The Daily Exhorter

Having been in business now for over 10 years, I’ve learned a few things about clients and client retention that have helped me find success in the writing industry. Clients are all the same: they want to know and feel that their business is important to you. They want to see that you take their business just as seriously as they do and that you’re willing to invest the time and quality applications to ensure that they get the best service that you can provide.

Since I am a writer and a professional speaker, my clients consist of online web-based clients and professional businesses offline. When I approach clients, whether at a luncheon or through an online forum, I must present myself first as a professional and as an educated, knowledgeable leader in my niche market. My clients must understand that they’re doing business with someone who can help them, know what direction they’re trying to go in and help them to achieve it by giving them the attention, tools and specific things they need to make their projects a success. Here are three very important things that you can do in your business to ensure its success:

• Always communicate with your clients. This is by far one of the chief complaints that I hear and read about online concerning those who are in service-based businesses especially. Clients repeatedly complain that they can’t “get a hold of” the person to whom they’ve trusted their projects. It’s unacceptable to not talk with your clients and keep them abreast on what you’re doing and where you are with their projects. Talk with them, give them updates, ask questions (if necessary) and just be available.
• Give stellar results. This should go without saying, but oftentimes, stellar results are not what is given from the business owner to the client. Often the mentality is jut “get-’er-done” and a big sigh at the end of the project. When working with clients, it’s important to over-deliver so that you stand out from the competitors and so that you create an ever-lasting impression on them that will make you hard to forget. Have you done that?
• Practice integrity. This is especially important in service-based businesses. You know how it is when you’ve been quoted one price over the phone, but the invoice reflects a totally different one. That’s not right. If you’ve made an addition error, suck it up and honor the price you quoted. It’s far better to lose a few dollars on the front end than to lose a client and risk your good name or image you’ve tried to build.

A client’s loyalty doesn’t automatically come with their business. You have to work hard to keep it and even harder to prove that you’re worth it. Whatever industry you’re in, there is A LOT of competition out there waiting to pick up any business that you don’t think is worth it. Don’t let that happen to you. Treat your business well and your business will treat you well.

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I have been missing-in-action for a few weeks, but with good reason. I’ve been working! I’ve taken on several new writing clients and their requests have kept me busy and happily writing along. However, with that, I’ve not been able to properly post to my (six) blogs and even my guest blogs, so my blogging has felt the absence. The month of July promises to be just as busy as last month, so I’ll be super-swamped again. But, I love my blogging so much I cannot let it fall by the side. Therefore I’ve developed a schedule that will let me blog and take care of my clients too.

Do you ever have that problem? Too much work? With today’s current economy, I know there are a lot of people who wished they had that “problem.” Although it can be overwhelming to juggle several clients or projects at once, it can also be satisfying to know that you’re creating a solid income for yourself and you’re doing it all online or from the comforts of home. Let me tell you how to get that “problem.”

1.) Be available. Always let your clients know that you’re there for them. Let them see this by taking on small projects when they have them or picking up the slack if necesary.

2.) Communicate. You don’t have to be their BFF, but talk to them as much a possible or necessary, especially if you’re handling something big for them. Communication doesn’t always have to be a phone call. It can a tweet or even a Facebook status update. Be creative in how you communicate with them, but make it appropriate as well. Clients need to have confidence in you, and communicating with them helps instill that confidence.

3.) Deliver, then over-deliver. Stick to your dates of delivery. If you say your product(s) will be shipped by noon tomorrow, then golly-gosh, ship them by noon tomorrow!! If you have a writing deadline of Friday at 8:00 a.m., finish it and deliver it on Thursday by noon. This will impress the clients so much and give them the confidence they need in your abilities and will possibly give you MORE work.

These are some of the things that I’ve done that have helped me get more business and enjoy repeat business from my writing clients. I guarantee you that it will work if you apply the principles and be patient.

As for me, I’m going to get back to my deadlines now and concentrate on over-delivering. Yes business is good, and soon, you’ll be able to say the same thing!

