What is it that you’re doing, that makes your customers return?

It’s a simple question, but one you may not have thought through thoroughly. Do they choose you for consistence or value? Do they choose you because your closest to their home, or do they choose you because of your attention to detail?

Understanding why a client or customer chooses you, is as important as knowing why a customer chooses to go elsewhere.

Imagine that I’ve been going to “Boutique A” for the last year, because I love that no matter what I do, every time I go there, they offer me a beverage while I’m there, and also don’t pester me while I shop. I go in and they have some new employees, and for some reason, they need to check up on me 3x while I’m shopping there, and don’t ask me if I’d like a beverage. No biggie to me, I’m an easy customer, but maybe their OTHER customer doesn’t like that change. Maybe they feel like there’s a drop in service, so she tries another store. She finds out “Boutique B” not only offers her a beverage and doesn’t pester her, but they also offer her a discount next time she shops there to gain loyalty. Where do you think that customer will go next time? I’ll be “Boutique B”.

Maybe I’ve been going to the same business, and love that no matter how often I go there, I don’t know what to expect! I love that is’ fresh, new, always changing, and keeps current. Then they find a pattern they like, and keep it the same for awhile. Boring for me, so I lose interest….

Knowing what your customers LOVE is as important as knowing what they aren’t so crazy about.

You’ve been puttering along working at your career, and suddenly there’s a new rule. Maybe you need to acquire continuing education hours to keep your license, or maybe you need to start documenting how you dispose of certain products that are used in your business. Just because you “never did before”, doesn’t mean the rules won’t change.

How do you keep current on the latest information in your industry? Do you just “do your own thing, because it works”?

What material do you read?
Who do you network with?
What associations or organizations do you belong to?

Life is not stagnant, and many professions are ever changing….how are you staying current?

We were on vacation for a few days, and staying in a hotel, we ended up eating out quite a bit. On average, we ate out 2x a day. one of the things that stood out to us was the difference in the waiters and waitresses we had. My husband and I ended up having a conversation about this, which started on the second night of our trip, and followed all the way through each meal we ate out.

We were out to dinner on Sunday night, and a waitress asked us if everything turned out all right. The problem is, she didn’t wait for our answer, she answered for us, then kept walking! “Is everything okay, good, okay”, and kept walking. We never had time to answer, or get that refill of our drink we were waiting for. Hmm, not very sincere when you don’t want to know the answer.

We had had a fabulous waiter the night before at another restaurant. The comparison was obvious, and so started our ongoing discussion at each meal.

One waitress at breakfast seemed like she had somewhere else she wanted to be, because aside from taking our order, we didn’t see her again. She didn’t even bring out our food….she did briefly appear at the end of our meal to give us our check, after somebody else cleared our table. No asking how the meal was, no asking anything, just drop the check and run…

On the other hand, we had a waitress that spoke VERY broken English for breakfast. She made an effort to make sure she wrote down exactly what we wanted, smiled, and checked back on us twice. She had trouble understanding the difference between tomato and potato, so I pointed to it on the menu. She smiled and thanked me for showing her. It was okay she didn’t have these things memorized, she was so pleasant, we were happy to go through our choices with her. We went back the next day and were pleased to have her for a waitress again.

One dinner the waiter started out strong, then I think got overwhelmed as more people came in. Hey, I’ve been there…I’ve put my time in bartending and being a waitress, so I understand that feeling. He still made the effort to swing by, even though we could tell he had become frazzled, and that mattered to us. He didn’t forget us, even though he was rushed.

The great waiter set the bar the first night, and the friendliness of the one waitress set the bar.

We actually had a waitress at lunch tell us we were the “quietest, easiest table” to take care of! I’m not kidding, but we get comments like this often. We’re friendly, kind, simple to please, and are happy to quietly talk amongst ourselves. Aren’t most other people? Keep my Diet Coke filled, and I’m happy.

Lastly, our final stop for dinner we had a great meal. The waiter simply did his job, and wasn’t a “presence”…you barely noticed he was there, the food came out hot, salads crisp, and he checked for refills. He was almost stealth…he didn’t take over the meal, just merely made sure you were enjoying it.

What can you learn from this? How sincere are you or your employees when dealing with your customers?

Have you ever seen a poorly designed sign? It’s usually one of those homemade signs that people thought they could do it themselves cheaper; they are the ones I’m talking about. People think it doesn’t matter, and they saved a few bucks, but let me make something perfectly understood, it does matter!

I don’t take a business as seriously if they won’t invest in themselves. If they can’t spend a few extra dollars to have a nicely made sign to represent themselves, how do I know they will spend the few extra dollars to take care of my needs. In the back of my head, I’ll be thinking they’ll be cutting corners on my project too.

Now you can actually build and design your own sign right on your computer. It will have a professional look, a personal touch, and give you the design you want. BuildASign.com lets you create and build your own design, while giving you a professionally finished project. Whether you need plywood signs, street signs, real estate signs, parking signs or even accessories, you can find it at BuildASign.com.

