This feed does not validate.
<meta xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" name="robots" content="noindex" />
In addition, interoperability with the widest range of feed readers could be improved by implementing the following recommendation.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/feedblitz_rss.xslt"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:feedburner="http://rssnamespace.org/feedburner/ext/1.0"><channel> <title>All posts by Gail Gardner of GrowMap aggreggated from many sites</title> <atom:link href="https://growmap.com/author/gailgardner/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://growmap.com</link> <description>Most of the Posts by Gail Gardner of GrowMap wherever they may be published.</description> <lastBuildDate> Wed, 24 Apr 2024 04:44:56 +0000 </lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://www.classicpress.net/?v=4.9.25-cp-1.7.3</generator><image> <url>https://users.feedblitz.com/5743c9a0b7217e72ca20b2b6882a0b31/GrowMap_AvatarSM.jpg</url> <title>All posts by Gail Gardner of GrowMap aggreggated from many sites</title> <link>https://growmap.com</link></image></channel></rss><meta xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" name="robots" content="noindex" /><item><title>Weekly Top Posts: 2024-04-21</title><link>https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/882081230/0/gail-gardner</link><description><ol><li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/140168584/0/gail-gardner/~www.designhill.com%2fstore">www.designhill.com/store</a></li><li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/590246406/0/gail-gardner/~Online-Loan-Marketplaces%3a-Benefits%2c-Challenges%2c-and-Enormous-Growth">Online Loan Marketplaces: Benefits, Challenges, and Enormous Growth</a></li><li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/601359484/0/gail-gardner/~Why-Building-A-Great-Sales-Team-Is-Like-Building-A-Winning-Baseball-Roster">Why Building A Great Sales Team Is Like Building A Winning Baseball Roster</a></li><li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/314814360/0/gail-gardner/~21-Ways-To-Boost-Your-Business-Bank-Account">21 Ways To Boost Your Business Bank Account</a></li><li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/603869986/0/gail-gardner/~6-Important-Questions-To-Ask-Yourself-Before-Franchising-Your-Business">6 Important Questions To Ask Yourself Before Franchising Your Business</a></li></ol><Img align="left" border="0" height="1" width="1" alt="" style="border:0;float:left;margin:0;padding:0;width:1px!important;height:1px!important;" hspace="0" src="https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/i/882081230/0/gail-gardner"></description><pubDate>Sun, 21 Apr 2024 04:00:01 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:feedblitz.com,2024-04-21:gail-gardner/2024-04-21T04:00:01-00:00</guid><category>FeedSplice by FeedBlitz</category></item> <item><title>8 Tips on How to Improve Customer Relationships</title><link>https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/875628821/0/gail-gardner</link><description><p>Wondering how to improve customer relationships? Anytime we’re dealing with people, life is going to be messy. This truth is clear to anyone who has worked in customer service. People can be downright nasty sometimes.</p><p>But most of us have also experienced terrible customer service reps who have made us never want to return to a particular business again. Fiascos such as the one United Airlines dealt with a few months ago are still fresh on the public mind.</p><p>Any company that hopes to succeed must learn how to truly value its customers. Doing so includes turning potentially explosive situations into victories.</p><p>But it also means that companies already doing a pretty good job of building customer relationships can get better. While succeeding in some areas, they might be blind to ways they are falling short.</p><h2>8 Tips on How to Improve Customer Relationships</h2><p>Here are few tips for small businesses that want to improve how they are serving their clients.</p><h3>Don’t Let Touchpoints Distract You from the Big Picture</h3><p><img srcset='https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-1-150x84.png 150w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-1-300x169.png 300w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-1-620x349.png 620w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-1-660x371.png 660w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-1-768x432.png 768w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-1-850x478.png 850w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-1.png 1280w' sizes='(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px' fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-1275827 size-full" src="https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-1.png" alt="improve customer relationships" width="1280" height="720" /></p><p>Are you aware of your average client’s journey with your brand beyond the touchpoints? Your customers interact with your product when you are not around.</p><p>They could be frustrated during certain parts of their journey without you being aware of it. This frustration might be causing customer churn without you knowing why or even that it’s happening.</p><p><a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://hbr.org/2013/09/the-truth-about-customer-experience" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Harvard Business Review notes</a> that “A company that manages complete journeys would not only do its best with the individual transaction but also seek to understand the broader reasons for the call, address the root causes, and create feedback loops to continuously improve interactions upstream and downstream from the call.”</p><p>It is essential that companies apply “tailored metrics” for each part of the overall customer journey. Be sure to gather information about both employees and customers to determine where customers are most dissatisfied.</p><p>One example of this type of problem is a company making a successful sale of a TV installation, but then the customer experiencing difficulty with the installation.</p><p>Even though the client can call to resolve the issue, the company could have explained the installation process better in advance. The salesperson could have eliminated the reason for the call, as well as the time and energy the customer spent resolving the problem.</p><p>An extremely important point to note here is that the source of customer service issues is internal. Because the problems arise from employees (even if unintentionally), employees must play a key role in coming up with the solutions. If they do not, the solutions will not last.</p><h3>Reduce Unnecessary Pain Points</h3><p><img srcset='https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-2-150x84.png 150w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-2-300x169.png 300w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-2-620x349.png 620w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-2-660x371.png 660w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-2-768x432.png 768w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-2-850x478.png 850w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-2-1024x576.png 1024w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-2.png 1280w' sizes='(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px' decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-1275826 size-full" src="https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-2.png" alt="improve customer relationships" width="1280" height="720" /></p><p>Another example of what it could look like to take steps to <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://www.elorus.com/blog/client-portal-what-is-it-and-why-your-company-needs-one-today/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">make your clients’ lives easier</a> is implementing a tool such as a client portal.</p><p>An all-too-common frustration in the business world is following up on payments owed. Beyond that, there is the challenge of keeping documents organized and keeping sensitive information, such as W-2s and NDAs, secure.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8qbeMbTleSY?rel=0" width="850" height="478" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p><p>It’s probable both you and your customers spend quite a bit of time on the phone or email trying to keep track of this type of data. Dealing with information in this way leaves room for miscommunication. Issues with payment and invoices are often a major point of dissatisfaction.</p><p>Using a client portal puts all of your pertinent documents in one place. This makes it easy for your clients to access them on their own time. They won’t have to wait to get hold of you if they have questions. If either of you needs to look up whether or not an invoice has been paid, it will be extremely easy to do so, and you can avoid confusion and embarrassment.</p><p>Client portals are also useful because you can see what actions your clients take on the portal. Software such as this can go a long toward eliminating customer frustrations that simply do not need to exist.</p><h3>Be Personal</h3><p>Being personal is somewhat easier for small businesses, but is nevertheless an important priority for any company, whatever its size. After all, what would be the point of an article on <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://smallbiztrends.com/show-customers-you-care/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">bettering customer relationships</a> that neglected to mention the qualities that are key to relationships?</p><p>Any healthy relationship has certain characteristics, such as clear communication. The people in the relationship are not so focused on making money or getting ahead that they neglect each other. Instead, they support each other in their goals and do what they can to improve each other’s lives.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v4Vp-UyI55Q?rel=0" width="850" height="478" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p><p>While the parallels between personal relationships and customer-business relationships do break down at some point, there are basic principles that apply to each situation:</p><ul><li>Show your clients that you value them</li><li>Listen to their praise or complaints and respond accordingly</li><li>Offer rewards or discounts</li></ul><p><img srcset='https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-4-150x84.png 150w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-4-300x169.png 300w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-4-620x349.png 620w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-4-660x371.png 660w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-4-768x432.png 768w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-4-850x478.png 850w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-4-1024x576.png 1024w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-4.png 1280w' sizes='(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px' decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-1275824 size-full" src="https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/improve-customer-relationships-small-business-4.png" alt="improve customer relationships" width="1280" height="720" /></p><p>Make sure you are not only meeting your customers’ needs but are also going above and beyond their expectations.