I just read an interesting article about mobile marketing.
It made me think that we haven't even touched the surface of what's possible and available to marketers in terms of mobile as a route to market.
I responded to the article saying that I think that mobile marketing is still in its infancy. The mobile is already there in terms of being the most intimate and pervasive of communication devices. With advances in technology, browsing speed and handsets coupled with the adoption by a broader age demographic, I feel that we have not yet even touched the surface of what is coming. Marketers need to understand the value and power of communication using this medium / channel and not just for text messaging and short codes. They also need to assess how customers and prospective customers need to be engaged in a communication that is in their interest first. Real pull not push. Marketers need to wake up and take note.
Would love to hear comments especially in terms of innovative use of marketing to mobiles.
Jonathan Silverman
www.getsoundadvice.com
0845 658 8192
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
A lesson from Masterchef in delivering customer service
Our family love Masterchef on BBC2. If you haven't seen it, try to tune in or have a look online. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006t1k5/episodes/2009
What strikes me is the absolute search for perfection and the total passion for what they are doing. Trainee chefs give everything and by the end we're all exhausted with them having followed their stressful endeavours to deliver the most beautiful food.
Last night, the finalists cooked for three of the world's finest pastry masterchefs. In every episode, it stuns me to see the attention to detail and quality of food and service in Michelin Star establishments. Yes it is for the rich and famous in the main. However, the pride and passion shine through.
On a much more basic level, I received an email from the WOW awards today with a lovely story of customer service that goes beyond the norm. There are many such everyday stories. Once again I wondered what prompts people to go to extraordinary lengths to serve. Have a look at some of the nice uplifting stories from the WOW award nomintations. Perhaps ask yourself, what have I done inside and outside my business recently that could justify a nomination for me or my business.
I was privileged to be one of the judges on the awards this year and the awards ceremony is on Nov 4 in London.
Take a look at their website and maybe it will inspire you to think how you can deliver great service.
Jonathan Silverman
www.getsoundadvice.com
0845 658 8192
What strikes me is the absolute search for perfection and the total passion for what they are doing. Trainee chefs give everything and by the end we're all exhausted with them having followed their stressful endeavours to deliver the most beautiful food.
Last night, the finalists cooked for three of the world's finest pastry masterchefs. In every episode, it stuns me to see the attention to detail and quality of food and service in Michelin Star establishments. Yes it is for the rich and famous in the main. However, the pride and passion shine through.
On a much more basic level, I received an email from the WOW awards today with a lovely story of customer service that goes beyond the norm. There are many such everyday stories. Once again I wondered what prompts people to go to extraordinary lengths to serve. Have a look at some of the nice uplifting stories from the WOW award nomintations. Perhaps ask yourself, what have I done inside and outside my business recently that could justify a nomination for me or my business.
I was privileged to be one of the judges on the awards this year and the awards ceremony is on Nov 4 in London.
Take a look at their website and maybe it will inspire you to think how you can deliver great service.
Jonathan Silverman
www.getsoundadvice.com
0845 658 8192
Friday, 9 October 2009
Research survey gives great results
We recently received feedback on a major research survey we completed for BNI (Business Network International) UK, part of the world's largest networking organisation. The feedback was excellent and we're delighted that BNI has again chosen us to run their 2010 survey. And we have some great ideas to help them use the research for positive promotion, PR & Business Development.
It shows the value of research and is worth a read if you feel networking is important to you as a small business.
Jonathan Silverman
GSA Business Development Ltd
0845 658 0845
www.getsoundadvice.com
Follow me on twitter
It shows the value of research and is worth a read if you feel networking is important to you as a small business.
Jonathan Silverman
GSA Business Development Ltd
0845 658 0845
www.getsoundadvice.com
Follow me on twitter
Monday, 28 September 2009
What percentage of your time do you spend on new business activities?
Take our poll and let us know how much time you spend on new business activities. Need help with your current activity? Visit us
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
Top Tips to grow your business
New business development is a process. It must be continuous. It must be part of every day activity. It has to be genuinely owned by everyone. Below are the first 25 positive ideas to help you grow your business. We will publish more over the next few weeks.
