How To Be More Successful in Your Business

Have you ever felt like you’re just going through the motions? That you’re not really moving forward in your business, but instead just spinning your wheels? It takes a conscious effort to be effective in your business, and do what must be done to not only get the daily stuff done, but also to grow. Here are some tips for overcoming apathy in your business, and being more effective.

Realize that it’s up to you. No one else is as invested in the growth of your business as you are. So identify the growth goals that you have for your business, and write them down. Once you know where you want to go, identify the daily activities you must do to achieve those goals, and make sure you do them. No one else is going to do it for you. If you want to grow and be more effective in your business, it’s up to you to map out the direction you want to go, and do what must be done.
Get organized. Nothing saps your productivity and effectiveness more than a mess. If you’ve got piles on your desk and stuff all over your office or place of business, it’s time to get organized. You’ve already identified the goals you have and the activities you need to take to grow your business. Now make sure your workspace supports you in achieving those goals. Set up a filing system that keeps important documents close at hand. Make sure the files on your computer are well organized and easy to access. When you are unorganized, you make it a lot harder to be effective, so set up your systems. And if you need help, ask!
Surround yourself with motivated, effective people. If the people you spend your time with complain about their work, and only do the minimum, it’s going to be harder to motivate yourself to be effective. So seek out people who are as committed as you are motivated to reach their goals and go far in life and in business. Ask their advice and share your dreams with them while you also encourage them in their endeavors. Learn what they do to be effective in reaching towards their goals, and apply those principles to your business. Your success is often determined by the people you spend the most time with, so make sure the people you spend time with will encourage you to get where you want to be.
Never give up. The thing that separates successful people from failures is their willingness to keep going. To be effective, you must have in place a strategy that can help you get motivated when you feel like giving up. Maybe you have a network of people that are willing to encourage you to keep going when you are discouraged. Maybe you have a song, or a workout routine, or a motivational video or book…something that gets you pumped up and moving forward. Choose these things ahead of time, so when you have those moments of discouragement you’re ready to put them behind you and move forward.

Being successful in your business is not just about knowing the job. It’s also important to have the mental focus and clarity that helps you overcome obstacles and move in the direction of your goals. By keeping these strategies in mind, you can be more effective and successful in your business.

How do you stay effective in your business? Would love to read your thoughts in the comments below.

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DSEF & BBB: 10 Ways To Spot Work At Home Scams

By Kelsey Owen

Beware of “jobs” or “business opportunities” that seem to offer high pay for work you can do at home. Often these programs are bogus.

Common scams involve package forwarding, Internet searches or advertising, envelope stuffing, medical billing, discount or coupon programs, rebate processing, distributorships, sales, or the purchase of special equipment or software to start businesses.

Many people lose large sums of money through work at home scams. Some versions of these scams – like package forwarding – might also involve the victim in crimes such as identity theft and handling of stolen merchandise.

Here are 10 tip-offs that the “opportunity” could be a scam:

Big bucks for simple tasks. Watch out if they promise to pay you a lot of money for jobs that don’t seem to require much effort or skill. Sound too good to be true? It might be a scam.

Job offers out of nowhere from strangers. If they offer you a job without getting an application from you first, meeting you, or doing an interview, it’s probably a scam. Don’t hand your personal employment information to such folk (especially your Social Security number!). That could lead to identity theft.

Requests for up-front payments. If someone wants you to make an advance payment to “get in” on the ground floor of a new business opportunity – especially if it’s a big investment, or you don’t have much information about the deal – this is a big red flag. Don’t do it. “Advance fee scams” are very common and they come in many varieties.

They ask you to wire the money. If you wire a payment to somebody, it’s gone forever. Wire transfers of money are a convenient and perfectly legitimate service. But scam artists often ask you to wire payments that they are requesting (especially to destinations in other countries!) because they know you won’t be able to get your money back.

High pressure to do it now. Don’t be in a hurry to accept an unsolicited offer of work, or to make a business investment, particularly if the other party is asking you to spend your money on the deal.

