Fire Your Customers

by: Brian Grinonneau

It’s time to thin the ranks and fire some customers. That’s right, can ‘em, send them packing and tell them their business isn’t welcome here anymore. Sound crazy? It’s crazy if you don’t! Why would anyone fire a customer? Simple. It’s costing you too much time and money to keep them around. This is obviously not an exercise where you send termination notices to valued clients. This is an exercise to get rid of the dead wood. As you scan your list, there will be a certain type of customer that deserves the ax. Here is the profile: They always quibble over price and once they’ve stripped your profit margin, will pay slow, real slow. This customer is never happy with your service no matter what you do. They can’t be pleased. This soon-to-be-ex client never refers any new business to you and try as you might you cannot establish a working relationship. They have no loyalty to you and will jump as soon as they get a better deal from someone else. They call and complain often threatening to take their business elsewhere. Let them go. In today’s marketplace where superior customer service sets apart the winners from the losers, discussion about shedding customers isn’t always popular. Running your business isn’t a popularity contest, it’s about doing what’s best for the future. Fire some of your customers. Your business will be better and so will you. About the author: Brian Grinonneau is the general manager of McMann and Tate Advertising in Perrysburg, Ohio, and agency that works exclusively with small business owners helping them stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Business Goal Setting

by: Jeff Schuman

How many times have your decided to set a goal for your business and set it aside because the task seemed too huge or difficult to begin? I have seen this happen over and over so I decided to write and article on business goal setting. When setting your business goals it is interesting to see that the thought process is no different than personal goal setting. You have to clearly define your goal and write it down. Here are 7 steps that will help your business achieve th goals you are setting for it. - Think about the goal you want to set for business - Write the goal down as soon as you visualize it. Writing the goal on paper for posting on a wall or desk where you may review it daily is very important. - As you develop and write your goal, make room for changes and put it on a type paper that can be easily updated as needed. This just means you will need to be ready to revise and change the written procedures as you move forward with the implementation of your goal. Change is inevitable a necessity of life. - Start taking the steps neccessary to implement your goal. - Be sure to write down the date you want the goal to be completed! Also write down the time and day of the week you will start working toward the goal! - Begin reflecting on how you are doing working towards you business goal. You can always make adjustments as needed. - Develop an attitude of I will do whatever it takes. Too many business owners set goals and then give up do to laziness or they just get to busy to follow thru. Business goal setting is a long term process and you are going to have to work at it to make it happen. It's your business so you determine the success and failure. Business goal setting is one step that will help you fall into the success category. About the author: Jeff Schuman's small business resource website has the best of everthing to help you run your own small business. http://www.sites-plus.com/business-goal-setting.html