Business Tips by Chris Reich
Tips from growing a business to dealing with disputesSEO: Search Engine Optimization Tips
I get a dozen emails a day from SEO companies guaranteeing to put my website on the first page of search. I've talked with some of these services. They are not cheap and they are extremely risky for your business.Attempts to "game" the system could make your business...
Don’t Ask, Tell
If you are considering a new product launch or other significant change at your business, do not, please do not conduct a survey.Surveys are pretty close to useless.If you ask "would like to see our product in purple?", you will get more positive than negative...
2 Rules for Business Survival
When the new visitor lands on your site, can they understand in a flash what it is that you do?This is a reminder for all of us. Regarding our website or business---is the offer clear? Can the site visitor understand what is offered and are they curious enough to take...
Why Should Work Be Fun?
There is no reason that everyone at your business can’t be having fun doing their job. In the immortal words of Mary Poppins, “in every job that must done there is an element of fun.”
Rule Number One
The business and its cumbersome rules and procedures have become more important than the customer at most American businesses.It starts at the point of initial contact: "To speak with a sales rep, fill out this form". It's as though the customer must qualify for...
Watch Your Tone!
Every now and then I have to take a few minutes to clean up my email boxes. With 20-30 emails coming in per hour, and 5-20 going out per hour, debris piles up pretty fast. Yesterday, while cleaning out my email 'sent' file, I came across a reply sent to a long time,...
Release the Pressure
If things are a bit tense at your business, as seems to be everywhere because of so many reasons, you can greatly ease tension which will reduce error and accelerate processes. The good news is that you can have this hugely positive effect on your business by doing...
Taking Care Of Your Men, Tom?
Tom Peters, my business hero and virtual mentor, writes about his days in the Navy. Being 'connected' by relation, he's flown to meet with Marine Commandant (in charge of the whole deal, Vietnam, as Tom says). Tom is a junior officer and somewhat awestruck to be in...
What Is Management’s Job?
Management makes decisions. Management sets direction. Management imposes authority. Sure, all true. But none of these are the real function of management.Wrong.Management's true job is to facilitate the jobs of everyone else. If you are in management, your most...
Is Your Cow purple?
One of my all-time favorite business books is Seth Godin's "Purple Cow". The essence of the book, though I would still encourage you to read it yourself, is that each business must distinguish itself to be successful. If you drove through farmland past pasture after...
Well People Go to the Doctor
I work for businesses that are doing very well as often as businesses that are struggling. That may seem odd but the successful business generally wants to stay ahead of the competitive curve and is willing to invest in knowledge. Successful businesses are more open...
Example of Bad Advertising
Not all advertising is worth the cost. Here’s an example of a clever though ineffective piece of advertising. Why isn’t this a good idea?
What’s Memorable?
If a prospect has a first encounter with your business, what is he most likely to remember? What makes the strongest impression?This week I met with a life insurance agent. He was a little crusty. In all, his approach was okay, not great, but okay. Still, I can't...
Subtraction Can Be Your Best Addition
People often ask me what I would add to their business if they decided to contract with me. The answer is usually a surprise. After observing a business operation, I generally find more to subtract than to add.A man who was seen chiseling a rock into a beautiful horse...
Stop Everything and Go Faster
Sometimes you must take the car in for an oil change. Sometimes the car requires a tune-up or tires. This means you have to go to wherever you have this kind of work done and wait for your car to be serviced. It costs money and it dents your day. And when you see the...
Proposals That Always Get a Yes
You've seen it played out a million times. It's the big game and some Joe appears on the big screen holding up a ring saying, "Sally Mae, will you marry me?" The camera pans to embarrassed and pleased as punch Sally Mae who blurts out her "yes" to 150,000 cheering...
How Do You Want to Arrive?
No matter what business you are in, price is going to be an issue. This is especially true today. (That's actually an unnecessary statement because "today" is always.) There is a question you need to ask your prospect when the price issue starts to bog things down....
Aesop and Your Talent
There's a very odd trend that is hurting American business. Ask just about anyone with a job and they'll tell you that they are under-recognized and rarely heard.This started a while back when 6-Sigma oozed out of GE and into other businesses. A quest for perfection...