If I were referring to the local town gossip, you
would probably want your answer to be no. Although, the way I see it, if
they are talking about me, they
are leaving everyone else alone. But, alas, I do
believe I am a boring subject for our town gossip!
But if I were referring to the business world, you
would definitely want your answer to be YES! Good
old-fashioned word-of-mouth advertising. It is still
one of the most effective business builders there is.
Even if people are talking negatively about you and/or
your business, it can be a positive for you. This
talk might make a person curious enough to check out
your business and (hopefully) they will find their
experience to be pleasant and satisfactory. Then they
would possibly go back to the original talker and tell
them of their positive experience with your business
and the original talker would try your business again.
No matter how great you, your employees, and your
business are, you cannot please everybody. But you
can please MOST people if you run your business
efficiently and effectively. Some ways of doing
this are:
Be True to Your Word! You must be trustworthy and
do what you promise to do for your customers. Do
not make false claims or promises. Your customers
will remain loyal if you are true to them.
Build Relationships With Your Customers! Get to
know your customers as people. Talk to them like
you were a friend. But you must be sincere. Do not
put on the big "Slap on the back, nice to see you"
act.
Appreciate Your Customers! Have contests, give
away freebies, do whatever you can to make sure
your customers know that you appreciate them. A
simple Thank You can do wonders!
Provide Help For Your Prospective Customers! If
your customers need advice or answers make sure
you do your best to see that they get that help.
You need your customers more than they need you!
Treat People With Respect! You definitely do not
want to be rude or inconsiderate to people. Treat
them the way you would want to be treated in the
same situation.
Provide A Good Product or Service! This one speaks
for itself.
Make Sure Your Customers Are Satisfied! You should
do everything you can to ensure that the customer
leaves your business feeling satisfied.
Visit these sites for more tips and ideas:
http://www.busreslab.com ips ip23.htm
http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~ohioline/cd-fact/1301.html
http://ebusiness.dci.com/articles/eb99092.htm
http://advertising.utexas.edu/world/Mouth.html
In doing all these things you will build a solid
reputation that will keep tongues wagging for a
long time!!
About the Author
Terri Seymour owns and operates MyOwnEzine.com
MyOwnEzine.com is a website, ezine and service which
provides the resources, tools, guidance and more to help
you start, publish and promote your own ezine. You can
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http://www.myownezine.com for lots more info.