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Holidays! What you don't do in 2005 could make it
your best year yet.
Do check out the "don't's" in
Business by Design this month.
THIS MONTH:
+ The Don't List
The Don't List
Want to make sure 2005 is a banner year? Then
make sure you DON'T...
...meet your customers needs. Exceed
them. Good service isn't good enough anymore.
... wait for customers to come to you.
Go to them. In-home selling is hot.
...wait for customers to call.
Call them. "Smile and dial" at every
opportunity.
...assume your job is secure.
The client -- or design firm -- that hires you
today can fire you tomorrow.
...freeze your fees. Raise them.
You can set and get any price if you differentiate
yourself from competitors who charge less.
...give away your time. Bill
for consultation, installation, travel time and
everything else.
...advertise. Dare to be different:
do articles and news releases instead. Free publicity
is the best advertising you can't buy.
...just think locally. Think
globally. Use your website to position yourself
in the international market.
...just be a "store."
Be an event center. HGTV- hungry customers want
programs on do-it-yourself furnishing projects,
what’s hot and what’s not, color trends, etc.
...compete with big box stores.
You offer service and expertise. They don't.
....fear price objections. Embrace
them. They're buying signals.
...fear "no." It may
just mean "not yet."
...hold on to hardship. Underachieving
employees and unprofitable product lines bring
you down. Get rid of them.
...work harder. Work smarter.
Make better use of your working time, and you'll
have more time for family, friends and fun.
...work for jerks. Your time
is too precious. Life is too short.
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