The real estate section offers signs to lease, to buy, riders, banners, vinyl lettering and more. Let’s face it, you’ve probably seen one too many rent or lease signs written on poster board with black marker. Isn’t it time to upgrade to a real sign? It’s amazing the difference that a professional image will bring to you. Design it, choose your size, and get it shipped right to your door!

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Have you heard about the latest news in credit? In an attempt to stop identity theft, you may now be able to freeze your credit score, so people can’t apply for credit in your name. Only you will be able to unlock it when you’re ready to apply for credit again.

TransUnion has finally changed their minds, and decided that it may very well be a way to help with identity theft issues. All three of the main players were opposed to this, but it looks as those TransUnion has had a change of mind. Maybe the other companies will soon follow suit.

This service goes into effect October 15th.

Ironically all three companies lobbied for 2 years to stop a bill. That freeze means that it blocks bureaus from issuing your report! Good news for consumers in all 50 states!

Freezing your credit score with the help of web server software is a really effective opportunity, especially for internet small business owners. There are different kinds of utility software available that can be used for checking your credit score. This type of computers software work like the mathematics software, but their implication is somewhat different in the respect that they deal with finance as tax software does.

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If you’re on the web, you’ve learned how important it is to network and get connected to like minded people. Networking is a valuable asset, and when it comes to finding people who are working towards similar goals such as marketing, small business or other things, you gain benefits by trading information and helping each other move forward towards your goals. I was recently involved in a large online group networking project, and the amount of movement some of my projects got due to help from these people were tremendous.

There are so many social portals out there, but some just aren’t ideal for business. Sure there are places like MySpace and Facebook, but what if you want to work with other entrepreneurs, and not just connect to people? There’s a site perfect for business networking over at DirectMatches.com. It offers networking, profiles, classifieds, events and more. You use it how it will work best for you. Their site helps you find everything you need, whether it’s just to connect with other people, direct sales business opportunity discussions, or to network with business contacts. With so many choices out there, doesn’t it make sense to find one that’s tailored to your needs. If your needs are business oriented, consider DirectMatches.com.

I’m currently looking at the latest issue of “Blogger & Podcaster” magazine. If you haven’t subscribe yet, you can get the digital version free. Simply click on the banner on my sidebar, and it will take you to their subscription page. The print version does cost money, but remember, the digital version is free, so if money’s an issue, subscribe online. Here’s what’s going on in the magazine this month…

The editor’s note discusses older times of podcasting, and how sometimes it feels like it’s not moving along as it was intended. It’s moving, but maybe not at the pace one had hoped. There’s also discussion of an upcoming expo.

We’re treated to an article about the BlogHer conference, and women bloggers. (Waves my hand, over here…another woman blogger!) On the same page, they discuss the tension between two associations in podcasting, and some thoughts on them.

A digital recorder is reviewed on page 8, while page 9 brings us that Blogger & Podcaster is accounted for on SecondLife, and talks about blogging and health insurance. Yeah, you’ll need to read that one for yourself.
You’ll also see a smattering of small clips of here and there news.

WordCamp’s conference was discussed on page 11. A clip about Blog2Print.com got me curious enough to want to check out their site. Jotting down the address now.

We’re treated to some tips on page 13 to get the most out of the Podcast Expo this weekend. It’s good information, and honestly some of that can be used at any trade show or conference you attend. Nicely written piece, and worth your time to check out.

Can I just tell you I LOVE the new feature they’ve added to the reader. Once those talking ads came on, I could pause it. I can read the ad, I don’t want to hear it, and they’ve finally given me the option to turn it off! KUDOS for this change!!!! LOVE.IT.

Shel Israel discussed Facebook, tools, and other things related. I’ll be looking at Pownce, which is a microblogging program, similar to Twitter. You’ve got to keep up, and the key is learning which ones are helpful, and which just won’t generate buzz. As for Facebook, I’ve been networking on it for a little bit now, and am a newer user. It’s amazing how quickly your contacts grow, and you can find like minded people who are working on similar things. I’m not crazy about all the “kid type” activities like be a vampire, a pirate, buy me a fish for my aquarium and stuff like that, but people love it. That stuff isn’t what I’m there for. I’m there to meet people and network about business. It’s been going well so far. I’ve ignored most of the requests to turn me into a werewolf. Feels a little high school to me…What is cool is you can run StumbleUpon, recommend links, videos and more. I love the discussion boards and networking end, and the ability to have it all together.

Page 17 is an article about podcasters getting a little notoriety, and how it may come off wrong in person. Not sure quite what was being said here, rather than point out that “Miss Moxie” overdid it. Was that the point? Seriously, handle your new found attention better….okay. While it makes good “story”, it left a sour taste in my mouth, and felt more like gossip for those “in the know” of who it was. Just my opinion, you may have your own.

