apple valley: Customer Satisfaction vs. Customer Elation
- 05/11/07 12:01 AM
Striving for customer satisfaction is like going for the bronze. You won't be remembered as the best unless you really exceed the customer's expectations. Take the phrase "customer satisfaction" out of your vocabulary, and instead strive for "customer elation." Your customers must be so impressed that they are actually excited to spread the word about you and the exemplary service you provide. In their book, Raving Fans: A Revolutionary Approach to Customer Service*, Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles write: "Your customers are only satisfied because their expectations are so low and because no one else is doing better. Just having satisfied customers isn't … (2 comments)
apple valley: The Key To College Planning
- 05/10/07 11:44 PM
In today's world, a college education is more important than ever. Many of the jobs that do not require a college degree have been outsourced to workers in other countries, or replaced by a computer or machine. In addition, according to Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, the income disparity between college grads and non-grads is growing every year. In 1979, college grads earned 38% more than those with only a high school diploma. But today, college grads earn 75% more than those without degrees! The Cost of Higher Education Let's face it: college is expensive. And with the cost inflating approximately 5% annually, the … (0 comments)
apple valley: The Art of Database Management- Part IV
- 05/09/07 11:55 PM
It's important not to assume to know what is relevant to your clients. You must ask intelligent questions, run reports on this information, and then proactively meet your customers' relevant needs. This completes our analysis of Bill Gates' quote regarding managing information, and brings us full circle. We've talked about gathering information. Here are some things that you can do to BUY BRAIN CELLS! Remember, marketing is about being in the forefront of your clients' thoughts, and the only way you can buy their brain cells and make them work for you is by marketing to what is important to them. That … (0 comments)
apple valley: The Art of Database Management- Part III
- 05/09/07 11:49 PM
The second part of Bill Gates' famous quote from Business at the Speed of Thought deals with the subject of reporting and managing the information you've gathered. The unfortunate reality is that many people have databases full of useful information, but they simply don't use the information effectively. Many people think of a database as an electronic Rolodex®, when it is really so much more than that. A database is a living, breathing, proactive platform that can generate predictable results and keep bringing in new business for you. The only way to turn your data into useful information is through reporting. The … (1 comments)
apple valley: The Art of Database Management- Part II
- 05/09/07 11:40 PM
Most of us are sales people when you get right down to it. Our job is to sell our services - and ourselves - as we strive to add more clients to our existing book of business. The unfortunate fact is that most of us are in such a hurry to sell our services that, in the process, we forget to do the most important thing relative to sales. Remember the quote from Bill Gates? The most important thing we can do is gather as much information as possible and understand what our customers need. From there, we can construct a presentation … (1 comments)
apple valley: The Art of Database Management- Part I
- 05/09/07 11:22 PM
The relationship you develop with your customers, combined with the personal information you are constantly collecting, can be a goldmine for future business. The fact is most business professionals spend a significant amount of money marketing to people they don't know in an effort to procure new business. Wouldn't it make more sense to go deeper with your existing clients-to really understand their needs-and spend your marketing dollars on people you already have a relationship with? In Bill Gates' book, Business at the Speed of Thought,* he states: "How you gather, manage and use information to serve the needs of your customer will determine … (0 comments)
apple valley: Proactive or Reactive?
- 05/09/07 12:59 PM
Everyone makes choices. Their outlook on life, whether at home, at work, behind the wheel or at the theater, directly correlates to the decision to be either positive or negative. In essence, it's as simple as whether you see the glass half full or half empty. As author Stephen R. Covey puts it in his much publicized book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,* you can choose to be proactive or you can choose to be reactive. He takes his theory a step further, saying that a proactive stance leads to greater success and contentment. From that perspective, a reactive … (1 comments)
apple valley: The Subprime Crisis: Is Your Home at Risk?
- 05/09/07 12:18 PM
It's all over the news. Subprime mortgage companies are in the midst of a true crisis! According to The New York Times, over two dozen lenders have already closed their doors for good. In fact, more than half of the top 25 mortgage companies from 2006 have either reported serious losses, been sold off to other companies, or have filed for bankruptcy! When asked how many subprime lenders will be taken down by the current credit crunch, Bill Dallas, mortgage industry icon and former CEO of Ownit Mortgage Solutions, replied "all of them." When asked how many borrowers would be impacted by tightening … (0 comments)
apple valley: Protecting Your Credit During Divorce
- 05/09/07 01:03 AM
When a marriage ends in divorce, the lives of those involved are changed forever. During this time of upheaval, one thing that shouldn't have to change is the credit status you've worked so hard to achieve. Unfortunately, for many, the experience is the exact opposite. Unfulfilled promises to pay bills, the maxing out of credit cards, and a total breakdown in communication frequently lead to the annihilation of at least one spouse's credit. Depending upon how finances are structured, it can sometimes have a negative impact on both parties. The good news is it doesn't have to be this way. By taking a … (0 comments)
apple valley: Lead Follow−Up Campaigns- Never Give Up On a Lead!
- 05/09/07 12:57 AM
You might wonder, "When is a lead no longer a lead?" A lead is always a lead until the person tells you to stop calling. The key to success in sales is professional persistence. Take time to earn the loyalty of prospects by showing them that you add more value to the equation than anybody else in your field. One critical element to remember about a successful lead follow-up campaign is that it should be easy to implement. Build a series of letters (i.e., templates) and load them into your database management system. Whether you use Top Producer®, Microsoft® Outlook® or ACT!®* … (3 comments)
apple valley: Is a 30-Year Fixed Mortgage the Best Type of Mortgage?
