tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16889916792282101082024-02-08T12:50:25.522-05:00Roxana Nunez and Lessons at WorkThis is where I vent about my work experiences, my new experiences and everything in between. I open the discussion about what makes for good customer service and marketing, which are my two passions. I am also open to talk about art, fashion and music, which I love.This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-34132012155485872032011-06-02T08:00:00.001-04:002011-06-02T08:00:02.667-04:00Helping You Build Your TribeThis is the type of work that we would love to do for you. Start slow and build to a great audience. <br /><br /><br /><object id="flashObj" width="486" height="412" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=969535958001&playerID=2081316001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAHwJrWk~,636-xITBKwPfgDIpqGpKVNkK-jCIR9Vg&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=969535958001&playerID=2081316001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAHwJrWk~,636-xITBKwPfgDIpqGpKVNkK-jCIR9Vg&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="486" height="412" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" swLiveConnect="true" allowScriptAccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object>This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-87178257106616770142011-05-17T21:04:00.001-04:002011-05-17T21:05:46.760-04:00Working on GoalsI have been gone for a while because I am working on my goals.<br /><br />Do I want to work for myself or do I want to work for someone else? <br /><br />This is why I have not written lately.<br /><br />Hopefully, in the next few weeks you will see one post a week.<br /><br />I do apologize. Life does get in the way every once in a while.<br /><br />Thanks for understanding.This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-11784036379327027502011-03-15T10:20:00.002-04:002011-03-15T10:31:37.605-04:00Define Your ObjectiveEvery time a new outlet for social media emerges, I see tons of people signing up just for the fun of it. A year later, half of them cannot even remember their password.<br /><br />The sad part is watching companies do the same. They are happy to advertise their Facebook page or Twitter, and when you go there, they are not part of the conversation. What they are doing is worse than not using the free tools at all.<br /><br />The first thing you need to do is define your objective. What do you want to accomplish? Do you want to educate, answer questions instantly or just become part of the culture?<br /><br />The second thing you must figure out is how many you will do. I tell small businesses to start with one, be it blogging or creating a page. You pick one, start working it into your life and once you have it set up and running and you are comfortable with it, pick another one.<br /><br />The last advice I will give you today has to do with frequency. If you start out posting a message once a day, then stick to it. Don't post five messages on your page one day and then none the next. In the case of blogging: if you feel comfortable posting once a week, stick to your schedule until you are comfortable with the flow. Don't post every day the first week and then once a week the next. Consistency is key. <br /><br />If you think you need help figuring out what to do next, post me a note or send me a message. Let's figure out what works best for your business today.This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-31270637613954995252011-02-23T23:45:00.002-05:002011-02-23T23:52:36.290-05:00How Many FollowersI spend time helping people create a following on the internet.<br /><br />I follow many "gurus" and their teachings.<br /><br />My conclusion about how many followers you should have: you should have all the followers that are interested in you, what you have to say and your product.<br /><br />It is nice if you can have a million followers. If none of them buy a thing from you or learn anything from you, that is just wasted space. I would rather have one hundred followers and make a positive impact in their lives than having a million people just looking for automatic adds.<br /><br />What am I trying to say to you? Purge your list of those who are not adding to your life and don't add people automatically. That does not mean that if you are a Republican, all your "friends" have to be Republican. What it means is that if you don't like pornography, you should not have a porn site in your list. If a person insists on insulting all the people that contribute in your chats and comments, that is not the way to carry on a conversation. You want debate, not abuse. It is OK to unfriend a person if they are not willing to disagree respectfully. <br /><br />Be careful and mindful and respect your space and your friends. You will see your list grow slowly and powerfully. And who knows, maybe your followers will teach you a thing or two in the process.This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-24598460170591501942011-02-02T15:51:00.003-05:002011-02-02T15:53:23.336-05:00TEMPORARY LEAVE OF ABSENCEHello.<br /><br />As you may know, building a business takes time, effort and money. It also takes organization. We have two blogs on the internet and we are taking a couple of weeks off to set them up properly.<br /><br />We appreciate your patience. Start looking for us again around Valentine's Day when we will add all new content, the Facebook pages will be separate for both blogs and we will include all new freebies and interesting information, all for you.<br /><br />Thanks.<br /><br />AVIDDIVAThis is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-77471677607924194022011-01-18T21:02:00.002-05:002011-01-18T21:08:54.685-05:00New Beginnings....Again2011 arrived and it is already the middle of the month. A lot of changes are in store for many of us, including me. After two years of temporary assignments, moving to a different state and a different state of mind, I decided that if the assignments are temporary, I might as well figure them out myself.