E-commerce web sites in today's world can not thrive on the income they generate from their own site. A successful web site must utilize the various shopping web sites on the internet such as Shop.com, Amazon, Biz Rate, Biz Buyer, Price Graber, Froogle, etc..
Web sites like Amazon, Nextag, Yahoo! Shopping, etc. are some of the most profitable web sites on the internet. What most people do not know is that they personally do not sell any products, they are made up of thousands of smaller merchants like you. They spend millions of dollars advertising their web sites, and driving traffic to their merchants all potentially for your benefit.
There are two main ways you can benefit from this opportunity. Individual product uploads and product feeds.
After you get approved for an account you will be faced with the daunting task of getting all of your products to them in the exact format they require. Unfortunately if it is not perfect they will kick it back to you. Assuming you have more then a few products, the product feed will be your only real options. Uploading 1 or 2 products is pretty easy, however for some of my clients with thousands of products the feed is the best and only choice.
A product feed is basically an excel spreadsheet listing all of the products and every attribute of the product that you wish included. Some of the information needed are pricing, description, product url, picture url, size, color, etc.. Each shopping site below has it's own format , Amazon being the most in-depth, and the most potential profit. We represent clients currently earning over $100,000 per month alone on Amazon.
Some of the shopping sites we create product feeds for are:
Amazon: Amazon.com is one of the branded global leaders in e-commerce. Acting as much as a marketplace as a shopping comparison site, Amazon offers pricing on everything from books, music, sports equipment, beauty supplies and jewelry. Amazon often sends product catalog feeds to other shopping destination sites for maximum reach of products to shoppers and works with thousands of merchants to provide a very diverse product catalog offering from which shoppers can choose.
Become.com: Become.com is the only vertical shopping search engine that offers an integrated product research and comparison shopping experience in one destination. This unique site helps people make ideal buying decisions by providing consumers comprehensive, unbiased, and relevant product reviews and information on millions of products, and the ability to shop for those products from brand name retailers from across the web. Its proprietary AIR (Affinity Index Ranking) technology is built using contextual analysis that incorporates human intelligence to deliver targeted results. Provides comprehensive, relevant, and unbiased research information to help you choose the right product. Become.com provides a comparison shopping service to help the shopper get the best deal on hundreds of merchant storefront sites. Finding the right product at the best price to save you time and money is their goal. A relatively new shopping comparison site, they are well funded and are growing.
BizRate: Bizrate is now Shopzilla but still acts as a stand alone shopping destination site. Bizrate was one the first shopping comparison sites and today is one of the largest, fastest and most accurate shopping search engines on the Internet. Bizrate has an index of over 30 million product offerings from more than 50,000 merchants large and small. Bizrate will send product catalog feeds to other shopping destination sites for maximum reach of products to shoppers.
Buyer's Edge: Buyer's Edge a leading Comparison Shopping Search Engine was designed and developed by a team of Consumer Product experts that specialize in consumer buying behavior. Millions of online shoppers visit Buyers Edge monthly for unbiased product reviews, price comparisons, merchant ratings, and buying advice. BuyersEdge.com drives targeted and qualified sales leads to merchants, while simultaneously promoting their products and building brand awareness.
Commission Junction: Commission Junction, a ValueClick company, is a leader in performance-based online marketing, delivering advanced solutions that facilitate strategic online relationships between advertisers and publishers, driving measurable results for each client. By publishing performance metrics on advertisers, publishers, and ads within its marketplace and leveraging its own expertise in online marketing through service, education and promotion, Commission Junction creates an open marketplace of low risk and high reward for its clients. The company serves billions of impressions monthly, ranking it among the largest ad networks in the world. Publishers place ads and links directly in and around their content and earn commissions. Online advertisers extend their reach, build their brand, drive sales and lower customer acquisition costs all on a pay-for-performance basis. The company earns revenue on a per-transaction and subscription-fee basis.
Googlebase/Froogle: FREE service, for now, this is a destination site that every merchant should be on as it allows the existing online retailer and first time retailer to access a gigantic marketplace of shoppers. Froogle supplies the power of Google's search technology to a very specific task: locating stores that sell the item shoppers want to find and pointing them directly to the place where shoppers can make a purchase.
