Growing Pains: 20 Tips Every Business Should Know

Quickbook Intuit's website offers a great list of the "20 Tips Every Business Should Know" to its customers to help them create a more efficient and profitable company. I wanted to begin offering this resource on my blog every Sunday in the "Growing Pains" post till we make it through all of them. Here is the next tip in the series:

INVOLVE YOUR CUSTOMERS

Studies show that it's cheaper to create a repeat customer than to bring in a new one. Here are some tips to get your customers begging for more:

Incentives: Everyone likes freebies. Offer repeat buyers discounts or free gifts.

Communication: Keep your customers loyal by sending a monthly email newsletter or direct mail sales flyers.

Customer Service: If you treat customers well, they will come back. Always be courteous, and make an effort to learn your customers' names so that you can use them while interacting.

Yesterday, I think I got some of the best show of repeat customer approval ever. My nephew's birthday cake was decorated with the very picture I posted up on my blog yesterday! The hostess, my nephew's grandmother said to me "I hope you don't mind." Are you kidding me!!!! That was AWESOME and some of the coolest advertising ever. Everyone who saw (and ate a slice) of that delicious cake saw the cute pic I took of my nephew. Plus, me wondering around with my camera at the party and having Grandpa say "I've got a Professional Photographer taking pictures for me" was amazing show of support and encouragement for my business.

Growing Pains: Blogging for Business

Quickbook Intuit's website offers a great list of the "20 Tips Every Business Should Know" to its customers to help them create a more efficient and profitable company. I wanted to begin offering this resource on my blog every Sunday in the "Growing Pains" post till we make it through all of them. Here is the next tip in the series:

Blogging for Business

A blog is a journal-style series of posts on a website. They're casual in nature, and readers can post responses or comments to blog posts. Blogs can be used to:

Let readers know about upcoming business product releases.
Test the market on new ideas.
Address customer concerns and issues.
Present a more personable face to the customer.
Provide resources for information on the industry.

My blog has been extremely beneficial for my business, allowing me to receive emails from clients interested in my services. I am also learning how to monetize my blog. I joined the B&H Affiliate Program where I receive commissions from B&H product sales generated through clicks on my blog. Basically, you keep your readers up-to-date on new product releases and sales, and earn a commission on the revenue.

This month, I received my first proceeds check for the sale of a 70-200 2.8 lens. My records don't show who purchased the lens, but I want to publically thank whomever of my blog readers who made that purchase! It was a great help to me in these trying financial times. And I will be sure to keep everyone updated on new B&H deals.