Is your company a template? So why should your website be?

Chances are, if you are reading this you do not own a franchise.

You probably own or work for a small to medium size business that has worked very hard to carve out a niche and a reputation for excellence.

So when you decide to show the world your company and all that it has to offer, what are you going to show them?

A template website that 200 other companies are using with different content and maybe some color variation?


Are you being true to the vision of your company and what your customers have come to expect from it, by choosing the express checkout option for your web presence?

I understand that cost is a concern for today's small business. However, you need to balance cost with the effectiveness of the tool that your using.

Sure, you may have saved a buck or two, but is your website making a difference to your bottom line?

If not, you probably need to find a company that will design, deliver and promote a website that will.

Is it ok to FIRE a customer?

Many of the small business owners that we work with are confronted with a common problem:

Trying to please customers that will never be pleased.

We are often asked, "How do I stop selling to, or servicing this particular type of customer without them getting mad?"

The answer is simple: The customer is already mad, so what do you have to lose?

Now the customer may not be mad at you or your business, but their attitude or behavior is keeping you away from the 10 other customers a day that adore you and your business.

As a business owner, you only have so much time and so many resources.


Shouldn't that time and those resources be given to customers that will be CHAMPIONS for your business?

Starting today, tell those loyal, happy and motivated customers how much you appreciate them.

Starting today, begin asking the customers that are always upset and unsatisfied that they are on NOTICE.

Imitation is the highest form of flattery

In today's small business community, it takes a lot of courage, vision and faith to do things "out of the norm".

It is so easy to stay in your comfort zone, surrounding yourself with customers and employees that agree with everything you do.

The problem is, if your not growing, then your dying.

So to grow, you muster up the courage to try that new new product, go with a different distributor, change the recipe or entirely change how your customers see your company.

This decision not only takes courage, it also involves risk, time and money commitments and the potential for failure.

But you do it anyway.

And then, a few weeks or months later, you see your competitor doing exactly the same thing.

Maybe its a sad attempt to emulate what you've done or maybe its a better version.

My question to you is...."How does it make you feel, when a competitor of yours "copies" an idea or a product that you went out on a limb to create or deliver?"

I suggest that you not get upset, feel betrayed or angry.

What if no other car company had adopted the assembly line?

What if no other retailer had decided to increase CFL buld sales by 3000% in 1 year?

What if.....?

What if.....?

What if.....?

Your a leader. A trend setter. On the edge of the wave of your industry.

Don't fret when others copy you.

Just make sure your feathers are perfect, because everyone is watching the leader.

What can you do today to convert one "nonbeliever?"

As small business owners, we all have people that we come into contact with people who don't really believe in what were trying to accomplish.

Sometimes is because they don't understand your goals or your methods.

It could be because they've been misinformed or confused by others.

Or maybe you've just not taken the time to ask them, "Why aren't you a fan?"

Not everyone will be a believer in you or your business, but you'd be surprised how many out there would love to be, if you would just ask.

Have a wonderful and productive week.

CR

Are you lumping potential clients into the wrong group?

Good Monday morning.

This weekend, I realized that many business owners lump all of their customers into 2 groups, customers or not customers.

What about everyone else?

Should you consider them in your marketing planning?

When you spread the word or run an ad or invent a policy it is likely aimed at one of these four groups.

1.   Strangers are customers to be, but not yet.

2.   Critics are those that would speak ill of you, or need to be converted.

3.   Friends are those that might have given permission, or even buy now and then.

4.   Fans are members of your tribe, supporters and insiders.

Something very important for you to remember:

You can't please all these groups at once.

Before you start developing your strategy and planning your tactics, run down the list.

How can you optimize for the group that you’re aiming for?

How much is that optimization worth?

Can you measure your success?

Are you able to do it by yourself?

We can help.

Chris Revis

Redefining your widget.....

Let's say that you own a company that makes widgets.

You have 2 other competitors that make widgets.

Let's also say that to the casual observer, there is no discernible difference between your widgets and the others on the market.
So why are your customers buying your widgets?

There are 3 reasons that customers will purchase:

You are the cheapest (difficult to sustain).

You can be more reliable (great if you can figure this out).

You can be redefine the playing the field to be the only one (most preferred).

If you don't want to be the cheapest and you can't figure out how to be the most reliable, how do you redefine the widget market to be the most preferred?

Ready to redefine your widget yet?

Fear mongering in a small market

Why are we constantly reminded that we should be afraid?

From the government, to the local newpaper, it seems that everyone is generating the need to fear more.

Reminding people that an idea will never work, that the market is in failure, that all hope is lost--does that work very often?

Fear mongering is a lousy profession, one that ought to be regulated, if not banned.
I'm more in favor of hope mongering.
2010 is the year that the world will change.
In fact, every year is that year, but this is the only time we'll get to change the world this time.

Aren't you ready for some "Hope Mongering"?

Chris Revis