Britain Should Improve Customer Service Before Olympics

British businesses must improve their customer service ahead of next year’s Olympic Games in order to take advantage of the extra revenue.

With approximately half a million people predicted to visit Britain during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, UK companies are looking at ways to maximise their share of the event’s revenue.

It has been estimated that Olympic visitors will contribute £2 billion towards British business next year and providing optimum levels of customer service is where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can steal a march on their bigger competitors.

Investing in customer service training is one way that organisations can ensure that their employees have the appropriate skills to generate repeat business by encouraging consumer loyalty.

SMEs are ideally placed to provide the highest levels of service because they will have more time to interact with customers and their local knowledge will enable them to offer a more personal touch which visitors to a new city are sure to appreciate.

As visitors from various different countries are expected to visit Britain, it is important that front line employees are trained on how to interact with foreign customers so that they are sensitive to any cultural requirements.

It is also vital that all British businesses are accessible and disability-friendly during the Games as there will be an increase in the number of disabled people visiting the country during the Games.

British disabled customers generate £80 billion in revenue every year and account for approximately 20 per cent of the country’s customer base so all organisations should focus on improving services for those people with disabilities.

The vast majority of disabled consumers will take their business to an organisation which has built a reputation for providing accessible and disability-friendly customer service so companies must learn how to offer this ahead of the Games.

Employees must understand that disabled people do not appreciated being pitied, patronised or generalised and that they should not feel afraid to ask what they can do to help them.

Companies can improve service by employing performance improvement consulting professionals to apply systems thinking to their business so that they can view their organisation from a customer’s perspective.

Applying systems thinking theory will enable a business to examine what customer’s value most when interacting with their businesses and this will show them how to improve their processes.

Performance improvement consultants are expected to experience increased demand for their services as more businesses look to make the most of the Olympic Games.

Himsworth Consultancy is a leading Management Consultancy firm of senior business and peformance improvement consulting professionals that can improve customer service through systems thinking. Click the links to find out more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Hofschroer

via Improve Customer Service Before Olympics.

Printed T-Shirts – Five Uses for Your Business

Printed T-shirts can make great holiday and birthday gifts, and they are often seen as a novelty item that you can use as a present when you can’t think of anything else to give. In the business world, however, there are many more uses for printed T-shirts. For large and small businesses alike, printed T-shirts can by employed as a powerful customised branding tool to help spread the word about the business and its products and services. They are an economical way to increase awareness of your brand and garner greater customer affection. Here are five uses printed T-shirts can have for your business.

Employee Uniforms

They come in especially handy if you have a retail location and you need your employees to look both sharp and easily identifiable. Printed T-shirts can tie all of your sales personnel together and give your store a professional look as well as help customers flag down an associate quickly whenever they need help.

Delivery Uniforms

If you have a delivery service, your delivery personnel are your company’s face to the outside world. Printed T-shirts can help that face to be both unified and respectable. When you see the sharp Fed-Ex delivery person show up at your door, you can tell instantly, thanks to his printed uniform, who he is, which company sent him, and what he’s here for. The right printed T-shirts on your delivery personnel can create similar happy associations in your customers’ minds.

Public Events

When your business ventures out to participate in a public event, whether you’re helping out at a charity concert or holding a prestigious weekend seminar, your printed T-shirts will help your team to stand out from the other participants as a professional unit who is proud of the company it represents. Wearing printed T-shirts with your company’s logo or slogan to these types of events can do wonders for highlighting your business and drawing attention to your services and products.

Promotional Gifts

Research shows that if you occasionally give things away to your regular customers, they will become even more devoted to your business. What better gift to give than something that will turn them into walking billboards that will promote your company to even more people? Printed T-shirts can delight your faithful customers and encourage them to spread the word about you to their friends and family without even having to open their mouths. After all, everyone loves T-shirts, and everyone loves free.

Specific Product Promotion

Printed T-shirts can be the perfect advertising method when launching a new line of products or services. Everyone wants their new product to go viral, and, with the right marketing slogan and enough bright colours, printed T-shirts advertising your new product line can be your path to viral marketing. When using printed T-shirts to promote a product, it’s important that they be comfortable to wear and made from quality material that people will want to wear again and again. The artwork and colours used should be both eye-catching and appealing, and the concept should be striking and memorable.

For more information on printed t-shirts

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jamie_Simpson

via Printed T-Shirts – Five Uses for Your Business.