Take your time. If somebody tries to convince you that this is a “limited time” offer and you have to act now, just tell them to forget it. Ignore anybody who pushes you to agree. High pressure is a big sign that something’s wrong.

– See more at: http://www.bbb.org/blog/2013/06/10-ways-to-spot-work-at-home-scams/#sthash.LQEaYFu7.dpuf

DSEF and the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) foster honest and responsive relationships between businesses and consumers—instilling consumer confidence and advancing a trustworthy marketplace for all.

About the Better Business Bureaus
As the leader in advancing marketplace trust, Better Business Bureau is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Every year, more than 87 million consumers rely on BBB Business Reviews® and BBB Wise Giving Reports® to help them find trustworthy businesses and charities across North America. Visit www.bbb.org/us for more information.

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4 Ways To Master Your Sales Pitch

4 Ways To Master Your Sales Pitch

When presenting your product or service to a prospective customer, there is a lot to consider. It’s important, or course, to know the features and benefits of what you are selling, but it’s more than that. You also need to be able to build rapport, and then listen well, understanding the needs of the person you’re talking with.

Here are four things you can do to help you master your sales pitch, and close more sales:

Do your research – Before you are ever in a position to present your product or service, make sure you’ve taken the time to learn about what people want, and why they would buy your product. Spend time finding out the needs of your target market, and the problems they have that your product or service solves. Understand what is important to your target market, and how they spend their time. By taking time to understand what your customers in general are seeking, you will have an advantage when working with a specific customer.
Know your prospect or customer – When you present to a specific customer, the most important thing you can do is ask questions to understand that customer’s specific needs and communication preferences. Begin by building rapport…ask about family, what they’ve been working on, etc…and find commonalities that help the customer feel comfortable and connected with you. Be sure also you are communicating in the way that the customer prefers…do they prefer communicating electronically, via phone, in person…make sure you know! Ask questions about problems the customer might have that your product or service can solve, and what they are looking for. The more you can learn about the customer, the better able you’ll be to customize your presentation in a way that specifically addresses what the customer is looking for.
Focus on value – After you have a good understanding of what the customer needs, it’s time to present products/services that meet those needs. Focus on what you’ve learned about their needs, and highlight how what you have to offer will bring value to the customer’s life. This could be financial or it could be lifestyle-related. For example, you can help the customer picture how much better life would be if they had your product. You don’t need to present every single feature of your product. Rather, focus on what the customer has told you they are looking for, and highlight how the customer will benefit when they choose your product.
Make a conscious effort to close deal – After you have presented the products or services that will best meet a customer’s needs, it’s time to close the deal. It’s not enough to present a list of benefits. You must ask for the sale. You can opt for the direct approach: “So, how many would you like?” or you can use an assumptive close: “Would you like me to gift wrap that for you?” But be sure you make a conscious effort to close the deal, because you can’t expect your customer to do so.

When you regularly apply these four steps, you will find that you are more likely to close sales because you are focused on the needs of your customers and prospects, rather than on a list of features and benefits. Sales is a people business, and the more focused you are on meeting the needs of people, the more successful you will be!

What advice would you give to someone looking to master their sales pitch? Would love to read your thoughts in the comments below!

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3 Ways to Make Your Business More Attractive

3 Ways to Make Your Business More Attractive

As a small business owner, your business is often an expression of yourself. And you can attract more people to your business when they feel a personal connection to you. In fact, this is what changes people from occasional purchasers to loyal customers that recommend you to everyone they know.

