Beating The CompetitionWritten by Sue and Chuck DeFiore
Unless your product or service is one-of-a-kind, you've got competition. To beat them, you have to make sure you're key company, one your customers turn to above all others. How do you do that if you're new and small? Try these strategies: Use your size. You're new, small and aggressive. Be more flexible than your competitors. Be willing to break self-imposed rules. ("We need 24 hours to fill large orders.") Promise personal attention-since you are company, this shouldn't be difficult. For Chuck and I this is easy. We are company so everyone that deals with us gets our "personal attention". Service. Serve customer above everything else. In overwhelming majority of cases, service, not price, makes difference in getting an order and keeping a client for long term. This means getting back to your customers. We always answer emails with 24 hours and many times before that. In addition, we always call customers back as quickly as possible. To often today, customer service is an afterthought. Make sure you don't fall into this trap, otherwise you won't be in business very long.
| | 4 Things That Make A Web Site GreatWritten by Sue and Chuck Defiore
First you need original content. Content is heart beat of any exceptional Web site. The ability to take a common subject and give it some interest and originality is a rare talent, but necessary to keep visitors coming back. Add a dash of humor, be sure to update once or twice a month and look out, you're on your way. Second you need, great graphics. If your graphics are properly used they can greatly enhance a Web site and it's content. However, if you overuse or they take forever to load, you will drive visitors away before they even see content. The irony here is that just about anyone can make decent graphics and expensive programs are not required. Third, you need a good presentation. Good Web sites do not keep user guessing. They make their purpose immediately evident and present an easy to follow navigation system. The content and graphics blend in perfectly with presentation and following it is a simple matter. You will never find hyperbole or confusion caused by overuse of animated graphics, Java or anything else that will serve to mask intent and content of site. Most importantly, a great Web site is run by a competent and knowledgeable Webmaster. One who knows
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