5 Ways to Build Killer Relationships With Customers
Here are five ways to build customer relationships and keep them coming back.
As a key to any good relationship, communication is an essential way to build customer relationships.
Rather than just telling customers about your business, have conversations with them.
If you have employees, teach them how to effectively communicate with customers.
When you deliver earlier than expected, the customer will be happy about the surprise.
Invite customer feedback to show you are listening.
Always listen carefully to comments and respond promptly, whether it’s a compliment or a complaint.
When you engage with customers online, be careful not to create a one-way conversation.
You can hand out reward cards, or use a loyalty program app to track customer rewards.
With a loyalty program, customers earn points for buying your goods or services.
10 Simple Productivity Tips for Organizing Your Work Life
10 Simple Productivity Tips for Organizing Your Work Life.
Start the day with structured ‘me time’: Go through email and social media updates that have piled up overnight and triage the backlog.
And delete the stuff that is informational or not important.
Use commute time to complete coordination tasks: It’s crazy not to use commute time to winnow out time-intensive tasks.
Reduce all meeting times by 25 percent: You will get the same amount of work done, because so much time is wasted dealing with conference call setup and useless banter.
Schedule regular breaks during the day: Running from back-to-back meetings is not productive, because you get tired and lose focus.
Making these breaks a routine increases predictability, creating a regular schedule to keep your mind organized.
Work ‘offsite’ when it makes sense: When you need to write a document or research a topic, the absence of office interruptions will improve concentration.
Some companies are finding that letting employees work from home has other advantages including reduced commute time, shorter lunch times and fewer sick days.
Born in the software development world, Agile’s big contribution to task management is breaking big jobs down into short sprints.
5 Fun Facts About Jeff Bezos’s New D.C. Home
5 Fun Facts About Jeff Bezos’s New D.C. Home.
The founder of Amazon and owner of the Post was revealed as the newest resident of the biggest house in our nation’s capital, a nearly 27,000 square-foot mansion (that is actually two buildings put together) that he bought for $23 million.
Until 2013, the property housed The Textile Museum.
George Washington University took on its collection and the museum’s new location opened in the university’s campus across town during the spring of 2015.
When Bezos takes up residence in his new home, he’ll have a pretty famous neighbor: President Barack Obama.
A few other presidents were fans of Kalorama too: Warren G. Harding, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and Woodrow Wilson all had homes there.
The property is in the National Register of Historic Places for a pretty cool reason.
In 1912, the Textile Museum’s founder, George Hewitt Meyers, asked architect John Russell Pope to build him a mansion.
In 1915, Meyers and his family moved in, and 10 years later, he opened the museum after he purchased the property next door to house his massive collection of textiles from all over the world.
George Hewitt Meyers had a variety of interests.
How to Handle Your Post-Holiday Debt
How to Handle Your Post-Holiday Debt.
For many consumers, the holiday season not only packed on pounds, it also put them in debt.
Splender.com’s Trae Bodge shared these tips with Contributor Jessica Abo to help you get your personal finances back on track.
Watch more videos from Jessica Abo on her YouTube channel here.
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5 Steps to Writing Better Ad Copy
5 Steps to Writing Better Ad Copy.
Here’s Halbert’s technique for writing better copy in five steps: Step #1: Get a printout of the names and addresses of your customers and best prospects, and then sit down and read that printout When you run a direct mail campaign, you may rent a list of names and addresses through a list manager or broker.
Halbert started with a regular mailing list.
Step #3: Start reading your mail, and start taking phone calls from your business customers Now actually read those letters, and find out what people are writing about.
You’ll learn even more if you talk to customers when they call in with orders, complaints or questions.
What would make the product better?
Step #4: Start making telephone calls to your customers If you’re willing to reach out to your customers and call them on the phone, you can really get some great information.
Halbert said that if you ask the right questions, you’ll be able to learn more about what your customers want — and how best to sell them your product — than a thousand creative types who are writing from their imaginations.
Step #5: Go to where your customers live, knock on their front door and ask to talk to them This is pretty extreme, but if you do follow through on it, sitting at someone’s kitchen table will certainly show you firsthand how your customers live.
You won’t know what to write until you know who you’re writing to, what they really want and what sells them the best.
The Content Trap: Lessons for Entrepreneurs
The Content Trap: Lessons for Entrepreneurs.
And, over and you, you hear three mantras for success in our digital world: Make the best product you can.
And those lessons are clear: Success comes not from focusing on products, or “content” — companies actually need to be wary of that trap.