GrabCart: GrabCart is a professional and reputable company leading in it's field of pay-per-sale marketing channel. GrabCart's innovative online system is concrete, simple and truly cost-effective. There are NO hidden fees, NO setup costs and NO listing fees. GrabCart will only be paid a small commission after successfully establishing a sale for the merchant. GrabCart frees the merchants from unnecessary fees by guaranteeing the merchants gain before GrabCart gains. To that end, GrabCart strives to promote and increase the rate of sales for merchants.
mySimon: A CNet owned company, mySimon is a robust and sophisticated shopping destination site that features shopping comparison and research of products and services. When the shopper clicks on a recommended product, the shopper is redirected to the site selling the product. mySimon researches thousands of product categories and millions of products and then identifies those merchants selling the product allowing the shopper to compare product offerings before making a purchase from an online merchant.
NexTag: NexTag.com is the leading comparison shopping site for products, financial services, travel, automobiles, real estate, education and more. At the core of NexTag.com is its proprietary Search And Match technology that enables shoppers to quickly compare prices and find the best deals on millions of products and services. For thousands of merchants, service providers and individuals, NexTag is an extremely efficient sales channel with its highly qualified traffic and performance-based pricing. More than 10 million shoppers per month use NexTag.com to research, compare, and buy products and services online.
PriceFish.com: Pricefish, Inc is the creator of Pricefish.com, an innovative online comparison-shopping search engine and information delivery tool, which assists online shoppers to easily find, compare and purchase items from a variety of online merchants. Pricefish.com streamlines the process of comparing product features and finding the best overall price, for millions of products in a number of different categories, from a list of customer-rated merchants. Shoppers can find products in many different categories, including: Electronics, Photography, Home and Garden, Apparel, Jewelry, Health and Beauty, and many more. Pricefish.com incorporates unique multi-media features, useful content and a wide range of product categories, all designed to achieve the ultimate shopping experience for both consumers and merchants. Pricefish, Pricefish.com, and FishClips are all trademarks of Pricefish, Inc.
PriceGrabber: Millions of consumers use PriceGrabber to quickly obtain free and unbiased information about products, services, merchants and sellers before making a purchase decision. PriceGrabber has established itself as the most trusted and effective online destination for savvy shopping. Shoppers can instantly find and compare millions of unique products and services contained in 22 channels, such as Apparel, Autos, Babies & Kids, Books & Magazines, Cell Phones, Plans, & Accessories, Computers, Home & Garden, Photography and Travel. The website also offers shoppers the ability to view and compare over thousands of merchants and sellers and their respective pricing information for products and services, thereby enabling users to ultimately find the right product from the right merchant at the best price.
PriceRunner: PriceRunner is an internationally acclaimed comparison shopping engine that provides consumers with easy access to comprehensive buying information on a wide variety of products. Ranked #1 in the US by PC World Magazine in 2005 as "best overall comparison shopping engine" and recommended by Good Housekeeping Magazine. PriceRunner aggregates product details, user and expert product reviews, retailer ratings, as well as the best available prices in one convenient location. PriceRunner distinguishes itself from other comparison shopping engines by including prices from both online and offline retailers providing consumers with the broadest price comparisons and always lists the lowest price first. PriceRunner's goal is to provide consumers with the ability to make an informed and confident buying decision. PriceRunner is a ValueClick, Inc. company.
PriceShaker: One of the newest and most cost-effective advertising tools available today. PriceShaker.com's lowest CPC rates in the industry combined with a vast amount of top rated merchants make it one of a kind. Focusing on consumer electronics and appliances, PriceShaker.com is not only a shopping comparison site, but it is equally a product comparison site as well as a retailer comparison site. In addition to shaking the internet for the best prices, PriceShaker.com provides users with unique ways to compare products side by side right down to their specific details as well as having a combination of customer reviews and an objective rating system- helping users choose the right retailer to purchase from.
Shopping.com: Shopping.com, an ebay company, pioneered online comparison shopping and today is one of the fastest growing shopping destinations on the Internet. With millions of products, thousands of merchants, and millions of reviews from the Epinions community, Shopping.com empowers consumers to make informed choices and, as a result, drives much higher conversion to sale and value for merchants.
Shopzilla: The name says it all, Shopzilla is one of the largest shopping comparison sites that has a great brand name and is well funded. With more than 25 million products from over 45,000 storefronts. From air conditioners to zodiac charms, whatever you're shopping for, they've got you covered. Whether you're searching for something specific or just browsing, with Shopzilla you'll get lightning fast, accurate results that you can refine and sort any way you like. And finally, Shopzilla gives you product pictures, detailed descriptions and consumer reviews. You can even add all of the items you're shopping for to your Shopzilla List and compare their features side by side.