</p><p>You can also offer free education on some topic pertaining to your business. You might do so through your blog, through white papers, or through webinars.</p><h3>Take the Long View</h3><p>You should implement all of the above strategies with a view to keeping your <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/292321" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">customers around for life</a>. It is much more profitable to retain existing customers than to acquire new ones.</p><p>Retention will more quickly grow your customer base. With this in mind, you need to have someone on staff who is accountable for keeping track of customer retention.</p><p>If you don’t measure how and when people are leaving you, how will you know if your tactics for keeping them are working? If you’re not getting feedback from your customers, how will you know if they are unhappy with something you’re doing?</p><p>Be aware that it might initially be worth spending more on marketing to first-time buyers than they are going to spend on their first purchases. This might feel like a loss at the time, but if there is a high likelihood that they will stay with you for life, this strategy is worthwhile.</p><h3>Focus on Lifetime Value</h3><p>The overall lifetime value of your customers is more important than each individual sale. Calculate how much money they spend over time minus how much you spend on marketing to and acquiring them.</p><p>When deciding how to market to your audience, choose one or two scalable marketing channels. Focus your energy exclusively on those channels before expanding to others.</p><p>Instead of just cross-selling a related item, try selling people more of the same item by using incentives. Creating an entirely new sale, even if the product is related, is more difficult that selling more of the same item.</p><p>You should also consider putting a phone number on your website. Some potential buyers are interested in your product but are unwilling to buy from or contact you online. Providing this opportunity for people to call you allows you to acquire customers you might have lost otherwise and whom you might find to be a significant part of your audience.</p><h3>Don’t Assume You Have No Room to Grow</h3><p>While building relationships in any arena of life is hard, the benefits of doing so in business are undeniably worthwhile, and not just for the purposes of making money. There is inherent value in helping someone else.</p><p>Even if you are already taking steps to build strong customer relationships, consider ways you could bring even more value to your clients and get them to stick around long-term.</p><p>Here&#8217;s how to ensure continual growth:</p><table id="tablepress-2720" class="tablepress tablepress-id-2720 tablepress-responsive"><thead><tr class="row-1 odd"> <th class="column-1">Key Area</th><th class="column-2">Strategy</th><th class="column-3">Outcome</th></tr></thead><tbody class="row-hover"><tr class="row-2 even"> <td class="column-1">Self-Assessment</td><td class="column-2">Regularly evaluate current strategies and customer feedback. Identify areas for improvement and potential innovation.</td><td class="column-3">Keeps your business adaptable and responsive to changing customer needs, ensuring you're always providing value.</td></tr><tr class="row-3 odd"> <td class="column-1">Customer Communication</td><td class="column-2">Increase the frequency and quality of your interactions with customers, ensuring they are meaningful and constructive. Seek direct feedback through surveys or direct dialogue.</td><td class="column-3">Builds stronger bonds with customers, showing you value their input and are willing to make changes based on their needs.</td></tr><tr class="row-4 even"> <td class="column-1">Employee Training</td><td class="column-2">Invest in continuous training for your team, focusing on customer service, empathy, and product knowledge.</td><td class="column-3">Ensures every customer interaction is positive and informative, reinforcing customer loyalty.</td></tr><tr class="row-5 odd"> <td class="column-1">Adding Value</td><td class="column-2">Introduce loyalty programs, exclusive content, or access to premium services. Regularly update and refresh these offerings.</td><td class="column-3">Enhances customer perception that they're getting more than just a product or service, encouraging long-term commitment.</td></tr><tr class="row-6 even"> <td class="column-1">Community Building</td><td class="column-2">Foster an active community around your brand or products. Engage in community events, online forums, or social media discussions.</td><td class="column-3">Creates emotional attachment and brand advocacy among customers, making them more likely to stay engaged.</td></tr></tbody></table><h3>Embrace Proactive Customer Service</h3><p><img srcset='https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Proactive-Customer-Service-150x84.png 150w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Proactive-Customer-Service-300x169.png 300w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Proactive-Customer-Service-620x349.png 620w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Proactive-Customer-Service-660x371.png 660w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Proactive-Customer-Service-768x432.png 768w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Proactive-Customer-Service-850x478.png 850w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Proactive-Customer-Service-1024x576.png 1024w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Proactive-Customer-Service.png 1280w' sizes='(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px' loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-1275829 size-full" src="https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Proactive-Customer-Service.png" alt="improve customer relationships" width="1280" height="720" /></p><p>Don&#8217;t wait for a problem to arise before you reach out to your customers. Proactive customer service means anticipating client needs and potential issues and addressing them before they negatively impact the customer. This approach could involve:</p><ul><li>Regularly updating customers with useful information related to their interests or potential problems, even when they are not directly related to your products or services.</li><li>Implementing a system for routine check-ins with customers to gather feedback, understand their evolving needs, and offer solutions in real-time.</li><li>Monitoring social media and other platforms not only for customer complaints but also for any opportunities to engage with customers, provide unsolicited assistance, or offer advice and insights.</li></ul><p>This strategy not only prevents issues but also demonstrates to customers that you&#8217;re invested in their success and satisfaction beyond the point of sale.</p><h3>Create Community Around Your Brand</h3><p><img srcset='https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Proactive-Customer-Service-2-150x84.png 150w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Proactive-Customer-Service-2-300x169.png 300w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Proactive-Customer-Service-2-620x349.png 620w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Proactive-Customer-Service-2-660x371.png 660w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Proactive-Customer-Service-2-768x432.png 768w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Proactive-Customer-Service-2-850x478.png 850w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Proactive-Customer-Service-2-1024x576.png 1024w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Proactive-Customer-Service-2.png 1280w' sizes='(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px' loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-1275828 size-full" src="https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Proactive-Customer-Service-2.png" alt="improve customer relationships" width="1280" height="720" /></p><p>People crave connection and community, and businesses that can foster this among their customers will see a significant impact on loyalty and satisfaction. Building a community involves:</p><ul><li>Establishing spaces for your customers to connect, share, and learn from each other. This could be through social media groups, online forums, or in-person events.</li><li>Sharing customer success stories or testimonials, which not only provides you with content but also makes your customers feel seen and appreciated.</li><li>Creating opportunities for customers to participate in the life of your company, perhaps by contributing to a blog, participating in case studies, or playing a role in product development feedback sessions.</li></ul><p>A sense of community can lead to stronger emotional engagement with your brand, and customers who feel like they&#8217;re part of something are more likely to stay loyal.</p><p>By implementing these strategies, along with those previously listed, businesses can go a long way in ensuring that their customer relationships are strong. This, in turn, creates a stable foundation for growth, resilience in the marketplace, and overall success.</p><p><a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://www.clicksoftware.com/globalassets/aasite_assets/images/infographics/service-can-make-or-break-infographic.pdf"><img srcset='https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/Service-Can-Make-or-Break-a-Company-46x150.jpg 46w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/Service-Can-Make-or-Break-a-Company-300x980.jpg 300w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/Service-Can-Make-or-Break-a-Company-313x1024.jpg 313w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/Service-Can-Make-or-Break-a-Company-620x2026.jpg 620w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/Service-Can-Make-or-Break-a-Company-660x2157.jpg 660w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/Service-Can-Make-or-Break-a-Company-768x2510.jpg 768w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/Service-Can-Make-or-Break-a-Company-850x2778.jpg 850w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/Service-Can-Make-or-Break-a-Company.jpg 880w' sizes='(max-width: 880px) 100vw, 880px' loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-465302 size-full" src="https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/Service-Can-Make-or-Break-a-Company.jpg" alt="4 Tips on How to Improve Customer Relationships" width="880" height="2876" /></a></p><p><small><em><a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/diverse-people-order-drinks-counter-pub-630751466?src=Ezm3g1TeOT0sBTMSSRW7ig-2-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pub</a> Photo via Shutterstock</em><br></small></p><p>This article, "<a href='https://smallbiztrends.com/improve-customer-relationships/'>8 Tips on How to Improve Customer Relationships</a>" was first published on <a href='https://smallbiztrends.com'>Small Business Trends</a></p><Img align="left" border="0" height="1" width="1" alt="" style="border:0;float:left;margin:0;padding:0;width:1px!important;height:1px!important;" hspace="0" src="https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/i/875628821/0/gail-gardner"></description><pubDate>Tue, 24 Oct 2023 14:30:39 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">https://smallbiztrends.com/?p=465296</guid><category>Small Business Operations</category><category>Customer Satisfaction</category><category>FeedSplice by FeedBlitz</category></item> <item><title>How to Sell Online As Effectively As In Person</title><link>https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/875628824/0/gail-gardner</link><description><p>Wondering how to sell online?