information from the start. If you provide good content, customers will know more about your business.”

2. Make suggestions to customers based on their proven interests. Smart business owners get to know their customers. They understand their likes and dislikes and cater to their buying habits, as a result. It’s best to try to predict what your customers are looking for, based on what they have purchased in the past. They will appreciate your attention to detail. Simply make suggestions considering what you know about them and see if it doesn’t boost sales.

In their book, The Startup Owner’s Manual: The Step-By-Step Guide for Building a Great Company, Steve Black and Bob Dorf suggest that you utilize your website to make such suggestions. In an excerpt on Entrepreneur.com, the pair recommend that “on every ‘thank you’ or confirmation page, (you) suggest multiple items the customer may also find interesting, and ideally provide an incentive for purchasing.”

3. Maintain an excellent customer service regimen. It’s hard to go wrong when your customer service is excellent. It not only helps you to retain customers, but it encourages more customers to give your brand a try. People often want to enjoy their experiences with companies more than they do the actual products they purchase. When customers are made happy, as we pointed out yesterday, they tend to tell others about their experiences.

It’s important to make every experience count. “A customer who contacts customer support about their first order is just as important as a customer who contacts customer service about their tenth order,” MacDonald reminds us, “Treat each customer with respect and take appropriate action. A happy customer is likely to tell at least three friends about a positive experience and great customer service leads to increased sales.”

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