How is it Going for You?

  

So how will your holidays be different this year?  Have you been able to visit with your family and friends?  Have you lost family and friends because of COVID?

It's been a different kind of year.  We've all had our challenges to deal with, some more than others.  I've seen many take it in stride and make the best of it and others are still wallowing in 'Oh ain't it awful and it's not going to get better until.......'  

As the holidays approach, are you making plans differently than you have in the past or will you celebrate as you usually do?

For those with a business, how is it going for you?  I've seen some thrive while others have closed their doors.  And yet others have used this opportunity to start new businesses.  

I believe our outcome is in large part to how we deal with things on an ongoing basis.  When life throws us a curve ball do we dwell on getting punched in the stomach or do we suck it up and move on?  Is the glass half full or half empty?  What difference does it make?  You can fill the glass to the brim and solve that question.

So, do you look for opportunity?  Do you look for the silver lining?  Do you believe that everything happens for a reason?  Things to think about.

One of the aspects of my business that I promote is keeping in touch with clients and prospects.  You never know when they might need your products or service or have the opportunity to refer you.  It's important to stay Top of Mind.  I've been fortunate in that my business has thrived during this time.  Which brings me to one of the reasons I am writing this newsletter....to share an opportunity.

SendOutCards recently announced there will be a new program coming in January which will offer six streams of income.  They are giving the opportunity to sign up for the pre-launch for free until 11/16 with the capability of adding others.  I've been with SOC since 2006.  They are a solid company with a great product that almost everyone can use.  If you're reading this, perhaps this is your opportunity knocking.  Sign up for free, see what the program is in January.  If you decide it's not for you, then no harm, no foul.  For a little preview, watch this two minute video.

Here are some additional resources for Working Virtually:

Seven Tips for Working At Home

Networking Online

5 Tips for What to Wear for Video Conferencing

The Gratitude Effect

Relationship Marketing 

To Your Success,

Annette

Painted Lady Enterprises

'Helping You and Your Business Look Good'

Keeping In Touch - Relationship Marketing

I think the above quote describes Relationship Marketing for customers as well as prospects.  It's all about keeping in touch. For good customers are our best referral sources.  By keeping in touch we show them we appreciate their business.  By showing appreciation they are more apt to contact us to purchase again and/or refer us to someone who may need our products or services. 

With prospects, though they may not need our products or services when we first meet them.  By keeping in touch when they do need or want our service, because we kept in touch, they will remember who to call.

There are many ways to keep in touch these days and though I prescribe and recommend most all of them, I still feel that one of the best Relationship Marketing tools is Send Out Cards.  To me, it's about going that extra mile.  It's something personal in the mailbox, that's not a bill or junk mail.

And yes, I am an affiliate and have been since 2006, however I would use it even if I wasn't, because I like to send greeting cards.  And it's a great system for those who like to send cards and for those who have a need to send cards.  There is even a phone app so that you can send a real greeting card directly from your phone.

So why am I writing this, because I am excited that SOC has just announced some new features and packages.  You can see the new plans and features on my affiliate page.  Scroll down until you see 'Pricing.'  And below 'Pricing' is a 'Comparison' of the 4 different plans.  

If you've ever had a SendOutCards account, you can still access it.  If you don't remember your username, let me know and I'll be glad to look it up if you were a client of mine or you can contact SOC Customer Service.

Keep in Touch and show people you appreciate them.

P.S. If I have never sent you a greeting card, send me your address and your birthday so that I may send you a card.

To Your Success,

Annette

Painted Lady Enterprises

'Helping You and Your Business Look Good'

DIY Marketing

This month is 'Do It Yourself Marketing' Month.  So what is your marketing strategy?  Do you do it yourself or do you have someone else doing it for you?  Or a combination of both?  Either way, do you know what is working?  If not, that should be your first action item.  Start tracking what's working and what's not.  This will save you lots of money over time.

Below are some strategies for marketing that I recommend.  I believe they will work for most any business.

• Know Your Target Market.  Get very specific.  Who can use your products and services?   Consider the demographics of your perfect client.  Often times the more specific you can be about your perfect referral, the better the chances of receiving a referral.