</p><p>Making this happen is particularly problematic if your buyers don&#8217;t know the correct name for what they want to buy. A good example of this is when DIY (do-it-yourself) homeowners need plumbing or hardware.</p><p>I recently came across an ecommerce site with two solutions to this dilemma, one of which I had not seen before:</p><ol><li>The ability to choose categories by looking at images instead of category names.</li><li>They invite site visitors to send a picture of what they need.</li></ol><p>While some gift sites have visual categories, I don&#8217;t recall ever seeing a site that invites customers to &#8220;send a picture&#8221; so their sales team can guide them to find what they need.</p><h2>How to Sell Online if Your Products are Complex</h2><h3>Unique Customer Service Features Increase Sales</h3><p>A look at the Qualified Hardware site below shows an example of an ecommerce store done right. This &#8220;send us a picture&#8221; feature is prominently displayed in their header area just under the search box.</p><p>That is perfect placement because when your visitor realizes they don&#8217;t know what to search for because they don&#8217;t know the name of the part, they can just send a picture. This could also prevent users whose search did not return the results they need from just leaving to go to another store.</p><p>Next to it is a Video Library and two toll-free numbers, one for most buyers and a separate hotline for contractors.</p><p>While the &#8220;send us a photo&#8221; feature is what caught my attention, making it really easy for your buyers to reach you is essential. This is especially important for businesses catering to DIYers.</p><h3>Have Online Sales Staff Review Orders</h3><p><img srcset='https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Online-Sales-Staff-Review-Orders-150x84.png 150w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Online-Sales-Staff-Review-Orders-300x169.png 300w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Online-Sales-Staff-Review-Orders-620x349.png 620w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Online-Sales-Staff-Review-Orders-660x371.png 660w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Online-Sales-Staff-Review-Orders-768x432.png 768w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Online-Sales-Staff-Review-Orders-850x478.png 850w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Online-Sales-Staff-Review-Orders-1024x576.png 1024w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Online-Sales-Staff-Review-Orders.png 1280w' sizes='(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px' loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-1275159 size-full" src="https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Online-Sales-Staff-Review-Orders.png" alt="how to sell online" width="1280" height="720" /></p><p>If you have ever tried to repair plumbing or buy hardware for your home, you probably took the old parts into the store and found an expert to help you figure out what you needed to buy. Forget one piece and you have to make another trip.</p><p>When buying online, that means waiting for shipping time. That could mean doing without necessities until more parts arrive. Often, you don&#8217;t even know about another part, tool, or product you need to do the job.</p><p>For a plumbing project that might be plumber&#8217;s tape or PVC cleaner and glue. Or you might not know there are different sizes and types of floats in a toilet or what additional parts may be required. While I know that, many others would not.</p><p>Are you sure you know what tools it takes to build something? Did you remember every size screw or nail? Have you ever forgotten you don&#8217;t have the right drill bit size? Even contractors rely on store staff to make sure they don&#8217;t forget anything.</p><p>By having your online sales staff review orders and suggest missing parts and needed tools, businesses have the perfect <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://smallbiztrends.com/retail-sales-tips/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opportunity to upsell</a> in a way their customers will appreciate.</p><h3>Stand Out From Your Competition</h3><p>This particular store sets themselves apart by making it easy to buy with confidence. They operate just like a brick-and-mortar store with the same level of employee assistance.</p><p>They are in a position to personally save their customers frustration and mistakes while building a personal relationship that engenders loyalty. By focusing on customer satisfaction they can increase their profits.</p><h3>Stop Hiding From Your Customers</h3><p>Far too many online ecommerce stores seem to want to avoid having to deal with customers. They either make their phone number difficult to find or they don&#8217;t have it on their site anywhere (which is very <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://smallbiztrends.com/local-seo-checklist/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bad for local SEO</a> as well as sales).</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8EeiY24AJdc" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p><p>After talking one ecommerce store owner into providing customer chat, I was dismayed to find they were never logged in even during regular business hours. Having it visible and never being available is worse than not having it at all.</p><p>Live chat is also an effective way to get the email addresses of your site visitors so that you can follow up with them. Instead of never knowing who most of your visitors are, you could capture them onto segmented mailing lists or at least send them a discount to encourage a first purchase.</p><h3>Never Leave a Customer Question Unanswered</h3><p><img srcset='https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Free-Mobile-Usability-Testing-5-150x84.png 150w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Free-Mobile-Usability-Testing-5-300x169.png 300w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Free-Mobile-Usability-Testing-5-620x349.png 620w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Free-Mobile-Usability-Testing-5-660x371.png 660w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Free-Mobile-Usability-Testing-5-768x432.png 768w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Free-Mobile-Usability-Testing-5-850x478.png 850w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Free-Mobile-Usability-Testing-5-1024x576.png 1024w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Free-Mobile-Usability-Testing-5.png 1280w' sizes='(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px' loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-1275161 size-full" src="https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Free-Mobile-Usability-Testing-5.png" alt="how to sell online" width="1280" height="720" /></p><p>Customers do not buy unless they&#8217;re sure your products or services are exactly what they need. As long as they have an unanswered question, they don&#8217;t check out. This is another reason for the high percentage of shopping cart abandonment.</p><p>Imagine you&#8217;re buying parts and tools for a project you want to build. You put them into the shopping cart, but you&#8217;re just not sure the parts will work together. Or you have a question about what the best tool is to get them installed.</p><p>Which store will you buy from and remember? Will it be the one where the sales person made sure you knew what you needed and assured you that everything required was in your shopping cart? Or the one where you couldn&#8217;t reach a live human?</p><h3>Improve Your Follow-Up to Increase Repeat Sales</h3><p>Imagine you&#8217;re the store in this example. You have happy customers who bought from you today. It is essential that you can remind them to come back. Fortunately for you, there are now marketing automation solutions available priced low enough that even the smallest business can afford them.</p><p>You may wonder why there is so much buzz surrounding content marketing. One little-known reason is that the best way to increase repeat sales is to publish an answer to every question your buyers have on your site and then send those answers to the right buyers in a targeted way.</p><p>This is done through email list segmentation. While many businesses do build mailing lists, most are not using them effectively. It is not enough to just send one message to everyone.</p><ul><li><strong>Personalized Email Campaigns: </strong>Utilize customer data to create personalized email communications. This means addressing the customer by name, referencing past purchases, and suggesting products based on their preferences or browsing history. This personalized approach makes customers feel valued and understood, increasing the likelihood of repeat purchases.</li><li><strong>Customer Feedback and Surveys: </strong>After a purchase, send out surveys or feedback forms to understand the customer&#8217;s experience. This not only provides valuable insights into your business&#8217;s strengths and weaknesses but also communicates to customers that their opinions are valued and considered, fostering a sense of involvement and loyalty.</li><li><strong>Loyalty Programs and Exclusive Offers: </strong>Implement loyalty programs that reward repeat purchases with points, discounts, or special offers. Exclusive deals for returning customers or those enrolled in the loyalty program can significantly enhance customer retention, as these incentives encourage them to continue doing business with you.</li><li><strong>Educational Content and Product Use Tips: </strong><em>Description:</em> Regularly provide customers with useful content about the products they&#8217;ve purchased. This could be in the form of blog posts, how-to videos, or user guides that help them get more value out of their purchases. By establishing your brand as a helpful information resource, customers are more likely to return for reliable information and associated products.</li></ul><h3>Strategy to Target Content Through Mailing List Segmentation</h3><p><img srcset='https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/5fZmMdIP-how-to-sell-online-c-150x84.png 150w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/5fZmMdIP-how-to-sell-online-c-300x169.png 300w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/5fZmMdIP-how-to-sell-online-c-620x349.png 620w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/5fZmMdIP-how-to-sell-online-c-660x371.png 660w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/5fZmMdIP-how-to-sell-online-c-768x432.png 768w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/5fZmMdIP-how-to-sell-online-c-850x478.png 850w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/5fZmMdIP-how-to-sell-online-c-1024x576.png 1024w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/5fZmMdIP-how-to-sell-online-c.png 1280w' sizes='(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px' loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-1275160 size-full" src="https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/5fZmMdIP-how-to-sell-online-c.png" alt="how to sell online" width="1280" height="720" /></p><p>Using the hardware site as an example, their highest priority would be keeping in touch with contractors. To do that, they can encourage buyers to subscribe at the end of the checkout process and again in the receipt they send.