However, when I look at these businesses that complain, I find out they have bad if not horrible customer service. What’s even more baffling to me is how these business owners can’t seem to see the problems. Maybe it’s because they’re too close to the situation and maybe because they keep doing things the same way, over and over and over again, because “that’s what they’ve always done.”

One of the first things I do when I take on a new client, is look at their operation, then proceed to tell them what I call the “Ham Story.” I originally heard this story from Zig Ziglar many years ago, but the moral of the story is so true to every business.

The story is about a couple getting ready for Christmas dinner. The wife is in the kitchen getting ready to make the Christmas ham when her husband walks in just as she’s cutting off the ends of the ham.

He asks, “Why are you cutting of the ends of the ham?” She replies, “I cut off the end of the ham because my mother always cut off the ends of the ham.”

“Well”, he says, “Mom’s in the living room, let’s ask her why. Mom, why do you cut off the ends of the ham?” Mom replies, “I cut off the ends of the ham because my mother always cut off the ends of the ham.”

The husband says, “Grandma is long distance, but let’s call her and get to the bottom of this three generation mystery.” On the phone, “Grandma, why did you cut off the ends of the ham?” Grandma replied, “I cut off the ends of the ham because my roasting pan was too small.”

This story is great to make you stop and think, is there a real reason why you’re doing…what you’re doing.

I know as a consumer, I’m appalled at the lack of customer service at many places. Some of it minor, some can be very major. I also know that if businesses would improve their customer service, it would go a long way in improving their bottom line.

Take a look at your business. Are you doing the same old things because “that’s the way it was always done” or is there a REAL reason for doing them. Look at your customer service. Are you providing the best customer experience for your customers?

If not, start improving your customer service. More than likely, you’ll be miles ahead of your competition, because good customer service is hard to find. Provide the best customer service possible and watch your business grow.

To Your Success,

Steve
www.spnmarketing.com

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Steve Hurst has been working in sales and marketing for over 30 years. For 10 years he had his own computer business which included website building and consulting. The past 5 years he’s owned his own Business & Technology consulting business. Using his sales and marketing skills along with his knowledge of technology, he’s helping his clients increase their sales and profits by utilizing today’s technology.

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All writings here are copyrighted by Steve Hurst. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.

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Firstly, an effective entrepreneur should have great ideas. You have to research if your business idea is feasible. After gathering all the needed information, you can now decide if you will pursue the business idea or simply file it and do it in the future. For instance, you decide to pursue the idea.

As an entrepreneur, you must have the right attitude and qualities. Now what are these attitudes and qualities? Firstly, you have to be hard working. You have to be willing to work many hours of the day or night especially if you’re a beginner.

Most of your time will be allotted for encouraging customers or subscribers. In the case of an internet business, you have to attract a lot of traffic to your site otherwise, your business will fail.

The second is to be a risk taker. Most entrepreneurs are not afraid to take risks. This does not mean that entrepreneurs enter the market with their eyes closed hoping for success. Entrepreneurs are willing to take risks especially if after a careful study they can see high chances of success.

Not many individuals are willing to take risks because they are afraid to fail. But you see, an entrepreneur learns a lot from past failures. It’s all part of life and so you should not be scared.

The third one is to be organized and you should know how to deal with different kinds of people. If you can build good will and you can win the trust of your customers and subscribers, your business will surely succeed.

If you have these qualities, then you’re on your way to becoming a successful entrepreneur. You can choose between online internet businesses or you can start by putting up a business in your local area. If you choose the second option, you would have to study your local market and make sure that there is a need for your business.

If after awhile you feel that it is time to expand, you may do so because you will earn more profit from it. The first option is often the most chosen at this point in time because there are many opportunities waiting for entrepreneurs online. Choose now.

To Your Success,

Steve
www.spnmarketing.com

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Steve Hurst has been working in sales and marketing for over 30 years. For 10 years he had his own computer business which included website building and consulting. The past 5 years he’s owned his own Business & Technology consulting business. Using his sales and marketing skills along with his knowledge of technology, he’s helping his clients increase their sales and profits by utilizing today’s technology.

