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Monday Morning Motivators – May 7, 2007
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Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
“Progress is impossible without the ability to admit mistakes.”
--Imai
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Table of Contents
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1. Be a Lighthouse – Linda Fayerweather
2. 4 Ways to Combat the Postage Hike – Part 1 - Rebecca Booth
3. Powerful Testimonials - John Meyer
4. To Do this Week
5. Fine Print
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1. Be a Lighthouse
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Often small business owners get caught in the routine shoals of their business. Michael Gerber, author of the E-myth Revisited coined the phrase “working on your business not in your business” describing this phenomenon. A typical small business with less than 10 employees may have employees with several responsibilities like bookkeeping/reception or manager/human resources and frequently the owner ends up doing anything and everything that falls through the cracks. This is like being a weathervane, always responding to the elements after or when they are happening.
As a Lean proponent, I like to believe that each time a “storm” happens it is an opportunity to develop a standardized way of doing that task. Once this is written and tested it can easily be delegated to others quickly. The more of these types of tasks that are identified, standardized and delegated, the more we business owners can be like a lighthouse looking for opportunities and threats and less serving as weathervane.
Copyright 2007 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
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2. 4 Ways to Combat the Postage Hike – Part 1
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Postage rates increase from $.39 to $.41 on May 14, so plan now to get any of your mailings out before that hike takes place. But what’s going to happen to the rest of your direct mail plans for 2007? Hopefully they won’t wither up and die. Here are a few quick tips you can use ensure your marketing plan stays on track:
• Clean Your List – Many mail houses will clean a list for you for less than $100. One of the best ways to clean a list is to send out your pieces first class at least once a year. The post office will return all undeliverable addresses back to you.
• Segment Your List – Divide your list into ABCD clients (A being the best; B being the second best; C being good, but not great; D are the types of clients you don’t want.) Do the same with prospects and leads. If you’re having to scale back on your direct mail effort, the best thing you can do is to zero in on the B List of prospects and B List of Clients. You have the strongest relationship with you’re A list of clients. So you don’t have to court them as much with mailings. Instead, you can pick up the phone and call.
Copyright 2007 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
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3. Powerful Testimonials
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If you are building your business through referrals, then you need to educate your customers how to give powerful testimonials about you and your services. Most business professionals ask their clients to refer their family, friends, etc., to them. The one glaring mistake that most people forget though is to explain to their clients that the only thing they have to do is talk about their experience with you. Teach them how to do a testimonial instead of just saying "if you know anyone ...." Testimonials are very powerful sales techniques. Ask people who have used your products or services to talk to others about their experience.
Copyright 2007 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
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4. To Do This Week
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Five Week Kaizen of your office.
Week Five – Self-Discipline – If you can keep yourself on track, get an accountability partner to help.
