Tip #370: 10 Strategies For Improving Client Retention In 2012

With 2011 drawing to a close, many business owners we know are looking to put this year behind them and start finding ways to increase their businesses in 2012.

In today's competitive business environment, we have learned that it is highly important to focus on building stronger relationships with existing clients. And to help you do a better job at this, we have compiled 10 tips that could easily turn your existing clients into proactive advocates for your business.

The 10 Tips To Help With Your Client Retention Are:

Tip #1: Spend 10 To 20 Minutes Every Day Speaking With Two Existing Clients -- Even though e-mail has become the communication method of choice for most businesses, we highly recommend picking up the phone and calling your clients. Once you have a client on the phone, ask them, "If you had a magic wand and could wave it over us, what would you have us do that we are not already doing?" Also, ask "What do you need from us that we are not providing?" After listening to your clients, execute the best ideas that work for your business.

Tip #2: Ask A Select Group Of Clients To Serve On Your Board -- By assigning your top or most creative clients to your board, you will have access to top-level thinking. Chances are they will come up with ideas that you never thought of or did not think were important enough to implement.

Tip #3: Send Your Clients Articles About Their Business And/Or Industry -- Your clients like to know that you have their best interest in mind. Make an effort to send relevant articles to them. This small and simple gesture will help create a much more loyal customer base.

Tip #4: Invite Clients To Test A New Product Or Service (At A Discounted Price/Fee) Before You Offer It To Everyone Else -- Exclusivity, or "invitation only," is an excellent way to get someone linked to your business. Not only that, but it will also save you time by acting as a beta test program. Their feedback will help you either fine-tune the deliverables or decide to dismiss them all together.

Tip #5: Start An Alliance With Your Clients Via A Seminar, Marketing Effort/Workshop Or Special Affair -- The more opportunities you take to spend time with your clients, the more connected they will become to your business. And the more connected they are, the stronger an advocate or referral source they become.

Tip #6: Give Them Added Value -- There is nothing wrong with giving your clients something special, like 2-for-1 deals, buy 1 get X free deals, dollar or percentage discounts, free or discounted design services, etc.

Tip #7: Connect Clients Who Share Similar Interests Or Ideas -- If you have a client who needs help in a particular area in which you know another client is proficient, get the two clients together. You will look like a hero by finding someone who could solve their problem and, in the process, foster a sense of friendship and trust.

Tip #8: Know Your Competition -- In today's ever-shrinking business world, you need to know how your competition is doing. Google your competition, visit their website and call them up as if you were a prospective buyer. What you find will amaze you, not to mention provide you with valuable information that will help your business.

Tip #9: Shop Your Own Company -- Hire a third party and have them call your company posing as a prospective buyer. Afterwards, ask them about their experience. The details they can provide will help you develop a better understanding of how you should be handling new clients.

Tip #10: Your Customers Are Always Right -- For many, practicing this philosophy can be tough, especially when you know a customer is wrong. No matter what, work on making a client happy.

Executive Summary: Word-of-mouth advertising is the most powerful advertising there is for any business, but it is only attained by having clients who already trust and believe in you. If your clients hold you in high esteem, they will not only tell people about you, but also buy from you repeatedly.

For more information, visit our website.

Tip #369: The Power Of Giving A Corporate Gift

Normally, our e-tips focus on ways to improve someone's leadership skills and strengthen his/her management skills. Nevertheless, with the holiday season only weeks away, we decided to discuss a leadership tool often overlooked or underused -- the value and power of corporate gift giving.

Corporate gift giving is more than just an exercise in tradition -- it is a source of energy for team unity and for positive employee attitude. Corporate gifts show employees that you value them and have proven to increase morale and drive throughout the office.

The Best & Worst Corporate Gifts Of 2010.

Incentivemag.com conducted a survey of 501 respondents about corporate holiday gift giving. In the article, you will find the "do's and don'ts" of corporate gift giving along with some great visual charts.

Here Is A Small Example From The Article...

"Corporations seem to be giving a smaller selection of awards, as every single type of award-gift cards, electronics, jewelry, etc-was used by a smaller number of companies than in 2010."

Click here to read the rest of the article

Ultimately, it is virtually impossible to please everyone who you give a gift to, but that does not mean that you should not give one. What we suggest is to try to put a more personalized touch on your corporate gift giving.

As any successful leader knows, maximizing internal and external relationships is the fastest way to build strong, dynamic teams and a more loyal base of customers. They also know that giving a corporate gift is another tool that can help them achieve this and should not be dismissed as just a handout to the recipients.

Executive Summary: The past few years have been hard on the American workforce; companies everywhere have endured tremendous stress and pressure from the tumultuous economic climate. This holiday season, more than ever before, it is important for companies to celebrate a client's loyalty (and their employees' hard work) through holiday gifts. By taking heed of Incentivemag.com's findings, you can avoid giving gifts that feel like handouts and instead give gifts that make people feel appreciated, and that appreciation will translate to increased loyalty and work drive.

For more information, visit our website.

Tip #368: Are Your Prospects Saying This To You: "Call Me After The Holidays."?

At last, we have reached December, a time of the year when salespeople start to hear prospective buyers say things like:

• "Call me after the holidays."
• "Our business is slow right now, so we won't be buying anything until after the first of the year."
• "We're going to wait until after the first of the year before we change _________."

Unless what you sell can be given as a holiday gift, this time of year presents a unique and difficult challenge for many salespeople.

Here Are Just A Few Responses For Handling A Prospect Who Is Delaying A Buying Decision:

• "I understand. Some businesses are putting off _____________ until after the first of the year, and because of that, I wanted to see if your company qualifies for our new cost saving ____________ program (or whatever your special offer is called), which has an extra bonus if you sign up by December 31st . This would save you X%."
• "I can relate to things being slow right now. By the way, I wanted to share with you a new _______ package to introduce our (insert your products/services here). How many employees are on your payroll?"
• "I can relate to things being slow right now, but tell me, will anything change after the first of the year that will prevent you from starting then?"
• "I understand. What day after the first of the year would you like to start your _____________?"
• "I understand. We can deliver the products now and bill you after the first of the year. Does that work for you? On top of that, you will save X% by avoiding the 2012 price increase."