So how do you make your business more attractive? Here are some tips:

Be Genuine. Think about the people you know who are absolutely good. You love spending time with them, and helping them, don’t you? People love the feeling they get when they interact with honest, genuine people and businesses. Make sure your businesses practices are absolutely honest and ethical, and always choose to do the right thing, even when it’s not convenient. If you believe in a particular cause, use your business to support that cause, and talk to your customers about it. It will help them come to know the real you, and love you, and your business, for it.
Express Your Passion. There is a difference between businesses where people just show up, and the ones where people are passionate about what they do. Make sure your business is an expression of your passion, and help people feel that passion every time they choose to do business with you. Go that extra mile in service. Educate people a little more each time about why your business matters in their lives. If you love what you do, people will feel it, and passion is contagious. In an era of social media, word of mouth can spread globally, and that passion can help you grow your network and increase your business.
Invest in Others. Helping others is always good business. So find causes that your business can support, and make sure your customers know about it. For example, a local bookstore agreed to host a donation bucket for a local food pantry’s food drive. But in addition, they also offered to give an extra discount to customers that brought in more than just the minimum donation. This created goodwill in their community, and also gave the food pantry another reason to talk about their business which helped them gain more customers. Investing in others is a great way to build the goodwill that brings more business.

Making your business more attractive is simply a matter of helping people come to know what you believe in, and helping them feel the passion that you feel.

How do you attract people to your business? Would love to read your thoughts in the comments below.

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DSEF & BBB: Identity Theft on Social Media – Are You at Risk?

By Katie Burgoyne

Social media is a great outlet to engage with family and friends, but are you sharing too much in the process? Identity theft can occur with only a few key pieces of your personal information. And now, courtesy of social media profiles, that information is easier than ever to steal. For example, an average Facebook profile lists a person’s name, date of birth, and hometown. So already you have provided a thief with crucial information they need to steal your identity.

The most effective way to protect yourself from identity theft is to make your social profile private. As well, consider the information your putting on your site. Does your friend of a friend really need to know your home address? Probably not. The more personal details you withhold, the safer you will be.

Check out NextAdvisor’s infographic below that presents some alarming statistics about identity theft on social media sites.

To read the full article, visit http://www.nextadvisor.com/blog/2013/04/02/are-we-revealing-too-much-about-ourselves-on-social-media.

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DSEF & BBB: Cut Down on Junk Mail and Spam

DSEF & BBB: Cut Down on Junk Mail and Spam

By Kelsey Owen

There are a few things more annoying than junk mail, spam and unsolicited calls and texts messages. Not only are these unwanted communications an annoyance, but they can potentially lead to identity theft.

But how do you stop them? While it’s nearly impossible to completely eliminate junk mail, spam text messages and unwanted phone calls, BBB recommends taking the following steps for getting your inboxes and phone lines under control.

Unwanted mail shouldn’t cost you your identity. Pre-approved credit card offers are an easy target for identity thieves who can steal incoming mail and use these offers to open fraudulent credit accounts. Stopping these pre-screened credit offers can help reduce the chances of identity theft. U.S. consumers can “opt-out” of receiving pre-approved credit card offers for at least five years by calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT (567-8688) or visit: optoutprescreen.com. This service is offered by the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Canadian residents can visit fightspam.gc.ca/eic/sit e/030.nsf/eng/home for more tips.

Stop unwanted direct mail solicitations. To stop most mailings, U.S. consumers can go to dmachoice.org and opt out of mail from members of the Direct Marketing Association. DMA regularly updates its list, but it may take up to six months before solicitations from all DMA members stop. If you live in Canada, register for the Canadian Marketing Association’s Do Not Contact list at the-cma.org.

Has your evening been interrupted by telemarketers? You’re not alone. The U.S. government’s National Do Not Call Registry is a free, easy way to reduce the telemarketing calls you get at home. To register your phone number or to get information about the registry, visit donotcall.gov, or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you want to register. You will get fewer telemarketing calls within 31 days of registering your number. Canadian residents can visitlnnte-dncl.gc.ca for opt-out information.

Are you receiving spam text messages? First and foremost, don’t respond. Responding to the text message only confirms a working number and opens the door for more messages. If your number is already on the Do Not Call Registry and you’re still receiving messages and phone calls, file a complaint with the FCC or the Canadian Anti–Fraud Centre and consider PrivacyStar. BBB National Partners AT&T and Verizon have partnered with PrivacyStar to give you back control of your smartphone. The smartphone application, available in the U.S. for Android, BlackBerry and iPhone, lets you block unwanted numbers, look up unknown numbers, and file a complaint with the FTC.