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All writings here are copyrighted by Steve Hurst. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.

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A couple of blog posts back, I wrote about “making it easier for your customers to buy” (Click here to see post ). Today, I wanted to continue with that thought.

If you haven’t guessed by now customer service is a BIG pet peeve of mine. And bad customer service in ANY form is a way of “making it difficult to spend money” with that particular business. Let me give you my latest example.

This past Saturday night, my wife and I decided we wanted pizza. Now as you may or may not know, we live in a very rural area, so delivery is out of the question. I called it in, drove to town to pick it up (about 10 miles), pulled up to the drive through window and gave the person working there my credit card to pay for the pizza.

I’m waiting and waiting and waiting (for almost five minutes) when she comes back to the window to tell me, that she cannot process the credit card, because the other person working with her is on the phone taking a huge order and it’s the same line they use for the credit card machine.

Now to some business owners, this is nothing or no big deal. And quite frankly, that’s the problem. To ME…it’s a VERY BIG DEAL. Let me explain.

This pizza store is not a nationwide chain, but a chain in a 15 or 20 state area. So they are not small. I have to wait because the owner/manager, someone is too cheap to spring for another PHONE line…thereby, making customers inconvenienced if that phone line is being used by having to wait. To me, making customers wait (for no real reason) is BAD customer service.

Before you start to think that I’m an impatient person and should be more thoughtful, that’s not the point (in fact, I was in no hurry, but it’s still bad customer service). I know I’m exaggerating this situation a little, but the point is, this place is making it difficult for customers to spend money with them instead of making it easy for their customers.

I recall at one time hearing a marketer say how he would love to spend MORE money, but businesses keep making it harder and harder for him to do so. Once I really started thinking about this, it’s a true statement. I have found myself in that position many times and I bet you have too.

Have you ever gone to a store of some kind (department, hardware, etc) wanting to buy a particular item and needing some help with the purchase? You know… some information about the product or maybe just where to find the item…..except….you can NOT get anyone to help you? It’s happened to me many times and I’m sure it’s happened to you.

That’s the point. Here you are ready to spend money, but you can’t. The business is making it extremely difficult for you to give them money. How dumb is that????

However, here’s the REAL question, are you making these mistakes?

I would almost bet you anything that the owner/manager of this pizza place has the attitude that the customer should be more patient and understanding. NO….that’s not how it works. It’s not up to the customer to be more understanding; it’s the business’ obligation to make that customer happy. It’s not called, “customer make my business life easier”, it’s called CUSTOMER SERVICE.

Make sure you remove ANY obstacles that keeps your customers from buying from you.

To Your Success,

Steve
www.spnmarketing.com

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Steve Hurst has been working in sales and marketing for over 30 years. For 10 years he had his own computer business which included website building and consulting. The past 5 years he’s owned his own Business & Technology consulting business. Using his sales and marketing skills along with his knowledge of technology, he’s helping his clients increase their sales and profits by utilizing today’s technology.

***********************************************************************

All writings here are copyrighted by Steve Hurst. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.

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THAT should REALLY scare you.

Part of sales and marketing is selling or marketing you and your business to your customers and FUTURE customers. However, I’m amazed at how many business people make these simple marketing mistakes. I call this idea …. “No Brainer Marketing”.

First “No Brainer Marketing” tip…..Carry Business Cards! And by that I mean, have them with you at ALL TIMES. Not in your car, or at the office, or somewhere else. Have them with you. I have to admit this is one of my biggest pet peeves. You’re talking to someone, they are telling you about their product or service, you ask them for a business card and they do NOT have one with them. I guess they don’t WANT any business.

I realize in this day and time it seems a lot of people think they don’t need business cards. I disagree. Before I leave my home or office, I grab my business cards and YOU should too. Once you have them with you….Pass them out to everyone you can. Business cards are the cheapest form of marketing and advertising you have…..USE THEM!

