The Key To Happy Customers

If you want your business to do better, you really only need to have one thing: happy customers. While customers in general will support your business, happy customers, the ones that are completely satisfied with your service, your products, and the experience you offer, will make sure your business succeeds beyond your wildest expectations. If you’re looking to put a few smiles on some customers, here are some tips you might find useful.

Don’t Bombard Them

Happy customers also mean satisfied customers. They’ve received the information they needed from you, nothing less and nothing more. While more content, more deals, and more emails might sound like a good thing from a business owner’s standpoint, you have to consider the perspective of the consumer. Most likely, you’re not the only business they’ve subscribed to. This means that in addition to your one or two emails per day, they’re also receiving emails, status updates, texts, and seeing advertisements from various other businesses. The last thing you want to do is be the business that goes overboard because they won’t hesitate to unsubscribe from your updates.

After you’ve gained a new follower, like, email subscriber, or blog reader, thank them for their support and then give them some space. You’ve captured their attention, which means they’ll be more aware of the amount of content you send their way. If that content is too few and far between, they can quickly forget about you. On the other hand, too much content can be overwhelming, annoying, and misinterpreted as lower quality. None of these bode well for your business development purposes.

Instead, find the right balance between the amount of content you send out and the time you send it out. Sending out smaller amounts of the right content at optimal times means that you have a higher chance at the success of that email, blog post, status update, or otherwise.

Ask For Feedback

If you’re sensing that your customers aren’t happy or you’d like to find ways to improve their experience with your business, the simplest way to find viable data is to simply ask them. That’s right; your customers partially hold the key to their own happiness. But it’s your responsibility as a business owner to unleash that insight and analyze it.

You can ask for customer feedback a number of ways. The most obvious is through online surveys. But this requires asking the right questions in the right format. The trick is to figure out what you’d like to know the most and then ask it in the simplest way. For instance, if you’d like to find out how your customer service team is doing ask how customers would rate their experience when deal with them. Asking for an answer on a number scale like 1 being the best experience and 10 being the worst experience would make the question even simpler. Also, try asking the question again but in a different way. This gives you more data to base your analysis off of. For a similar question to our previous example, you can ask how likely your customer is to recommend the customer service team. Again, use a numbered scale for easy answering.

You can also request feedback through social media, email newsletters, and posing questions at the end of blog posts on your website. Engage your customers and have them take interest in making the business they patronize better for their own benefit. You might want to offer deals, discounts, coupons, and other prizes for those who fill out the surveys. This will generate more interest, giving your surveys a variety of people to request feedback from.

Offer Occasional Deals

There are only a handful of companies that can get away with not offering any deals to their customers, but those companies have spent decades building up a reputation to do so. Apple, for instance, is know for it’s incredible customer service and top-of-the-line products, so customers are happy even though they almost never get a deal on a new mac computer. However, the rest of us have to find a way to compete and keep our customers coming back.

Offering deals, exclusive memberships, coupons, discounts, or another type of content is a way to reward your customers. Don’t think of offers as giving money away, think of it as an investment in the happy customers you’ll make along the way. You could either start with small offers to get your customers buzzing or go for a great big sale or deal to get them really excited. Afterwards, you will have established long-term relationships with many customers that might even do some word of mouth marketing for you. Offer rewards every now and then to keep customers looking forward to coming back into your store or onto your website.

Turning regular old customers into happy, satisfied customers means your business can do more and more. Instead of worrying over the perfect product, the perfect website, or the perfect Twitter account, worry yourself with how to make your customers smile every time they think about your business. Happy customers like that will keep your business alive for years to come.

Pete Wise is a copywriter working for Luminar Insights, a source of hispanic data. When I’m not writing articles, I’m posting to my LinkedIn page.

 

 

Event Planning For Beginners

All too often beginners are charged with planning important events. Without any experience, it is difficult to get their arms around the many facets of pulling off a successful meeting, conference, tradeshow, or even what some would think of as “a simple dinner.”

The many elements to consider will depend on the type of event and can range from venue sourcing and contracting to food & beverage management. Sounds daunting? Well it really is.

