Archive for October 2010
Six Keys to Creating ?wow? Customer Service Experiences

Customers of every kind of business imaginable these days bemoan the state of customer service. While the global economy and the Internet have given businesses the opportunity to serve more clients than ever before, the trend has also given way to impersonal, lackluster customer service. It’s unfortunate that most businesses today don’t realize that they are regularly losing valuable customers if they don’t focus on providing an exceptional customer service experience.
In most businesses, once a customer begins dealing with the customer service department, he or she is already in a negative mindset. The best customer service representatives aren’t those that simply neutralize the problem. Outstanding customer service representatives take a negative and turn it into a positive that ensures the customer is not only happy, but is convinced he or she has had an outstanding experience – the Wow Factor – that he would not have gotten with any other company.
The key ingredients of the Wow experience are:
• Seamless Service
• Trustworthy Service
• Attentiveness
• Resourcefulness
• Courtesy
• Pro-active Service
Seamless Service means providing everything the customer needs, not just what is required to meet the minimum standards. It’s about making sure that they don’t have to wait and wonder. Customers will appreciate a smooth, seamless process for addressing their needs. If there are several steps needed to take care of their concerns, keep them in the loop – update them by email or with a quick phone call so that they know you are working on the situation and progress is being made. By keeping them abreast of what is going on, you are letting them know you haven’t forgotten about them and that you understand their concerns – reassurance and communication are powerful customer service tools.
Trustworthy Service is essential to retaining customers. Promising a customer anything and delivering nothing is the surest way to not only lose a customer, but get the kind of “word of mouth” bad press that can ruin you. Under promise and over deliver – If you promise a satisfactory solution and then go the extra mile to not only satisfy the customer, but gain their appreciation and “Wow” them, you will get word of mouth that will bring new customers to you.
How To Transform Your Career, Claim your Power and Get Unstuck in Today’s Turbulent Market Place

A career development centre can be a service, or a group of programs that provides people with any level of education, whether they are undergraduate, a graduate, or an alumni, to plan for or deal with career transitions that inevitably arise in the life of any person. Each career development centre will have a career counsellor even though the centres may operate differently. All career counsellors provide guidance through personal interaction.
We spend nearly 100,000 hours in our lifetime working. Wouldn’t life be different if you loved your work, rather than dreading Monday mornings? How could life be different if you felt energized in your current job or your next career move, so energized that work did not feel like work anymore?
Whether you are currently working or in transition looking for your next job opportunity you do not want to miss this special briefing – a briefing that will change the way you approach work forever.
If today’s turbulent job market is creating roadblocks for you that you cannot seem to overcome no matter how hard you try, you’ve done everything and still can’t find the job or career you want, or you are concerned that the next job you take you will just result in another layoff before you know it, then you MUST plan to attend next week’s invitation-only event!
In this exclusive briefing on Tuesday, June 28th, 2009 at 7pm, we will share with you some critical insights into:
* How you can identify your true work passion
* How and why you must consider yourself self employed and manage your career that way even if you work for someone else
* How you can overcome the challenges created by the recent economy and still capture top dollar for your talents
* How living your passion will significantly increase your sense of financial freedom
* Why you cannot afford to wait and must start taking action now due to the changing landscape of the workforce
* The art of the job search has changed – how you can uncover the majority of the new opportunities that are never advertised anywhere
* The power of your personal brand and its impact on your career success
* How to not let fear stop you, replacing it with a mentality of limitless possibilities.
* And More…..
Free Dry Cleaner Business Plan

