Actual for You - Business

Protect Your Commercial Identity Now!
If you’ve just named a business or a new product, should you file for federal trademark protection?Just as anyone can file a lawsuit, no matter how frivolous, there is nothing to prevent you from filing for a trademark. However, the United States government requires you to declare your basis for filing and provides clear guidelines for what consti

ine to seek more feedback. Find an Internet user’s group related to your industry or topic. Read the postings for new ideas and information. Participate in the discussions. Follow up by e-mail to gain even deeper input and understanding.

What is your favorite technique for getting close to the customer?

Key Learning Point
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Before you invest time, money and effort into `adding value' for

The Killer Interview Question You Need to Answer Well
In a job interview, the best way to separate the men from the boys, the sheep from the goats, is to ask a candidate what could go wrong with a project. If they had only done a course on the subject, they wouldn’t be able to answer. If they had only used it very sparingly then their replies would be very limited.However, if they had extensive experience o

Want to add more value to your customers? Be sure you know what to add!

Here are eight proven ways to get close to your customers and find out what they value, what they care about, what they really want:

1. Ask them! Whether in print, in person or over the phone, nothing beats asking customers exactly what they want, and how they want it. (Ask them what they don’t want, too!) Use printed sheets, mail-back forms, comment cards, telephone scripts and more.

2. Conduct focus groups. Bring a group of customers together for an open-ended chat session. Set them at ease and get them talking about what they really like, don’t like and wish they could get from your business. Don’t defend, justify or argue. Just ask questions and take good notes. Follow up with a sincere and generous ‘Thank you!’

3. Study complaints and compliments. Every message from a customer brings value to your doorstep. Compliments show you what to reinforce. Complaints point to new ideas and action steps for improvement.

4. Set up a customer hotline. Some customers will tell you what they think, but they want an ‘anonymous’ way to do it. Fine! Set up a special voice recording ‘hotline’ for customers only. And don’t worry about receiving any strange messages; just sort through them for the gems!

5. Hire a Mystery Shopper. Have someone you trust mingle with your customers and strike up conversation to find out what they do and do not like.

6. Become a customer of your best competitors. Use all their products and services, and compare them to your own. Ask their Customer Service Center to describe all the services available in detail. Then copy the best and do better than the rest.

7. Visit your customer’s site. Go to your customer’s physical location to see exactly how they put your products and services to use. See with your own eyes what works and what doesn’t, what gets used all the time and what gets left behind.

8. Go online to seek more feedback. Find an Internet user’s group related to your industry or topic. Read the postings for new ideas and information. Participate in the discussions. Follow up by e-mail to gain even deeper input and understanding.

What is your favorite technique for getting close to the customer?

Key Learning Point
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Before you invest time, money and effort into `adding value' for y

The Power of Successful Logo & Branding
Tips For Creating A Memorable Logo Everyday consumers are bombarded with millions of marketing and advertising brands. Typically you will only remember a handful of them and more than likely they are big business names. Competition in the logo world is difficult, but with these tips your businesses will shine.Take Time To

s groups. Bring a group of customers together for an open-ended chat session. Set them at ease and get them talking about what they really like, don’t like and wish they could get from your business. Don’t defend, justify or argue. Just ask questions and take good notes. Follow up with a sincere and generous ‘Thank you!’

5. Hire a Mystery Shopper. Have someone you trust mingle with your customers and strike up conversation to find out what they do and do not like.

What is your favorite technique for getting close to the customer?

Key Learning Point
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Before you invest time, money and effort into `adding value' for

How to Keep your Customers Coming Back
The trouble with some people is, they assume that their clients are all boring, dull and have no sense of humor. Isn't it strange how most companies seem to have a charisma bypass when it comes to communicating with their clients. Which would you rather have, A client? Or, a friend who is also a client? A friend of course. Well, to have more friends in yo

as and action steps for improvement.

5. Hire a Mystery Shopper. Have someone you trust mingle with your customers and strike up conversation to find out what they do and do not like.

What is your favorite technique for getting close to the customer?

Key Learning Point
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Before you invest time, money and effort into `adding value' for

Unemployment Blues: Make Time For Me
So much to do, so little time, is a constant refrain heard from those seeking work. Everyone gives lots of advice (including me): send out resumes, apply on the Internet, read the Classified, go to job fairs, and network, network, network. Some of us become so overwhelmed with all that we need to do that we can't figure out where to start so end up doing nothin

stomer of your best competitors. Use all their products and services, and compare them to your own. Ask their Customer Service Center to describe all the services available in detail. Then copy the best and do better than the rest.

What is your favorite technique for getting close to the customer?

Key Learning Point
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Before you invest time, money and effort into `adding value' for

Advertising: Friend, not Foe!
They say advertising is excessive: it interrupts TV series, preceding movie shows and dominating music award ceremonies. Some even lament that advertising not only occupies the media, but is also present everywhere else; the latest music editor softwares could be seen at bus shelters, and online VoIP products pictured in public telephone bo

What is your favorite technique for getting close to the customer?

Key Learning Point
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Before you invest time, money and effort into `adding value' for your customers, make sure you know exactly what value to add!

Action Steps
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Stay close to your customers throughout the year with a robust program of connection and consultation. Your customers will appreciate the contact, your staff will learn from the contents, and your business will grow from the continuous, constructive communication.

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Underwriter jobs in the insurance industry in the UK are a part of a bigger picture—a machine in which underwriting is a cog. Each cog in the machine must be working properly in order for the machine to work. Underwriting is a process that is used to assess the process of providing access to insurance for clients. The basis of underwriting is derived from the Lloyd’s of London insurance marker in London, England. The term underwriting was for financial backers who would take on some of the risk associated with a particular venture in exchange for a monthly payment. The financial backer of the venture would literally write their names under the risk information on a Lloyd’s of London slip.

Do you ever feel like you just can't find the right person for the job? Don’t know where to find them or how to find them? Most of the time, the best candidate for your position is hard at work for someone else.

Inaccurate information can cause problems that range from the minor - misspelled names on billing statements - to the disastrous - late deliveries that cause the customer to lose business.

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