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Do You Do Enough for Your Employees?

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three hands stacked

No matter the number of employees you have under you, it is important for you to do all you can to keep them happy. In doing so, they will tend to give you their all in return.

That said are you taking steps to provide them with the resources and motivation to get the job done. If not, you could be hurting your business in the process.

So, where do you need to do more for your employees?

Providing the Answers to a Successful Company

As you look to do all you can for those under your employ, focus in on the following:

  1. Resources – Be sure you give your workers all the necessary resources to get the job done. Without such resources, you can be leaving them and your company short. Worst of all, it can have a negative impact on your customers. Those resources not only help to get the job done, they also reward your workers for all their efforts. For example, when you have a sales team in place, do you have tools needed to properly record their work? This is where sales commission software enters the picture. Such software allows you to correctly track each sales team member and their efforts to sell. In doing this, you can avoid having sales members miss out on the proper commissions. Other resources to look at include the right amount and kinds of computers, phones and more. Make sure your team has the resources at their fingertips to serve your customers.
  2. Hiring – It goes without saying that making the right hires proves critical too. Don’t be one of those employers not all that focused on the hiring process. The right hires can help you to steer clear of different problems. Those problems are everything from the job not getting done to high turnover and more. As part of the hiring, be sure either yourself or someone else hire up in the company sits in on the interviews. This can make it easier to pick the right people for the job.
  3. Incentives – For many workers, having the ability to move up in a company is rather important. So, does your company do all it can to provide incentives for its workers? If people feel as if they are stuck in a dead-end job, it can have repercussions for you’re a business. With growth possibilities, more employees are likely to go the extra mile for you. They also are likely to stick around for a longer period of time. Given the cost of living tends to go up on a regular basis; you also want to address this matter. By giving regular raises, you can address cost of living increases. You also take a little less worry out of the lives of your employees along the way.
  4. Thanks – Last, it never hurts to tell your employees thanks. Sure, they get paid and many may also get health benefits and more. That said saying thank you on occasion for all they do is a good thing. So, when is the last time you did that?

As you look to do enough for your employees, any particular areas you want to start on?

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.

 

4 Reasons Why You Should Conduct a QBR (and How to Do It)

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By Kayla Matthews

A quarterly business review (QBR) is a chance to formally touch base with your customers. It’s not essential to do one for every customer, but you should consider QBRs crucial for customers you especially want to keep.

Here are several reasons why businesses should conduct QBRs.

1. To Find out What Worked Well

Company representatives need to convey they are committed to evolving with their customers. That means it’s not sufficient to keep catering to those clients uniformly year after year. Instead, consider the QBR your chance to check in and find out what satisfied a customer most.

Your customer might generally like a service they received, but want you to make some minor changes moving forward. The QBR gives information that tells your company it’s on the right track for keeping a customer happy.

2. To Remind the Customer of the Value You Provide

Sometimes, a customer may be trying to cut costs, and believe one way to do that is to stop paying for your company’s services. That can happen even if the client is still satisfied with what you provide.

However, a QBR can give a straightforward reminder that your company offers valuable assistance your client needs and couldn’t get elsewhere.

3. To Learn How Customers’ Goals Have Changed

Customers will generally have various goals throughout the year. Companies can use QBRs to learn about those new milestones in depth and understand how best to support clients in meeting them.

This point ties into the previous one because customers need to realize the value you provide is an ongoing benefit they can — and should — expect throughout your business relationship. But, if a client feels you are not on the same page with upcoming aspirations, they may hesitate to keep you on board. The QBR enables you to listen and provide feedback.

4. To Determine What Went Wrong

It can be very confusing when businesses get blindsided by customers who suddenly decide to cease the business relationship. However, one of the advantageous things about quarterly business reviews is that you conduct them at regular intervals throughout the year. Then, the likelihood increases that you could find out about issues quickly and come up with plans for remedying them — before customers leave in frustration.

Best Practices for Conducting a QBR

Now that you know some of the reasons to conduct a QBR, let’s examine the best practices for carrying one out.