4 Instant Tips for Running a Successful Internet Business

Running an internet business is not a difficult task; but running a successful internet business can be a bit more difficult. There are thousands of people that have their own online business, but many of them are not having any luck at all. If you want to be successful while running your internet business, there are a couple of tips you can follow.

1. Before you can run a successful internet business, you are going to need the necessary knowledge. In other words, if you are looking to start an internet business, choose an industry that you are familiar with. By doing this you will ensure yourself of knowing where to start, and how to handle problems as they arise. Of course, it is possible to run a successful internet business even if you do not have past experience. You will just want to make sure that you do your homework before starting. This way you will have some background information on the industry instead of simply going into the venture blind.

2. Make sure that you are organized from the very start. The most successful internet businesses are ones that have a quality business and marketing plan in place from the start. This will allow you to follow your plan as the days go by so that you do not get lost. It is hard to be successful in anything if you do not know where you are trying to go. A business plan will give you an idea on how you want your company to progress, where as a marketing plan will direct you on how to grow your company. These are two things that are synonymous with every successful internet business.

3. Never be ashamed to ask for help if you are having a rough time. A lot of business owners do not like to ask other people for help because they do not want to hurt their pride. This is something that you should come to grips with before you even get started. It is impossible to know everything about your industry, so there are times when you will have to ask questions. Instead of thinking of this as a bad thing, why not look at it as a way of making new business contacts? If you are having a technical problem that you cannot figure out, you should get in touch with an IT company right away. There is nothing wrong with doing this. In fact, if you do not ask questions to other people you will only be holding your company back.

4. Do not reinvent the wheel, by following an established Internet Marketing Plan you can take a shortcut to your online success. Be aware though to not follow unsuccessful plans, there are free ones which are just excellent like “The Internet Marketing Master Plan”.

By following the tips above you will be well on your way to running a successful internet business. Remember, anybody can run a business, but to be successful you will have to be determined.

via 4 Instant Tips for Running a Successful Internet Business.

One size fits all rabbit costume

Please read these quotes written by me and give your review

My view on low Street IQ of professionals, who are just school smarts and trapped in the rat race of money and job.

“Fools are Fools even if they go to schools.”

“School Education will only be helpful during job interviews, but the street education helps you in all the interviews of life.”

“Teach your kids how to survive in this competitive and mean world, even before you teach then how to speak!”

“Business is the only financial vehicle, in which the steering is in your hands.”

“If you climb the corporate ladder you can  reach only the top floor, but if you create your own it can reach the skies!”

 

Do give me a review, it’ll be very helpful for future posts.

Thank you

 

A successful business needs a successful team, the key to efficient team management is here

Coming together is a beginning;
keeping together is progress;
working together is success.
-Henry Ford

1. Leadership:
For a team to work well together there needs to be a person in the leadership position. Someone who will motivate, inspire, and make sure everyone is moving in the right direction. Be certain everyone is on the same page about who is leading the team.

2. Clarity:
There should be a clear understanding of the purpose of the group. What are the team’s goals? What is the team’s purpose? What are we striving to accomplish? Having clarity will make it easier for people to stay on track. It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how often and easily people will get off track.

3. Responsibility:
Each member needs to have a clear understanding of what they are responsible for doing. Everyone should know what their job is, when it will be expected, and what the parameters are to work with. This is another common sense tip, yet my experience has shown it’s necessary. Take time to define each person’s roles and responsibilities.

4. Feedback:
This is very important as people begin to share their ideas in the group setting. It should be supportive and whenever possible positive. This will help to create a comfortable environment where the team will take chances and be more creative. Learn how to give and receive negative feedback and criticism in a professional and respectful way. It is amazing what people can accomplish when they believe in themselves and are confident in the group.

5. Diversity:
This is the most important one. Having diversity is what makes a team stand out. Support the differing strengths of your teammates. Allow each person to bring their unique qualities to the project. There can be some incredible surprises when we are open to doing things in new and different ways. Provide a safe environment that supports alternative ideas and out-of-the-box thinking. People often have a way of surprising you when they have room to be themselves.

Use these five teamwork tips to make the most out of your sessions and get your team to work well together. An inspired and confident team will be a successful team.

5 Steps to Negotiate Effectively

1. People – Separate the people from the issues. There is no need to personalize the issues with remarks about the person on the other side of the table. Stick to the issues. Recognize that there is emotion and investment on both sides and be prepared to listen well. You know what Steven Covey says, ‘Seek first to understand, then, to be understood’. Be soft on people and hard on issues. This way you can keep the relationship AND a mutually satisfying outcome.

