As soon as anyone says 9-11 you automatically hear someone recount where they were and what they felt when they heard and watched the devastating news about the attacks in New York, the Pentagon and Pennsylvania.

I live in Yardley (Lower Makefield), Bucks County PA in which 18 people who worked in the World Trade Center lost their lives.

The Garden of Reflection (just 1.5 miles from my home) is the official Pennsylvania Memorial to the Victims of Sepetember 11, 2011 terrorist attacks created to remember and honor loved ones and all 2,973 killed with a walking journey that symbolizes “After Darkness…Light.” 

It truly is a place of beauty and hope that people throughout Bucks County and those visiting our area love to come and pay tribute to all those who lost their lives and simply remember not just on the anniversary of September 11th but often.  Drive by any day of the week and you will find people sitting, walking and remembering. 

One section of the memorial has all 2,973 names of those that died and another area of the garden is dedicated to the 18 Bucks County residents who lost their lives.

Just some of the names of victims etched into glass.

Here’s the video courtesy of Action News 6 capturing last night’s events. My neighbor, who lost her husband describes her feelings 10 years later.

I invite you to take a virtual tour of the garden and see some of the pictures I took last night at the Candlelight Vigil in which Bucks County residents held lighted candles, said prayers, honored victims and families and simply remembered.

Steel Fragments from the World Trade Center

2,973 hearts surrounded the entire entrance and all around the memorial

Photos Capturing the Candlelight Vigil

My thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims and their families. We will always remember…and never forget.

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Take a look at this photo.  Notice anything?

The motto of this business is "Its all about the bread"

Yet the message on the window says "Sorry out of bread"

Hmmm…Just a fluke for that particular day? Actually no. I see this sign up often and think to myself:

• Poor planning on their part (someone is not very good with ordering the necessary product to deliver to consumers)
• Consumers are left with a poor image of this business
• Consumers going elsewhere to another establishment that can deliver (I bet the other businesses in this shopping center love it!)

This business is looking at Loss of: Revenue, Reputation and Consumer Confidence – key ingredients for a business to exist and grow.

I honestly have a hard time wrapping my head around why a business would allow this to happen once never mind a lot. This is especially mind boggling to me at a time when businesses are struggling to survive in this economy and great service is paramount.

Think about your business. Things happen that are out of your control even when we have a plan in place – deals fall apart, clients change their minds, situations change, and so on…Our ability to handle those challenges and be a solution oriented business is part of the overall experience and service we offer our clients, isn’t it?

I think there are a few things this business could be doing to ensure they are meeting their customers needs:

Plan Ahead – look at demand of your product and adjust the bread/product order. If necessary work with another vendor if their schedule doesn’t work for your business.

Have a Plan & A Backup Plan - If something happens where you run out of product – have solutions and resources to tap into.

If necessary and after all avenues have been explored you might just have to:

Adjust your motto so it more accurately reflects what you truly have to offer and you can continue operating your business vs. shutting the doors and giving consumers a bad taste in their mouth about you and your business.

Think of your website, your blog, profiles and social media sites as your storefront.

Are you offering services that you can actually deliver on? Are you able to meet the consumer’s needs in a way that creates confidence in you and your services?

Will you have people talking about your business in a way that helps you grow your business? (referrals and testimonials)

or

will someone be posting a blog or leaving a comment somewhere on the internet about how you can’t deliver what you promise?

Put messages and content out there that truly reflects you, your company, your services and ones that you can be proud of!

Ask yourself – Am I inviting consumers in or turning them away?

What are your thoughts about portraying the right image for your business?

(Note: This blog post is not intended to pick on or make fun of a particular business but as an illustration (to learn from) on how to portray the right image for your business.) 

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Remember when you were in school and you received extra credit for showing your work?

Same holds true for business.  Almost every day I receive an email from a client in which their client is requesting something or checking on why they’re listing appears in a particular neighborhood when they’re right on the border, and so on.

