Archive for February, 2008

Community Joint Ventures - Sales and Marketing Trends

Tuesday, February 26th, 2008

Hi gang, Rick here from Community Joint Ventures with an article on sales and marketing trends for this year. Sales and marketing professionals in 2008 will be eliminating clutter and getting personal.

They know the only profitable way to grow a business today is to create a sustainable relationship with the right customers. This starts with engaging their minds to get to the heart of what they want – which is a relationship that works. This is the green state of mind.

Here are the 2008 Trends for Building Sustainable Customer Relationships:

1. The Green State of Mind – Green is more about doing the right thing than saving a tree or an ocean. That’s because doing the right thing - simply making quality actions for the customer - automatically takes care of the results they are looking for. Customers today are keenly aware of being green. Ignoring this implies little concern for the value of their time, money, and most importantly, their values.

Everyone is fed up with the waste in our economy today. Customers don’t want to waste time by playing mind games. Jeff Korhan, sales and marketing consultant and meditation instructor says, “I can promise you that connecting with your customers is as simple as finding that secret space between those thoughts that clutter their minds. That takes you straight to their heart. The right message about doing what’s right for the customer is the “mantra” that resonates with them. If your marketing message and sales approach clearly mean something to you, it will mean something to those people that are right for your organization.”

2. Surprise Marketing – To get the attention of customers today requires an element of surprise. No creativity is required. Getting face-to-face with customers and providing personal service on a consistent basis is going to surprise the heck out of them! Walk into an Apple Computer store and you’ll feel the buzz, the training, the levels of planned expertise that are there to ensure personal, consistent service for every customer. This is unexpected these days. You don’t have to be a cutting-edge corporation to deliver this level of service. Surprising the marketplace is simply doing what you know they want. When your staff is trained in a process to deliver exceptional, personal, and professional service, they will surprise their customers AND their competitors.

3. Active Relationships – It’s easy to start a relationship, but hard to keep it going. Building sustainable relationships is the key to any successful endeavor. You have to go the distance. This is one reason most politicians, many celebrities and some regular consultants and business owners are recognizing the value of blogs as active tools for quickly getting a message out to the marketplace – and getting it noticed. Blogs are making websites look like static brochures, the dinosaurs they replaced. Blogs are also perceived as real. The same information on a blog is interpreted as raw and unpolished and therefore more believable. If you aren’t blogging by the end of 2008, then you are probably not serious about your business. Professional networking sites like Linked-In are also rapidly becoming acceptable tools for staying in touch. Very little effort is required to stay in the loop – and as they say - if you aren’t on the inside, you’re on the outside. It is green outside, but it may be chilly out there too.

Join other entrepreneurs like yourself and increase your sales without spending a dime!. Were all about doing joint ventures with others that requires No Money, No Risk and very little time spent. That’s what a TRUE joint ventures is, a WIN-WIN for all parties involved. Sign up, our membership is always FREE.

Also we value your comments, if you can add more info in regards to this article please do so. Thank you. Rick Ostler, Community Joint Ventures.

Community Joint Ventures - Putting The "Service" Back In "Customer Service"

Sunday, February 24th, 2008


Hi gang, Rick here from Community Joint Ventures with a great article provided to us from Sean Cohen at AWeber Communications, Putting The “Service” Back In “Customer Service”.

The future of customer service is here. Technology has made seeking out support faster and easier than ever. But, has your digital age company sacrificed true service in the name of automation?

Today, finding customer support is as simple as writing an e-mail or picking up the phone. But, even though you’re not face-to-face with your customers, you still leave a lasting impression. Do you come across as caring and competent, or menacing and mechanical?

Offering stand-out service on the Internet isn’t as hard as it is rare. Take these simple steps towards old-style service in the digital age:
http://www.aweber.com/?291426

Give Each Customer a Personal Response
When a customer sits down to e-mail your company, it’s because he needs help. He chooses e-mail because it’s quick, but his request still warrants a satisfying and personal response!