What You Say After Being Told "No" Will Prompt Prospects To Tell You Their Real Objection.

Often times, the reason prospects stalls their buying decision is because they are afraid of taking a risk. They may be thinking, "Suppose this _________ doesn't work for our situation-then I'll be in trouble." In addition to fear, another reason prospects may be stalling is if their cash flow is off and they are not authorized to make any purchases. Whatever the real reason may be, you need to flush-it-out and solve it.

If A Prospect Still Says "No" Here Is What You Need To Do:

Here are three suggestions for when you run into people who want to put things off until after the first of the year.

• Schedule a follow-up call for the first week of the year.
• Place them in your weekly e-marketing campaign, so your company's name stays in their conscious and subconscious mind.
• Send them relevant information about their industry versus notes asking, "Are you ready to buy yet?"

Executive Summary: If prospects are delaying their decision to buy from you, we recommend offering an alternative close. By doing so, you will most likely find the underlying cause of why they are not buying from you - remember, people like "end-of-the-year" deals to make them feel good about getting a great deal.

For more information, visit our website.

Tip #367: 9 Things A Customer Expects From You (After Buying From Your Business)

Once you have gained new customers, you will have to manage their expectations in order to keep them happy. Although managing new customers' expectation is not that difficult, it does take some time and effort by you and your employees to keep them happy.

Managing Expectations Begins With Knowing What The Customer Will Expect.

To help you with your current (and future) customer base, we have listed 9 key points to help you and your employees.
Read this article on how Disney exceeded one customer's expectations and the lesson we can learn from this.

1. People Want You To Show An Interest In Them: You need to not only know about their business but who they are and the things they like and enjoy.

2. People Want You To Respond FAST: Face it, your customers want their products and services yesterday, not tomorrow or 10 days from now. If you are slow, your customers will find someone else who can provide faster service.

3. People Want A Live Person To Be Available: Your customers want to know they can immediately reach a live person when there is a problem or question with your products or services. In addition, provide numerous ways for customers to reach you, including business phone, home phone, fax, e-mail, and cell phone.

4. People Want A Friendly Person To Talk To When They Call: No matter who talks with your customers, make sure that they are smiling on the phone - and yes, a customer can tell when they in fact do.

5. They Want You To Under-Promise And Over-Deliver: If you are over-promising and under-delivering on your products and services, we can assure you that your clients will NOT recommend you to someone they know.

6. People Want You To Help Them Solve A Problem: If a customer calls you with a particular problem, they want your help in solving it. Once you do that, you will find yourself with a huge base of customers.

7. Tell Your Customers "Yes, I can do that" Vs. "No, We Can't Do That:" Once you empower your staff to help your customers, you will find your employees not only happy but your customers, too.

8. Don't Nickel And Dime Your Customers: No matter what you sell, don't charge your customers for small or simple requests - it only makes you look cheap.

9. Your Customers Like To Hear You Say "Thank You For Your Business:" Whenever you have a chance, tell your customers "thank you for your business." The key is saying it with sincerity.

Executive Summary: How customers perceive your business is their reality - so take a step back and examine how you do business. Additionally, you may want to consider e-mailing a customer satisfaction survey to learn what you can do to improve your products and services. These surveys can also be a revenue generator for your business as they are a great venue for asking your client base this one magic question: What other products or services do you have an interest in learning more of: (then bullet list your products and or services).

For more information, visit our website.

Tip #366: How To Get FREE Word-of-Mouth Advertising

We all know that word-of-mouth advertising is one of the cheapest and most effective types of advertising that you and your company can get. In order to make this happen, you need to get out of your office and network with people at your local Chamber of Commerce, industry association or a business card exchange event. However, the reality is this: Very few people go to these events to buy what you are selling.

When You Are Networking, You Are Not Selling.

When you are at a networking event, don't focus on trying to sell to everyone. Look at it as an opportunity to be a teacher, a center of influence and a fountain of knowledge for buying what you are selling. By making a few changes to your approach, you can become a center of influence in any industry and, in effect, generate a considerable amount of word-of-mouth advertising.

Go Into A Networking Event To Do Just That. . .Network.

One of the biggest mistakes most people make when they network is trying to sell to someone (this happens whether or not they are showing buying signals). This is the LAST thing you should do. Don't talk about how great you are or why someone should buy from you. Just have a general one or two sentence overview of what you do and the type of people you work with. Tell people this, along with how much fun you have doing your job, and you will find people asking you more about what you do. If you go into a heavy sales pitch, you will only end up pushing opportunities away.

If They Like And Trust You, You Will Have A Better Chance Of Making A Sale.

Networking is one of the best ways for increasing your field of influence to help promote what you sell. Moreover, the reality of being in business is that people do business with (and recommend) those whom they like and trust. To facilitate this bond, you should help other people get what they want.

Take An Interest In Other People.

Experts have proven that people like those who are interested in them. One of the fastest ways of getting people to talk is to ask them questions about what they do. So, what type of questions can you ask someone? Here are a few questions that you can ask at your next networking event (write them down on a small card and read them before you go into your next event):

• What is your name?
• What line of work are you in?
• Do you own the company (never assume that people are at the low end of their company)?
• Where are you located?
• What made you start your own company (owner question), or how long have you been working for this company? This keeps the conversation rolling and provides you with some interesting background information.
• I know a lot of people here. What type of person would be a good prospect who I could introduce to you? Once you ask this question, you will be shocked at the positive effect this will have on the conversation.
• Ask everyone for a business card and for their permission to send your newsletter to them.

By asking these questions at your next networking event, you will quickly get to know people and learn what they do. Now, don't stop here. Get out a pen and write down on their business cards some key information about them. When you get back to the office, enter their names in a CRM tool, like ACT! or Goldmine, so you can keep track of these people electronically. This will make it easier when it comes time to send them electronic newsletters or direct-mail campaigns.

Executive Summary: If you do this at every networking event you attend, the word will spread rather quickly that YOU are the person everyone needs to turn to when buying what you are selling. You can also leverage your sales by sending these same people a series of e-mail newsletters and direct mail campaigns.

For more information, visit our website.