The point I’m trying to make – they’re checking on all that you promised in that listing appointment.

So, instead of getting those emails or forgetting what marketing has been done for your listings, be ahead of the inquiries and do the one simple task to get you a high grade from your client: share your efforts with them.

Here are some of the things to remember to share and send to your clients (ideally before they ask):

• Just Listed Cards – make sure one goes to their address
• Open House Materials – whether it's a book all about the home, Open House Flyers and promotion of the Open House, Brokers Open, etc.
• Advertising – if you’re still advertising in newspapers and real estate magazines – scan and pdf the ad and send or use the cool advertising tool I recently mentioned
• Marketing Reports – this is essential in my eyes to be accountable for all the things you promised the client initially.  This should have all the sites you are currently marketing their listing (hyperlinked) with an explanation of the site and it’s capabilities/reach for their listing.  This should be updated monthly with new sites, links to blog posts and any new resources you have added to your marketing toolkit.  If you don't have the ability to make these updates on a monthly basis, at the very least provide a 1 pager of all the sites you have their listing (hyperlinked) and update if you add any new marketing tools/sites.
• Emailflyers – Often we send them to the agents in our area hoping they will have qualified buyers but sellers like them too – copy or pdf the flyer and send.
• Showing reports - feedback is important especially if a price change talk needs to happen based on feedback.  Sharing this means they're not as surprised when you approach the topic.
  
• Social Media Sites – Facebook and Twitter – this can serve 2 purposes: clients are seeing your mentions of their listings whether it’s a blog link, postlets, realbird, trulia or zillow, etc.  You can also share a link to the listings and add the @customername so that it also feeds to their facebook profile.  Now you’re advertising on 2 pages and the client again sees you’re working for them to market their home.

Do you have any other places you would mention/copy your client to show them your work?

When it comes down to all the marketing activities you’re doing for your listings the sellers want 1 important thing: Qualified Buyers.

It’s your job to make sure you’re doing all you can to provide those opportunities for their listing.  Look again at your presentation and marketing plan – has everything been done?  Anything missing?  Have you started working with a new marketing tool?  Is there more you can be doing?

Even in today’s tough market, by showing sellers your work you’re at least assuring them that you’re a person of your word and someone that deserves their trust and their business.  Don’t leave them wondering did I hire the right person?  If they see your work, they will at least know you were the right person for the job even if the outcome is not exactly what they hoped for.

How do you involve your clients in the marketing process?

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Don’t we all love finding that magical tool – you know the one tool that makes all the difference to your organization and staying on track?  The tool that makes everything work. I almost love this tool as much as I love the Magic Eraser!

If you’re like me, you’re

reading a lot all over the internet

you’re keeping track of projects and “to do” items

organizing thoughts and ideas for future blogs

or just investigating tools and resources to tap into now and in the future

How do you keep track of everything for that rainy Saturday that you designate to tackle some of the projects and tasks you need to get accomplished?  Printing articles, searching through your bookmarks, looking through a notebook can be a very tedious task not to mention not a very effective use of your time.

If you’re anything like Suzanne McLaughlin who recently posted a blog about her next big project of clearing out her bookmarks and what she’ll be tackling next – I thought it was a good idea to share my favorite tool that I know will help Suzanne and all of my AR friends. 

I have found that Evernote is a tool that can help you do all that and more.

I’ve been using this tool for awhile now and it seems like almost weekly I’m finding a new use for it, so I thought I’d share some of the great uses with a specific highlight on how it can benefit you in the “work” aspect of your life.

Some Key Highlights of the Tool:

One Account – Connect from Anywhere - another computer (Windows &; Mac) or mobile device (iphone, ipod touch, ipad, android, blackberry, palm, and more)

Desktop – download the desktop version – has some great features that are not necessarily available via mobile devices. (anything you do in Evernote does synch up so that if you need to access via your mobile while on the go – it’s in there!)

