Is your web-site easy on your potential customers?

It may have all the bells and whistles, but is it easy for the people you want on your site to use?

I know that you can take it for granted that it is okay. You must remember that people at all ages are cruising the internet. If only one person a week has trouble with your site, they will tell at least 15 other people. Can you afford this type of bad publicity?

What is one way that you can improve your web-site to make it more customer friendly?

Do you want to be remembered as a distinctive business?

Do you want to be remembered as being very unique?

Over the past week I had an opportunity to go with my wife to an outlet mall. I noticed that most of the stores try to make sure that they look the same and act the same. They want to be all things to all people. Considering these stores are multinational we know that they have to be generic in nature. But where are the ideas and the staff that can show the originality and uniqueness of what made these companies a success?

Do you want to look the same as all the other businesses or do you want to be remembered for the personal and unique service that you give to your clients.

In order to do that you’ve got to be extreme and test the limits and never settle for being good in business.You've got to be extra-ordinary in all that you do.

So, how do you want to be remembered; as a unique business offering exceptional service or just like the rest?

Are you good at keeping your promises?

This is a true story.

About two weeks ago a landscape company promised me that they would be completing the landscaping in our backyard last week. By Sunday night the work had not been done. So I e-mailed the owner and I got excuses about why they had not done the work.

I understand that weather can have a great impact on outdoor work. I also understand that the company had my phone number and my e-mail address, but did not contact me to let me know that the work would be delayed.

The only judgment a client can make is if the business cares about them. We make these judgments by evaluating how the company treats us. Are they asking enough questions to show they are concerned about the customers needs? Do they respond to your inquiries in a timely manner? Do they call you if problems have occurred?

All of this is common sense. Sadly it appears that common sense is not common anymore.

What can you do to show more common sense in your business?

How can you differentiate yourself from the competition?

This is a question I’ve asked myself everyday for years.

I’ve asked this question because it should be the over-riding question everyday of your business life. I say that because if you look the same, then price is the determining factor in a customer’s buying decision. Now that is a scary thought!

If you want to differentiate yourself don’t make comments like; “no one can do what we do?” Instead you must state your exceptional difference that is a compelling benefit for your customer over what your competition does. Your differentiation must be stated by comparing your exclusive method to the traditional method of your competitors.

Why don’t you give it a try, then e-mail me your results. For those that do this before October 1^st 2011, I will send you a document to help you in more detailed terms. My e-mail address is timothygibney@sympatico.ca In the subject line of your e-mail state ‘differentiation’.

Why wouldn’t you take this simple action to improve your business today? Remember your decisions shape your future.

How do you speak to your customers?

The other day I was sent this joke, while it is funny it is no different than the hollow promises that we all make.

‘Last year I replaced all the windows in my house with that expensive double-pane energy efficient kind, and today, I got a call from the contractor who installed them. He was complaining that the work had been completed a whole year ago and I still hadn’t paid for them. Hello, I said, just because I’m blonde doesn’t mean that I am automatically stupid. The fast talking sales guy told me last year, that in ONE YEAR these windows would pay for themselves! Hello, it’s been a year! I told him. There was only silence at the other end of the line, so I finally just hung up. He never called back. I bet he felt like an idiot.’

This cute story should remind us that we need to speak with improved terminology to our clients.

My question for you is; how can you communicate better with your clients?