<br /><br />This is why we now see AviddivA as the official home of my Virtual Assistant business. If you want to read more about procrastination, then click HERE <br /><br />Why did I pick this business? Because I've already done some version of this work before. I have translated documents for businesses, I have created Twitter and Facebook campaigns for others, I have helped people with research and developing their strategies. The only difference is that now I have to start from scratch because all those contacts are back in Puerto Rico and I am in Florida.<br /><br />While waiting for the last few legalities, I decided to take a very interesting assignment. On my next post I will tell you all about a deal I made with a job hunter and how you can take advantage of many skills you already have to improve your life in 2011. <br /><br />Use the skills that you are good at and for the rest, hire someone like me.This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-88895853718681533052010-09-30T08:00:00.001-04:002010-09-30T08:00:12.593-04:00How Hard is it To CommunicateI recently had two experiences that prove the importance of a good communication system. I share these with you (the names have been changed to protect the guilty) so that you can use this in your own strategies.<br /><br />Situation #1: I have a cell phone that belongs to a national company that offers services in Puerto Rico. I kept the number so that my parents don't have to pay long distance charges to talk to me. They can call me whenever they want to. However, when the system dies in Puerto Rico, so does my cell phone. A couple of weeks ago the company hit a snag in their expansion efforts in Puerto Rico and they left us without service for five hours. The interesting thing was that if you call any cell phone with this company, you would hear a message about the phone being disconnected. Now I don't know about you. If I hear a phone is disconnected, the first thing that goes through my head is that you did not pay your bill on time. I have a few business cards running around with that number. I can only hope that nobody called on that day.<br /><br />Situation #2: My bank offers 24 hour internet banking. The other day, their system died. They posted a message saying that they were in maintenance. Even though this type of situation usually occurs in the middle of the night, this was noon. The next day, we were notified by text message, email and on the website that there had been a malfunction, apologizing for the possible inconvenience, etc. <br /><br />If this was your company, which would you prefer? And just in case you are wondering, I am still waiting for an apology from Stupid Mobile about their situation. What I know about the problem I got from the newspapers and Facebook. Be careful how you treat your current clients. Business is not just about getting new clients. Business is about keeping the ones you have already.This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-85404313988380897572010-09-27T07:00:00.001-04:002010-09-27T07:00:03.627-04:00Sell What is ImportantBecause I have not being keeping up with my blog posts, and that is a mistake I hope to correct this week. Even if I only post once or twice a week, I want to make sure it is more often. And so, today, I talk about sales, one of my favorite topics.<br /><br />We are all sales people, from the teachers in school to the nurses in the hospital. We all sell the image of the company we work for, whether we recognize it or not. We all sell our services or products every day. <br /><br />If you are actually in sales, there is only one thing that you should focus on: your prospect and their needs. Be thorough on your research and be clear about what they really want, why they want it and how you can help them achieve it.<br /><br />Do this one thing, and you will be a great sales person and even a better person.This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-75821637118708778822010-08-04T11:00:00.000-04:002010-08-04T11:00:02.433-04:00The Lesson in a Business FailureRecently I discovered that one of my favorite eateries in town went out of business. It had the best food in its category. I could not believe it.<br /><br />I learned a couple of things about this situation that I would like to share:<br /><br />1) It is not enough to have the best product and good customer service, appearance counts. This place was not very pretty and it was dark, even during the day. I never felt comfortable.<br /><br />2) Details really matter: When it comes to food, clean utensils are really important. It's not even a matter of health department standards. Nothing aggravates me more than having to ask for a change in fork. Every time I went there I had to ask for a clean fork. Whether it was a machine of a person, the dishwasher was not the best. <br /><br />3) Promote, promote and then promote some more. Most of the other places in town advertise in the local publications. It is irrelevant if you think you are wasting money, if the locals don't know you are open, they are not going to show up. The only reason why I knew they closed was because I walked by. I had been around two weeks ago and they were still open. I never knew they were closing.<br /><br />I know times are tough. This is not the time to hoard your money. You have to think outside the box and look for every way possible to stay relevant. Use the internet, find cheap or even free marketing models. Don't just go away. And if you are going to go, fight until the end.This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-43368796301887268102010-08-03T11:00:00.000-04:002010-08-03T11:00:03.183-04:00Enthusiasm Above AllSome people say that attitude is everything. Nowhere is this more obvious than in customer service, specially over the phone.