Customers and clients expect satisfactory results. But in today’s competitive market, good isn’t good enough. To be a wildly successful business, you should strive to exceed expectations. Stay in touch before, during and after a job and inform customers about deliverable dates. Go above and beyond just getting the job done. These actions go a long way to build customer loyalty, repeat business and word of mouth referrals.
Here we are in the midst of the holiday season, and many small business owners, myself included, are searching for ways to say thanks to our customers and clients. Making the right choice is often difficult, particularly with tight budgets. How much should you spend? What’s appropriate and what’s not?
I’m sharing this story to help everyone with great ideas understand taking a product from the mind to the marketplace isn’t easy, and it’s fraught with peril. There are many scammers out there waiting to play on your inexperience and enthusiasm often costing you a significant amount of money and leaving you with nothing in return.
Whether it’s your relationship with family, friends, co-workers, employees, customers, suppliers, competitors, teachers, advisors, etc. — every interaction affects your life in some way. And the value of relationships can’t be ignored, particularly when it comes to building your business.
Can you believe this is Thanksgiving week? Thanksgiving traditionally marks the official beginning of the holiday season and I’m excited. I have already hauled all the boxes up from my basement to begin the decorating process. In my home the holidays are much more than a couple strands of lights, a sprinkling of garland, and a tree—it’s a seasonal event filled with family and friends.