1. Maintain a Regular Schedule for Your QBRs

Although the name implies QBRs happen every quarter, some companies don’t stay on a rigid schedule with them. However, it’s in your best interests to stick to the quarterly routine as much as possible. Doing that shows a commitment to the customer. If geographical distance is a concern, consider holding a teleconference.

2. Inform a Customer of the Attendees

Before a QBR happens, give a list of the people who will be there. The attendee list should vary, depending on the type of client it is and the reasons that entity hired your company. For example, if the customer uses your company to avail themselves of a customized call center interface, the people who develop that tool should ideally be in the meeting.

3. Give Details About Necessary Documents If Applicable

The QBR may involve poring over reports and calling attention to various statistics you collected during the previous quarter. Help prepare your client sufficiently for the QBR by specifying in advance if they need to bring any documents to the meeting. Taking that approach should minimize the possibility they’ll feel overwhelmed due to unpreparedness.

4. Listen to Concerns and Take Them Seriously

Customer service strategist Jeff Mowat explains that one of the keys to keeping customers is listening carefully when they mention dissatisfaction. A caring employee lets you make customers feel special, and adding a QBR doesn’t hurt, either.

It’s nearly impossible to fix your business’s relationship with a customer if you don’t give the impression you genuinely care about their concerns. Offer them genuine concern to fix the problem, then go a step further and suggest action plans for resolution.

5. Consider Making a PowerPoint Presentation

It’s best if a QBR follows a defined format that involves reviewing the previous quarter before setting goals for the next. A PowerPoint presentation could be an excellent tool for letting people know about the agenda of the QBR and helping them follow along as it progresses. Even if you don’t use PowerPoint, an agenda is necessary. Not having one is a misstep that conveys inexperience.

6. Always Keep the Focus on the Client

As mentioned earlier, the QBR gives you chances to emphasize the value your company can bring to the client. But, make sure the client is always the central discussion topic when you bring up that matter.

For example, if discussing how your establishment experienced higher-than-normal workforce growth last year, tie in that achievement with the customer. You could take the angle of a larger staff giving more diverse expertise to the client.

One of the ways to accomplish a successful QBR is to check that the client stays connected with your message. When that doesn’t happen, you may need to adjust on the fly.

A QBR Should Lead to Happy Customers

By not completing a QBR on schedule, you could be missing things that upset your customers. Or, you might overlook ways to wow them. These tips will help you feel well-equipped for all future QBRs, allowing you to meet client needs.

 

About the Author: Kayla Matthews writes about communication and workplace productivity on her blog, Productivity Theory. Her work has also appeared on Talent Culture, MakeUseOf, The Muse and Fast Company.

Featured image: Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

Let Your Customers Help Market Your Business

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How much marketing of your business do you do? Of even more importance, are you doing the right things to market your business?

Unfortunately, too many owners come up short in marketing their businesses. As a result, they can be missing out on some great opportunities to pull in more business.

One of the best ways to market your business is by letting your customers spread the word.

With that in mind, is it time your customers went to work for you?

Have You Been Missing Out on Good Marketing Opportunities

In deciding to let your customers help market your business for you, keep these ideas in mind:

  1. Social media – Given many of your customers are likely on social media, let them spread the word. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and more are all top-notch social sites. As such, customers talking social in regards to your brand can help lead to better marketing. This is true whether marketing the best steak knives or countless other products. When you see your brand mentioned in social circles, get involved in the conversation. For instance, a customer goes to your Facebook page and has a question or even an issue with your business. Do not let the matter go unnoticed. Consumers appreciate when business owners lend them an ear. Even if you do not get more business from that customer, he or she may be happy enough with a response to recommend you.
  2. Testimonials – It is not uncommon to do testimonials in hopes of landing more business. You should ask customers if they’d be willing to do this with you. Whether a TV ad, online note or others, customer testimonials can help generate sales. To increase the chances of testimonials, be willing to give your customers incentives. This can be discounts on future sales and more. A good testimonial from a satisfied customer can lead to bringing in other consumers.
  3. Word-of-mouth – Even with how great social media and testimonials are, word-of-mouth is big. That said make it so your customers want to tell their family and friends about your brand. This all starts and ends with great customer service. Your customers want to be treated like kings and queens when they come to you for business. As such, don’t drop the ball in this all-important endeavor.

