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Blog by Brenda Tillmann

Having been born and raised in the Deep South, one of the most hospitable sayings I remember is “Y’all come back now, ya hear”. It was (and still is) as common as “please” and “thank you” and served with a smile on a daily basis from just about anywhere one would find them selves whether it is at church, a neighborhood cookout or a local business. You’ve surely heard that expression while watching a television show or during a movie at some point in your life. But for any business owners, a returning customer is essential to survival.

For the entrepreneur, it’s vitally important to learn how to build a base of customers who return to your business time and again. Here are five tips and strategies to foster loyalty with your customers with style, ease and grace:

1. Be Committed. Being committed doesn’t mean that you have to leave everything else and cater to the needs of just one client and forget about the others. It means being fully invested in their success; dedicate yourself to helping them achieve the results they desire. Go out of your way, do what needs to be done, what you agreed on in the first place, and above all, treat your customer’s as you would want to be treated.

2. Appreciate your customer’s 
You can never thank someone enough if it is sincere. A "thank you" can go a long way. Tell someone you appreciate his or her business in person, on the phone, or better yet, a personal hand-written note by mail. When was the last time you received a note saying, "Thank you for your business. I appreciate the opportunity to have you as my customer"?

3. Provide Quality, Not Just Quantity. Make sure your services are the best value for the money. You do not need to lower your prices simply because your competitors do, make sure your customers know that you are worth the extra money and why. To do this, you must give value first, don’t add it. Put value in your customer’s hands before you even ask them to buy anything from you. Find something you customer’s value and give it to them.

4. Continue To Understand Your Customers Needs. Ok, so you’re good at what you do, but that doesn’t make you the best there is, because there is always someone that can do better than you on your heels. You must stay current with what your customers expect and need from you. It’s a terrible feeling to discover your customers have left because you were not providing what they needed. Needs change, so thrive to make yourself better, sharpen your skills everyday, that’s what makes you money.

5. Keep In Touch. One of the most important, and so often over-looked, ways of getting repeat business is to simply follow-up with your customers. If you’re in the habit of providing a service/product to a customer, then you cash the check, and forget about him or her, I can assure you that you won’t get business from that client again. With a Follow Up Strategy in place, it only takes a minute to send an e-mail, a post-card or give a call to a previous client, tell her you really enjoyed working for her, was a fun project, and that you’re always available to answer any questions she may have. Build a relationship with your clients, get to know them, they’ll come back and be more likely to send business your way.

Bottom line: You cannot afford to lose your hard earned customers. What are you going to do today to make sure they continue to do business with you?

Brenda Tillmann specializes in helping entrepreneurs attract idea clients, build strong client relationships and close more sales in less time with her customized programs and mentoring. If you want to get clients calling you instead of you chasing them, visit her to schedule your complimentary 30-minute 1-on-1 Define Your Sales Success Analysis and Strategy session at http://www.BrendaTillmann.com.

Blog by Brenda Tillmann

It’s important to remember that when you meet someone for the first time, you have an opportunity to make a real connection, or you can simply pass on your name and be forgotten. Successful relationship-building requires more than just handing out business cards. To build long-lasting, solid and mutually-beneficial relationships, a little homework and a little thoughtfulness goes a long way. Here are my tips for making a powerful impression that brings lasting results.

Do Your Homework - Research the People You’re Meeting
If you’re meeting someone in particular, research the person or people you’re meeting. Lots of resources exist that can give you both professional and personal reference material. The Web is a source of unlimited information, with things like company websites, personal bios, work histories, resumes, and portfolios; depending on who you’re meeting, you may be able to find a wide range of information about your contact. If the Web doesn’t produce any useful information, you could check with the company where your contact works, to see if they have any marketing information containing professional info about your contact. You could also check your local library for periodicals, such as magazine stories, newspaper articles or professional interviews. Depending on how public the person is that you’re meeting, you may be able to find everything from the name of a spouse to the first place they worked after college. Use the information you find when you meet your contact. Talk about common interests, such as being a parent, alma mater, hobbies; whatever common bond you can form with your contact can help you form a good relationship. Ask about things near and dear to the person’s heart – not just business talk – and you’re well on your way to forming a real connection.

