This applies to every business including independent distributors for MLM or network marketing companies. If problem is in your area of responsibility you can correct it. If problem is with your company's product or system you can advise them and ask them to correct it. You can also reduce impact of a company problem on your operation by telling your distributors about it and letting them know company is taking corrective action.

ENCOURAGE CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS

The Coca Cola Company discovered their New Coke marketing disaster quickly because they print a toll-free consumer information telephone number on all their product packages. The sudden deluge of complaint calls alerted them immediately to extent of problem and enabled them to respond fast to minimize damage. I wonder how long it would have taken them to discover problem if they didn't provide that telephone number and encourage complaints?

A toll-free consumer information line is one way to encourage customer complaints and feedback. Here are 3 others especially suited to small businesses on a limited budget.

* Develop a customer satisfaction and comments form. Include it with products you ship or with correspondence to customers and clients if you don't ship products.

* Send a follow up postcard to customers a week or 10 days after completing a transaction and ask if everything is OK. You can do this by email or telephone if it's appropriate.

* Create a separate page at your website for customer comments and complaints. Publicize address on your home page and on all communications with your customers.

Your customers and clients know your strengths and weaknesses better than you. Get them to identify your weaknesses and tell you what they are so you can correct them. It may be uncomfortable or ego deflating to hear about your weaknesses. But you'll soon forget that when you take corrective action and see positive impact it has on your bottom line.

3. Let your imagination run wild! Hot ideas sell. You might partner with promoters of an event in your area to create a special offer, announce a new use for an “old” product, introduce an “upgrade” program, provide free seminars or training on a new product/service or repackage/reposition an existing offer.

When you provide solutions that meet client goals without costing them a lot of money, you will often find that sales close more quickly and word-of-mouth advertising increases, too.

4. Provide proof of results/benefits. When wallets get tight, people in general will demand firm proof of results they’ll get or benefits of their purchase. The “try it and see” attitude largely goes to wayside during financially difficult periods.

Consider creating a page of testimonials from satisfied clients. You’ll want to include client’s name, company and contact information in order for it to be verifiable. Also, look for testimonials that are specific about benefits and performance. Knowing others have succeeded while using your product/service will help alleviate some of concern that occurs during decision-making process.

The sales environment changes during a recession. You’ll have to think fast and consider impact on your client more carefully. But with some creativity and imagination, you can provide innovative solutions for your clients while increasing sales at same time.

For additional information about training in the areas of communication, sales, goal setting, team performance, job placement and conflict resolution, contact Kathi Graham-Leviss of XB Coaching, Inc. at http://www.xbcoaching.com today. Also ask about specific workshops and assessments that would be of value to you and your team.