I found these images online a couple of days ago and had no idea what they were advertisements for until now. The ads were designed for a “pro condom” group called DUE. I originally thought the baby’s hand was holding a quarter but when I looked closer I realized it was a condom! The company uses the tagline “Don’t forget to use ‘em Please.” The best part of this is that the company is trying to address the destructive nature of having ugly kids……what?! See more at Coloribus.
So I got really pissed today as usual and decided to share my ‘learning experience’ with everyone. I called Citibank to check up on a student loan and was presented with the 10 minute jump around of “Press 1 to….. Press 2 to….”
In this case, I wanted to resolve the issue of getting my student loan through to the school and to see why it was not processing. Of course, checking the frequently asked questions on their website would do nothing for me other than waste more time.
So I went ahead and pressed “2 for start a new account.” If the option for “cancel my account” is available you might want to try that too because in either case you’ll be immediately connected to the next customer service associate who’ll be kissing your butt ready to help you out.
The majority of small business owners rely on only 2-3 marketing strategies for pulling potential customers within their grasp. However, the fact is that “Caffeine Marketing” is about encompassing all possible marketing resources available and gaining a profit from it. Here are a few tactics for gaining more customers and referrals:
1) Referrals: The key to productive referral business is a proactive approach. You cannot sit back with a good image and expect that business will be driven in. Never assume that you current clients or customers will refer you. Ask them for a referral. Send out business gifts and thank you cards to current clients to help smack your companies name back in their mind. People will usually not accept something for free. Especially when they are satisfied customers they are 10x more likely to refer you for being so generous.
2) Writing: Industry experts are highly recognized and praised. Article writing and submitting those articles to the masses will help you get recognized in your industry, amongst your competitors as a threat, and increase awareness. The internet is filled with e-zines looking for material to send out to their paid subscribers and customers. I write at least 1-2 articles PER DAY and then take the next day to submit the articles I write Read the rest of this entry »
Be sure to train your employees to provide the utmost care after a customer has made a purchasing decision. After a customer makes a purchase we call their emotions the ‘maximum customer satisfaction gap’.
During this time, reinforce the benefits of your product or service. This is because psychology tells us these customers are more likely to tell their friends (give referrals) about your products or services right after they make the decisions.
Day by day the satisfaction will dwindlTelling customers before and during their purchase the benefits can only last a few days. During those few days they might not find the time to tell others. Give them a brochure, catalog, or membership benefits packet. It has to be flashy and not simply a white piece of paper with words on it. This could easily become the gum on the bottom of the waste paper basket if you do not put in the additional customer service after the Read the rest of this entry »
Who wants a free pen with your company’s name on it? I don’t and I doubt many others do. I recently advised a small business that was charging customers $10.00 if they wanted to purchase a t-shirt with the business’s name on it to stop. Sure they sold shirts to about 10% of their members but the profit margin was only $4.00 per shirt.
Instead, I advised them that during the initial sign up for each new member the business owner provide a free t-shirt with the business’s name on it in exchange for filling out a short survey designed to categorize who were the business’s customer base. In order to get the t-shirt the customer would have to sign up for a minimum of 6 months. I did so because the business owner was cold calling new potential members out of the phone book and I felt this was Read the rest of this entry »
Your web site can be a great tool for gathering information on who your customers are. The ‘Pareto Effect’ tells us that we should focus on 20% of our customer base that buys from us 80% more than the rest of your customer base. Defining who those people are is essential to success.
Treat that 20% of your customer base like kings. Make them aware of specials, events, and new products ahead of time. Those 20% are most likely to use word of mouth to tell their friends about your specials and products and refer them to your web site.
Newsletter – With your web site you must use it to your advantage. The best thing to remember is that web sites are not traditional forms of advertising. They are not meant to be static like print advertisement. Your customer base will appreciate it if you allow them to sign up for a newsletter and inform them via Read the rest of this entry »
Not everyone knows these things…they aren’t written in stone. But avoiding the following things CAN increase the success of your web site and your visitors will thank you by visiting over and over again.
If You Build it, They Won’t Come
Hasn’t nearly every web hosting and designing company told you that the minute you get your business online you are seen by 30 million customers! Unfortunately it’s not THAT easy. This isn’t Field of Dreams.
Your website, as I’ve mentioned before, can be a virtual office, an online store that is open 24/7, handling requests for info, providing company information as well as customer service. The fact is, however, you Read the rest of this entry »
“We are updating our records. We need you to login to your account immediately to update your personal information. If you do not log into your PayPal account and update your information, your PayPal account will be deleted.”
Have you received emails like this? How do you know it’s really from PayPal, or your bank? Chances are you are being scammed.
It’s called “phishing”–Internet scammers sending messages claiming to be from your Internet service provider (ISP), bank, online payment service, or even government agency. They may ask you to “update”, “validate”, or “confirm” personal info (credit card & bank accounts, Social Security number, passwords, etc.).