Show Genuine Interest by Asking Questions
Getting to know people to form real connections is an art that can easily be mastered.  Ask questions about everything; not just their professional life, but their personal interests and family life, too. The more you show that you’re genuinely interested in them and  understand, know and really “get” the person, the better your relationship will be, and the more business opportunities you’re likely to gain. Be a real person to your connections, too – if your new business partner volunteer’s information about their spouse then open up and talk about your spouse. The more personal you can make your relationships with people, the better your long-term success with those relationships will be.

You Must Be Sincere
Everyone can have fun building good relationships – all you have to do is be genuinely interested in people. Enjoy getting to know your business colleagues, or even the person you met in the coffee line today. Forming connections with people can help in all aspects of your life, and even random connections can help your business in unexpected ways. You never know when someone will refer a key contact; an affiliate who may have great products for your prospects, or a business associate that could make your product a high-demand success!
Remember what your mother taught you as a child, to have friends you must be a friend.  Don’t just see people as stepping stones to a better business. Take the time and make the effort to form real, legitimate connections by getting to know people, and I promise good business will follow naturally. 

Brenda Tillmann specializes in helping entrepreneurs attract idea clients and close more sales in less time with her customized programs SMART Marketing TM and Sell by Not Selling TM. If you want to get clients calling you instead of you chasing them, sign up at http://www.BrendaTillmann.com.

Blog by: Liane Caruso of Limelight Marketing Consultants

Women entrepreneurs are truly fabulous. We commit ourselves to owning a business, diving in head first and sharing our business dreams with anyone who will listen. One of our biggest strengths is one of our biggest weaknesses, and as women entrepreneurs, we overcommit!  We naturally take on too much, wear way too many hats and can quickly become overwhelmed. And before you know it, we can easily – without intention – set ourselves up for failure.  One way to avoid that is have a solid, strategic marketing plan in place. Haven’t you ever heard “He who fails to plan, plans to fail?” Ladies, we love planning parties, dinners and events, so let’s plan for our business!
 
Many new business owners don’t take the time to create a plan because the plan in itself is overwhelming.  But, without a plan, how do you know where you’re going or where you’ve been? Have you laid out a budget? Who is going to help you execute your plan? How can you tell if your efforts are successful or where are the budget pitfalls? The purpose of the marketing plan is to define your market, identify your customers and competitors, determine your strengths and weaknesses, outline a strategy for attracting and keeping customers, and to identify and anticipate change.
 
Knowing your customers is the cornerstone to your success. If you don’t know their likes, dislikes or expectations how do you assume to fulfill their need? If you’re marketing to the wrong target market, you’re wasting a lot of time, energy and hard-earned money.  Also, make sure you have identified your competition including their strengths and weaknesses. How and what are their marketing efforts? What is successful for them?
 
Set your goals and objectives. This is like a big To Do list for your company. What woman doesn’t love a To Do list? Be bold! If you want to be a 3-million dollar company in three years, why not set that expectation for yourself and your company? Mary Kay Ash, one of the most successful women in business said, “Shoot for the moon and you’ll land among the stars.”
 
Establish a budget. “What should my marketing budget look like?” You have to spend money to make money.  However, there are MANY cost-effective marketing options out there to explore so make sure you’re weighing your options and getting multiple quotes.
 
Basically, without a well thought out plan, you will be reacting, which could lead to additional spending that is not aligned strategically with your sales objectives and goals for the year. Give yourself a couple of months to create the plan and it does not have to be set in stone. Your company and marketplace will evolve and your plan should too. It’s a living, breathing document that will help guide your day-to-day activities.
 
Need help? There are consultants out there who can help you create a strategic marketing plan for your business. One comes to mind that I’m particularly fond of: Limelight Marketing Consultants. Call or email anytime with questions to liane@limelightconsultants.com or (813) 388-9384.