Things to Remember

Aside from the ones mentioned, collateral printing may be an additional requirement for the event and it is possible that a speaker or entertainment search will be required. One thing, however, is usually standard: there will be a theme for the event. And, the event planner is the person who will incorporate that theme throughout every facet of their delivery.

Importance of a theme

Communicating that theme is a challenge that is best met with professional graphic design consultation and will often incorporate an event logo. The graphic designer will get to know the message of the theme and the culture of the business or organization. A good logo will be simple, yet deliver a message. It will be memorable and easily recognizable.

It will be versatile, because it will be used in many ways – perhaps on letterhead, or on T-shirts. It will most certainly be used in poster printing. Posters and signage tout the event, deliver the details and even provide directions for group movement during the event. So, when printing posters and general signage, one should be consistent with design and message.

The theme is reinforced through banner printing that is suspended in strategic locations, again incorporating that great logo. You may see it over the entrance to an auditorium or above the main stage to highlight the event. Printing is important – be consistent with the design and use that logo.

The output from the work of a graphic designer is often used in many other ways. The planner can incorporate the logo and theme into PowerPoint templates; in projection templates known as “GOBOs”; in promotional merchandise distributed during the event. That simple, yet bold, recognizable design will be displayed in many ways.

Nowadays, an event planner has many resources to support them as they plan an event. Their graphic designer will become their new best friend as they develop their communications and publicity plan. Trusting in “clip art” will not deliver the consistent identity and message to the audience.

Featured images:

•  License: Creative Commons image source

This great tip was brought to you by Belinda Wright, a graphic designer and artist for Kwik Kopy. Belinda likes writing blogs that focuses on creative graphic designs.

 

 

Are Serviced Offices The Best Solution For Your Small Business?

When you’ve just started out with an idea for a new business you need a quiet space where you can get away from it all and concentrate on establishing your business. For many start-ups, the perfect solution to this quandary is a serviced office. In this post we’re going to have a look at why serviced offices might well be the perfect solution for your small business.

Flexibility

One of the key requirements small or start-up businesses should look for from their office space is flexibility. Small businesses are plagued by uncertainty. As a new entrant in any market you will be entering the unknown: Will customers flock to your products or services? Are there barriers to entry you had not anticipated? Is there room for another player in the market? Whilst you are finding your place in the market it is important not to tie yourself into a long term lease for a business premises. You might expand more quickly than you had anticipated, or need to work from home if your costs grow quickly out of hand. Serviced offices provide short term leases with little or no start up costs, allowing you to hit the ground running or leave at a moment’s notice.

Location

When choosing the location for your commercial premises there are plenty of considerations for business owners. If you plan on meeting clients at your offices then good transport links are a must. On the other hand, you may conduct client meetings offsite, in which case offices in close proximity to your home may be worth a look. What about status? Are you operating in an industry where the right address will carry clout with your clients? If so, you might need to pay a bit more for offices in the heart of the city. Regardless of your specific needs at the time, the beauty of a serviced office is your ability to meet the changing demands of your business, quickly and without additional expense.

Easy to expand

With a start-up you never know quite how quickly business will take off, if at all! Many companies will turn from a one man band to a business with 10 or so employees in the first year, and will grow exponential thereafter. Obviously serviced offices are not the most cost effective solution for your business once your company gets much bigger than 10 employees, but in the early days whilst you are growing serviced offices are perfect, as they allow you to move from a small office to a larger office without having to take all the furniture with you or worry about other business infrastructure. A move can be completed in an hour, simply move your computers across and can carry on working with extra space and increased capacity.

Infrastructure is included

Growing a small business demands the owner’s full attention. The last thing you want is to be spending your valuable time organising office furniture or fielding calls you really haven’t got the time for. The majority of serviced offices will provide you with a receptionist service, so any clients you are due to see will be greeted by the in-house receptionist, helping to build a professional first impression and create the illusion that your business is bigger than it really is. The receptionist will also be able to field your calls for you if this is a service you require, which can help to reduce the time wasted on calls when it could be better spent elsewhere.

