Contrary to that statistic, they discovered that  90% of word of mouth ‘real’ conversations about brands take place in face-to-face environments – at work, at home, in restaurants, wherever people meet – and these are the places where powerful credibility for a brand is built as people exchange experiences with each other.

I am not dismissing the power of social media, I am merely reminding all of you who are business owners and leaders that you need to have a mix of marketing and branding tools at your disposal and the power of people interacting with each other in person (rather than through technology driven conversations) should not be overlooked in the rush to leverage the social media wave!

The first quality they shared is the desire and commitment to  add value for the customers.  Their value proposition says customers  gain from working with these companies; the second is that they focus on continuous improvement; the third is that they listen to customers carefully and they are all  “people first” businesses; and lastly,  they are all dissatisfied with the status quo.

These are powerful suggestions – and if you can find a way to incorporate them into your own situation, you will may also enjoy the growth and profitability of these market leaders!

A mentor provides on going insights, recommendations, shares best practices and offers guidance based on personal experience.  A sponsor, on the other hand, is someone who is your advocate  -  someone who is focused on helping you advance your career, encouraging you to move forward and speaking on your behalf to those in positions of authority who can help you climb the ladder.

If you are the business owner, you should be building a culture that promotes mentoring and advocacy – these are essential tools for enhancing the skills and knowledge of your next generation of leaders. If you are an employee seeking to accelerate your career, be on the look out for trusted advisors who can help you succeed. Select a mentor and a sponsor – both can work together to help you reach your goals.

If you are trying to demonstrate your company’s leadership status with your customers and prospects, your written communications should reflect well on you. Think about what you are conveying  before you hit “send!” Make sure you control the message and make it more valuable than an obvious self-promotion if you want repeat visits.

Letters from satisfied customers are  often posted on your company’s bulletin boards, framed  and displayed in the lobby, or included in your  newsletter. But today, technology has expanded the reach of these testimonials. They can be posted on your website, mentioned in your blog or uploaded to your company’s Facebook and LinkedIn pages for all the world to see. Search engines like new content and they seek out links – so fill a pipeline with comments from your customers and be sure to link back to their site as well. That creates a win-win situation and helps both of you get some attention.

There are always risks in public promotions.  For example, competitors may see your customers and give them a call to woo them away. You  need to be alert to every possibility – but you also need to be able to leverage the support and trust your customers place in your company – and use that to attract new customers along the way!

Customers like knowing they can reach the owner and have real, meaningful contact with someone who is in charge! This goes a long way towards building loyalty and retention. Being local has become a key benefit as well – so make yourself available, be in front of your customers, keep track of details important to them and reinforce frequent, quality interaction – and you will make a difference!

Consider this when you are marketing your organization – what special expertise, content and knowledge can you offer that your customers and future customers will find so essential that tey are willing to pay the price to have access to you?

This is the best area for distinguishing yourself and your company from your competitors!

Do you spend time thinking strategically like this, looking ahead and deciding when and how to redirect your efforts as your industry and your customers undergo continuous (and often rapid) change?It is essential that you be aware of what is going on around you so you are not caught investing in a dying business sector. You need to be ready to make some bold decisions and to be open enough to recognize when change is important to embrace.

If you would like help with this – talk to us about assisting with your strategic planning or helping facilitate your next retreat. Regardless of who you work with, be sure to start this process while you are successful – working your way out  from being boxed into a corner is not the ideal way to start a new direction!

Through the years I have heard business owners say that they do not want to conduct a customer satisfaction survey because they are worried  that negative responses may surface. This seems a little self-defeating – after all, whether you ask or not, an unhappy customer can cause problems for you so it is much better for you to face the truth head on than to skirt it.

Let us know how this works for you. If you need help crafting the survey questions – please call us at 973-994-9494!

It is incredibly hard, if not impossible, for most business owners – of companies large and small – to step away from all that they know, from the business that has brought them success through the years, to embrace new concepts that appear on the horizon.  As a result, most get left behind, abdicating their leadership roles when new entrepreneurs step in and take over.

Is your business positioned for the changes on your own horizon? Are you innovative, flexible and prepared for change? In today’s business world, these will be essential components for every company – and we would like to hear how you  are accomplishing this. Share your stories!