3 Secrets to Creating an Unforgettable Customer Experience

In this contemporary era, many business owners are realizing that offering great customer service can help boost the growth and expansion of their companies. If you are a business owner in search of strategies that can help create an unforgettable customer experience that keeps your customers buying your goods and/or services throughout their lives, consider implementing the following three strategies.

1. Make Eye Contact.

As many sales experts know, one of the primary ways to build a relationship with a customer is to develop good rapport. Although broadly defined, rapport is basically a harmonious relationship between two individuals or a group. It is marked by people being able to understand one another's feelings and communicate with ease. While there are a wide variety of ways that an employee can build good rapport with a customer, making eye contact can be one of the most effective.

This is the case for several reasons, including the fact that doing so often generates belief in the notion that you are an honest individual who has no ulterior motives for starting the communication process. When a customer senses this type of genuineness, they are much more likely to open up and have a conversation that can translate into the building of a relationship. Once this happens, conversion is almost always imminent. 

1. Give Away Promotional Items.

Another great way to create an unforgettable customer experience is to offer your customers a great promotional product that is imprinted with your company’s logo and contact details. In addition to looking very professional and serving some kind of use to them, promotional products cause the name and company concept they represent to stick in the mind of the consumer. This doesn't have to be something that is expensive. However, it needs to be thoughtful, useful, and attractive in some way. For a truly unique and engaging promotional product, why not order your custom designed Magic 8-ball? With your company's logo and messages imprinted on this iconic toy, you'll leave a lasting impression on your customers while adding an element of fun and intrigue to your brand.

2. Make Eye Contact.

As many sales experts know, one of the primary ways to build a relationship with a customer is to develop good rapport. Although broadly defined, rapport is basically a harmonious relationship between two individuals or a group. It is marked by people being able to understand one another's feelings and communicate with ease. While there are a wide variety of ways that an employee can build good rapport with a customer, making eye contact can be one of the most effective.

This is the case for several reasons, including the fact that doing so often generates belief in the notion that you are an honest individual who has no ulterior motives for starting the communication process. When a customer senses this type of genuineness, they are much more likely to open up and have a conversation that can translate into the building of a relationship. Once this happens, conversion is almost always imminent. 

3. Develop Amazing Product Knowledge.

One often overlooked strategy that is very effective in creating an unforgettable customer experience is developing amazing product knowledge. When customers enter a restaurant or supermarket, they oftentimes need help identifying which product would be appropriate for them to purchase. If you train your staff to become experts in the goods and services you offer, you will wow your customers and help them find what they're looking for much faster.

Conclusion

If you are attempting to further your business by implementing strategies that help create an unforgettable customer experience, you should know that doing so is entirely possible. By implementing the techniques listed above, you will likely find your business growing at a more rapid rate than ever. Good luck!

Setting Your Business’s Marketing Budget

While marketing may not be the lifeblood of a running business, it certainly does keep an organization’s lifeblood flowing. From letting customers know about new products and services to gaining new revenue streams and continually refreshing interest, marketing and advertising have a very important role to play when it comes to staying in the black.

But how important is marketing — not in an ideological way, but in dollars and cents? How much should a business allocate to marketing, and how is a company supposed to arrive at that figure? If times are lean, and you’re more worried about how you’re supposed to afford to print postage, should you still pump money into advertising, or is it wiser to let your marketing dollars fall to the wayside? Here is a quick look at how to set and spend a marketing budget, as well as a pitch for why you need to do it even when you think you can’t afford it.

How to Set a Marketing Budget

A general rule of thumb for most businesses is that they should allocate and spend about 5 percent of their operating budget on marketing and advertising in order to maintain their current level of business. If you want to grow your market share or you have a new product to introduce, however, that figure should jump to at least 8 percent, because pushing past the inertia of what people already know about you can take some added effort.

Beyond those general rules, here are four other methods you can employ when devising your marketing financial plan:

• Utilize a fixed percentage of sales. Take last year’s gross sales or the average sales from the last few years, and allocate a percentage based on those numbers. Five percent is a good amount, but some businesses only spend around 2 percent. The advantages of this technique are that it’s stable and doesn’t try to predict the future, but focusing too much on the past can keep you from being aggressive, and sales are not always directly related to advertising alone, which means your figures may not totally line up.
• Keep up with the Joneses. This method employs doing what your competitors are doing. Whatever the industry marketing expenditures average is, adopt it. It’s easy and predictable, but looking at everyone around you can keep you from effectively increasing your market share.
• Take a task-based approach. Set specific marketing goals, and outline the tasks you’ll have to do to reach them. Then, determine your budget based on how much it will cost to perform those tasks. This method is accurate, but if it fails, it’s probably going to be costly.
• Go all in. If you have a strong stomach for risk, and you want your business to grow quickly, set aside a minimum amount of money with which to do business and put the rest in your marketing budget. Because it’s aggressive, this type of marketing can gain leaps and bounds over a more passive approach, but it’s risky. You’re liable to spend yourself out of business.

