Finding New Ways to Reach the Customer

Have you ever gone on vacation and returned so JAZZED that you just can’t wait to get started on business?  Well color me Miles Davis – I couldn’t be any more jazzier.  A week away from the office and I am bursting with new business ideas that I want to share with you. (BTW -the picture is of my Mom, daughter and nephew having a great spring vacation!)

They are all in their infancy so comments and suggestions from you will only help to make them better:

Put Customers First:  A new online resource.  I have just emailed 35 of the top sales associates and business executives that I frequently work with to ask their opinion about what this should include.  Should it be a website with frequently updated data?  Should it be a Ning – an online community with discussion groups and blog posts and video how-tos?  You tell me.  If you want to participate in the survey – please visit: Put Customers First – the Survey and answer 10 easy questions.

Policy for Social Media: OMG – I had an enormous epiphany this week.  How many companies block their employee’s ability to participate in social networking during the day because they don’t have detailed rules and guidelines for how to participate and what to say?  We need a policy and procedure manual that can be customized for each company’s specific needs and levels of comfort.  Yes – you guessed it – I’m in the process of writing the manual right this minute.  If customers buy from those they like and trust – what better way to get to know them then through social media.  Social media allows your employees the opportunity to show off their expert knowledge – which only reinforces your brand.  But it does require some guidelines.  Visit Policy for Social Media and keep an eye out for the  upcoming manual!

We know that customers sign our paycheck.  But what if you HATE YOUR CUSTOMER?  That question came up at a dinner I attended a few days ago.  I was talking about my Make or Break Moments and the whole idea behind Putting Customers First and someone said:

That’s all well and good but what if you hate your customer?  Then what are you supposed to do?

LOVE IT.  Thus begins my new blog I Hate My Customer – Now What? This in an interactive forum that demands YOU PARTICIPATE.  Yep – I’m giving you a place to write all about those dreaded customers that just rub you the wrong way.  “The customer’s always right – yeah, sure.” Let’s face it – we all have or have had a customer that we couldn’t stand.  How did you handle it?  Visit this new blog and spill your guts!

All in all it was a great vacation.  And to top it off Kevin Stirtz put Make or Break Moments on his 10 top Customer Service blogs!  Woo hoo.  Life doesn’t get any better.

So how was your spring vacation?