POSTS TAGGED : customers

The Mantra You Should Abide By To Make The Most Of Your CRM System

There are certain aspects of business that we all agree on and must abide by. There are the formal, law-abiding practices we must all follow strictly to ensure we keep our noses clean and avoid run-ins with the taxman.

And then there are the more tried and tested routes to market such as creating and maintaining a USP, differentiating yourself in the industry and ensuring your employees are kept satisfied in a productive and motivating environment.

The Mantra You Should Abide By To Make The Most Of Your CRM System

Present day priorities such as creating a loyal customer base via social media and getting your website to rank no.1 on Google came later – when people had new visions on how to promote themselves.…

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4 Essentials To Get Right In Your First Year Of Business

4 Essentials To Get Right In Your First Year Of Business

Ask any entrepreneur and you’ll get the same answer: starting a business is hard.

The first year in business is toughest, then all of the hard work, blood, sweat and tears begin paying off. But how do you make it through that first year?

1) Be passionate about your product

Your products or services are the reason you’re starting your business in the first place – that unique, life changing benefit that your business adds to the world. If you think that statement is far-fetched, then so will everyone else.

You must start out as and continue to be the most passionate person about your business.…

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Hiring? Don’t Lose Your Loyal Customers in the Process

Good news! The economy is picking back up, or so they say. Regardless of the politics, a quick survey of business windows does show a surge in “now hiring” signs. This is great news for both the growing business and the thousands of job seekers still looking for jobs”¦or is it?

I talk with many job seekers from all stages of life and all levels of education and there is a common theme to each of the conversations. Businesses are forgetting that their applicants are most likely also some of their biggest fans. People apply to work for the companies that they know and love.…

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CRM and The Ecosystem – External Collaboration System Coexistence

Companies using CRM and MA systems to engage in ecosystem collaboration have not been able to achieve the desired target as these are customer-centric sales and marketing tools. Deploying a PRM system, though a good compromise, has not produced the desired results since the technology is outdated.

An ecosystem collaboration solution effectively replaces PRM systems as they match all the facilities offered by the PRM in addition to meeting   numerous other contemporary requirements for peer-to-peer and community collaboration and multi-channel communication, using social media, messaging, and mobile communication channels.

CRM and The Ecosystem - External Collaboration System Coexistence

PRM is far behind technologically to meet these modern requirements of an organization and has limited communication capabilities in the modern sense, which are evolving by the day.…

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How SMBs Can Profile Their Typical Customer

How SMBs Can Profile Their Typical Customer

Many marketing plans fail because they try to attract everyone and don’t focus on anyone. These faulty plans result in companies selling products that customers don’t want. Thing is, most customers aren’t even at the center of the feedback loop. Even worse, most customers will tell you what they want, if you would just ask.

Making the sketch

Start by surveying your existing client base (no matter how small) to understand future buyers better. Contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t have to be a costly process. There are free tools such as Google Docs and MailChimp that let you create a survey and distribute it easily and affordably.…

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3 Reasons Channel Sales Are Sexy for Certain Start-ups

channel sales for startups

CEOs of innovative tech companies that are ready to bring their product to market can travel down two paths: direct sales reps or channel partners.   While both alternatives provide unique advantages, channel sales have become increasingly appealing for many a Silicon Valley and venture-backed start-up.

Improved Credibility

The most overt benefit of an entrepreneurial firm opting for the channel is the instant access they gain to partners’ existing customer relationships.   For a product that isn’t fully established in the market, consumers likely won’t know to look for your specific offering or brand.

Productive channel partners are in tune with their customers’ wants, so if your product fills a demand gap while also making the partner money, they’ll be willing and able to push it all day long.…

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How to Get Paid What You’re Worth

getting paid what your services are worthFew moments are as energizing in your business as sitting across from a potential client in a meeting that is going well. Your presentation came across smoothly, the client is engaged, they’re ready to buy”¦the only thing left is the price.

You quickly calculate a reasonable price in your head. You know that your competition couldn’t come close to your level of quality – and still you keep your prices in par with theirs.

You tell your prospect your price”¦and the conversation chills. They tell you that they were expecting to pay half of that. What should you do?

Discuss your competition

If what you are offering is genuinely better than the competition, don’t be afraid to highlight your competitors’ weaknesses.…

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Why Shoppers Choose to Use Chat Features

why shoppers use chat features onlineLauren Freeman, President of the e-tailing group (a niche e-commerce consultancy), published a white paper to share the findings of consumer rationale for using chat. Studies were undertaken to determine the “who, what, where and why” behind consumers’ choosing to use an online chat feature.

Online retailers have much to be gained by implementing the best of the live chat experience into their business.   It can be concluded that the six core reasons online shoppers choose to use live chat are multi-faceted:

Shoppers feel special and empowered when they use live chat

Strong expressed strong feelings of appreciation for chat’s availability to solve a problem when sought on their own terms.…

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Small Businesses and Shipping Providers: What Are the Options?

Depending on the industry, small businesses usually depend on logistics and shipping services at some point. While some choose to facilitate those functions internally, others might consider outsourcing the work. When juggling between the two alternatives, it is helpful to consider a few key points.

Any small business owner knows today’s market is extremely competitive, and many small businesses continually battle large businesses to try and stay afloat. Mistakes can be very costly and drive consumers away from a “mom-and-pop” operation to a big business they know will deliver products and results they need. If a business is too small to employ accurate and timely shipping services, it might be better to outsource the work.…

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Lead Nurturing to Maintain Contractor Leads for Local Business

When trying to increase contractor leads for a local business, it’s important to do whatever it takes to not lose them once you get them. If you did, then your efforts would be in vain! Once you’ve already intrigued them enough to visit your site, it’s important to consider how to keep those visitors coming back over and over again. Lead nurturing will allow you to do just that.

lead nurturing tips for local businesses

As we all know, many people like to look around, consider their options, and make sure they are making the right decision before finalizing any purchase transaction. Because of this, it takes a little time to gain a new lead.…

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