Free Dry Cleaner Business Plan for Loans
Obtaining Business Financing
When obtaining a business loan for a dry cleaning business, it is imperative that you have a properly structured business plan that will assist you in showcasing how you intend to operate your Dry Cleaner, how the business will operate, how you intend to market the business, the anticipated financial results of your company, and how you intend to repay your debt obligations. This sample loan business plan will provide you with the framework that you need in order to acquire a business loan for starting or expanding this type of business.
Executive Summary
Introduction
When obtaining a business loan for a dry cleaner, it is imperative that your business plan has a clear and concise executive summary that provides an outline of what are seeking to accomplish, how much capital you are seeking to raise, the management biography of the business owner, and an overview of the anticipated profit and loss statements of the business. Here is an example of how the title paragraph should be written:
Dry Cleaner, Inc. (“the Company”) is seeking a business loan of 0,000 in order to launch the operations of a dry cleaning business that will be based in San Francisco, California. The Company was founded in (Insert Year). The business was founded by Mr. John Doe.
Products and Services
In the next segment of the business loan and business planning document, you should showcase the products and services that you will be providing to the general public. For instance:
The Dry Cleaner will provide the outsourced cleaning of clothes to the general public and to other dry cleaners that solely operate in a drop store capacity. The business will generate substantial revenues from these services. In regards to maintaining a competitive advantage, the business will provide regular drop off and delivery of clothes that need to be dry cleaned on a regular basis to residents within the Company’s targeted market of San Francisco, California.
Business Loan Terms
Now it is time to discuss the anticipated terms of the business plan that you are seeking. An example paragraph of how this is stated:
10 Legitimate Work From Home Business Ideas

Looking for legitimate work from home business ideas? Well you have come to the right place. We at HomeBizScout.com have scoured the web in search of legitimate work from home business ideas.
Before I start to list the ideas I just want to make sure you understand that these are not get rich quick ideas nor are they become a millionaire overnight! Oh and let’s not forget my favorite start making 00 a week! Nope these are legitimate business ideas and they all take work, time and yes even some money to get started. Being a business owner is HARD WORK!
If you are not a hard worker or more importantly a self starter then please don’t waste your time or money trying to start a legitimate work from home business. It’s not going to work for you. I am sorry but I just prefer to keep it honest! Being a business owner is not for the faint of heart! You have to wear many hats, work extremely long hours on little to no sleep, and you have to make extreme sacrifices!
Now that I have gotten my short sermon out of the way, without further ado let me introduce you to 10 legitimate work from home business ideas…
Business Coaching
Catering/Personal Chef
Childcare/Nanny Services
Cleaning Services
Computer Repair
Customer Service
Data Entry
Event Planning
Gift Basket Business/Gift Basket Maker
Virtual Assistant
If you would like more information on any of the home business ideas listed above or you would like to get more ideas make sure to visit HomeBizScout.com – The Insider’s Guide To Working From Home.
www.MakeYourMillion.com.au What if you could take all the holidays you want, wherever you want on the spur of the moment pay off your mortgage in no time flat… send your kids to the best schools…update to a brand new car on a whim… surprise your family with generous gifts… own holiday homes in every part of the world and become the hero of your 5 favourite charities… All without breaking a sweat! …And what if you could do all this while, working less than you ever have before…Following a Proven Step by Step Home Based Business System… Backed up by a dedicated training & support team… All the while Developing the Mindset of a Millionaire… Meeting and working with some of the worlds most successful people… And Fine Tuning your own investment skills and strategies. And Helping Other People Create The Life Of Their Dreams… http
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Planet Antares Tips For Novice Enterpreneurs

As a novice entrepreneur, you may be looking for investing in the right business to seek maximum profits right from the word Go. If you are thinking about getting into vending machine business, you should keep the following few tips in your mind.
Always buy brand new vending machines manufactured from reputed manufacturer. Don’t get tricked by used/ refurbished vending machine sellers. Stay away from refurbished vending machine scams.
Find a location that is highly profitable. Beware of taking services from vending locators as some of them are there to scam the operators by selling out “not so profitable” locations at high price. If you are a Planet Antares customer, you should get in touch with support staff, who without any cost would guide you to choose the best location for your business.
Always buy products in bulk as you can get a decent deal.
Stock reputed products. They are always a hit among customers.
Stock products according to location. Product selection should be based on customer’s profile.
If you have multiple vending machines at different locations. Plan your vending route in such a way, that none of your vending machine ever gets out of the stock.
Service your vending machine regularly.
Keep the vending machine hygienic and clean.
Do seek and implement customer’s feedback to improve your services.
Planet Antares is manufacturing vending machines since 1987. Over the period of time, they are providing one of the finest and technologically advanced vending machines. Planet Antares not only helps vending operators in establishing their business, but also guides them at every necessary step. I would rate Planet Antares vending machines and their services simply superb and would recommend it to fellow entrepreneurs.
Find More Enterpreneurs Articles
Clover Advertising is a leading direct marketing specialist and the reasons are many