• Networking is a great way to market your business and build relationships in order to gain business.  It is recommended to be part of a closed networking group like BNI (one industry represented per Chapter) and 2 open networking groups (multiple of the same industry), i.e. The Chamber of Commerce, Business Alliance, etc. and perhaps a service group like Kiwanis, Rotary, etc.  Building relationships by seeing the same people over time creates visibility which builds creditability in order to receive word-of-mouth referrals.

• Keep in touch with prospects and clients.  Not everyone you meet may need your product or service right now, but if you stay in touch with them, perhaps in the future if they have a need, you will be top of mind because you kept in touch and will be the one they call or refer.  In my a previous blog, I covered tips for Customer Loyalty which gave information and tips.
• Methods for keeping in touch include Social Media, Newsletters, Greeting Cards, Phone Calls, drop by visits, etc.

• Marketing Materials that represent you, your products, and services well.  Make sure your branding and message is consistent across all platforms.  Whether you are marketing face to face or online ensure your logo, photos, tag line, colors, are consistent.  You can be a one person show, but the little things can make you look like the 'big guys.'

• Track Everything.  Go back through your last 6 to 12 months of business and determine where the business came from.  And depending on the answer would determine where to focus more.  Ask each new client, how did you find us?  Let the stats drive your future marketing efforts.  

 Much of this you can do yourself, but do you have the time and the skill set?  It's always best to consider what you do best and like and enjoy doing and delegate the rest.

I hope you have found this to be helpful. Your comments are welcomed and appreciated.

To Your Success,

Annette

Painted Lady Enterprises

'Helping You and Your Business Look Good'

Customer Loyalty and Relationship Marketing

This month is International Customer Loyalty Month.  It is said that it takes 5 to 25 times more time and money (depending on which reports you read) to gain a new customer vs. working to retain the ones we have.

Statistics say that if a business retains only 5% of their customer base, it can increase their business by 50%.  Why?  Because loyal happy customers will keep buying and will refer new business.

68% of all customers are lost due to perceived indifference! A customer who feels appreciated will not go elsewhere when the competition comes calling.  They will remain loyal rather than go shopping for price.

Repeat customers spend 67 percent more. They are your referral engine.  After 10 purchases, a customer has typically already referred up to 7 people.

Giving Great Customer service = Good Business

Having Customer Loyalty = Great Business!

So why work harder when we can work smarter by continuously showing our current customers appreciation.  To keep relationships strong, businesses need to regularly remind clients that they are important to them. They also need to remind them who they are, what they do, what services they offer, and why they are their best choice for their product or service. Busy people tend to choose the fastest solution to a problem. By keeping in touch, a company makes themselves stand apart from the rest of the crowd and their clients are more apt to call them the next time they need their product or service.  Social media is a good way to remain visible to prospects and clients.  Email marketing is also good way to remind prospects and clients you are still around and in business.  But doing something more personal sets a business apart from the rest.  From page 115 of The 29% Solution ..."Good follow-up is not just doing what is required or what you've promised to do.  It also involves going BEYOND what is expected. 

Tradition says greeting cards are personal. Greeting cards have a traditional feeling of warmth and sincerity; our culture maintains that greeting cards are personal and are sent from someone with whom there is a relationship. In a world of impersonal form letters and mass email, memorable greeting cards are a refreshing marketing tool that will add a personal and memorable touch to the interaction with clients. By incorporating greeting cards into a retention strategy, the message is being sent to the client that an important relationship exists.

I invite you to check out a true referral system that is simple and easy.  SendOutCards has completely overhauled their system adding many new features making it is easier than ever to follow up and show prospects and clients real appreciation.  No more points.  No more expense account.  Just pay for the cards and gifts you send.  Try it out today.  It now works similar to an ITunes account.  Set up a Free account and see all the new features.  Or if you’ve ever had an account, it’s still there.  Download the app and even send cards from your mobile device.  Here’s the link  www.RelationshipMarketingMadeEZ.com  Click on ‘Business’ to see all the new features, i.e. premade drip campaigns for various industries.  A contact manager system that is some people pay hundreds of dollars for and it doesn’t send cards.  Or I can send you a short video that explains all the new features.  And I would be happy to talk with you and show you all the new features.  What ever is easiest for you, I’m here to help.

