Successful Blog

Don’t Drop the Ball with On-Time Customer Payments

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Paying The BillAs you step back for a minute to analyze how your business is doing, take a look at your financial well-being.

For most business owners, their survival revolves around being financially solvent. Seems like an easy concept, but you might be surprised how many individuals running companies struggle with staying out of the red.

That being the case, are you doing everything within your power to make sure your customers make timely payments?

If you are dragging your feet here, you could end up getting behind on payments, leaving you in a precarious position.

So, are you prepared not to drop the ball with on-time customer payments?

Keeping the Money Flowing in

So that you can make sure (as best as possible) that you do not fall behind on customer payments, remember these important tidbits:

  • Invoicing – First and foremost, make sure you are sending out necessary invoices on time each month. While some of your customers will pay in-person (especially if you own a physical storefront), others will need to be billed for the purchasing of products and services. For that latter group, you can’t do the invoicing whenever you get around to it. For one, it throws the customer off (especially repeat ones) when they are expecting an invoice around the same time each month. Secondly, it can create a backlog in the invoicing process, again leading to problems. Lastly, you won’t get paid in a timely manner, oftentimes the biggest of all the concerns. If you are having issues with invoices, it could be something as simple as making them up in the first place. In the event that is an issue, look to work with a vendor so you can create a free invoice. Putting an invoice together should take little time and effort, so don’t make it out to be a big project;
  • Deadlines – If some customers are not paying you in a timely manner, you are often left with few avenues to turn to. The one that many business owners dread, heading on over to a collection agency. No, it isn’t something you’d prefer to do, but you also want to make sure you get your money before too long. In looking at the collection agency option, use it as a last resort. It may simply be that a friendly reminder or two nudges some customers into paying you when all is said and done. Remember, the customer has already purchased products and/or services from you, so they owe you money if they have not already paid up. Do not feel bad about having to go after them for the money that is due you;
  • Assistance – Lastly, it may simply be a case that you need to hire a financial assistant to make sure you get your funds when you should. If you’re a small business owner, the idea of hiring someone may make you hesitate at first, but you also want to make sure all your business needs are being met. Bringing on someone with an accounting background (even in a PT role) is perfectly fine. Doing so removes one more responsibility from your shoulders, allowing you to concentrate on other important facets of your business. Just make sure that whomever you decide to bring on has a good financial background, plus is orderly and works well without lots of supervision.

If you drop the ball when it comes to your customer payments, your business can suffer sooner rather than later.

While some aspects of your business can take a backseat at times, invoicing and customer payments have to be priorities.

Sit down and review how well (or not so well) you are doing when it comes to customer payments.

You might be surprised to see that you are not doing as well as you should be.

When that happens, putting your finger on the problem and ultimately fixing it, that is your best road to travel.

If you have customers struggling to meet their bills, you can work with them (to a degree), that is without letting them take advantage of you when all is said and done.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

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

Show Customers How Secure Doing Business with You Truly is

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Stress free zone totally relaxed without any work pressure succeIf you had to worry about one thing driving some of your customers away, what would it be?

In some instances, things are pretty much out of your full control.

When the economy is struggling, consumers tend to pull back on buying items, sticking to mainly those things they truly need. As a result, business owners can see their financial revenue streams start to dry up to a degree.

There are a number of ways that your business can be prepared for such issues, though there are certainly not guarantees that they will always work.

So, will you be ready the next time things appear to be heading south?

Keep Customer Satisfaction at High Levels

First and foremost, you need to make sure that customer satisfaction levels never dip dramatically.

One danger to steer clear of as a business owner is being complacent.

Yes, you may have great products and/or services, not to mention a great rapport between your employees (including you) and your customers.

That said don’t take those customers (current and potential ones) for granted. If you do that, you open the door to possible heartbreak.

So, what are some levels of customer satisfaction that should always remain high?

One of the most important is making sure customers feel secure doing business with you.

In a day and age where identity theft is a constant fear, many customers worry about how much time and money you invest into keeping their data and any transactions they make with you fully secure.

When it comes to secure credit card processing, it is important that customers feel safe and sound doing business with you.

Each and every credit card transaction with your business needs to be one where no glitches (notably identity theft) can rear their ugly heads.

If you’ve been having some doubts about your payment processing provider up to this point, look around to see if there are better options out there for you. Remember, keeping your customers happy and secure should always be a top priority.