</p><p>When their purchases are being packed, they could also send a short handwritten note that has a printed invitation to subscribe with a <em>short, easy to remember</em> link to choose mailing lists they want to receive.</p><p>Marketing automation has the ability to automatically re-segment your customers based on their actions. It can note which links a subscriber actually opens, and move them to a list specifically about those topics.</p><h3>Automatically Change Mailing List Based on Customer Actions</h3><p>Setting up automation to move your subscribers from your general to more niche lists is especially beneficial for stores that cater to different types of buyers. If your store sells both plumbing and hardware, sending a generic email teaches your subscribers to ignore your emails because they are often not relevant to them.</p><p>If instead, subscribers who only open links related to plumbing could automatically be moved to a list that only sends out information of interest to plumbers. Subscribers who only open links related to hardware could be moved to a list specifically for carpenters.</p><h3>How Workflow Automation Works</h3><p><img srcset='https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Workflow-Automation-150x84.png 150w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Workflow-Automation-300x169.png 300w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Workflow-Automation-620x349.png 620w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Workflow-Automation-660x371.png 660w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Workflow-Automation-768x432.png 768w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Workflow-Automation-850x478.png 850w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Workflow-Automation-1024x576.png 1024w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Workflow-Automation.png 1280w' sizes='(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px' loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-1275162 size-full" src="https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/Workflow-Automation.png" alt="how to sell online" width="1280" height="720" /></p><p>It is challenging to explain how to create a workflow in words. The best way to understand it is to watch a video showing how elements are dragged-and-dropped and then connected together.</p><p>Here is an example of a workflow from GetResponse marketing automation showing a common cart abandonment workflow to send an email offering a discount to the potential buyer encouraging them to come back and complete their purchase:</p><p>Workflows can be built to segment subscribers by:</p><ul><li>Which specific links they clicked on.</li><li>Whether they made a purchase.</li><li>Because they left without checking out.</li></ul><p>They can also be used for lead scoring. By assigning scores to particular actions, marketing automation can surface which of your subscribers is most interested in what you sell.</p><p>For a site that caters to contractors, lead scoring could be used to identify contractors your sales team could personally contact or to offer special discounts or other benefits to your best customers.</p><p>Many more examples of workflows and a video are in <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://blog.getresponse.com/marketing-automation-workflows-cracking-code-marketing-automation-lon-safko.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this post</a> on marketing automation workflows.</p><h3>Mobile Friendly Increases Sales</h3><p>What do you do when your local hardware store doesn&#8217;t have the part or tool you need? Or maybe they have one, but the quality isn&#8217;t what you really wanted. What do buyers do? They go online right then using their smartphones.</p><p>If you want to be the ecommerce store that gets the sale, your site must be mobile friendly. <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://due.com/blog/15-tips-designing-mobile-friendly-ecommerce-site/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Use these excellent tips</a> to make sure yours is, but then go one step further: real world testing.</p><p>Did you see those stats in the SlideShare above? Mobile is essential and videos are key to converting. Every ecommerce site can benefit from adding video from the DIY site discussed previously to an ecommerce site showing off products in use and clothing being worn. Read more about <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://smallbiztrends.com/ecommerce-conversions-video/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">why video converts</a> even better than social media.</p><h3>How to Do Free Mobile Usability Testing</h3><p>While large companies will probably pay someone to do this type of testing, even small businesses can do this themselves. Ask people who work for you or know you to use their mobile device to find a specific product in your store.</p><p>Watch them search, add the items to your shopping cart, and go through the checkout process as far as they can. Only by actually watching people use your site to shop from various devices can you find out how well it works <em>for them</em>. This type of testing surfaces challenges finding and buying from your store.</p><p>If you want to do this particularly well, use a test site or have a way for them to go all the way through the checkout process without actually charging their account or by using a test credit card number.</p><p>Do not do this only once. Do this multiple times through as many different individuals as you can using every kind of mobile device and smartphone you can find. This is necessary to identify and fix issues with your site that are lowering your profits.</p><h3>Usability Surprises Are Common</h3><h3><img srcset='https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/how-to-sell-online-x-150x84.png 150w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/how-to-sell-online-x-300x169.png 300w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/how-to-sell-online-x-620x349.png 620w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/how-to-sell-online-x-660x371.png 660w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/how-to-sell-online-x-768x432.png 768w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/how-to-sell-online-x-850x478.png 850w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/how-to-sell-online-x-1024x576.png 1024w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/how-to-sell-online-x.png 1280w' sizes='(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px' loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-1275163 size-full" src="https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2023/10/how-to-sell-online-x.png" alt="how to sell online" width="1280" height="720" /></h3><p>You may be really surprised by how someone chooses to navigate your site. Visitors may find that they struggle to put items in your cart or cannot get through the checkout process.</p><p>Did you know there is a difference between mobile friendly, mobile responsive, and mobile ready? To better understand this so that you can get your developer to fix any issues you encounter, or to know how to test your site and especially your videos, <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://smallbiztrends.com/top-7-mistakes-with-mobile-friendly-web-design/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">read this.</a></p><h2>How to Sell Online Summary</h2><table id="tablepress-2688" class="tablepress tablepress-id-2688 tablepress-responsive"><thead><tr class="row-1 odd"> <th class="column-1">Strategy</th><th class="column-2">Description</th></tr></thead><tbody class="row-hover"><tr class="row-2 even"> <td class="column-1">Unique Customer Service Features</td><td class="column-2">Implement features like "send us a picture" for easy product identification, video libraries for guidance, and accessible contact options to enhance the buying experience.</td></tr><tr class="row-3 odd"> <td class="column-1">Online Sales Staff Reviewing Orders</td><td class="column-2">Online staff should review orders to suggest additional necessary items or tools, preventing incomplete purchases and providing upselling opportunities.</td></tr><tr class="row-4 even"> <td class="column-1">Stand Out From Your Competition</td><td class="column-2">Offer exceptional, personalized customer assistance to ensure confidence in purchases, fostering customer loyalty and differentiating from competitors.</td></tr><tr class="row-5 odd"> <td class="column-1">Stop Hiding From Your Customers</td><td class="column-2">Make customer support easily accessible, including visible and active live chat options, to facilitate real-time assistance and gather customer contact information.</td></tr><tr class="row-6 even"> <td class="column-1">Never Leave a Customer Question Unanswered</td><td class="column-2">Ensure all customer inquiries are addressed promptly to reduce shopping cart abandonment and build trust.</td></tr><tr class="row-7 odd"> <td class="column-1">Improve Follow-Up for Repeat Sales</td><td class="column-2">Utilize marketing automation tools for targeted content distribution and customer reminders, ensuring customers return for future purchases.</td></tr><tr class="row-8 even"> <td class="column-1">Target Content with List Segmentation</td><td class="column-2">Use detailed mailing list segmentation to send highly relevant content to subscribers, increasing engagement and potential sales.</td></tr><tr class="row-9 odd"> <td class="column-1">Workflow Automation</td><td class="column-2">Implement automation for efficient customer interaction tracking and personalized communication, benefiting segmentation and lead scoring.</td></tr><tr class="row-10 even"> <td class="column-1">Mobile-Friendly Approach</td><td class="column-2">Ensure your ecommerce site is optimized for mobile users, leveraging the increasing trend of mobile shopping.</td></tr><tr class="row-11 odd"> <td class="column-1">Free Mobile Usability Testing</td><td class="column-2">Conduct thorough usability testing with real users across different devices to identify and rectify navigational and operational issues, enhancing overall user experience.</td></tr><tr class="row-12 even"> <td class="column-1">Anticipate Usability Surprises</td><td class="column-2">Be prepared for unexpected navigational choices by users and differing mobile compatibility levels, necessitating continual testing and adjustments.</td></tr></tbody></table><h3>Does Your Business Sell As Effectively Online?</h3><p>Early implementers of new technology reap the most profits. Over time, more businesses will get on board and competition gets tougher. If you don&#8217;t act early, your sales will suffer. Make sure your business is leading &#8211; not failing.</p><p><small><em><a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://www.shutterstock.com/pic-364887002/stock-photo-retro-effect-and-toned-image-of-a-woman-hand-writing-a-note-with-a-fountain-pen-on-a-notebook-handwritten-text-start-selling-online-business-success-concept.