Networking by the Business Cards

February 25th, 2011 by admin No comments »

Networking by the Business Cards ImageIdeally, when you meet potential clients or customers, you begin it a conversation first before giving out your business card. It is only if you are about to end your conversation that you swipe out your card and give it to your contact hoping that they will keep it and call you as  soon as possible.

But do you know that you can use your business card in other activities aside from giving it out to the prospects? You can use it to actually make a prospect. This can be done by creating business cards that have impacts and can effectively collect contacts for you. This is actually referred to as networking.

Networking with business cards is not something new. It has been used by many entrepreneurs for years and has proven to be an effective marketing strategy. This card is designed not to make immediate response, but create an impact to the prospects so they in turn can give your card to others who they think will be interested in what you have to offer. In this way, even if your card can not generate a call, it has been handed out to someone who can use your contact when the time comes that they need your product or service.

Networking is really a cost effective strategy that is easy to implement. There is no need to exert too much effort to generate leads customers leads. There are some simple and easy steps you can do, like the list below:

• Use the existing customers. Consider giving them two of your cards and ask them to give it to someone they know that need your product or service. Tell then to put their name on the back of the card so that they can get incentives when the people they referred visit your store.

• You can consider to leave your cards in the restaurants. You can leave it with your tip or at the reception. Ask permission from the owner to have your cards displayed at their reception area. This can help you display your business in a place where most of your target customers hang out.

• Consider including your cards in your correspondence. When sending letters, bill payment, or brochure, do not forget to insert your card. With your card in your letter or invoice, you give your prospects an easy way to contact you immediately. Ensure although that when you are mailing your cards and not handling it out you write a note at the back of your business card templates. You can write a personal message intended to the recipients. With notes, you tell your prospects to contact you immediately and see what you offer them.

• You can leave your cards in public places such as public bulletin boards, libraries, bus stops and other places where your target groups are. Anyone who is interested in your offering can simply take one of your cards.

When somebody finally contacts you, be sure to respond to their questions and queries at once. Even if the person may not be interested in your offer, but simply calling to ask the questions, you can still change the investigation into a sale if you know the tricks. Remember that when networking with your cards, you must be prepared in all things that can happen.

Motivating and Managing Your Team

February 22nd, 2011 by admin No comments »

Motivating and Managing Your Team ImageHave you ever caught yourself say “If it was not for all the troubles with staff the jobs will be easy!” ?  If so, then you are not alone. This is something that often happen to managers at all the times and in all industries and professions.  So what tools you need to discover to help you in managing and motivating your team, without feeling completely drained from your efforts? Here are some pointss
     
#1. Catch your staffs doing things right and praise them for it.
     
Whether as parents or as a manager many of us feel our main task is to correct inappropriate behavior. If we really want our children or our employees to develop their potential, we need to reinforce appropriate behaviors. In other words, constantly be on the lookout for people who doing the right things and praise them as soon as possible and as specifically as possible.
     
#2. The enthusiasm is contagious. Spread the positive virus in your workplace.
    
Make sure the vibes you give off are the positive vibes. If you are negative then your people will be negative too. Find the positives in every situation. Treat each problem as an opportunity. Make sure your glass is half full rather than half empty.  You may not be able to change your circumstances, but you can change your attitude to them. And if you do that, then your staffs notice and gradually they catch the positive virus.
     
#3. Create an environment where people catch one another doing the things right.
     
If you follow steps one and two, you will not sound like a hypocrite when you gather your staffs together and talk about the importance of creating a positive atmosphere at work.  Explain to your employees about the advantages of catching one another doing things right. Explain that even though many of us do not accept praise very well, we all like a real compliment. So, the more we praise each other the better we will all feel.
     
Emphasize the dangers in getting caught up in the negativity. There is too much negativity on the news and in papers. We do not need to bring it to work and our customers do not need to hear it from us. Let them complain about traffic jams or economic circumstances if they want, but do not get caught in it. Instead live by the motto  “If you see a client without a smile give them one of yours.”
     
#4. At the end of the day still focus on the positives.
When you are on the way home at night, do you think about the three best things that happened to you that day? Or repeat your mind again and again about the one, two or three worst things that happened?
     
By all means learn from your mistakes, but do not dwell on them. Keep focus on the positives. Mentally catch yourself doing things right and congartulate yourself. Then and only then have you the chances to motivate your team.