Charlie Maine is an employee of D&G Office Interiors. They specialise in high quality, ergonomically designed furniture, creating fresh and attractive spaces.      

 

 

How YOU Can Attend 2013′s Hottest Trade Shows

Trade shows offer a unique opportunity to see what is happening in your industry. You get the chance to play with new gadgets, make connections and talk about what you have going on. Trade shows are not open to everyone, however. You need to know how to get into the hottest trade shows of 2013 to ensure you are there.

Getting Registered

To attend a trade show you have to be registered to do so. It is critical that you get registered as soon as possible to ensure a spot, a plane ticket if you need one and a hotel room close to where the show is being held. You need to be sure that you will attend before committing because many trade shows, such as SXSW, will not refund the registration fees.

If you remain undecided until the last minute, some shows that still have space will allow you to walk in during the show and get registered. This is not nearly as beneficial as planning far in advance though.

Go for a Speaking Gig

Those that attend the shows solely to speak almost always get out of paying an attendance fee. You will be able to talk and give some promotion to what you have to offer, as well as connect with those that could possibly help you out in the future. If you want to attend a trade show purely to network and get your name out there, speaking may be a great option for you.

Now, trade shows will not just let anyone walk in and speak. You will have to work on your speech well in advance, get it to the show organizers and wait for their verdict. To give yourself the best shot of getting a speaking spot you need to get a client that you can include in your presentation and do not focus solely on your company. This speech must be original, educational and something that people will remember.

Getting Your Ducks in a Row

You have to make sure that the stuff the show organizers need is in their hands as soon as possible. Forgetting a piece of paperwork could result in you not being able to attend. When you speak to the event coordinators, take a detailed list of everything they say that you will need. Keep this list with you and bring it to the show. You also want to jot down the names and contact information for everyone you speak too. People make mistakes, but you do not want to get burned by someone else’s mistake.

Choose the Right Event

If you are a foodie, then the American Food Fair is where you want to be. If you love film and music, SXSW is the coveted trade show. To get the best opportunities to network, you have to be at the right show. Throughout the year there are often many different shows for the same industry. For example, there are car trade shows everywhere throughout the year. You need to do your research do determine which one is best for you to attend and not all trade shows are created equal. Once you figure out the right show, do research on places to stay, how to get registered and what you can expect once you are there.

About the Author: Thomas has been writing about trade show topics online for companies like nimloktradeshowdisplays.com for the past 10 years. When not writing or attending shows, he can be found at home with his family or out at the gym practicing his boxing.

 

How to Make Sure Your Big Event Gets Noticed

Event planning can be tricky—especially when that isn’t your primary profession. There are, after all, people who do this as a career because there are so many subtleties and nuances to not only creating a spectacular event, but also attracting an adequate audience. The main objective, aside from creating a truly noteworthy event, is ensuring that you have a nice audience for the event itself. Here are a few things you can do to make sure the audience you’re targeting knows about the event and what it has to offer them.

Create an Event Specific Website

Buy a domain specific to the event and keep it simple, memorable, and relevant to the event. You want the website to provide all the major details. Include pictures, speakers, and perks that are available for the people who attend your even. People want to know what’s in it for them. Also if there are costs for attendance and/or parking, be sure to make those things clear on the website too.

Generate Local Media Buzz

This includes newspapers, television news, and radio programming. Many television news shows offer community calendars as do radio stations and newspapers. Take advantage of those things by announcing your event on them. Be sure to include important details like the benefits to those who attend, who should attend (cancer survivors, young moms, elderly, professional women, minority groups, etc.), and where the event takes place.

Use Banners and Signs Strategically

When it comes to banners and signs, one thing is true; the more the merrier. You want to place these signs around town so that the demographic you’re targeting for your event will see these signs and become curious about your event. Curiosity is an excellent motivator. Be sure to include a link to the website on your sign (that’s why it’s so important to make it memorable) so that passengers can look it up right away and drivers can look it up when they get home.