User connections: Create to connect.
Their success in most cases came from connecting users.
Product connections: Expand your product horizons.
Complements are products or services that increase the value your core product delivers to users.
A book publisher or a recording studio that sees itself as purely in the content business may fail to notice that digital firms competing in hardware, software or advertising will try to drive down the price of content so that they themselves can capture more value.
When traditional marketing faces too much noise, piggybacking can work.
And, two, don’t focus only on content; also recognize and leverage connections.
The 19 Covenants of a Standard Franchise Agreement
The format of the contract differs from one franchise system to another.
Related: The 23 Items That Make Up the Heart and Soul of the Franchise Disclosure Document However, though each franchise agreement will differ in style, language and content, all franchise agreements have covenants, each of which describes a promise, right or duty that the franchisee or franchisor owes to the other or that benefits the franchisor or franchisee.
The franchisee receives no ownership rights to the Marks or the System, and the franchisor always retains the right to terminate the franchisee’s grant-of-license because of a breach of the franchise agreement.
Fees and Required Purchases This section will disclose the fees more specifically described elsewhere in the agreement.
If renewal rights are granted, this section will also spell out the prerequisites of this arrangement.
Non-Competition Covenant and Similar Restrictions A non-competition covenant is one that seeks to prevent the franchisee from opening a business that would compete with the franchised business.
Virtually all franchise agreements will have non-competition covenants.
As the name suggests, the in-term covenant prevents the franchisee from competing against the franchisor and any other franchisees while the franchise agreement is in force.
The post-term covenant covers the former franchisee after the franchise agreement expires or is earlier terminated because of an uncured breach.
Insurance All franchise agreements will require the franchisee to obtain insurance to cover its business operations.
You Can Embrace Green Building Without Breaking the Bank
As they search for the next ideal office space to lease, entrepreneurs know to watch for verification through Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED.
It’s anticipated that commercial-building owners will spend $960 billion globally by the year 2023 upgrading building infrastructure to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s rigorous LEED standards.
Do your employees want to bike or jog to work for health or environmental reasons?
Make it company policy to recycle plastic, paper and aluminum or other metals.
Draw up a green lease.
Buy furniture designed specifically to maximize usable space, and you’ll help your team remain productive as your business become more sustainable.
Retrofitting the office system with LED lighting is another relatively inexpensive way to be more green while slashing long-term energy costs.
Many areas offer tax rebates for firms that make sustainable upgrades.
If you plan to remain in the space for a while, it’s an investment worth considering.
With so many cost-effective resources available for eco-conscious companies, the decision isn’t whether to to green, but when.
How Thinking Like a Designer Can Unlock Organic Growth
So, we put funding rounds and sales strategies aside for the time being and got started.
Good design conveys a clarity of mission, a sense of purpose and a healthy disdain for unnecessary distractions.
Today, as a team of 30 people, we’ve seen this mentality help us focus on what really matters: the work, the experiences people have and what we can do to create sustainable growth year after year.
Slack’s service hurts its immediate bottom line but achieves something more important: It shows that the company cares more about its relationship with its customers than monthly numbers.
Empower designers to do their best work.
Any designer who looks at what happened with Uber can almost feel a businessperson pointing to his or her screen and stating, “I’m not a designer, but.
Instead of increasing complexity and killing growth, make sure everyone is given the freedom to drive the mission.
People want to be challenged to do their best work and trusted to make decisions.
Furthermore, employees understand how businesses work.
That may work for a more transactional company, but it won’t work for a high-end fashion line where customer sentiment is everything.
McDonald’s to Donate Meals to the Homeless in Vatican City
McDonald’s to Donate Meals to the Homeless in Vatican City.
One of the newest McDonald’s locations caused quite a stir when it opened its doors on Dec. 30.
The restaurant is housed in a building owned by the Vatican, steps away from St. Peter’s Basilica, so perhaps it’s not surprising that several members of the Church weren’t super thrilled with the new addition.
But, the McVatican, as it’s been dubbed, seems to be trying to get into the neighborhood’s good graces.
The restaurant is teaming up with Italian nonprofit Medicina Solidale to offer meals to homeless people living in Vatican City.
Beginning Jan. 16, McDonald’s will donate 1,000 free lunches each week.
The organization’s director, Lucia Ercoli, said in a press release, “Providing a meal guarantees an appropriate supply of proteins and vitamins to so many men and women who live on the street.
