Build a Referral-Based Business (Part 3)
Word of mouth is great but how do you get more - a lot more?
Referrals are one of the most powerful lead generators in the world. We all know that referrals cost you very little and usually (if a good client has referred them) the new client is of relative good quality. Ask any business owner where the vast majority of new clients come from and they say "Word of Mouth" or "Referrals." The $64,000 question is "what systems do you have in place to make sure the referral happens?" Obviously, it helps to offer exceptional value and service; but this is only the foundation. Why not leverage your business from this firm foundation by building your system to generate referrals?
This month we are continuing our focus on steps to building referral systems in your business. Last month we discussed steps 4-6: Teach your customers why it is good for them to give you referrals; Thank your customers; and Give awesome service that creates delighted advocates. Here are the final three of the nine steps to building a referral based business... [FULL STORY]
Action Clients in the News
Toronto Star reporter Sharda Prashad writes about two Action clients
In the Small Business section in the October 13th edition of the Toronto Star, Sharada Prashad tells how Don McCreedy, owner of 124 year old firm A. Guinness & Company Inc. has increased gross margin and decreased costs in the last 10 months. She also tells how Cynhthia Richards of Event Spectrum Inc. has dramatically increased sales ... [FULL STORY]
Do You Manage by Crisis?
How to avoid urgency addiction
Adapted from an article by Australian Coach Leisel Speranza
Management by crisis is a phrase used to describe the common problem of allowing unexpected events, interruptions, problems, or emergencies to dictate your priorities and actions.
Effective crisis management is such an important skill to have and of course, use. It is an essential skill of effective time managers because unexpected things do happen in every business, every day. Sometimes we do need to react quickly to a crisis and contain it before it does more damage. The problem comes when crisis management becomes the routine rather than the exception. If you spend more of your time putting out fires than doing your work, you are managing by crisis and YOU ARE OUT OF CONTROL... [FULL STORY]
Attention Business Owners!
It’s the most practical, dynamic, and profitable business, sales and marketing program you’ll ever invest in, and here’s why …
It's not just finding out 'what' you need to do… you will leave this program knowing 'how' to do what you need to do to get ahead. And not only that… you will have done most of it in the program. Invest 7 sessions with the Action team, developing and adapting some of the three hundred and twenty eight business building strategies, to use specifically in YOUR business, to boost YOUR profits and free up YOUR time ... [FULL STORY]
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