- 05/08/07 01:25 AM
With interest rates still near 40-year lows, is a 30- year, fixed-rate mortgage the right choice? While the mass media's response is usually yes, my reply is NO. Today's market is much different than the market and lifestyle of the previous generation. That generation typically had one job, one pension, one house and one mortgage. That lifestyle no longer holds true today. Pension plans seem to be a thing of the past unless you are employed in the airline industry and many of the public services agencies. Most Americans will hold five or more jobs throughout their careers. As far as … (0 comments)
apple valley: The Mortgage Planning Process
- 05/06/07 11:55 PM
The mortgage planning process is different than the typical "shopping for a mortgage" experience. The mortgage planning relationship is not about you: Wasting your valuable time trying to save $25/month by comparing rates, fees and closing costs among different lenders. Wasting your valuable time trying to baby-sit the mortgage company you've reluctantly chosen to work with. Being promised one thing and then getting something different at closing. Being "sold" on one mortgage product over another. The mortgage planning relationship is about you: Receiving valuable financial advice and guidance that can literally save you hundreds of thousands of dollars. Trusting a professional … (0 comments)
apple valley: Are You Using Your Voicemail Effectively?
- 05/06/07 11:42 PM
Have you ever stopped to consider how many times a new prospect gets your voicemail before they have a chance to speak directly with you? Your voicemail greeting provides an excellent opportunity to create a first impression that can have an enormous impact on whether people decide to use your services. It can also be used as a dynamic marketing tool. If the first time you called a CPA, Financial Planner, or Real Estate Agent, you heard a voicemail greeting that was energetic, educational and professional, wouldn't that set the proper tone for the rest of the relationship? Very few people take … (10 comments)
apple valley: Shopping for the Right Mortgage
- 05/05/07 01:18 AM
Finding a mortgage that's right for you should be easy. There are literally hundreds of options to choose from, including Fixed Rate, Adjustable Rate, Hybrids, Interest Only, Monthly Option ARMs, and Pay Select Mortgages, to name just a few. Mortgages are available at rates ranging from an introductory rate of 1.00% to well over 10.00%. You can finance up to 100% of your home's value and, in some cases, your closing costs as well. However, because there are so many options available, it's important to seek advice from an experienced mortgage professional who has your best interest at heart. The first step … (1 comments)
apple valley: Enhance Your Role as the Gate Keeper: Take Your Business to a New Level
- 05/05/07 01:07 AM
As every professional knows, it's important to have a reliable network of referral partners who regularly send business your way and to whom you send clients as well. But according to Business Network Int'l. founder and networking expert, Dr. Ivan Misner, it's possible to take these relationships and their resulting benefits to another level. It's all about positioning one's self as the "Gate Keeper of the Lead". A "Gate Keeper" is someone who not only refers business, but does so by becoming the center of the referral circle, ensuring that all contacts pass through them. For example, say that you're at a … (0 comments)
apple valley: Protect Your Personal Information
- 05/03/07 11:54 PM
Did you know that the major credit bureaus sell your personal information? It's true! Known as "trigger leads", the files of borrowers applying for a home loan are immediately flagged, packaged, and sold by the credit bureaus to the highest bidders. For about $25 to $100 or more, your name and certain specifics about your credit report, including your address, phone number, mortgage history, and even your FICO score range, are sold to unscrupulous mortgage companies which then blindly solicit your business. This results in numerous unwanted phone calls and junk mail offers which are in no way associated with your … (0 comments)
apple valley: Communication: Proactive Methods to Improve Business
- 05/03/07 11:34 PM
I once heard the expression, "Communication is the lubrication in your organization." That couldn't be truer, especially in the world of business. You simply can't over-communicate when dealing with clients. I find that the best way to eliminate the constant state of reactivity in which most of us work is to employ proactive communication strategies, such as the following: Make a list of the people with whom you correspond regularly. Take note of all the recurring questions that you have to answer time and time again. Then ask yourself how you can provide the information to these individuals in advance. For example, let's … (1 comments)
apple valley: What Are Points and When Should You Pay Them?
- 05/03/07 12:26 PM
Points are up-front fees paid by the borrower to obtain a better interest rate on a loan. One point equals one percent of the loan amount. And while a lower interest rate may result in a lower monthly payment, it is important to consider how long you intend to be in the loan and to compare current interest rates to historical market trends. This will help you to determine whether paying points is a worthwhile investment. Let's look at a sample scenario. If you take out a $300,000 mortgage and decide to pay one point in order to lower your interest … (1 comments)
apple valley: Buy Household Products Online: The Savings will Surprise You!
- 05/03/07 01:03 AM
Since its inception, the Internet has caused a fair share of controversy. Some people see it as a valuable tool while others consider it the devil's playground. Wherever you stand, one thing is certain - it has changed our idea of commerce forever. eBay® is a perfect example. On this website, the economic theory of supply and demand is played out on a daily basis as consumers bid against each other to purchase an array of products. In many cases, items once thought to be rare collectibles are now readily available from a variety of sellers. This is good news for buyers, … (0 comments)
apple valley: Sell Yourself to Prospects: Be a Great Listener
- 05/03/07 12:55 AM
No matter what type of business you are in, your prospect has the option to select from a variety of competitors within the same marketplace. You must set yourself apart from your rivals, and it all starts by having the ability to listen attentively to each and every new prospect. You must hone in on what their needs are and what their idea of great customer service is. Have you ever been interested in a product that seemed superior in every aspect, but you just didn't like the pushy salesperson? Learn from their bad example! Let your prospects do the talking, and … (0 comments)
Striving for customer satisfaction is like going for the bronze. You won't be remembered as the best unless you really exceed the customer's expectations. Take the phrase "customer satisfaction" out of your vocabulary, and instead strive for "customer elation." Your customers must be so impressed that they are actually excited to spread the word about you and the exemplary service you provide.;)
;)
