Although it is important to respond quickly to customers and prospective customers there is a lot to be said about reflecting before responding. So, typically, I will respond immediately to the email explaining that I wish to research or reflect on my response. I then write and save an initial response that I return too to improve – and usually I have to improve it (although that may jest be me). I have just put into a proposal for a presentation at an international conference – I “improved” my submission four times before submitting!
Archive for the ‘Marketing Training’ Category
Reflect before Responding
Monday, January 31st, 2011Prospect Research
Monday, January 24th, 2011Whenever I receive an email enquiry I look at the email return address and from this find the prospect’s web address. I then visit this before responding to the person. Yet today, I had a cold call from someone trying to sell me their training services – they had my email address and hence could ascertain my website address but had not researched this. So they wasted my time and their time. And, more importantly, suggested a lack of professionalism.
Name Badges
Friday, September 10th, 2010If like me you attend networking meetings and conferences you will find that it is not advisable to rely on the name badge supplied by the organiser. Sometimes they do not provide one and if they do the font size is tiny. As a consequence, I find it useful to makeup a name badge that shows – your first name in large type and your full name, organisation and website in a reasonably sized font.
Business Cards
Friday, September 10th, 2010Having made mistakes in the past there are several things to do with business cards. Use the front to provide information about you, including your email and web addresses. Use the back to explain what you do. But leave space on front and/or back for people to make notes. And, to facilitate making notes, do not use gloss or coated card stock. Also, if you for different business activities have different business cards. For example, when setting up this blog, one of the things I did was to get a set of business cards made.
Email Address
Friday, September 10th, 2010It is easy to forward emails via an address based on your domain. In the past when I was using a third party address (such as jeremyhall@tesco.net), I used jeremyhall@simulations.co.uk and had emails from this address forwarded to my third party address. Not only does this help your image but gives you a permanent address so you do not need to notify everyone when you change your provider..
Web Site
Friday, September 10th, 2010Having your own website is vital. Not only is it a promotional tool but is vital to your image. Whenever I am contacted by someone new, I check to see if they have a website and, if they do, research them and their organisation using it. If there is no website my opinion is immediately lowered significantly.