Why do I Twitter???

Everyone is seeking the value in Twitter. I can tell you why I twitter. Yes I can keep up with friends and family one tweet at a time. More importantly I Twitter for valuable information. Many Twitterers that I follow are Internet marketing gurus. These Gurus are writing a new chapter on business for the next ten years. If you are not following these trends you will be stuck with an 8track tape existence. Playing with outdated equipment and outdated business tools. Successful people have the right tools in their tool box to be successful. If they don't have the right tool, they seek it out. They don't wait until it interrupts them. A great idea rarely jumps out at you and interrupts your day. Today I am sharing a twitter post that has value. I am giving it to you to add value to you. The only way to have more and be more is to learn more and do more to add value to what you bring to the business equation. Enjoy this excerpt from Dr. Wealth on Twitter:

You’ve probably heard the saying “It’s easier to keep an existing customer than to get a new one.”
Well, it’s more than just a saying, it’s true.
That’s why you want to take very good care of your current clients or customers and do whatever you can to give them lots of reasons and opportunity to buy from you over and over again.
Who wants to constantly be out there pounding the pavement looking for new clients and customers? That’s a lot of work. It’s much easier to up-sell or cross-sell to people who already know and love you.
Here are 10 tips you can use to put a successful Relationship Marketing program into place so you can reap the benefits for years to come.
#1 Create a customer database or file
Whether you have many clients or customers or just a few,make sure you keep records with important details about them.These details may vary depending on your line of business,but they may include their purchase history, special date such as their birthday or anniversary, family member names or their favorite restaurant or leisure activity.
#2 Never take your customers for granted
Your customers are the reason you are in business.Never assume they will always be there. Continue to earn their trust and show them you care and value their business.
#3 Show your appreciation
Do little things to show how much you appreciate having them as a client. Send them a thank you card or token of appreciation.Do something nice for them. Sometimes its even as simple as just saying “thank you.”
#4 Stay in touch
Find ways to stay in touch with your clients. Send out a regular newsletter. Clip and send them news articles about their industry or issues they are concerned about. Make regular telephone calls or send email. Send holiday cards. Use these tools to remind them you’re still around and that you still care.
#5 Take an interest in them and their business
Ask questions. Find out what their challenges are and see if you can help them. Show them you understand their business or their issues and you’re interested in more than just their last purchase.
#6 Serve them
Make it a priority to go out of your way to provide services that truly deliver and make your customers’ lives or their businesses better. Provide great customer service. Do whatever you canto help them achieve their goals.
#7 Give extra value
Exceed expectations. Give more than your clients are expecting so they are dazzled and anxious to work with you more. Act as if their business is your business and their problems are your problems and help them any way you can.
#8 Ask them what else you can do for them
Find out how else you can serve them. Other products or services you might be able to provide to help them reach their goals and be more successful. Take an interest in looking beyond your last sale into how you can help them even more.
#9 Be responsive
Always respond in a timely manner to your clients. Get back to them quickly when they have a question or need help. Return phone calls and emails promptly. Be on time, or better yet, be early for meetings and appointments. Being responsive tells your clients you think they are important and that you respect them and their time.
#10 Make things easy for them
Always be looking for ways you can make things easier for them.If you meet with clients in person, go to them instead of always making them come to you. Make it easy for them to use your services or buy your products in ways that are convenient for them.Give them options and choices.
If you put these steps into action, I promise you your customer relationships will be strong. And, when you make your customer relationships your top priority you’ll be rewarded with long-term,profitable clients.
(C) Copyright 2005 Debbie LaChusa

What are you feeding your brain?? Part 2

So I've decided to really make the commitment to walking for at least 30 minutes every day. Those of you that know me well know....I hate to exercise. So I searched for a good cd to pop in the cd player, seriously, maybe I'll splurge on an ipod one of these days for myself instead of just for the kids...Anyhoo....back to my search. Oh, here's one. Larry Speaks on Salon Success, by Larry Curtis. That was a pretty good one. I got this from Larry himself at a show can't remember where or when, within the past few years. So I pop it in, Wow ever notice when your mind is moving in a certain direction things you really need seem to manifest? I have been looking for new content for articles and classes and this CD fits right in. I consider it a must have. GREAT strategies for success. Larry is another hunter/gatherer of information much like myself. Knowledge is power, BUT ONLY when implemented and acted on. It's is not enough to know, you must GROW with that knowledge. So what are these great strategies you ask?? Well you really must listen to the cd to get the most bang for the buck, but just to whet your appetite.....

Never Stop Learning. How good do you WANT to be?

Commit to a few personal missions

Take personal responsibility. For things to get better YOU have to get better.

Stay flexible, life goals don't always fit in exact measure.

Control your attitude and committ to having more fun. Having a good attitude will make inevitable challenges easier to deal with.

Take ACTION. When all is said and done.......more is SAID than DONE.

Your success is up to one person and one person only YOU

Stay tuned for MORE success tips.

What are you feeding your brain??

I had the tremendous opportunity this weekend to spend two days with one of my mentors, Geno Stampora. I was most likely at one of his first classes at the Barnum Beauty Shows in Cleveland, Ohio in the late 80's. I thought what an interesting guy, and smart, especially for a hairdresser. I can say that because I am one too! I know I shared the fact that I enjoyed his class with him and looked forward to hearing him speak again. I attended his classes whenever I could, oftentimes when he was the only person I was interested in seeing at a show. He was well worth the money. I began putting many of his principles into practice and saw incredible, positive changes in my world. Each time I saw him he had grown too, with better and better information. Not long after that I began teaching and speaking myself at the trade shows and those of us road warriors, back in the day, became "family". There are so many dear friends that I made over the years that I knew from simply sharing a booth next to them at a show, getting stranded at airports, trying to find something to eat at the end of a long day when everything is closed, fighting with convention services, you know, all the glamour there is behind the scenes. I eventually got up the courage to introduce myself to my "heroes". These people that shaped my career, the writers, trainers, motivators that I could pop in my cassette player (yes that's how old I am), and learn from these masters over the years. Eventually these "heroes" would introduce me to other "gurus" and so on. How fortunate am I to be able to call so many of them my friends and colleagues now. The beauty industry has such wonderful people in it. People that encouraged me, guided me and pulled me up to their level to make the industry a better place. Many believing in me before I believed in myself. I am more committed than ever to this industry and creating wonderful success stories within it. Look for a new pr/marketing website coming soon, look for me in more magazines, teaching more classes and speaking at more shows. I'm at your service to help you grow an extraordinary life in the beauty business!