Sunday, June 20, 2010

5 Things You Should Do When Your Customer Buys (if you want more business in the future!)

by Dr. Jeffrey Lant

You SAY you want more business and the money
that comes thereby. But unless you do these 5
things, you’re just whistling "Dixie".

1) Smile & Say Thank You

Do a little survey. For the next few days, take a
look at how you’re treated in the various stores
you patronize.

When you buy do you get a radiant smile from
the check-out clerk and a warm thank-you? Or
is the action meagre and perfunctory; or even
absent altogether?

The warmth of the thank you, the brilliance of
the smile are indicators of just how much you
value this customer and desire his business.

P.S. Whenever possible, use the customer’s
name. "Thanks so much for your business,
Mrs. Smythe. We do it appreciate it you know!"
And be SURE to make eye contact. This is
essential.

2) Hand the customer a bonus coupon.
ALL businesses live or die by repeat customer
business. That’s why you need to give each
customer a bonus coupon,
First, make the bonus a valuable one, nothing
cheap and insubstantial for your vital customers,
please.

Second, make sure the bonus coupon has
an expiration date. Remember, offers work
because they are meaningful in value… and
because they expire.

Third, hand this valuable gift to the customer
and deliver with a smile!

3) Offer to carry the customer’s purchase
to her car.

Want to make an especially good impression…
the kind the customer will convey to her
social circle?

Then carry her purchase to her car!

This courtesy may not always be possible;
you may be the only one in the store, for
instance. Very well. But don’t throw the
baby out with the bath water. If you cannot
always offer this special courtesy, do not
for that reason never offer it.

And, remember, in offering this special
benefit, don’t stint on the accompanying
smile… or customer’s name.

4) E-mail the customer a thank you and
bonus offer.

What should be awaiting your valuable
customer when he gets home? A terrific
bonus offer e-mailed at once!

Speed here is everything. That offer should
be e-mailed right away. The speed with which
you send this bonus offer will be a clear
indication to the customer of how much you
value her business.

You’re able to achieve this result if and only
if you have created one or (even better) more
offers before you need them!

It goes without saying that you must have
the customer’s e-mail address. You do request
it from every customer, don’t you? Semper paratus
is not just a motto for Boy Scouts.

5) If your product runs out, make sure to e-mail
the customer when you’ve estimated he will need
more. THAT is your moment to appear supremely
customer-centered… and put more money in your
pocket, too.

Say the average customer uses up this product
in 60 days.

E-mail a bonus offer 30 days before renewal is
necessary… then 15 days… and 7 days. Make
SURE you include a special offer with every
e-mail and make sure this offer has a clear
expiration date: like 5 days from e-mailing.

Last Words

As every smart business person knows, your
success (and comfort) derive mainly from one
source: your customers. Right now you SAY this…
but you may not run your business properly to
derive maximum profit from customers. This article
should help. Read it! Print it! Live it!  You will
start seeing the pay-off at once!

About The Author

Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of
Worldprofit, Inc., www.worldprofit.com where
small and home-based businesses learn how to
profit online. Attend Dr. Lant’s live webcast
TODAY and receive 50,000 free guaranteed
visitors to the website of your choice! For details
on Dr. Lant’s 18 best-selling business books,
go to www.jeffreylant.com

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Smart Tips For Your Personal And Business Success

Insider Tips for Paying Bills
by Dr. Jeffrey Lant
We ALL have them… and lots more than we like.
But what most folks DON’T have is an ongoing
strategy for paying them for maximum advantage.
So today… smart-money recommendations for
paying and managing BILLS!
1) Create a list of all your bills.
List who you pay, when the bills are due, and whether
there are penalties for late payment. Managing your
bills starts by having the facts at your fingertips.
2) Flush with cash?
If you are able to pay a bill, DON’T want until the
end (or beginning) of the month to pay it. Instead,
pay it the very day you receive it. Anticipate that
there will be one day when you can’t pay early
and prepare for it by ultra prompt payment now.
Show the person you owe, you are most responsible
by paying early whenever you can. You’re building
a good image for yourself — and future leverage
and help when you need it.
3) Can’t Pay ALL Your Bills? Decide which ones
to defer.
It’s essential that you KNOW which bills sock you
with late payment penalties and which ones don’t.
Late credit card payments, for instance, can be
VERY costly. Electric and gas bills ordinarily
carry no penalties.
Note: when you can’t pay any given bill is the
time you’ll be grateful you established a history
of paying early!
4) Severe Cash Problems? Seize The Initiative.
Most people hide when they owe money. This
isn’t smart. If you know you’re going to be unable
to pay all of a bill in a timely fashion (it happens
to everyone), then seize the initiative. Pick up
the phone, call the person/business owed, and
fess up.
Say when the bill is owed, how much you can
pay now… and when you plan to pay the balance.
Put this in writing if necessary.
Be advised: don’t expect the person you speak
to to jump for joy when you inform them payment
will be late. However, there IS likely to be some
comment that recognizes you are being responsible,
unlike most of the people who owe them money!
5) Now Pay When You Say You’ll Pay
Having informed your creditor about when you’ll
pay, now pay on the dot (or before, if able).
This is the moment you’ll build credibility… which
is something you can certainly use in future!
6) Disputed Bill? Take IMMEDIATE Action!
Did you open a bill today that made you gasp
for breath? Too much? Riddled with error?
Here’s how to handle this situation:
DON’T pick up the phone right away and
swear a blue streak at some hapless employee.
Instead, take a deep breath, sit down and write
the facts, and nothing but the facts.
Then call and find out the particulars of the
person responsible for assisting you. Get name,
title, address, phone and fax.
Write a letter that contains FACTS ONLY, not
one unwise line of the "you people…" variety.
That undercuts your case and credibility. Let
this message chill overnight, or until you are
confident it is purely fact without invective.
Then mail (or better yet, fax) it. Ask for a
confirmation of receipt.
Now let the matter sit until you hear from your
creditor. This usually buys you extra time. When
they respond, see if they have admitted any of
your claims/arguments. If so, always thank them,
while remaining firm on the rest. Handle ALL points
in writing. This gives you maximum control. Continue
this process until you’ve got as much as you think
likely.
Note: was anyone particularly helpful in sorting
this matter out? Send a thank-you note with kind
and lavish praise. After all, you may want their help
again!
About The Author
Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of
Worldprofit, Inc., www.worldprofit.com where
small and home-based businesses learn how to
profit online. Attend Dr. Lant’s live webcast
TODAY and receive 50,000 free guaranteed
visitors to the website of your choice! For details
on Dr. Lant’s 18 best-selling business books,
go to www.jeffreylant.com

Dr. Jeffrey Lant
Get a FREE COPY of my new 18th book
The Ten (Woefully Common) Mistakes Killing
Your Internet Business & What You Can Do
About Them! $29.95 retail value.
Go to www.worldprofitassociates.com and log in.
To talk live, go to www.jeffreylant.com or phone
617 547 6372 (Eastern time). While there, click
on Photo Gallery for the tour.