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Working from home is always a work in progress. I find that I am always on a path in continued education to stay abreast of industry changes and developments and technological advances. Even simple home businesses evolve and need to be tweaked every now and then. You don’t have to have any formal education or business degree to start a home business, but it does help tremendously, depending on what type of business you go into. Many schools like California business schools have awesome programs to get entrepreneurs started in the business world. When I started in freelance writing and professional speaking, I joined a top university for teaching and organizations that helped me hone my craft. I also became a teacher and a mentor within these professional organizations to help other new members realize their potential.

I will be honest…being self-employed is not an easy task. There is so much to consider that for some, the idea may be overwhelming. You are responsible for your own taxes, insurance and business expenses. It’s definitely something that you need to weigh before going into it. But for me, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Even when I was in corporate America, I had a hunger for the road that I would pave. I wanted to create my own destiny and make things happen for ME. I’m so glad I did and so glad that I didn’t give up.

If you want to pursue the entrepreneurial lifestyle, there are sacrifices to make and lessons to learn. Are you ready? Can you focus? Will you stay determined? Trust me, if I can do it, you can do it too. Yes I did earn a university degree that helped me. And yes I had bright ideas that sparked things along. But the ultimate deciding factor in my success has been my determination to go all of the way. I never stopped dreaming and never will.

What’s YOUR dream?

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Most of the time when on-line entrepreneurs decide to do a little marketing online, they think they must do a large campaign just to get the ball rolling. I’m even guilty of this myself. There’s this thought that you have to have something big to say or a huge platform to do it on. No, marketing is not always about how big or grand your techniques are. What’s more important is that you DO it and get it done.

Marketing starts with one step. I am suggesting to you today to make that one baby marketing step something small. Post to your Facebook status. Make a short blog post under 250 words (like this post will be today). Or, even comment on someone else blog and leave a link to your site. Make it happen, whatever it is, and you would have made a marketing effort. Albeit small, it won’t be insignificant.

Start with something, anything. And then, work your way from there. Happy Monday all!!

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What better way is there to market your product or services than to have someone do it for you? I’m specifically talking about letting customers market for you. They do this through word-of-mouth referrals and some even write on their own blogs. Then, there are customers who are avid Facebook and Twitter users who love to share their experiences with their “Friend” community. That’s electric marketing!

Ways to Reward Customers

To get customers to blog and talk about your business, you can hire them as blog writers or reward them with other incentives. Both ways work very well, but the best and most genuine marketing comes from customers who have no vested interest in your company. In other words, they will speak the truth, paid or not, free products or not. It’s actually the best way to see how your company measures up to others in the industry. You may be even to glean ideas on what you can do to improve the company’s image and performance. Yes, customer’s tend to be honest like that.

My Experience as a Paid (?) Blogger

A short while ago, I was an incentive-paid blogger for a local business in my community. It was a place that I frequented and felt that it had so much potential to serve the community in more than one aspect. I approached the owner and we worked out an agreement for me to blog about them on Facebook in return for a free service. Now before I was the blogger for them, I could be completely objective and was full of (un)-solicited advice all day long! However, once I became a part of the staff (in a round-about way), I felt the need to sing their praises in all things, good or bad. It wasn’t what I felt in my heart, but I felt I had to do this because I represented the company in a way. It wasn’t the best situation to work in and we both mutually agreed to end the business relationship. I went back to being a customer and they went back to being a business.

One reason why my situation didn’t work was because the focus was removed on improving the company’s service quality and was placed more on making the company “look good.” Yes, this is important, but it’s way more important to actually have something good to offer than empty words. Also, as a blogger, I wasn’t able to be objective any longer since I was “paid.” Bloggers are always under pressure to deliver and satisfy their clients, no matter what.

Speaking the Truth

Therefore, the ideal marketing situation for customers to blog about your company is to allow them to be themselves and speak their reviews, whichever way they go. Of course you can and should offer incentives, free products or even compensation where you can, but don’t focus on that so much. Be honest with the customers and tell them you want them to write or review your company and give their honest opinions on Facebook, Twitter or the social networking platform of their choice. Track their comments and follow up with comments of your own about their experiences. This makes you look good and makes your company seem genuine.  People always want to do business with companies who don’t mind taking a little constructive criticism and who make efforts to improve their business standards. It all turns out to be a win-win situation.