WebClipper – while you’re scouring the web – save the page to your Evernote and be sure to categorize it and tag so that when you search for the topic it comes up.  This could be a cool new tool you found that you need to read more about before you start using it or maybe a new site that you still need to determine if it will fit into your business plan – it’s endless really.

Connect &; Share – Connect your Evernote with social media sites (FB, Twitter, Google) and email.  Start sharing a note or notebook with your connections.

Free & Paid Account Options – The free account is what I have been using so far and it’s working out great.  For only $5/mo or $45/yr for a premium account, if you need more functionality and space – this is so affordable. Check out the details/comparisons for free vs. premimum

What can you organize in Evernote?

• Ideas (marketing, newsletter topics)
• Notes (from a seminar or webinar you attended, conversation you had with a client)
• Business and Marketing Plans
  
• Photos (organize blog photos, or take a photo with your mobile device and send it to Evernote – it’s there when you need it)
• Blogs (Organize blog topics/ideas, gather up research on a particular topic)
• Tools (ever come across a tool whether on the web, a social media site or blog and think – I need to know more before I decide if that will work for me – now you can save the page to Evernote as a “marketing tool” topic and come back and research it more.
• Research
• SEO Tips
• Scan Business Cards to keep them organized in 1 file
• Keep track of expenses or receipts

There are tons more but I think I captured the major ones as it applies to “work” life.  There is really no end to the usefulness and ease of this tool. One of my particularly favorite things to do is create “to do” lists. You can easily create them (with check boxes) and categorize them by client, day, week, month or task type. No matter what you name your list you will easily be able to use the search feature in Evernote to find the task/list.

Gather your thoughts, ideas, things you need to remember whether for work or fun and free up the time you would spend trying to organize these items or searching for them when you need them.

I’ve only provided you with a brief highlight of functions and uses for business.  Just imagine having all the other aspects of your life organized in this handy tool that you can access at any time from anywhere.

More things to capture:

• Shopping Lists
• Gift Giving Ideas
• Recipes
• Trip Planning
• Talk about Work/Life Balance!
• Do you see this as a tool you would incorporate into your life?
• Capture inspirational quotes (don’t we all share them on social sites?)
• Searching for a Job – keep track of where you sent resumes
• Organize deals and offers – promo codes, etc that you come across on twitter, facebook, in magazines, when you’re out and about.

All I know is that after just using this tool for a short time I’ve said:

  Goodbye:                                                 HELLO:

What’s your opinion of this tool?  Is this a “must have” tool for you and something you would incorporate into your arsenal of tools to keep your work/personal life in order?

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Hi, it’s me again…I know I’ve regrettably been missing from this great network and if you like I can provide a list of my clients that you can talk to!  Truthfully I've been busier than I ever imagined I could be (a great problem to have!) and so grateful for all the opportunities since so much of my business success has come from the Reach of Activerain. (Take note: blogging on AR works!)  All kidding aside, I wanted to bring your attention to a new tool I’ve been using that has so many great uses and it’s easy to use.

Allow me to share some of the cool things that can be done with this online tool GoGoPin:

• Create countless ads for printing or web posting (here’s a sample page I did for real estate or you can view below) 
  • Note: With the Basic (free account) Ads stay active for 3 days unless you decide to upgrade for $8/mo then it will remain active for 30 days. The basic account seems ideal for Open Houses or advertising upcoming events that you post a day or two before the event. 
    

• So easy to use just drag and drop.
• Upload images from your computer, Flickr, or Picasa.
• Save as HTML, PNG, and PDF (great to embed into your blog)
  

Here’s a sample of how it looks in your blog

Note: when you create your ad and get ready to save it, you can add a link to your ad - ideally this would be your website to drive traffic to a particular lisiting or area.  Where I said "Your Logo Here" you can have a picture of the property and add "click here for more details and photos" which is a call to action to get more information on the listing or you can simply add the link to the ad and the entire page becomes a clickable link to your website, et.

