As I sit at my computer and stare at the screen, and ponder the question,what do I say in my first blog entry? I can’t believe I am even doing ablog, what the heck does BLOG mean anyway? It finally hit me. As the holiday season is fast approaching and we are allrushing to do this and that, it is a great time to sit back and reflect.Instead of thinking of all the things we don’t have, why not be appreciative of all the people and things we do have in our life.
I am thankful to be blessed with two wonderful children. One of which justarrived home from his first deployment with his Marine unit serving inAfghanistan. I am also thankful for my lovely daughter who is growing upto be a fine young lady. I am thankful for a wonderful extended family,friends, acquaintances, clients, business partners and networking pals. Iam thankful for a growing business. Sure you have to do more today to geta customer and keep that same customer but it’s worth the extra effort.
Once you get a customer or client what are you doing to let them know that you care and appreciate their business? What are you doing to cultivate loyalty? Did you know that just saying thank you by sending a greeting card to a customer, particularly a new customer (not trying to sell anything with this card) will increase your business by 17%. Research has also shown that on average a company loses 50% of it’s customers every 5 years. It costs up to 7 times more to acquire a new customer than to retain an existing one. What if every day you showed your customers that you appreciate them? The founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, Mary Kay Ash understood this important concept. Every night before going to bed she would send three hand-written thank you notes to people she met and did business with. What do you think that would do to your business after one year? Think about this, your customer gets a card after they buy from you thanking them for their business-do you think you will be referred by that person? Of course you will.
I am reminded of something that writer Maya Angelou said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” As my good friendDavid Gussin of 516ADS.com & 631ADS.com says all the time, 2009 was a year for igniting business. What are you doing to ignite business and are youready to “DO IT AGAIN IN 2010? Say thank you to your customers and see what happens.
Steve Cochrane
SendOutCards
Senior Manager
(516)603-4672