In letting customers help market your business, are you getting the job done?

Photo credit: Pixibay

About the Author: Dave Thomas writes about business topics on the web.

Business Owners and Consumers Using Internet and Word-of-Mouth

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storage-warehouse-1553550_640No matter what industry your business falls under, you likely know all too well how important both the Internet and word-of-mouth are to your company’s ability to succeed.

When it comes to self-storage, the U.S. is a global leader with a higher number of storage units compared to all other countries put together.

Of course, Americans are renowned for their hoarding culture meaning everything that finds its way home becomes part of the family. Most storage units in and around Tampa (and other parts of the nation) are leased by household owners, a clear indication of the high demand.

For business owners, there is more need for storage space because rentals and leases can be very expensive and self-storage becomes a more affordable alternative.

The number of self-storage industry according to Statistic Brain stands at more than 50,000 and herein is a big challenge.

Consumers Need to Research Before They Rent

The industry is now worth more than $30 billion, making it a moneymaker.

With all that money being made, consumers want to make sure they are getting their own money’s worth when renting a self-storage unit.

For consumers in Tampa, they can easily do some online (and in-person) homework to find the best storage rental for their needs.

Among the storage unit factors consumers need to look at:

  1. Is it Well Kept?

As a rule-of-thumb, always make a point of visiting a storage facility before renting it. You will get more information about your storage than all the virtual tours can provide. Check whether the facility is clean and well-maintained.

  1. Protecting Your Items

If you have already rented from a storage facility business in the city, make sure you regularly visit your new (or in some cases old) unit regularly and inspect the condition of your items. It is advisable to have personal and/or business insurance cover your items in the event of a rare break-in or a serious weather event that hits.

  1. Over-the-phone Quote

Whether you are moving to Tampa for personal and/or business reasons or seeking storage for your inventory in the city, make sure the self-storage company carries out a free, on-site and no-obligation estimate. The price you get (see more below) on the phone could be better than what you might receive in-person, and you are guaranteed that there is available space.

  1. Extra Charges

Like anything you rent or buy (vehicles, appliances etc.), make sure there are no hidden costs. Given the majority of self-storage facility owners are honest, hard-working people, they know how important your money is to you. As such, they are more than likely going to point out all the costs involved for a monthly rental etc.

  1. Customer Feedback

Finally, don’t hesitate to look for customer feedback (online, word-of-mouth etc.), making your decision easier. When a sizable number of current and former customers rave about a facility, chances are they are not blowing smoke. The same holds true if they are saying the opposite. With a few clicks on the Internet, you should be able to get some good feedback on the facility you are considering going with. Even with that information, however, you’re always best-served checking facilities out for yourself.

Whether for personal and/or business needs, remember that storage facilities and countless other markets oftentimes rely on the Internet and word-of-mouth to store up more and more customers.

Photo credit: Pixabay

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business and marketing topics on the web.

 

 

Keep Your Customers in the Communications Loop

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agent-18741_640How good of a job would you say your business does when it comes to keeping your customers in the loop?

Keeping them in the loop typically revolves around your products and/or services, any issues that you’re having with one or the other and of course letting them know about payment issues etc.

With that being the case, you may at times take for granted how important it is to maintain good customer communications.

For one, you may get so inundated with other tasks at hand that you drop the ball with customer communications. If this happens, some customers may feel like you just treat them as dollar signs and do not really take a genuine interest in them. If that occurs, those current customers could become former ones in quite a hurry.

So, are you ready to review your customer communication initiatives, making sure your customers are in fact in the loop?

Use Various Methods of Communicating

So that you are best able to communicate with customers as much as possible, remember these keys:

  • Channels – What type of channels are you using to communicate with customers? While some businesses are able to get by without using what most would consider today’s modern channels of communication (emails, texts, apps, social media etc.), countless companies use those methods just mentioned and others. In today’s digital age, you have to embrace technology, not literally run away from it. As such, review your communication options to make sure you leave everything on the table;
  • Efforts – Even if you have countless channels with which to communicate with customers, are you putting the time and effort into properly using them? As an example, what if you are aware of a potential hazard with one of your products and/or services? Do you immediately get that word out to those customers who purchased said product or service? If you do not, you not only run the risk of customers being injured, but also potentially facing a personal injury lawsuit. When the latter happens, it can have a major financial impact on your business. Whether it is an issue involving a recall with heaters at Home Depot or another such major home improvement retailer, vehicles with GM, outdoor lawn care equipment with John Deere, you hopefully get the idea. Make sure you alert current and potential customers about the problem through recalls ASAP, thereby lessening the chances of one or more people being injured.