<br /><br />When you work telemarketing, your only tool is your voice. It is not enough to look in the mirror and smile. You need the right attitude.<br /><br />I had two opportunities to market over the phone and what I learned through the years is that attitude is everything. So, as time went by, I learned to take a deep breath right before every call.<br /><br />It sounds silly. However, it changes my frame of mind, specially if the last call was not a sale. Some people get off their seat and pace. Others doodle. The important thing is that you find what works for you and stick to it. You can smile all you want, even over the phone, customers can tell a fake. <br /><br />Every time you make a call is a new beginning. Whether it is a cold call or a warm one, your attitude is the difference between getting that sale or opening the door, and slamming it shut with no other chances. Use your attitude to make it happen.<br /><br />Be yourself, be dynamic, be efficient and have a great attitude.This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-61514695645352985862010-07-23T11:00:00.000-04:002010-07-23T11:00:02.974-04:00If You Still Use ResumesEven though some consider resumes belong in the last millenium, many people still use them. My advice to you, read and edit your resume often.<br /><br />I worked in a Human Resources Departments on two separate occasions and as part of my duties, I had to screen resumes. I am not impressed with any person that sends a resume that is hard to read or full of mistakes. For some of you, that means spell checking. It is my opinion that if you did not take the time to use the spell checker in your computer or look up a word in the dictionary, then you will not be a good employee. Why? Because it seems to me that those are two simple tasks that take very little time and make a big impression. If you are sloppy with your resume, what else are you sloppy with.<br /><br />Another thing is when you forget to update your resume. If you pass the first screening and when you get to the interview we find out you are now working somewhere else, we are going to wonder why you did not say so on your resume. I don't mean if you just changed jobs. I mean if your last job change was a year ago. Not a good picture.<br /><br />In this economy, there were a lot of layoffs. I believe that companies are ready for that. You should always be honest in your resume. If you are unemployed, say so. You don't have to state it broadly, just write the year you started and ENDED your last job. Think about it this way. If a company has concerns about this, knowing the current state of the economy and barring that your resume is spotty on the job area, do you really want to work for that company?<br /><br />Make sure you put your best foot forward. Write well, spell check and be honest.This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-17928031412135155632010-07-22T11:00:00.000-04:002010-07-22T11:00:07.970-04:00The Writing on Your HeadWhen I was still in college I worked for a company that created messages for telephone systems. In 30 seconds or less, you had to promote a product or service. It was like twitter but in audio and it was a lot of fun.<br /><br />I love writing. Out of all the tasks and jobs I've had, that is the one constant in my life. I have the added advantage of being bilingual (English - Spanish), which comes in handy because I can also work translations. I don't believe that vocabulary is the most important thing when writing. The ability to have people understand your message is more important than the words you use.<br /><br />Think about your audience. If you are writing something for a group of technical people, then their jargon is appropriate. If you are writing for their customers, the jargon is confusing and unnecessary. <br /><br />Never talk over or under your audience. Sometimes in our attempts at reaching a large audience, we sound like we are writing to three year olds. People get easily bored by things that are either too complicated or too simplistic. Strike the right balance.<br /><br />More important, write about what you know. Your passion and knowledge will always shine through your work.This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-36005872813403477352010-07-21T11:00:00.000-04:002010-07-21T11:00:07.637-04:00Stay organizedWow! For me this is easier said than done.<br /><br />I have very little furniture and stacks of books and magazines. I still know where everything is and that is really important.<br /><br />Choose your battles carefully and organize with your head in mind. What do I mean by this? I am a visual person. I need to see what I have in order to use it and do what I have to do. That means that whenever possible I get furniture pieces with clear glass or holes with no doors. That way I can always see my materials and go to those I need quickly. <br /><br />If you are not the visual type, maybe too many things will overstimulate your senses. You probably need doors in your cabinets. You probably want a desk that closes in on itself so that you can keep the clutter away from your face when not in use. Think about these things before you buy the pieces that will help you organize it all.<br /><br />The most important thing is to organize your things, one way or the other. If you keep yourself organized, you can have more work thrown your way and you will do a great job. So don't forget to take your personality into consideration and organize your space. Thanks for reading.This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-64370214687373713612010-07-20T11:00:00.000-04:002010-07-20T11:00:02.466-04:00Working for the Curtain FactoryFor several years I worked for Verticolor, Inc in Puerto Rico. I was in sales, I managed for a while and I loved my job as an assistant to the VPs. The thing is this: I did not know a thing about window coverings until I got there. <br /><br />I remember the first day of training they took us through the factory and I took all kinds of notes on how they built vertical blinds, wood blinds, roller shades, etc. I was fascinated by a topic that a week before was not even on my radar.