Clover Advertising has in a short span emerged as the leading specialists in the direct marketing arena with a client base that keeps increasing on a daily basis. The company is very smart at the job of increasing brand awareness and delivering their customers quantifiable results thus keeping them always satisfied. Being a company that always exceeds the expectations of their clients, Clover Advertising values the smile on their customers faces much more than anything else and this in turn has helped then reap rich rewards.
Clover Advertising has always worked with a passion and energy and this to a great extent has kept the company moving forward. Maintaining customer service for clients to the highest level, the company has managed to create for itself a brand name and a reputed position in the direct marketing field that very few companies in their league have attained.
It is not only clients who love the company for its dedication and customer service towards them. The company is loved by its very own staff for the infinite opportunities for growth that the company gifts. Clover Advertising believes in encouraging enthusiastic personnel to attain great heights and in growing along with them. Personnel, who make use of the numerous possibilities, find the company an adequate place to nurture their dreams of a great career.
The company is going great guns – expanding to new places, developing break-through strategies and attaining a five hundred percent growth rate in just over 6 months. Direct marketing is soon becoming one of the most preferred modes of marketing and along with it; Clover Advertising is becoming one of the most preferred direct marketing company as well. With professionalism, hard-work, persistence and enthusiasm being the four wheels that drive the chariot of the company and the team, Clover Advertising for sure has a long way to go.

www.5min.com Learn from the pro’s how to advertise and market your product with outstanding creativity. Just check out these brilliant examples of visual creativity!
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Evaluating Company Performance Through Customer Service Metrics

In the current global business scene, it is important to be highly competitive. Companies’ ability to beat and rise up from competition is considered important because revenues depend on it. Of course, it is apparent that competitive firms are more able to generate good income and profits because consumers and customers are reliant and trusting on them.
Competitiveness and good relationship with customers can be ensured by setting and putting in place good customer service practices. Good customer service levels would help your business achieve the competitiveness it needs. That is because putting into consideration the major perceptions of customers would make your company strive harder to develop good products and improve already existing products and services. To do so, you must adhere to good and working customer service metrics.
If your business has a customer service operations, you must ensure a recommended customer service metrics is in place. Usually, working customer service metrics include the following as main factors.
– Volume of customer inquiries handled per hour. This is a measure of productivity. Of course, the higher the number of customers attended to in an hour, the better. But there is one common and logical setback. If you would force your customer service representatives to take numerous and continuous calls, for sure, the quality of call service would suffer.
– Volume of customer complaints. This is not actually a direct customer service metrics but more of a performance indicator of the business and production operations. The more complaints your company receive, the more it is evident that your company has failed to be efficient in rendering and producing quality goods and services.
– Volume of resolved customer complaints. If you would run a daily tally about the volume of resolved complaints from customers, you would be able to distinguish the effectiveness of the customer service unit. In return, customer satisfaction would be boosted. Customer service metrics should always include this measure.
– Return customers volume. If customers keep on returning or buying your products, that means they are satisfied with the quality of services and products. In the customer service level, if clients keep on coming back despite their complaints, that means they realize that your business is still satisfactory.
Such customer service metrics can be considered more inclined on the quantitative side. Of course, by looking and tallying volumes of satisfied and dissatisfied customers, there are numbers involved. Quantitative metrics like the one described above are easier to handle and interpret.
Free Tanning Salon Business Plan