Second “No Brainer Marketing” tip….Have a Website! It doesn’t have to be some big elaborate site, but you need some kind of website. It’s another type of marketing for yourself or your business. And it’s fairly inexpensive compared to other forms of marketing. Your website could be informational or used to sell products or services….whatever it is…..it’s one more marketing tool for you.

One more thing about websites….if you have one or get one….make sure you use your domain name as your email address. Let me explain. Example, say your website is [www.yourwebsitename.com], make your email something like, [yourname@yourwebsitename.com], not [yourname@yahoo.com], [yourname@aol.com], or [yourname@comcast.com], etc…make it YOUR domain name.

Again, I’m amazed at the businesses that have websites but use a different email address. Now I understand that some people may not know how to have this set up…..but ASK someone…find someone who DOES know ….then do it (as a side note, if you still don’t understand this or would like advice, contact me and I’ll be happy to help you or point you in the right direction).

Last, but certainly not least and maybe even the MOST important of all…the third “No Brainer Marketing” tip…..Know What You Do! Be prepared when someone asks, “What do you do?” And I don’t mean, “I fix computers”, “I sell insurance”, take the time to plan out a “script” and memorize it so that you can tell anyone who asks, precisely what you do. Most sales and marketing people call this your USP (Unique Selling Proposition).

Think of it this way…you are on stage in an auditorium, with hundreds or thousands of potential customers seated in front of you. You have 15-60 seconds to convince them to hire you.

What would you say?

Once you perfect your dialogue, you’ll be prepared when someone asks, “What do you do?”

If you are not making these marketing mistakes, congratulations, however if you are making any of these SCARY Marketing mistakes, start now to increase your marketing techniques.

To Your Success,

Steve
www.spnmarketing.com

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Steve Hurst has been working in sales and marketing for over 30 years. For 10 years he had his own computer business which included website building and consulting. The past 5 years he’s owned his own Business & Technology consulting business. Using his sales and marketing skills along with his knowledge of technology, he’s helping his clients increase their sales and profits by utilizing today’s technology.

***********************************************************************

All writings here are copyrighted by Steve Hurst. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.

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Depending on your business, whether you’re selling products or services, you have a retail business, online business, etc…..this concept can mean different things. When I first bring this up, most of my clients think it has to do with only one particular aspect of their business. Usually they are wrong. Making it easier for your customer to buy can be affected by many aspects of your business that you might not even think about when examining this concept.

Let me give you an example of a situation that you might not think would have anything to do with this concept.

I have a friend who has a retail outlet. His retail outlet is a “duplex”, two businesses in the same building, so they share parking. However, the other business was taking up most of the parking spaces. Not because business was great, but it was the type of business where people would just hang out.

This was causing a problem for my friend’s business. People would drive by, see the parking lot full and not stop to do business with my friend. This went on for quite some time. My friend’s customers would complain about no parking (me included….I was doing business there) till finally he did something about it.

He contacted the landlord of the property and proposed a simple solution, divided up the parking spaces between both businesses. The landlord agreed. So, my friend had parking signs made stating that parking in his designated spaces were for his customers only and put them up.

As a customer, this was great. Now there was plenty of parking for my friend’s business. After the first month, I was talking to my friend and asked out of curiosity, had the new parking arrangement helped his business. He told me he should have done this sooner. I asked why. He stated that in just the first month of the new parking arrangement, he had a 40% increase in his business! Read that again…..40% increase.

What would YOU do with that kind of increase in YOUR business?

In essence, what my friend had done was……”make it easier for his customers to buy”. By creating more parking spaces for HIS customers, they were able to access his business much easier and in turn…it was easier for them to buy his products and services.

Take a look at your business. Are you “making it easier for your customers to buy?” Make sure you’re looking at ALL aspects for your business that affects the customers and how they buy your product or services. You just might be surprised.

To Your Success,

Steve
www.spnmarketing.com

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Steve Hurst has been working in sales and marketing for over 30 years. For 10 years he had his own computer business which included website building and consulting. The past 5 years he’s owned his own Business & Technology consulting business. Using his sales and marketing skills along with his knowledge of technology, he’s helping his clients increase their sales and profits by utilizing today’s technology.