These messages might direct you to a website that looks likeyour bank or ISP or Read the rest of this entry »
Every business, whether large or small, local or international, can greatly benefit from these key things that can occur when you put up a web site:Â
Shave time off your workday.
Having your web site readily available for the public saves time for you because it acts like a virtual office/store 24 hours a day, and therefore you do not have to sit down and make up mailings and take unnecessary phone calls.
All you have to do is give them the web site address and let them view the pertinent section of the site which they are calling about. Let Their Fingers Do the Walking, then Surfing.Web sites can increase the response rate of your existing advertising efforts. A study was recently done by Verizon and Quest, which showed that response to Yellow Page ads increases by 30-40% when Read the rest of this entry »
1. Acknowledge stress is good
Make stress your friend! Based on the body’s natural “fight or flight†response, that burst of energy will enhance your performance at the right moment. I’ve yet to see a top sportsman totally relaxed before a big competition. Use stress wisely to push yourself that little bit harder when it counts most.
2. Avoid stress sneezers
Stressed people sneeze stress germs indiscriminately and before you know it, you are infected too!
Protect yourself by recognising stress in others and limiting your contact with them. Or if you’ve got the inclination, play stress doctor and teach them how to better manage themselves.
3. Learn from the best
When people around are losing their head, who keeps calm? What are they doing differently? What is their attitude? What language do they use? Are they Read the rest of this entry »
 If you’re anything like me, you work hard, but you know you could achieve much more if only you could get organized. But then, you’ve tried all sorts of things to get you organized, from paper files, to task lists in Outlook, mind maps and post it notes. But it doesn’t work – one way or another you always end up swamped.Â
Recently, my team and I have completed an organizational process that has revolutionized the way Read the rest of this entry »
Here’s how to get one step ahead of your competition - write a post job interview thank you letter. It says you’re keen, professional and the kind of person they want to hire. And it might be the deciding factor that gets you the job.In a highly competitive job market, anything that lets you stand out is a good thing. If your last letter was to your uncle thanking them for birthday money, you might benefit from bettering your letter writing skills.
Job Interview Thank You Letter vs.
Job Interview Thank You Note
Letters are formal, usually typed and professional. Notes are more informal, usually hand-written and more casual. It’s your call which approach is more appropriate, although it’s best to err towards being too polite and too professional.
Pigeon post, jungle drums or email ?
You want to get your interview follow up letter in front of the interviewers BEFORE they Read the rest of this entry »
At the second you meet someone they will be making a first impression about you just as you make an impression of them.
Since those first few moments of interacting with someone of importance in your business life are so crucial here are a few business etiquette tips to keep in mind when interacting with colleagues and business associates:
1. When meeting someone for the first time extend a firm handshake. Be aware of whose hand your shaking and who you are in relation to that person when determining a handshake grip. Be too forceful and that might show your trying to be dominant over your Read the rest of this entry »
There are some people in society and the business setting who are very fearful of initiating a conversation with someone they do not know. Those “social phobia†persons are often quickly cured when someone starts the conversation for them. The easiest way to cure this phobia at your next business meeting or social gathering might just jump up and bite your neck.
NATURAL LIGHT!
Psychology tells us that people are more likely to approach someone who is standing in a natural light source than anyone else. This seems far fetched but give it a try.
Instead of approaching and failing time and time again trying to fit in simply take your drink and lean by a window with the light shining in. Within minutes someone will undoubtly approach you as long as you’ve showered that day of course.
Matthew Peschong
Minnesota Website Design
When you forget someone’s name don’t ask. Get them to tell you!
This has happened to all of us. Someone approaches you who you remember their face and their story but just can’t get their name to pop in your head. This situation can be embarrassing and cost you big time in the business setting.
But believe me; this problem can be handled gracefully and without being noticed.
Rule: Do not ask “Who Are You?â€
Rather, when the person approaches you say “Glad to see you.†Ask the person what they’ve been up to (without mentioning names) and try to get a feel for their story. They might drop clues that will jolt your memory as to what their name is.
If you remembered their name after the person talks about what they’ve been up to simply slide their name into the conversation such as “Well that sounds pretty exciting Rick, by the way, I have gone to that same island last year on a business conference.†Subtle and graceful you are.
But what if you still can’t remember their name after hearing their story?
Don’t worry. There’s more.
Get the person to reintroduce themselves from the first time they met you. As you did in the beginning, put yourself out there with a firm handshake and welcome them with your name.
(Handshake) “Matt Peschongâ€
(Handshake) “John Smith, it’s great to see you again Mattâ€
Simple as that.
Solve an unpleasant experience with this simple trick. It will help put you at ease and the other person at ease as well. You never know if they are in the same forgetful situation as you. But admitting your guilt might get you in trouble so use these tactics.
Matthew Peschong
Minnesota Website Design