Ask for High Profile Endorsements

Your local community has plenty of people who are widely recognised. Don’t be afraid to ask for endorsements from these community leaders. Just make sure you’re getting endorsements from people who will be respected by the audience you’re attempting to attract and who are appropriate to the venue and event.

You don’t have to have years of experience in the event planning industry to create a huge buzz about your event. These tips will help you generate plenty of that and to attract the crowds you’d like to see.

Attached Images:

•  License: Creative Commons image source

Chris Jenkinson writes for Sherwood Signs,  company with experience in signage or banner advertising.

 

 

Understand The Process Involved in Moving a Business

Moving a company from one place to another, or choosing a prime location for your business start-up, can be full of surprises. There is so much to consider; from the setting of the office premises to ensuring that all surveys have been carried out. It can be an especially stressful time because there is so much to do.

This is where choosing a reputable company with experience in office properties and the moving process comes in. Many businesses would rather leave the management of moving their office premises to the experts, so they can get on with their day job.

Searching for the right office in the perfect location can help a business to improve its overall productivity. In addition, it gives off the right impression to clients and helps to retain the members of staff who like to work in a pleasant environment. Customers or visitors need to have the right perception about a business in order to feel comfortable working with them. No business wants to be stuck in the wrong sort of office space that gives off negative connotations to their potential clients.

London is overflowing with business space and deciding on the right spot to open a business can be timely and overwhelming. The capital offers a variety of locations for you to choose from. By enlisting the help of experts in this field, you can ease the pressure on yourself when looking at a new office space. Looking for an office that fits your particular business needs is one of the first things to consider.

On the Move – What to Consider 

Looking for an office space involves several stages. Here are some of the aspects you must take into consideration. Firstly, consider your location. The size of your business and the budget for new premises will have a direct impact on where you want or can afford to set up. Whatever your budget, you must ensure that the location suits your business needs.

The location of an office is crucial. The surrounding area needs to feel right, as well as the building itself. This is especially true if clients often visit your office. Having them drive through an unpleasant or dark and dingy area before turning up at your office, could give them the wrong impression. Similarly, employees are more productive if they are happy and inspired in their office surroundings, so location is key.

What Type and Size of Office?

Perhaps you represent a new business venture and need somewhere moderate and affordable as your first office space? Maybe your business is growing and you want to take on more staff and so need to expand? Planning the exact space you want and the size of that space is important because you do not want to be left with vast empty space that is not being utilised, or discover that you do not have enough space if your business suddenly expands in the future. The latter option could provide an additional rent. When considering how much space is needed, it is advisable to consider any future expansion plans because it is likely that you will remain in your new premises for several years.

Understanding Different Types of Tenure

There are a variety of options available in terms of moving into new office premises. Buying a business space is a long-term investment, leasing an office can last several years and other premises may include a rental agreement on a more temporary basis. How long a business will remain in the same office space will obviously depend on the choice of lease or rental agreement. Making the right decision for your company at the outset should keep you free from problems in the future. All manner of buildings can be bought or leased; from large open plan offices to small workshops.

Going Green in the Workplace

Green issues and sustainability are fast becoming increasingly important considerations for any business on the move. People recognise the importance of energy efficiency and working in a sustainable environment can inspire the workforce and be cost-efficient. Making sure your new business space is focused on green issues will save you money from the outset. Factors to consider include the energy efficiency of the building, how much natural light there is, the sustainability of the air conditioning and whether the building is affected by external noise.

Searching for Office Space Noho has much to offer in terms of great ready-to-go business premises that will help you run a successful company with happy clients and motivated employees.

 

The Evolution of Customer Loyalty Programs

Marketing on many levels has tapped into the success of customer loyalty programs. The idea of building a sense of identity and interest in customers isn’t new, but with electronic data management, it’s become easier to address specific interests and needs. Stamp rewards and exchanges of yesteryear are replaced with everything from gift cards to gasoline discounts in the present. Meanwhile, games continue to provide incentives for customers to affiliate more with one business or another. However, merely offering a program doesn’t assure loyalty.