Tip #365: 6 Secrets To Giving A Great Presentation

Research has proven that if you have some snap in your step, excitement in your voice, and a command on your subject matter people pay attention. So, if you want to win over your audience during a presentation, the number one secret is to provide them with a high degree of enthusiastic energy on a subject matter you know cold.

6 Tips To Help You Give A Great Presentation.

For anyone who gets a little nervous talking in front of people, it has been proven that concern over appearing nervous doesn't matter, as people cannot even see it. To reduce your nervousness, we recommend the following:

1. Become The Subject Matter Expert -- You can quickly impress your audience by having a clear command of your subject matter. If you know your data, content, and handouts cold, you will woo your audience within a short period of time.
2. Limit How Much "Copy" You Use On Each Slide -- Go through each slide and make sure that your copy is "bullet point" driven vs. "sentence" driven. Your presentation should be built around the highlights of your subject matter; you are there to expand on each point, for you want your audience focused on you and not the projected screen. If you are giving a detailed presentation, make sure you have a supplemental handout to support your presentation.
3. Control Which Questions You Will Answer -- There is nothing worse than seeing a speaker get sidetracked with irrelevant questions. If someone asks you a question that is not relative to your content, address it by telling that person that you will answer his/her question after your presentation.
4. Start Off By Telling People That You Are Nervous -- After you have told everyone that you are nervous, tell them, "Now that I got that out of the way, let me tell you a little bit about what I am going to present today. . ."
5. Slow Down -- If you are nervous, there is a good chance that you have sped up your speech or skipped over certain things. Keep little reminders in your presentation to prompt you to slow down. You could have a little stop sign in your presentation that acts like a trigger.
6. Walk Around The Room If Possible -- When giving a presentation where the venue is more casual, make an effort to walk around the room and interact with some of the people who are watching you. You will be surprised how this will help you become more "at ease" during the presentation.

Executive Summary: As you can see, enthusiasm plays a huge part in giving a great presentation, but it also needs to be combined with a number of other components. Once you master this, you will quickly become great at presenting and winning your audience over and over again.

For more information, visit our website.

Tip #364: Three Tips For Preventing Sexual Harassment In The Workplace

Unfortunately, sexual harassment is a rather common issue in the workplace. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, there are two basic forms of actionable sexual harassment:

1. Quid pro quo- conditioning employment or some aspect of employment on a favorable response to sexual advances in the workplace; and
2. Hostile environment harassment - sexual comments and conduct so pervasive that the workplace becomes intimidating, hostile, or offensive.

Both forms of sexual harassment involve unwelcomed conduct. Yes, if we lived in a perfect world, everyone would be able to act, dress, and do whatever he or she wanted and never be bothered. But unfortunately, we live in an imperfect world, and often our actions and appearance can be misinterpreted.

Here are some tips that will help you avoid these misinterpretations.

Three Tips For Preventing Sexual Harassment In The Workplace.

Tip #1: Don't Be Overly Friendly -- Sadly, coworkers might mistake friendliness for flirting. If you are a naturally expressive person and often touch others while talking or laugh and smile a lot, try to control this during work hours. While you are in a professional environment, act accordingly. This doesn't mean you have to be serious and boring all the time, it simply means that you need to act properly. This will avoid misunderstandings with your coworkers, especially if they are just getting to know you.

Tip #2: Dress Appropriately And Conservatively -- Even if you are allowed to dress informally at your work place or often come in jeans for casual Fridays, dress conservatively for your work. That means, take care to pick clothes that aren't too tight or too revealing. You also need to know that certain types of clothes are not appropriate in a work situation. You want to be taken seriously, right? Then why not dress seriously? That said, it doesn't hurt to dress a bit more professional, especially if you really want to avoid your coworkers from being tempted to see you as an object of interest.

Tip #3: Be Specific And Be Firm When A Comment Is Made -- Despite all your efforts, there may be a coworker that keeps making inappropriate comments or keeps looking at you in a way that bothers you. Do not encourage him or her by smiling or laughing. Do be firm in your rejection. If they keep "dropping by" your work area, ask them pointedly, "Don't you have work to do?" or say, "I am uncomfortable with you stopping by all the time." If a coworker tries giving you gifts, do not accept these gifts. Although you might be worried about hurting his or her feelings, they need to understand that their actions are not appropriate.

Executive Summary: If you follow these tips among whatever else your common sense might dictate, you will be able to avoid all forms of harassment. If you still have problems after doing this, you might have to talk to your supervisor or report the aggressor to human resources.

For more information, visit our website.

Tip #363: 6 Tips To Promote Yourself In 2012

You may have the most outstanding service, product, idea or talent in the world -- but in order to be successful, you have to let your target audience know about it. Whether you arehoping to climb the corporate ladder or independently promote yourself, you will need a plan of action - a plan of action that requires your focus.

The Key Is Getting Noticed For Doing The Right Things.

Gaining a promotion at your place of employment has more to do with what you can do to make your boss's workload lighter and their life a little easier. In addition, looking at things differently than someone else will get you noticed. That being said, successfully promoting yourself in the world is more so related to your degrees of diligence and perseverance. And depending upon your circumstances, mastering a few techniques will help move you forward next year.

Click here to read a blog about ways to promote yourself.

6 Tips To Promote Yourself In 2012:

Tip #1. Know Your Organization: It is a good idea to fully understand the goals and objectives of your business. After you have a complete understanding, assess your skills and resources and make a list of things you can do to help the company achieve its goals. Be sure to proof your propositions before presenting them to your boss. If you are independently employed, make sure you have your own clearly defined goals and objectives and that you are maintaining fidelity in attempting to achieve them.

Tip #2. Take On More Responsibility: Increasing your responsibility is good way to show you are ready for that promotion. As long as you are truly prepared to take on more responsibility, your boss will notice the increased production. Keep a log of projects and tasks so you have a record of your capabilities. However, do not arbitrarily undertake more work if you are having trouble keeping up with your current workload. Instead, find a way to organize and effectively manage what is already on your desk to show you are taking the steps to becoming a better employee. Additionally, you may need to put in some extra time (which will most likely be noticed) to become familiar with and acclimated to your new responsibilities.