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Here is my final part to my post on being productive. Have you incorporated any of these tips yet? Let me know if you have, or if you tweaked any of them and if they worked for you.

Part 1

Part 2

- Phone

Turn it off and turn off your cell phone, texting, chatting, etc. These things are absolute sabotages to your productive day. I have experienced first-hand how much these innocent-looking conveniences will suck the hours out of your day and leave you wondering just where the last three hours went? Have a specific time to return phone calls, emails, etc. Don’t answer, talk, or chat unless it is an absolute emergency. And no, meeting your BFF at Starbuck’s is NOT an emergency!

- Breaks

I take as many breaks as I can during my work day. Alright, I take two breaks during my work day. It is a never-ending temptation to take multi-breaks when you’re working from home. Distractions come very easy. I mean, really, have you ever watched The View in the mornings? Joy is hilarious and they all make you want to sit and watch the whole show!

However, working from home is also wonderful when you need to throw in a load of laundry, and I certainly do take advantage of that perk. I limit my breaks to two 10-minute breaks during the day. But, while I take my 10-minute break, I try to get up and stretch, walk around and get some water. I also take 45 minutes to an hour for lunch. These breaks are necessary and help to break up the monotony from sitting at your desk all day. Take them…they will help you tremendously.

I hope these few tips and suggestions have helped you and sparked things you can do to have a productive day. It’s important when you’re self-employed, an entrepreneur, home-based worker, etc. to find methods that will work for this quirky lifestyle. Have a great and productive day!

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As from yesterday, here is the second part of my post about being productive in your workday as an at-home entrepreneur. You can do it!

Part 1

- Rewards

There’s no one in my home office who tells me “great job Bridget”, or “that’s a good report you wrote.” Nope, I don’t have any of that so I have to be creative in rewarding myself. It’s important to reward yourself for doing a good job and being recognized. It’s motivating in itself. When you reward yourself, it doesn’t have to be huge. It can be something small or intangible. For instance, I like to go for a workout when I’ve reached my daily writing goals. You can even reward yourself with 20 minutes of Facebook time. Or, you may want to return some of those girlfriend calls and chat it up. Do what makes YOU happy.

- Exercise

No, I would have never believed it either, but exercising does work. It does wonders to keep your mind sharp and focused on tasks. It is also a won-derful de-stresser and a distraction from sitting at a desk all day long. I try to go to the gym or go for a run for at least 45 minutes to an hour per day. After I’ve exercised, it’s like my mental state is heightened and I can think clearer and better. The best time of day that I’ve noticed is good for me is first thing in the morning BEFORE I start working. If I can’t do it then, I’ll go on my lunch break which is also a good time.

The only thing about mid-day workouts for me is that I have a difficult time focusing on my workouts because I’m thinking about the work that is waiting on my desk and the phone calls or emails that I still have to return. That’s why I like to go and get it done before I start work. But, like I mentioned in the Rewards section, it’s also a great culmination to finishing a deadline or landing a new gig. Go with the time vibe that works for you.

(Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post on the final two suggestions for staying productive. I’d love feedback from you!)

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Finding Motivation

Working from home is certainly a blessing…and a chore. It’s great having a flexible schedule and the time to do other things during the day. But it is also a challenge to focus sometimes, especially when there are deadlines looming and there’s a ton of work on your desk. Most people cave under the pressures of working from home because they don’t have someone dictating their work and structuring their day. This is one of the many glitches (a.k.a. drawbacks) of the work-at-home lifestyle in that motivation is often a struggle. Although it can be difficult to motivate yourself sometimes, you can stay on point and have productive days.

