11/16: Own Up to Your Mistakes
I recently read a story about a woman whose infant daughter died at Johns Hopkins University Hospital as a result of neglectful treatment. Amazingly, instead of buckling down and clamming up in anticipation of her lawsuit, the hospital opened up its files and worked to look for ways to prevent such tragedies from ever happening again.
While your business might not function in life or death situations, you can learn a lot from this heartbreaking situation.
Your business will make mistakes. People run businesses, and people make mistakes. To some degree, they are unavoidable.
If you hide from your missteps, refusing to accept responsibility and/or hoping the problem will just go away if you bury your head in the sand long enough, you risk serious damage to your business's most important asset - its reputation. In addition, you miss out on a prime opportunity to shine.
The way you handle a mess-up could mean the loss of one or more customers, or the gaining of tremendous customer good will and respect at how you owned up to the situation and made it right.
While your business might not function in life or death situations, you can learn a lot from this heartbreaking situation.
Your business will make mistakes. People run businesses, and people make mistakes. To some degree, they are unavoidable.
If you hide from your missteps, refusing to accept responsibility and/or hoping the problem will just go away if you bury your head in the sand long enough, you risk serious damage to your business's most important asset - its reputation. In addition, you miss out on a prime opportunity to shine.
The way you handle a mess-up could mean the loss of one or more customers, or the gaining of tremendous customer good will and respect at how you owned up to the situation and made it right.
10/15: Technorati Profile
Technorati Profile
Don't worry - you can do it! Get started on your new small business or home business today, and let ZodSquad.com and the ZodBlog help you market it. Start with http://bizop.zodsquad.com or whatever strikes your fancy.
For a good chuckle:
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/uc/20061020/lnq061021.gif
Don't worry - you can do it! Get started on your new small business or home business today, and let ZodSquad.com and the ZodBlog help you market it. Start with http://bizop.zodsquad.com or whatever strikes your fancy.
For a good chuckle:
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/uc/20061020/lnq061021.gif
08/16: Marketing Tips: Advertising
* Advertise during peak seasons for your business.
* Get a memorable phone number, such as 1-800-WIDGETS.
* Obtain a memorable URL and email address and include them on all marketing materials.
* Provide Rolodex® cards or phone stickers preprinted with your business contact information.
* Promote your business jointly with other professionals via cooperative direct mail.
* Distribute advertising specialty products such as pens, mouse pads, or mugs.
* Mail bumps - photos, samples, and other innovative items to your prospect list. (A bump is simply anything that makes the mailing envelope bulge and makes the recipient curious about what's in the envelope!)
* Create a direct mail list of hot prospects.
* Consider non-traditional tactics such as bus backs, billboards, and popular Web sites.
* Project a message on the sidewalk in front of your place of business using a light directed through words etched in a glass window.
* Consider placing ads in your newspaper's classified section.
* Consider a vanity automobile tag with your company name.
* Create a friendly bumper sticker for your car.
* Code your ads and keep records of results.
* Improve your building signage and directional signs inside and out.
* Invest in a neon sign to make your office or storefront window visible at night.
* Create a new or improved company logo or recolor the traditional logo.
* Sponsor and promote a contest or sweepstakes.
Some of this information was adapted from U.S. government sources.
* Get a memorable phone number, such as 1-800-WIDGETS.
* Obtain a memorable URL and email address and include them on all marketing materials.
* Provide Rolodex® cards or phone stickers preprinted with your business contact information.
* Promote your business jointly with other professionals via cooperative direct mail.
* Distribute advertising specialty products such as pens, mouse pads, or mugs.
* Mail bumps - photos, samples, and other innovative items to your prospect list. (A bump is simply anything that makes the mailing envelope bulge and makes the recipient curious about what's in the envelope!)
* Create a direct mail list of hot prospects.
* Consider non-traditional tactics such as bus backs, billboards, and popular Web sites.
* Project a message on the sidewalk in front of your place of business using a light directed through words etched in a glass window.
* Consider placing ads in your newspaper's classified section.
* Consider a vanity automobile tag with your company name.
* Create a friendly bumper sticker for your car.
* Code your ads and keep records of results.
* Improve your building signage and directional signs inside and out.
* Invest in a neon sign to make your office or storefront window visible at night.
* Create a new or improved company logo or recolor the traditional logo.
* Sponsor and promote a contest or sweepstakes.
Some of this information was adapted from U.S. government sources.
