28 Apr

6 Ways To Fix Your Mess Ups

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 28.04.15 by John Meloche

Depositphotos_35757625_xsRebuilding your brand after experiencing a fall of some kind requires a number of important steps. In yesterday’s blog, we outlined some of those steps, noting that, like sports teams, we often need to make changes to our businesses in order to enjoy future success. However, the new steps that you take will depend heavily on the type of “fall” that your business has experienced. Many fans of the Toronto Raptors feel that the team simply messed up. Have you?

On RepCapitalMedia.com, Mary Ellen Slayter reveals that when you mess up, it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of your business. Sure, it may lead to the end of some of your business relationships, but there are a number of important steps that can be taken to rebuild your brand after things have gone really badly. With the help of several business professionals, she reveals these steps.

Here are six ways to fix your mess ups:

1. Forget about it. In other words, don’t dwell on the past. Worrying about the mistake you made isn’t going to help for things to improve. Instead of dwelling on it, take action. Matthew Ackerson of Saber Blast says that you should “go start something new and ignore the haters. Just start somewhere. Start a new company, or a new project. You’re your own worst enemy in these type of situations.”

2. Own up to it. Okay, so you made a big mistake. While you shouldn’t dwell on it, you shouldn’t avoid taking the blame either. The best way to bounce back is to be honest about your mess up, says Amanda Aitken of The Girl’s Guide to Graphic Design. “Be an open book with your customers, clients and fans, and send out an email or other update about what happened and how the misstep was made,” she advises.

3. Don’t hide from it. Part of owning up to your mistake is continually showing up to remedy it. Shying away from your responsibilities won’t do you any favours with respect to your public perception. Although Lea Woodward of Inspiring Ventures understands that “it’s natural to want to hide away”, she recommends that you “do the opposite and keep showing up. Be better, be bigger, be bolder.”

4. Take advantage of it. It’s all about your mindset. If you look at your mess up as a learning opportunity, you may actually see the occurrence as a benefit. If it helps for your company to improve, it may just have been a blessing in disguise. Michael Tolkin of Merchant Exchange believes that a mistake can provide “an ideal opportunity to showcase your other strengths.” He insists that you “acknowledge the mistake, but focus on how you’ll take action to remedy it going forward.”

5. Make up for it. Speaking of mess ups providing opportunities, your ability to say “sorry” and willingness to make things better will really go a long way. Sometimes, the best way to satisfy customers is to show them what you’re willing to do when you mess something up. “If you are truly at fault, it is imperative that you admit the mistake immediately in order not to hurt your long-term reputation,” insists Patrick Curtis of WallStreetOasis.com.

6. Learn to avoid it. Now that you’ve messed up and learned how to bounce back, it’s important that you don’t make the same mistake again. A true understanding of your faults is found in knowing how to eliminate them from reoccurring. “Just be honest and take ownership for your part in the mistake,” says Pete Chatmon of Double7 Images. That way, you will ensure that you won’t mess up in the same way again.

By the way, don’t make the mistake of not ordering any promotional products from Synergy Marketing to advertise your business. Call us today at 1-877-748-9884!

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27 Apr

3 Ways To Rebuild Your Brand After A Fall

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 27.04.15 by John Meloche

Toolbox with tools. Skrewdriver, hammer, handsaw and wrenchReaders of the Synergy Marketing Blog know that our staff is comprised of many a sports fan. And since we’re headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, you can take a wild guess as to the sports teams that we most adamantly support. That being said, it should probably go without saying that there was on overwhelming sense of disappointment this morning as our sports-crazed staff members came in to work reeling from the four game sweep of their beloved Raptors in the NBA Playoffs.

It was bad enough that the Toronto Maple Leafs had such a horrible season that saw them miss the NHL Playoffs completely. But there were high hopes for our Atlantic Division-winning Toronto Raptors. Last night’s showdown with the Washington Wizards wasn’t even much of a contest. Our hometown Raps didn’t look like they were in it to win it from the beginning. And now, there is much talk of rebuilding the team for next season.

Such an unfortunate circumstance is not exclusive to sports teams. Canadian business owners often find themselves in situations where they feel that rebuilding is necessary. Obviously, it takes a lot of work. But it should be noted that hope should never be lost for a brighter future. There are just a number of important steps that should be taken to steer your company in a better direction.

Here are three ways to rebuild your brand after a fall:

1. Solidify your strongest relationships. It isn’t likely that the Raptors are going to have an entirely new line-up at the beginning of the next NBA season. Obviously, the team has some key players that will be important pieces of the puzzle to build around. If your business has experienced a fall of some kind, it’s important to remember the pieces of your puzzle that are still worth keeping.

“Get a clear picture of resources and strengths,” advises Claudette Rowley on Boston.com, “note everything that comes to mind, not matter how small it may seem.” Do you have strong relationships with your vendors? Is your brand well-recognized? Are your investors committed to you? These are a few questions that Rowley intimates that you should answer to know what strengths you can work with going forward in your rebuilding process.

2. Determine your opportunities. Clearly, the Raptors are going to need some new players with new attitudes when they get back on the court for a new season. Naturally, when your company experiences a downturn, there are also changes that need to be made. What are they exactly? It’s important to pinpoint the specific areas of concern before you go rearranging everything. Rebuilding will likely require a lot more than just new members of your team.

A “shift in your mindset” is necessary to change things for the better, says Rowley. Many business owners have turned missteps into learning opportunities to succeed in the past. “Sit your team down for a brainstorming session and ask the question: Now that we’ve lost that contract, what is available to us?” she recommends, “Make a list of every opportunity that comes to mind, whether it seems realistic or crazy. Sometimes what seems initially off-the-wall might be exactly what you need to rebuild.”

3. Commit to a new plan. Once you’ve done the appropriate amount of research to determine what your problem areas are so that you can correct them, it’s time to take a step in a new direction. Rowley insists that you specify who will spearhead the plan, who else needs to be involved and in what capacity, what action steps are required, what the deadlines are and who will be accountable to meet them.

At Synergy Marketing, we’d be happy to be a part of your rebuilding process. To effectively advertise your company at a low cost, call us to learn more about our amazing promotional products. We can be reached toll-free at 1-877-748-9884!

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