• Post to Craigslist, eBay, Twitter, and Facebook (extending your reach)
• After your ad has been created you are ready to export and here's the screen that comes up to give you publishing options:

• From your online ad via Go you can also Share it with countless social networks (341+) (I love this feature)
  

• Get a dedicated landing page for each of your ads.
• Use QR Codes to make your ad mobile-friendly (especially helpful for the ads you print.)

I see these ads being a way to bring true focus to your business.  Just think you can have ads and dedicated pages for:

• New Construction
• Luxury Homes
• Developments, Areas or Neighborhoods
• Price Points
• Rentals
• Open Houses 
• Need I go on?

You can also use GoGoPin to create your very own facebook page.

Facebook Business Page Options include:

• Pictures & Text
• Video & Slideshows
• Gallery
• Audio
• Maps
• Social Plugins
• Property Showcase

I know for a fact that clients are checking on their agents to ensure they are marketing their listings as promised.  This is just another way to show them your efforts and it certainly could be appealing to your prospects looking for an agent who employs creative and innovative marketing strategies.

I challenge you today to approach your marketing efforts with creativity.  Find new ways to either create or spice up your marketing efforts that leave your  prospects and clients with a very satisfied feeling and the feeling of wanting more not to mention the great benefits of extending your reach both online and offline.

Is this a tool that you would find useful in your business? 

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Unlike our computer keyboards there are no shortcuts to great customer service.  Here's a recent experience I had that I hope will remind us all that customer loyalty is all about earning trust and building relationships that will go beyond just one transaction.

As many of my family and friends know, I recently purchased a snow blower to help me endure the tough weather we were experiencing in Bucks County, PA.  Not only would it help me to move the snow more easily but it would help me reduce the amount of time spent away from conducting business and meeting my client's needs.

After speaking with an expert (my dad who lives in Boston and knows bad winters and enormous snow falls) I called and visited several local stores to inquire about their products asking them the capabilities and features of the machine as well as price and availability of what they had in stock to take with me that day. 

Mind you, all the stores I called were large retail stores that you think would not only have an abundance of products but would offer you knowledgeable members of their team to discuss the products and the capabilities of each machine with the customers.

I did not find that - it was quite the opposite until...

I called and met with Doug Smith, the Manager of Smith's Ace Hardware of Newtown.  He not only took the time to discuss the machines he had in stock, the features and price but when I came to the store several hours later he said "I spoke with you earlier, let me show me the machines I discussed with you."

He then proceeded to give me a demonstration of the equipment and ensure I would have the knowledge of how to use it and the accessories (gas, oil) to use the equipment.  He and another staff member got it into my SUV and secured it (as it was rather large) into my vehicle to get it home.

The point I'm really trying to share it that - all the advertising, promises you make to consumers, and the name/brand recognition won't get you anywhere unless you have the great customer service to back it all up and you provide that service to each and every one of your customers.

This concept applies for all companies and individuals offering services to consumers and should be a part of every interaction you have with your prospects and clients.  If clients don't see the value in the services you are providing they will move on to find someone that will provide them with what they need and are looking for. In a split second, you can change someone's impression of you, your company and your services - for the good or the bad.

What are the benefits of providing great customer service?

In one word - LOYALTY.

And the benefits of having loyal customers to your business is:

• Word of mouth marketing
• Repeat clients
• Competitive Edge

Think about it, Ace Hardware now has me talking about them.  I am a repeat client and they do have a competitive edge over other stores when it comes to where I will go to purchase products I need for my home.

My advice to you is simple:

• Don't forget your customers after their transaction is done
• Don't make promises in your listing presentations that you can't keep
• Have regular and consistent contact with your prospects and clients
  

Thank you ACE Hardware of Newtown - you officially have a new loyal customer!

What kind of great personal experience are you offering your clients when they call or meet you?

Has any business recently "wowed" you with their service - share the love!

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Are you afraid of taking risks because of the risk of failure?