Smarter.com: Smarter.com is a leading online comparison shopping service. Their goal is to help consumers make smarter buying decisions by enabling them to research and compare products, as well as to compare prices on millions of products available at thousands of reputable online stores. They gather product and merchant data from across the Internet, organize and structure it into a comprehensive catalog which they publish on Smarter.com.
Underbid: UnderBid has broken new ground by establishing a truly cost-effective Pay-Per-Sale marketing channel. Underbid is building a business based on professional and reputable merchants and genuinely partners with each merchant. There are NO listing fees, NO pay-per-click fees, NO cost per-impressions fees, NO pay-per-lead fees, NO monthly subscriptions fees, NO upfront setup costs, and NO hidden marketing costs. Underbid is at the other end of the spectrum from other marketing driven business models and delivers a NO RISK solution, eliminating click fraud to the merchant because only when a visitor completes their purchases is Underbid paid a small commission.
Yahoo Shopping: One of the premier, branded and original shopping destination sites where shoppers come for the best prices, product information, and helpful tips on how to shop for the right product. Any shopper can easily compare product prices and features across thousands of merchants and millions of product offerings.
In my humble opinion if you have a web site and you sell products, shopping sites are a must. This should also be included in any SEO campaign. After all a well rounded marketing campaign should be about increasing the companys bottom line.
Dan Stalfire is the president of SEO ONE, inc. and Internet Marketing Images, Inc. Dan has over 10 years SEO experience, and is one of the leading SEM's in Dallas, TX. Mr. Stalfire has helped many companies achieve first page results, and has implement and directed hundreds of marketing campaigns.
We have been proudly serving our clients since 1997. With over 10 years of web marketing experience we have gained valuable knowledge, to maximize your success.
SEO ONE, Inc can create a smooth system of feeding all of your products to the web sites of your choice. This data includes all necessary information to allow the visitors to buy your products from their web site.
Founded in 1997, SEO ONE, Inc. has designed and promoted hundreds of web sites, from Fortune 500 companies to small companies eager to expand their businesses.
For questions or for more information please visit us at http://www.seoone.com or call us at 972-755-4592
¶ 9:28 PM 0 comments
If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the Amalfi Coast and the city of Sorrento in the Gulf of Salerno. These tourist attractions popular with jet setters and many others lie in the Campania region of southwestern Italy on the Tyrrhenian Sea. Frankly, this area is hardly undiscovered. Make sure to see our other articles on Campania destinations in this series; they cover Campanias capital city Naples, the historic ruins east of Naples, the area west of Naples, and finally the Isle of Capri.
We start our tour in the south at the Greek ruins of Paestum. Well work (can you really call this work?) our way north along the coast to the city of Salerno. Here we turn left and go west along the shore to Salerno, Amalfi, then Ravello which is just north, and continue along the coast to Positano and finally to Sorrento across the Bay of Naples from Naples.
Paestum lies about 50 miles (85 kilometers) southeast of Naples. The Greeks first colonized this area about 2700 years ago and originally named the city Poseidonia in honor of the King of the Sea. It sided with Rome when Hannibal invaded Italy and started to decline around fifteen hundred years ago. Paestum was abandoned during the Middle Ages possibly because of malaria, although its now quite arid. Some ancient city walls still stand as do many of its defensive towers. Paestum contains some of the best-preserved Ancient Greek temples in the world. Most of the site hasnt been excavated yet.
The Temple of Hera, wife of Zeus, was misnamed the Basilica because researchers thought that it was Roman civil structure rather than a Greek religious edifice. Take a look and see if you can tell the difference. Researchers, perhaps different ones, also made a mistake concerning the Temple of Apollo, thinking that it was dedicated to Poseidon or once again to Hera. The site also contains a Roman Forum and an amphitheater. Here the mistake was deliberate, and much more costly. Believe it or not in 1930 a road was built across the site, burying its northern half. The civil engineer was held responsible and went to prison for wanton destruction of a historic site. To my knowledge no government officials were even charged.
Paestums Fifth Century B.C. Temple of Athena, sometimes called the Tempio de Cerere (Temple of Ceres) was once used as a Christian Church. By the way, you are allowed to get up close but may not enter these historic buildings. The local Museo Nazionale has an extensive collection of material from these sites including tombs decorated with Fifth Century B.C. mural paintings. Be sure to see the world famous Tomb of the Diver, a rare example of Ancient Greek painting.
