February is a time to reflect on the relationships you’ve built with the ones you love. And for small business owners, few relationships are as treasured as those you’ve cultivated with your customers. By developing a customer relationship marketing strategy, you not only strengthen ties with existing customers, but are certain to woo new ones…
It’s something about those intricate patterns on the front of adult coloring books that consumers just can’t seem to resist. Be it paisley or geometric, flowers or fairies, consumers are trading their styluses for colored pencils, eager to add color to their mood. And who wouldn’t? Titles boast words like “mindfulness,” “relaxed,” and “tranquility.” And…
We’re all in the people business. Regardless of what you sell, there’s a person behind ever dollar made. And it’s not just your customer. Employee engagement has a direct impact on customer experience. Not knowing what motivates your employees will make it nearly impossible to deliver on your brand promise of serving your customers. What is…
An interesting phenomenon has occurred in the digital age – consumers are now listening to the opinions of strangers to influence their purchasing decisions. With sites like Yelp, Angie’s List, and Goodsnitch, consumers are now able to rate their experience and provide detail on what they liked and did not like with this information being…
The customer may not always be right, but the customer is certainly at the center of a brand that is top of mind. And the way these brands pull that off is by delivering exceptional customer experiences that go beyond the 800 number and help enrich the lives of their customers. Sounds like a tall…
We’ve reached a tipping point. Brands are no longer competing solely on the quality of their products and services. Consumer sentiment is favoring brands who not only deliver the “goods”, but the service to match. When combined, these brands offer a contagious customer experience that these newly minted brand advocates – customers – can’t wait…
Let’s face it. We need repeat sales to make this thing called business work. Even our best efforts fall short if we fail to get customers to buy the right products, at the right price, at the right time, not just once, but over and over again. But many of us settle for becoming a one hit…
It’s official. Spring is on the horizon and warmer days are ahead. Time for daffodils and buttercups, yard sales and remodeling. Time to clean out the closets and de-clutter the work shed, pull up the weeds and plant the garden. It’s indeed time for new beginnings. And as a small business owner, what better way…
Now more than ever, customers are swimming in an endless pool of information. Just about every topic you can think of is searchable online and findable on Google. Yet when it comes to solving their specific problems, many customers feel left to drift at sea, clinging desperately to our websites, social platforms, or physical locations…
The reality is, businesses need paying customers to stay afloat. But, as the marketing machine continues to churn out new ways of attracting them, often times, as business owners, we find ourselves moving further and further away from the very people we’re trying to connect with – customers. As a marketer, I’ll admit, things…
“The customer is always right.” A classic saying championed by retail moguls like Marshall Field way back in the 1800s and is still alive and well today. In fact, empowered with smartphones and tablets, customers are supplying feedback on their experiences at the point of sale and sharing it with the masses. So, it seems as if the balance of…
Starbucks. Â Finally. Â Crap, the parking lot is full! No..wait, there’s a spot. I almost missed it..I’ll just back in. After I park, I cut the engine and trip out of my car. I try not to run, but can’t help it – it’s already been one of those mornings and they have something I really…