Fantastic Friday: Creating Relationships with Clients

I was decluttering this morning and ran across a half sheet of paper with notes in "my" handwriting that must be from a small business seminar or online class that I took. No clue where or when but the peice of paper was a good reminder to me to double check that I am staying on task. With apologies for not know the sourse, here is what the paper says:

What does our customer need to know about our company?

"Quality" doesn't mean anything instead customers want to know:

• years of experience
• testimonials
• endorsements
• case studies

How does our customer know they can trust us?

Are we doing anything that makes it difficult for our customers to buy?

And here are MY questions to you:

1. Do you have on your website how long you have been in business?
2. Do you have testimonials and endorsements on your website that can be found easily?
3. Do you have links to case studies involving your products on your website?
4. Are you doing everything possible to help your customers buy from you?

If the answer is NO to any of those questions, roll up your sleeves and GET TO WORK today to turn that NO into a YES. YES means more sales!

Have a FANTASTIC FRIDAY!

Fantastic Friday: Overcoming Difficult Clients

My husband and I have been running our custom furniture business together for over 10 years. We have shipped furniture to over four thousand happy customers all over the U.S. and even a few other countries, as well.

Every once in a while, a client comes along that for whatever reason, throws a monkey wrench in the works. Luckily, I can say this has only happened a handful of times in the past 10 years. However, it is hard not to take it personal.

The thing is, we know we do a great job and make a fine quality product. We also know that no matter we do, these difficult clients will never be happy because they are miserable in their own lives.

Each situation is different and there is no magic cure all for overcoming difficult clients. The only thing you can do is to post your terms and conditions on your website, make the best product you know how to make and stand behind your terms and your product. Open up the machine and yank that monkey wrench out and then move on.

It also helps to keep a file of letters from satisfied clients that you can pull out and read to lift your spirits! Post your testimonials to your website and be proud of a job well done!

Fantastic Friday: 10 Year Anniversay

August marks the ten year anniversay of my company, Wood Designs, Inc.! Under our brand Shaka Studios, we handcraft fine custom furniture using a traditional Early American construction philosophy.

As a special gift to our SuperWAHMz readers, I'd like to offer 20% off your internet purchase when placed using this link before August 3o, 2008.

Have a fantastic Friday!
Kandas

Look Big but Act Small

After finishing my first line I was so excited to show my samples to bridal stores in the area and get this business off to a big start. I quickly realized that to get my foot in the door I had to convince them I was a big company, no one was interested in doing business with a small start up. However once they saw the line and bought form me, what made them happy was all the things that a small start up could offer them. When they called with a question they were talking to the designer. When they forgot to order something and needed it in less than a week, it was no problem. When the bride wanted to make changes to the veil or the headpiece I could accommodate. My customers learned that doing business with a company like mine was a great way to go. They quickly became dependent on the kind of service I could give them.

I guess the moral to my story is that when you need to impress your future customers look, act and sound the part, then once you have won them over, you can show them what great service a small business can offer

Jill