Contact us GSA Business Development if you’d like to discuss how you can grow your business.
Below is only a snapshot. It is not intended to be exhaustive or the only things you can do. It is intended to stimulate ideas and action. Use them as discussion in your business. Select them and prioritise and allocate action. Above all else, take action!
1. Call two lapsed clients to see how things are going. Meet them for coffee.
2. Make 5 prospect calls
3. Identify a list to target a new sector for your business.
4. Meet your best client and ask how you could help them further.
5. Tweet something interesting to people who could buy your services or recommend you.
6. Write a blog and use social networking to notify people.
7. Meet your whole team and ask them to identify three things that they can directly do this week or month to contribute towards the sales effort. They don’t have to be salespeople to contribute to or support the sales activity!
8. Comment on a blog or online article in your area of expertise.
9. Update one page of your website.
10. Write a press release and email it to a magazine in your industry
11. Write a 'thought paper' and email it to clients and prospects
12. Email your database with something of interest to them.
13. Go on some sales or other relevant training.
14. Attend a webinar.
15. Contact good clients and ask for a testimonial and / or a referral
16. Go to a networking event
17. Add your twitter, blog, website, social media profile to your email signature.
18. Connect two of your business contacts in the hope that they can work together to create more business.
19. Make at the very least 3 phone calls per day. One should be to someone positive in your network. That conversation will inspire and motivate you. One to a prospective client or past client with whom you wish to do business. The third call to someone you think needs *your* help.
20. Start each day with a clearly defined objective so that at the end of the day your performance can be measured.
21. Smile when you answer the phone. It changes your tone to a more positive and welcoming one and makes people want to engage with you.
22. At the end of each working day clear your desk and make a list of the things you want to do tomorrow, you will feel better for this and less worried about all the things that have to be done.
23. Do a customer survey – There is evidence that customers are more loyal if you ask them how they feel about your service.
24. Use positive body language, positive words and positive tone when on the phone or face to face. Make your personal presentation work its magic for you.
25. Read and comment on one interesting blog in your area of expertise per day. You and your business will grow as a consequence
Ideas have been contributed by our GSA network. Contribute to the list with your ideas.
Email us
View our other articles
GSA Business Development Ltd Tel. 0845 658 8192
Kings House Business Centre, Home Park Estate, Station Road, Kings Langley, Herts WD4 8DH
Contact us GSA Business Development if you’d like to discuss how you can grow your business.
Below is only a snapshot. It is not intended to be exhaustive or the only things you can do. It is intended to stimulate ideas and action. Use them as discussion in your business. Select them and prioritise and allocate action. Above all else, take action!
1. Call two lapsed clients to see how things are going. Meet them for coffee.
2. Make 5 prospect calls
3. Identify a list to target a new sector for your business.
4. Meet your best client and ask how you could help them further.
5. Tweet something interesting to people who could buy your services or recommend you.
6. Write a blog and use social networking to notify people.
7. Meet your whole team and ask them to identify three things that they can directly do this week or month to contribute towards the sales effort. They don’t have to be salespeople to contribute to or support the sales activity!
8. Comment on a blog or online article in your area of expertise.
9. Update one page of your website.
10. Write a press release and email it to a magazine in your industry
11. Write a 'thought paper' and email it to clients and prospects
12. Email your database with something of interest to them.
13. Go on some sales or other relevant training.
14. Attend a webinar.
15. Contact good clients and ask for a testimonial and / or a referral
16. Go to a networking event
17. Add your twitter, blog, website, social media profile to your email signature.
18. Connect two of your business contacts in the hope that they can work together to create more business.
19. Make at the very least 3 phone calls per day. One should be to someone positive in your network. That conversation will inspire and motivate you. One to a prospective client or past client with whom you wish to do business. The third call to someone you think needs *your* help.
20. Start each day with a clearly defined objective so that at the end of the day your performance can be measured.
21. Smile when you answer the phone. It changes your tone to a more positive and welcoming one and makes people want to engage with you.
22. At the end of each working day clear your desk and make a list of the things you want to do tomorrow, you will feel better for this and less worried about all the things that have to be done.
23. Do a customer survey – There is evidence that customers are more loyal if you ask them how they feel about your service.