Salerno, population approximately 150 thousand, was settled well before Roman times. Its Schola Medica Salernitana (Salerno Medical School) is said to be the oldest university in Europe. By the Eleventh Century it was considered the center of medical knowledge in Western Europe but by the Thirteenth Century it was on its way down. Napoleons brother-in-law Joachim Murat closed the school. The University of Salerno became public in 1968 and includes a School of Medicine and Surgery. The city was the site of an Allied invasion during World War II and briefly hosted an Italian government that declared war on Germany.
The Duomo (Cathedral) was built in the late Eleventh Century and restored on several occasions. Be sure to see its bell tower, pulpits, and carved marble sarcophagi. In fact, be sure to see the entire edifice with its Byzantine and Arab influences. The Cathedral Museum includes silver statues and historic medical school documents. Other Salerno churches include St. Benedict, originally part of a Seventh to Ninth Century Monastery destroyed by the Saracens and the Baroque St. George Church.
If you like palaces visit the Seventeenth Century Palazzo D'Avossa (DAvossa Palace), the recently restored Genovese Palace, the Giannattasio Palace, and the Copeta Palace built on the site of an ancient cemetery. What about castles? The Castello di Arechi (Arechi Castle) commanding the city is built on previous Roman-Byzantine construction and is now used for congresses and exhibitions. The Eleventh Century Terracena Castle was said to be really something, even for castles. But it was virtually destroyed by an earthquake early in the Thirteenth Century and very little remains.
Amalfi, population about fifty thousand, was once a major trading center with schools of mathematics and law. The Amalfi maritime code was widely used in the Mediterranean area for centuries. It was demolished by the Pisans during the Twelfth Century and Amalfi ceased to be a naval and commercial power in the area. It is said that an Amalfi native first brought the mariners compass to Europe.
The Duomo or Cattedrale di SantAndrea (Cathedral of Saint Andrea), considered the most stunning cathedral in southern Italy, was initially constructed during the Ninth Century and has been rebuilt and expanded since then. Be sure to see the beautiful Chiostro del Paradiso (Paradise Cloister) the burial ground for local big shots. The chapels date from the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries and are bedecked with magnificent frescoes. Even if you dont like to look at coffins, you will enjoy this cloister and its intermingling of Arabian and Byzantine styles. Stop by the Basilica Museum to see more historic treasures. The Cripta di SantAndrea (Crypt of St. Andrew), built in the Thirteenth Century, contains many the relics of St. Andrew, St. Peters younger brother.
The Valle dei Mulini (Valley of the Mills) was once a pasta-making center. In the Twelfth Century it switched to paper making, among the first to do so in Europe. Only three original paper mills still produce fine Amalfi paper. The Museo della Carta (Paper Museum) situated in a Fifteenth Century paper mill shows you what it was all about.
A few miles northeast of Amalfi lies the village of Ravello, population about twenty-five hundred. Ravello is home to a major annual Italian music festival in honor of a famous visitor, the German Opera composer Richard Wagner. This internationally known festival is not limited to opera but includes many varieties of music and other cultural events.
You will also want to see the Duomo (Cathedral) that dates from the late Eleventh Century and has been renovated and expanded on many occasions. Be sure to see the Twelfth Century bronze door, one of only about two dozen bronze doors in all Italy. This massive door includes over fifty panels depicting biblical scenes. One medieval pulpit is used for reading the Epistles and the other for reading the Gospels. The chapel is dedicated to an early saint. Every July 27 the faithful gather in the hope of a miracle involving the saints blood.
The heavily Arab influenced Villa Rufolo includes a 90 foot (30 meter) watch tower and gardens that captured the heart of German opera composer Richard Wagner. This villa was mentioned by the famous Italian author, Giovanni Boccaccio, in The Decameron. This is the site of the annual Ravello Music Festival, described above.
The nearby Villa Cimbrone looks old but was actually built in 1905. (In many parts of the world, but not in Italy, this would be considered as old.) Its most famous visitor was the Swedish actress Greta Garbo, as luck would have it also born in 1905. She is the one who allegedly said I want to be alone. Youll have to check the 1937 tabloids to find out if in fact she was alone in this villa. Villa Cimbrone is now an upscale hotel. Whether or not you stay in the hotel you really should stroll through the rose gardens and see the Belvedere dellInfinit (Belvedere of Infinity) overlooking the Gulf of Salerno.
Positano, population under four thousand, has gone from a major port in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries to a sleepy fishing village about fifty or sixty years ago to the Amalfi Coasts number one tourist attraction. Famous residents include the American author John Steinbeck, Napoleons brother-in-law Joachim Murat (the guy who closed the once great Salerno Medical School), and singer-songwriter Shawn Phillips now living in Port Elizabeth, South Africa in case you are interested. Beautiful Positano was featured in the films Only You (1994) and Under the Tuscan Sun (2003) even though it is definitely not in Tuscany.