A question and answer article about how the iPhone touches bloggers and podcasters was interesting. It’s one of those things I just never thought about. How does my blog look on an iPhone? Gee, I don’t know, but the article was a great starter to learn more. This is a good read.

There’s a very thorough article and review on 5 different digital recorders. It starts on page 20 and ends up page 27. It ends with a nicely laid out chart for comparison sake.

BlogHer again on page 28 and on…where’s female voices? Maybe they aren’t looking hard enough, because I read some excellent female voices in blogging. I guess when they talk about this, they are talking about big time bloggers, but let’s look at this from a small blogger’s perspective. I know about blogging, because I’m a blogger. My husband could care less about blogging. He doesn’t know, nor care if the voice is male or female if he happens to stumble onto a site that’s a blog. I think there’s too much emphasis on dividing or drawing a line between male and female bloggers. Why not unite that thought, and think: blogger, doesn’t matter what their gender is. I’m all about empowering people, and appreciate women, being a woman, but I’ll tell you, it gets old hearing it’s a male or female blogger. Why can’t we just say….”blogger”? The actual round table discussion which is the base of the article goes until page 33. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a problem with the article itself, it’s just what it brings up in me to separate voices. Why not say, “great writer”, rather than “great female writer” or “great male writer”. It feels old-fashioned to me.

You can check out reviews on pages 40 and 41 for podcasting equipment.

IBNMA founder Miles Dufree writes The IBNMA Beat this month about the political voice of bloggers. I don’t do politics, so if you do you’ll want to read this. I’m an avid, avoid politics discussion kind of girl. Personal policy, you’re free to have your own.

On page 46, you’ll find 10 Questions with Jeff Jarvis of BuzzMachine.com and other BIG stuff.

Are you into multimedia? There’s something new I want to tell you about called the Mvix High-Definition Wireless Multimedia Center (MX-760HD). It’s going to bring you to a whole new level! I was reading about the Mvix Multimedia Center, and it’s pretty cool! It allows you to connect to your computer, or into your TV directly!

Imagine all those files and how they’re going to look on your HDTV! If you install a hard drive, you can take all your digital media, and keep it together, and that’s brilliant. The best part is you can see the great output with great quality. Another cool feature is how it can decode all sorts of files. I hate when I need different programs to open different types of files, but with the Mvix Multimedia Center, you can open so many different kinds of files, there’s no need for anything else when it comes to media! The best part is it doesn’t take up a lot of space. It stands a little over 7 inches tall, 7 inches long, and just about 2-3 inches wide! You can check out their website at MvixUSA.com.

I love that it’s wireless, or you can choose to hook it up. I love wireless, where my husband prefers to be wired. The setup is supposed to be a snap to use, which is great for people like me! I don’t have a lot of patience when it comes to the set up process. I want it to make it easy. You can select things like music playback, videos, pictures and more once you’re up and running. If you’re ready to stream media, have an easy set up, have portability of a unit, and want lots of storage space, this is something to put on your wish list this holiday season!

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Just because you are new to business, it doesn’t mean you are an exception to the rule. It’s important to know what your industry standards are on Occupational Safety and Health. Let’s face it, nobody is born knowing these things, so it means we have to do the legwork to learn about them.

Nobody wants to hear, “I didn’t know!”

Jump over to OSHA’s website, and learn what you need to know for your business. How well documented are you when accidents happen? Do the employees learn about OSHA standards; are you having meetings? Are floors clean, dry and safe? How are things moved from one place to another?

What do you need to know for your business?

My aunt just switched from a dial up modem to a high speed modem. I didn’t realize she was still using dial-up. She couldn’t believe the difference! I remember when high speed modems were just launching. I actually worked for Comcast for 5 years. It’s been a few years since I’ve worked there, but what was cool is I was around for the launch of high speed modems, digital services, and HDTV services. It was exciting to see them release them here. They tested the waters in the Bensalem area of Bucks County in our neighborhood, and they took off! It was exciting to see the transition, and one of the things the company did was give their employees access to it in their homes, so they would know the product, and understand how great it was. I loved having access to it, and was in heaven.

Then I got married, and moved to my husband’s house. He had slow, or should I say painfully slow dial up service. It was worse than medieval torture going backwards in technology! Finally, I convinced him to switch over a few years ago, and we’ve never looked back. High speed modem service is just heads and shoulders above other types of services. I am on my computer for hours a day, so I rely on the efficiency of it.

Now they have Comcast Digital Voice service too. It just became available in my smaller town, so we’re looking forward to making the switch soon. The great thing is if you bundle the services together, you get a break on your bill. I can tell you that while I worked for this company, they treated their employees well. This is a company with integrity, and I’ve seen them in action. It’s been a few years since I’ve worked for them, but I know the quality they strive for. I know the hours people put in to give you the best service possible, and I know the guys who go out in all weather to make sure it stays that way. If you haven’t tried their services yet, this is something well worth trying. The technology is fabulous, and the company stands behind what they do.

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