– See more at: http://www.bbb.org/blog/2013/06/cut-down-on-junk-mail-and-spam/#sthash.tyeG39En.dpuf

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Reaching Your Target Market In Different Generations

Reaching Your Target Market In Different Generations

We’re at an interesting point in history. We have generations that grew up without the internet, and those that have never been without it, all in the same workforce. These are your customers, employees, team members. And in order to work effectively with each generation as a business owner, you have to be extremely flexible, and prepared to deliver you message in multiple ways, in order to reach people of every generation.

Here are some tips to help you work effectively with multiple generations.

Research: Take the time to understand the needs and communication styles of the generations that you work with. For example, Generation Y prefers texting over email communication, whereas baby boomers prefer a phone call or face to face communication. Generation X wants you to communicate via email or text, but you need to keep it short. By researching the communication preferences of each generation, you can craft messages that are more effective, and that help you get your message across. Here’s an article where you can start: Communicating with Many Generations

Ask: Generalizations about communication preferences are great, but it’s also important to ask the individuals you work with how they want you to communicate with them. For example, many people today prefer to learn via video, and there is a big push to produce authentic videos of actual customer experiences. Yet there are still some who don’t have the patience for video, and would prefer a quick summary of steps. Make sure you’re asking how people you work with want to hear from you, and then honor those communication preferences.
Be Flexible: As you work with multiple generations, you may need to deliver the same message in different ways in order to reach everyone. So this means you need to learn all the communication techniques (text, email, video, handwritten note, social networking, etc.) and then be prepared to deliver each message in a variety of mediums. For example, if you want to let your customer base know about a sale, you may send out a text alert to your customers that have signed up for that list, include it in your email newsletter, record a short video about it that you post to YouTube, Instagram and Facebook, and write a personal note to your best customers that you send through the mail. In this way, you can be sure that everyone, regardless of generation, gets the message.

In order to be a business that attracts many, you need to communicate in the ways that people prefer to hear from you. So be sure you’re taking the time to learn about generational communication preferences, and then create a strategy to communicate effectively with the many generations you serve.

How do you adapt your communication style for various generations? Would love to read your thoughts in the comments below!

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DSEF & BBB: Do Your Homework Before Signing Up For Work-At-Home

DSEF & BBB: Do Your Homework Before Signing Up For Work-At-Home

By Charles Wood

The ability to work from home is an attractive proposition, especially when a company promises high income for little effort. But Better Business Bureau advises consumers to be careful about accepting these offers.

BBB received over 1,800 complaints about work-at-home businesses in 2012. The majority of consumer complaints alleged companies required them to pay up front for work-at-home opportunities and were promised income that never materialized.

Work-at-home schemes have been around for a long time. Traditional schemes such as envelope-stuffing are still around. A consumer recently forwarded to BBB a pay-upfront offer from Preston Lord Enterprises aka Maxwell Gates Enterprises, which was sued in 2011 by the New Jersey Attorney General. The lawsuit was part of “Operation Empty Promises,” a nationwide crackdown against work-at-home scams.

Digital age work-at-home scams are now commonly reported by consumers who respond to offers found on the Web or receive offers after signing up on job-hunting sites.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations warns that involvement in work-at-home schemes can make a consumer vulnerable to identity theft or unknowing involvement in criminal activity. The FBI breaks work-at-home scams down into the following basic categories:

• Advance-fee. Consumers are asked to invest money up front to pay for inventory, set-up or training materials. When the materials arrive and turn out to be worthless, the consumer is stuck with the bill.

• Counterfeit check “mystery shopper.” The consumer is sent a check and asked to deposit the funds, withdraw money to shop in local stores and wire part of the money to the employer, keeping a percentage. When the check turns out to be bogus, the consumer is left on the hook for the full amount.

• Pyramid schemes. The consumer is hired as a distributor and must pay large amounts for promotional materials and products such as pamphlets with little value. The consumer is promised income from recruiting more distributors. When the scheme falls apart, the only ones to make money are those who started the pyramid.

