A positive outlook can make a difficult situation more navigable. This “rule” is applicable for almost everyone, including business owners seeking to improve customer relations. In an age in which a negative experience can be posted on social media within seconds, it is vital that businesses learn how to manage interactions in a positive way.
It is impossible for a business to please 100 percent of its customers 100 percent of the time. Even in a situation in which a customer is not pleased with an outcome, a positive interaction with customer service can lead to a continued relationship with a company. An overall positive attitude shared by both employees and management can have a long-term impact on the growth of a business. Some of the ways to encourage a positive environment in your business include:
Make a good first impression: A cheerful greeting can have a major impact. When a customer walks into your store, calls your office or interacts with an employee, the customer should always be greeted professionally and politely. The first impression will set the tone for the individual’s entire relationship with your company and can encourage a repeat visit.
Remain professional: Depending on the type of business, you and your employees may be dealing with sensitive client information. Occasionally, a customer may willingly offer personal details about his or her life. In these cases, it can be hard to maintain decorum in the customer relationship, but it is vital that you do so. The ability to professionally and positively navigate through awkward situations is a requirement for a successful business.
Maintain the relationship: How will your clients or customers know that they are important unless you show them? Demonstrate that they are valuable by meeting their needs, going the extra mile or offering special services to repeat customers. Deliberate, continued contact sends a positive message about your business.
Treat employees well: This goes without saying, but employees who are treated well will, in turn, treat clients and customers well. A positive work environment will have a “trickle down” effect on the customers who patronize your business. Talk to your employees and find out how you can help them become more positive. Not only will this make them feel valued, but you may learn things about your business that you never knew.
Consider all types of feedback: Neither the best, nor the worst, feedback should be the measuring stick of how your business is doing. It is important to consider all types of feedback, both good and bad, when determining how to turn around poor or average customer experiences. Again, a positive attitude can sometimes turn a customer who had a negative experience initially into a satisfied repeat customer. In fact, it may be appropriate to ask your customers, “How can I make this a positive experience for you?”
Having a positive attitude is simple, yet it is a step that is often overlooked in favor of more complicated marketing schemes and business plans. Consider how a smile and a helpful attitude can open up positive communication with your clients, which can increase your profitability.
Small businesses are considered the backbone of the American economy. The Conway Center for Family Business estimates that as much as 35 percent of Fortune 500 companies are family operated. In fact, it is thought that small businesses, many of them family-owned, employ roughly half of the American workforce. Many people prefer to patronize small or family-owned businesses because of their unique offerings, personal connections and quality customer service. Running a family-owned business can be difficult for many reasons. However, you can take your company or business to the next level by making smart decisions to intentionally market your product. Every savvy family business owner can benefit by considering any of the following:
What sets you apart?: Is your family business based on a secret recipe? Was your business’ success built on a special product? Whether you own a restaurant started by your grandmother or are carrying on the family law firm founded by your father, identify what makes your business unique and market it.
If you own a small business or are running a 
The word “selfie” has quickly become ingrained in the American vernacular, ushered in, mostly, by millennials snapping photos of themselves doing everything from sipping a latte to riding a roller coaster. This trend was bolstered by social media sites, including Facebook and Twitter. However, no social media site has played a larger role in the selfie phenomenon than Instagram.
One of the biggest benefits to using Instagram as a marketing tool is that it is completely free and very simple. In just a few minutes, users can create a user account, connect with their existing Facebook account and begin sharing photos with the world. This offers the opportunity for a business to do any or all of the following to attract new clients:
Many small businesses use Instagram as a storefront to “display” new products and ideas. You can share the “story” of your company or share the passion that you have for your business through photos. It is a free way to visually portray to your potential clients why they should consider your company. It is fast, free and has unlimited potential, in terms of the amount of people you can reach.
The famous grocery store Whole Foods has recently announced a new nationwide marketing campaign, centering around new commercials that showcase the corporate values of the chain. Whole Foods has never needed to launch a national campaign to boost sales, but lately the chain has struggled.
The grocery store has been nicknamed “Whole Paycheck” because of the high prices. However, the store has a faithful following among those who appreciate the high-quality brands, organic selections and fresh foods. These loyal customers are not enough to offset the disappointing sales that have plagued the store in the recent months. The new ads will showcase the high ethical 
standards maintained by the chain regarding their values, standards for food suppliers and other important factors. They hope that this new ad campaign will help potential customers understand what sets this chain apart: High-quality foods and high standards.
