Posts Tagged ‘Communication’
The Essentials of an Effective Business Disaster Recovery Plan
If there’s any guarantee in life, it’s to expect the unexpected. Small businesses are the most impacted when it comes to disasters because they do not usually have a formal disaster recovery plan. As a result, 40 to 60 percent of small businesses close permanently after a disaster, according to Liberty Mutual Insurance. Do what…
Read MoreDon’t Cut Yourself Short—Go Long Form
In a world where 140-character tweets, Facebook posts, and USA Today style graphics are the range, it’s easy to assume that brevity is the key to great content creation. Add to that the reality that more and more of us are accessing our online news, social networks and other content via our smartphones and it…
Read MoreSilence Kills
I had to call United’s 800-number the other day to change an existing ticket. At each step of modifying my ticket, the customer service rep would have to key in some data and then there would be this long silence. I couldn’t hear him typing or even a single breath. I assumed he was still…
Read MoreAvoid These 3 Frustrating Marketing Errors
I collect marketing boo-boos like some people collect stamps or rare coins. Yes, I save marketing emails and other marketing communications from vendors that are either frustrating, demonstrate poor customer experience, or make no sense. I thought I’d share some recent examples, so you can see what to avoid! Example #1 As a Starwood Preferred and…
Read MoreThe Review is In
Last week we explored how customers have taken to the web, social networks and review sites when they have something to say about a company or any customer service need—good or bad. This isn’t just a retail problem. B-to-B customers can complain about you on Twitter or Facebook and there are new review sites cropping…
Read MoreNuance So Subtle We Often Miss It
Nuance is important to our ability to connect with impact to our customers and our people. Yet, too often, we miss it, or completely ignore it. Let’s start with what nuance is: 1 :a subtle distinction or variation “Nuances of flavor and fragrance cannot be described accurately …” —Scott Seegers “… these terms have certain…
Read MoreThey’re Talking About You on Social Media
I think it’s probably the understatement of our generation to say that the troika of the computer, Internet, and social media has completely changed the way everyone does business. Even if you own a single location, Mom and Pop shop – the Internet and social media touch your business. Whether you engage there or not.…
Read MoreThere Will Be Some Tethering
Imagine sitting in your dentist’s chair, the sharp end of a blade hovering just above your face, mere inches away from making contact. At that moment you hear the dentist utter the following five words: “There will be some tethering.” The patient — wondering as to any potential relationship between said sharp instrument and his…
Read MoreCold Calling or Email Prospecting? The Choice Depends on Your Audience
Business media is overflowing with advice about new marketing and sales strategies that result in a satisfactory ROI. There has been a lot of talk lately about the power of Big Data and complex analytics, about multiplatform and omnichannel reach to potential customers, while “stellar customer experience” is on everyone’s lips. However, entrepreneurs and managers…
Read MoreHow to Leverage the 2-by-2 Rule to Close Your Next Sales Call
Time is money, as the old saying goes. That said, are you and your team making the most effective use of your resources when it comes to prospecting? We’re big proponents of the two-by-two rule at my company. Simply put, the two-by-two rule means finding two pieces of information about a company to leverage in…
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