The 7 Ps of Customer Retention Marketing

by Karl Wirth

When we think of marketing, we often think of Marketing's efforts to acquire customers. The world, however, is moving toward relationship-based business, including subscription services and subscription commerce—but also most other business.

Read article here
http://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2012/8882/the-7-ps-of-customer-retention-marketing?adref=nlt091112

Make a Cold Call That Works: 4 Steps to Prepare

by Geoffrey James

Cold calling is difficult, especially when you're calling "out of the blue." Even if you're selling something that could massively improve a customer's life, save money, and help build his or her business, most people prefer to drive their own buying process.

Read tips here
http://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/make-a-cold-call-that-works-4-steps.html

9 Tools for Building Customer Loyalty

By Sean M. Lyden

Follow-up is extremely important to growing your homebased business. Like anything worthwhile, consistent follow-up requires a lot of effort, but over time you'll reap the benefits of a steady stream of repeat business and referrals. After all, it takes far less time and money to sell to an existing customer than a cold prospect.

Read his tools here
http://www.entrepreneur.com/sales/customerservice/article54792.html

10 Tips For Communicating With A Difficult Client

posted by Shay Howe

As a web designer you are bound and determined to at one point and time come across a troublesome client. There are know-it-all clients, the low-tech clients, the day-late clients, and many more. No matter what their nature may be they exist and seem to come by all too often. Learning how to communicate with these clients can immensely change the outcome of your day-to-day productivity as well as your overall success.

Read article here
http://ow.ly/15RmwZ

How to Build Personal Relationships with your Customers

by Lou Dubois

Companies in all industries and of all sizes understand that customers are perhaps their most valuable assets. Improving the overall customer experience is vital for continued success and survival, and always has been. Here’s how to manage those relationships.

Read article here
http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/08/how-to-build-personal-relationships-with-customers.html?partner=newsletter_Startup

10 Ways to Support Your Best Customers

by Inc., Staff

"Even if you're not in the customer service business, there's one clear way to please your customers: act like serving them is your first priority. We've compiled tips from expert interviews and articles that have appeared in Inc. and on Inc.com to find the most poignant pointers for pleasing your most valuable customers."

Read tips here
http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/07/10-ways-to-support-your-best-customers.html?partner=newsletter_Startup

Retain Your Best People

by Dr. Dorene Lehavi, Ph.D.

Many managers and team leaders ask me how to deal with employees in a way that will maximize their potential, create loyalty and respect, and cut down on high turnover and destructive behavior in the workplace. The single most common reason people stay or leave an organization is based on the relationship they have with their direct
supervisor.

Read article here
http://www.ryze.com/posttopic.php?topicid=590707&confid=1022

Creating a Work Environment that Attracts and Keeps the Workforce

by Gregory P. Smith

By year 2011, the U.S. will face a worker shortage of 8-10 million people. In many industries today, jobs are going unfilled. In should go without saying if you cannot attract and keep your workforce then you must change what you are doing or face the consequences. Take your pick. Which type of place do you want to work at: One that is cold and gives you a sense no one cares, or one that makes you feel good and appreciated?

Read article here
http://www.chartcourse.com/article_employee-retention-friendlyfactor.html

7 Steps to Getting More Referrals from Clients

Marketing Strategy for Service Professionals
posted by Marketing Star Media

It’s no secret that referred clients make better clients. They cost less to acquire because they are already pre-sold on your services. They are less price resistant because someone they trust referred them. They tend to be more understanding and easy to please. And since they were referred to you, they are more likely to refer others. If you want to get more referrals from clients, here are seven steps to creating your referral marketing system.

Read article here
http://www.morningstarmultimedia.com/7-steps-to-getting-more-referrals-from-clients

Cheap Ways to Motivate Your Team

In a recession, keeping morale high is essential.

By Kara Ohngren

...It is critical, particularly during these tough economic times, that small-business owners recognize their employees for their hard work, says Cindy Ventrice, author of Make Their Day! Employee Recognition that Works. If you can reaffirm your employees' value while your organization is having difficulty, when there's a turnaround, you won't lose your best people.

Read more tips here
http://www.entrepreneur.com/management/article201454.html

Best and Worst Practices Social Media Marketing

by Lee Odden

Great visual charts, creative input on the growing trend of Social Media and how it effects the marketing practices of emerging companies, sales and growth.

Read his article here
http://www.toprankblog.com/2009/02/best-worst-practices-social-media-marketing

Write a Marketing Plan

[Sample Plan Idea]

by Leslie Godwin, MFCC

How to Successfully Market a Service or Other Niche Business, and Enjoy the Process... Do you need to write or revise your marketing plan? Before the holiday season is an ideal time for most of us to plan for the year to come.

Read article here
http://www.businessknowhow.com/startup/sampmark.htm