Architexters

I write about the farming industry for a trade journal. I often cover news about machinery and equipment; my editor just assigned me an article about using a topsoil screener. I’m thinking about including information about the advantages of portable screeners, especially for the larger commercial operations.

I also want to include a segment about organic farming. It isn’t exactly a recent practice, but it’s benefitting from the growing worldwide interest in green industries and products. Organic farms are smaller, and in order to be certified organic, they must meet some rigorous requirements as far as their practices in the control of pests and weeds, and what is used to treat the soil, even before anything is planted. That’s where screeners come in.

Consumers are paying more attention to what they eat and they are more actively looking for organic food and produce these days. They are willing to pay more for products they believe are more wholesome, more nutritious, and not as highly processed. This trend among shoppers is growing following news about people getting sick from contaminated foods.

Organic food is becoming more mainstream. Major supermarket chains now have organic food and produce sections, and farmers markets are once again becoming popular with shoppers.

Part of being a successful affiliate marketer is making wise decisions about the products and services you will promote. The product is not the sole factor in one’s success, but it is a key consideration.

With online business booming like never before, the selection of products available for promotion continues to grow. There are new products launched every day and it can be hard to decide where one wants to devote their attention. Consider these factors when selecting a product.

Does it fit your list?

Your list is your income. You have carefully cultivated a good mailing list of people who may be great prospects. Consider your best list(s) and what they would be most likely to embrace. If you can find a product that matches your list well, you will undoubtedly sell a great deal more than if you attempt to offer them something that may not be appealing.

How’s the commission?

Your commission is going to determine your income, in many respects. It must be considered along with other factors before making a decision. Look both in terms of the net dollar value of each sale and at the percentage of the sales price offered. You need to keep both in mind, because a higher margin item with a lower price may be a better performer than a lower margin item that would net a fortune per sale. That’s because you will need to consider how many items you think you’d be able to sell at the disparate price points.

How’s the product?

The quickest way to sour your hard-earned list and to render it useless is by selling them an inferior product. You work hard to develop trust and credibility. Don’t ruin that long-term money making power by pitching a low-quality product to them. Not only does that raise ethical questions, it can also crush a list’s future financial viability.

What’s the competition like?

It’s fine to take on the crowd, but one will usually do better in a less crowded playing field. If a product is so popular with other affiliates that it risks overexposure, find something else. Why compete with thousands of other marketers if you can find a product you can sell in sufficient volume without having to worry about what everyone else is doing?

By looking at factors like these, you can make solid decisions regarding which products you should promote. Once you understand how it matches up with your list, the nature of the commission paid, the quality of the product and the nature of the competition, you are well-positioned to choose the perfect item to promote.

Choosing the right product can require some research and a great deal of consideration, but the end result is well worth it. If you are dealing with the right kinds of products for you, you are one step ahead of many affiliate marketers.

David Cooper is the editor of the Affiliate Marketing Articles Newsletter. David specializes in helping affiliate marketers choose the right affiliate products and services to promote. Subscribe to his FREE newsletter at: http://www.affiliatemarketingarticles.com

“Next!”

“Checking in…?”

“Here or To-Go?”

Isn’t it frustrating when those are the first words that come out of a front line employee’s mouth? As if they didn’t want to take the time, or couldn’t care less about offering a friendly, approachable greeting to the customer. Meanwhile, the next guy waiting in line thinks to himself, “Gee, thanks for the warm welcome. Nice first impression.”

SAD BUT TRUE FACT: the first impression window is narrowing.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this social trend since I was interviewed by the Wall Street Journal on the topic. The reporter and I discussed this “window,” and I mentioned my research on hundreds of books on first impressions.

MY THEORY: As years go by, we seem to have less and less time to make a first impression.

Consider these numbers:

•In the 80’s and 90’s, NLP authors like Nicholas Boothman claimed you only had 90 seconds to make a first impression

•By the time the new millennium hit, you only had four seconds, according to hundreds of articles

•In 2005, Malcom Gladwell’s bestselling book Blink explained that people made first impressions in TWO seconds

•This year, an article from The BBC quoted a study which explained that Internet surfers form an impression “in one 20th of a second of viewing a webpage”

It kind of makes you wonder: as technology accelerates and as time goes on, will people eventually have ZERO seconds to make a first impression?

Ok, just kidding.

But think back to the guy waiting in line at the counter: if employees only have a few seconds to make a first impression anyway, why would the first words out of their mouths be so unfriendly?

I used to work at the Ritz Carlton. We were trained to eliminate the word “Hello” from our vocabulary. It was always “Good morning!” or “Welcome in!”

