Tag: small business

Tracking Deliveries

We’re approaching
the busy holiday shopping season
and
many of us
are improving
our systems to prepare for it.

One feature that is now
absolutely essential
for businesses
shipping to customers
is giving those customers
the ability to track
those shipments.

Customers expect
to be informed
when products
leave our facilities
and when products
are expected to be delivered
and every stop
between those two points.

Ensure your delivery partners
provide that information
and
ensure your business
has a process,
ideally automated,
that links your customers
to that information
provided by your delivery partners.

Customers expect
to be able to track shipments.
Ensure they have
that ability.

Entry Level Jobs

Some business owners
believe the least skilled job
in their business
is ‘entry level.’

That position usually isn’t
an entry level job.

If a job listing requirement
requires experience,
it isn’t entry level.

If the job requires
any decision-making AT ALL,
it isn’t entry level.

If it requires
‘using your best judgment’,
it isn’t entry level.

If the person doing the job
doesn’t have frequent
(many times an hour)
contact with their supervisor,
it isn’t entry level.

The wages for those jobs
might be low
but they aren’t entry level positions.

Recognize those employees
as skilled
and, if they’re good
at their jobs,
do your best
to retain them.

Small Businesses In Tough Economic Times

Some experts are advising
small business owners
simply ignore
the stock and credit market turmoil.

The only thing you should ignore
is that advice.

If your company is doing well,
turn your focus to your key customers.
Call them up.
If they comment on the economy,
ask them if there is anything you can do to help
(and have a few good ideas of what you can do
if they say yes).

Even if they are doing wonderfully,
you’ve strengthened your relationship by asking.
You’ve become a true partner,
someone they can count on
and trust.

We all like to do business with people we trust.

Why We Should Be Hopeful

The media is focusing on
the gloom and doom.
They may be right.
There may be a legit reason to be worried.

But when the big guns are promoting one emotion
(fear),
there is always a marketing opportunity
for small business
to promote the opposite
(hope).

Now, I’m not saying
stand up and say the economy is going to be fine
when no one thinks it will be.
That’ll make you look like an ignorant jack a$$

What I’m suggesting is
focusing on the positives
in
other areas.

For example:

On reader loops,
a lot of people are talking about the economy.
Heavy, depressing, tiring stuff.

I, instead, talk about the great books
I’ve read recently.

This positive promotion makes me stand out.