Truth Certainly Does Matter

  • Truth – Although you may be embarrassed and even quite worried about the public relations fallout from dealing with a major recall, be honest with customers. The worst thing a company can do is blatantly lie to its customer base. Not only is it wrong, it gives companies a negative PR image. Just ask some of the businesses over the years that were befallen with a negative public relations image. Many of them simply never recovered to what they were prior to that;
  • Feedback – Lastly, always be open to customer feedback. You can do this via polls, emails, texts, social media and more. By getting feedback from your customer base (positive and negative), you give customers a platform, one which many in fact will end up using. That platform leads many customers to believe that you care about them (and you should). While you will receive some negative feedback, don’t just automatically dispute it as rubbish. Learn from that negative feedback, allowing your business to improve itself on a regular basis.

When you truly learn how important customer communication is in your company, you are much more likely to keep customers in the loop, a loop that includes maintaining their business.

Photo credit: Pixabay

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.

Are You Clicking with Your Online Clientele?

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iphone-410324_640While there are some consumers willing to do anything and everything it takes to avoid the Internet, many individuals simply couldn’t do without it.

Even though that latter group doesn’t necessarily live on the worldwide web 24/7, many of them do use it regularly each and every week. While some use it mostly for entertainment purposes, many others utilize it for browsing and ultimately purchasing goods and services.

In the event you are a business owner looking to attract more customers (what business owner wouldn’t be?), the Internet is one of if not your best resources.

If you have not been putting the worldwide web to use as of late in attracting more business, definitely give that a second thought as you head into 2017.

Using the Internet to Your Advantage

While there are myriad of ways in which you can put the Internet to work for your brand, here are some ways to best click with clientele (both current and prospective):

  • Blog – If you do not have (or are basically not using) a blog to reach consumers, that should definitely change. Your blog is not only a great marketing tool, but it is all but free to use. Unless you are paying professionals to write copy for your blog, you can basically start and market a blog at no cost to you or your business. Even though you do not need daily blog posts, be sure to keep the blog as fresh and informative as possible, giving consumers a reason to view it. This will also help you stay relevant with search engines, especially Google;
  • Mobile app – Do you have a mobile app? If not, this is another resource that your business should not be without. Do your research regarding the different app development companies out there, seeing which one may best suit your mobile app needs. With the right app in your corner, your mobile marketing options can soar over time, something that any business owner will be more than happy to have happen;
  • Social media – Just how social are you online? With the right social media plan in place, you can take your business to new heights. Just as with a blog, you do not need to be on social media 24/7, but you can’t do it only on occasion, figuring a little here and a little there will get it done. Not only is social media good for promoting your brand, but it gives you a window into what consumers are saying about both your company and competition. Lastly, social media allows you to get in touch with consumers whenever and wherever you want. That flexibility is like having a marketing program that is 24/7/365.

Selling Products and Services

  • Online store – If you haven’t thought about an online store up to this point and time, reconsider that in 2017. With an online store, you can sell goods and services 24/7/365. In doing so, you can see your revenue stream increase on a regular basis. If you do go with an online store, make sure it works from start to finish. The last thing you want is having frustrated consumers get stopped at checkout etc. In the event this happens, they may very well not return;
  • Website – Last but certainly not least, how beneficial is your website to those consumers looking to visit and use it? Just having a website is not enough in today’s digital age. Make sure your site is as beneficial as possible to current and prospective clients. Reviewing your site regularly will help you work out and remove any kinks etc. Remember, your site wants to rank as high as possible on Google and other search engines, so it needs to be clicking on all cylinders in order to draw consumers to it.

If you have not been clicking with online clientele up to this point, a New Year starting soon is a perfect opportunity to change things.

Photo credit: Pixabay

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.