Not One Size

Things work differently for everybody, so what may work for me may not perhaps work for you. There is not a “one-size-fits-all” for staying motivated and productive with your daily work. I will share with you what I do in hopes that it will help you. You may even be able to take some of my tips and suggestions and incorporate them into your daily habits and see results. Once I started making my list, I realized that it was incredibly huge. So, I’m going to break this post down into three smaller ones over the next few days. I want you to be able to digest each of them and not get overwhelmed with so much reading. These are some wonderful tips and I’d love to know if any of them work for you. Here goes:

- Rituals

I try to maintain the same ritual every morning so that I can stay focused. I start off with coffee, a few scriptures and just adjusting to the morning before I sit down and try to tackle any work. Everybody has a different morning ritual that they follow, and this one works for me. It helps me both mentally and physically prepare for the day ahead. If you’re not a coffee person, just make sure you have adequate preparation time to begin your day. You will feel more accomplished and ready to deal with your daily tasks.

- Lists

I am a stickler for lists. I have lists OF lists. I have lists-OCD.  You get the picture. Every morning I sit down and go over my lists of things that I need to do for the day. Everything is on my list from emails to send, phone calls to make, faxes to fax, etc. My lists keep me focused AND keeps my mind from overload and from trying to remember so many different things. With a busy and full life, you need to keep your mind as free as you can and lists do wonders for that. I don’t have to think too hard because I have a list. I just look at my list and I’m good to go. (Did I mention that I like lists??)

…to be continued

(Read my post tomorrow for the next two suggestions I give about staying motivated)

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You DO have time to market your product or service. You simply have to make that a part of your daily habits when you’re in business for yourself. Making money is the goal of all businesses, but you’ve got to understand that in order to make that money, you have to market your services. Period.

Today on my friend Martin’s blog, I talked about how being socially afraid to network will amount to nothing gained. Facebook and Twitter should be viewed as more than a tool to find college friends or old boyfriends (I hope YOU weren’t doing that!) but it should be viewed as a marketing tool.

Where else FOR FREE but on places like Twitter and Facebook can you talk about what it is that you do or sell? Where else but these types of networking places will you get to share with other interested people your passion for your business, whether that’s network marketing or the newly invented widget?

You have to market yourself if you want people to notice you. For instance, I am willing to bet from this post alone that no one will comment or try to connect with me in any way. I am a business person and I am reaching out to you to connect with you and form a business relationship that will perhaps benefit us both…but will you reach back? Will you tap into the resources of THIS blog in order to appeal to the readers of The Daily Exhorter? If you decide not to, that’s fine. But if you do, I’m sure you’ll see just how easy it is.The rewards of your actions will far outweigh any preconceived notions that you had about networking online.

Let’s see what happens…

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For about five years, I’ve been a member of the Toastmaster’s organization, an international professional speaking group. They specialize in teaching people how to communicate and interact through speech-giving and leadership. I’ve learned a great deal while being in the organization. I’ve learned to structure and deliver great speeches. I’ve learned how to lead various departments and clubs in several ways. As a Toastmaster, I’ve gotten the opportunity to speak to businesses that I otherwise wouldn’t have had the chance to except by my association with the organization.

Although I am a big proponent of effective communication, I still see on a daily basis how much is lacking in the communicating department with business people and often, people in general. Whether it’s in business or in the grocery store, people still leave things to the imagination and hope by osmosis the other person gets it. That is not going to work.

Communicating effectively is making sure that your point is well understood AND that you understand the other person. If you’re asked a direct question, don’t you give a direct answer? Or, at least you should give a direct answer. But, what happens all too often is that people allow their minds and imaginations to wander off and then they tend to dream up their own conclusions. Do you know what I’m talking about? Let me give you an example.

If I asked you to send me a proposal to a business acquisition that we had discussed, I’m going to be expecting that material to come to me via email or whichever method we had pre-arranged. Well, if your email has trouble and you can’t send that file to me, that’s fine. But, you should at least communicate that to me so that I won’t be expecting the materials. But in some people’s minds they will reason that since their email is not working, they can’t get that information to you, therefore they don’t have any choice. What that person can do however, is either 1) call you to apprise you of the situation and another resolution to getting the materials to you, or 2) use another method to get the information to you.

It’s not very professional to leave things to chance when it comes to dealing in a business situation. It’s not safe or reasonable to “assume” anything nor is it accurate to think that everyone around you understands your situation and is a part of your world, because they are not.

What have you encountered in a business situation where you see a lack of communication? Do you think that things are better or worse in communicating online? Why or why not?

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