Within all our business models, there’s a need to wear a sales hat.  But what if you took off that "sales hat" and instead wore a "service provider hat"? 

Stay with me on this.  Almost every client and prospect you come into contact with has at some point been mislead, misinformed maybe even blatantly lied to.  Maybe they heard idle promises and this left them with a feeling of mistrust of all “sales” people.  I know I encountered this quite a bit when I sold temporary staffing services.

How did I become someone that my clients and prospects could trust?  I stopped selling them to them and simply pointed out real ways I could help them.  I uncovered the pains they were experiencing and helped them find solutions even if it meant that I did not get their business.  I took the "risk" factor away for them and simply offered my knowledge and ideas without expected anything in return.  Risky - you bet.  Just think about the time spent without any guarantee of a possible sale.  But in reality isn't that the chance we all take?  We are never really guaranteed the sale or opportunity simple because a prospect agreed to meet with us. 

So why on earth would I do all that?  Because I become a valuable and trusted resource for them and almost every single client I did this with eventually became a client of mine and one of them was my largest and most profitable account I ever brought in.

The same applies in the real estate business.  You’ve heard it from sellers who were promised the moon and the stars only to have their home not get one offer and they pull it off the market – maybe even try to sell it themselves as a FSBO.  Perhaps you have a prospect you’re meeting with that comes across as very demanding – wanting soup to nuts because they were promised things and they were never delivered from a previous agent.

1. First know what you’re capable of delivering – don’t make promises you can’t keep
2. Listen to what your prospect is saying (don't speak)
3. After they are done - offer a solution that addresses their biggest problem while at the same showcasing how you can be of the greatest benefit to them
4. Develop a customized plan - talking directly to a prospect about their individual nees - make it personal (for clients this will be more involved)
5. Monitor and share feedback with prospect/client regularly (check in with prospect to see how things are going - make a call, drop by - you may just have a new client ready to work with you.)
6. Think outside the box and do something different - each client is unique so make their solution unique.

Coming up…Stay tuned for more on Giving Your Clients What They Want & Need: Extra Credit for Showing Your Work

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Have you ever said to yourself “I’ll do that when I have more money” or “when I have more time?”  I think we’ve all been there – overwhelmed, wanting to do everything we can to grow our business and opportunities but finding roadblocks – lack of time, lack of resources and just plain uncertain of how to get started.

Instead of putting off those projects and tasks and talking yourself into the fact that you just can’t  accomplish something challenge yourself to say I can do it, I want to do, I need to do it and I WILL do it.  With the New Year underway perhaps you’ve already started on this great way of thinking - maybe it was starting your diet, training for a triathlon, donating your time to an important cause, doing something new for your business – the list could go on.  That day for all of us is known as TODAY.

The definition of today is:

This day

Distinctive from yesterday or tomorrow

Present time

Today should be known as the day that you said you would do something and you actually did!

I come across countless prospects who tell me they want it all – the perfect website, marketing tools, great SEO, etc and they long for the day when they can barely handle all the client calls wanting them to list or stage their home.  Problem is most of the prospects I’m talking to don’t have a clear vision of what they want and despite my efforts to help them come up with a working plan that has stages of progress, (we all know Rome wasn’t built in a day) they give up and feel defeated before they even began.  They allow that doubt, that I can’t do it right now attitude to creep in and take over.

Instead of focusing on having every new tool known to mankind, every resource and gadget – research a handful and figure out what will help YOU be successful.  Set yourself up for success by taking those handful of tools and resources (your website, blog, social media site, resource, online tool) and give them your full attention.  Become savvy in how they work best for you – become your own expert in using these tools or find someone who can help you. 

Here are a few resources I've compiled to get you started in the right direction:

1. Measure your marketing
2. Social Media Paying Off
3. Marketing is Like Exercising
4. Clients Are Checking Up on You - Are you delivering?