Companies eager to save time and money often take automation too far in their customer support. Each customer has a unique question, and deserves a unique answer. Even if you save time by copying and pasting stock replies, change the opening and closing to make the message sound less robotic.

Be Clear, But Sincere
When responding to customers’ e-mail, be sincere and to the point. Before sending a message, try turning the tables. Ask yourself, “Would this answer satisfy me if I were the customer?”

Take that extra moment to give your customer the help he deserves. It might mean the difference between a satisfied customer and a credit card chargeback!

Offer Live Customer Support
E-mail has become an acceptable form of communication. But, live customer support is still necessary. The plethora of information available online can be overwhelming to customers, especially those new to the Internet!

Single your company out from the crowd by providing customers with a real person to talk to. Live phone support is an invaluable way to foster trust. When your customer has reached the end of his Internet rope, and just needs help, your toll free number is the answer he’s looking for.

Make Sure Your Support Reps Have All The Answers
The presence of phone support will do no good if your staff doesn’t know your product! Customer support reps should be warm and friendly, and willing to help with any aspect of your product.

What a good feeling it is to talk to someone who feels confident in his product. It’s even better if he’s knowledgeable enough to solve your problem without transferring you all around the company!

Provide Stand-Out Service; Gain Lifelong Customers
Too many e-businesses skimp on customer service, hiding behind web sites and message boards. Customer support is an integral part of every company, even those operating solely online. Be one of the few to offer stellar service, and gain customers for life!

Customer Service is becoming a lost art, but Sean Cohen wants to make sure that never happens at AWeber Communications! Find out what service is meant to be.
http://www.aweber.com/?291426

Join other entrepreneurs like yourself and increase your sales without spending a dime!. Were all about doing joint ventures with others that requires No Money, No Risk and very little time spent. That’s what a TRUE joint ventures is, a WIN-WIN for all parties involved. Sign up, our membership is always FREE.

Also we value your comments, if you can add more info in regards to this article please do so. Thank you. Rick Ostler, Community Joint Ventures.

Community Joint Ventures - 10 Ad Copy Secrets

Sunday, February 24th, 2008

Hi gang, Rick here from Community Joint Ventures with 10 Ad Copy Secrets.

1. Use a hand written letter on your ad copy instead of text. Write the ad on a piece of paper, scan it and publish the ad on your web page. Adding a personal touch will always increase your sales.

2. Publish a list of famous and respected customers who have bought from you on your a copy. People will realize that if these people bought from you, they should also trust your business and purchase your products and or services. Make sure to get their permission first.

3. Show before and after photos for your products on your web page copy. Show the problem picture and then beside it, show the picture of the resolution to the problem when they use your product.

4. Include an article or review that has been written about you or your business with your ad copy. This will show people that your business is respected and will increase your credibility.

5. When you offer free bonuses in your ad copy, also list the dollar value beside each bonus. People will feel they’re getting a good deal and it will increase the value of your product.

6. Hire a famous person to endorse your product or service. Make sure the person is well known to your target audience. Include their picture and statements on your ad copy.

7. Include your own picture on your ad copy. This will show people that you’re not hiding behind your ad copy and will increase their trust. Also, include your contact information below the picture and a brief statement or quote.

8. Tell your potential customers on your ad copy that you will donate a percentage of their purchase price to specific charity. This will show them you really care about the people. They may just buyyour product to donate to the charity.

9. Ask your potential customers plenty of yes and no questions in your ad copy. The questions should remind them of their problem and make them think about what will happen if they don’t purchase your product.

10. Tell your potential customers they will receive a free prize if they find the five words in your ad copy that are misspelled or spelled backwards. The longer you can keep someone reading your copy the greater chance of them purchasing.

Join other entrepreneurs like yourself and increase your sales without spending a dime!. Were all about doing joint ventures with others that requires No Money, No Risk and very little time spent. That’s what a TRUE joint ventures is, a WIN-WIN for all parties involved. Sign up, our membership is always FREE.

Also we value your comments, if you can add more info in regards to this article please do so. Thank you. Rick Ostler, Community Joint Ventures.