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Volume 5, Issue 11 
Take a Look Inside...











Buy It Now

Visit the Winning Clients companion Web site.

See what others are saying about the book.

 

Hi -

Easy opportunities to deliver inexpensive TLC to clients don't come along every day, especially ones tied to current events. This month's tip is a perfect example; not a huge thing but one of those small gestures that speaks volumes about your attentiveness. If you're a U.S. reader I hope you'll act on it while the window is open (and if you're in Canada or elsewhere, keep the idea in mind for future use)!

Speaking of opportunities that don't last forever, be sure to read about the special coaching offer described below. I have a handful of slots open to start in December and expect they'll fill up quickly.

Finally, I love to hear from you and other readers... with questions, tips of your own, successes you've achieved using these ideas, anything. Unfortunately, if you reply to this or any other newsletter issue I don't ever see those messages. To send me a message directly, use kip@gregory-group.com.

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If you have questions or comments about this material do not reply to this message, email me at kip@gregory-group.com. Responses sent to kipgregory@mailer1.cooleremail.net will not reach me.

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My 2˘ on Caring for Clients

Anytime you can leverage a current event (or better yet anticipate one) to remind clients why they like doing business with you, you make a smart marketing decision. Such an opportunity triggered my first email Tip broadcast nearly five years ago, "A 10˘ Idea That's Really Worth Using." My message read as follows:

Here's a wonderful, inexpensive gesture to show clients you're thinking of them.

This morning, UPS delivered my latest order from Amazon.com. In the box I found a windowed envelope with a sheet of ten 1˘ stamps showing through, accompanied by this note:

Dear friend,

From the start, one of our primary goals at Amazon.com has been to make the lives of our customers easier. But recently, it struck me that despite all of our hard work there are still many inconveniences we haven't yet addressed.

We can't wash your dishes.
We can't pick up your dry cleaning.
We can't change the little light bulb in your refrigerator.
We can't make your tuna salad just the way you like it.

Then I realized there was one thing we could do that we've never done before - spare you the hassle of an extra trip to the post office! First-class postal rates went up a penny to 34 cents on January 7, so enclosed you'll find ten 1˘ stamps - a necessity for using up your old 33-centers. Sure, we're only talking about 10 cents in value, but hopefully the time you'll save will be worth much more.

Jeff Bezos (CEO of Amazon)

Why not use that terrific idea yourself! A brief note and a quick trip to the post office for stamps, and you've got a thoughtful, timely gift to add to your client mailings. Easy, economical... and smart. Give it a try.

Guess what? On January 8, 2006 the cost of a US Postal Service first class stamp will again rise... from 37˘ to 39˘. Why not include a supply of 2˘ stamps with a brief PS explaining why in each client's holiday card? It's one more thing you can help them cross off their To Do list. Stop by your local post office, or order them online right now by clicking here.

If you're worried about finding high quality cards and time to write a note to each client, LongTermClients.com can help. They offer a fast, reasonably priced fulfillment service for creating personalized note cards to clients and prospects. Just order the card you want to send, upload the first names of each person or couple you want to receive it, and within 10 days your order will arrive on your desk. All you need to do is sign and mail each card. You can see samples of their work at http://www.longtermclients.com/service/notes/.

And here's a nice finishing touch… put your team's smiling faces together on a custom postage stamp from PhotoStamps.com.

All in all a low cost method of showing clients you care and are thinking about them. How often can you do that for 2˘?

*****

Bonus idea: When clients call to say thanks (and they will call) take the opportunity to find out if they're using electronic bill pay through their bank, or services like Intuit's Paytrust or Yahoo! Bill Pay. If not, walking them through how to set up an account is an additional bit of TLC you or someone on your team can deliver.

Earlier this year, the Pew Internet & American Life Project reported that the use of online banking services has jumped 47% in the past two years. Why not help clients who want to do so get on board that train? Perhaps your firm even has it's own service that you can set up for them... just another way to tie them closer to you.

Ways We Can Help You Improve Results

Become a Better Communicator

More than 100 readers of last month's newsletter clicked through to 101 Ways to Get Closer to Clients at the Winning Clients site. (#94 on the list: Show them how to buy stamps online or send them makeup stamps when postal rates increase.)

If you're looking for additional innovative and practical suggestions on delivering exceptional service here's my advice: use the 101 Ways together with my Communications Worksheet templates to map out a month-by-month strategy for communicating with key contacts. The templates are part of the premium forms package sold at the Winning Clients store. Illustrated and described in detail in Chapter 4 of Winning Clients ("Build Relationships through Better Communication"), the templates are Word files that will make it easier for you and your team to develop and execute an effective communications program in 2006.

Pick up a set today for just $24.95 and hit the ground running January 2.

Personal and Team Coaching

Want 2006 to be your best year ever? Start laying the groundwork now. Don't let competing priorities, confusion about how to get started, or lack of follow through prevent you from achieving the success you're capable of.

Take advantage of my special yearend coaching 12 pack offer: 12 50-minute sessions for the price of 10. $3000 for 12 weeks of one-on-one partner-level guidance on leveraging your time, talent and technology to boost personal productivity, marketing effectiveness, client communication, team building and management skills... whatever you know needs to improve to step up to your next level.

Working together we'll define specific objectives and develop practical strategies for achieving those results. We won't just talk--we'll implement clear, concrete improvements via telephone and our own private online conference room.

Email or call me at 202.364.6913 to find out if you qualify for this special $600 yearend discount. If you do and you sign up within the next 7 days I'll include the premium forms package and a copy of Winning Clients at no extra charge (an additional $75 value).

*****

(If you want to get started on developing your business improvement plan immediately, download the Checklist of Challenges and Self-Assessment Questionnaire from the Winning Clients Web site. These free tools will help you define your goals and identify specific areas you want to address... and give me useful insight into what you want to accomplish should we work together.)

Inject Energy and Enthusiasm into Your Next Meeting

How many presentations you attend give you practical and fresh ideas you can implement right away? My sessions offer guaranteed take-it-back-to-the-office-and-put-it-to-work value that attendees appreciate and ask for.

If you know an organization currently planning a 2006 meeting, sales conference, due diligence presentation, product road show, or employee training, email or call me at 202.364.6913 to explore how to I can help you deliver exciting, practical content attendees can use right away to work smarter, make more money, and increase their effectiveness.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Warmly,

Kip Gregory
The Gregory Group: Teaching Clients to Leverage Time, Talent, and Technology to Increase Productivity and Profit
202.364.6913

http://www.kipgregory.com

P.S. If this email was forwarded to you by a friend or colleague and you'd like to receive it directly from me, just complete the subscription form at the Winning Clients site and I'll make sure that happens.

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Don't forget, for questions or comments about this message email me at kip@gregory-group.com. Responses sent to kipgregory@mailer1.cooleremail.net will not reach me.

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 © 2005 Kip Gregory. All Rights Reserved. You are welcome to forward this message to others in its entirety, but please don't reproduce or republish its content either electronically or in print without my prior permission.