What ever happened to phraseology like that? Have we become so rushed, so programmed, so unfriendly, so unapproachable and so robotic that we can’t sincerely take the time to offer a customer a warm welcome?

Nevertheless, the following list of substitute phrases will make the first words out of your mouth UNFORGETTABLE:

Instead of “Next,” try:

•”Step right up!”
•”Come on down!” (that one’s for you, Bob Barker)

•”Don’t be shy!”

Instead of “Checking in?” try:

•”You finally made it!”

•”Welcome to paradise!”
•”Everyone’s been waiting for you!”

Now, if you have a standard protocol for greetings, that’s understandable. You don’t want to piss of your boss. On the other hand, if you say, “Step right up,” and your customer starts laughing before he even begins the transaction, I seriously doubt your boss will say, “Johnson! Stick with the script!”

Look, these phrases work. I’ve used them thousands of times in my retail, food and guest service experience, and customers love them. They’re funny. They’re memorable. Most of all, they’re different. And that’s the whole point: not only to give your customers a brief encounter or experience that’s both friendly AND memorable; but also to communicate in a way so others can’t help but pay attention to and remember you.

After all, if you only have two seconds anyway, you may as well have a little fun!

© 2006 All Rights Reserved. Scott Ginsberg is a professional speaker, “The World’s Foremost Expert on Nametags” and the author of HELLO my name is Scott and The Power of Approachability. He helps people MAXIMIZE their personal and professional approachability – one conversation at a time. To book Scott for your next association meeting, conference or corporate event, contact Front Porch Productions at 314/878-5419 or http://www.hellomynameisscott.com.

Clients… they are the most important influence in the success of any business. It is vital to keep them satisfied and happy.

Clients should be catered to. Their every need should be met and more. We need to make them feel like they are our number one client, as they all are.

Catering to our clients should not be anything new to a professional business person. After all, we all know that exceptional customer service is the key to keeping clients happy which, in turn, keeps them coming back for more and influences them to refer you and your business to others.

Then, why is it that there are so many times that we have to deal with businesses who don’t put their clients first? We have all had one (or more) of those experiences, haven’t we? And each time I have ever had to deal with someone who doesn’t provide exceptional customer service, I am just mystified as to how they possibly manage to stay in business.

Now, catering to your customers does not mean that you should have to sacrifice your integrity or your reputation but it does mean that you have to make them feel like they are the most important customer you have. Whether they spend thousands of dollars on your product or service or they only buy in small amounts at irregular times, they are all important to your success. Every client is a door waiting to be opened and for more business to come walking through.

Catering should result in your clients always being happy and thinking positively about you.

There are some obvious, yet often forgotten, simple tasks that you can do that shows your clients that you care about them and want them to feel your are there for them when they really need you. So, let’s revisit some of them now.

First, make sure you always give your very best AND that you provide it to your client when they need it. These two go hand in hand. If you have a great product or service but you can’t deliver on time, then you are going to lose clients. The same holds true that if you can always deliver on time but it isn’t the best that you have to offer, you are bound to be fielding unhappy comments and questions from those who matter the most.

Next, be sure that you have your client’s needs and wants in mind when you are supplying to them. Listen to them when you are discussing the aspects of what they need and be sure to match that and even throw in something a little extra to show you were listening.

When listening to your clients, take note of how you can improve your product or service. After all, they are telling you what they need and it is probably what others need as well. By improving your product or service you are not only catering to your clients, you are also opening up new doors for others who may need what you have to offer but are unsure if you can customize to suit their requirements.

Always provide a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Everyone wants to be completely satisfied with everything they obtain or purchase. By guaranteeing your product or service, your customer will be more reassured that they will receive exactly what they ordered. And, if you publicly offer a guarantee, more people will feel at ease dealing with you.

Remember to never keep a client or potential client waiting. When you receive an inquiry from an individual, whether it is a phone message, email, or a letter, be sure to respond to it right away. By not providing a prompt response, you are taking a chance that the client will grow impatient and move onto another business to supply what they are requiring.

And finally, be sure to always say thank you to your clients. Send a thank you note to everyone who requests a quotation, signs up as a new client, or an existing client that has a habit of ordering quite a bit from you. This will not only show that you care about them but it will also keep your company fresh in their minds. If you find that your budget is limited, sending an online e-card will project your appreciation just as well.

Catering to your clients should not be a chore, it should be a gesture of appreciation. Most clients will respond to your exceptional customer service by providing you with more business or by referring you to others. It’s a win – win situation!

About The Author

Janice Byer is a certified Master Virtual Assistant and owner of Docu-Type Administrative & Web Design Services (http://www.docutype.net). See this and other articles on her website; jbyer@docutype.net