2. Interests – Focus on the interests of the other, rather than the position. Behind each position lies compatible as well as conflicting interests. For example, when negotiating a raise, a wise person acknowledges that the interests of the company are to be progressive while making a profit. The wise boss acknowledges the interests of the employee to accelerate on his/her career path while making a contribution to the company and supporting his/her lifestyle or family. Negotiations do not take place in a vacuum. Each person has a real life going on, with real needs and interests.

3. Options – Work with the other party to generate a variety of options from which to create a solution. Brainstorm possibilities without judgment or comment. You’d be surprised how many good ideas can surface when this is allowed to occur. Make no decisions until you’ve exhausted your list of possibilities. Then, look for areas of agreement. Where are your interests shared? Where are the interests a good fit? Explore options that are of low cost to you and high value to the other party and vice versa.

4. Criteria – It is imperative to negotiate within mutually agreed-upon standards of fairness. Otherwise, negotiating can turn to street-fighting! These criteria may range from current market value to procedures for resolving conflict. They will allow you to create an equitable solution while keeping your relationship intact. Want proof? Try it at home!

5.  Before entering into a dialogue of negotiation, be clear about the
outcome you prefer. Be able to express this preference well with
supporting statements that will make sense to your partner. Be prepared
to listen more, or, at least, as much as you speak. Listen for common
interests and possible options. Know what you are willing to give as
well as what you would like to receive.

Happy Negotiations!

 

Ten Risks Every Entrepreneur Faces

You have probably heard plenty of times that being an entrepreneur is a risky business, and investors talk all the time about reducing the risk. Yet everyone seems to have their own view of key risk sources for startups, and I’m no exception. I don’t agree, for example, that the first priority is to avoid startups with a high attrition rate, like trendy restaurants and entertainment.

Here is my own priority list of key risk sources that every entrepreneur and every investor should evaluate and minimize in starting a business:

1. Team experience and depth risk. Here I’m talking about both the experience and track record of the founders in starting a business, as well as their experience and knowledge of the business domain. Like most professionals, when I get a business plan, I flip first to the founders section to see if it is a balanced team who has been there and done that.

2. Market and opportunity risk. There is always less risk with a well-defined problem in a large and growing market. All the people in China is a large and growing market, but all the people with cancer is much more well-defined. It’s hard to make money in a shrinking market, or with a solution that is “nice to have” versus painfully needed.

3. Competitive risk. Think seriously about the number and clout of your competitors. Having none is a red flag (may mean no market), but having more than a couple of large ones may mean this is a crowded space. Even in an open space, you need intellectual property, like patents, to keep potential competitors from overrunning you.

4. Financial risk. Very few businesses can be started without money. You as the founder will be expected to put your own “skin in the game.” The business plan should be realistic about how much cash will be required to break-even, and how big the return will be for investors in the first five-year timeframe.

5. Market entry strategy risk. The selection of an inappropriate pricing, marketing, or distribution strategy is a large potential risk. For example, many new social websites proclaim that they will offer a free service, and live on ad revenues (not likely in the first year without a huge marketing investment).

6. Political and economic risk. Sometimes founders are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Recessions are a tough time to sell luxury goods. Under-developed countries may have a strong need for your product, but are often unstable and dangerous. Four specifics include tax rates, tariffs, expropriation of assets, and repatriation of profits.

7. Technology risk. New technologies, especially those characterized as “paradigm shifts” or “disruptive” may have long and costly acceptance cycles, or may run into unpredictable performance or manufacturing problems. Medical technologies have costly legal testing requirements, approval processes, and insurance validation.

8. Businesses with high attrition rate risk. Certain business sectors have historical high failure rates and are routinely avoided by investors and many founders. These include food service, retail, consulting, work at home, and telemarketing. On the Internet, I would add new social networking sites, and new matchmaking sites.

9. Operational risk. Some businesses require huge support or administrative infrastructures. For example, vehicle fuel improvements require service stations and maintenance shops nationwide, before they are viable. Even small operations can have breakdowns of specialized equipment and complex support processes.

10. Environmental risk. A nuclear reactor built on an earthquake fault line is a huge risk. Evaluate your business and location for sensitivity to floods, hurricanes, and catastrophic pollution problems, like the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The biggest risk of all is starting a company, any company, for the wrong reasons. See my recent related article “Ten of the Worst Reasons for Starting a Business” for a good start in this category. If your startup is clean on both of these lists, you will most likely build a successful business, get the funding you need, and have fun at the same time. What more could a budding entrepreneur want?