***********************************************************************

All writings here are copyrighted by Steve Hurst. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.

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In today’s economic climate, it’s easy to be seduced into the negative thinking that is being bombarded everywhere. But, it doesn’t have to be that way.

What you believe creates your results both past and present. If your currently believe ideas that do not support your success, you must fake it, till you make it.

If you currently don’t appear to be on the path that will create the level of success in the form or way you desire, you must begin to identify the mental programming that is limiting you before you can change your resulting limiting actions.

When you write goals or have thoughts about anything you desire, you must pay close attention to the inner-dialogue that is happening within your mind. When thinking of your goals, if you repeatedly think of the specific reasons of how and why your goal may be hard to obtain, your current mental programming is limited and will not allow you to break through your current barriers to further success. Worse yet, your limited mental images are simply a bad choice based upon wrong information.

Do this…write down the first twenty mental images or messages you heard or were taught about money. If closely examined, most of the images and messages remembered will be limited, negative and fear based.

Those negative messages and images have taken a life of their own and have been accepted in the subconscious as absolute truths. To increase money, you must identify your current limiting messages and rewrite the messages to create new truths that are accepted.

Unfortunately, your subconscious accepts all images and messages without filtering. However, you can overwhelm the negative messages with your own positive messages.

Your conscious mind will choose and react to the strongest messages being given to it. Don’t allow yourself or others to create your destiny based upon limited beliefs.

Your subconscious can act as an automatic responder in a positive form just as it can in a negative. For your conscious mind to react with positive messages you must bombard your mind with positive and repetitive images.

Read and listen to the material that will support you in creating the images you desire, while reducing and eliminating the negative influences you encounter from relatives, co-workers, and the news. You create your own reality. It’s your responsibility to choose the right sources of information to saturate your brain with.

Until you get to the point where you’ve re-programmed your thinking, to be successful, act successful. Project success in your mind and with your actions and you’ll see the results in no time.

To Your Success,

Steve
www.spnmarketing.com

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Steve Hurst has been working in sales and marketing for over 30 years. For 10 years he had his own computer business which included website building and consulting. The past 5 years he’s owned his own Business & Technology consulting business. Using his sales and marketing skills along with his knowledge of technology, he’s helping his clients increase their sales and profits by utilizing today’s technology.

***********************************************************************

All writings here are copyrighted by Steve Hurst. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.

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In fact I read a couple of years ago how this is now a big business in some areas. House and yard decorating companies have been started, charging big bucks to do this for Halloween as well as Christmas.

What I was a little shocked to learn, that Halloween has now become the “Biggest Adult Holiday” of the year. It has surpassed New Year’s Eve as a “Party Day” and now like most holidays, it has stretched to a holiday weekend. This statistic amazed me.

I knew some adults got together for Halloween parties, but had no idea it had grown to this proportion. I don’t have kids at home anymore, but still viewed Halloween as a “kid holiday”. Well, looks like I was wrong. Who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

So, why do I bring this up?

Quite frankly, if you’re like me, then you’ve been missing out on a “prime marketing” opportunity. Start incorporating some “Halloween” promotions and specials into your marketing. Find ways to take advantage of this occasion to promote your business or service. I know I will.

Halloween, it’s bigger than you think!

To Your Success,

Steve
www.spnmarketing.com

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Steve Hurst has been working in sales and marketing for over 30 years. For 10 years he had his own computer business which included website building and consulting. The past 5 years he’s owned his own Business & Technology consulting business. Using his sales and marketing skills along with his knowledge of technology, he’s helping his clients increase their sales and profits by utilizing today’s technology.

***********************************************************************

All writings here are copyrighted by Steve Hurst. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.

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Today I’ll cover a couple more ways that can make you more productive. The first is the subject of multitasking. Today, you hear that word all the time. And with all the things that are happening in our lives, you may think it’s the only way you can get anything done.

