Posts Tagged ‘client services’

How To Use The Chamber Of Commerce To Your Best Advantage

First and foremost, by becoming a Chamber member you’re exposing yourself to the owners of most, if not all, of your area’s largest companies. If you properly cultivate and nurture professional relationships with these movers and shakers, you’ll assure your maximum exposure and influence.  You will become an asset that they will remember and turn to when your expertise is required.

Be sure to attend as many sponsored events as time and budget allow. By becoming more involved in your local Chamber you’re expertise and fields of specialty will be highlighted to more people.  Always hae a good supply of business cards that reinforce your services, and don’t be shy to hand them out.  You never know when someone will need to get back in touch to demand your services.

Volunteer to speak at as many member meetings as they’ll let you. By educating your peers (other business owners) about what an improved web presence can do for their business, you create a need.
You’re also educating them as to just how much they need you and your services to attain those benefits.

Always have more business cards than you think you’ll need when you attend events. Use the 3 foot rule at these events for sure. For those that don’t know, the three foot rule says that you should introduce yourself and give a business card to anyone who comes within three feet of you. By doing so, those people will have a reference when they hear your name again or need your services.

If you have the aptitude or inclination, run for office of your local Chamber. There’s no better way to give highlight to your business than by being the leader of such a respected institution as the Chamber of Commerce.

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Consultants: Outsource Or Die

There is not the slightest doubt that consulting to offline businesses is the market niche to be in.  It is a major growth industry.  The potential clients have a wide variety of needs that need to be met.  Anyone who has some experience in internet marketing will be capable of meeting these needs.

However, consider for a moment the extent of the needs that you are likely to face.

• Your client will require a well designed web site that is properly optimized for the search engines.

• Your client will require an auto-responder and associated email messages

• Your client will need articles submitted on a regular basis to the article directories.

• Your client will need  video on the sales and contact pages.

• Your client will need a continuing program of education and support.

You may well think that you can provide these services on your own, if you have all the necessary skills.  That scenario may work out for your first few clients, but then you will find yourself shouldering an increasing burden.  The consequence of doing that is likely to be disastrous.  Your clients’ needs will not be met in the most timely and efficient way; you will start missing deadlines and making mistakes.  The long term implications of that are obvious.

Outsourcing is therefore a very sensible – indeed, necessary approach to take, right from day one.

The secret of success with outsourcing is to do your homework.

There are a large number of resources available to you, depending on what tasks you wish to have performed.

Let me use web site design as an example.  Determine the size and basic layout that is required for your client’s site, then get three sites designed.  It may cost you a little at first, but in the long term it will help you provide a consistent and reliable service.  This split-testing approach will enable you to gauge quality, turn-around time and interpersonal relationships.  It will also enable you to negotiate a good price for continuing work.

The same will apply for other areas of your client services such as article writing and video production.

In order to have long term stability and effectiveness in your consultancy services you will need to outsource as much of your work as possible.

So….outsource or die!