Blog by Patricia Rossi

I am frequently asked by people who find themselves uncomfortable in social networking situations, “What can I do to become more relaxed?” Many people,not just those  who consider themselves an introvert or shy, find it difficult to communicate with people they don’t know very well.  As a result, they may find they lose out on business opportunities.

Keep in mind, people like to do business with someone they know and feel they can trust. So, the next time you are heading to a social networking event, see it as an opportunity to make new friends and this will naturally turn into new business contacts.

Following are a few tips to improve your networking experience:

• Practice conversation. Wherever you go, see it as an opportunity to practice conversing with people you don’t know – the grocery store, coffee shop, bus stop, gym, doctor’s office, or spouse’s family functions. If you see someone idle, strike up a conversation. What’s the worst that could happen? Every opportunity gives you a chance to reflect and then build upon the next experience, making it easier each time.
• Wear a smile. Just keeping a smile on your face gives others the overall impression that you are a positive person. If you only maintain a blank stare, people will write you off pretty quickly. You only get one chance to make a first impression, and your expression may be the first thing people notice.
• Remember names and faces. All too often people say they forget someone’s name immediately after an introduction. Make a point of paying attention at introductions and remembering the person’s name. Equally important is to remember the face that goes with the name. This makes a person feel important and they will have a positive reaction toward you as well.
• Ask questions. If you don’t know what to talk about with someone, ask something you would like to know about the person. Ask them about their hobbies, what they like to read, something about the meeting, where they got their designer shoes that you just love and have to have. People like to talk about themselves, so you can take the focus off of your own uneasiness and put it on what you would like to know about the other person.
• Listen, listen, and listen some more. Often times we are focused on what we should say next and we are not really listening to what the other person is saying. Make direct eye contact with the person you are speaking with and listen carefully to what is being said, then the conversation will flow easily. It won’t take long before you and this person who was a stranger only a moment ago now feels like a new friend.
• All of the above suggestions are things you can and should practice in public settings. Then, the next time you go to a networking event, you will be much more comfortable with making conversation, making new friends, and ultimately developing great business contacts.

Wishing you much happiness and success!

Patricia Rossi, America’s Etiquette and Protocol Coach, www.patriciarossi.com

Blog by Leah Turner of Turner Time Consulting

OK, I must admit, Time Management is not the most exciting topic to discuss in a blog. We are all adults, and basically we should know how to manage our time, right? We all know about the Stephen Covey - Franklin Quest systems. And we all know that if we don’t manage our time, our time will manage us, blah, blah, blah. So, what the heck am I doing writing a blog about boring old time management? Well, I want to change the way we look at time management and make it Sexy, Fun, and Exciting!! Impossible, you say? Well, give me a moment of your precious TIME and let’s see if I can change your mind!

When I left the comforts of the corporate world several years ago to start my own business, I had to make a shift in the way I looked at and managed my time. I used to do exactly what we are all told to do; I would make a list of everything I needed to do, prioritize that list, and then schedule each task into my day. Once a task was complete, I happily CHECKED it off the list and moved on to the next item.

Efficient, but boring! So, when I started my own business, I realized this system just wasn’t working for me. Why not, you ask? Well, when you own your own business the phrase ‘Time is MONEY’ takes on a whole new meaning!

You see, it is not so much about completing a specific task in order to check it off your list as it is about building your business, your referral base, and your revenues.  Here are three time management tips:

1. ASSIGN A DOLLAR VALUE TO YOUR TIME: This was probably the single most important step I made in my new sexy, fun, exciting Time Management program.  Let me explain….let’s say you want to gross $100,000 in one year. That breaks down to $8,333 per month, or $2083 per week (based on a 40 hour work week), or $52.08 per hour.

So, basically, every hour during your workday is worth $52.08. So, how is that best utilized? Is meeting with a vendor you KNOW you are never going to use worth your time or would that time be better spent asking them to send you over their information via e-mail? Do you really need to have that 45 phone conversation with your friend at 3 pm in the afternoon? (Not unless he or she is paying you for it!). Is it really worth your $52.08 per hour to attend that workshop, luncheon or event?