24. Use positive body language, positive words and positive tone when on the phone or face to face. Make your personal presentation work its magic for you.
25. Read and comment on one interesting blog in your area of expertise per day. You and your business will grow as a consequence
Ideas have been contributed by our GSA network. Contribute to the list with your ideas.
Email us
View our other articles
GSA Business Development Ltd Tel. 0845 658 8192
Kings House Business Centre, Home Park Estate, Station Road, Kings Langley, Herts WD4 8DH
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Interesting article on getting through gatekeepers
Wow. This article provoked some mixed views to say the least. I am reprinting my comment below and I would recommend a read of the article:
http://successnet.czcommunity.com/art-of-networking/the-art-of-getting-to-any-decision-maker
I am an 8-year BNI member in the UK and I do not feel the techniques suggested in this article are anti-networking. Networking is one route to market. It is not the only one. Companies wishing to grow need to use a range of strategies and to integrate them where possible.
No-one doubts that referrals are the best form of intro and business. However, there are other forms and lead generation via telephone is one of these and a very successful one.
I am not talking about spoofing (claiming something that is a lie) or double-glazing or so on. I am talking about b2b calling into senior decision-makers. These guys are elusive and, if you cannot get an intro, and they remain a target audience for your product or service then I see no reason why a call is inappropriate.
Now let's move on to the key point. Getting through. Let's also assume that you have something of value for the CEO/MD. Let's assume either that they don't purchase this currently or that they do already have a current provider. Either way, competition is a reality and healthy. Companies change suppliers all the time. If the senior decision-makers is indeed the CEO (to be honest I'm talking about any decision-maker here), then the objective is to get through.
Sounding authoritative is imperative. Having some terminology that makes you sound important and knowledgeable is also key. But ultimately, you need to get through. This is not a scam. If you have something of worth that you truly believe in and that you feel is valuable, your goal is to get through. Don' lie but recognise the gatekeeper is there to block you. It is sadly a game.
Hence, use valid and genuine tips and techniques to help you.
By all means rely on networking and other methods but don't forget that the telephone is the most proactive and immediate sales and marketing method at your disposal.
http://successnet.czcommunity.com/art-of-networking/the-art-of-getting-to-any-decision-maker
I am an 8-year BNI member in the UK and I do not feel the techniques suggested in this article are anti-networking. Networking is one route to market. It is not the only one. Companies wishing to grow need to use a range of strategies and to integrate them where possible.
No-one doubts that referrals are the best form of intro and business. However, there are other forms and lead generation via telephone is one of these and a very successful one.
I am not talking about spoofing (claiming something that is a lie) or double-glazing or so on. I am talking about b2b calling into senior decision-makers. These guys are elusive and, if you cannot get an intro, and they remain a target audience for your product or service then I see no reason why a call is inappropriate.
Now let's move on to the key point. Getting through. Let's also assume that you have something of value for the CEO/MD. Let's assume either that they don't purchase this currently or that they do already have a current provider. Either way, competition is a reality and healthy. Companies change suppliers all the time. If the senior decision-makers is indeed the CEO (to be honest I'm talking about any decision-maker here), then the objective is to get through.
Sounding authoritative is imperative. Having some terminology that makes you sound important and knowledgeable is also key. But ultimately, you need to get through. This is not a scam. If you have something of worth that you truly believe in and that you feel is valuable, your goal is to get through. Don' lie but recognise the gatekeeper is there to block you. It is sadly a game.
Hence, use valid and genuine tips and techniques to help you.
By all means rely on networking and other methods but don't forget that the telephone is the most proactive and immediate sales and marketing method at your disposal.
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Take our brief customer service poll
With reducing headcount and more challenging client expectations, it is getting tougher for businesses to deliver against expectations.
Take our poll and contribute to the results. http://polls.linkedin.com/p/53737/emioh
Jonathan Silverman
GSA Business Development Ltd
www.getsoundadvice.com
0845 658 8192
Take our poll and contribute to the results. http://polls.linkedin.com/p/53737/emioh
Jonathan Silverman
GSA Business Development Ltd
www.getsoundadvice.com
0845 658 8192
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