You may think that multi-tasking makes you more productive, but studies show that multi-tasking actually reduces your ability to accomplish tasks. So instead of trying to do five tasks simultaneously, put all of your conscious effort into one task at a time, complete it, and move on to the next.

I know personally I thought this was the only way I could get my tasks done. However, when I read studies about multitasking, I realize I was not more productive. Once I started concentrating on one task at a time, I found much better results.

To help me better with doing one task at a time, I started using something called “time blocking”. I got this concept from Dan Kennedy and his book, “No B.S. Time Management for Entrepreneurs” (a GREAT book that I highly recommend). In a nutshell, he talks about blocking out time for your tasks and during that time, you do nothing else but the task at hand. Take you phone off the hook, turn off your cell phone, shut the door, do whatever it takes so that you are not interrupted for that time block.

For more about Dan Kennedy’s book, click here.

I find that when I do the time blocks, I get more done and it’s better work than if I were doing the multitasking. Occasionally, I slip back into the reactive mode, but as soon as I start using the time blocking, my productivity goes up.

I hope some of these ideas will help you.

To Your Success,

Steve
www.spnmarketing.com

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Steve Hurst has been working in sales and marketing for over 30 years. For 10 years he had his own computer business which included website building and consulting. The past 5 years he’s owned his own Business & Technology consulting business. Using his sales and marketing skills along with his knowledge of technology, he’s helping his clients increase their sales and profits by utilizing today’s technology.

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All writings here are copyrighted by Steve Hurst. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.

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And before you know it, you’ll end up being “reactive” and not “PROactive”. In my case, when I’m reactive, I’m busy all day but at the end of the day, I feel like none of my crucial tasks were really accomplished. I’m always much more productive when I’m proactive.

I’ve always thought that the term “time management” was kind of funny. We can’t actually manage time. Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day. What we have to do is manage ourselves in how we use our time. So, today I thought I would share a few of my tactics that help me and hopefully can help you.

Have you ever thought up a great idea… you know, the idea that can skyrocket your business and then it multiplies in to many great and wonderful ideas? But, the idea becomes MANY ideas and before you know it you’re overwhelmed with how you’re going to accomplish all the ideas and before you know it…..nothing happens because you paralyzed yourself.

Trust me, I’ve been there too. When this happens, remember this: Think Big and Think Small.

Thinking Big is about dreaming and strategic design; it answers the question, “What do I want?” Thinking Small is about tactical planning; it answers the question, “How do I accomplish it?”

Great things are accomplished through thinking in small steps. Anyone who has tried to stop smoking or lose weight knows you do it one day (one hour, one moment) at a time. Anyone who has attempted to do a 30-mile hike knows it’s simply a case of one foot in front of the other.

The same goes with your “great idea”. Break it down to manageable tasks, doing one thing at a time and before you know it, you’ve accomplished your great idea.

In my next blog, I’ll continue with more ways to help you use your time more effectively.

To Your Success,

Steve
www.spnmarketing.com

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Steve Hurst has been working in sales and marketing for over 30 years. For 10 years he had his own computer business which included website building and consulting. The past 5 years he’s owned his own Business & Technology consulting business. Using his sales and marketing skills along with his knowledge of technology, he’s helping his clients increase their sales and profits by utilizing today’s technology.

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All writings here are copyrighted by Steve Hurst. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.

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It’s not about how many hits you get on your website, it’s about how long people stay. If your visitors remain on your site long enough to get your marketing message then you must have said something worth listening to, and if visitors get the message, your website has done its job.

If your website delivers the message, then you can expect the email inquiries and phone calls to start flowing. Depending on the type of business you have, it’s still up to you, your website and your sales staff to close the sale.

To Your Success,

Steve
www.spnmarketing.com

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Steve Hurst has been working in sales and marketing for over 30 years. For 10 years he had his own computer business which included website building and consulting. The past 5 years he’s owned his own Business & Technology consulting business. Using his sales and marketing skills along with his knowledge of technology, he’s helping his clients increase their sales and profits by utilizing today’s technology.

***********************************************************************

All writings here are copyrighted by Steve Hurst. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.

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