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sell Online Note</a> Photo via Shutterstock</em></small></p><p>This article, "<a href='https://smallbiztrends.com/how-to-sell-online/'>How to Sell Online As Effectively As In Person</a>" was first published on <a href='https://smallbiztrends.com'>Small Business Trends</a></p><Img align="left" border="0" height="1" width="1" alt="" style="border:0;float:left;margin:0;padding:0;width:1px!important;height:1px!important;" hspace="0" src="https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/i/875628824/0/gail-gardner"></description><pubDate>Sun, 22 Oct 2023 15:30:50 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">https://smallbiztrends.com/?p=422269</guid><category>How to Sell</category><category>Sales</category><category>FeedSplice by FeedBlitz</category></item> <item><title>Everything You Need to Know About a Mastermind Group</title><link>https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/875628827/0/gail-gardner</link><description><p><img srcset='https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2020/02/Mastermind-Group-150x84.png 150w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2020/02/Mastermind-Group-300x168.png 300w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2020/02/Mastermind-Group-620x347.png 620w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2020/02/Mastermind-Group-660x370.png 660w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2020/02/Mastermind-Group-768x430.png 768w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2020/02/Mastermind-Group-850x476.png 850w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2020/02/Mastermind-Group.png 1000w' sizes='(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px' loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-603070 size-full" src="https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2020/02/Mastermind-Group.png" alt="Everything You Need to Know About a Mastermind Group" width="1000" height="560" /></p><p>People have used mastermind groups for as long as they have communicated with each other. But it was Napoleon Hill in his best-selling book Think and Grow Rich who provided clear definitions and popularized the concept.</p><p>Napolean Hill called the mastermind principle &#8220;the master key to the attainment of your major purpose in life&#8221;.  What sets masterminds apart from other types of groups is participation.</p><p>Every member of the <strong>Mastermind Group</strong> must be an active participant. You must put effort into being a part of any mastermind in order to reap the benefits.</p><p>Read on in our FAQs for Mastermind Groups for a better understanding of how joining a mastermind can change your life.</p><h2>FAQs for Mastermind Groups</h2><ul><li>What is a Mastermind Group?<ul><li>What a Mastermind Group is Not</li></ul></li><li><a href="#reasons">Reasons to Join a Mastermind Group</a><ul><li><a href="#benefits">Benefits of a Mastermind Group</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#start">How to Start a Mastermind Group</a><ul><li>Who to Invite to Your Mastermind Group</li></ul></li><li><a href="#run">How to Run A Mastermind Group</a><ul><li><a href="#activities">Examples of Mastermind Group Activities</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#role">Facilitator Role</a></li><li><a href="#cost">Mastermind Cost</a></li><li><a href="#find">How to Find a Mastermind Community</a><ul><li><a href="#examples">Mastermind Group Examples</a></li><li><a href="#goals">Examples of Mastermind Group Goals</a></li></ul></li></ul><h2 id="what">What is a Mastermind Group?</h2><p>Hill&#8217;s definition of a mastermind group is &#8220;two or more people working in perfect harmony for the attainment of a definite goal&#8221;. The ideal mastermind brings all of the expertise to accomplish that goal into a peer relationship.</p><p>Each of the masterminds members should be valued for their knowledge and contributions.</p><p>You can launch your own without any experience if you are strongly motivated. But it can be much easier if you use a facilitator with experience and a framework from which to work.</p><p>Think of your mastermind as being similar to an advisory board for your business. Many an entrepreneur who has earned well over a million dollars recommends using mentors to speed up and increase business success.</p><p>Your mastermind group are your mentors and you are theirs.</p><p>It is very important to not be so busy working in your business that you neglect spending the time you need to invest in improving and strategizing.</p><p>Being active in a mastermind group is an excellent way to focus on how to grow your business instead of only the day-to-day operations.</p><h4 id="not">What a Mastermind Group is Not</h4><p>Strictly speaking, courses and classes are not mastermind groups. If the same individuals are always presenting and the members are a passive audience, it is not a mastermind. There needs to be a peer-to-peer relationship where everyone is active.</p><p>Coaching programs, whether individually or in a group, are also not mastermind groups for the same reasons. True masterminds are typically very small (2-10 members with 5 on the average) and very focused.</p><p>Large mastermind communities are similar, but not actually the same. They are a good place to find mastermind groups to join or peers to start your own.</p><h2 id="join">Reasons to Join a Mastermind Group</h2><p>Many people ask what do you do in a mastermind group. The primary function is to get clear on your goals, develop plans to achieve them, and have others to hold you accountable to your goals and deadlines.</p><p>If you make lists, but then don&#8217;t use them, or set goals you never meet, a mastermind group can create the discipline you need to succeed. Get out of &#8220;shiny object syndrome&#8221; where you keep reading and researching and never act.</p><p>A mastermind can be what you need to finally take the actions required to go beyond your limitations to greater success.</p><h4 id="benefits">Benefits of a Mastermind Group</h4><p>Having a group of respected peers to keep you motivated and on track is a great benefit of being active in a mastermind. Your trusted mastermind group can keep you pumped up and increase your self-respect.</p><p>Most of all, you need <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://smallbiztrends.com/business-resolutions-for-2019/">accountability partners</a>. When others in your mastermind know what you planned to accomplish by a particular time, you are more likely to get it done.</p><p>Masterminds need to ensure they hold each other to their commitments.</p><p>Benefits of mastermind groups include:</p><ul><li>Accountability</li><li>Diversity in backgrounds</li><li>Broader business experience</li><li>Exchange of knowledge</li><li>Enlarged network of connections</li><li>Creative ideas</li><li>Emotional support</li><li>Increased productivity due to shared processes</li></ul><p>As the saying goes, &#8220;you don&#8217;t know what you don&#8217;t know&#8221;. The way to find out is to bring together a small group of people with a broad range of knowledge to apply to your goals.</p><p>Why reinvent the wheel when a member of your mastermind group may already know a simple approach?</p><h2 id="start">How to Start a Mastermind</h2><p>Next, let&#8217;s cover how to create a mastermind group. It is extremely important that every member respect each other. They need to know that the other members will keep what is discussed confidential.</p><p>Mastermind members must be committed to the process and willing to do what is agreed upon. Unless you are starting a local group, they can be located anywhere in the world.</p><h4 id="who">Who to Invite to Your Mastermind Group</h4><p>Choose members wisely because it is essential that you get along with minimal conflict. All mastermind members should be equally committed to participating.</p><p>They must have similar energy and motivation and be willing to invest the time and attention necessary for success.</p><p>You need people who will be honest with you, but in a tactful way that won&#8217;t derail your confidence or cause you to doubt yourself.</p><p>This is where using an experienced facilitator can benefit your group. They should be proficient in mediating and project management.</p><h2 id="run">How to Run A Mastermind</h2><p>There needs to be a leader in any mastermind group. That person sets the tone for what happens and how quickly. They need to encourage all the members to participate. You may find that one or more of your original members just isn&#8217;t as into it as everyone else.</p><p>Anyone who is not active should be encouraged to either get serious or choose to leave. Do this early on if possible so that you can bring in a replacement and get them up to speed on what you&#8217;ve all done so far.</p><p>You can add mastermind participants later if they are willing to catch up and your leader assists them in doing so.</p><p>Most importantly, you need scheduled activities. Mastermind members need to commit to attending every meeting and doing what the group agrees to do. The leader may have to send reminders to keep everyone on track.</p><p>Besides regular meetings (typically weekly), many groups like to have a place to interact regularly between meetings. That can be in a Facebook group, Skype, Slack or something similar. Decide where you are going to interact regularly and get everyone on board.</p><p>Think about your favorite groups. The ones that keep your interest and get the most traction are the ones where the leader and regular members share often and encourage interaction. Your mastermind will blossom if all the members regularly contribute.</p><h3 id="activities">Examples of Mastermind Group Activities</h3><ul><li>Sharing a video tutorial on how to accomplish an upcoming goal</li><li>Brainstorming ideas on a specific agenda topic</li><li>A weekly goal-setting session to measure progress</li><li>Fun polls are very popular and keep members engaged</li><li>Offering training to members who want to become leaders of additional mastermind groups</li></ul><h2 id="role">Facilitator Role</h2><p>Masterminds typically have a paid manager or facilitator. Larger Mastermind Communities will often also have volunteer moderators. The kind of task a volunteer might perform is sending out reminders to attend an upcoming event.</p><p>The main reason to use an experienced facilitator is to provide structure, processes and rules to keep all members on the same page.</p><p>Facilitators of mastermind groups should have soft skills, especially in communicating tactfully and keeping members interested in participating.</p><p>The same framework can be used across many different mastermind groups. It gives the group a place to start and provides specific tasks to be completed.</p><p>The facilitator uses it to keep members on track. The best facilitators encourage members to accomplish more than they believe they can.</p><h2 id="cost">Mastermind Cost</h2><p>Another common question is how much does it cost to participate in mastermind groups. There is no one answer to that because some are free while others are paid programs ranging in price from very inexpensive to thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars per month.