“We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.”

                                                                                 - Marian Wright-Edelman

Happy Keeping in Touch,

Annette

Painted Lady Enterprises

‘Helping My Clients and Their Business Look Good’

Showing Clients Appreciation

The holidays are fast approaching whether we like it or not.  Thanksgiving is next week, and Christmas will be here in no time.  It is important to show our appreciation to our clients and prospects.   

Thanksgiving and Christmas are my favorite times of the year.  It's just all the preparation leading up to it that gets me in a panic, wondering how in the world I'm going to get everything done.

One thing I can check off my list is the task of sending my greeting cards. Since I found this wonderful greeting card system over 10 years ago, sending my holiday cards is a snap. After I decide on my theme and design, choose a photo, the rest is a breeze.  I can send a unique personalized card to everyone on my list and even include gifts or gift cards to those out of town that I won't be seeing over the holidays.  I love to receive and send cards throughout the year.  I also enjoy helping others with their card sending. 

Sending clients and prospects a card of appreciation builds the relationship, whether it’s for the holidays or throughout the year.  Not to solicit for business, but to express our gratitude for their business.  People are bombarded with so many buy, buy, buy advertisements this time of year.  So, it’s nice to open the mail and receive a nice card with a note of appreciation and gratitude.

Are you thinking of sending Holiday Cards?   I would love to help you take that task off your to do list or at least make it easier for you.  I invite you to log on and find out how to create, personalize, add photos, and mail your cards via the US mail with just a few mouse clicks.  Yes, these are REAL greeting cards that arrive in your mailbox, not ecards.  I invite you to try out this system and send a REAL greeting card with my compliments from SendingCardsMadeEZ.com.  And I would be glad to help you.

Sending cards is just one of my favorite things about the Holiday season. I love the music, the decorations, all the tasty food, and of course seeing and visiting with family and friends.

Now if the cleaning and organizing fairy will show up and get busy, maybe I'll be ready by the time all the family starts arriving.

I wish you and yours a very Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving,

Annette

Painted Lady Enterprises

‘Helping You and Your Business Look Good’

National Card and Letter Writing Month

April is International Customer Loyalty Month and also National Card and Letter Writing Month – What better time to send customers a Thank You card for their continued business?

People do business with people they know, like, and trust. It is five times harder to get a new client and it cost six to seven times more money, than it does to keep an existing client. Statistics say that if a business retains only 5% of their customer base, it can increase their business by 50%.
68% of all customers are lost due to perceived indifference! A customer who feels appreciated will not go elsewhere when the competition comes calling.  Repeat customers spend 67 percent more. They are your referral engine After 10 purchases, a customer has already referred up to 7 people.

Customer service = Good
Customer Loyalty = Great!

Only 3% of the postal mail is personal. Imagine going to your mailbox and there amongst the bills and junk mail is an unexpected greeting card and you open it and it’s from someone you know and the person is saying thanks, or congratulations, or you made a difference to me. Someone thought about you and followed through and sent a card.  It feels good.

Electronic mail comes and goes but hardcopy thank you notes last.  66 % of consumers surveyed indicated that business greeting cards sent to show appreciation for a purchase or a referral makes them more likely to do future business with that company.

"Even though business thank you cards offer a tangible way for companies to demonstrate customer appreciation, only 44 % of the consumers surveyed received a thank you greeting card from companies with which they do business," said Marc Wagenheim, product marketing director for Hallmark Business Expressions.

Sending cards throughout the year is a great way to increase customer loyalty.  In a previous blog I outlined how to set up Greeting Card campaigns for customer retention which will increase loyalty and referrals.  Click here to read about different types of Greeting Card campaigns and examples for various industries.

With April being International Customer Loyalty Month and National Card and Letter Writing Month, what better time to send customers a Thank You card for their continued business?
To keep relationships strong, companies need to regularly remind clients that they are important to them. They also need to remind them who they are, what they do, what services they offer, and why they are their best choice for their product or service. Busy people tend to choose the fastest solution to a problem. By keeping in touch with greeting cards, a company makes themselves stand apart from the rest of the crowd and their clients are more apt to call them the next time they need their product or service.

