clients

Flight of fancy *

Last month I did myself out of another $6000.

I hate it when that happens.

This chain of events (and my associated reasons and decisions) may save you from similar financial embarrassment. Read more

Self-help books are extremely popular. They’re a great friend of New Year resolutions, but with so much help around it’s a wonder that there is still so much help needed.

Turns out a lot of these publications and workshop handouts become what’s termed in the industry as ‘shelf help’ books. That’s because people buy them, collect them and then store them… never to look at them again. Read more

A novel way to target clients.*

You may think it odd to discuss an online tank game in a business blog.

Yet this product holds the Guinness World Record for player (read ‘customer’) engagement.

A feat achieved in its first year.

If we captured clients like this crew, we’d be sunning ourselves in the Bahamas right now.

Plus, it’s Russian!

So let’s take a look … Read more

Give your customers a moving experience.*

Many thanks for your responses to Part 1.

Your input really supercharges these everyday topics.

Now for the chequered flag!

Form guide

I thanked Neil for his technical update.

I then asked why my car was surging, gurgling and gasping if it wasn’t due to the things I described.

Neil politely posited another Delphic insight: that I used standard unleaded fuel.

Correct again. Read more

Service with a smile!*

I’ve worked in and been a customer of the car industry.

Over the years, I’ve found that positive experiences in this field are rare.

So I had to report this one immediately, that we may distil its lessons for our own use.

Ring in

When I phoned my Ford dealer’s service department last week, I got Neil^.

I said my Fiesta was due for its 10,000 km service.

Neil politely begged to differ, saying that my model’s next scheduled service was 15,000 km.

He added that he hated it when car places over serviced their customers.

This certainly got my attention. Read more

Ever been down for the count?

Something happened last week that resonated on so many levels, I thought it ideal for this forum.

It concerns my bookkeeper – a service provider I imagine many of our readers use.

Your view on the matter could change a life.

Slug fest

As you may know, I’d rather collect slugs in the rain than do my books.

I hate bookkeeping so much, I outsource all but tiniest transactions.

I don’t even want a bookkeeper at Empire House. The mere act of doing my books unsettles me for hours before and after each visit.

So imagine my joy when my current bookkeeper, Sally, suggested I mail my papers to her for remote processing. Read more

What lies beneath?

We’ve talked stuff-ups.

We’ve revealed hidden hurts.

We’ve even taken blood money.

Now it’s time to table the sins within.

Not Happy birthday!

When I turned 40, the day was doubly profound: our nightmare renovation was (theoretically) nearing its end.

Fonnie spoilt me rotten: gifts, grog, home-made cards, a best-mate lunch, a Tiger Moth flight and a family dinner.

Then, as we packed our bags for a casino-suite adventure, something very bad happened. Read more

No hawkers?

You may have experienced the pay TV onslaught.

And before that, the home insulation scam.

Now electricity companies are pounding our pavements.

And man, they’re really going for it.

So, does door-knocking prospects make things better or worse for you, me, them and our respective sectors?

Door stop

According to the papers, some power firms (or their flunkeys) are: Read more

A guy goes to an airline counter and checks in for his flight. He asks if one of his bags can be sent to Melbourne and the other one to Perth.  Definitely not, is the answer. “Why not,” he asks – “you did that for me last week”.

Okay, so maybe it’s a joke, but it was not much of a laughing matter for me recently when I flew to Sydney and my luggage didn’t follow.

While at dinner awaiting a call from the airline to see if they had located it, our waitress accidentally tipped an entire cabbage salad over me – soiling my only outfit. Read more

Right on, or write off?

Some blog post ideas literally come in the mail.

Like this from a promotional pen company.

Here are the highlights of their exhilarating letter:

‘This is no ordinary writing instrument.
It’s a pen customers and prospects will treasure and use every day.
Not only will they remember your thoughtfulness and generosity, they’ll be reminded of your company day after day and will share their sentiments with all their friends who notice and admire this truly exceptional executive gift!’

Not bad for $1.15 a pop.

Analysis

I must admit, this pen beats the plastic crap in most ‘goodie’ bags. Read more