By doing this you’ll gain real focus.  You will find what's working/not working and you’ll be able to develop a realistic and attainable plan that you can actually measure the results.  Keep this in mind; just because a tool is working for your friend in Texas, it does not mean it will work for you or your market, especially if you’re juggling 10 things at once and can barely focus on at least one of them for more than a few minutes a week.  You see I’ve seen great success with clients who choose a handful of areas to focus on and becoming really great in those areas.  The key is to develop your business in a way that makes sense and that you can sustain for the long term.

  I’ll ask you this – do you want to be really great at a few things (and I mean REALLY great) or mediocre at many things?

I’m of the mindset that there’s no better time to start then right now.  You don’t need tons of money and time.  There are so many free tools out there that can do amazing things for your business if you work them the right way.  There are resources out there – colleagues willing to share their knowledge on their blog, virtual assistants that you can hire to work certain aspects of your business, and countless sites that might just give you your next BIG idea.

Listen

Observe

And most importantly - Take Action

Not tomorrow, not next month, not when you have more time, not when you have more money, not when you think that prospect will give you a chance, not when you feel its safe and you won’t risk failing, not when you’re not so busy.

The day is here my friends and it’s called TODAY.

The day when you say you're going to do something and you do.  Make any day YOUR today!

Feel free to share any new strategies and ways of thinking you’re working on to make this year one of your greatest years.

At the very least I hope this post has inspired you to take action and make 2011 one of your best years yet!

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Beware: Being on ActiveRain causes Growing Pains

This statement couldn't be more true! 

Warning:  If you're not prepared for a huge increase in connections, contacts, inquiries, business opportunities, friendships and more - then this is not the place for you.

If you're interested in writing about topics that will strike a cord with someone, if you speak from the heart and have knowledge about a particular subject matter and are interested in connecting with possible clients and colleagues to develop relationships that will not only benefit your business but you personally - then this IS the place for you.

This picture is a very accurate portrayal of what life has been like for me the past few months and believe me I'm not complaining.  At a time when many people are losing their jobs and struggling, I find myself and my business at an amazing place. 

I have never been one to brag and I'm not about to start now but I did feel it was important to share, based on first hand experience, with ActiveRain newcomers and those who are lurking around the network wondering if this is the network/community for them and if it really will benefit their business - it is, it does, it will!

 I also felt that I owed the many great friends and blog subscribers that I have here on ActiveRain an apology for not being active with my commenting and blogging.  While I have tried my best to stay in contact with many of you via social networking sites, there is simply no comparison or replacement for the interactions and connections that I have and can continue to make in this community.  My first priority has been and will always be to my clients (I think everyone can understand/respect that commitment) and of course to my family as striking that balance with work/life is so important.

I have worked hard the last few months to get my business to where it needs to be in order to continue to grow and get back to something I love doing - writing, blogging, sharing and connecting with this great community.  So while I can't say you'll see a blog from me every day I can promise that you will see me more on your blogs commenting and sharing and hopefully I will see you on mine if something I've shared strikes a cord with you.  I look forward to reconnecting and connecting with many of the new members I have yet to meet.

Wow, it feels great to be back - I've missed this place.  I'll let you in on a little secret...I was sorting through some things in my office and came across a handwritten note from a fellow ActiveRain member who had taken the time to reach out to me to thank me for comments left on her blog and how happy she was to know me and have a friend in Bucks County PA.

That's what I'm talking about - Connections - afterall my success and growth of my business is without a doubt due to ActiveRain.  I can't think of any other place to spend my time when not working on client projects and spending time with my family, then with my ActiveRain family.

Have you found the right balance in all things needing your attention - your business, your family, your connections and friendships?  Needing some inspiration?  Visit Kate Elim's Post and Get Inspired  - I did in more ways than one!

Feel free to share:

How ActiveRain or a special person or experience has inspired you and impacted your business.

Stay Tuned for an upcoming blog that will guarantee to make a mega splash.