I have several realtor clients, and it is amazing what happens to them once they ‘get’ this concept. No longer are they spending seventeen hours schlepping potential buyers to 35 properties on a weekend! They do a much better job of pre-qualifying and determining their clients’ needs before they waste their precious time (and gas!) driving them across the city!

2. NO LONGER DO THOSE THINGS WHICH DO NOT BENEFIT MY BOTTOM LINE: It’s ALL about the ROI (return on investment), baby!  I am a firm believer in networking, but I am a firmer believer in ROI. Take a look at your networking schedule. If you client base is new home builders, how much sense does it make to network with a group that has no builder members? None. Or, let’s say your job or business requires you to conduct or attend a lot of meetings and there is NO WAY you can avoid it. Make sure those meetings are productive. Set an agenda. Do you really need to waste the first thrity minutes of a meeting talking about who got booted off  ‘Dancing with the Stars’?

3.  SCHEDULE TIME FOR YOU: Just as it is important for you to schedule your money-making activities, it is equally important for you to schedule your personal time. And, I promise you this, once you have put steps 1 and 2 into place, you will be amazed at the amount of additional time you will find in your day! Make  that a priority as well. After all, YOU deserve it!

People, there are never going to be more than twenty-four hours in a day. So, it is critical that you make the best use of your time in a way that is going to be profitable and productive to you! Look at managing your time the same way you look at planning a vacation! You do the upfront research, you plan the activities you want to do, and then you DO IT and have a great time! Remember, time flies when your having fun!

Founded by Leah Turner, Turner Time Consulting offers marketing services, business coaching and company training programs. Turner Time Consulting partners with businesses and individuals to create a 'blue print' for professional success, and then we provide the solutions to get you there.

info@TurnerTimeConsulting.com
(407) 709-6816
http://turnertimeconsulting.com

The Votes are In: Tampa Bay Networking Group is Number One

Tampa, FL September 7, 2011: Despite competition from some of the largest and most well- established professional networking organizations, Working Women of Tampa Bay took the top spots in the Best Leads Group and the Best Networking Event in the Best in the Biz Awards sponsored by the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

With nominations spanning a seven-county area, over sixty categories and 750 businesses; TBBJ’s Readers’ Choice Awards attracted almost 6,000 people who cast their votes for the organizations that are the most effective in developing and supporting business-to-business relationships.

As the fastest growing network of women in the bay area, Working Women of Tampa Bay (WWOTB) just celebrated their two year anniversary in June and is 600+ members and 10,000 social media fans strong. Their goal is to help educate, motivate and inspire female professionals and women business owners.

WWOTB has accomplished these objectives with a unique blend of contemporary and traditional networking techniques that inspire and genuinely unite their members. According to founder Jessica Rivelli, “Working Women has a solid place in the economic recovery as more women make the effort to start their own enterprises, build relationships and start strategic sponsorships. A lot of women have taken that challenge, and I believe women entrepreneurs are going to shape the new economy.”

Hosted in a variety of Tampa Bay venues, WWOTB’s eclectic events calendar includes workshops and wine tastings, spa trips and museum visits, as well as two monthly power luncheons that feature presentations by renowned speakers and offer plenty of open networking time.

Throughout the year, members are given the opportunity to sponsor events and donate products and services for contribution to charitable causes.

The cost of joining WWOTB is $50 for a half-year membership or $90 for a full year. For additional information visit the website or email workingwomenoftampabay@gmail.com.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Taking Care of a Senior Dog
Jennifer Fadal
Pet Wellness & Lifestyle Expert

You know the old saying that one human year equals seven dog years!  So, if your dog is seven years old…his body is really more like that of a 49 year old human.  What should you expect as your dog ages?  How can you better care for him so he is comfortable, pain free and happy?  

Many people ask:  When is my dog considered old?  A good rule of thumb is to bring this discussion to the forefront when your dog is approaching his seventh year.  Keep in mind however that smaller breeds are considered adult dogs for a few more years since they typically have a longer life span.  

A seven year old Great Dane is definitely considered a senior dog whereas a seven year old Maltese is hardly that.  Discuss your dog’s age with your vet especially if you begin to notice signs of aging.  