I am very happy with this agreement with McDonald’s.” Medicina Solidale frequently works with Polish Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, who oversees charitable giving for Pope Francis.
But it seems the Church isn’t the only entity that has some qualms about the fast food giant’s presence.
On Jan. 9, a trio of Italian consumer groups reportedly filed a complaint with antitrust regulators in the EU regarding the company’s treatment of European franchisees and the length of their contracts.
Demystifying the Process of Securing Corporate Sponsorship
Demystifying the Process of Securing Corporate Sponsorship.
“If you’re looking for a six or seven figure sponsorship, you generally need to propose such partnerships prior to the brand’s annual budgeting process,” said Gerard.
“Most brands and their agencies have discretionary funds that can be doled out throughout the year,” said Gerard.
A lead time of two to four months is ideal for an in-kind partnership or a monetary ask under six figures.
However, there are [smaller] brands who will participate in an event within a month of it happening.
“This is a very cost-effective and efficient marketing method for brands because it allows them to get their product directly into the hands of consumers, media or celebrities.” Certain industries are more inclined than others to provide in-kind donations.
“Almost any consumer-facing event can utilize beverage partners.
Every company handles its corporate marketing dollars in different ways.
It is essential to have the right team handling the type of partnership opportunity that is being sought after.
Often time those partnerships better define a brand than what the product actually is.”
Here’s How Going Cheap on Employee Training Is Costing You
However, long after an employee has begun work, your business needs to invest in occasional training.
It’s important to offer these opportunities equally, across all departments, constantly looking for ways to help each employee improve and advance.
You may think that the primary reason employees leave surrounds salary, but in actuality, the motivation for changing jobs goes much deeper.
For that reason, even an occasional course might make the difference between an employee leaving and staying.
Many businesses fear that if they send employees to a type of training that will improve their credentials, those employees will simply leverage what they’ve learned and find a better position elsewhere.
Even if each course or certification costs your business thousands of dollars, that amount can quickly be recouped in replacement hiring costs if an employee stays rather than leaves.
Training shows career investment.
As businesses try to create a work culture that attracts top talent and keeps them on staff, they’re beginning to see the many benefits of investing in a person’s career rather than merely waiting for the results of their daily work output.
This will let you provide consistent training to everyone on your team, whether they’re in the office or working from home.
The qualifications of your team do make a big difference and when you invest in them, you boost your own business’s image.
Flight 666 Flies to HEL on Friday the 13th
Flight 666 Flies to HEL on Friday the 13th.
England news organization The Daily Mail reports that Finnair flight AY666 took off today from Copenhagen and safely landed at the Helsinki Airport.
To be clear, on Friday the 13th, flight 666 flew to HEL.
(If you are the superstitious type, you may want to throw some salt over your shoulder and make sure you’re not about to walk under any ladder right now.)
RT reports that Finnair has been making flight 666 for many years and that it gains a lot of popularity when it falls on Friday the 13th.
(The last time was on May 13, 2016.)
I’m not a superstitious man.
It’s only a coincidence for me.”
If you were flying to HEL, would you purposely choose or purposely avoid going on the 13th?
We wouldn’t have a problem with it, but we’d probably take a second look to see if any of the passengers were wearing hockey masks.
Canada Goose Plans IPO as Soon as February
Canada Goose Plans IPO as Soon as February.
Canada Goose Inc. is planning to go public as soon as next month, people with knowledge of the matter said, in an initial public offering that could value the company at about $2 billion.
Canada Goose is planning on selling 10 percent to 15 percent of the company to the public in both the U.S. and in its home country, said one of the people, implying an IPO size of $200 million to $300 million.
In 2013, when Bain acquired a majority stake in Canada Goose, the company was valued at about $250 million, the person said.
Terms weren’t disclosed at the time.
The last retail company to go public on a U.S. exchange was rugged apparel maker Duluth Holdings Inc. in November 2015, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
In the past decade, only a dozen apparel or shoe companies have listed shares in the U.S. and Canada combined, the data compiled by Bloomberg show.
In November, Canada Goose opened a flagship store in New York.
Canada Goose hasn’t always targeted the luxury winter-weather buyer.
The company was founded in a small warehouse in Toronto in 1957 as Metro Sportswear Ltd., specializing in woolen vests, raincoats and snowmobile suits.
4 Startups Revolutionizing the EdTech World
Technology has been transforming the educational world for the past few years.