Tradition says greeting cards are personal. Greeting cards have a traditional feeling of warmth and sincerity; our culture maintains that greeting cards are personal and are sent from someone with whom there is a relationship. In a world of impersonal form letters and mass email, memorable greeting cards are a refreshing marketing tool that will add a personal and memorable touch to the interaction with clients. By incorporating greeting cards into a retention strategy, the message is being sent to the client that an important relationship exists.

“We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.”
                                                                                 - Marian Wright-Edelman

I invite you to check out a simple and easy way to send greeting cards directly from your computer with just a few mouse clicks.  Pick a card, personalize it and your card will be printed, stuffed, stamped, and mailed for you.  You can set up campaigns with several cards, as mentioned above, to go out at pre-set intervals.  Log onto  www.SendingCardsMadeEZ.com and register for a gift account today.   

Your feedback and comments are welcomed and appreciated.
 
Happy Card Sending,
Annette
Painted Lady Enterprises
“Helping My Clients and Their Business Look Good”

Simple Formula for Follow Up

Last week was International Networking Week and this year’s theme for 2017 is ‘Follow Up.’

I’m sure you have heard many times - ‘The Fortune’s in the Follow Up’

Are you good at Following Up – with prospects, with clients, with people you meet at networking meetings?

Do you have a system for Follow Up?

Dr. Ivan Misner, the founder of BNI, recently *published a simple formula for follow up.   His formula covers 3 simple follow up strategies.  24/7/30  - He recommends using this formula when you meet someone at a networking meeting – could be a prospective client, a possible referral partner, etc.

So this is how it works: 

24 hours – Drop them a note within the first 24 hours.  Could be a personal handwritten note or an email.  Use whatever approach that works for you and that you will do consistently.  Let them know it was a pleasure meeting them and you hope your paths cross again.  A good system to use is SendOutCards.  Here is a link www.SendingCardsMadeEZ.com

7 Days – Within seven days, connect with them on Social Media, i.e. LinkedIn or Facebook.  Follow them on Twitter or join them on Google+. Find ways to connect and engage with them via the social media platforms you use the most. Do not do this as a way to sell to them. Do it as a way to start establishing a meaningful connection with them.

30 days – Within 30 days reach out and set up a One-2-One meeting.  If you live near each other, meet in person. If you are far away from one another, set up a meeting via Skype or Zoom or by phone.  

Here’s a script that I have found to help in getting people to want to meet with me – ‘Hi Gail, your business sounds very interesting. I would love to meet with you and learn more so that I can be a good referral source for you.”

Now, do you think Gail is going to turn me down.  No, she will be more than willing to meet because I want to learn how to be a good referral source for her.

At this meeting, find out more about what they do, and look for ways to help them in some way. Don’t make it a sales call; make it a relationship-building opportunity.  Think in terms of being a ‘farmer’ and planting seeds that are going to mature into many referral opportunities, rather being a ‘hunter’ and bagging one prospect at a time.

By Using this 24/7/30 formula to follow up, you will establish a powerful routine that will help you to make your networking efforts meaningful and successful. 

Use technology (or whatever works for you) to help remind you to follow up at the appropriate intervals. After you send the first note or e-mail, set up reminders on your phone or calendar to follow up at one week and one month out.

And one last point that I would like to add to Dr. Misner’s formula, which I think is the ‘Secret Sauce,’ is to ‘Keep in Touch’  In order to build that long-term relationship you have to ‘Keep in Touch.’  And a ‘Keep in Touch’ strategy can be as individual as you are, i.e. social media, email, phone calls, snail mail, etc.  Whatever works for you.  Just keep ‘Keep in Touch’ so that you are ‘Top of Mind’ when that person needs your services or knows someone who does.

I hope you found this information helpful.  Your comments are welcomed and appreciated. 

Happy Connecting,

Annette

Painted Lady Enterprises

'Help You and Your Business Look Good'

 *Link to Dr. Ivan Misner's article on Follow up