<br /><br />What is the lesson here? Do not say no to a job just because it is in an industry you don't know much about. I spent four very wonderful years there. I sold curtains and components, I talked to designers and famous people, I shipped, I charged, I wrote manuals and I trained. I learned a lot. Had I gotten scared by the fact I knew nothing about window coverings, I would not have been able to experience the other things. <br /><br />Take the chance. You never know what you will find. Thanks for reading.This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-24457589303690576332010-07-19T11:00:00.000-04:002010-07-19T11:00:04.280-04:00Telemarketing is not EvilI get a little upset every time somebody trashes telemarketing. I worked Telemarketing for four years and I can tell you that I learned more about marketing in that time than I did in college. <br /><br />My department was something of a pioneer back in the day. We were the only college in Puerto Rico that did their own telemarketing campaigns. We had the equipment and knew how to use it. We created everything, from selection of prospects to call, segmentation of student populations, transfer of information to call server and creation and programming of calling campaigns. We got a little input from the Marketing department about the information on some of the scripts. We deliver the final scripts, trained the telemarketing personnel and help thousands of students through the 800 number created for the university. We also made collection calls and invitations to special events. <br /><br />I personally see many uses for telemarketing, not only for collections. I do not understand the use of international call centers for domestic calls. I think that rubs customers the wrong way. I understand that companies want to save money. I also know that the wrong information to customers that do not understand your representatives cost your company money in the long run. I have experienced this first hand with banks and I have closed a couple of banks account because of it. I remember once calling a certain bank to inquire about my account and the telemarketer just repeated everything I said. She got stuck on the script and I guess she figured that if she repeated what I said it would sound sympathetic. She did not solve my problem and the next day I closed the account. <br /><br />For any companies out there that have telemarketing departments, specially for their 800 numbers, I ask you that you keep the department local and that you constantly train your telemarketers to offer the best customer service possible. That way, we will not be made the butt of jokes and the investment will convert to more and many happy clients.This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-85649314513193620942010-07-12T11:00:00.000-04:002010-07-12T11:00:05.938-04:00Creating a great campaignWhen I first moved back to Puerto Rico, I worked for a company called Information on Hold. Even though I was only there for a few months, I learned the importance of using a very short message to advertise a product or service. <br /><br />I also had the priviledge of doing all the hospitality ads because I was the only copywriter that happened to be bilingual. Those were my absolute favorite campaigns to work on. My least favorite? Hardware stores. This was before my Home Depot obsession began, so to me, the difference between a Phillips head, a flat head and a roofing nail was completely wasted on me. It took me a while to sort things out and the customers were great explaining over the phone. The bottom line, we had 30 seconds to make a statement.<br /><br />Now I do something similar on twitter every day. It is not about advertising only, it is about providing great information to get your clients to trust you. That is the most important thing. Once your clients trust you, they will take your advice and invest in your product or service. Your message does not have to be long to be effective.This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-71360211868471752312010-07-06T12:18:00.003-04:002010-07-11T22:56:49.040-04:00Having Fun at Whatever Job You HaveI remember when I was in my 20's, I worked for Blockbuster Video. There were three positions in the counter. One person had to check the return box, and since they were closest to the door, they would also act as the greeter. The middle position was for the Manager and the third position was for check outs. <br /><br />One day my manager said that he loved having me in the return box, which was not my favorite position, because I was a great greeter. He believed it was that I loved the sound of my own voice and sounded enthusiastic. In all honesty, I'm not crazy about the way my voice sounds. I have always believed that when you are at work you do things well and you treat people the way you want to be treated. When I go to a store, I want to be the most important customer. This is why I took the time to greet every single person that came through that door. <br /><br />Life is full of situations. You might have hit your foot on the table leg, your kids might be sick or your love life might be in the grave. If you carry that baggage all day long, it is not going to solve your problems. It just makes everything else worse. Deal with your issues when you have to, have as much fun as you can at work and enjoy every task you do. There are many people in the world that have no income or job to look forward to. Be greatful, enjoy your job and learn as much as you can.This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-72695335582981362142010-07-05T12:31:00.002-04:002010-07-05T12:39:29.225-04:00Managing a Price ListOne of my duties as the President's Administrative Assistant was the price list. We received the original from corporate in the US. This list only included list of prices for finished products in all window covering categories. Those clients that were designers of producers would have to calculate their prices following different percentages depending on product. We decided to take the opportunity of changing prices to create a price list that was easier to figure out and included lots of extra information.