Search Results for: blog simplifying business communication

Customer Conversations–Balancing the Personal with Business

There are those people whose life is an open book–they are eager and willing to talk over all the details with anyone and everyone who will listen. Some of us home business owners may be those sorts of open, social people and we certainly have some colleagues, customers, or clients who always have all sorts of personal life and family information to share. It can be tough to stick to business topics or even get a little bit of business accomplished during these animated conversations. So, how can we balance the personal chat, with the business communications? For many of … Continue reading →

Simplifying Business Communication

It can be tempting to try to enhance your business’ image by using fancy phrases and big words. BUT, the reality is, if you choose superfluous language when you could say something very simply—you will likely not only turn off customers and prospects, but you might also make communication cloudy. Business communication should be simple, complete, and direct. We think we need to use big, official-sounding phrases like “pertaining to” instead of “about” or “regarding” and “at which time” instead of “when”—this might make us sound like we’ve been educated, but it won’t make it any easier for our customers … Continue reading →

Avoid “Yes” and “No” Questions

When it comes to trying to move your customers and clients toward making a purchase or signing a contract, it is important to consider “how” you communicate as well as what you actually say. One thing to remember is that “Yes” and “No” questions—those questions that invite the other party to simply answer yes or no can give the customer or client an out. It is better to avoiding asking “yes” or “no” questions unless you really are prepared to hear the “no.” One of the basics in sales, of course, is to try to get the other person nodding … Continue reading →

Do Your Customers Know They Can Ask You Anything?

The flow of information and communication is incredibly important in business–even in a small, home-based business like yours (and mine.) In fact, I think that having an open-door policy and creating an environment where our customers and clients feel they can come to us with any problem–big or small–may be even more important in a small business. We need our customers and clients to know they can depend on us and get in touch with us whenever they need us. In order for our customers and clients to know that they can ask us anything–we have to set the stage. … Continue reading →

Why I LOVE it When People Share Their Opinions

It seems to have become somewhat politically incorrect or unpopular for people to share their opinions about popular culture, politics, personal interests, etc. We all try to make sure that we are not being offensive or setting people off. But, as a business person, I actually LOVE it when people share their personal opinions and ideas about things—it gives me insight into who they really are and helps me figure out if my services are a good fit, as well as get some information as to how I can really interact with them. I guess you could say that I … Continue reading →

Ask Questions… and Listen

The best salespeople and business people are NOT big talkers. I know that there is an image of the stereotypical business leader who is all about the speeches and the talk, but think of the most inspirational business leaders you have known in your life–chances are, their great leadership came from good communication skills and the ability to ask questions, and listen… Good conversation and communication is built on asking questions. If you are trying to find out about a prospect or figure out the best way to make a presentation or sale–you will fair far better by asking some … Continue reading →

Make Ordering and Purchasing Easy

I have written before about my professional background in nonprofit management—specializing in fund raising and public relations. One of the things I learned in my former incarnation is that we need to make it as easy and simple as possible for people to respond to our requests. For our home businesses, this means that we need to make ordering products or contacting us to purchase our services as easy and pain-free as possible. If people need to jump through a lot of hoops to get to us, they will lose interest and give up. If they have to leave several … Continue reading →

Keep the Information Flowing

When there’s only one of you running your home business, things can get bogged down and pushed to the side. You may forget to tell your clients or customers important things, or forget to pass on information that they really need to have. You may think that since you are a small business, the flow of information isn’t such a big deal–but it can be… After all, when there’s just one of you–who do you need to tell? Unlike a more traditional job or business, where you might be part of a department or group or have a boss to … Continue reading →

Leave a Good and Lasting Impression

I talk a great deal here in the Home Business blog about marketing and public relations, as well as how to build a reputation as a small home-based business. But, just as it is important to set a good impression on the front end—when you are first networking and coming into contact with prospective customers and clients, it is also very important to leave a good and LASTING impression with people whom you have introduced to your business. You want people to remember you and remember you well. That is the basic goal of leaving a good and lasting impression. … Continue reading →

Statistics and Numbers DO Impress

Part of my work history and background includes a couple decades working in nonprofit fund development, management and public relations. During that time I did a fair amount of grant writing and writing to solicit donations and contributions, and one of the lessons I learned over and over again was that people really are impressed, and they really DO respond to statistics and numbers. Percentages, statistics, numbers, and factual comparisons really do have a place in your promotional materials and business literature. People want to know how many satisfied customers there are, or how many people prefer this brand to … Continue reading →