Today, a potential customer and even regular customers, choose where to spend their money. It’s not that they don’t have it- they are simple making a choice where to spend. What helps make that decision for people is how much value  they see in your product or service.

Sad but true- everyone silently asks the question: ‘what’s in it for me’? in other words, why should they spend their money with you?

Value is the key ingredient

Value:the quality (positive or negative) that renders something desirable or valuable;

Time is valuable- don’t waste theirs -respond promptly

Energy is valuable- don’t make it hard for people to buy

Vision is valuable- help people find you

Knowledge is valuable- help people learn more

Messages are valuable- market clearly- help people know you are one to serve their needs best!

What’s the best thing one of your loyal customers or clients can do for you? Refer a new customer to you! It is certainly a win/win situation. Now your loyal customer  feels smart! They love that feeling. In fact, give them something they can brag about at the next dinner party they attend.

What’s one way you can attract more customers via  referrals? One way is to create a team of “cheer leaders”.  A group of past or current clients that know you and what you do so well, they are happy to spread the word. When that happens- it’s reward time. Pass along a gift or referral fee compensations back to them. They are more likely to keep singing your praises, even at dinner parties!

A note on referral fees; they have to be directly linked to the value of the service or product that you sell. If you are in huge mining equipment and you receive a new client through a referral, a trip to Mexico may be appropriate, rather than a nice dinner out. On the other hand, if you own a hair salon, perhaps a $50.00 gift certificate your customer can use themselves or give away, is more in keeping with the value of your service. The idea here is to have a program in place, so when you do attract a referral, you are ready to say ‘thanks- I really appreciate you’ !
I have my own way to do this when I receive a referral. I send a thank you card and gift along with it. Everyone loves to feel special.

“Sorry I’m late”  or  “we’re out of that” , or this one, “the sale was last week”.

Your customer doesn’t want to hear it, any more than the lame things you come up with to justify it.

Customers have no interest in your excuses. In fact, have you noticed that their eyes glaze over when you say that? That’s because they don’t want to put energy into your excuses, and if you keep it up they end up being annoyed.

Once in a while, when something is out  of your  control, offer your sincere apologies for any inconvenience you may have caused, and get on with it.

People will respect that.

Some of us feel called to help others in need. As business owners we have the ability to give back to community in any area that we want to. It may be very local, or it may be global. For me, my way to give back to my community is donating my free time to Hospice, and to Corrections Canada to make a difference. A fellow colleague of mine in SendOutCards, Jordan Adler, ‘lends’ a hand in a very unique and literal way. I just read  his blog and learned about his favorite charity, Kiva.

As a highly successful entrepreneur, Adler, works through Kiva chooses another entrepreneur in a third world country to lend funds to, so they can get a business up and running. Recently at one of his talks he raised money for Kiva through the sales of his book, Beach Money.

So often all that many of these people  need is some capitol to get their business going and fully support their families. Usually the business is one built on a need, (the best kind of reason to begin a business no matter what it is) and once it is underway making money, the business owner repays back the loan.

It’s a win win situation. The global community is not so far away after all.

By invitation I was asked to attend a rather interesting workshop called: Top 50 Strategies to Accelerate Your Entertainment Career, hosted by Njeri Watkins, May 7th in Vancouver.

She has over 19 years experience in the industry, so I was very curious to hear what her strategies were.

NO matter what business you are in, here are just a few that will work for you~!

1. warm leads; request a 20 minute ‘informational’ interview, or ask for an introduction to someone you know they know. You are not selling anything.

Chances are you’ll get some time to be heard.

2.  Read bio’s of successful folks- brilliant- how did they do it- what were the pitfalls they share in the story.

3. offer to volunteer at an event of the person you most want to speak to. Again, the time you spend speaking  to them, will be on their turf, where you don’t need to sell anything – just let them get to know you. Njeri suggested you volunteer up to 3 or 4 times with them, to really develop  a relationship

4. always have at least one accountability partner in the picture. This could be a consultant, a coach, or a really true blue friend who tells it like it is!

Njeri covered 4o odd more points, many of which applied to the Entertainment Industry, yet, many common threads were evident. Business is business.

If you are in the Entertainment Industry and are looking for an expert in your  field, contact Njeri at 778.887.5374

Correction:! Discover Your Sacred Gifts Workshop

another live event workshop upcoming with Monique MacDonald!

This time it’s June 6th & 7th in Coquitlam for just $147.

You’ll not only learn what your gifts are- but what Gifts you do not have- which is equally important. In fact it is very freeing to know what you don’t have to ‘work at’ any more!

In fact—You’ll learn that anything you do that is easy and energizing for you is really one of your Gifts at work!

Monique is an awesome facilitator and teacher. Truly 2 of her Gifts!

What I have learned at her workshops has truly helped me in business and Life in many many ways.

I highly recommend you check it out!