<br /><br />My responsibilities included creating sections on everything from taking correct measurements, information on the different materials used, how to place an order, how to price an order and warranties. I also had to do new calculations for the spreadsheets to automatically generate the correct price on each spreadsheet. In other words, you change the price on cell A1 and all other cells on the tables (which were usually 10 x 15 cells) would adjust to the new pricing. The goal was to create a list that anyone in the company can edit in case I was working on another project, on vacation or unavailable for any reason.<br /><br />The end product was a great training and pricing resource for both future sales personnel, decorators and manufacturers alike.This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-71976495466924424522010-06-06T22:36:00.001-04:002010-06-07T09:40:19.297-04:00Work on Your Image OnlineThe most important thing now a days is your image online. I am not talking about big companies who hire people to do that. I am talking about normal, average human beings and their presence on the web. Keep in mind that more than 70% of employers now search on Google for you when you apply for a job. A few things to keep in mind:<br /><br />1) No cursing - try to keep the curse words at a minimum. It does not matter if your profile is private, your comments and your photos may or may not be. If you said it, someone will find it. Most people don't respond well to bad words.<br /><br />2) Watch those pics - You might think it is cute to share that picture of you at that party with all those hotties, think of what a prospect or a future employer might think. Your life can still be private if you don't share all your details. That also goes for your friends. If they post bad pictures of you on the web, ask them to take them down. If they don't, you can always report the image.<br /><br />3) Join the right clubs - your life and your choices are yours to make. If you work for yourself, keep in mind the kinds of clients that you want to have. If you work for someone else, you might want to keep your job. There are plenty of clubs you can join privately, the forums and fan pages you choose in network sites are there for all to see. If it would embarrass you to show your grandma, then don't join.<br /><br />4) Always associate with the right people - I have tons of personal friends and family on Facebook. There are a couple of people that are a little strange, most of my friends are great. Some of my fan pages are a little silly, and that is fine. I am open minded, love to learn and love people. Some companies might not understand that. Keep that in mind. Also, remember that who you associate with will determine what you do in life. Pick good friends and be loyal to them, whether you have 50 or 500.<br /><br />5) Don't impress - stop picking people in the hopes of making an impression. Pick those people that make you happy. I understand that this piece of advice might seem contradictory so read the whole statement. What I mean by this is that you should pick those things that interest you and your industry. Don't pick the governor or the president you think your prospects want you to pick. Unless you are a political commentator, you really don't need to be friends with Obama and Sarah Palin. Select those that you believe in. It makes you authentic. Not everyone is going to agree with your selection and that is fine. A good boss understands that he is not going to love all your choices.<br /><br />I hope that you take care of your image online and get a good job in a place that respects your choices and has faith in your experience. Your online image is no different from your personal one. Keep it clean and good and the right job will find you.This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-3198966067816547492010-02-23T20:38:00.000-05:002010-02-23T20:49:27.329-05:00Never diminish your competitionToday I received a link from an inspirational coach I follow, about a new opportunity. Ten minutes into the video, I was not happy with the opportunity or the coach. I guess this blog post has two pieces of advice for any person that owns a company and/or does marketing for a company.<br /><br />Advice #1 - Pay close attention to your affiliate links and third party advertisements. You want to make sure that whatever you are promoting is in line with what you are doing. In the example I mention, this coach is inspirational and positive. The movie advertisement she sent me talks ill of affirmations, positive thinking and other such practices she provides.<br /><br />Advice #2 - Do not talk trash about other companies,especially competitors. We are living in an era of alliances, affiliate marketing and cross promotions. Why would you try to make yourself look better by diminishing others? What if an opportunity presents itself for you to work with this person or company in the future? What if you end up networking with the same industry you are now criticizing negatively? There are many ways of promoting yourself without minimizing or insulting others. How about having a competitive advantage that is so big, nobody can compete with you in that category? How about offering service above and beyond anyone else? Simply stating what makes you great infers that others are not. You don't have to say it.