How to Spend a Marketing Budget

In order to properly spend the money you’ve set aside on marketing, you need to have a plan. From utilizing social media to television, direct mail and other campaigns, your money needs to be spent with wisdom and intention. Outline the avenues you’ll use, and then, get started. Once you know where your money is going, keep track of whether the expenditures are actually meeting your goals. If you need to adjust or change, do so. A marketing plan needn’t be fixed. Knowing whether or not your money is achieving your marketing goals is much more important than sticking to your plan or sticking to your budget. Compare quarters and campaigns. Analyze sales data and expenditures. Be patient, and be open to things that do and don’t work, and above all, make sure that your plan and its execution are in keeping with who you are and hope to be as a business.

Regardless of the type of business you run, you need people to know about the goods and services you provide so they’re able to purchase them. Even in lean times, you need to treat your marketing budget as a non-negotiable expense, because without awareness, you won’t have customers. Staying in business, remaining competitive, gaining market share — a good marketing plan with a solid and reliable budget will help you achieve these things and more, but you have to do it consistently.

About the Author: Jerry Jacobs is a contributing blogger and freelance marketer.

5 Innovative Tips That Will Drive Your Tourism Business to Success

Tourism as an industry has changed greatly over the years. Once upon a time, individuals interested in travel consulted agencies that would guide them in the best direction for their desires and budgets. The internet has turned many of these would-be customers into amateur travel agents. Now that the novelty of budget travel sites has declined, vacationers are once again looking for tourism businesses to guide their way. However, getting these customers to find you is a struggle faced by every tourism business.

1. Targeted Tourism

One of the best ways to stand out in the tourism industry is to become an expert in a specific field. Focus on a narrow region of the United States, an individual city, or even a specific theme park. Dozens of agencies have found massive success by centering their businesses on DisneyWorld. Another route to choose is helping U.S. citizens travel abroad. Whichever sector of the industry you choose, make sure you have the best tips and the most knowledge, and get as specific as possible within the of your specialization.

2. Promotional Products

Customers will not contact you if they don't know your name. Use local San Antonio bulk promotional products to advertise your tourism business. These promotional products can be imprinted with your company’s logo and contact details so every time they are used by current and potential customers, you gain marketing exposure. Something as simple as a logo pen will literally keep your name at your customers' fingertips. Promotional products like these act as walking billboards, ensuring that you gain repeated marketing exposure every time they are used by recipients. Other great promotional choices for tourism agencies include custom travel bags, personalized coffee mugs, and toiletry kits imprinted with your company logo. Giving your customers small items that they can carry with them could take your name around the world.

3. Court New Clientele

A new tourism business may have high-flying dreams of helping average families attain the vacation they have always wanted. If this is your goal, focus directly on it. However, there are many other groups that are willing and able to spend tourism dollars with you. Think about focusing on seniors, for example. Some have been saving for years in order to travel, but they need someone to help them find the locations that are comfortable, exciting, and safe all at the same time. Other groups to consider are spring-breakers, honeymooners, or business travelers, who arguably have the most disposable money for travel expenses. In fact, even trying to network with business leaders through your might open up a profitable relationship where you can plan business trips and outings.

4. Data Development

Regardless of your focus, offering a travel app to all customers is an excellent service that will keep them returning for all of their future needs. You can develop an app in-house or hire an expert to create it for you. All you need is an idea of what you would like to offer. Will you offer maps, local restaurant guides, packing lists, or all of the above? Look at some of the best travel apps for some ideas of what you should include.

5. Easy Access

Who would have thought that one of the most innovative ideas is also one of the easiest? Allow customers to reach out to you throughout their planning and their vacation. They will feel at ease knowing they can contact you with questions even when they are far from home. This will give you an edge on the competition, many of whom forget about their customers before their plane has left the ground.

A tourism business takes a great deal of care. However, with time, effort, and imagination, your tourism business may be the country's next success story.

Choosing the Right Payday Loans for Your Financial Needs

Loans (Photo credit: zingbot)

Getting Payday Loans, the Brilliant Solution for Solving Your Financial Problems

Having an urgent bill, credit payment, and urgent daily needs that should pay at the same time makes you very confused and suppressed. It can make you get dizzy and no appetite because it is the huge problem in your life. You will definitely find the brilliant way to solve your financial problems. What will you do when you have those financial problems? Coming to the nearest financial company or bank may be the first action that you do. It is used to get emergency quick cash loans in order to overcome your financial problems. Having the right payday loans get easiness for you.