There are lessons to be learned from Whole Food’s approach to advertising. Instead of promoting lower prices and sales (which they are offering, regionally), the store is attempting to connect with consumers on a whole different level. They are promoting some of their core values as a company: sustainable farming, locally grown produce and more. It is hoped that this will attract more health-conscious consumers, bring in new customers who care about their food source and bolster the fledgling sales numbers.
The benefit of having core values, even as a business, is that it acts as a compass for all of the decisions and actions of the company. The values of the company, either stated or those enforced by management, will be the guiding force of a business. The intrinsic worth of a stated, thoughtful and intentional set of standards or values cannot be overstated. As in the case of Whole Foods aspirations with the new ad campaign, your company values could make the difference between attracting new customers or blending in with the competition.
The business world is like a horse race. Everyone is running, trying to get ahead, jutting out their nose just to finish millimeters ahead of the competition. If a horse falls, pauses, hesitates–even for a second–they may be out of contention altogether. Like a horse race, pulling ahead and winning in business can be quite profitable but can also be exhausting. Just moments after a victory, the questions will begin:
One victory, successful product or popular service, big or small, and the pressure begins to mount. People are looking for improvements, changes and the next big thing. If a business fails to differentiate, improve and move ahead, it will once again blend in with the others in the pack, all straining to outdo the other.
Move on. Did you make a mistake? Did a product fail or an idea fall flat? That’s okay. Every company makes mistakes, but the successful ones move on. Disney has made bad movies and Apple has released defective software updates, yet they are some of the most successful companies on the globe. Learn from your missteps, but do not despair.
one task at a time, and it is likely that you will see these efforts pay off in dividends.
The world of sales can be a brutal place. The fast pace of keeping up with competitors and improving sales methods can be both frustrating and exhausting. Individuals in sales know how impossible it can be to have an improving or even consistent sales record. In some form or fashion, sales are a part of almost every industry and business. From direct distributing to providing a service, it is important to consistently sharpen and improve a company’s sales approach.
One of the most important aspects to consider is the connection with the customer. Improving the customer/client relationship can be the key to improving sales. It is also beneficial for an individual to personally evaluate their sales approach from time to time. This could be done by asking any of the following questions:
How do you use your time?: Time management is a vital key to sales success. Maximizing every minute of the work day can allow for more communication with existing customers and contacting potential clients. Sales is a job that can easily follow you home, making it important to have a clearly defined schedule and specified work hours. This is easily accomplished with proper time management.
Small, consistent steps can improve productivity in sales, along with any other aspect of business. Essentially, every company is in the business of sales, or at the very least, customer relations. Any effort poured into evaluating and improving this facet of business is a step toward success. Surviving sales can be a difficult task, but fortunately, it is not an impossible dream with the proper perspective.
A first impression can have an incalculable impact on the future relationship between a client and a business. Like a firm handshake, good website design is often the first impression of a business. When potential clients visit your website, what do they perceive about your company? Every aspect of a website, from the font choices to the “user-friendly” factor, sends a message about the professionalism, attitude and reliability of a business.
Web design is an often overlooked component of the success of a business. Customers will not revisit a site that is confusing, visually overwhelming or poorly designed. In an age where most client/provider interaction occurs online, this can be problematic. Monitoring web traffic and customer feedback can be a useful tool in evaluating the success of current web design, but there are certain questions that should be asked, including:
SEO service: Improve search results, ensuring that potential clients are more likely to see the site
Make your five seconds count by revamping your web design. We can help you evaluate your current site and pinpoint how you can improve your site for sales and SEO purposes. This is a positive investment tailored to your specific needs and budget. Web design is the introduction to your company–be certain you are making a good first impression.
Everyone is allotted the same 24 hours in a day, the same days in a week and the same months in a year. Although every person is given the same amount, the main difference is in how time is used. The most successful people, from stay-at-home moms to CEOs, understand that some of the main components of success lie in time management and wise use of every second of the day.
William Penn once said, “Time is what we want most but use worst.” This rings true for many people as they are lying in bed at the end of the day, staring at ceiling and wondering where their day went. Instead of wishing for more hours in the day, perhaps it is best to aim for a paradigm shift toward using time in a more productive manner. Time management can allow an individual to accomplish more and meet career demands with less stress.
Make a calendar of all appointments and important dates. It is useful to see a visual representation of a schedule.
There is immense value in using time wisely. It can provide for a more productive relationship with clients and can dramatically improve the quality of your time spent at work.