<br /><br />I hope in the future, everyone will look closely before sending links to their lists members. It will make them look more professional and might avoid your clients wasting their time because they trust your opinion.This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-64688214425081849482010-02-01T11:07:00.000-05:002010-02-01T11:17:52.678-05:00Be pro customerOne advantage of having a small business is the ability to provide great customer service. This will separate you from other small businesses and from the big companies.<br /><br />I have noticed how many companies have transferred their customer service and 800 numbers to other countries in order to save money. I don't know about you, but every time I call my bank and somebody from India reads from a script it makes me wonder. The last time I called, the agent repeated what I had just told her not to say because I know the script by heart (all the companies seem to have the same script too). If you are going to keep your call center outside the US, at least get employees that speak the language, understand what they are being asked and have some leeway on what they can do for your customer.<br /><br />For those of us who have small businesses, the key is your level of customer service. I believe in treating people the way I want to be treated. This includes going above and beyond what a client expects of me. There may be instances where you will loose the client anyway. There are some people that you will never be able to please. Wouldn't you rather part ways knowing that you did your best and gave it your all? <br /><br />When a customer complains, look at it as an opportunity to learn more about your products and services and not as a bothersome part of doing business. If you look at it as something positive, your experience will be better and your client will appreciate your efforts. Do the right thing and your clients will thank you.<br /><br />Don't forget: treat your customers the way you want to be treated and turn a complain into an opportunity. Once you get used to giving great customer service, you will not settle for anything less.This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688991679228210108.post-88582780198028063632010-01-29T23:04:00.001-05:002010-01-29T23:27:00.257-05:00In small companies, you wear many hats<div style="text-align: justify;">I received a call recently from a dear friend with a dilemma. She works for a small company and handles both the customer service and accounting functions for the company. She wanted my advice.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">A few years ago, I worked for a small company in a "Special Accounts" department. My duties included overseeing the deliveries for Client X, handling customer service, coordinating with the salesperson and collecting from their national offices. I also created a manual that had the price charts and the instructions for order processing. <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I inherited an ongoing accounts receivable issue. The previous assistant had not kept up with billing and she had not being able to collect on orders processed over 120 days old. As the new Assistant, I was asked to find all the documentation and proceed with the collections efforts. It was a learning experience for me, and I was able to collect about $40,000 in billing 120 to 360 days old. This was the reason why my friend was asking for my help now.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">My friend works for a small company where she was initially hired to work on a new product. As the economy stalled, the company downsized and kept only those employees that could handle more than one task. She had experience in customer service and as a freelancer, has had some experience with accounting. Now, as an employee, she finds herself working on all three departments. She is having trouble keeping all the hats on and handling all her duties effectively.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">My advice for my friend is the KISS principle, Keep It Super Simple. I asked her to sit down, either at home during the weekend, or at the office on Monday, and make a list of all the responsibilities she thinks she has. Then, on Monday, take a blank piece of paper and write down everything she does and how long each task takes. It should look something like this:<br /></div><br />8:00 AM Working on product A. Spent an hour and a half on schematics<br />9:30 AM Calls to clients 103 and 105 about the pending invoices.<br />10:00 AM Returned calls to three customers who needed more information.<br />11:00 AM Early lunch<br />12:00 Meeting with engineer for production of Product A.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">You get the idea. I asked her to do this process for a couple of days, ideally, the whole week. so that she can take a look at the actual tasks that she handles as opposed to what she thinks her duties are. Then, she should sit down, analyze what she is really doing, what her boss expects from her and how to handle her hours more effectively. Without figuring out what you are doing, it is really hard to get your work done efficiently. Doing this exercise might take a little more time. It will help my friend keep her clients and bosses happy and it will make her life a lot easier.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">When you work for yourself or for a smaller unit, some times you have to wear many hats. Some responsibilities might make you uncomfortable, some might be easier for you to do. Remember that in many job descriptions, the last line always says: "and any other duties required". Take the challenge head on, you might be surprised at how much you learn and what you find out about yourself in the process. Best of luck.<br /></div>This is Roxana Nunezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09083873666718346134noreply@blogger.com0