Offering an Easy Process

It is the right action to do but you have to find the best bank or financial company to provide loans with an easy process. Getting a short-term loan is the best solution for your problem. It is often called payday loans that can be used to cover cost of borrower until you get the next salary. Most of banks give an easy process of loaning.

Giving Cash Loans Based On the Needs

Quick cash loans from payday loans are around 100 to 1000 dollars but it can be changing depending on your needs. It means that you can take a loan based on your needs at the time but it should be balanced for your salary and financial ability.

Offering a Quick Process

You can get the cash loans quickly. It only takes less than one hour to get the cash loans. Nevertheless, before you get the cash loans from the bank or financial company, you should meet the requirements including reaching 18 years old, having bank account, having salary or working, and giving address.

Steps to Get Payday Loans to Meet Your Needs

Sometimes, most of people get difficulties in taking payday loans from a bank because they do not know to process it. To get payday loans from a bank, you need to follow some following steps. You will get emergency quick cash loans to pay your bills from the bank easily. It is good to find a financial company which offers simple process. There are only three steps to follow.

Completing Your Personal Identity

The first action to do is entering zip code, identity and occupation information for getting a fast payday loan. You do not need to make a copy or document about your personal identity to take payday loans.

Filling Out Payday Loan Application

Before taking a cash loan, you should fill out payday loan application soon. You will be guided by staffs to give instructions about how much money that you take and other requirements to complete. 

Signing Contract

The last step is signing a payday loan contract from the financial company. The contract includes payment requirements and other important information. You can choose two payment processes through a bank account or online payment.

Those simple steps should be considered before taking loans from a financial company. One of good financial companies is Fast Cash that offers you those all simple and easy steps to take payday loans.

Selecting a Computer for a Senior Citizen

By: Norman Fong

Selecting a Computer for a Senior Citizen

If you have a parent, older relative or older friend who has expressed the desire to own a computer, you may have volunteered to help them out without thinking – and right now you may be wondering how, exactly, to select a computer for someone who will not need the machine for video gaming, business purposes or fancy programs.

It’s true: Senior citizens probably don’t need a computer for the same reasons you need one. But they too deserve satisfaction with the purchase. If you’ve volunteered to help pick one out, there are a few guidelines that will ensure the new computer owner ends up happy – and appropriately educated – with the selection.

Before Buying a Machine

Purchasing a computer can be a daunting task for someone who’s never done it. Arm yourself with a few ideas before hitting the store.

Laptop versus Desktop

The first question to ask is whether the senior wants a laptop or a desktop. There are certainly pros and cons to both choices, but consider the following reasons that a laptop may be the better bet for an older person:

Laptops are portable and lightweight, which means the senior can travel with it easily.
Laptops require less wiring and parts – the monitor, keyboard and mouse are all included in one machine, which may appeal to someone older and intimidated by technology.
Laptops are often less expensive. 

- 10 Windows Tablets for Under $500 -

Mac versus Windows

If you’re a warrior of the old Mac versus PC argument – and you’re devoted to one answer – you may be tempted to convert a senior citizen to your own preference. But don’t be. Instead, share the following benefits of each computer type and let them decide.

Mac Pros

• It’s often easier to learn a Mac’s software; they are known to be more user-friendly. 
• Macs are durable and long-lasting. 
• Macs are less susceptible to viruses – which could be a plus if your senior is just learning to navigate the Web. 

PC Pros

• PCs are less expensive. 
• PCs are also less expensive when it comes to repair and purchasing software. 
• The PC world offers more software options and a wider range of peripherals, from printers to speakers to joysticks. 

Helpful Features

Make sure the computer you’re buying has the proper features to help seniors navigate easily and in comfort. Here are some to consider. Most computers come with these features built in, but checking them out and learning how to use them is important.

• Screen resolution and contrast: Depending on the computer owner’s preferences, most screens can be adjusted for size of text and contrast. Typically, you can use keyboard shortcuts or menu options to achieve the desired effect. 
• Touch screen: Many computers now offer a touch screen option, which a senior citizen may find more comfortable – especially those who suffer from arthritis or who have trouble moving around easily. 
• Sound: Obviously, you can turn up the volume on the machine to the new owner’s liking. But voiceover – when the computer “talks” to the owner – can also be a helpful tool. 
• Software: How do you determine what software packages to install for the new machine? First of all, find out what the owner has in mind. Quiz him or her about interests. In most cases, the built-in software in the computer will be sufficient, but there also are programs that “simplify” software for seniors, including Internet access. 