It’s important to analyze the needs of customers in developing a good loyalty program. A system that provides great rewards is more likely to produce the repeat business that is desired. Meaningless rewards, however, are unlikely to garner positive interest. In fact, poorly chosen loyalty rewards may drive customers away. Meaningful options don’t have to be overly expensive. They just have to provide value to those customers who are being targeted for repeat business.

A contrast can be drawn through consistency. The business that is consistent and dependable in administering customer loyalty programs creates an environment that allows trust to grow between consumers and the company. A customer recognizes that the rules won’t continually change. It’s important to establish guidelines and adhere to them. In doing so, a business creates a sense of stability that attracts repeat interaction on the part of the customer.

It’s especially important to recognize the place that the Internet plays in cultivating customer loyalty. Social media plays a predominant role in providing consumers with updates on special deals, sales and other activities. Integrating these methods into loyalty programs can draw more interest if it’s handled well. It’s important to keep social media interactions simple and concise. It’s also important to understand how different social venues appeal to various customers. Some are image based while others are focused on interaction. Each venue will attract a slightly different demographic, and effective interaction and promotion requires some study of the way in which each venue is used by one’s clientele.

The use of smartphones is causing some transitions in customer loyalty programs as well. These permit more access to information and updates for consumers. However, overdoing it can be a problem for those who are already overloaded with text messages and multiple emails. It’s important to make mobile messages meaningful and simple. Value and simplicity are essential for keeping the interactions positive in the eyes of customers. Knowing how customers use their devices is important so that a good balance can be maintained in an age saturated with electronic information exchanges.

Colloquy is a resource for businesses who wish to gain an edge over their competitors through loyalty Marketing. Look to colloquy.com for publications, cosulting and more in regards to gaining customer loyalty.

 

 

Advice for Producing Corporate Videos

The moment you have decided to create your video and selected a reliable company to work with, there are a number of factors that you need to consider when your video is being produced. You need to be aware of these tips on the small details during the production of your corporate videos together with the company that you have chosen.

Keep it simple and avoid distracting the audience

If you are watching good quality corporate videos, you will see confident individuals explaining all the information in a clear and interesting manner. Once there is a vibrant colored background, it only distracts the viewers. It is best to utilize the neutral colors on the corporate videos so that the focus of the viewers will be on the person speaking. You have to make sure that the focus is only on the person presenting the important details.

Beginning, middle and end

When creating corporate videos, it is also important to give importance to the overall style.  You need to consider the opening as well as the closing. Take note of the logos that will be used as well as keeping the film consistent to your brand. You have to make sure that all your corporate videos are identifiable and should also stand out from the competition. By sporting a creative and unique look, it can greatly help in creating a mark as well as attracting the viewers in an effective manner.

Make sure you have the right cast and presenters

Since corporate videos require a cast for the presentation, it is important to have experienced and skilled cast members as well as making sure everything works in a smooth manner. The majority of video production companies have a wide range of presenters and voice over artists on hand. It is recommended to listen to all the options before choosing one that will fit your brand. You should continue using the same presenters for future corporate videos. In doing so, it can provide all your corporate videos with a distinctive look and can be easily recognized by the viewers.

Find your winning forumula!

Your corporate videos must have the potential to be unique and easily identifiable. The moment you take these important factors into consideration, you will have a successful and effective corporate video that has all the elements that you need. Once you have created a successful corporate video, all you have to do is to utilize the same elements for future corporate videos. Simply add a new twist in order to make it unique and stand out from the rest.

This Guest Post has been written on behalf of Dragonfly Productions a leading corporate video production company in London.

 

 

Avoiding Mix Ups In The Workplace

The hardest thing for companies is keeping track of their staff, this may be at a conference which is attended by many offices or at an event. Even though you may give staff a name tag to wear, chances are once the festivities begin, which always happen at a conference, these name tags will get lost.

Office Solutions

Looking back to when I worked a normal nine to five office job, we worked in a large skyscraper of a building with dozens of floors. At the entrance to the building we would scan out name tags and that would give us instant access to the lifts. This was all good and well when you knew where your name tag was.

