Its All About The Customers, Baby

If you want to ensure a steady stream of customers in your business, you must always remember why you're in business in the first place.

Sure you want to earn a decent income for yourself, but you also want to provide a useful service don't you?

That second reason should take precedence over the first. Your main aim should be to provide a useful service to people. Making lots of money from it should be secondary.

When you have your priorities in that order, guess what happens? The money starts to come in! You literally become a customer- magnet.

Know why? Because when people sense that you genuinely care about them, they'll become loyal customers and will get their friends and family to buy from you as well.

Remember, no matter how much money you want to make from your business, without customers, you won't make a thing.

So always, always, always, always, always(you get the point, don't you!?) always(!) think about your customers first.

Consider it an honour to be in a position to serve them.

Then think of ways to serve them to the best of your ability.

Here are a couple of ways to take good care of your customers:

a. As often as possible, ask them what they want or need. The most successful businesses are the ones that satisfy the *known* needs or wants of customers. Don't assume you know what they want. Ask and be sure.

So find out what your customers want, ask them how you can serve them better.

Then provide that need for them. Even if you don't sell the product or service they want, find someone who does and refer your customer to them. Be a resource; they'll love you for it.

You'd have saved them the trouble. And they'll reward you for it by being loyal to you.

b. Aim to provide more value for money. This can be in form of 'try before you buy' offers, or giving away something for free. It could also simply be regular courteous service - going the extra mile, so to speak.

Always think 'how can I provide more value for my customers?'

With that mindset, you will be alert and open to opportunities to give more value to your customers without breaking your bank balance!

Can you think of other ways to take good care of your customers?

About The Author

DR Kem Thompson is a Business Success Coach. She works with women in business, helping them to create successful and prosperous businesses while achieving balance and fulfillment in other areas of life. Subscribe to her FR*EE newsletter, 'Business Times For Women' by sending an email (write your first name in body of email) to bt4w@daysofsuccess.com or kem@daysofsuccess.com

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. Please print the article in its entirety unchanged and notify the author by email when you use it.

---

Google News Updated : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:08:19 GMT India a step closer to nuclear trade - Christian Science Monitor Washington Post India a step closer to nuclear trade Christian Science Monitor - 3 hours ago The Nuclear Suppliers Group agreed Saturday to lift a 34-year ban on selling nuclear technology to India, even though it hasn't signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty. India secures controversial access to nuclear technology Telegraph.co.uk US Congress signals it will clear N-deal Times of India Hindu - Reuters South Africa - Washington Post - BBC News all 2,295 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:01:15 GMT Michigan spared sting of West Nile - Detroit Free Press LAist Michigan spared sting of West Nile Detroit Free Press - 12 hours ago BY SHERI McWHIRTER • RECORD-EAGLE • September 7, 2008 TRAVERSE CITY -- West Nile virus hasn't seriously bitten Michigan this year and seems to have spared the state's northern reaches. Yes, the mosquitoes were nasty this summer Yakima Herald-Republic Aerial survey being conducted to find mosquito breeding grounds San Jose Mercury News Lower Hudson Journal news - San Francisco Chronicle - Shelbyville News - Los Angeles Times all 361 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:53:44 GMT 'Wrestler' takes top honors at Venice - Variety Variety 'Wrestler' takes top honors at Venice Variety - 1 hour ago By NICK VIVARELLI Darren Aronofsky drama “The Wrestler,” starring Mickey Rourke as washed out pro wrestler Randy (the Ram) Robinson, in comeback mode both on and off the screen, pinned down the Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion. Is Evan Rachel Wood dropkicking Marilyn Manson for Mickey Rourke? Los Angeles Times A Glance at 'The Wrestler' Cinematical Washington Post - Hollywood Reporter - eFluxMedia - San Jose Mercury News all 671 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:55:44 GMT Side events bring out celebs in advance of VMAs - The Associated Press Washington Post Side events bring out celebs in advance of VMAs The Associated Press - 57 minutes ago LOS ANGELES (AP) - Though the MTV Video Music Awards are the main event in town this weekend, some celebrities are satisfied enough with the side activities connected to the extravaganza. Britney 'Getting an Opportunity to Start Over' at VMAs People Magazine Brand and Spears have been promoting the awards on MTV BBC News Access Hollywood - Hollywood Today Newsmagazine - eFluxMedia - Los Angeles Times all 1,761 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:10:38 GMT Hurricane, at Category 4, Heads Toward Cuba - New York Times Canada.com Hurricane, at Category 4, Heads Toward Cuba New York Times - 3 hours ago By MARIA NEWMAN Hurricane Ike grew into a bigger threat to Florida and the Gulf Coast Sunday as it roared through the Bahamas mid-morning, with forecasters expecting it to gain in strength as it approaches Cuba. Video: Raw Video: Ike Pounds Turks and Caicos AssociatedPress Powerful Hurricane Ike looms as trouble for Gulf The Associated Press AFP - Forbes - Los Angeles Times - Reiten Television KXMB Bismarck all 4,192 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:52:07 GMT Spa Update: Hamilton Penalty Hands Win to Massa - AutoWeek Times Online Spa Update: Hamilton Penalty Hands Win to Massa AutoWeek - 1 hour ago By NIGEL ROEBUCK A drive-through penalty is the punishment for almost causing a collision in the pits. We know this because Bruno Senna was thus punished in the GP2 Series race at Spa-Francorchamps, and it cost him the race. Massa declared winner of Belgian GP The Associated Press Raikkonen's title hopes doused by Hamilton at Spa Motorsport.com International Herald Tribune - The Canadian Press - BBC Sport - CNN International all 2,193 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:46:22 GMT Health Highlights: Sept. 6, 2008 - Washington Post Seattle Post Intelligencer Health Highlights: Sept. 6, 2008 Washington Post - 3 hours ago On the heels of the huge nationwide salmonella outbreak that caused more than 1400 illnesses from Mexican peppers, a regional Oregon alfalfa sprout distributor has recalled its product in Oregon and Washington state after the sprouts were linked to 13 ... Salmonellosis outbreak prompts sprout recall Forbes Salmonella outbreak traced to alfalfa sprouts Seattle Post Intelligencer TheMedGuru - Seattle Times - eFluxMedia - HeraldNet all 81 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:31:13 GMT Clickbank Data Feeds Earn Money At Home