Studypool Working out of their dorm rooms as college freshman, Studypool founders Richard Werbe and Jimmy Zhong ironically skipped weeks of classes to reinvent how students learn through a concept called “Microtutoring.”
But with Peergrade, students can evaluate and grade each other’s work through peer assessment sessions.
“Letting students partake in the process of evaluating and giving feedback enables them to learn from the work of others.” The platform works by allowing teachers to create online assignments and specify the criteria for evaluation.
Time Machine Tours It’s no secret that a lot of students find history as one of the most boring subjects.
The app offers tours that utilize augmented reality, with which users can hold their phones over the actual locations.
Like it or not, it is a much more engaging way to learn history than reading in a classroom or library.
ClassTag ClassTag is a different kind of startup that focuses not on the students, but on the parent-teacher relationship.
This utilizes the collective effort of teachers and parents in tending to the needs of the students.
“ClassTag’s mission is to help teachers engage parents in the classroom by handling the busy work,” says Lotkina.
Social media startup CultureSphere sues HCL, alleges misuse of confidential information
Social media startup CultureSphere sues HCL, alleges misuse of confidential information.
Acquisition talks fall through all the time, but a new lawsuit from social media startup CultureSphere accuses global IT company HCL of something more serious — using those talks as a way to get access to confidential information for use in a competing product.
HCL, meanwhile, has said the CultureSphere’s allegations are “totally baseless.” We wrote about CultureSphere after its launch in 2015 — its mobile app gives companies a way to enable and encourage employees to share content on social media.
Eventually, the discussions progressed far enough that CultureSphere was willing to share “the inner workings of CultureSphere’s proprietary platform,” which HCL executives agreed to treat as “highly confidential.” The lawsuit says this information “far exceeded any other disclosures that CultureSphere made to any other company that expressed interest in a potential acquisition,” and included technical and product details, as well as marketing plans.
Afterwards, however, CultureSphere alleges that BEYONDigital executives stopped communicating, and only resumed to say that the deal was being delayed due to broader corporate considerations.
In a statement provided to TechCrunch, CultureSphere co-founder and CEO Danny Gordon said: Going into 2017, there’s not a single enterprise which doesn’t need our technology.
Our one obstacle is scaling fast enough to capture the massive market opportunity.
That was the premise for our agreed acquisition with BEYONDigital and HCL — to put our platform’s proprietary experience into as many companies as possible, giving them unparalleled advantage in reach, data and growth by combining the employee experience and customer experience in one.
As a platform offering under a Global 2000 brand, we’d be able to scale 10x faster than as a solo company.
As for HCL, a spokesperson sent us this statement: “It is inappropriate for us to comment on pending litigation, however, we believe the allegations in the lawsuit to be totally baseless.” You can read the full complaint below.
From Selling Water on the Street Corner to a Multi-Million Dollar Online Business
From Selling Water on the Street Corner to a Multi-Million Dollar Online Business.
But he knew early on that he had another calling in life.
When the economy took a hit, Hernandez was out of a job.
When the purchase was made, Hernandez and his buddies expected a hard-copy book to show up in the mail.
The author could make a living by cutting out all the middle men.” In fact, that ebook changed everything for Hernandez, prompting him to set out on a new mission to generate a living online.
“To me, making that first $236 was like making a million dollars,” Hernandez said.
High-quality traffic for digital entrepreneurs Today, Hernandez generates more than six figures a month as the founder and CEO of the digital media company, Click Cash Marketing, Inc., which drives online traffic and lead generation for Fortune 500 companies.
When you work for yourself, you have the freedom to manage your time rather than getting permission from a supervisor.
Running your own business empowers you with the freedom to truly live your best life.” Hernandez plans on helping others achieve success online through his new brand, Millionaire Wisdom.
He’s an Army veteran but he continues to serve his country by empowering others to achieve their dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem.
Simple Time-Saving Hacks to Boost Your Productivity
I find that I am more productive when I have ample time to complete what I need to do.
Right when I find a time-saving hack that actually works, another time-sucking activity seems to appear and fill the void.
It almost cancels out my efforts.
I personally have items like toilet paper shipped.
The fewer shopping trips I have to make, the better.
See what items are eligible for this program and give your shopping list a breather.
I file the items once a month.
I know that if I ever needed one of the papers from the current month, they sit in sequence by date so I know it wouldn’t be hard to find something if I needed it.
It also frees up my schedule to make more money in less time.
Short cut your shopping efforts by having items sent to you, cut back on how often you do certain tasks and say no when you know you can’t commit to an event or task.