After Buying a Machine

We can’t stress this enough: If the new owner is not tech-savvy, set up the new machine to make it easy for the user to carry out basic functions.

Accounts and Passwords

Don’t let the new owner get confused by the bevy of usernames and passwords he or she will need in order to sign into various accounts such as email, video chat and social media. Keep some of these tips in mind: Simple is best. Don’t make usernames and passwords too complex. On the other hand, don’t get lazy about passwords – the name of a pet, grandchild or another point of reference is better than something easy to hack such as sequential numbers. Urge the new computer owner to write down usernames and passwords and keep this information in a safe place.

Protection

Inexperienced Internet users may stumble upon websites that will compromise the computer. That said, setting up a simple virus protection program is a good idea. It’s also important to teach the new computer owner to protect private information such as physical address and Social Security identification – especially if he or she will be using the Internet for medical or other personal matters.

Web Access

Don’t depend on accessing the neighbor’s Internet – such a plan compromises security, and it’s far from dependable. Instead, suggest that your senior citizen friend invest in cable Internet and use a direct ethernet cable connection, which is simpler than going wireless.

Remember, helping a senior citizen purchase and set up his or her first computer is easier than you might think. With a little patience and humor, they’ll be up and running in no time.

This article, Selecting a Computer for a Senior Citizen, is syndicated fromModernLifeBlogs and is posted here with permission.

The Bigger They Are The Harder They Can Fall

There are entrepreneurs who win all their battles but still manage to lose the war. A new company that experiences an abnormal growth spurt may sound like a dream come true, but unless the owner/manager is prepared ahead of time for such sudden success it may become a very bumpy victory indeed! The Greeks called it a Pyrrhic victory; a victory that almost costs more than defeat. The kind of victory an entrepreneur can’t afford to have if he or she wants to nurture his or her business into a solid, stable enterprise.

Of course, there are those entrepreneurs who relish the high seas of uncertainty and the piratical gamble of unstructured and unsupervised growth, thinking such things are recognized world-wide as a sure sign of success; but this kind of operation almost inevitably succumbs to the workaday realities of the business world and then founders, leaving investors and employees high and dry.

What are the specific challenges a new, fast-growth company faces in today’s business climate? Gary Kunkle, a research partner at Evolution Capital Partners, has done extensive research on thousands of swift-growing companies. His data base is now enormous, and his conclusions are far-reaching and thought-provoking. Here, in a nutshell, are two of them:

· The staff can’t keep up with newer, more complex demands. When a company really takes off and its sales and services increase exponentially, the staff that could easily handle a hundred sales orders per day may not be the staff that can just as easily handle a thousand orders a day. Logistics can change in the blink of an eye, but people tend to go slowly into new territory, sticking to the tried and true methods that worked for them yesterday – not realizing that old methodologies can’t handle new challenges.

Some entrepreneurs are cold-blooded enough to simply let such staffing go, but the really smart operators are aware of the time, effort, and money it took to train their original staff in the first place, and do not want to let that talent leave – to possibly work for a competitor! So instead they train their staff from the get-go to prepare for “second-tier staffing”. This means that the current logistics manager is aware that at some future point an ‘executive’ logistics manager may be appointed, to take some of the more complex procedures off of his or her hands. The smart employee at a new company will understand this concept, and be grateful for it. According to Kunkle, it is one of the best ways to prevent high employee turnover in a new company that experiences fast growth.

· The cash flow conundrum. Let’s say your new startup strikes a bonanza when a major corporation or government agency contracts with your company to provide a huge amount of product and/or service. In order to meet this new and potentially lucrative commitment you immediately hire an additional 30 people. They go to work and soon your startup is producing the promised outcome – but you are not going to be paid for this excellent work until it is completed, finished. And that won’t be for six more months. In the meantime, where are you going to get the funds to pay those 30 new employees?

According to Kunkle, it is surprising how often a new business owner will become mesmerized by future profit potential without bothering about current fiscal needs. Such unwary entrepreneurs grow themselves into a financial bind that may end their entire company. Always anticipate the need for cash infusions, says Kunkle.

This means keeping your line of credit open and healthy, and flexible, with your bankers. Also be on the lookout for other investors who may be interested in investing in a sure thing when you can show them the big, fat contract you have just signed. And finally, there’s nothing wrong in asking your new client for a down payment for future product and services, especially if it is a government contract. Government agencies are notoriously dilatory in paying their final bills, because of the vast amount of paper work they must wade through, and, of course, the always imminent threat of another Sequester.