Start 2010 By Saying “Thank You!” (to everyone!)

Thank You!  When was the last time you thanked your customers for doing business with you?  I’m not talking about the regular, transaction related thank you, I am talking about just saying “Thanks”! for being my customer with no expectation of getting something back from them in return. 

This is all part of a bigger movement called “gratitude marketing”.  You will hear more about this in 2010, and I predict that it will be the overriding marketing theme for the next decade.  Making sure that your customers know that they are appreciated and valued is a simple concept, but one that tends to get lost inside of the other challenges we are facing as we all begin 2010.

My challenge to you is to tell every one of your customers (including your employees, vendors and suppliers) that you appreciate them and look forward to working with them in 2010.

If you are looking for a fantastic way to execute your “Thank You Strategy”, check out what I do at www.mykeepintouchstrategy.com. 

Lastly, and most importantly, THANK YOU! for being a part of my world.  I look forward to serving you in 2010 and beyond!



Published on Sunday January 3, 2010 in Core Self-Promotion Strategies, Customer Retention, Direct Outreach and Keep-in-Touch. 0 Comments Tags: .

Blamestorming

I was watching golf over the weekend and a commercial came on for DirecTV, the series of ads that has the Board of Directors for the “Cable Company” sitting around a table trying to figure out why they are losing customers to DirecTV.  One board member suggests a “blamestorming” session, where he promptly “blames” their problems of one of his fellow board members.  Hilarious.

According to www.unwords.com, the definition of “blamestorming” is as follows:

(blām’stôr’mĭng)

1.      (n.) A method of collectively finding one to blame for a mistake no one is willing to confess to. Often occurs in the form of a meeting of colleagues at work, gathered to decide who is to blame for a screw up.

So, my question to the small business owners of the world today is, are you spending your strategic planning time “blamestorming” or are you actually brainstorming?  It is very easy to fall into the trap of excuses about the economy, your lack of sales, the consumer not spending, etc.  What is harder is to come up with out of the box ideas that can gain market share or retain your current customer base.  My challenge to you today is to come up with one idea that can either bring new clients to your door or add value to your current customer and then act on that idea, violently.  As General George Patton said, “A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week”. 

Please leave me a comment letting me know what your idea is!

Published on Tuesday June 23, 2009 in Customer Retention, Direct Outreach, Keep-in-Touch and Why People Buy. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

How to Talk About What You Do — Live and in person!

Can you talk about what you do? (It’s not that hard!)
Do think the “Elevator Speech” is the answer?  (It isn’t!)
When asked what you do, do you answer with your professional category?  (Wrong!)
For my friends and readers who live in the Crystal Lake, Illinois area, I will be teaching a live workshop this Wednesday, June 10, 2009.  Here are the details:

What:  How to Talk About What You Do Without Sounding Bland, Boring, or Like Everyone Else!

When:  Wednesday, June 10, 2009 — 11:30 am to 1:00 pm

Where:  Home State Bank, Lower Level Community Room, 611 S Main St, Crystal Lake, IL

How much:  $10 for Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce members, $15 for non-members, lunch included

Click here to sign up!

I look forward to seeing you there!

Published on Sunday June 7, 2009 in BYS Sales Cycle, How to Talk About What You Do and Speaking & Demonstrating. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

First Friday Focus Call — The Power of a Customer Advisory Board

Please join me at Noon Central (1:00 pm Eastern, 10:00 am Pacific) on Friday, May 1, 2009 for my monthly First Friday Focus call. 

Please dial 712-432-3900 and enter conference code 6904581#.  30 minutes plus time for questions after. 

This month’s topic will be on the power of a Customer Advisory Board for your business.

I hope you can attend!

Coach Brent

Published on Thursday April 30, 2009 in Customer Retention, First Friday Focus and Keep-in-Touch. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Think Big Manifesto — Buy it today!

My mentor, coach, friend and big thinker Michael Port releases his fourth (and best) book today, the Think Big Manifesto.  Here is a note from Michael:

Calling all big, bright, forward-thinking, possibly still dreaming, hard core intellectual thinking, down-to-earth realistic-being, even and especially the  secretive big thinkers. The world needs you.

 

The handbook for the Think Big Revolution in finally and fully available.

 

      THE THINK BIG MANIFESTO:

      Think You Can’t Change Your Life (and the World)? Think Again.

 

Think about it. What is more important than thinking big?

 

Besides free stuff? (wink :)) I’m not above sweetening the deal to incentivize you to get your copy today.

 

It starts here: http://www.ThinkBigManifesto.com (The giveaway list is insane.)

 

Buy your book and get loads of gifts, goodies, prizes and perks.

(Hint: Think NFL superstars, Emmy Award Winning Actors, Grammy Award Winners, Award Winning Filmmakers, the #1 bestselling authors in the world, CEO’s and Presidents.)

 

Yes, I know, the giveaways are amazing but that isn’t what this revolution is ultimately about.

 

You know I’ve written 3 other bestselling books about business— Book Yourself Solid, Beyond Booked Solid, & The Contrarian Effect.

 

But The Think Big Manifesto is about all of us coming together as a society…

as individuals who want to create change. It’s about being involved in a movement… a revolution—-the Think Big Revolution.

 

We all want to do big things in the world. We all want to leave our mark.

 

Thinking big isn’t about accumulating possessions, gaining fame or influence.

It is about building a life where we can do more together than we ever could alone.

 

We need you: http://www.ThinkBigManifesto.com

 

Thousands of revolutionaries are coming together to collaborate, cooperate and combine forces to think bigger about who they are and what they offer the world. And they’re doing it with The Manifesto:

 

http://www.ThinkBigManifesto.com

 

Be a part of history. Bring your big thoughts forward. Today is an exciting, electrifying day. There are an enormous amount of gifts and goodies you can take away that are congruent with big thinking. I’ll keep you posted on prizes and big news throughout the day…expect an email or two from me today calling all big thinkers to action.

 

See you in the Revolution…

 

http://www.ThinkBigManifesto.com

 

Think big,

 

Michael Port

Author of Book Yourself Solid, Beyond Booked Solid, The Contrarian Effect & THE THINK BIG MANIFESTO

I hope you will buy the book today and start thinking bigger about who you are and what you mean to the world!

Brent

Published on Monday April 27, 2009 in BYS Sales Cycle, Personal Brand and Personal Development. 0 Comments Tags: , , .