Small Business and Entrepreneurship Experts, Tips and Advice | BizLaunch Small Biz Blog
Tuesday, March 16th at 2PM EST – 9 Steps to Building a Successful Website for Small Business
Wednesday, March 17th at 2PM EST – 7 Secrets to Building a Successful Business – A Growth Strategy
Thursday, March 18th at 2PM EST – Low Cost No Cost Marketing Ideas You Can Use to Grow Your Business
{ Comments }
Small business owners should quote services using ‘good, fast or cheap’ matrix
Afraid to stand up to that pushy customer and risk losing the job, many entrepreneurs agree to supply their wonderful services for an unrealistic mix of money, quality and time.
Charging for services can be tricky, especially if you’re running a one-person show and typically earn by the hour because every customer wants the job done ‘good, fast and cheap’.
You’ve likely heard this one before.
The customer wants high quality work from you (so they can look good to their boss) to be completed in a very short time (because they failed to plan ahead) for very little money (because they failed to establish adequate budgets).
Next time you’re asked to quote, present the words ‘good, fast and cheap.’ Tell them they can have two.
For example, if your work must be ‘good and fast’, explain to your customer how you must displace other paying customers, work late into the night, miss out on family time, skip meals and chain yourself to the desk. You may be willing to do all that for a premium rate.
If they want it ‘cheap and good’ – guess what? It won’t be done quickly because you must first attend to other, better paying jobs that are already scheduled for completion. Lower-paying work is done during off-peak hours whenever you can get to it and will therefore take longer to finish.
‘Fast and cheap’ delivers a result that won’t be very good. Without the customer investment of sufficient production time and adequate budget, quality will suffer because you must rush. In fact, you may opt to preserve your good reputation by declining such work, or referring a colleague who is willing to do it.
You get the idea. Customers will always demand good, fast and cheap together; but, time, money and quality are opposites.
Boost your bucks, reduce your stress and protect your reputation by taking reasonable control of such customer expectations. Your work is worth it.
{ Comments }
{ Comments }
{ Comments }
According to research done by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation:
Over the last 14 years that I have trained business owners. The most successful business owners we have trained:
To build a great economy you need to:
….. and they’ll create jobs. So if you’re in Economic Development follow these simple steps and you’ll grow the economy and create jobs.
{ Comments }
I often offend people with my short to the point emails so be careful
{ Comments }
March 9th at 2pm EST – (WEBINAR) Sources of Finance for Business Growth – Grants, Loans and Free Money
March 9th at 6.30pm – (In Store Seminar) 5 Small Business Strategies for Social Media
March 10th at 2pm EST – (WEBINAR) Develop a Business Plan to Boost Your Sales and Profits
March 10th at 6.30pm – (In Store Seminar) How to Use Offline and Online Networking to Grow your Business
March 11th at 2pm EST – (WEBINAR) The Art of Successful Networking Offline and Online
March 11th at 6.03pm (In Store Seminar ) How to Improve Your Website and Develop an Online Marketing Strategy
For a full list of seminars visit: http://www.bizlaunch.ca
{ Comments }
I am in Svetlogorsk, Russia training small business advisors and really enjoying myself. The more I work internationally the more I realise the only thing that stops you growing your business globally is your confidence. If you offer a great service in Canada why can’t you sell it anywhere else in the world?
• To grow your business internationally focus on developing great relationships
• Accept that there are some cultural differences but the basic business principles are the same everywhere
• Do research on the country you’re visiting but remember you’re the expert. So share your expertise and knowledge
• Get a good interpreter that understands you and gets your point across
• Be prepared to answer lots of questions about your country and how similar or different it is
• Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions
• Try the local foods, spend time with locals and tour cities you visit
Travel, see the world and make money
{ Comments }
When travelling one thing I always expect is good customer service, but I am often let down by people that just don’t get it. To ensure you’re giving your customers great service stick to these basic rules:
1. Ensure that your employees smile at customers. If you’re in customer service you must master the art of the genuine smile
2. Greet customers like you would guests to your home
3. Always say please and thank you
4. Try and memorise people’s name and call them by their name
5. Always under-promise and over-deliver
6. Answer the phone with a smile within 3 or 4 rings
7. If you’re in retail escort customers to a product or department they’re looking for rather than just pointing directions
8. Ensure that you and your employees are neat and well presented
9. If you’re in retail ensure your employees wear name badges
10. Train your employees how to offer brilliant service
{ Comments }
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