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I think we can all agree that our clients all want to feel special, whether they are new or they have been working with us for months or even years.  They will also continue to go to where they feel they are wanted and appreciated. 

Think about it from your own personal experience.  Would you continue to go to a restaurant or service provider that didn’t make you feel invited or special?  If they didn’t recognize you or provide you with an exceptional customer service experience would you return, mention them to others or would you simply move on?

Have you ever given thought to whether "new" clients are more important than "existing" clients? I think they are both important and each of them needs to feel that way. Surely we all want to grow our businesses and working with new prospects is an essential part of growing our business but just as essential is in how we treat our “existing” clients.

It comes down to having a system in place to stay in contact with both existing and new clients to ensure everyone's needs are being met.

In a previous blog I wrote about how you can categorize your clients in your database to ensure you’re providing them with information that is relevant to them.  Feel free to review that information and at the end I will give you a few simple ways to go about establishing ways to stay in touch with both new and existing clients.

Here are 3 Rules to follow to help you stay on the mind of your existing clients.  (this will become important for your “new” prospects and clients as you start working with them and establish a good practice for staying in touch with them.)

Rule #1

Call Them.  Yes, in this day of technology – emails, social networking and text messages – we often use our phone less to reach out to clients.  It could be that we’re busy and multi tasking, possibly we’ve been out of touch with a former client and we’re afraid to pick up the phone and call them or we’re not sure what we should be calling them about.  Whatever the reason, we need to let those existing clients know they are “still” important to us.    Try it, you may be surprised to hear a happy tone in their voice that they’re hearing from you or what if they know someone that is possibly in the market to buy or sell a home?

Rule #2

Recognize them.  There are numerous ways to go about this.  A few off the top of my head – invite them to a client event, seminar you know they will find interesting, local events that you are blogging about, blog about their business, refer people you know to their business.  The important thing to remember with this one is you have be listening to know your clients and prospects to know what’s important to them – what they are interested in otherwise you are sending them info they don’t have an interest in and that can be a turn off.  You want to engage with them and be seen as a valuable resource.

Rule #3

Stay in Contact.  This does not mean only when you have work with them, but especially when you don’t!  No one likes to be forgotten.  Send a personal note, forward an email that you know they will find helpful, follow Rule #1 – the point is just stay in contact. 

So how do you go about staying in touch?  While it may seem simple – it’s often the simple things that get overlooked.

• Create a schedule of contact in your database or email – once a month (your newsletter – be sure to get their permission), once a quarter (an email, or a call.)  Once you put a plan together you won’t have to think when did I last contact that client or you won’t let too much time pass without letting them know they’re important to you.

• While it’s important to contact them, it’s also important to make a note about why you contacted them.  Perhaps you sent them a note to remind them of an upcoming event or you forwarded an email and they loved receiving it. This way you will be able to note something that is important to THIS client.  Don’t rely on your memory – jot a note in their file or your database.

• Invite them to your social networking – invite them to participate and engage with you and your contacts – connections can be made and enhanced.

• Invite them to your blog.  Often they will discover you’re writing something of interest to them that you might not know is a “hot” button for them – it could initiate a call or email from this client and you’ve got contact.  Especially do this if you’re going to blog about their business or a recent interaction you’ve had with them.

• The possibilities are endless so feel free to share other ways you have for staying in touch with your clients?

My final point is this: Put a system in place, whatever works for you and your clients, to make this happen regularly and consistently.

Establishing a good system for contact with existing clients and prospects is a good practice to follow if you’re interested in growing your business.  A trust already exists with your existing clients and that has the potential for growth of your business by way of referrals.  If you establish this practice your new prospects and clients will also benefit because you will have an established method of contact from them beginning and won’t have to be focused on playing catch up with them to reestablish that trust.

Don’t let so much time pass that your clients and prospects feel forgotten and then ultimately YOU are the one that becomes forgotten.

What Rules do you follow when it comes to maintaining your “existing” client relationships vs. only being focused on the "new"? Are they different or the same?

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