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Hi,
Well, two of the ladies in our antenatal class have given birth to their sprogs since our last issue. Many congrats go to Claire and Neil on the birth of William (23rd April), and to Yong and Jon on the birth of Joanne, on Monday. No one’s taking any bets on which of the remaining three ladies will be next... But we’ll let you know when Baby Deakin has arrived!
Call for guest authors: If you are an expert in your field and have a quality article that you think Marketing Edge readers would benefit from, we want to hear from you! We are particularly keen on the following topics:
- Blogging
- Delegating and Outsourcing
- Planning and Organising
Please send your articles (maximum of 1000 words) to info@zee2a.com together with a photo and brief author bio. If we like your article, we will run it in a future issue.
Our Marketing Edge readers are mainly self employed professionals, and are largely based in and around the UK, Europe, and the USA. But we also have a sprinkling of subscribers throughout Africa, the Far East, Indian sub-continent and Australasia – so you will get some great exposure!
Today we are featuring an article by guest author Colleen Francis. No doubt you will relate to some of the frustrations she mentions. Then ask yourself whether you are ever the guilty party...
Happy reading!
Until next time,
PS: Our next Marketing Edge issue will be published on 20th May – keep an eye on your inbox!!
Free Mentoring Sessions Giveaway –
Winners Chosen!
Last month we ran an exciting '100 Free Mentoring Sessions' giveaway. If you missed the broadcast, or need a reminder, you can read it here. We were inundated with applications, which obviously means that our readers are serious about running successful businesses!
100 potential winners were selected at random from the entries received, and then validated to ensure that entrants did in fact qualify in terms of the giveaway rules. Only ONE entrant had to be disqualified!
If you are one of the lucky winners we will be in touch with you shortly to schedule your complimentary mentoring session valued at £228-85 (inclusive of VAT).
Two months ago, a freelance photographer was at an event I attended and took some photos of me giving a presentation. I gave the photographer my card and asked him to please call me when he had prints available to sell, as I needed some updated action shots. After I saw the prints on line for sale as hard copies I emailed him inquiring about buying the electronic copies. You could say that basically, I begged to be a customer But, did he follow up?... NO. I have still not been able to buy photos from him.
Then, shortly after, by the luck of the draw, I had a phone conversation with a prospect at a technology call center in Ottawa, from whom I learned that "call center" work was a fill-in job for her. She is a struggling young fashion and portrait photographer with a small studio downtown. So, I asked her to please email me info about how to make an appointment for a photo shoot... and, you guessed it, I haven’t heard a peep from her either! She’s struggling and I’m begging to be a customer... and no follow up.
Last year I wanted to rent a cottage for six weekends during the off season and the cottage owner never returned one of my four emails.
You probably have endless stories in your own life, just like these... and I bet it drives you nuts too. There are a few businesses that do "get it". Last week I received two E-reminders from my personal trainer - that I have not been to the gym in a while and bathing suit season is close. Bless him! - I went for my first personal training session in five months last week. Ouch.
The million dollar question is...
Who’s following up with your clients? Who’s following up on sales leads and opportunities? You or the competition? Who’s immediately following up on customer complaints to create a positive outcome... or are complaints just left to fester?
If you are a manager, are you following up on your team’s commitments to increase sales, reduce expenses, meet sign and submit deadlines, eliminate cancellations, and ensure prompt follow up with pending clients? And who’s following up with your CRM vendors, printers, marketing departments and other internal partners to make sure that they don’t let you down? Are you following up on your own promises to customers, staff and family?
What will you do?
So, what will you do to improve your track record in the "follow-up department" in every part of your business... and your life? This week, make a commitment to follow up with everyone who bought last month. Send them a thank you note - if you didn’t do that the day after the sale, and call them to ensure they are happy with your product!
 ©Colleen Francis is the Founder and President of Engage Selling Solutions, which delivers sales solutions that realize immediate results, achieve lasting success and permanently raise the client’s bottom line. Reach her at Engage Selling Solutions.
What They're Saying About The Marketing Edge...
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– Laura Jones, Wisconsin State Assembly
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– Terry McIntosh, Nature Publishing, part of the Macmillan Group
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– Bruce Fisher, Leading Supply Chain Support
Would you like David or Vanessa to speak at your next event, seminar, workshop, or conference?
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ISSN 1756-350X
Volume 2 Issue 9
6 May 2009
www.zee2a.com
You have received this newsletter because you signed up for it or registered for one of our programmes.
In This Issue
David and Vanessa,
Your Zee2A Mentors
David and Vanessa work with Executives in the Professional Services Industry that are frustrated and dissatisfied with their current marketing activities, profitability, and business growth.
Through personal one-on-one mentoring they teach them how to become Marketing Masters, by among other things helping them create sustainable and repeatable marketing strategies that actually work!
Click to learn more about our mentoring programmes
Click to find out about our home-study information programmes
Food for Thought:
"Jumping at several small opportunities may get us there more quickly than waiting for one big one to come along."
- Hugh Allen
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