</p><p>The paid versions are sometimes not really mastermind groups so much as they are networking communities with comprehensive courses.  Dan Kennedy&#8217;s hot Magnetic Marketing Gold Membership program is an example of one of these.</p><h2 id="find">How to Find a Mastermind Community</h2><p>The best way to start your own targeted mastermind group is to join and get active in a Mastermind Community. Fortunately for you, that is easy today because we launched the <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://www.bizsugar.com/mastermind" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BizSugar Mastermind Community</a> in January 2019 as part of <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://smallbiztrends.com/new-bizsugar/">the &#8220;new&#8221; BizSugar</a>.</p><p>With over 15k members and growing, the odds of finding others willing to work together to reach each others&#8217; common goals are excellent. Simply join at the link above and introduce yourself. We hope to have you as our visitor there soon.</p><p>During the upcoming year, we&#8217;ll be facilitating mastermind groups who can use our platform and resources at no cost.</p><p>As the Mastermind Community Manager, I&#8217;ll be happy to participate in your mastermind or just be available to train you on how to use the platform yourselves.</p><h3>Mastermind Group Examples</h3><p>While I founded a Skype group I call &#8220;Blogger Mastermind&#8221;, it is not in actuality a mastermind. It is more a place to ask for help, get support and <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://smallbiztrends.com/business-resolutions-for-2019/">share knowledge</a>. But it lacks the goal-setting and accountability of a formal mastermind group.</p><p>What it is though, is a way to find people with similar goals in your niche to start a mastermind.</p><p>For example, I acted as a mentor to two members to assist them in creating a 5 person mastermind to grow their websites.  With that goal in mind, we chose 3 other serious bloggers in their same niche.</p><p>Each of the mastermind&#8217;s members had different strengths which they shared with the others in weekly meetings.</p><p>We benchmarked their current stats, trained them on keyword research and anchor text and set goals with target dates.</p><p>They learned so much so fast from each other that one tutorial led to another. Next, they:</p><ul><li>Launched over 100 video tutorials on <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://learntobloghangouts.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Learn to Blog Hangouts</a></li><li>Published books</li><li>Offered paid courses</li><li>Sold an SEO guide</li><li>Started a <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://www.facebook.com/groups/LearntoBlogHangouts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook Group</a> that has 4,270 members today</li></ul><p>It is sometimes possible to find a local mastermind group in your location, but most likely you would need to start your own. Ask local business owners you know or those listed with the Chamber of Commerce.</p><h3 id="goals">Examples of Mastermind Group Goals</h3><p>Start with a specific goal in mind. Here are some examples to give you an idea how a mastermind could benefit you:</p><ul><li>Local small businesses who want to use the internet to increase their customer bases.</li><li>Ecommerce site owners interested in increasing their website traffic, brand loyalty or profitability.</li><li>Bloggers who want to learn to monetize their sites.</li><li>Entrepreneurs who want to know how to launch a digital startup.</li><li>Freelancers who need to develop processes for finding clients, managing work and creating deliverables.</li><li>Membership groups working together to find ways to increase user participation.</li></ul><p>Once you&#8217;ve chosen your goal, choose your team members. The closer your goals are aligned and the wider your areas of expertise, the more benefit you will gain from founding or joining a mastermind group. Everyone from the CEO on down can benefit.</p><p><em><small>Image: Depositphotos.com</small></em></p><p>This article, "<a href='https://smallbiztrends.com/mastermind-group/'>Everything You Need to Know About a Mastermind Group</a>" was first published on <a href='https://smallbiztrends.com'>Small Business Trends</a></p><Img align="left" border="0" height="1" width="1" alt="" style="border:0;float:left;margin:0;padding:0;width:1px!important;height:1px!important;" hspace="0" src="https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/i/875628827/0/gail-gardner"></description><pubDate>Mon, 17 Feb 2020 19:00:21 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">https://smallbiztrends.com/?p=584380</guid><category>Startup Advice</category><category>FeedSplice by FeedBlitz</category></item> <item><title>How to Be Your Own Amazing Graphics Department</title><link>https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/875628830/0/gail-gardner</link><description><p><img srcset='https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/09/shutterstock_1042807015-150x84.jpg 150w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/09/shutterstock_1042807015-300x168.jpg 300w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/09/shutterstock_1042807015-620x347.jpg 620w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/09/shutterstock_1042807015-660x370.jpg 660w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/09/shutterstock_1042807015-768x430.jpg 768w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/09/shutterstock_1042807015-850x476.jpg 850w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/09/shutterstock_1042807015.jpg 1000w' sizes='(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px' loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-511568 size-full" src="https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/09/shutterstock_1042807015.jpg" alt="6 Graphic Design Tools for Small Business" width="1000" height="560" /></p><p>Every business needs to place a major emphasis on building brand awareness, and the visual nature of the Internet makes it necessary to utilize eye-catching graphics.</p><p>This is especially true on social media; in fact, 75 percent of consumers report that their desire to purchase an item is positively impacted by seeing a video or photo of it on a social networking site.</p><p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a single graphic designer is $53,280. As you can see, building an entire graphics department would quickly become very expensive.</p><p>But what if you can&#8217;t afford a graphics department or even a single designer or high-quality freelancer? Even worse, what if don&#8217;t have the natural ability to easily create your own attractive banners, logos, videos, and other imagery?</p><p>Fortunately, there are many options available to professionals in your position. Whether you’re trying to launch a small online business or boost the profile of a multinational company, you need to use visuals to your advantage.</p><h2>Graphic Design Tools for Small Business</h2><p>The following graphic design tools will help your company look professional without requiring a huge financial investment.</p><h3>1. Logo Maker</h3><p>Getting a freelancer to create a logo is typically going to set you back <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://www.deluxe.com/sbrc/logo/much-professional-logo-design-cost" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">at least $100</a>, and that’s only for a very basic design. If you want something complex, you could easily spend more than $1,000.</p><p>Do you have an eye for details but absolutely no idea where to start? Instead of sitting at your desk staring at a blank project page, head to a discount online logo creator.</p><p>It is absolutely imperative to create a visually appealing logo that enables consumers to instantly recognize your brand. Here are some created by small businesses using an inexpensive logo maker:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img srcset='https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/LogosDesignedBySmallBusinessesUsingDesignhillLogoMaker-150x66.jpg 150w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/LogosDesignedBySmallBusinessesUsingDesignhillLogoMaker-300x132.jpg 300w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/LogosDesignedBySmallBusinessesUsingDesignhillLogoMaker-620x273.jpg 620w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/LogosDesignedBySmallBusinessesUsingDesignhillLogoMaker-660x290.jpg 660w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/LogosDesignedBySmallBusinessesUsingDesignhillLogoMaker-768x338.jpg 768w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/LogosDesignedBySmallBusinessesUsingDesignhillLogoMaker-850x374.jpg 850w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/LogosDesignedBySmallBusinessesUsingDesignhillLogoMaker.jpg 880w' sizes='(max-width: 880px) 100vw, 880px' loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-511515 size-full" src="https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/LogosDesignedBySmallBusinessesUsingDesignhillLogoMaker.jpg" alt="6 Graphic Design Tools for Small Business - Logos Designed by Small Businesses Using Designhill Logo Maker" width="880" height="387" /><i></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Source: Designhill<br></i></p><p>You won’t have any problems finding a wide variety of options, but Designhill is particularly interesting because it offers a highly unusual feature: an A.I. that assists in creating logos.</p><p>Most logo creators require you to look through a long list of options to cobble something together. Designhill, on the other hand, asks users to fill out a few questions, generates many options, and then allows users to choose from among them.</p><p>The software contains more than 1 million icons. It also has a database with thousands of colors, fonts, shapes, and containers. The best part? Logo designs start at only $20.</p><h3>2. Banner Maker</h3><p>Banners can be useful in several scenarios, ranging from creating the perfect website header to placing strategic advertisements on websites that your customers are likely to visit.</p><p>Although banner ads are subject to &#8220;banner blindness&#8221; when over-used, they are still beneficial strategically placed within content and <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://smallbiztrends.com/advertising-statistics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">used</a> for retargeting.</p><p>Anyone with basic software can make their own banners, but this often leads to awkward-looking results that aren’t going to generate many clicks.</p><p>And they provide no way to analyze what is working and what isn&#8217;t. You can save a lot of time, energy, and frustration by utilizing an online banner maker.</p><p>Again, there are a wide array of sites available, but we’re going to take a closer look at Bannersnack because ensuring banners are HTML5 responsive is critical to display correctly on mobile devices.