Signs of aging:  Hearing loss, greying around the muzzle, decrease in appetite, blueish or cloudy look to the eyes, hair loss, decrease in energy level and an increase in water intake.

Small lifestyle changes can make your senior pooch more comfortable.  

Bedding: Senior dogs really like their zzz’s so a clean comfortable bed is a must.  There are many varieties of orthopedic beds out there that will take pressure off of sore muscles, joints and ligaments.  

Food: A slight shift in dog food may be helpful as well.  If your dog has become less active, try a senior formula that offers a bit less fat and protein but more glucosamine.  The latter serves as an anti-inflammatory and can promote joint health and manage arthritic pain.  

Supplements:  Speaking of glucosamine and chondroitin.  Try adding a supplement to your pet’s daily diet to further relieve the effects of aging joints.  Glucosamine and Chondroitin can help to reduce inflammation, therefore reducing stiffness and pain. Fish oil is also a great supplement to add.  It aids with skin and coat and is an anti-inflammatory.

Toys- Opt for toys that are a bit softer.  As your dog ages his teeth can become more sensitive.   A softer toy will still give him a ton of fun but will be gentler on his mouth.

Coat- Keep him clean.  Some of my clients say that their senior dog seems more smelly.  Opt for an in between bath spritz that will keep him smelling fresh!

Fresh water-  Other recommendations are to always have fresh water for your senior.   

Manage your expectations of what they can do physically and make sure they don’t over exert.  Especially in hot weather, monitor their outdoor activity closely.

Senior dogs have a lot of love to give.  And if you are considering adopting a dog, you just might want to think about a dog that has a few years under their belt.  As you look into those soulful eyes, just think, potty training is taken care of, they know their manners indoor and out and they are more than happy to have you cuddle up with them for a nap!  

© Jennifer Fadal, Jenn Fadal is a Pet Wellness & Lifestyle Expert.  She is a frequent contributor to the South Tampa Community News, BellaDOG magazine, Pet Product News International as well as other area and industry wide publications.  Jenn is the pet correspondent for Daytime, a syndicated lifestyle show on NBC and the pet correspondent for Better TV, a syndicated lifestyle show part of the Meredith network. She can also be heard on Martha Stewart Living Radio.  Jennifer owns Wag Natural Pet Market on Davis Islands and can be reached at jennfadal@yahoo.com or www.jennfadal.com.

If You Are Not a Runner
Debbie Voiles deb@debbievoiles.com

“I’m not a runner. I’d like to be, but I can’t run.”

I get that a lot, and this, too:
“I run a little bit, but I mostly walk; I’m not a runner.” They say that with great emphasis on the word “not,” and always follow it with an apologetic laugh.

I remember when I was eight. The 6th graders at the bus stop seemed like grown-ups. I couldn’t imagine ever being that big, or that old, but I did get that big and that old.  Yet, it didn’t seem big or old when I got there.

It’s that way with running. It’s all about perspective. Where you will go and what you can achieve is based largely on where you have been and what you have done. You won’t believe you can do a 5k until you have run a mile, and that is the secret to becoming a runner.  You have to start where you are today. If you are not a runner, then simply making the decision to become one is enough. The single, biggest obstacle is the mental one, believing.

You will find it surprisingly doable if you start with only slightly more activity than what you’re doing right now. That’s Day 1 of my Very Easy, Very Gradual Beginning Running Program. Tomorrow, you will walk a mile, but every two minutes, you will run 10 steps, and that’s all the running you’ll do. In fact, that’s all the running you’ll do for each workout the first week. Then, we only bump it up to 15 steps of running at a time for the next week. This gradual progression gives your body time to adapt to your new activity level and your mind time to grasp your new identity, that of a runner.

That’s right, on Day 3, you will wake up a runner. You will have already completed two days of the program and now it is time to start adjusting your self-concept. You can no longer repeat the “I’m not a runner” mantra. You will have completed the hardest part, making the commitment and getting started. After that, count on the sweet sensation of accomplishment to keep you going.
When I was growing up, I dreaded the day we did the 600 yard walk/run in school. It was always a disaster for me. That’s less than half a mile, but although I was athletic, I felt crippled any time I tried to run more than a quarter mile.

