| |
| |
|
Small Business Information |
|
|
|
Blowing Your Own Horn - A Key Marketing Strategy for Small Business
-- Building Credibility Through Success Stories -- Successful solo entrepreneurs spend quite a bit of time building and expanding their networks. These networks can cover a broad spectrum - professional associations, community service, school or alumni networks, virtual communities, athletic groups, neighborhood associations. There are a variety of choices when creating our support system. What they all have in common is this: we engage in the same activity - relationship building. We may meet face to face, over the telephone or online. We exchange pleasantries, information, referrals or resources and in doing so, strengthen the bonds with individuals and the whole organization. What is not quite as common in our exchanges is the use of a personal or business success story. A success story has a double message: it highlights a specific activity that we accomplished or service that we do AND it communicates a distinguishing level of achievement. Both messages serve to build credibility with the listener, which in turn builds trust. Success stories need not be complicated or lengthy. Here are a few considerations when preparing your own. Be Proud About It - A good success story translates as truly genuine when you feel proud to share it. "I am so thrilled that I was able to save my client $5,000." -a Financial Services Representative Be Prepared - Think through your list of recent business achievements, honors, awards or professional certifications that represents something you are proud of and demonstrates an achievement. Then select one or two to share with your contacts at an appropriate time. Be Specific - Describe exactly what product or service that you delivered or the type of honor or certification that you received. "I recently completed the requirements for the Master Certified Coach designation." - a Business and Personal Coach Make It Current - Be careful to use situations or events that occurred within the past six months. This keeps it in the category of "news" that your listener may be interested to know. Keep It Brief - A few good sentences about the award or business achievement is all it takes. No need to dominate an exchange. The next time that you interact with a client, colleague, friend or family member, try blowing your own horn. Humorist Will Rogers said, "It ain't bragging if you done it." Copyright 2003, Charlotte Farrior ____________________________________________ Charlotte Farrior of Coaching Connection (http://www.corporatecoaching101.com) and Founder/Team Member of Solo-E (http://www.Solo-E.com) is a corporate and professional coach. She works with professionals, entrepreneurs, directors, and executives to define and achieve the personal and business goals they set for themselves. She coaches in the areas of goal setting, skill development, priority management and career transitions. ____________________________________________ *********** Find more articles like this at http://www.Solo-E.com - Keeping Solo Entrepreneurs Juiced in Business and in Life. Our team of Solo Entrepreneurs are comprised of small business experts who support others in finding business success with the flexibility and freedom to have a life, too. Network with other freelancers, self-employed and Solo Entrepreneurs in our forums, enjoy our articles and newsletter, and find other online training opportunities. ***********
MORE RESOURCES:
Small-Business - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Small Business Security No Passing Fad How careful are you with the data you collect from your customers? How about the handling of money in your business. And passwords? What controls have you put in place to protect computer data?We don't often think about the security of our businesses, but we should. Have You Thanked Your Competitors Today? Competition in the business world is often viewed as a negative thing, but it doesn't have to be. Competition can benefit you, your competitor, and especially your customer!Let's look at some of the ways in which competitors can help you:1) They prevent you from becoming lazy and overly comfortable in your business practices. Not Listening Can Hurt Your Small Business Most small business owners seek advisors who can help them improve their businesses. They want advice from those who have the experience and really know what they're talking about. Choosing A Business Thats Right For You Q: I really want to start my own business, but I have no idea what business would be best suited for me. I'm also eager to get started, but I don't want to pick the wrong business just because I'm impatient. Why is My Restaurant Not Full Every Monday Night? In a quest for customers and to keep those customers, restaurants are now compelled to develop a marketing plan. Marketing plans are a crucial component for anyone who has the desire to make their restaurant a success. 7 Cash Flow Secrets Your Accountant Never Told You Looking for ways to boost your cash flow? As a small business consultant, I make these recommendations to my cash strapped small business clients:1. Shoeboxes are for shoes, not business records. Encouraging Your Customers to Pay On Time Nothing can drive a business down faster than customers who don't pay their bills as agreed. When you sell to customers on credit you are making an agreement with them. There Are No Dumb Business Questions, Not! Q: I'm curious. What is the dumbest business question you've ever been asked? -- Norris W. Conquering Confidence Killers for Small Business Success "The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear". -- William Jennings BryanWhether you're generally a self-confident person, or someone continually plagued by self- doubt, you'll recognize some of these confidence killers if you:? Are overly dependent on the thoughts or opinions of others;? Avoid meeting new people because you're afraid you won't fit in, be liked, or be accepted;? Focus on unrealistic expectations ("I must do each job perfectly"; "If one person is unhappy then I have failed");? Have an 'all-or-nothing' attitude;? Pay heed to the internal and external naysayer;? Use the word SHOULD most often in relationship to your business;? Assume that if you don't get the client, they didn't like you;? Assume that you must be as talkative, outgoing, friendly, smart, old, young, educated, attractive, as someone else in order to succeed;? Avoid implementing new ideas because they may not work;? Can recount all your shortcomings each day. Why Small Businesses Fail (or Fail to Thrive) Tammy, a skilled and gifted horticulturist, called me to discuss what she needed to know to start her own florist and landscaping business. She had been in the horticulture industry for 10 years and was incredibly skilled at working with flowers and plants - one of the best. The Business Failed, But Did You? Q: After years of dreaming about starting my own business, I finally took the plunge a little over a year ago. To say the least, my dream quickly became a nightmare. Fleet Washing Operations Manual Sample Outline In the Truck Washing Business every single type of vehicle is washed differently. If you are going to run a mobile onsite fleet washing business with multiple trucks in multiple cities you will in fact need a comprehensive manual to keep your crews and equipment running at an optimum. Is Your Success Predetermined? Your on-line success is based on your efforts and yours alone. Sure there are many tools that help you, but it is still you. Change May Be Your Ace in the Hole Whether it has been thrust upon you by external market forces or it has simply bubbled up from the internal dynamics of your enterprise, change itself always presents opportunity for improvement. And in a knowledge based economy, change may be the only thing we can count on as small business people. Create a Win Win for Your Small Business Discover How Specialized Cost Containment Creates A New Win-Win Position For Property Owner's And YouProperty Management: A simple strategy to increase client loyaltyProperty managers who pro-actively employ advanced techniques to help property owners and anchor tenants reduce operating costs, will most certainly be considered a more valuable business asset. When you can achieve this with lower administrative functions and no out-of-pocket cost to you or your client's, you've created additional benefits. Starting Your Small Business Where do you find more customers?How do you compete with bigger businesses?Answer. Build loyalty and rewards. The Care and Feeding of Your Small Business While I was hard at work last week, an everyday drama was playing out in a hospital room in the next town. My niece was working on presenting me with a new great nephew. 4 Areas Where Your Business is Losing Money In my 18 years of consulting I have heard it all. Everything from competition to managed care as reasons why it's hard to create the business of your dreams. Franchise Company Operations Manual Sample Outline Many companies wish to expand and a few wish to use franchising as a method of expansion. Not a bad idea, but one must consider the importance of the fine details. How To Start A Blind Cleaning Business Quickly And Easily Starting the blind cleaning business is one of the best marketable business ideas you could latch on to. If you give the requisite amount of time and dedication, there will be no cap on your earnings.
|
| Good Credit Loans | home | site map | School Bus Clothing | Florida Pool Heating |
| © 2006 |