The best solution we came up with was staff lanyards. These lanyards were lightweight and our name tags clipped onto them easily. This ensured we always had our name tags with use, we kept them around our necks and staff members were immediately identifiable. The problem we found is if you had to go to one of the other floors within the building, because we were such a large company, it was hard keeping track of who was who. With our name tags around our necks there was no doubt we belonged to the company and this sped up things when visiting other floors, we didn’t have to face unnecessary security checks at each floors reception.

Functions

Because we were a large company we often had conferences around the country with other branches. This was a great opportunity to meet the people we had spoken to on the phone from across the country, but at the same time a nightmare for the people running the conference.

Using name tags with staff lanyards all the members of the conference were again identifiable. It was an easy way to ensure that everyone attending the lectures and meetings were in fact meant to be there and it was a quick way to get everyone in and out of the conference facility. You wouldn’t think it would be a problem, but when there is a security check at the conference centre and you don’t have any identification, getting into the meeting you are due to attend can be quite tricky.

Using the staff lanyards took all the guess work out of who was who and made it so much easier for the security staff on duty. They could take one quick look at each person’s neck and there was their identification, this reduced long queues, stress and frustration for everyone concerned.

Music Venues

While using staff lanyards makes office and conferences so much easier, they are an essential tool for music venues who host celebrity stars. When you are responsible for managing the staff to a top music concert where a top performing is about to take stage, security is a huge issue. You would be amazed what people will go through to rub shoulders with a super star. I remember years ago Robbie Williams was performing and I was working on the staff team. If it wasn’t for my staff lanyard with identification I would never have managed to get my job done. The security has to be tight otherwise every fan will try and sneak their way in through the doors to backstage to see their star in real life, up close and personal.

The staff lanyards were handed out with press passes and staff member identification tags to ensure the only people who got back stage were those who were meant to be there. It made things so much easier for security and reduced time and frustration for those trying hard to get their jobs done.

Staff lanyards are affordable and convenience and can ensure that your staff never lose their name tags or security fobs.

 

Top Security Tips for Your Office

 

In these modern times, the vast majority of office based businesses need the best quality electronic products to function to the best of their potential. This includes telephones (and smartphones), laptops and computers, printers, projectors, filming equipment and various other expensive goods. If the cost of purchasing these products was high, the cost of replacing them in the event of a burglary would be even higher, and potentially damaging to the profit margins of the business and thus the future of the business. When the recession is hurting small businesses already, it is important that no unnecessary risks are taken, and that includes being lax with your security.

Quality Locks

Depending on where your office is situated – detached or as part of a block – the locks of your office will change. Either way, they will need to be of a good quality. There is no guarantee that an office on the fiftieth floor is any less likely to be a victim of a thief than an office that stands alone. Making sure that the locks on your windows and doors are a high standard is very important, because once an intruder is inside, what is inside will be theirs to take. Another option is to have security bars added to the windows, so that they can be opened during the day but will not be a point of entry for criminals.

Alarm System

If your office is stand-alone, your alarm system is extremely important. The same as a home alarm, it is important that if an intruder was to enter your premises, they should know that they are on borrowed time. In some cases, just seeing that a property has an alarm is enough to deter criminals, so the better quality the alarm, the more likely you are to be left well alone. In the case of office block, making sure you have an alarm and a link up to the main fire alarm is very important, as you will need to be alerted in the event of a fire.

Safe Storage

Taking your computers and laptops home is not always an option, so it is crucial that the office property has excellent quality storage on site for you to use. One great option is to have a safe on site that your staff can use to put their phones or laptops away at the end of business. It is also good for storing sensitive documents including receipts and bank details. Having a security code on your safe is always a good idea, and 1-2-3-4 is not a valid password. Changing the password often will also lessen the chance of a burglar being able to gain access to it.

Daley works with SGG to ensure that all businesses of all shapes and sizes have all the information they need so that they can make informed choices about their security.