Joachim Murat resided in Palazzo Murat during part of his reign as King of Naples and Sicily. As you can well imagine, the Palazzo was hardly a little country getaway from that hectic, hectic office. The gardens are beautiful and the Palazzo is right near the beach. You too can stay there; its now a hotel. The Thirteenth Century Romanesque Chiesa Santa Maria Assunta (Church of Saint Mary of Assunta) is most famous for its Byzantine wood painting of Madonna with Child known as the Black Virgin. According to legend this painting was stolen by Saracen pirates who fled right into a violent storm. A voice cried out Posa, posa (set it down, set it down). They did and fled into the calm. The painting was retrieved and thats how the city got its name.
Before you leave Positano visit its main beach, the Spaggia Grande, and stroll on its walkway, Via Positanesi dAmerica, named for the thousands of locals who immigrated to the United States, especially to New York City, to seek a better life. Ill let you decide where it is better to live today - Positano or New York City. As you stroll along youll see many sights including the Torre Trasta, a historic defense tower transformed into a residence.
Sorrento, population about sixteen thousand, is located about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of Naples, across the Bay of Naples. It has been a resort town for perhaps two thousand years. Among its famous visitors were the British authors Lord Byron and Keats, the German author Goethe, the Russian author Maxim Gorky, and the Italian opera singers Enrico Caruso and Luciano Pavarotti.
Sorrento has excellent museums. The Museo Correale di Terranova proudly displays its collection of Sixteenth, Seventeen, and Eighteenth Century paintings, furniture, and decorative objects. Its grounds are beautiful as is the view. The Museo Bottege della Tarsialignea (Inlaid Woodwork Museum) is devoted to the tradition of inlaid woodwork so active in the Sorrento region. It includes a lovely collection of these pieces surrounded by appropriately selected paintings, prints, and photographs. Il Museo Mineralogico Campano (Mineralogical Museum) is relatively new. Its international collection includes minerals from Mount Vesuvius and Mount Somma. There is also a dinosaur collection including baby dinosaurs and dinosaur eggs as well as a display of Permian reptiles that predate the dinosaurs by almost countless millions of years.
Theres lots more to see in Sorrento including its historic city center with what remains of the protective walls of the Middle Ages, the Fourteen Century Il Chiostro di San Francesco (Saint Francis Cloister) with its neighboring monastery that predates it by perhaps seven hundred years, and the Eleventh Century Basilica of Saint Antonio dedicated to Sorrentos patron saint. Here you can see his crypt and two whalebones. According to legend they belonged to a whale that swallowed a child who was rescued by Saint Antonio in his most famous miracle.
What about food? As you have seen in the other articles in this series, there is a lot to eat in Campania. Lemons are a local specialty, especially when the rinds are made into a sweet liqueur known as limoncello. Anchovies are another local specialty. I do not recommend them together.
Lets suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start with Spaghetti alle Vongole (Spaghetti with Clam Sauce). Then try Spigola (Sea Bass). For dessert indulge yourself with Crostata allArancio (Orange Tart). Be sure to increase your dining pleasure by including local wines with your meal.
We conclude with a quick look at Campania wine. Campania ranks 9th among the 20 Italian regions for both acreage devoted to wine grapes and for total annual wine production. The region produces about 64% red and and close to 36% white wine, as there is little ros. Campania produces 17 DOC wines. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine. The G in DOCG stands for Garantita, but there is in fact no guarantee that such wines are truly superior. Only 2.8% of Campania wine carries the DOC or DOCG designation. There are three DOCG wines: the red Taurasi, the white Greco di Tufo, and the white Fiano di Avellino. I have tasted the Fiano and found it to be top of the line.
There are two DOC wines produced in this area: Costa dAmalfi and Penisola Sorrentina. Both are made in a variety of styles with a variety of local grapes. Try them. But you can surely buy better Campania wine.
Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. His major wine website is www.theworldwidewine.com and his major article website is www.travelitalytravel.com
¶ 2:03 PM 0 comments
Having any type of digestive tract problem is very uncomfortable and painful for any person. Some people have the sad affliction of suffering with chronic digestive tract problems that are difficult to control and difficult to live with. One problem that is not often talked about but is a very real problem is constipation. This problem may not seem like a big deal to some one who has never had to deal with it but it is a very uncomfortable and harmful situation for a person to deal with. Untreated constipation can result in bowel impaction and can require surgical intervention when it becomes severe. Other problems that can occur with constipation are things such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures or prolapse.
