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I am a firm believer in relationship marketing and have talked about it in previous posts. The value and returns that relationship marketing potentially offers can be significant. When was the last time you had a casual discussion with one of your top clients? Does that leave you with an unease feeling? It might be time to deepen your relationships with your clients.

I suggest making plans on shorter notice (2 days) as a casual invite to a friendly restaurant where you and your client can talk. How the meeting goes all depends on what you want to get out of it. Either way you will have the opportunity to thank them for their business but you can also use the occasion to find other business opportunities. For example:

How can I better serve your needs?
Has our ________ met your expectations?
Would you recommend me?
What can I do better?

These are just a few examples of the types of questions you can ask your valued clients. The whole point is to get into a dialog to learn about client needs and how you can better serve them.

This type of meeting not only strengthens relationships with a client but helps you make informed improvements that will not only increase client retention but also attract new clients.

Let me know how your meeting goes!

Wishing you Success!

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The Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Group is coordinating a momentous charity event to help gather essential items for 180 Turning Lives Around. 180, Turning Lives Around, is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to ending domestic violence and sexual assault in our community. Promotional opportunities available. Donate a door prize – Gain visibility for your business and receive a free event ticket for the young professional in your company. Contact Diana Moore to learn more – 732-431-4440.

Guests are asked to bring an item from the 180 Wish List

When:
Wednesday, January 23, 2008 7:00 PM

Where:
Cue N Brew 1212 State Route 34 # 14, Matawan, NJ 07747 Google Map

Cost:
$10 in advance / $15 at door

This is a great event for a great cause.

The Monmouth County SCORE chapter is offering an opportunity to attend a FREE seminar on how to start a new business. SCORE is a great resource to help new business owners get started.

Areas to be covered include entrepreneurial self-evaluation, preparing a dream plan of expectations and goals, business plan preparation basics, registration and licensing procedures, as well as legal and financing options. Presenters will be Joe Wasilewski, a CPA specializing in small business management, financial planning and control and Al Pescoe, a successful entrepreneur who will review the keys to achieving success with a start up enterprise.

Where:
Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Manalapan 732-431-7242
When:
Wed, 2/13/08 6:30PM – 8:30PM

If you would like to attend, please click here or go to the SCORE36 Web site at www.score36.org and click on the Seminar Schedule tab to access the sign up button. You may also register by calling the library at the above number or the SCORE 36 office at (732) 219-9119.

Wishing you success.

As we begin to implement our business plans for 2008 nobody should question the value of the Internet to any business. The numbers are clear and compelling:

- 71% of all Americans (over 237,000,000 people) use the Internet on a regular basis. (Source: internetworldstats.com)
- 91% of Internet users use a search engine to find information. (Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project Tracking)
- 78% of Internet users research a product or service before buying it. (Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project Tracking)

For most businesses it is not the question of why should I have my business on the Internet but how. This can be a significant challenge given the number of options that are available in the market. Companies like Yahoo and Google would be happy to get you started and by the way so would the Yellow Pages and hundreds of other web developers and marketers. How as a business owner can you make an informed decision without investing so much time that it distracts you from your business?

It is important for anyone who is interested in taking the first step to do some homework, and there is plenty of information on the Internet. If you have a general understanding of some of the basic technology this will be very helpful as you take your first steps forward. Have a general understanding of what a Domain name and hosting is. Write down all of your questions as you explore the information. What websites that you use do you like? What don’t you like about other websites? Remember your website will be your business card to the world.

Take a look at your competition and see what they are doing on the Internet. Do they have a website? Are they doing PPC (Pay Per Click) Advertising? Are they collecting eMail address and marketing via email. These are just a few basic marketing activities the Internet has to offer. Is your competition taking advantage of them?

Once you have an idea of what you would like to accomplish online and have taken a look at the competition the next important step is to determine whom to work with. How comfortable are you with the technology? Are you the type of person that needs likes handholding? Or do you want to be in control of every step? Do you want to hand the reigns over to expert? Do you want to work locally or with a large corporation? What is your budget?

Based on the answers to these questions there is a solution for every business. My advice is to speak to several companies and get proposals from all of them. Once you have the proposals in hand ask yourself the following. Do they understand your business, your clients, and market place? Do they have a track record of success? Are they accessible if there is an issue? Do they have references? Will you be an account number or a valued client? Now your ready to make a decision.

The Internet can be a catalyst to bring any business to the next level and beyond. No matter what choices your make, now is the time to put it together and make it happen in 2008.

Wishing you success.

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Paul R. Greenblatt, CPA – Professional Tax & Accounting Services in Monmouth County New Jersey.