<br>Their statistics indicate that HTML5 banner ads are used almost twice as often as GIFS due to the many <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://blog.bannersnack.com/banner-ad-design-statistics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advantages</a> of the newer format. <img srcset='https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/Most-Used-Types-of-Animated-Ads-150x94.png 150w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/Most-Used-Types-of-Animated-Ads-300x188.png 300w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/Most-Used-Types-of-Animated-Ads-620x388.png 620w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/Most-Used-Types-of-Animated-Ads-660x413.png 660w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/Most-Used-Types-of-Animated-Ads-768x480.png 768w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/Most-Used-Types-of-Animated-Ads.png 800w' sizes='(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px' loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-511527 size-full" src="https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/Most-Used-Types-of-Animated-Ads.png" alt="6 Graphic Design Tools for Small Business - Most Used Types of Animated Ads" width="800" height="500" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Source: <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://blog.bannersnack.com/banner-ad-design-statistics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bannersnack</a></i></p><p>Additionally, you can easily drag and drop any imagery you’d like into a banner of any conceivable size and style. The best part, though, is having the ability to generate everything from basic to animated banners without switching to another platform.</p><p>To be clear, when we use the word “banner,” we don’t just mean the old-school website ad style that typically comes to mind. You’ll be able to create high-quality imagery that’s made to fit every social media site and major ad network.</p><p>It’s no wonder this banner creator boasts an impressive list of clients, including Google, MOZ, and Airbnb.</p><h3>3. Video Editor</h3><p>Videos are a great way to increase customer engagement. However, in most cases, you’ll need to go beyond the basics of just shooting a video with your smartphone.</p><p>That’s not to say you can’t use your smartphone, because you absolutely can, but it’s necessary to go a little further to give your videos the slick production values that really win over consumers.</p><p>Much like logos and banners, you won’t struggle to find an online video editor. Simply <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://smallbiztrends.com/animated-video-maker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">read</a> 10 Tools to Create Animated Videos for Business and choose one. You’ll be able to use a comprehensive list of editing features for free.</p><p>For example, once you upload your existing videos, you can splice things together as desired, adding text, royalty-free images, music, sound-effects, and voice-overs.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://www.flickr.com/photos/xmodulo/12868396354/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img srcset='https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/FlickrVideoEditing-12868396354_1033030476_o-150x84.jpg 150w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/FlickrVideoEditing-12868396354_1033030476_o-300x169.jpg 300w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/FlickrVideoEditing-12868396354_1033030476_o-620x349.jpg 620w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/FlickrVideoEditing-12868396354_1033030476_o-660x371.jpg 660w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/FlickrVideoEditing-12868396354_1033030476_o-768x432.jpg 768w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/FlickrVideoEditing-12868396354_1033030476_o-850x478.jpg 850w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/FlickrVideoEditing-12868396354_1033030476_o.jpg 880w' sizes='(max-width: 880px) 100vw, 880px' loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-511517 size-full" title="Video Editing image from Flickr" src="https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2018/08/FlickrVideoEditing-12868396354_1033030476_o.jpg" alt="6 Graphic Design Tools for Small Business - Video Editing image from Flickr" width="880" height="495" /></a><i></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Video Editor <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://www.flickr.com/photos/xmodulo/12868396354/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">via </a></i><a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://www.flickr.com/photos/xmodulo/12868396354/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i>Flickr</i></a><i><a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://www.flickr.com/photos/xmodulo/12868396354/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> CC</a><br></i></p><p>Depending on the purpose of your video, you want to use a video editor to add pre-recorded intros at the beginning and outros with your contact information at the end.</p><p>Brand your videos with your logo, typically in the upper right corner. You may also wish to put your phone number or other contact information at the bottom throughout the video.</p><p>Make them small so they are not too distracting. Wherever you put your logo or contact information, ensure it doesn&#8217;t interfere with any text or important visuals you have on the video.</p><p>Placing captioning text near the bottom in the video is wise if you intend to publish them to social media sites. This is especially true for Facebook where videos default to auto-play with audio muted until clicked on or tapped.</p><h3>4. Slideshows</h3><p>If you prefer to make a slideshow out of existing imagery, you can <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://icecreamapps.com/blog/best-free-slideshow-software/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">turn to</a> a slideshow maker. Some use Microsoft PowerPoint to create slideshows and others use apps for smartphones or online.</p><p>Slideshow editors will help you create slideshows that are specifically intended for social media. Compare the features as some are very basic while others offer cool effects like reverse, transitions, slow and fast motion.</p><p>One of the biggest perks of some online slideshow editors is that you’re not restricted to minimal basics. They offer an extensive list of special effects including adding music, GIFs, and text.</p><p>On Facebook, you can turn your photos into slideshows and carousels. Facebook&#8217;s slideshow feature turns your images into videos. They even have slideshow ads.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/so9EJoQJc-0?rel=0" width="850" height="478" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start">?</span></iframe></p><h3>5. Meme Creator</h3><p>Speaking of social media, you might want to connect with your customers on a more informal, humorous level from time to time. Memes are a great way to do this but be sure to steer clear of controversial content.</p><p>You can create your own meme with unique imagery and text; if you make it particularly compelling, your meme might even go viral.</p><p>The most popular memes strike a cord with viewers. They aren&#8217;t typically specific to your business, but they may illustrate a common human condition everyone can relate to.</p><p>There’s a virtually endless <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://www.lifewire.com/popular-meme-generator-tools-3486457" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">list</a> of free meme creators to choose from online. One important piece of advice: steer clear of outdated memes. They can actually <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/315895" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">hurt your company’s reputation</a>.</p><h3>6. Animated GIFS</h3><p>Another way to stand out on social media is through creating custom animated GIFS. The popular Twitter chat #SEMrushchat is a great example of how to use GIFS to liven things up and stand out.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">It&#8217;s almost time for <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://twitter.com/hashtag/SEMrushchat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">#SEMrushchat</a><br>&#8230;who&#8217;s ready?! <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://t.co/qUZJ4xzRwZ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pic.twitter.com/qUZJ4xzRwZ</a></p><p>— Nathan Driver (@natedriver) <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://twitter.com/natedriver/status/1032280267992559617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">August 22, 2018</a></p></blockquote><p>SmallBizTrends recently published a post on the Best 10 Online Tools to Create GIFS for Your Small Business. If you plan to be a guest or participant on a Twitter chat, create some GIFS in advance to post during the chat.</p><p>Speaking of Twitter chats, when hosting, you should create images to announce the chat and for each question being asked. You can also share images by using the URLs of related posts if the sites they are on have Twitter cards <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://smallbiztrends.com/what-are-twitter-cards-for-business/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">set up</a>.</p><h2>Be Your Own Low Cost Graphics Department</h2><p>Ultimately, a highly skilled graphics department or freelancer can typically produce original work that goes beyond any of the sites listed above, but you’re going to pay a lot more for it.</p><p>Meanwhile, companies operating on a razor-thin budget can make themselves more competitive by taking advantage of free or discount tools such as online creators and editors for videos, banners, logos, and memes.</p><p><em><small>Photo via <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/closeup-female-designer-working-on-multiple-1042807015?src=YcD9DMUaI8GP6cXs5SA1LA-1-34" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Shutterstock</a></small></em></p><p>This article, "<a href='https://smallbiztrends.com/graphic-design-tools-small-business/'>How to Be Your Own Amazing Graphics Department</a>" was first published on <a href='https://smallbiztrends.com'>Small Business Trends</a></p><Img align="left" border="0" height="1" width="1" alt="" style="border:0;float:left;margin:0;padding:0;width:1px!important;height:1px!important;" hspace="0" src="https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/i/875628830/0/gail-gardner"></description><pubDate>Thu, 06 Sep 2018 16:00:02 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">https://smallbiztrends.com/?p=511512</guid><category>Technology Trends</category><category>FeedSplice by FeedBlitz</category></item> <item><title>How to Make a Positive First Business Impression</title><link>https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/875628833/0/gail-gardner</link><description><p><img srcset='https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2017/06/positive-impression-150x84.png 150w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2017/06/positive-impression-300x168.png 300w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2017/06/positive-impression-620x347.png 620w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2017/06/positive-impression-660x370.png 660w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2017/06/positive-impression-768x430.png 768w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2017/06/positive-impression-850x476.png 850w, https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2017/06/positive-impression.png 1000w' sizes='(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px' loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-451310 size-full" src="https://media.smallbiztrends.com/2017/06/positive-impression.png" alt="How to Make a Good First Impression in Business" width="1000" height="560" /></p><p>You’ve probably heard the statistic that we make judgments about people within seven seconds of meeting them. These judgments include opinions about a person’s trustworthiness, disposition, personality, and social status.