Tip #3. Display Confidence And Conviction In The Things That You Do: Your expertise and opinions count so stand up and offer suggestions with confidence. The worst your boss can say is, "Thanks but no thanks." And if you are working for yourself, the worst that can happen is your prospect turns you down. Ultimately, your opinion will be valued, and voicing it (without being arrogant, of course) will display the confidence and willingness to promote the company your boss is looking for.

Tip #4. Work On Bartering Services: When independently promoting yourself, offer your services in exchange for goods or services that are useful to you. You will get your name out there with a sample of your work without you or your prospect having to commit to anything long-term. If your product or performance exceeds expectations, it is likely you will be hearing from that person again as well as any referrals he or she may have contacted on your behalf. In turn, you can reciprocate by promoting their business as well.

Tip #5. Use Social Networking (Selectively): Aside from telling the world what you are having for lunch, you can just as easily tell the world the goods or services you have to offer. People actually read and respond to the newsfeeds, and when they do, your post can potentially be viewed by their contacts. Thus, instant networking is literally at your fingertips. You may find that starting a blog would also be a good way to position yourself as an expert.

Tip #6. Use Your Business Card: A timeless marketing tool, the business card can pack a lot of information on a small, convenient and portable piece of paper. With careful consideration, you can come up with a catchy tagline that sums up what you are offering. Use graphics that are relevant to your business without overdoing it. It is also important that you follow up with your prospect; otherwise, your card may end up in a drawer with all the others.

Executive Summary: Promoting yourself can be a challenge, especially if you are typically modest. A little self-knowledge and confidence in your abilities can go a long way if you spend some time refining the skills it takes to advance your cause, whether it is for yourself or ultimately for your company. Additionally, don't forget to start a website (with a blog page) and an e-mail marketing campaign to help position yourself as an expert in your industry.

For more information, visit our website.

Tip #362: 4 Tips To Having More Effective Meetings

Internal meetings can often times be unproductive, wasting time that could be better spent by employees working at their desks or out in the field. Sometimes, a meeting can be avoided if the material can be effectively presented in a memo or e-mail. But when a meeting is unavoidable and important for production and growth, take some time to prepare before, during and after the meeting to ensure the organization's purpose is met.

More effective meetings will be possible when you follow these simple tips.

4 Tips To Having More Effective Meetings:

Tip #1. Invite Only Necessary Attendees: Cut down on the wasted time by employees that really do not have a vested interest in the topic of the meeting. Fewer people in attendance also means less time discussing and answering questions. Additionally, give your attendees the resources they need to prepare for the meeting such as materials to bring, questions to think about and a copy of an agenda.

Tip #2. Prepare An Agenda: Perhaps one of the most important pieces in a meeting is an agenda. It enables all participants to fully understand the topics that are to be discussed. Create your agenda to address the most important topics first to ensure enough time is available to finish your discussion. Discuss only the subjects that are listed on the agenda and make notes of anything extra that needs to be addressed at a later time. e-Mail a copy of the agenda several days before the meeting (if possible) to allow for suggestions, then prepare a final agenda to distribute at the meeting. It will also be helpful for the facilitator to have clearly stated objectives for his or her team, such as "By the end of the meeting, the group will [understand something, list something, make a decision, etc.]."

Tip #3. Designate A Note-Taker To Summarize The Meeting: Using the supplied agenda, a note-taker can record key concepts, questions and decisions that were addressed and finalized. The notes themselves do not have to be in complete sentences, but an outline of meeting highlights should be typed up and presented to all involved after the meeting (especially those who could not attend). The follow-up can include attendance, due dates and other pertinent information decided at the meeting.

Tip #4. Summarize The Meeting's Action Items: At the conclusion of the meeting, make sure the meeting's leader summarizes the action steps or to-do items. Additionally, it is also recommended to ask for feedback and suggestions. Make sure all attendees have a clear picture of what it is they should have learned or what their next move will be.

Executive Summary: Meetings are a very useful tool in increasing productivity and involvement when facilitated properly. Preparedness is essential to an organized and fruitful meeting, so make sure you have goals and objectives stated and an agenda prepared - and stick to it. But most importantly, have a summary at the end of the meeting with a list of action items for those delegated items.

For more information, visit our website.

Tip #361: 4 Quick Tips For Remembering Names

Remembering someone's name is an important aspect of any business relationship. You do not want people to perceive your forgetfulness as indifference, causing them to think they are just another client, employee or prospect.

It Is To Your Advantage To Remember Someone's Name.

Everyone is often required to pay attention to many different things at once; and when we are introduced to someone, a name can literally go in one ear and out the other. Unfortunately, this has happened to most people.

Avoid The Embarrassment Of Forgetting A Name.

Remembering anything requires making connections and often using more than just your sense of hearing; but remembering names sometimes takes extra practice because you are often introduced to someone while otherwise engaged. You also need to believe that you are going to remember rather than convincing yourself that you will "never remember anyone's name."

4 Quick Tips To Help You Avoid Forgetting A Name:

Tip #1. Become Genuinely Interested In That Person: Stop what you are doing for a moment and purposely focus on that person's face. Give them your undivided attention and actively listen by asking questions about their statements and using their name in the process. If time allows, ask personal questions about their hometown or their family. You can even ask them what they prefer to be called. If you find a commonality during your conversation, you will identify with that person even more.

Tip #2. Use Word Play: Remember elementary school rhymes and mnemonic devices? They work when remembering names, too. Say the person's name is Jessica and she appears disheveled. You might remember that Jess is a mess. If Joe Smith moves around a lot, use alliteration - Jumpin' Joe Smith. Humor has a way of not being forgotten. You can also exaggerate the syllables in someone's name - Stelllllllaaaaaaaa!

Here is a really cool link that can help you create a memorable string of words. Mnemonic Device Device.

Tip #3. Create A Visual: Pull in your other senses and use images to help you remember names. If the person's name is Frank, envision them inside a hot dog bun. Dawn can be remembered by a sunrise behind her head. And of course Joe is standing in front of you with a cup of coffee. You can also picture Joe's name written in heavy-duty marker on his forehead (choose your favorite color). Or, you can associate someone with a celebrity of the same name. Another visual to create in your mind is to imagine writing the name, thus programming it into your brain.

