|
Our mascot
"Pro-Motion"
|
...View Article Archive
25 Super-Practical Steps
to Build Your Business!
by Dr. Philip E. Humbert
Mar. 30, 2002
As a small business owner,
you must attract clients or customers, serve them very well,
and earn their return
business - and do it every single day.
So. Let's talk about some practical
steps to build your business quickly and systematically. I call
it the "5-by-5" process. Let's walk through it.
Monday: Take care of, clean up, and get rid
of 5 tolerations in your office or work. Make a list! Look around
your space, your car, your desk or office, and commit to spending
an hour taking care of at least 5 small, daily annoyances that
have been bugging you, robbing your energy, or making life difficult.
Do that filing! Repair that broken light, or throw out those
old magazines. Buy a new desk chair, or a whole new desk! You
can't afford to be distracted by these things. Fix them. Do it
on Monday!
Tuesday: Contact 5 former clients or customers.
Send them a letter, call them, even send them flowers or a small
gift in cases where that might be appropriate. Invite them back,
offer them a free follow-up or consultation. Ask them to help
you evaluate your service by completing a questionnaire or ask
them to come in for an interview. Tell them you value them as
customers and want them to come back - and refer their friends!
You can do this! Schedule an hour and do it on Tuesday.
Wednesday: Contact 5 current clients. Follow a
similar routine from yesterday. Call them up, or send a card
or letter telling them they are valued customers. Invite their
comments on how you can improve your service or expand your business.
Let them know you appreciate their trust and value their ideas.
Do it nicely, with tact and sincerity, but ask them to help you
build your business. You practiced on Tuesday, so you know you
can do this. Schedule an hour and do it on Wednesday!
Thursday: Contact 5 potential customers or clients
who have never used your services, and make them an offer they
have to respect. Go through your rolodex, your list of friends,
colleagues, associates and members of organizations you belong
to - use the Yellow Pages if you have to - but pick up that phone
and invite 5 people to check you out! If it's appropriate, tell
them you want to grow your business and offer them a free sample
(who could turn down a free massage or a free oil change, or.?)
If that's not appropriate, tell them you want to grow your business
and you'd love to meet with them, buy them lunch, whatever it
takes. You've been practicing for two days, so you know you can
do this. Schedule an hour and do it on Thursday!
Friday: This is the hardest one of all: Do
5 wonderful things for yourself! You've worked hard all week,
taken risks, put the word out that you are ready and eager to
handle more business. That means you need to be healthy, energized,
relaxed and ready. So, go for a walk. Take a long lunch and visit
a friend. Read a great novel - or a trashy one, your choice!
Enjoy the sunshine, or relax and listen to the rain. Spoil a
neighbor's kids, then give them back! Schedule TWO hours, and
do it on Friday!
This week, take 25 specific,
measured steps to create more room and build your business.
Written by Dr Philip E.
Humbert, writer, speaker and success coach. Dr. Humbert is the
author of a FREE weekly newsletter. Subscribe by visiting his
website at: http://www.philiphumbert.com.
You'll also find many other free articles, humor, quotes, tools
and resources for your success, and a free motivational screensaver!
|
|
|