Making Sales on the Go

Speaking of that happiness, more and more consumers are looking to make purchases when on the go. As a result, having ability to make mobile sales is also an important feature your business should certainly consider offering if not already.

For example, when is the last time you flew on an airliner?

If it was in recent times (even the last few years); you will notice that airlines no longer accept cash for alcoholic drinks or when purchasing snacks at 30,000 feet etc. It is easier for the airlines to conduct all their sales through credit cards, meaning flight attendants do not have to carry change on them when serving customers. A simple swipe of a credit card through a mobile app reader and the sale is complete.

For your business, make sure you can and do accept credit cards anywhere at any time, with an emphasis again on secure and safe transactions.

Finally, always be quick to respond to customers in the event their personal financial information is in fact compromised.

Yes, you may lose some customers over this for the long haul, but many others are more apt to stay with you if they see you have taken a pro-active and swift response to the problem.

This means identifying the problem as quickly as possible, finding a solution so that customers do not feel a major financial impact, and working to make sure (as best you can) that it does not happen again.

When working with a credit card provider, be sure to discuss with them the importance of coming up with safe and expedient purchases for customers.

Today’s world is predicated on the ability of businesses to serve their customers in a fast, courteous, and safe manner. When one or more of those traits are missing, the customer might ultimately be the one who ends up missing down the road.

Don’t be that business owner who doesn’t understand how important those three characteristics of a successful business truly are.

Be the business owner who is secure enough in what he or she is doing.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

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

Establishing Your Blog as a Leader

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Computer ViewThere are many ways for your business to stand out from all the rest.

That being the case, what have you been doing to take your brand to the next level? Specifically, how is your blog entering into this conversation?

While some businesses drop the ball when it comes to their blogs, many others take the ball and run with it.

For your brand to be exposed in front of as many eyes as possible, your blog needs to be a top priority in your daily initiatives.

So, are you ready to establish your blog as a leader? If so, how will you go about that process?

Outside Help Can Make the Difference

In order for your business blog to really gain traction on the Internet, you need to remember these tips:

  • Authority – Put the onus on establishing authority when it comes to your blog. In doing so, you lend more credibility to your site, not to mention your brand as a whole. That authority can be improved dramatically when you have an outside guest posting service helping you with not only writing your blog content, but also marketing it. When you turn to those with the experience in guest posting, you take the pressure off you and/or your staff to come up with killer content day after day. That guest service can also handle the marketing and social media needs your blog so dutifully requires, again, removing a burden from your shoulders;
  • Resonate – Today’s consumers have myriad of online sites they can turn to for information, so why should they visit your site? Give them a reason, in fact; give them multiple reasons to pay attention to your site, notably your blog. Your goal should be to serve as the go-to site when consumers need information and/or are considering shopping. For example, if you run a home improvement business, your blog should be chock-full of details regarding the latest trends in home renovations, what the typical costs are for the common home improvement projects, what time of the year might be best to do them (especially when it comes to outside projects), and how to go about hiring the best help if you are unable to do the project on your own. When that kind of information resonates with consumers, you are likely going to be the beneficiary, landing more business as a result;
  • SEO – You can’t get too far these days as a business owner without knowing something about search engine optimization. With SEO in your corner, you can better your chances of improving your search engine rankings, notably on Google. Just as with the writing of your blog, you may be a little green when it comes to knowing all the intricacies of how best to use SEO. If so, that is where a consultant can provide much needed assistance. He or she can help guide you in improving your current search engine ranking. Remember, while you’re not likely to go out of business with a low search engine ranking, the higher it is, the more eyes will find your business when searching for your respective products and/or services. In hiring the right SEO mind, look for not only someone with a mound of experience, but also someone willing to put you first. If they’re just using you to cash your checks, move on. The right SEO consultant will not only be beneficial to your blog, but he or she can assist you with your social media needs and so much more.

Sure, your sales and advertising/marketing initiatives typically get top billing, so your blog may be a bridesmaid so to speak.

What you want to do if you haven’t already, turn that bridesmaid into a bride.

Give your blog the love and care it needs in order for it to reward you.

Those rewards will typically come in the form of more website traffic, oftentimes translated into more revenue when all is said and done.