Tip #4. When All Else Fails, Ask Again And Use Their Name In A Sentence: There is no shame in politely asking them to repeat their name, or even to spell it for clarification. In addition, say something positive about them personally (as you repeat their name in a sentence).

Executive Summary: We all have a ton of things on our minds, from our businesses to our families and on to our to-do lists. Some people have a natural ability to remember a new acquaintance's name while others have to work at it. If you spend a little time and put a little extra thought and effort into remembering names, you will be remembered for making someone feel special.

For more information, visit our website.

Tip #360: 6 Ways To Increase Employee Loyalty

Some workplaces have a higher turnover of employees than others do. Sometimes, uncontrollable major events occur in an employee's life, such as having a baby or relocating, but often times a business can have a high employee turnover simply because the atmosphere is not conducive to employee contentment.

Some Effort Into Major And Minor Implementations Can Increase Employee Loyalty.

If your company is experiencing high employee turnover or you are simply considering starting a new business, follow the tips below to ensure your employees are content with their jobs.

6 Ways To Keep Your Employees Loyal:

Tip #1. Hire The Finest: Most employers would like to think they are hiring the best man (or woman) for the job, but sometimes, for the sake of filling the position in a timely manner, shortcuts may be taken. Ask for personal and business references and call them. If a reference is no longer available, ask the potential employee to provide another contact number or a new reference. Also, check social networking sites. If you find pictures of wild parties or posts of complaints about their estranged former employer, they are probably not your best choice.

Tip #2. Provide A Motivating And Informative Orientation: First impressions last. Give new hires a detailed history of the company using positive phrases and photographs. Use your most up-beat manager with the winning personality as your presenter. Spend time preparing interactive games or icebreakers so your employees are not bored with the material. Provide manuals and contact information for departments and managers so your new employees will not feel they have been thrown to the dogs.

Tip #3. Provide Support: Employees will appreciate opportunities for relevant on-going education to show that you want them to succeed. Recognize achievements and contributions and offer incentives for improving job performance. Provide mentors for departmental questions and comprehensive support that includes coping and problem-solving skills. When possible, offer health benefit and retirement packages. Most of all, be approachable so your employees feel like they are working for a person and not a machine.

Tip #4. Manage Your Workplace: While you cannot be present every moment of every day in every department, you can manage your managers. Keep your eye out for harassment and power trips. Create a checks and balances system by having employees fill out questionnaires or randomly inquiring in different departments to keep managers on their toes. Retrain or get rid of managers that are not performing up to par or bringing down the moral of your employees.

Tip #5. Know Your Employees As People: One of the worst things you can do is treat your employees as paper-pushers. They are people with lives and families, just like you. You can assume that their lives outside the workplace are important to them. Show that you care by asking questions without seeming meddling. If you see a change in job performance, ask if there is anything you can do to help. Also, ask them to be honest about their job satisfaction, and in turn be honest with them if you have any concerns. Show them how they contribute to the whole picture and you care about their happiness in their position. If it is possible to be flexible with scheduling, give them the hours that they may need to tend to their lives outside the office.

Tip #6. Know Your Competition: Do some research periodically and find out who is hiring. If you see a competitor advertising a position and your employees have seemed less than happy, then you may end up being the one advertising for a new employee. Local job opportunities or the business section of a newspaper can offer a lot of information about your competition.

Executive Summary: Keeping your employees content is a separate facet of what you do in your business but also an important aspect of running it. With diverse opportunities available, today's highly competent employees are less likely to remain in a position where they are dissatisfied or feel their efforts are not appreciated or taken for granted. We are now a society that values self-worth, and if your employees do not feel they are making positive contributions, they may move on.

For more information, visit our website.

Tip #359: 7 Tips For Effective Time Management

Everyone has heard the adage, "Work Smarter, Not Harder." And because this rings true for many businesses, CEOs and leaders seek programs that will enable their employees to do just that. Why? Because they are acutely aware that time is money.

Effective Time Management Skills Will Create A Less Stressful Work Environment For You.

Happy bosses make happy employees and happy employees make a work environment fun and rewarding. To help you keep your boss happy with your performance, we suggest evaluating your time management skills and then seek ways to make improvements.

To help you improve your time management skills, you will find listed below seven tips to aid in your continuing growth.

But first, click here to take this simple time management quiz (and help you identify areas that are in need of improvement).

7 Tips For Improving Your Time Management Skills:

Tip #1. Set Your Priorities: People with highly effective time management skills have the ability to differentiate between tasks that have a high priority and those that can be completed later. Creating to-do lists and highlighting (yellow markers work best) tasks with imminent deadlines will help them stand out from the rest of the list. Crossing out completed tasks not only looks like you have been productive, but also minimizes confusion regarding what still needs to be completed.

Tip #2. Set Tangible Goals: Goal setting is a skill itself that requires discipline. You can set multiple goals, but if you do not maintain fidelity in reaching them, the goals are pointless. Make sure your goals are realistic and relevant to the task. For example, checking your e-mail is necessary but it can also be time consuming. To help you manage your e-mails, set a goal to minimize the time spent reading each piece and flag or print the messages that need immediate attention. It is also recommended that you focus on your e-mail writing style as most readers prefer to read an e-mail in a bulleted format (versus a lot of copy with many sentences and lengthy paragraphs).

Tip #3. Establish Routines: Daily routines for completing certain tasks will foster effective time management skills for you. Plus, studies have determined that people work more efficiently when they know what to expect - both from you and you from them.

Tip #4. Focus On The Task At Hand: When presented with multiple tasks, choose one and focus on getting it done. Pull out your to-do list and start crossing out completed tasks one by one. That way, your workload will not seem so overwhelming and you will see your accomplishments as you cross them off your list; in turn, you will become motivated to continue working. Remember, prioritize to get those important, time-sensitive tasks completed first.

Tip #5. Delegate Or Outsource When Possible: Learn how to say "No" to certain time consuming projects. Simple tasks can be delegated, and some huge projects can be outsourced. For example, your secretary can make certain phone calls to clients to follow up on proposals or update information; or you can outsource your advertising to a company that specializes in marketing. Be conscientious, though, when delegating as you do not want to overwhelm anyone else, either.