</p><p>How people judge you and your employees reflects on what they think about your business. Choose wisely who represents the face of your company, and ensure they understand the importance of making a good first business impression.</p><p><a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://www.princeton.edu/news/2006/08/22/snap-judgments-decide-faces-character-psychologist-finds" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Psychologists at Princeton</a> analyzed people’s inferences about others at 100 milliseconds, 500 ms, a whole second, and longer. They found there was virtually no difference in the judgments at which people arrived after the first 100 ms.</p><p>Whether the process takes a few seconds or less than one, there’s no question that how we come across to people when they first meet us is extremely important. This is particularly true if we’re talking about the realm of business.</p><p>How well we network with people directly influences our success or failure in our careers and the success of our business. Here are some tips for how to make the best possible first impression possible.</p><h2>How to Make a Good First Impression in Business</h2><h3>Consider Business Attire</h3><p>Any time you’re meeting a client, whether you’re doing a leisure activity or having a business meeting, it’s important you present yourself well and appropriately. It is equally important to educate your employees and other representatives on what your company considers appropriate business attire.</p><p>Hopefully, you’re taking advantage of trade fairs and conferences, which are opportunities to network with many people at one time. When striving to <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~www.echolimousine.com/blog/making-unforgettable-impression-conference/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">make an unforgettable impression</a> at a conference, “you can make between 30-100 first impressions in a day.”</p><p>Making a good first business impression involves several factors:</p><ul><li>appearance</li><li>what you talk about</li><li>your overall behavior</li><li>having a plan</li><li>nonverbal communication</li></ul><p>It might seem superficial to stress the importance of attire when making a first impression. But if people subconsciously make snap judgments, how you dress is key to shaping how they see you.</p><p>It should be common sense that you don’t want to appear sloppy. But you also don’t want to come across as stiff and formal. That could make you seem unapproachable.</p><p>How you dress really depends on your industry, the venue, and your position in your company. You might be surprised to hear that, when choosing your clothing, your own comfort should be one of your top priorities. It will be incredibly difficult for you to interact naturally with others if your clothes are making you feel uneasy and awkward.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KTibVLsUKNA?rel=0" width="853" height="480" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p><p>Make sure your clothing is appropriate and well-tailored. Tailoring goes a long way to making you appear professional. Aim for being stylish without being overly flashy.</p><p>Keep your target customers in mind when choosing the appearance you and your employees and other representatives should present. What may be too &#8220;out there&#8221; for one industry might be perfectly acceptable in another.</p><h3>Put Others First</h3><p>Your overall behavior and the decisions you make can have a lot of impact. Your guiding principle should be: put other people’s needs and desires before your own. Listen more than you talk, showing genuine interest in the person you’re with at that moment.</p><p>Don’t let yourself be distracted by the people walking around you still want to meet or digital devices. Don’t worry about conversations you’ve had already or ones you hope to have later.</p><p>It is getting rarer and rarer for people to give each other their full attention without being distracted by their phones, if not by something else.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C8zNx_IarUw?rel=0" width="853" height="480" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p><p>Giving someone your undivided attention is a gift, and those you meet will appreciate you doing so. Keep the reason why you’re there (to network) at the forefront of your mind.</p><p>Don’t get sidetracked trying to make sales. That’s not the point, and you will come across as insincere if you try to sell to people you have just met.</p><p>This shouldn’t have to be said, but you’re not at a conference or business meeting to find a date or to kick back and have a good time. Always act professionally toward everyone you meet.</p><p>Be aware of how your behavior might be perceived &#8212; for example, if there is a bar, how would drinking or even not drinking be perceived by others.</p><h3>Have a Plan</h3><p>Being comfortable in unfamiliar territory will be much easier if you <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://smallbiztrends.com/commandments-of-business-networking/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">go into the situation with a plan</a>. Have a reason for choosing that particular venue.</p><p>Find out who is likely to be there and know the particular people or companies with whom you want to connect. Make sure you have business cards ready to go as you mingle. It helps to keep your <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://smallbiztrends.com/digital-business-card/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">business cards</a> in one pocket or compartment and cards you receive in another.</p><p>We all know that meeting people has the potential to be awkward, so plan out some good questions ahead of time. Avoid standard, cliché topics such as asking people what they do. Also avoid contentious topics such as politics, religion, possibly even sports teams.</p><p>Another situation you’re likely to find yourself in is being stuck in a conversation that you want to leave. Have a strategy for how to extricate yourself politely. You could say you need to use the bathroom or don’t want to take up too much of the person’s time.</p><h3>Work to Remember Names</h3><p>Something else that is a good idea is becoming skilled in remembering the names of people you meet. This is a difficult technique to master when you encounter so many new people at one time. But it is possible and makes people feel valued.</p><p>Try repeating their name when you first meet and using it more than once during your conversation. This helps you remember it later. This Forbes post provides ten excellent tips for <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://www.forbes.com/2010/04/20/how-to-remember-names-entrepreneurs-human-resources-remember-names.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">remembering names</a> and this video shows the method memory expert champion Ron White uses:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m2GI0huaV5s?rel=0" width="853" height="480" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p><p>If you happen to run into someone more than once and actually remember his or her name, that person will be very impressed. I suspect this is because so many of us struggle to remember names.</p><p>You may find, as I did when asked to speak into a TV camera, that it is challenging to look directly into people&#8217;s faces. Maybe we look away politely when we meet them &#8212; or at least too quickly to go through the memory process suggested by White.</p><h3>Watch Nonverbal Cues</h3><p>One tricky aspect of getting to know people is that we often don’t realize how we are coming across to them. This is understandable. It would be exhausting to analyze how we’re subconsciously communicating every second of the day.</p><p>But you could have ingrained habits that cause you to consistently send messages you don’t intend. If so, you probably would want someone to tell you in order to help you communicate better. Do you seem:</p><ul><li>reluctant?</li><li>warm and approachable?</li><li>distant or unfriendly?</li></ul><p>Do you smile at people and make eye contact? <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://www.thebalance.com/nonverbal-communication-in-the-workplace-1918470" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How do you stand</a> as you converse with them? It’s easy to assume you’re behaving one way without realizing you simply are not. Self-analysis is beneficial, but it’s invaluable to have a more objective point of view.</p><p>Ask your friends, coworkers, and family members how you typically come across to others, especially when you meet people the first time. Make sure you get advice from people who will be honest with you and give you helpful feedback.</p><p>The more you can make your nonverbal communication align with what you actually intend to say, the more effective a communicator you will be overall &#8212; and the better first impression you will make.</p><h2>Don’t Feel Doomed</h2><p>It can be overwhelming to hear that, whether they want to or not, people are judging you as soon as they meet you. The reason we emphasize first impressions so much is that in many business settings, we don’t have the opportunity to let people revise their opinions of us.</p><p>But while wrong first impressions take some time to correct, it is possible to change them. We’re not doomed to see each from one point of view forever. There has been less research on the topic of altering first impressions than there has been on making them in the first place.</p><p>But in 2015, <a href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/t/0/0/gail-gardner/~https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4437854/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">researchers at Cornell found</a> that, when given new information, people completely changed their minds when they realized their initial opinions were wrong. So don’t overly stress about what others think of you. Just do your best to be as personal and professional as possible.</p><p><em><small>Image: Gail Gardner</small></em></p><p>This article, "<a href='https://smallbiztrends.com/how-to-make-a-good-first-impression/'>How to Make a Positive First Business Impression</a>" was first published on <a href='https://smallbiztrends.com'>Small Business Trends</a></p><Img align="left" border="0" height="1" width="1" alt="" style="border:0;float:left;margin:0;padding:0;width:1px!important;height:1px!important;" hspace="0" src="https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/i/875628833/0/gail-gardner"></description><pubDate>Mon, 26 Jun 2017 21:30:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">https://smallbiztrends.com/?p=451183</guid><category>Marketing Tips</category><category>FeedSplice by FeedBlitz</category></item> 
