It?s January and the temperatures across the country are arctic-like. What better time to settle down for the evening with a nice hot cup of cocoa and catch up on your reading of articles that will help you take your business to a new level in 2013!
First up, I want to point those of you who are at the beginning of your small business ownership journey to a great resource offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration. If you?re still in the stage of thinking about starting your own business, their Small Business Readiness Assessment will help you decide if you?re ready to take this big step. The assessment asks 25 questions about your personal characteristics, personal circumstances, and skills and experiences. It?s quick, painless and may provide you with some important insights as to whether this is the right time to pursue your entrepreneurial dream.
Next up is ?Dear CEO: Here Are Four Ways to Deliver Great Customer Service? by author and consultant Errol Allen from YFS Magazine (YSF stands for young, fabulous and self-employed). Allen writes about the four Cs of customer service: commitment, completeness, consistency and communication. I think this article is a great primer on customer service that all small business owners should refer to frequently and also share with employees.
Finally, from American Express Open Forum, I highly recommend ?How to Upsell Without Selling Your Soul,? by Julie Rains. Sales skills do not come naturally to many small business owners; they?re experts in their fields but have not necessarily had much ? or even any ? sales training. So they end up going about it the wrong way, especially when trying to move a customer from an average, moderately priced selection or an outstanding selection at a premium price. Some people don?t even try to upsell because they feel guilty about trying to get the customer to spend more. This article provides seven tips on how to successfully upsell and how to do it without feeling guilty.
Stay warm and happy reading!
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