Tip #6. Organize Your Workspace: Almost unnecessary to state, an organized workspace minimizes time spent locating documents, templates, materials or lists. Some people can work among chaos, but most need orderly surroundings to avoid distraction. Use folders or a binder with clearly labeled tabs to organize projects. Spend time at the end of your day preparing for the following day by updating to-do lists, filing papers and using sticky-notes on projects for quick references.

Tip #7. Use Wait Time Effectively: Many people do not consider the amount of work they can accomplish while waiting - waiting in line, waiting on hold, waiting for a download, etc. Short of beginning a completely new project, you can review lists, contact clients, organize your computer desktop, brainstorm - the minute tasks that can be completed while waiting are endless. Additionally, be ready to work while you wait by taking certain materials, like your Smartphone or notebook, with you when you leave.

Executive Summary: Time management is often a problem for many people. Put a little thought into your to-do lists by prioritizing the ones that need to be done sooner rather than later. Doing so will greatly reduce wasted time and improve your efficiency. Another point, take advantage of the skills a co-worker or secretary possesses and delegate some tasks to them. With some practice, your time management skills will become refined, and surely your boss will notice.

For more information, visit our website.

Tip #358: 7 Tips To Improve A Presentation With Just Your Voice

How many times have conference speakers bored you rigid? Good presenters know their voice can make or break a presentation. A well-trained voice can make a huge impression on listeners. And it does not matter how well you know the presentation, there is always room for improvement.

Keep Your Audience Focused By Improving Your Presentation Voice.

To help you be more successful during your next presentation, we have listed below six quick tips that can help improve your speech and sales communication when making a presentation to both large and small audiences.

7 Tips For Improving Your Presentation Voice:

Tip #1) Articulate, Articulate, Articulate: If you talk quickly, mumble or slur words, the important points you are trying to make can and will get lost. Worse, people will simply tune you out during your entire presentation.

Tip #2) Vary Your Tone To Drive Home A Key Point: Nothing numbs listeners more than somebody who speaks in monotone. Project your voice powerfully and clearly. Learn to use pitch for variation and accent your power words. This helps keep the audience involved and on their toes.

Tip #3) Use The Right Tempo: Do not speak in a slow, drawn-out manner. The speed of speech affects how your message is interpreted. Increase your tempo when you wish to convey excitement or urgency. Slow down when you want your words to sink in.

Tip #4) Control Your Volume: Project your voice so people can hear you easily. Raise and lower your voice when you want to emphasize certain words or concepts.

Tip #5) Get Rid Of Speaking "Crutches": Avoid punctuating sentences with "you know," "like," "uh," "really," "kind of" and other fillers (repetitive use of a word or phrase is called a "word whisker"). This pattern becomes tiresome to listeners and portrays a nervous or lazy speaker. Break this habit if you have it.

Tip #6) Use People's Names: Make sure you connect with your listeners by telling stories and using the first name of someone from the audience. By using names, your words become embedded in the audiences' mind.

Tip #7) Practice Out Loud: It is hard to know how you sound to other people. Try using a voice-activated recorder to listen to yourself practice out load. Play the recording, listen to how you sound and make positive changes. Better yet, make a dry run in front of someone who will give you a critique. Do not get upset or frustrated when they give you criticism. And if they tell you it was perfect, get a second opinion.

Executive Summary: With the right articulation, inflection, tone and tempo, your voice will be the means to hook your audience. Get accustomed to using the first names of audience members to personalize your presentation and drive the topic home. Most importantly, know how you sound to others and practice to improve. Over time, your voice will become more effective during your presentations.

For more information, visit our website.

Tip #357: 5 Tips For Improving Your Leadership Skills

Regardless of whether you are a natural born leader or someone who developed their leadership skills through hard work, every leader should continue to strive to improve their skills. In the business world, change necessitates perpetual self-improvement and self-education. The active drive for self-improvement will pave the way to successful leadership.

A Disciplined Leader Is Often A Great Leader.

If you are already taking this tip seriously, then you are well on your way to becoming a better leader. Accomplishing your goal requires challenging your comfort zones, introducing new ideas and possibly even changing your attitude and the ways you are accustomed to handling things. So if you are truly dedicated to becoming a stronger leader, consider the five tips below.

5 Tips For Improving Your Leadership Skills.

Tip #1. Develop A Thorough Plan: Develop clearly defined and concisely outlined plan of goals and objectives. Use facts, data and means through which you intend to achieve those objectives.

Tip #2. Actively Motivate Employees: Revive your employee's motivation by keeping them informed and providing them with interesting challenges that keep them on their toes. Do not forget to offer positive feedback and praise so they feel proud of their work and give them the recognition they deserve. Studies have shown that many people are motivated more by giving them credit for their efforts than simply giving them a paycheck.

Tip #3. Lead Through Inclusivity: Do not expect your team to be mind readers, though a few may have strong intuitions about what you want or expect. Ultimately, the most successful leaders are the ones who extend their thoughts and purpose to those around them. This is at the core of fostering team unity.

Tip #4. Admit Failures And Weaknesses: Contrary to what some may think, admitting fault or weakness does not compromise a leader's strength or command. Mistakes are unavoidable. And no one person can excel at everything. We each have our strengths and weaknesses, our knowledge and our ignorance. Stubborn determination to be "right" in fear that being "wrong" compromises your intelligence will only hold you back.

Tip #5. Never Stop Striving To Learn More: There is a philosophy that we never stop being students. This is especially true of serious professionals and strong leaders - they are constantly playing the part of both the teacher and the student, self-educating by reading books and publications relevant to their career and their business. They also learn from professionals by conversing with them.

Executive Summary: Leadership skills are like a knife. The blade will not stay sharp on its own forever. It requires a conscious effort to hone and strengthen ones skills to maintain their edge. It involves altering ingrained attitudes, ideas and behaviors. But as we previously mentioned, everyone should constantly strive to improve themselves. This is especially true for the leaders, whether in business or elsewhere.

For more information, visit our website.

Tip #356: Understanding "Professionalism" In The Business World

Professionalism is the cornerstone of the business world. But what is professionalism? Is it a certain look or type of behavior? Or is it an attitude or work ethic or something else entirely? The truth is, professionalism is all of these things and more.

