Control Costs, Win And Keep Customers - a PS
This should have gone in the original post on this subject but hey ho…
Now’s a really good time to remember why you’re in the business you’re in:
If you have a high Passion Quotient it’s going to be a lot easier to engage your employees and customers. And don’t forget your suppliers - we’re all in this together and we all want to survive and thrive!
Linda Mattacks is the author of a series of training courses available at SellingForBusiness.co.uk developed to provide easily accessible training for small businesses who are not in a position (or may not want) to take time out to attend formal training sessions.
Control Costs, Win And Keep Customers
More than 40% of small firms want more support to survive the recession, according to research by Lloyds TSB Commercial.
- Two thirds of firms put advice on controlling cost top of the agenda
- 60% want advice on attracting customers
- 44% want help on how to keep them
So we had a quick look around the guides on website and watched the customer video.
And it’s the Lloyds TSB customer (business owner) input that’s really down to earth:
- Keep your name out there
- Bring the customers in
- Look at your sales figures weekly not monthly or quarterly
- Keep in close contact with everyone to avoid nasty surprises: Bank Manager, Accountant, Suppliers, Customers
- Provide value for money: Maintain quality and standards
- Don’t be too inward looking
- Keep a keen eye on budgeting, planning and cash flow
- Tighten credit management - it’s often not necessarily bad debt but too slow payers
- When you get your customers look after them: Understand their problems
We’ve picked up on the final point we’ve listed from the video and the fact that many small firms want help on how to keep customers.
Lloyds TSB has a Guide on Market Research. They’re right to have it up there yet we believe they’re wrong not to put it into perspective as, in our experience, small firms tend to see this is as questionable expenditure in good times, let alone in a recession.
Focus groups need an experienced facilitator and should probably be outsourced to a company that knows its stuff - once you’ve decided on what the purpose is and that focus groups are the best way to achieve it.
On the other hand, telephone market research is something many small businesses can do themselves with a little thought and preparation. And the good news is, if you provide good products or services, you should find that your customers are happy to help you.
Linda Mattacks is the author of a series of training courses available at SellingForBusiness.co.uk developed to provide easily accessible training for small businesses who are not in a position (or may not want) to take time out to attend formal training sessions.
Are 12 of you ready to up your game?
As you can see by the side bar, we’ve been concentrating on helping people who are finding themselves out of a job get the best possible perspective on how to handle their predicament and get themselves back earning.
So apologies to the thousands of you who visit this site and read our blogs if you feel we’ve been neglecting you over the last couple of months!
We really appreciate all of you yet are currently looking to work directly with 12 special people. Are you one of those 12?
Many people who come to us want things in their business and their lives to be better. They’re genuine and they mean it but often not enough to put the effort into making it happen: That’s mind, body and soul.
How many times do you think, just before sleep takes over: “Wow! Today was awesome!”?
So try this equation:
Self esteem = Reality
__________
Expectation
If your reality isn’t what you want it to be, just a little way off, or nowhere near, do you say: “I deserve more than this and so do the people I care about” and up your game? Or do you lower your expectations?
We’re looking for 12 people who are determined to up their game - are you one of them?
If you believe you are, give us a call on +44 (0)20 7209 1284 business hours GMT
Linda Mattacks is the author of a series of training courses available at SellingForBusiness.co.uk developed to provide easily accessible training for small businesses who are not in a position (or may not want) to take time out to attend formal training sessions.
