People are very suspicious about a free trial. As ever, it’s a few companies that have ruined the whole concept for the rest of us. It’s the mattress manufacturers with their ‘free’ 100 day trials who make you pay in full upfront. Then when you’re sweating like a pig on a spit 50 nights later,…
There is an art to using terms of endearment. We may well be warm loving individuals who pepper our verbal communication with words like “love, sweetheart, honey and babe”. But in business we tend to naturally dispense with that and keep to the safe path of business speak. This leaves no room for terms of…
We all need a business diary. If you need to spend 1:1 time with clients, then the chances are that you have an electronic diary or even a diary management system. Most of us would be completely lost without some form of diary. Diaries are constantly changing and being updated. People need to reschedule appointments,…
Within the UK there are an astonishing number of regional accents and dialects. There are at least 92 distinct accents which is one per county (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). The accents are distinctly different and there are also hybrid accents, ie people who may have been born in the South but then moved…
Bots and AI are at the frontline of many businesses. The first impressions of a company are now more about brand personality and how to make things look amazing. But if you focus on making your website look stunning and building your tribe on Instagram, then you’re creating an illusion. Plus you’re missing a trick…
If companies aren’t up front about their prices, they might have something to hide. After all, when you’re considering whether to use a service or make a purchase you only really need to know two things – 1. Does it meet/exceed my needs? and 2. How much does it cost? Telephone answering cost should be…
A great deal rests on the simple act of answering the phone. When someone calls your business it really matters that a) the calls get answered and b) the callers get the best first impression of your company. If they don’t, then they’ll call someone else. It’s that simple. Telephone answering is a fantastic solution…
The customer is often the lost and forgotten soul in the business process. Some companies massively fail when it comes to putting themselves in the customer’s shoes. As customers ourselves we’ve all been there. But there are great rewards for the companies who regard their customers as the beating hearts of their enterprises. Customers have…
The value of a competitor analysis However you view your competitors, it’s important to have an understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. Going undercover to gain some inside knowledge will give you great insight into your competition. This knowledge will help to shape your own services and gain a more secure market position. The quickest…
When it comes to buying goods and services we all understand that people shop around. Typically, when people buy a service they will look at three companies, they will make contact, form an impression and then they will make a decision. At the shopping around stage people are very sensitive and will pick up on…