Understanding the nature of professionalism and how it influences team dynamics is part of the fabric at Dale Carnegie Training, so we decided to change things up a bit from our usual routine and explore this topic more thoroughly.

At Its Core, Professionalism Is How You Conduct Yourself.

Far too many people get wrapped up with the appearance of professionalism -- a look, an image, something that is superficial. The truth is, you can put on the fanciest, most expensive suit you want but that doesn't make you a professional. What makes you a professional is the seriousness and sincerity with which you approach your job. Professionals do not cut corners. Professionals are thorough, and oftentimes meticulous about their work. Professionals hold themselves to a certain set of standards they always seek to maintain.

Forget The Glitz And Glam, But Don't Ignore It.

As we mentioned earlier, creating the illusion of professionalism is just that -- an illusion. But that does not necessarily mean you shouldn't dress for success - something that varies from business to business and industry to industry. Some businesses are very liberal about their dress code, allowing employees to come in wearing jeans and tee shirts. But this doesn't make them any less professional about their work than someone in a suit. However, if the type of industry you are in places importance on image, such as a law firm, then you have to include this in your definition of professionalism.

For Professionals, Work Comes First.

At the end of the business day, professionals are worried about one thing and one thing only: Their work. The quality of their work reflects on them as an employee. In addition, they know how their work will have an impact on a client, too, as they are aware that their clients are the lifeblood of their business. That being said, true professionals are invested in their work so they can meet and exceed everyone's expectations.

Executive Summary: You can put on the most expensive suit and shoes you own and head off to work - but this will not make you a professional. It is a lot deeper. The point is, professionalism is about your image, work ethics and convictions. Period.

For more information, visit our website.

Tip #355: 6 Tips for Getting a Sale From Your Business Card

Business cards are one of the oldest sales tools in the book, dating as far back as 15th century China and 17th century Europe. And after all this time, business cards remain one of the strongest networking tools a businessperson has in their arsenal.

This Tiny Piece Of Paper Can Pack A Punch.

According to Applied Designs, statistics show that sales increase 2.5% for every 2,000 business cards handed out. They also claim, "prospects will hold on to a color card 10 times longer than a standard one" (see Tip #3 for more on design). Bottom line, business cards are a "must have," and for that reason, we have prepared the six tips below.

6 Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your Business Card:

Tip #1. Always Keep Some On You: You never know when a networking opportunity may spring up. A casual trip to the bank or running some errands could lead to a chance encounter with someone whose business might benefit you or your business. When such chance encounters happen, having a business card on hand makes information exchange seamless, as opposed to worrying about finding something to write your information down on.

Click here for 30+ design ideas

Tip #2. Exhibit Proper Etiquette: There is in fact a right way and a wrong way to handle a business card exchange. For starters, if someone hands you theirs, offer them your own. Conversely, when handing out your business card, request the other person's. When you receive a business card, don't just bury it in your pocket. Instead, take a few moments to examine it. This shows the other person that you are interested and take them seriously, as you would want to be taken.

Tip #3. Be Smart About Your Card's Design: The look and feel of your business card can say a great deal about you. Cheap, plain business cards that look like they came from Kinko's are not going to leave a lasting impression. Gaudy business cards, on the other hand, can be too garish and off-putting. You need to strike the right balance between aesthetic appeal and the quality of paper stock you print your cards on. You can also design your business cards to be interactive, such as including a QR code.

Click here to learn just how much there is behind business cards

Tip #4. Include A Slogan In Your Design: A 5-8 word slogan that succinctly describes your business in a catchy or smart way will help your business card stick out. For example, Target, and their slogan, "Expect More. Pay Less." Just four words sums up the philosophy of Target clearly and concisely. Strong slogans like this add to the effectiveness of your business card and help build brand recognition for you and your business.

Tip #5. Business Cards Are An Active Tool: Ordering 1,000 business cards then waiting for prospects to come to you will only prove futile. Business cards are a tool for active networking. There is always something going down in the business world, regardless of what kind of business you're involved in, so seek out networking opportunities by checking online and keeping your ear to the ground, then get out to these events and start delivering your business cards with every handshake you make.

Tip #6. Follow Up After Handing Out: If you received a business card from someone you are interested in doing business with, use the exchange as an excuse to conduct a follow-up phone call. If you don't take initiative, you risk the chance of that prospect forgetting about you ("out of sight = out of mind"). For many, business cards tend to get easily lost among all the paperwork and miscellaneous paraphernalia that adorns their desk. As a result, it might be a long while before they get back to you -- if they even do at all.

Executive Summary: For the serious businessperson, the business card has been and will no doubt remain an invaluable tool in their networking arsenal. Even with all the advances in communication the past two decades -- mobile phones, text messaging, e-mail, online messengers -- classics like the telephone and the business card remain the most recognizable, understood and direct means to connect with a prospect or potential businessperson. For that reason, if no other, it's important you put some time and effort into the design of your cards and maximize their use.

For more information, visit our website.

Tip #354: 6 Tips for Turbo-Charging Your Presentation

Do you know what makes the difference between a plain presentation and a turbocharged presentation? Passion. The more passionate a speaker is, the more their presentation comes alive, and the more their audience becomes transfixed. A well-delivered presentation may seem like an effortless act, but in truth any dynamic presentation is the result of extensive planning and their efforts during delivery.

Delivering A Strong Presentation Will Help You Excel In The Business World.

Eventually, most employees at any given company are going to need to deliver a presentation, or be compelled to deliver a presentation to introduce a new idea or initiative. If you have a presentation in mind or one assigned to you, heeding the six tips below will put you on the right track to delivering a stellar presentation that leaves a lasting impression.

6 Tips For Delivering A Turbocharged Presentation:

Tip #1. Prepare Accordingly: If you think you will be able to pull off a dynamic presentation by the seat of your pants, one that engages your audience, well, you have another thing coming. The foundation of any presentation is the amount of preparation the speaker puts in behind the scenes. Develop a topic, flesh it out into concise, relevant and specific bullet points that tie back to the central theme and develop a narrative arc to follow. Then perform a handful of dry runs -- in front of the mirror, a friend or colleague, your partner, your family, etc.

