Net Promoter Score

How many of you have been asked to complete a survey before?  Did you actually fill it out? Were you honest with your answers? Many times companies and organizations are looking for feedback to help improve their customer service, programming, or overall customer experience.  However, there is really only one question on any survey that…

Word of Mouth Marketing

If money were no object marketing would be quite easy.  We would spend, and spend a lot, to ensure that every person in our target market heard our message.  Unfortunately, in most cases this is impossible and unrealistic. For a large majority of businesses our marketing funds are limited.  This limitation compels us to use…

The Ripple Effect

Why is it that something so small can have such a big impact?  That the smallest of details has the power to change everything? In the business world we see it every day.  A reckless comment by an employee to a customer is all over the news, an inappropriate post goes viral on social media,…

The Ideal Vendor

The ideal vendor.  If you listed all the attributes of the ideal vendor what would it include? Quick response time. Professional appearance. Knowledgeable staff. Great customer service. Friendly and approachable employees. Trustworthy. Reputable. I’m sure we could list many others, but the point is we know the qualities of an ideal vendor.  In the circles…

The Next Level

It’s a good feeling to know that others are actually reading what you write.  But it’s a great feeling to engage in a discussion with someone who not only read what you wrote but had insights to share that taught you something new. I am a big fan of collaboration.  And I love the saying…

Through Your Customer’s Eyes

How do you feel when you receive poor service?  Whether while patronizing a fast food restaurant, the dry cleaner, sporting venue, or car dealership.  Do any of these feelings pop into your mind: disappointment frustration anger dissatisfaction Now, depending on the size of your purchase, would it be safe to assume that your level these…

Listen Up

Do you listen or do you hear?  I ask because there is a big difference between the two. While dining with some very good friends, our conversation turned to resolutions, in honor of the impending new year.  At first the responses around the table were rather typical, but then someone made an interesting comment.  He…

Turning Customer Dissatisfaction Into Satisfaction

No one likes to admit it, but we all encounter obstacles when striving for customer satisfaction. Any of number of things can go wrong: messages that aren’t received back orders inacurrate order information missed completion date miscalculated estimate a negative review posted on Facebook Whatever it may be it’s important to remember that you are…

Marketing Culture

While driving home from our family reunion this summer we stopped for a bite to eat at a Chick-Fil-A.  I noticed the line of cars in the drive-thru and the number of cars parked in the lot. My initial reaction was “oh no, maybe we should find another restaurant.”  I’m glad that we didn’t. Not…

Actions are louder

I was at an round-table discussion recently and found myself listening to a competitor talk about their business.  I kept hearing words like: “we care about our clients” “we empower them” “we do what’s in their best interest” I started to think that all that should be a given.  It really doesn’t need to be…