It's Time to Network
Speaking of communication, don’t allow yourself to be trapped in your office. Get out from behind your desk! Talk to your managers, employees, fellow professionals, existing clients and new clients. Resolve to expand your business and social circles in the upcoming year by including regular networking time in your schedule.
* Join a networking group or two.
* Attend a training conference.
* Network in social settings.
* Set aside a few minutes each day to strengthen and expand your network.
For more information on networking, contact me, Tom Long at 708-524-0886. www.solidoakconsulting.com.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Follow-Up on Your Follow-Ups
Follow-Up on Your Follow-Ups
Many people resolve to improve their "follow-up" as part of their New Year's resolutions. They vow to communicate more with those people who express interest in their product or service, or to touch base more with their current clients.
Unfortunately, a task like following-up requires a commitment and definite effort from people. Successful and effective follow-up is just not that easy to do. There is always the possibility of failure or hearing an undesirable response from a client or prospect, so it's one of those tasks that tends to get put off.
But, this is one area where persistence pays off. Follow-up is crucial to the growth of every business - not only for bringing in new clients but for keeping your existing clients. Guerrilla marketing preaches the importance of customer and prospect follow-up as being one of the basics of successful business.
Even though it's tough to do, I hope you make a commitment to follow-up with your prospects and existing clients.
Try to develop a standardized process to ensure you will follow-up with people on a consistent and timely basis. This is one resolution you will be happy you kept.
Call Tom Long, 708-524-0886, telong@solidoakconsulting.com.
Many people resolve to improve their "follow-up" as part of their New Year's resolutions. They vow to communicate more with those people who express interest in their product or service, or to touch base more with their current clients.
Unfortunately, a task like following-up requires a commitment and definite effort from people. Successful and effective follow-up is just not that easy to do. There is always the possibility of failure or hearing an undesirable response from a client or prospect, so it's one of those tasks that tends to get put off.
But, this is one area where persistence pays off. Follow-up is crucial to the growth of every business - not only for bringing in new clients but for keeping your existing clients. Guerrilla marketing preaches the importance of customer and prospect follow-up as being one of the basics of successful business.
Even though it's tough to do, I hope you make a commitment to follow-up with your prospects and existing clients.
Try to develop a standardized process to ensure you will follow-up with people on a consistent and timely basis. This is one resolution you will be happy you kept.
Call Tom Long, 708-524-0886, telong@solidoakconsulting.com.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Marketing: Get Back to Basics
Marketing: Get Back to Basics
The beginning of each year holds so much promise and potential. So, while you are still feeling that rekindled energy and optimism, I want you to carefully consider how you market your business.
Earlier, we reviewed a few marketing principles such as reaching the decision-maker, marketing benefits and target markets. This time, I'd like to get back to basics. Let's start with what marketing is in the first place.
Marketing is everything you do to promote your product or service. Many people think of marketing as being synonymous with advertising – newspaper ads or mass mailings. But, there are other ways that you can promote, and thus market, your business.
Ask yourself: How do the day-to-day operations of my business promote my business? For example, how does the receptionist answer the phone? What do my invoices look like? How does the staff dress? Is our office clean? These are all ways that you can promote – or if ignored, hurt – your business. A great marketing campaign may attract new customers, but once they encounter a rude receptionist or a dirty office, you are deflating all of your marketing efforts from the beginning.
Now, make sure you look at your marketing in a more comprehensive way – not only what you do to bring in new business but also what you do to keep your clients.
To discuss further call Tom Long, 708-524-0886 or write:
telong@solidoakconsulting.com.
The beginning of each year holds so much promise and potential. So, while you are still feeling that rekindled energy and optimism, I want you to carefully consider how you market your business.
Earlier, we reviewed a few marketing principles such as reaching the decision-maker, marketing benefits and target markets. This time, I'd like to get back to basics. Let's start with what marketing is in the first place.
Marketing is everything you do to promote your product or service. Many people think of marketing as being synonymous with advertising – newspaper ads or mass mailings. But, there are other ways that you can promote, and thus market, your business.
Ask yourself: How do the day-to-day operations of my business promote my business? For example, how does the receptionist answer the phone? What do my invoices look like? How does the staff dress? Is our office clean? These are all ways that you can promote – or if ignored, hurt – your business. A great marketing campaign may attract new customers, but once they encounter a rude receptionist or a dirty office, you are deflating all of your marketing efforts from the beginning.
Now, make sure you look at your marketing in a more comprehensive way – not only what you do to bring in new business but also what you do to keep your clients.
