Even as You Grow, Maintain Small Business Customer Service
While it's the mission of virtually every entrepreneur to grow his or her business, getting bigger doesn't mean you have to abandon some of the best characteristics of smaller organizations.
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Performance Press
How You Brand Isn’t Just About Clients
Creating a consistent image for your brand can facilitate a closer connection between your business and your clients, particularly if you run a service company as opposed to one with
Insulate Yourself From Operational Risk
Every entrepreneur has to develop a tolerance for a certain amount of risk. However, this does not mean they have to be vulnerable. By taking steps to assess and mitigate
Budgeting & Planning? Don’t Neglect Marketing
Many small businesses have already started their processes for budgeting for the new year and setting performance goals. Yet how many have given thought to how they will budget their
Create an Ongoing Recruitment Strategy
A firm is only as strong as its people. Although that adage may seem trite, it is true - your business will only be successful if you have created a
Strengthen Your Business with Content Marketing
The print ads, cold calls and air time you buy to build your brand is called external marketing. This marketing strategy can become costly and time-consuming, as you have to
Define Your Business’ Role in its Industry
As a business builder, it is not enough to decide who is your ideal client and how much revenue you want to generate. You must also determine whether your company
Setting Objectives Is Essential to Driving Growth
Sometimes running a business can feel like you have been thrown overboard from a ship. If you just tread water to stay afloat and maintain daily operations, you will not
What Story are you Building for the Client?
A common discussion in the world of customer service is how to build a narrative for your clients. Some of the biggest brands have achieved lifelong loyalty from consumers and
Create and Stick to a Marketing Schedule
When trying to keep track of every function in your business, marketing may seem like the least pressing issue compared to sales, client relationship management, and administrative duties. However, without
Breaking Down the Business Builder Model
As our team prepares for our upcoming Pinnacle Conference, I look forward to sharing with our audience how entrepreneurs can create a business model that enables growth. In my experience,
Strive for Service Excellence
What defines a successful entrepreneur? It is the business builder who realizes that he or she is not only selling a product or service to clients, but is also working
The Emotional Side of Client Service
In addition to providing a solution to a client's personal or financial problem, how do you think your company's products and services impact that person? You may think that a
Unify Philanthropic and Marketing Efforts
Philanthropy is traditionally viewed as a selfless pursuit, but that does not preclude your company from taking advantage of the positive publicity or influence generated by charitable efforts. As I
Don’t Allow New Technologies to Impede Communications
With the development of smartphones, text messaging capabilities, email, social media and other tools, it is easier than ever to communicate with people in the next room or around the
Recognize and Avoid Common Client Service Errors
Client relationship management is a juggling act. Not only must you take care of all the details behind the scenes to ensure they receive their products - by facilitating services
Boost Leads, Reputation with Seminars and Content
When it comes to interacting with companies, it appears that consumers are starting to evolve their preferences and their processes for deciding which organizations to do business with. No longer
After Delegating to Technology, Seek Harmony
It can be difficult for some entrepreneurs to delegate functions to others - who but themselves knows how to fulfill these responsibilities correctly. However, as I have outlined in my
A Referral Process Can Expand Your Circles of Influence
Marketing your organization has many interconnected components. In this marketing mix, we sometimes forget about one of the most powerful channels: existing clients. Recommendations, referrals, and introductions from the clients you
What Role do You Want to Play in Your Business?
What makes being a business builder, considering all the stress, long hours and headaches associated with the job, worth it? At least partially, it is the freedom and ability to
Make Your Digital Content Work for You
Content marketing can be likened to the tree that falls in the woods. In both instances, if there's no one around to witness it, it's unclear whether it makes an
Deliver Common Services in an Uncommon Manner
Although they may not realize it, the majority of companies are actually in the industry of client service - in comparison, their product offerings and sectors are minor details. The
Business Philanthropy Comes in Many Forms
Having too narrow a view of what constitutes a commitment to the community can prevent your business from getting involved in corporate philanthropy. Yet it's possible to contribute to nonprofits
Run a Business Operation Guided by Values
Your business plan is probably one of the most important documents you will create for your company. It is valuable because it is not just a few pages that you