• International go-between. Criminals, often located overseas, sometimes involve unknowing victims to help them steal, launder money and remain anonymous. A criminal may offer to hire the consumer as a U.S.-based agent to receive and re-ship checks, merchandise and offers to other potential victims.

Austin-area resident Carolyn Reininger was excited when she was contacted after signing up online for work-at-home opportunities. It wasn’t long before her excitement turned to frustration and disappointment. The company offered to help her start a small credit-card processing business—for a fee.

Reininger paid $5,495 and was told the company would get her started by developing a list of businesses that needed third-party credit card processing. “They were supposed to work your leads,” she said. “They were going to work them and then give you the first 1,000 leads. They would get it started, help get your company established. The leads would help you contact companies that wanted this service.”

After Reininger noticed the company no longer seemed to be gathering leads, she began to call with questions and either got no response, or was encouraged to spend more money.
Reininger said she got a call from someone she said was touted as an expert who told her he could make anyone into a millionaire. “He wanted me to spend more money. I didn’t want to. He got kind of belligerent and then I never heard from them again.”

Perry Bird of Round Rock paid over $2,000 for a website advertising diet and nutrition products. He was told he would receive money for advertising based on traffic to the site. He said the income did not materialize and the company would not honor a promise to refund his money if he cancelled within 30 days.

Bird said after he bought the website, he could not get through to anyone with the company. “At first they wouldn’t take my calls,” he said. “Now they won’t answer the phone at all. They got $2,250 from me. I’m on a fixed income on Social Security Disability.”
Bird said after he sent his second payment via bank draft, he had second thoughts and the next day sent certified letters to two Phoenix, Arizona addresses saying he wanted to cancel. The letters were not accepted. “They said I could cancel within three days,” he said.

Before signing up for any work-at-home opportunity, BBB advises job hunters to:

• Start with trust. Check out any company at bbb.org to view their BBB Business Review free of charge. There you will find the company’s history of complaints and contact information. For a list of accredited businesses, go to checkbbb.org.

• Be skeptical. Beware of any offer that guarantees a lot of money for little effort and no experience. Thoroughly read the website’s terms and conditions, keeping in mind that a free trial could cost you in the end.

• Don’t be fooled by affiliation claims. Be wary of work-at-home offers that use logos from Google, Twitter or other popular online sites. Just because Google is in the name doesn’t mean the business is affiliated with Google.

• Check the domain. Research the website with Whois.net or a similar site for determining domain name ownership. Be cautious if the site is anonymous or individually registered.

• Beware of unexpected offers. If you receive a job offer without filling out an application, meeting with the business or being interviewed, it is probably a scam.

• Don’t pay up front. Being asked to make an advance payment to get on the ground floor of a big opportunity is a red flag, especially if it is a large payment or the company doesn’t provide much information about the deal. Handing your Social Security number or other personal information to suspicious sources could lead to identity theft.

• Don’t wire money. Being asked to wire money is a red flag. Scam artists often ask you to wire payments because they know you won’t be able to get the money back.

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DSEF & BBB: Navigating New Technology – Why is This Model Better Than That One?

DSEF & BBB: Navigating New Technology – Why is This Model Better Than That One?

By Howard Schwartz

I bit the bullet a few weeks ago and went shopping for a tablet. I decided my smart phone was fine for many purposes, but I was finally able to justify getting a tablet to watch videos and read articles without torturing my eyes. The print seems to get finer as I grow older. I don’t need my technology to constantly remind me about that.

Reading consumer reviews about the different makes and models only served to confuse me.

Online reviews were numerous but not very specific. Customer reviews were based largely on brand preference and price – not performance.

Just when I thought I knew what I wanted, I went to a retailer to check it out, I was told “That model isn’t as good as the others.”

As I continued my research, it seemed that I was getting closer to finding the best device at the right price when tech-smart employees told me “I personally prefer the XYZ with the 10 inch screen.” I figured I could make a decision with a few more visits to stores for the recommendations of employees who use these devices.

