Archive for the ‘Client Relations’ Category
Wednesday, June 7th, 2023
One of the key lessons I remember from a time when I did a lot of writing about consulting and had the opportunity to interact with dozens, maybe hundreds, of consultants, was the importance of focusing on prospecting even when you’re very, very busy.
It’s wisdom that I was well aware of when I started my business, Strategic Communications, in 2008, and at first was very easy to do. I wasn’t that busy after all during the early days (especially since this was 2008 and the beginning of a recession!). But as many consultants warned me what I’ve fallen prey to over the years was slacking off on prospecting when my workload became too heavy. (more…)
Tags: Business development, connecting with prospects, constant prospecting, prospect nurturing
Posted in Business Development, Career Advice, Client Relations | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 26th, 2023
Social media can be a great way for businesses of all types and sizes to connect with their audiences and stay connected with them! In fact, for small businesses in particular, a social media strategy focused specifically on customers (rather than prospects, or the masses) offers the greatest potential to not only keep but to grow business.
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Tags: customer communications, customer first marketing, customer recommendations, customer referrals, referral marketing, spreading word of mouth, word of mouth
Posted in Business Development, Client Relations, Small Business Strategy | No Comments »
Monday, March 13th, 2023
“XYZ customer thinks our product should do ABC!” or “XYZ customer doesn’t understand…”
These conversations are often accompanied by chuckles, eye rolling and agreement among many, if not all, members of the group that the “customers just don’t get it.”
That may be true. But if they don’t, whose fault is it? Yours!
(more…)
Tags: Customer Service, listening to customers, marketing research, voice of the customer
Posted in Business Development, Client Relations | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 26th, 2022
If you’re not on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or other social media sites —and believe it or not, many, many people are not!—you may be missing out on some very important conversations. Some of these conversations may be about you!
In working with a client recently, we did some quick online research and they were shocked (more…)
Tags: brand analysis, Brand Management, Customer Communication, managing an online presence, monitoring customer sentiment, Social Media, social media monitoring
Posted in Client Relations, Marketing and Branding | No Comments »
Thursday, December 2nd, 2021
One of the most common mistakes I see many businesses fall prey to, and especially small businesses, is focusing too much on getting in new customers/clients and not enough on nurturing the customers they already have. I think most businesspeople are widely familiar with data that indicates that existing customers represent more value in terms of repeat business, at less investment of time and money, than seeking new clients/customers. Yet far too many small businesses, perhaps because they’re worried about keeping the customer pipeline full, neglect the customers they already have.
Savvy small businesses can take steps to nurture those new customer relationships by being proactive and process-oriented in their approach. For instance:
(more…)
Tags: attracting and retaining customers, attracting customers, building customer relations, communicating with customers, customer appreciation, Customer Communication, Customer Service
Posted in Business Development, Client Relations | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 16th, 2021
First there was AIDA, then the notion of a sales “funnel” emerged and the concept of a buyer’s journey that began at the top of the funnel (TOFU), moved to the middle of the funnel (MOFU) and ultimately ended with a sale at the bottom of the funnel (BOFU). But is this concept too simplistic—and too linear—to truly represent today’s buyer’s journey? Was this model ever relevant in a business-to-business environment? Are content marketers wasting their time attempting to create copy that focuses, discreetly, on TOFU, MOFU, BOFU?
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Tags: Advertising, AIDA, buyer's journey, Marketing, marketing strategy, Sales, sales funnel, sales strategy, top-of-funnel
Posted in Business Development, Client Relations, Internet Marketing, Marketing and Branding, Marketing Communication | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 17th, 2021
I do a lot of presentations (and since the pandemic emerged, webinars) on marketing-related topics. When I do, I try to provide as much practical and useful advice as I can. I don’t worry about “giving away my secrets” for a couple of reasons:
- They’re not that secret—they’re just good, proven, elements of effective marketing and communication.
- Telling someone how to do something rarely translates into the ability to actually do that something.
- The small business owners and entrepreneurs—and, often, even senior and very seasoned marketing executives in large organizations—simply don’t have the time to do it themselves.
They often need to call upon others—agencies or freelancers—to help them out. (more…)
Tags: finding an agency, finding freelancers, help with marketing, hiring an agency, marketing assistance, marketing consultants, marketing contractors, social media consultants
Posted in Client Relations, Content Marketing, Marketing and Branding, Small Business Strategy | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 29th, 2021
I saw a very interesting question in an online group I monitor recently: “Is it ever a good idea to give your work away?”
In this case, the question was related to consulting services but the question could just as easily apply to companies selling tangible products. And, perhaps, it is in comparing the two ─ services and tangible products ─ that this answer can make the most sense: “Yes, there are definitely times when giving your work─or your products─away can be a good idea!”
But when?
(more…)
Tags: Business development, charging for your services, charging for your work, Customer Communication, giving your work away, pro bono, product sampling, speaking fees, Strategy
Posted in Business Development, Client Relations, Marketing and Branding, Small Business Strategy | No Comments »
Thursday, June 17th, 2021
COVID-19 has upended a number of industries and jobs. Among the professions that have been hardest hit are sales and business development, which have traditionally relied on face-to-face interactions to build networks and relationships. People who ply those trades have had to pivot to remote selling with mixed success. (more…)
Tags: best practices in social media marketing, Customer Communication, Customer Service, effective sales, Innovation, online marketing, Sales, sales and marketing, selling online, Technology
Posted in Business Development, Client Relations, Internet Marketing, Marketing and Branding, Remote Work | No Comments »
Saturday, December 19th, 2020
It’s fair to say that few, if any, companies—or their communication staff—were prepared to respond quickly and appropriately to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. As millions of employees suddenly found themselves working remotely from their homes and millions of customers found themselves suddenly shut off from the companies and brands they typically engaged with, communication professionals began grappling with important questions, including the following: (more…)
Tags: content marketing, Customer Communication, Customer Service, digital marketing, marketing best pratices, marketing during COVID-19, online marketing
Posted in Business Development, Client Relations, Content Marketing, Internet Marketing, Marketing and Branding | No Comments »
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