If you have not established your blog as a leader up to this point, change course and do that sooner rather than later.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

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

Great Websites Mean Business

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Customer Feedback Comment Vote Review Results ConceptHow much time and effort do you put into your website?

For some business owners, the answer to that question is simply not enough.

Even though many of them know how important their websites are to their brands, they simply fail to interject themselves into the process. As a result, they are oftentimes missing out on revenue.

So, what can you do as a business owner to make sure as many consumers as possible are seeing what you have to say and offer online?

Spend the Time and Effort Needed Online

So that your brand can get maximum exposure online, remember the following tips:

  • Website design – First and foremost, your website is your online business card, so it can’t afford to flop. Do periodic reviews to make sure the site is clicking on all cylinders, especially when it comes to design and content (see more below). As for your design, you want a site that is appealing to consumer eyes, not one that makes them want to come and go in less than a minute. Whether consumers are doing a license plates search, real estate hunting, searching for home remodeling tips, travel bargains, you need to make them feel welcomed. Always be sure to keep a design that doesn’t feel like one must work their way through a maze. If your site is loaded with bad links, pages that seem out of order in terms of the flow etc. you stand a good chance of not getting those consumers back again;
  • Website content – Your content is the backbone of your website, so don’t drop the ball here either. As for your content, it needs to be fresh and authoritative. Produce content in your blog for starters, content that is going to resonate with as many consumers as possible. For example, consumers coming to your site for information related to vehicles of all kinds (buying vehicles, license plate searches, selling vehicles, registering cars and trucks etc.) want to know what the latest trends are in these areas. If now is not a good time to be selling used cars and trucks, explain why that is in a post or two. You can (and should) also include references and comments to authorities in this particular industry. Also make your content available not just on your site, but other relevant sites too. If unsure on how to go about this, you simply look to provide guest blog posts for other related websites. In return, you offer those individuals the opportunity to provide you with relevant copy to post on your website. The sharing of content is a smart move for several reasons, most notably because it puts your content in front of more eyes when all is said and done;
  • Social media – Part of having a great website is getting consumers and other businesses to recognize it. You can accomplish that goal when you promote your offerings on social media. If you do not already have them, create pages on sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google+ etc. In doing so, you have platforms with which to promote your content. Even though you do not have to be using social media 24/7/365, you can’t use it on occasion, especially if you want to make an impact with the public. Set aside time daily to work on your social media promotions. Once you share your blog posts and other relevant links on social networking sites, always make an effort to engage with those consumers (and others) commenting on your offerings. This engagement will help you not only further potential relationships, but it shows you to be a business that is listening to what the public has to say. In today’s busy world, that engagement can oftentimes be the difference between getting new customers and missing out on them.

Yes, you have plenty to do as a business owner, so it can be easy to let your website slip down a few notches on the list of important things to focus on day in and day out.

That said never let your website be the lost child.

With a sound website strategy, you show you mean business, all the while getting new business too.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

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

How Are You Leading Your Employees?

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Senior Business Man Working On Office Table With Smiling Face HaWhat do you look at as being your assets leading a company?

Some business owners are natural-born leaders, having those impeccable qualities that it takes to oversee others.

Meantime, some business owners acquire those traits over years of working for others, seeing what works and what does not work in running a company.

No matter how you came about being a leader, passing those abilities on to others over the years is one of the best contributions you can make as a business owner.

With that being the case, how are you leading your employees?

How to Be a Great Leader

In your efforts to be the best leader you can be in running a business, remember these tips to help others along the way:

  • Be an example – First and foremost, leading by example is crucial if you want to have a strong business model. When your employees see how it is done, they’re more likely to give you their best. On the flip side, being a yeller and a screamer does you or your employees absolutely no good. Yes, there are times when you will become frustrated in the workplace, but cooler heads should always prevail. If you have a problem with one or more employees, settle those issues professionally and in a private;
  • Be calm – As mentioned a moment ago, being calm under fire is a great characteristic to have as a business leader. When times get tough (and you know they certainly do), work to find solutions. Part of those solutions may come from your days ascending to a leadership role. Whether you took college courses in business management and leadership areas or got first-hand experience in jobs over the years, the ability to design how you want to lead is critical;
  • Be confident – There will be times when your business undergoes some transformations and/or some rough spots. Employees will look to you as the calming force to get them and your brand through it all. Showing a side of confidence (not cockiness or arrogance) is crucial during those times. As you guide your business through some difficult stretches or even unchartered waters, many of your employees will see you as a business owner they will want to be tied to for years to come. In doing so, you accrue loyalty from many of those under you, assuring you that you have a formidable team to go to battle with each and every day;
  • Be open – Do you currently have an open-door policy for employees wanting to vent when necessary? If not, you should consider doing just that. While it is not the job of your employees to complain about this and that in the workplace, they will on occasion want to discuss matters with you, matters that could be impacting their ability to fully get the job done. It could be an issue with a customer or customers, perhaps a matter with another co-worker, or how the overall business model is or is not working. When employees feel relaxed and confident in talking with you, it is a win-win for them and of course for you;
  • Be a future thinker – Finally, while your business is living in the present times, you have to think about where you want your brand to be five years down the road, three years down the road, even a year from now. Having an eye on where things are trending in your industry and how those trends will impact your brand are both important. That thinking towards the future is also important for your employees. If they see you talking gloom and doom about your business and/or your industry, do you really expect lots of them want to stick around? When you talk about growing your business, seizing the opportunities that are out there, you paint a much more positive vision for all.

Being a leader can certainly be stressful at times, but would you want it any other way?

There are many people who end up fearing leadership; many others take the bull by the horns and run with it.

When all is said and done, which one are you?

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

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

Will Your Brand Stand Apart from the Crowd?

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Progress Forward Movement Momentum Measure Advancing Results 3dPromoting your brand is something that sometimes can seem like a 24/7 job.

But what if you failed to properly promote your brand? Could your business stand on its own two feet or would the end be in the near future for your company?

With all the competition that is out there for so many different businesses, it is important to separate oneself from the crowd.

In some cases, you may be able to do that all on your own. In other instances, you need the help of experts, experts knowing how to get the most brand attention possible.

So, will your brand stand apart from the crowd?

Know Where to Deliver Your Message

In running your business, you either hire brand promotion experts in-house or you seek outside help. Either way, do not convince yourself that this is not a priority, it truly is.

If you go in search of a media buying agency, what qualifications should they have?

For starters, any agency you consider doing business with must have the ability (and experience for that matter) to dig deep and truly understand who your audience is.

As an example, if you’re selling real estate, you shouldn’t be necessarily targeting the elderly. Yes, some elderly do change homes and/or apartments from time to time, but most will end up staying in their homes until they choose to move into a retirement center or pass away.

When you deploy a media buying agency to work with you in promoting your brand; they do the research (and analyze it) to truly get a better feeling of your audience.

Remember, consumers in 2016 have many avenues they can turn to in order to buy the products and services they rely on, so don’t make matters more complicated than they need to be.

Having a better feel for your audience includes knowing about their buying habits (where they like to shop, when they like to shop, about how much money they are likely to spend per shopping experience), approximately how much income they bring in on a yearly basis, whether or not they like to travel, if they have any important medical needs etc.

With knowledge of your audience and what types of shopping habits they demonstrate, the next key is seeing how your products and/or services can capture their attention, leading to more sales.

Don’t Ever Assume

For example, if you sell home healthcare products for senior citizens, where will you direct much of your marketing and advertising needs?

Remember, although the elderly typically do not spend as much time on the Internet as their younger counterparts, you would be foolish to avoid all online marketing and advertising initiatives directed at senior citizens. That would also include not having a presence on social media.

It is important to note that many elderly individuals and couples are limited in terms of physical mobility. As a result, they can’t get out to stores, malls etc. as much as younger folks. In turn, this means a fair amount of the elderly use the Internet to browse for and ultimately buy goods and services.

So, imagine if you had zero online advertising and marketing initiatives directed at senior citizens? Do you see now why you would be missing out on a piece of the pie?

Lastly, be sure to socialize your brand’s message.

Whether you are using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, LinkedIn or countless other social mediums, you should be pounding your message home regularly on such sites.

Once again, don’t discount the elderly or any other group for that matter, thinking that social medium is a wasteland for many consumers.

As it turns out, many consumers check their social media sites on a daily basis, oftentimes more than once.

By being there and offering them valuable products and services, you once again increase the odds of seeing your sales numbers going up.

Standing apart from the crowd is not rocket science, but it does take some time and effort on the part of anyone working with your brand, along with you and your team.

If a media buying agency was not on your radar before, paint a new image moving forward.

 Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

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