Friday, July 30, 2010

Your Supplier Is Your Customer

Everyone in your network is your potential customer. We're so obsessed with customer service (I certainly am), that it's easy to neglect your suppliers. Somehow, they make it to the bottom of your "calls to return" list and sometimes they don't even make the list at all! Ouch!

In business relationships with suppliers, where we are their customers, we have to always remember that they too are our potential customers, and that means they should make it to the top of your "calls to return" list along with your customers. It means being courteous, respectful and professional.

Why is this important you ask...

Well first of all, your supplier may need your services one day and they won't give you the business if you have dodged all of their calls or have been rude to them.

Your supplier can refer others to you. You have to treat you suppliers well, so that when someone in their network asks them "who do you know...", they will give your name.

Your supplier will give you preferential treatment. When you treat others well, they will go out of their way to help you, especially if you have a tight deadline or budget.

My clients are so kind and respectful to me (their supplier), and because they embrace this attitude, I'm over the moon about recommending them to my network. I'm confident that my network will be treated just as well as I have been, and that's a refection on me. It's a win -win!

Don't neglect your suppliers, embrace them. Call one today !

Saturday, July 24, 2010

What Is Branding?

Branding is the
Perfect Marriage between an Effective Visual Brand and an Exceptional Brand Experience.

An Effective Visual Brand WITHOUT an Exceptional Brand Experience = a DISSATISFIED CUSTOMER that will tell everyone.

An Exceptional Brand Experience WITHOUT and Effective Visual Brand = A SATISFIED CUSTOMER that forgets who you are and can't tell anyone about you.

You need to have the Perfect Marriage.

Analogy
Just like a real marriage, you not only need to be attracted to your mate, but you must also love who they are, love how they treat you and love what they stand for in life.

Imagine someone trying to set you up on blind date and they say to you..."they have a great personality". You automatically think they're not attractive, so you don't want to go out with them, even though they may be perfect...OR... They say to you... "they are so hot", but when you do go out with them, you find that you loose interest quickly because you don't like their personality.

You want your prospective customer to be attracted to your company and when they finally experience your company, you want to know that you can keep them coming back and bring others with them.