JUST BE NICE… AND YOU’LL BOOST YOUR SALES AND PROFIT IN 2019

Kate and I go out to eat quite a bit. We’re not “foodies” so most of the time when we do get out it’s not about having an amazing gourmet lunch or dinner… we’re not too tough to please! Just being nice will help out your sales and profit.

But, we do have one “minimum standard” of sorts. The folks that work at the restaurant have to be “nice”. I’m not talking about sickening sweet or attending to our every whim and desire.

I just want to feel like they are glad we came in and chose their place to spend our money.

That’s it.

Should be pretty simple –you’d think!

The truth is “nice” people seem to be the exception – not the rule.

In fact, we’ve ruled out at least three local restaurants because of the way they make us “feel” when we try to give them our money, being nice definitely helps out with sales and profit.

Recently, as we walked into one of our local eating establishments the greeting we received from the hostess (who didn’t look up) was a cold “how many in your party?”Image result for rude greeting at restaurant

I answered, “two” hoping that a smile may surface…nope.

Then a second question, “do you have a reservation?”

I answered “no” and without looking up she tersely muttered, “We really prefer reservations”.

OK. This wasn’t going to be a “nice” experience.

I answered, “Should we go ahead and find somewhere else to eat?”

She replied, “I’ll see if I can get you in this time but in the future make a reservation – we’re a very popular restaurant”.

Hmmm…

I bit my tongue and didn’t inform her that we were pretty “popular” too and have a local sphere of friends and acquaintances that number several hundred.

In the end, she did get us “in”…to the less than half-full “popular” restaurant.Image result for half empty restaurant

We did eat, we did relax and we won’t be going back – she wasn’t nice and she ticked (a gentle word) me off.

By now, you might be wondering why I’m sharing this experience with you.

Fair enough.

This restaurant lost several thousand dollars in future revenue. Not just from me but from people I have told about the self-centered and arrogant “greeter” at the front “gate” of the restaurant.

And Kate and I certainly weren’t the only people that experienced the “greeter” that day.

And I’d bet we’re not the only ones that made the decision not to return to the restaurant.

Loss in real cash to this particular establishment over time – likely tens of thousands of dollars…maybe more!

And when they go out of business they’ll blame it on the economy, too much competition, price wars, or a myriad of other issues “out of their control” instead of blaming it on their sales and profit decreasing because of their staff’s demeanor.

So, here’s the thing…

You may have a great product. You may provide an important service. You may even be the “best” at what you do.

I don’t care…

I only want you to solve my problem or help me get closer to or reach my goal.

That’s it…

And I want you to be nice to me while you are doing it.

“Nice” should start at “Hello” and continue for the lifetime of the relationship with a client or customer.Image result for nice should start with hello

It’s not good enough to reel ‘em in at first and then let the “true colors” show later.

We can all find somewhere or someone else to get us what we need.

And their product or service might not be as good as yours.

But, there’s a good chance we’ll look the other way if they’re nice…

“But, it won’t scale!”

Lately, there’s a lot of noise coming from self-appointed marketing “seers” spouting that social media is some sort of a marketing “magic pill”…and that it’s all you need to focus on to move your business forward in 2019.

Some are even telling their followers that “social” (their buzzword, not mine) is the best tool for “engaging” (another buzzword) with their existing and potential clients.

I read a blog post by one of these “experts” that caught my attention the other day.

The article was referring to how social media can be used as an “engagement” tool for prospects and clients.Image result for social media is engagement for clients

And I agree with that.

Social media can be used as ONE of the tools to build and strengthen business relationships.

It’s what he went on to say that really got my attention.

First, he commented on how easy it is to wish a client or friend “Happy Birthday” using social media.

But, it’s what he said next that really disappointed me…especially knowing that his influence as an expert and authority is pretty broad.

He said that “even though nothing beats a handwritten note or card” it just not realistic to use them as engagement tools…a system like that “won’t scale”…

Now, the article went on to say how busy everyone is and how little time there is for sending handwritten notes, making phone calls, scheduling personal visits, and so on.

Those types of activities “just won’t scale”…meaning it’s too hard and time-consuming to maintain personal contact with your customers as you grow your business.

And the “next best thing” is to just use social media INSTEAD…

Unfortunately, people (even smart people) are buying into this type of popular (I didn’t say smart or profitable) thinking and abandoning proven and successful communication and sales tools like direct mail, the telephone, personal sales calls, personal visits, client appreciation events, birthday gifts, and holiday cards, printed newsletters…

Because “they don’t scale”…Image result for scale

And that’s where huge and highly profitable Renegade “opportunities lie”…in doing what others won’t.

Successful business people do the hard stuff (I’m not talking about liquor) that their competitors can’t, won’t, or don’t.

Renegades will send a handwritten note or card over an email or FB post all day long because they know how they make people feel.

Renegades don’t and won’t settle for doing the “next best thing”.

Renegades will watch their competitors and industry peers all move in the same direction…and the Renegade will go in the opposite direction.

Renegades will pick up the phone even if it’s not convenient.

Renegades will sit up at night and handwrite “thank you” notes, congratulatory cards, and even sales letters.

Renegades still do some things the hard way…because they have seen the positive results and aren’t afraid to get their hands a little dirty from the extra work.

Renegades will utilize and implement as many marketing tools as they can, test for effectiveness (results), drop the “losers” and keep the “winners”… all the while looking to continually add more.

Finally, Renegades do the “best things” AND the “next best things”…

Final Thought…Image result for final thought

Get Past the “Dream”

It really doesn’t matter how good your strategy, plan, or idea is. In fact, there’s a good chance that you have dozens of good ideas rolling around in your
mind. We all do…its part of our business owner “DNA”.

But, until you actually take action and implement your best idea is really no more than a dream for sales and profit!

Speed to action and implementation is the big differentiator between an average business generating average sales and profits and a highly successful and extremely profitable business.

Take a few minutes and jot down some of your best ideas today. Don’t judge them…just write them down.

Next, rate them on a scale of 1 to 10. A “10” should be something that you know would move your business forward quickly. A “1” should be something
that just sounds like fun but won’t likely change your current situation.

Now, attack the “10’s” first, then the “9’s” next, and so on…and remember “good enough is good enough”. If you wait until all the stars align and your plan is perfect – it probably won’t happen at all.

No fear.

Be nice. Take action.