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Five Tips for Analyzing an Income Statement

In today's article, we'll be looking at the income statement,... Read More

Travel the World - for Free!

I have been very fortunate to travel to several countries... Read More

Why Your Company Needs An E-Mail Policy

Everyone at the office thought that using the company e-mail... Read More

The Power of the Contract in Performance Management

An essential step in managing the performance of salespeople is... Read More

Do Customers Like the Feel of Your Organization?

In two recent articles "Some Evidence of How We Are... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Workplace Ethics: Reaching the Highest Standard

This article relates to the Ethics in the Workplace competency,... Read More

Effective Meetings: Why Most Meetings are a Waste of Time

Whether your company holds one meeting a week or dozens... Read More

The Death Spiral

Sometimes things just happen. Maybe we lose focus and take... Read More

Solving the Problem Solving Problem

The meeting started like a hundred others before. There were... Read More

Implementation the Catalyst of Change for Management to Reach that Next Level of Success

From the personal and professional experiences of other colleagues and... Read More

Internal Communication: 12 Essential Elements

There are 12 essential elements of a successful internal communications... Read More

Quick Tips On Bringing Out The Best In People

Want to bring out the best in people?Edward W. Smith,... Read More

Lawyers With 2 Hands And Everything Else

I heard this back a few years ago. The boss... Read More

Management Procedures Usability ? How to Improve

Are your people consistently following your procedures? Each year, organizations... Read More

The Walmart Cult

The CultBecoming a part of the Cult, consists of being... Read More

Spirits in the Corporate Boardroom.......Oh, sure......

There is a growing movement in the spiritual... Read More

Quality Staffing: Stop Placing the Wrong People in the Wrong Jobs

You can possibly teach a turkey to climb a tree... Read More

Employee Performance - If You Want the Best, Get Personal!

This is a story about a man and three dogs.I... Read More

Policy & Procedure Manuals - Tools For Greater Productivity and Efficiency

In today's tough retail environment the retailer needs all the... Read More

Important Communication Tips For Managers

The following tips will help you communicate more effectively with... Read More

7 Essential Elements To Every Organizational Change

[This article is based on excerpts from the special report... Read More

Five Ways to Influence Change in Others

Because of my work as a consultant, trainer and coach... Read More

Reducing the High Cost of Absenteeism

Employers pay a high price for absenteeism, often more than... Read More

5 Ways to Work More Effectively With Your Administrative Assistant

Stop hiring new administrative support staff. And learn how to... Read More

Demise of the Lone Ranger Manager: A Lesson in Management Communication Style

When executives see themselves as solely responsible for the overall... Read More