Martin Zwilling is the founder and chief executive officer of Startup Professionals, a company that provides products and services to start-up founders and small business owners. Read more about Marty here.

via Ten Risks Every Entrepreneur Faces.

Keys for Hiring Right Every Time

With unemployment at record levels in much of the US, help wanted ads are likely to receive massive responses. Reports of a thousand people applying for two open entry level positions and other amazing stories are commonly heard, and even companies that haven’t placed employment ads are getting a fair amount of applicants – whether they have openings or not. You would think this is a good thing for business owners looking for employees. The larger the pool of applicants, the more likely it is that you’ll find the right person for the job. But if you’re going to take the time to weed through all those applications and interview so many candidates, you better make sure you end up with exactly who you’re looking for.

Recruiting effectively is a several step process, but once you’ve got people applying, it really boils down to two basic steps: screening and selection. Screening is at the application/resume level, and selection takes place at the interviewing level. Of course there can be multiple steps within each of these processes, but they are the two primary ways you will go from a mountain of applicants to a position filled with the right person.

Screening is the easier of the two steps. This is a matter of reviewing resumes, cover letters, any tests or personality profiles you have applicants take, etc. to find those who meet your specific criteria. For the most part, a computer could do this step. Either an applicant does or does not have what you’re looking for. While the appearance of their resume and other subjective factors can enter into your decision, you’re mostly looking at the facts: years in the industry, level of education, longevity at past jobs, etc.

Selection cannot happen based solely on the applications you receive. It is a matter of meeting the applicants who made it through the screening process, and, in fact, probably only the few who came out on top.

The Interview

Interviews are the most important step in the hiring process and should be used as an opportunity to get to know the person you’re considering bringing into your company. You should already know they have the skills, education, and/or experience to do the job, based on their application and resume. Now is the time to see if they would be a positive addition to your company. Considering your company culture, the people they will be working with, and the “spirit” of the job they’ll be doing, are they a good fit? And the right fit goes both ways. It’s as important that an applicant will be happy performing the job as it is that they are well qualified. If you don’t take this into consideration, you just might find yourself repeating the whole process three months down the road.

Asking the Right Questions

During the interview, it’s time to learn about the person in front of you. Many businesses conduct interviews as though they are still part of the screening process. “Tell me about your education.” “What were your duties at your last job? …and you were there for three years, is that right?” What’s the point of these questions when you have the information in front of you already? In any other setting, you would get to know someone by having a genuine conversation. So do the same here. The more relaxed you are, the more relaxed the interviewee will be, and the more he or she will be themselves. Just as important as the tone of the interview are the specific questions you ask. If you’re still asking, “Tell me about your greatest strength and greatest weakness,” or “What would you do if…” questions, stop it. These are the questions that every smart applicant is ready for, and they won’t tell you much about the person at all.

Ask them what kind of music they like. Ask what they do for fun and how many friends they have from their last job. Of course you have to be careful to stay within employment laws and not ask the wrong questions (their age, marital status, etc.), but you can do so and still get a good feel for their personality and character. Turn the interview around too, and encourage them to ask you questions. You can learn as much about a person from the questions they ask as you can from their answers to your questions.

If you go into the selection process with the goal of finding the right person for the job, not just the right resume, chances are good you’ll end up hiring someone who will enjoy their job, do it well, and stay with your company longer. Will you literally hire right “every time?” Probably not; but your average will go up considerably!

via Keys for Hiring Right Every Time. By Adam Toren

Finding Investors – 5 Steps for Success

So you have this fantastic startup idea, and you’re committed to making it work, but you don’t have the funds it will take to get it off the ground. The simple solution is to find investors. It’s simple, but not easy. In fact, only about 5% of all startups receive any kind of outside funding. And it’s not that they’re the only ones who want it. You can bet there’s a big chunk of the other 95% that would accept funding if they only knew how to get it.

While there’s a lot to be said for bootstrapping a business, it’s not possible for all business models. If you need a prototype or some technology designed, for instance, you’ll need funds to make that happen. And investors can add more than just money to your new company. If you do it right, you’ll find an investor with experience and connections that can help you not only launch but catapult your new business.

So, how do you find investors? Here are five steps to help you get funded:

1. Create a business plan. Even if you’re not considering outside money for your startup, some sort of business plan is a must. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or formal as an internal document, but if you want to get funded, it’s got to be complete and appealing. Whether you use an app-based template or hire a business plan writer, get this piece done – and done right – before even thinking about talking with potential investors.

