How often do you give referrals? If you are in small business, I hope the answer is all the time. But it can be hard to give referrals because the opportunity comes around and you don’t recognize it for what it is until the moment is passed. So here are some ways to help yourself. Start by making a list of people who provide you amazing service and / or people you would like to refer. This is a fun list to make because you get to think about all the people who don’t make you crazy, who help you get through your day and help solve your problems. Make sure you have their full contact information somewhere easy to find – your phone is the best but if that’s not an option, put their business card somewhere you can get to it easily. Think […] Continue reading
What the Heck is a Guru?
I spoke recently and was introduced as a “guru”. I mentioned to a friend how odd that sounded and she agreed – it is a word that has been overused and overdone to death. I appreciate the person introducing me trying to make me sound like I know what I am talking about, but giving me goofy titles like “guru” or “goddess” (another one I’ve gotten lately) is just over the top. So then I was watching Next Food Network Star and they had a task to describe the food they were eating. They couldn’t use descriptors like “awesome” and “delicious” because they don’t mean anything. And I realized, that was my issue with these titles people give others (or worse – give themselves). They don’t mean anything. Being a “guru” of something doesn’t give you any idea of my qualifications or my abilities. It […] Continue reading
What Makes You Different?
I like to help companies develop their unique positioning by asking what they want their clients to say about them. For example, your best client is at a party talking to their counterpart at another company. The counterpart says they can’t get anywhere on X project (with X project being what you do). Your client says, “say no more! I know who you need to call. Call (you) because…….”. What’s the because? What does your client really value? The beauty of this is if you really don’t know, you can call your best client, pose that scenario and have them TELL YOU! Instantly you have your differentiator. And the best part about asking this way is it helps your client think about getting you referrals. Double bonus. Now take that a step further. Now you know what they say. Happy with that? Happy telling people […] Continue reading