I have been working with computers since 1995, and realize the learning curve is constantly evolving. However, I only started to understand which model and brand would be appropriate for me once I asked an obvious question I neglected to ask earlier: “Why do you prefer this particular device?”

The answers were revealing. One clerk said his choice was because of brand loyalty. Another said his store had a great price on a particular model and that’s what drove his decision. The last one I asked showed me the difference between my two top choices and explained that one of them had a lot of storage space, but the other model’s screen was less jerky and the model was faster than the others. He showed me and I agreed.

It’s a lot easier to choose a dessert in a restaurant. If you ask a waiter or waitress which is their favorite, one might recommend the peanut butter cupcake because they love peanut butter. Another might steer you towards the chocolate cake because of their love of chocolate. However, when we as consumers tread on unfamiliar territory, it is important to understand the details of why a product or service is better, and in the case of home improvements, why one design is different than the others, and why it is best choice.

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Six Ways to Give Your Customers the Best Experience Possible

Six Ways to Give Your Customers the Best Experience Possible

Your business relies on your customers to keep it profitable and thriving. One of your top priorities should be to make sure each customer is getting the best possible experience each and every time he or she patronizes your business. It’s a good idea to interact personally with your customers on a regular basis so you can see first hand whether or not you are succeeding in this area.

Write a clear statement about what your clients should expect from you. This may come in the form of a “Customer Bill of Rights” similar to what commercial airlines have created for their passengers that clearly states what each customer should expect. You might also include a basic statement in any marketing materials or other printed literature pertaining to your business. Stating expectations clearly in advance will prevent disappointment down the road.
Keep track of how you have made customers happy. Perhaps you stayed past closing one day to make sure a customer could pick up his order on the way home from work. Maybe you rushed an order free of charge for a loyal customer in a jam or provided home delivery. Keep track of the extra things you do to satisfy your customers, so that you can provide concrete examples when training staff and promoting your business. Tracking such things can also lead to new ideas for improving customer service overall.
Focus first on the the customer’s problem, not on your product. Each product or service you provide should be a solution to a customer’s problem. Solving problems should be your main focus. When you speak with a customer, be sure to ask specific questions to find out what the problem is and how best you can solve it. If you fail to do this and only focus on your product, the customer will feel like he or she is being “sold to” and will likely tune out.
Take responsibility for everything. Even when you delegate tasks and projects to other team members, the responsibility ultimately falls on you. Make sure you keep yourself informed of all aspects of your business, whether or not you are directly involved. This goes for both successes and failures. Your customers should know that you have a personal stake in everything that goes on in your business because it holds you accountable and makes you seem trustworthy enough to deserve their loyalty.
Make note of customers’ personal likes and dislikes. As you get to know your customers, make a note of personal preferences they may share with you. This will help you to more effectively tailor your customer service to their individual needs. Keep an index-card sized file box handy or keep track on your smartphone, and add to your notes regularly after seeing a customer. He or she will appreciate the individualized attention.
Show your clients your appreciation for their business. Each and every customer should feel valued and appreciated by you. Sometimes a simple, “Thank you for choosing us; we look forward to seeing you again!” as a customer leaves can make a world of difference. Or send a handwritten thank you note to customers periodically. You can also get creative with how you demonstrate your appreciation by way of incentives and promotions. Find your own personal style, and make sure your customers know how you feel.

Improving customer interaction involves focusing on the customers’ needs first and holding yourself and your team accountable for the way you do business. What else would you add to our list? Please leave your comments below!

Archive for 2013

How To Be More Successful in Your Business

How To Be More Successful in Your Business

4 Ways To Master Your Sales Pitch

4 Ways To Master Your Sales Pitch

3 Ways to Make Your Business More Attractive

3 Ways to Make Your Business More Attractive

Reaching Your Target Market In Different Generations

Reaching Your Target Market In Different Generations

Six Ways to Give Your Customers the Best Experience Possible

Six Ways to Give Your Customers the Best Experience Possible

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