2. Gauge your timing. You want to start looking for investors when you’re ready, rather than when you really need the money. If you wait too long and are now at the point where you need funds or you’ll have to close up shop, your desperation will naturally come across in your presentation to potential investors. So, as part of your business plan, figure out when you’ll need money, and then get ready and seek out investors well before that point.

3. Determine who you’re looking for. Although it might feel as though the investors are the ones with all the power, and you’re hoping they’ll pick you, it’s important that you’re selective in picking them too. Figure out what you really want in an investor. You might want to stick with people close to your area, for example, so they’ll be more readily available. More importantly, you want someone who will bring more to the table than just money. Their connections and expertise might be even more valuable.

4. Be ready to negotiate. Once you find a suitable investor for your startup, expect there to be a negotiation, and be prepared for it. Don’t lay all your cards out at once, and know they won’t either. Well before you even begin looking for investors, know what you’re willing to compromise and which terms you consider deal-breakers. Being prepared is vital to a successful negotiation.

5. Avoid common mistakes. Once you get a meeting with an investor, steer clear of these common missteps:

Keep your ego in check. Confidence is a good thing, but overconfidence and cockiness will turn an investor off fast. In addition to making a good investment, they want to do business with someone they’ll enjoy working with.

Avoid using industry jargon. Don’t assume your potential investor knows what you’re talking about when you start spouting off technical terms and industry buzz words. They won’t be impressed. They’ll more likely be annoyed.

Don’t say you don’t have competition. Even if you’ve got what you believe to be a one-of-a-kind product or service, saying you have no competition makes you sound naïve. Everyone has competition.

Stay away from fantasy scenarios. You might have figured out that all you need to do is capture 1% of the market to have a billion dollar company, but the investor doesn’t care about that. They want to know how you plan to capture that 1%.

via Finding Investors – 5 Steps for Success.

Overlooked Secrets of Successful Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs are not born successful. They work long and hard to achieve their goals. If you have a plan and are willing to put forth the time and effort needed to see your plan through, you too can be the kind of entrepreneur you desire to be.

There are some important, often overlooked secrets to remember as you work your way down the path to success.

The first thing you must know is that you need to do what you enjoy. When you start out doing what you love, you’ll be happier right from the beginning. Know your talents and tap into them. Don’t waste your valuable time having a career that you can’t stand. If you focus your business on what you know and love, potential employees and clients will notice and be immediately attracted to it. You’ve heard the adage, “You are what you eat.” You are also what you do. If you want to manage your own interior design business, be the best designer possible, as your success as a designer will define the way you feel about yourself and the way others see you.

Don’t forget to project a positive image in both your business and personal lives. Being successful in business starts when you take care of yourself physically and mentally. Get enough exercise. Allow enough time in the day to rest and sleep. If you want to be at your peak when you are promoting your new ideas and business, take time to rejuvenate your personal self. Then, you will project excitement and enthusiasm to everyone you come in contact with.

A big part of success in any aspect of life is learning how to find and maintain balance, particularly between work and play. As important as it is to devote the necessary time to getting your business up and going, you must not let work overtake your life. Make time for breaks. If necessary, schedule break time just like you would an appointment and be vigilant about it.

Vacations are also a must. Maybe you can’t take the time off or spend the money to go on a seven-day cruise, so try a stay-cation. Don’t go into the office, stay home and work on a hobby or take a nap. Sometimes just a day or two are all that it takes to get the spring back into your step and clear your mind. Also, give your employees time off as well. Every person works better on a fully-charged battery.

Another secret is to continue to invest in your education. Look for ongoing classes offered by other successful entrepreneurs and business people. Remember that there is always room for improvement in your business, and if you want to attract success, surround yourself with it. Read books and then read more. There is no such thing as too much knowledge, and every time you learn something new you will become a better business person and a better employer. Above all, be willing to accept advice. You might think this is a tricky concept, but just because you allow someone to give you advice doesn’t mean you have to use it. Be open to new concepts and ideas, but rely on your intellect and instinct. After all, you’re ultimately the only person responsible for your own success.

Finally, look everywhere for opportunity. Don’t be afraid to start out small. Know that sometimes seemingly insignificant opportunities can lead to key developments in your business. As stated before, most successful people become successes because of time and effort. Thinking big but starting out realistically will get you where you want to be faster than trying to become a millionaire overnight.

Written By Kyle Mortensen, He’s a freelance writer for Tektronix.

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