Free Tanning Salon Business Plan for Loans
Obtaining Business Financing
When obtaining a business loan for a tanning salon business, it is imperative that you have a properly structured business plan that will assist you in showcasing how you intend to operate your Tanning Salon, how the business will operate, how you intend to market the business, the anticipated financial results of your company, and how you intend to repay your debt obligations. This sample loan business plan will provide you with the framework that you need in order to acquire a business loan for starting or expanding this type of business.
Executive Summary
Introduction
When obtaining a business loan for a tanning salon, it is imperative that your business plan has a clear and concise executive summary that provides an outline of what are seeking to accomplish, how much capital you are seeking to raise, the management biography of the business owner, and an overview of the anticipated profit and loss statements of the business. Here is an example of how the title paragraph should be written:
Tanning Salon, Inc. (“the Company”) is seeking a business loan of 0,000 in order to launch the operations of a tanning salon business that will be based in San Francisco, California. The Company was founded in (Insert Year). The business was founded by Mr. John Doe.
Products and Services
In the next segment of the business loan and business planning document, you should showcase the products and services that you will be providing to the general public. For instance:
The Tanning Salon will provide a number of high technology tanning beds that will be used by the general public. The Company will generate revenues from the ongoing usage of these tanning beds on a daily basis and through the sale of tanning salon passes that will allow frequent patrons to pre-pay for their tanning salon needs. The business will generate extremely high gross margins from its services.
The third section of the business plan will further document the services provided by Tanning Salon, Inc.
Business Loan Terms
Now it is time to discuss the anticipated terms of the business plan that you are seeking. An example paragraph of how this is stated:
BUSINESS ETHICS How to Assess Ethical Fitness

BUSINESS ETHICS
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Can Ethics and Business co-exist?
Or are the two mutually exclusive?
Is Ethics relevant in Business Management in today’s world?
Or is “Business Ethics” an oxymoron, not relevant in today’s business and corporate environment?
Is there such a thing as Ethical Fitness?
When recruiting new people, or promoting/appointing persons to senior / sensitive positions, a number of attributes ( Hard Skills and Soft Skills) like Professional Competence, Managerial Proficiency, Domain-specific or Technical skills, and pertinent soft skills comprising leadership, communication, behavioural and emotional aspects, and even physical and medical fitness are assessed, evaluated and given due consideration.
But does anyone evaluate a candidate’s Ethical Fitness before recruitment or appointment?
No, I am not talking about the routine verification of antecedents or background integrity checks. I am talking of assessing Ethical Fitness.
Ethical fitness refers to ensuring that people are in proper moral shape to recognize and address ethical dilemmas. Ensuring Ethical fitness in a proactive manner will result in preventive, rather than corrective, Ethical Management.
Before launching any inquiry pertaining to the concept of Ethical Fitness, it is necessary to explore the moral dimension. Moral development is a prerequisite to ethical behaviour; in fact, a sine qua non for ethical fitness. Kohlberg offers a handy framework for delineating the stage each of us has reached with respect to personal moral development.
Stage 1. Physical consequences determine moral behaviour.
At this stage of personal moral development, the individual’s ethical behaviour is driven by the decision to avoid punishment or by deference to power. Punishment is an automatic response of physical retaliation. The immediate physical consequences of an action determine its goodness or badness. Such moral behaviour is seen in boarding schools, military training academies etc. where physical punishment techniques are prevalent with a view to inculcate the attributes of obedience and deference to power. The individual behaves in a manner akin to the Pavlovian dog.
Stage 2. Individual needs dictate moral behaviour.
At this stage, a person’s needs are the person’s primary ethical concern. The right action consists of what instrumentally satisfies your own needs. People are valued in terms of their utility. Example: “I will help him because he may help me in return – you scratch my back, I will scratch yours.”
Stage 3. Approval of others determines moral behaviour.