To discuss further call Tom Long, 708-524-0886 or write:
telong@solidoakconsulting.com.
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Is It Time for a Coach?
Is It Time for a Coach?
As you all know, business has peaks and valleys. While we all enjoy the peaks, you must quickly identify when you or your business falls into a valley. You are in the proverbial valley if:
* Your business is not performing as well as you want.
* You feel you're working harder but are less satisfied.
* Your business is doing well, but you're getting tired of working so hard.
* A large downsizing in your company is causing great change in the work environment.
* You feel your career is nearing a plateau.
* You received a sub-par performance review.
* You're unable to mold and lead your staff.
* You're not comfortable making strategic decisions.
This is where a coach can help. A coach is someone who isn't engrossed in the day-to-day operations, but someone who can see the big picture and help you address your challenges.
This is where we can help. To learn more about Solid Oak Consulting's personalized coaching services and how they can benefit you and your business, please contact me, Tom Long telongsolidoakconsulting.com, 708-524-0886.
As you all know, business has peaks and valleys. While we all enjoy the peaks, you must quickly identify when you or your business falls into a valley. You are in the proverbial valley if:
* Your business is not performing as well as you want.
* You feel you're working harder but are less satisfied.
* Your business is doing well, but you're getting tired of working so hard.
* A large downsizing in your company is causing great change in the work environment.
* You feel your career is nearing a plateau.
* You received a sub-par performance review.
* You're unable to mold and lead your staff.
* You're not comfortable making strategic decisions.
This is where a coach can help. A coach is someone who isn't engrossed in the day-to-day operations, but someone who can see the big picture and help you address your challenges.
This is where we can help. To learn more about Solid Oak Consulting's personalized coaching services and how they can benefit you and your business, please contact me, Tom Long telongsolidoakconsulting.com, 708-524-0886.
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Marketing - It's All About Them, Not You
Marketing - It's All About Them, Not You
What would your target audience value about your product or service that is unique – a quality that cannot be easily reproduced? Source: Death of a Small Business: Five Threats to the Growth and Success of American Small Business
Earlier, I touched on the importance of target marketing. This time, I'd like to go one step further by addressing benefits and features and how they relate to your target marketing efforts.
Do you know why your clients come to you rather than one of your competitors? They come to you because they realize some sort of benefit from doing business with you. A benefit could be the quality of your service or product, but it also could be your pricing, customer service or office hours. It's important to identify what your existing clients view as the benefit(s) of doing business with you because it can help you in marketing your services or products to new clients.
Many times, I see businesses marketing their features instead of their benefits. A feature is something that's important, but it's more important to the business than it is to the consumer. For instance, a business may promote the fact that it has state-of-the-art machinery, but the real benefit that customers gain from using that business is fast service. So, the marketing message should focus on fast service, not state-of-the-art machinery. Most consumers don't care how they get the fast service, they just care that they get it!
If you don't know what benefits you offer your clients, it's time to find out. Knowing this important information will not only help your marketing strategy, but it also will help strengthen your relationship with existing clients.
Please contact me to have Solid Oak Consulting help you identify your benefits and improve your marketing strategies.
Tom Long telong@solidoakconsulting.com, 708-524-0886.
What would your target audience value about your product or service that is unique – a quality that cannot be easily reproduced? Source: Death of a Small Business: Five Threats to the Growth and Success of American Small Business
Earlier, I touched on the importance of target marketing. This time, I'd like to go one step further by addressing benefits and features and how they relate to your target marketing efforts.
Do you know why your clients come to you rather than one of your competitors? They come to you because they realize some sort of benefit from doing business with you. A benefit could be the quality of your service or product, but it also could be your pricing, customer service or office hours. It's important to identify what your existing clients view as the benefit(s) of doing business with you because it can help you in marketing your services or products to new clients.
Many times, I see businesses marketing their features instead of their benefits. A feature is something that's important, but it's more important to the business than it is to the consumer. For instance, a business may promote the fact that it has state-of-the-art machinery, but the real benefit that customers gain from using that business is fast service. So, the marketing message should focus on fast service, not state-of-the-art machinery. Most consumers don't care how they get the fast service, they just care that they get it!
If you don't know what benefits you offer your clients, it's time to find out. Knowing this important information will not only help your marketing strategy, but it also will help strengthen your relationship with existing clients.
Please contact me to have Solid Oak Consulting help you identify your benefits and improve your marketing strategies.
Tom Long telong@solidoakconsulting.com, 708-524-0886.
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