It is important for anyone who suffers with this problem to find adequate and efficient ways of relief that will prevent complications and pain from occurring. Doctors usually recommend that people with constipation need to increase fluid intake, increase physical activity and most importantly increase fiber intake. A very beneficial way to increase fiber in the diet is for a person to have an intake of flax seed. Flax seed, otherwise known as linseed, is a very beneficial supplement in the diet that will not only help the digestive tract to function well but will provide other benefits to the human body.
How Flax Seed Works To Relieve Constipation
Flax seed is a very compact fiber that is very effective. The term fiber when used in terms of digestion suggests that the substance is not digested or broken down as it moves through the intestinal tract. Because it is not broken down the flax seed or other fibers make the stool bulkier and easier for the body to move by the action of peristalsis. With the bulky stool and an adequate fluid intake the person is able to eliminate wastes through the bowels more efficiently and constipation is prevented. Without adequate fiber intake of such items as flax seed the stool is smaller and clumpy making more difficult to move through the intestines.
Why Flax Seed Is Best
There are many types of fiber a person can use to aide in the efforts to relieve constipation but flax seed has proven itself to be one of the best fibers for the human diet that has been found. The reason this is so is because flax seed will not only prevent and treat the constipation but it has many other health benefits as well. Flax seed is rich in oil that contains Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids have been proven to help in several areas of body functioning. One important discovery of Omega-3 fatty acids is that by having an adequate intake of it in a diet a person will have reduce cholesterol and less incidence of heart disease. Omega-3 fatty acids have also been linked with a reduction of many types of cancer. Flax seed may also help in the treatment of diabetes by stabilizing the blood sugar levels. The studies in this area are not complete but it is surely something well worth investigating. A person who takes flax seed for constipation will also have these other benefits making flax the best fiber choice.
Who Should Use Flax Seed
Of course, any person who is thinking of adding a supplement to their diet should consult their physician. Flax seed should not be contraindicated for the average person but some people may find that they do not tolerate the fiber well. Most people, even those without chronic constipation, will find that they have great results in taking the flax seed not only functioning of the heart and other organs of the body. It is well worth trying as the benefits are only just beginning to surface in the scientific world.
Kerry Ng is a successful Webmaster and publisher of The Omega3 Flaxseeds Blog. Click here for more helpful information about Omega3 Flaxseeds: http://www.omega3flaxseeds.com/blog/anna-maria-testimonial.html
¶ 7:27 AM 0 comments
When was the last time you experienced good customer service? I'm talking about REALLY good service, the kind where the person you were dealing with was pleasant and accommodating, and every little detail about your entire experience was addressed and handled exactly in the manner that you would have requested it.
Over the past six years, I've enjoyed this kind of stellar service from the BMW dealership where I have my car serviced. As a direct result of my experience, I will not only continue to purchase BMW automobiles, I will continue to use their service department and recommend them to my family and friends. Why? Because they "GET IT" when it comes to knowing exactly what I want. They let me know they value my business each and every time I'm there, and they continually work to keep me happy. They've earned my loyalty and created a raving fan out of me by meeting and exceeding my expectations with every interaction. I know I pay a little more by going there, but to me it's totally worth it.
So how can you get the same reaction from the clients in your small business or professional practice?
The first step is knowing what first rate service means to your clients. BMW doesn't guess here. They do their homework. So if you want to safeguard your business, and prevent clients from going elsewhere, it's time to start doing your homework!
Begin by compiling a list of "what does excellent service mean to you" type questions that you'll use with your existing clients.
Next, dive into your Rolodex and come up with a list of 8 to 10 "A" list clients. (These are the clients that you absolutely love working with and would like plenty more of.)
Once you have your questions and client names in hand, contact these folks and begin asking them what you want to know! Keep in mind, this doesn't have to be a long and complicated process. depending on your relationship, you can either email these people, call them, or take them out to lunch to gather your information.
If you've never done anything like this in your business before, you'll soon see that the very act of asking your clients these questions is a very powerful customer service move in and of itself.
Connie Scholl of ConnieCoach.com provides self-employed service professionals with simple, effective and low-cost marketing solutions designed to quickly jump-start sales and consistently generate new clients. Get free marketing tips and "how-to-articles" at http://www.conniecoach.com.
¶ 1:16 AM 0 comments
