The 'Organic' Way to Build Clientele - [read]
When money is short, there is one aspect of life we all turn to more: our relationships with other people. Whether it is with family, friends, neighbors or the local community, the quality of life is measured by the time spent enjoying the company of others, at least as much as it is measured in dollar bills. In the cynical world of business, it is easy to forget that making money and making friends can go hand-in-hand. - openforum.com

Put 'Custom' Back in Customer to Build Clientele or Expand Services - [read]
Tough economic times demand that business owners build relationships with new customers and capitalize on relationships existing relationships. The strategies your business employ depend on a number of factors which can help you tailor your approach. Two key factors are whether you are seeking to expand existing relationships or develop new ones and who those relationships are with. - openforum.com

A Superstar in a Plain Brown Wrapper - [read]
Who among us doesn't move through life with the hidden sense, maybe even quiet desperation, that we are destined for more? That underneath our ordinary exterior lies an extraordinary talent? That given the right opportunity, the right stage, the right audience, we could shine as the stars we truly are? We all have that sense to one degree or another. How we handle that opportunity is what distinguishes the great from the merely good. - harvardbusiness.org

Your Greater-Than-Yourself Project - [read]
After decades of time and millions of dollars spent on leadership development and mentoring programs, why are we still facing a leadership crisis at many levels of the business world? By now, most business leaders have learned that our job is to expand and develop our own capacity, while simultaneously preparing the next generation of leaders to take the reins. Develop talent, we've been taught. Be helpful. Be a coach. Mentor someone. But it doesn't happen all that often — at least, not in any significant way. I believe it's time for us to set a new gold standard for what it means to be a leader of substance and influence. - harvardbusiness.org

Make Your Regulars Feel Special - [read]
You know what your regulars want when it comes to cut, color, cosmetics, spa services, skin and hair care, but in this economy it takes more than that to stimulate more frequent repeat visits, even from your most loyal customers. Can you add a free hand or scalp massage during treatment? A brow wax? And here is another tip – even customers who frequent pricier establishments are ordering more moderately priced items. What have you done for your regular clients to make them feel special? - boston.com
What do you do to make your clients feel special?
Tell us about your clients' favorite perks [click here].

The Power that Comes with Letting Go - [read]
If you are under the impression that in holding on to tasks, knowledge, information, and authority that what you are holding on to is your power, you are mistaken. What you are holding on to in many cases is what is going to keep you from having bigger, better, the best in your life. - 12monthsofmarketing.net

Hold a Strategy Meeting that Works: 10 Rules for Effective Strategic Planning - [read]
It’s a fact of business life. No entity goes straight up and to the right and no business plan, corporate direction, or product strategy is effective in perpetuity. Things change - economy, competition, organization, technology - you name it. When it’s time to take a step back, assess the situation, and change corporate strategy, you need a critical process called strategic planning. It can be complex and challenging so here are 10 Rules for Effective Strategic Planning.
- bnet.com

Marketing According to Maggie, the Mostly-Lab - [read]
As I walked my mostly-lab Maggie, I couldn't help but notice that she rarely looked up, her nose close to the ground as she sniffed with vigor, weaving back and forth. We often do the same thing. The pressures of work, juggling all the projects or clients, trying to squeeze in a little work-life balance etc. has us nose to the ground much of time. But as I observed Maggie on this walk, she clearly illustrated the dangers of that mindset.- drewsmarketingminute.com

Consumers Crave Simplicity, (Smart) Marketers Deliver - [read]
"Simplicity is the new sophistication," says Margaret Kime, innovation director with brand-building consultancy Fletcher Knight. Marketers for premium brands are linking sophistication and simplicity. For premium brands, the challenge lies in appealing to consumers' yen for back-to-basics while retaining the sophisticated image equity that supports their pricing. - mediapost.com.com

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