The Right Way to Write a Thank-You Note

1. Keep it short. Customers won’t read long notes.  2. Make it personal. Print the note yourself. Add your own stamp instead of company postage marks.  3. Don’t overdo it. If you send notes a lot, the gesture will lose its appeal. Generally a note every three months is reasonable.  4. Don’t always try to sell them something. The […]

Create a ‘Wish List’ to Bolster Your Customer Relationship

When you start a new customer relationship, sit down and make a “wish list” – all the concerns and needs the customer is facing that you might solve. From this, develop a checklist. Every time you make a sales call on that customer, review the list together. See how many things you have accomplished, discuss […]

How Often Should You Advertise?

What are people actually thinking about when they see your ad? Thomas Smith, a nineteenth-century London businessman, offered the following advice to advertisers in 1885. And his words still apply today:  1. The first time people look at your ad, they don’t even see it.  2. The second time, they don’t notice it.  3. The […]

Top Nine Telephone Basics

Phone skills are an important part of the job. The way you handle your phone is as important as a face-to-face meeting. So take the time to go over some of these basics. Here is a phone skills list from Step Hyken, a professional speaker and author specializing in customer service and customer relations.  1. […]

Keep Loyal Customers Satisfied with Personalized Service

While it is important for you to be personable with every customer, your repeat customers deserve service that goes beyond simple courtesies. You should make a serious effort not only to get to know your loyal customers, but also to understand and anticipate their needs and let them know you value them as an asset […]