Tip #2. Open With Something Strong And Unforgettable: There is a saying in the writing community that you need to capture your readers within the first 100 pages (some contest 50 pages, others say as few as 25). Well, you can apply this idea to your presentation as well. Perhaps through a hypothetical, perhaps through anecdote -- whatever method you choose, the first 2 to 3 minutes of your presentation can make or break your audience's interest in what you have to say, so make it count.

Tip #3. Keep Your Presentation Short: Be wary of long-winded presentations that seem to have no real direction or purpose. You have probably sat through such a presentation on more than one occasion. If you want to avoid being a bore that makes the audience snore, you should pare down your presentation to its slimmest, trimmest, most refined form. Each bullet point should pack a meaningful punch that, once delivered, leaves the audience in anticipation for the next verbal blow you have to deliver.

Tip #4. Maximize Visual Aids: Including a visual aid with your presentation is a must these days. The trick is to incorporate it in such a way that it never overshadows your presentation itself, but complements it. PowerPoint is the most common means through which people add a visual (and audio) element to their presentations. But scale back the glitz and glam, the crazy transitions and the musical accompaniment. Keep your visuals aesthetically noteworthy, but not so brazen as to steal focus from you.

Tip #5. Avoid The Statue Routine: That is to say, be animated. Don't stand behind a podium, relax and be casual, loose. Move around, wander about and most importantly, make eye contact with a handful of the members of your audience. Locking eye contact with someone will not only hold their attention, but others nearby will also pick up on the subtle action and find themselves drawn in more to your presentation. Remember, when it comes to presentations, periodic contact with your audience is a necessity.

Tip #6. Never Apologize During The Presentations: This is a Public Speaking 101 lesson. Never apologize for mispronouncing a word or losing your place, confusing the order of your presentation or having difficulty with technology. Doing so will:

(a) Compromise your command/air of authority.
(b) Break the flow of your presentation.

This will in turn cost you the audience's full attention. If you trip up, just move along. The best way to avoid this is to pause frequently. Just gather your thoughts and take a breath.

Executive Summary: There are four core components to dynamic presentations: (1) how much preparation you put into your preparation, (2) how well you maintain momentum during the presentation, (3) how animated you are and (4) how well you integrate visual aids into the presentation. These components need to come together seamlessly and flow naturally in order to captivate your audience and make your presentation memorable -- a presentation that leaves a strong impression.

For more information, visit our website.

Tip #353: 10 Tips To Improve Your e-Mail Etiquette (Part 2 of 2)

10 Tips To Improve Your e-Mail Etiquette (Part 2 of 2) Greetings! Last week, we introduced the first five of ten tips on e-mail etiquette. As we mentioned, e-mail has been and continues to be an integral staple of the business world. Numerous businesses rely on this technology to communicate internally, to contact clients and customers, to help market their business and to reach out to venders and suppliers. E-mail has increased multi-tasking and efficiency in the business world to levels once thought unimaginable. You Get What You Put In When It Comes To e-Mail. Unfortunately, abbreviations, chat speak, all-capped text, and unnecessarily shortened words ("u" instead of "you") all spilled over from chat messengers to e-mail. This does not fly in the business world due to the formal and established guidelines of etiquette -- especially if you expect to be taken seriously. We wrap up our discussion on e-mail etiquette this week with tips six through ten below. 10 Tips To Improve Your e-Mail Etiquette (Tips 6-10): Tip #6. Use Formal Grammar And Spelling: Inter-office e-mails have the luxury of being more casual or informal, but e-mails to prospects, clients and customers need to adhere to accepted forms of spelling, grammar and formatting. Sending a sloppy, hastily written e-mail peppered with typos and spelling errors will compromise your professionalism. And writing in all caps -- the textual equivalent of screaming or a loud, booming voice -- is simply unacceptable. Always run important e-mails through a spell checker just to play it safe. Tip #7. Please Proof All e-Mails: Again, minor mistakes in inter-office emails can be forgiven. But first-time and early e-mails to a new contact need to be impeccable. Your writing (spelling, grammar, tone, voice, style, etc.) in an e-mail is the digital equivalent of the outfit you pick for your first meeting with someone -- it is the surface detail that we all judge someone by whether we mean to or not. So to avoid having your e-mail dismissed because of sloppy writing, do not hit "send" until you proof, proof, proof. Click here to read the Purdue Owl Online Writing Lab's Guide To e-Mail Etiquette Tip #8. Don't Hide Behind e-Mail: This pertains more to inter-office e-mails than client e-mails, though it can apply to them as well. E-mail is a passive form of communication. People use the sense of anonymity and safety that the "distance" e-mails inherently possess as a way to avoid conflict or put on a show of bravado they never would on the phone or in person. Don't do this. Hiding behind e-mail to avoid an uncomfortable situation is only going to paint you in a negative light, and probably exacerbate the situation. Tip #9. Ask To Send An Attachment: e-mail recipients are wary of attachments in fear that they might carry a virus, worm, trojan or other type of malware that might corrupt their computer or cause them to lose crucial data and have to spend money on a new machine unnecessarily. Attachments accompanying an unannounced e-mail are sure to be buried in the trash, so wait until a second or third e-mail before sending attachments, and always be sure to ask the recipient for permission to send them an attachment. Tip #10. Include Contact Info In Signature: The last aspect of any business e-mail should be a signature that includes your name, job title, e-mail address, work phone number (and extension if you have one), website address, physical work address and any other pertinent contact information you may use at your business (such as messenger screen names). This allows your e-mail recipient to look into your business on their own, without having to contact you for more information, and when they are ready to contact you, all the information they need is right there in one convenient location. Executive Summary: The prevalence of e-mail in today's business world has led to the degradation of e-mail etiquette. While the debate over informality versus formality is a subjective matter, in the business world it is safer to error on the side of formal, well-written e-mails that get right down to business in a concise manner. This is especially true of e-mails to first-time prospects or clients, where humor, informality and spelling/grammar mistakes risk presenting you as sloppy. Your Next Step: If you want to find out more about how Dale Carnegie® Training can make your business more effective, or need more information on this subject, please send us an e-mail at the address below. e-Tip Archive

Make it a great day! Bob Dickson, President Dale Carnegie® Training of Western CT (203) 723-9888 bob_dickson@dalecarnegie.com www.WesternCT.DaleCarnegie.com