When I was in my twenties, my grandfather told me, “If you pick up a calf every day from the day it’s born, when it’s a cow, you’ll still be able to pick it up.” I’m not sure if that’s really possible (probably not) but I understood his point.

Many years after those miserable days at P.E., with much more wisdom and 20 pounds to lose, I tried running again, but this time I did it my way. I started with just a little bit of running mixed with much more walking and over time increased the running while decreasing the walking. Turns out that was the secret. That was 34 years and over 200 races ago.

What do you say? Today can be your Day 1.

There’s no shame in baby steps, but standing still won’t get you anywhere.

Interviewing &  Dating
By Fleming Ford, President, SHOREforce

So many times my clients are surprised and frustrated with a candidate that turns down a job offer.  After going through the expense and multiple, disappointing interviews, they are so thrilled to have found “THE ONE”.  So you can imagine they are simply shocked and even a little glum when the candidate declines the offer. This is when we talk about the rules of dating.

Now for some of you it may have been a while since you last experienced the dating scene and for others it may have been as recent as last night. Regardless, the truth remains, “playing it cool” is a critical part of the dating process. How about the date that asked if we could meet his parents when we just dipped our spoon into dessert or the lovely “gentleman” that assumed we must want him to hit on us, just because we sat at the bar he was holding up.  Let’s face it, desperation is never attractive, coming on too soon or too strong is a game changer.  It’s possible, those guys may have been amazing, but we’ll never know because our personal alarm was shoutingundefined“He must be a loser to be so desperate--WARNING, WARNING, ESCAPE NOW!”

Frequently, hiring managers have spent a lot of time and money to find a skilled, professional or simply a showered and sober candidate, so it is no surprise we can get a little over-excited to find a good one.  Dare I say it? WE too can come across as too desperate and so that our candidate thinks “WARNING, WARNING”.   They wonder, “Why is it so easy to get a job here?  Why do they want me so badly?”  So, my advice is to try “playing it cool”.   Be on time, be prepared, be interested, be friendly but most importantly, play a little hard to get, even if you have to fake it.  Remember, many Americans want what they can’t have (remember that guy that never looked your way??).

So next time you find yourself getting excited that you have found “THE ONE”, play hard to get and make them work for it!  That’s right, bring them back for a 2nd interview, and a 3rd, tell them you have other good candidates and it’s critical you make the best decision, ask challenging interview questions, make them wonder if they are good enough and by all means do not offer them the job before dessert!


Fleming Ford is the President of SHOREforce, which provides tools and training to Select, Hire, On-Board, Retain & Engage top talent. Give your managers the skills they need to build a top performance team.

Want to stop procrastinating?
by Kathy McDonald, productivity expert, business coach, author and speaker
www.GetClearGetGoingCoaching.com

Think of something on your to-do list that you “should” do, that has been on your list long enough it’s growing mold.    

Give yourself permission not to do it.  Yep, channel your inner slacker.  

Now pay attention to the feelings that show up next.  This is where it gets interesting.

One of two things will happen:
You’ll feel relief like my client Bridget*, who realized she was sweating over something that didn’t really need to get done.  If this is your case, enjoy the energy you just released that can be channeled towards something that matters more to you.  

Or....

You’ll feel resistance, like my client Margaret*.  She had been putting off getting another level of certification for her profession.  No matter what she tried, she couldn’t get into action.  “Great.  Don’t do it,” I prompted.  There was a long pause.  Then the discussion began.  She realized the certification was critical to her staying competitive in her field.  It meant the financial stability of her family.  We just uncovered the motivation she needed to get off the fence and get the certification done.

What’s your motivation?

Deciding not to do the project you’ve been avoiding will help uncover what matters enough to you to move forward.  You can always add a reward to sweeten the pot.  In addition, imagine what it will feel like to complete.  Feel that sense of relief and satisfaction in your belly and mind.  The energy you free up from completion with give you new drive to tackle the other things on your list.

*Names are changed to protect client confidentiality.