May 28, 2009

The Vendor Client relationship - in real world situations

If it won't work in the browser, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2a8TRSgzZY

If I had a dime for every (quickly fired) client who talked like the guy in the video store. Kills me. Nothing I hate more than the slick willy guy trying to be my "buddy." "This is not a challenge, this is an opportunity!" YYCH, get OFF me.

But my favorite part has to be end, when they bring the chef out and tell him, "Ok, we'll pay this this time, but we're gonna need you to show us how you made it, so we can make it in-house next time." Hysterical. And yeah, we've heard it!

May 23, 2009

We like Jott - we weren't even paid to promote this.

If you know me, you know I hate phones. Hate talking on the phone, and "lose" my cell phone whenever possible. I charge clients to call me, because I just hate it that much. I've been called "elusive," "too busy," (and much worse) because getting me to pick up the phone without a scheduled appointment is nearly impossible.

I also hate recommending products when I'm not getting referral dollars or a free month of service or some other friendly thank you. So I must really like Jott. Yep, this one I am recommending purely because it is so helpful.

Jott Voicemail turns your voicemail messages into text and delivers them as text messages and emails that are actually useful. You can forward and reply to them, screen calls when you're in meetings, set call-back reminders and more.

How does it work?
With Jott Assistant and Jott for Salesforce, you just call a simple phone number, speak your notes, messages, or updates and hang up. Jott Voicemail works the same way, but your friends, family, and colleagues are the ones leaving the messages when they call your number. Then, Jott takes the spoken messages, turns them into text, and sends them to the right destination via email, text message, or web update.

Jott Assistant - "With one punch of a button, I give Jott a call, dispatch a message to my entire crew, all at once. It saves me a tremendous amount of time and money. It's absolutely invaluable"
--Linda, Jott Assistant user and Landscape small business owner

"Jott Voicemail is an amazing productivity tool for me. I used to fret in meetings that I was missing important calls. Now they show up as text messages. The callback reminder feature is great too. I never forget to call people back."
--Henry, Jott Voicemail customer and Healthcare business owner

"Jott created a custom application for us very similar to their Salesforce integration.
We use a different CRM system, but the Jott integration has helped us make sure
account data is up to date. Our sales employees and managers both love it."

Very cool!

http://www.jott.com/

I confess, I've done this, too!


May 11, 2009

Brochure Writing Tips

Start with an “About Us” section
Does your business have a unique story? Tell potential customers about you, why you started your business, and how long you’ve been working in the industry. Do you have a mission statement? Describe what makes you and your business special.

Give an overview of your products or services
Explain how your products or services will benefit the reader. Do you offer personalized service, low prices, high quality? Explain what makes you and your business so unique.

Stay Positive
Instead of pointing out what others do wrong, point out what you do right. By staying positive, you communicate strength and confidence.

Include an offer and tell your readers to take action
Give your readers a good reason to act now. For example: “Call today and save 50% off your first appointment!” Or try giving them a tear away coupon or promo code to access a special page on your website.

Contact information
Don’t forget to include all of your company’s key contact information: name, address, phone number, e-mail address and Web site.

Use customer testimonials
One of the best ways to build trust with potential customers is to share positive feedback from your existing customers. A few short quotes of praise about your business will add to your credibility and help new customers feel secure about doing business with you. If you don’t have testimonials, you can call attention to awards you may have won or list your local business affiliations.