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There is no doubt that 2009 has been tough, many businesses haven’t weathered the storm, many have profited on the situation and many have managed to stay afloat. Most have broke even and have to try and start a New Year with only positive hopes for where the economy is heading in 2010. There is a saying that goes “it costs more money to find a new customer than to keep an old one”. In these times this is a good maxim to run your business by.  Whether you offer ... Read More »

“A customer is the most important visitor on our premises; he is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favour by serving him. He is doing us a favour by giving us an opportunity to do so”. Mahatma Gandhi Read More »

In the last of our three-part series on how to build a great reputation for your business, we look at the real ‘crunch’ point of the whole process – generating business from all your efforts. Whilst it’s great to obtain publicity, recommendations and opportunities to be ‘visible’ to your target market – if these don’t lead to new or repeat business, they won’t justify all the time and energy you’ve invested. Read More »

In trying to raise the profile of your business, do you really have to burn money on advertising and direct mail? Are there alternative channels that will reach your audience and stimulate a strong response? Last month, in the first of our ‘profile-building’ series, we explored the benefits of creating a powerful reputation for you and your business, one that: Read More »

This is a perfect time to spruce up your business development and pursue opportunities that will mean new work from existing customers and new work from new customers. Here’s three things you can do to keep the contracts coming in. More work for existing customers Make contact – start with your existing customers by contacting them to check they are happy with your service and products. Read More »

Feeling the crunch?  Here are 10 ways to beat the downward trend and keep your business on the right track. 1. Look at more at cost effective ways to market your business. E-marketing is a very powerful and cost effective way to market your business. It enables you to send out newsletters, mailshots, special offers and loyalty schemes directly to your customers via their email address at no extra cost, you save on postage and/or printing costs too. Read More »

How many of your customers really love what you do? Would they want to help keep your business growing rather than watch it decline? If you have great customers, why not harness their satisfaction and turn them into ambassadors to try and win more business? Read More »

How to protect your prized possessions – your customers I was talking with a colleague the other day and they described the current business landscape as ‘unchartered territory’. The events that have unfolded over the last few months have indeed been dramatic. Sizeable, high profile businesses have announced difficulties, governments have been forced to intervene and all this has painted a picture of the unthinkable fast becoming a reality. History is certainly unfolding in front of our eyes and who knows what the next few months might bring? Read More »

What would you do if you’ve been operating in a market without a competitor, and then one appears? Do you ignore it, suggest tie-ups, share expertise, or wage all out war? Read More »

It’s back to business after the summer lull and for many of us that means looking at the order book and (possibly) facing the fact that a good sprinkle of marketing and business development wouldn’t go amiss. But like me, do you hate getting on the phone and cold calling potential customers? Do you doubt whether a mass mail-shot will bring you that vital return on investment? Will that ad really set the phone, website and email buzzing? Read More »