http://www.a1articles.com en-us editorial@a1articles.com Having a superb product, soaring sales and stupendous customer service are undoubtedly some of the things which go into making a successful business. But all of this is irrelevant if you suffer a financial crisis. Without a sound stable financial position... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32440_15.html 05th March 2006 To some people, selling just comes easily; it happens naturally. They get out there and within a few hours they have a full order book. How do they do it? The key to successful selling is finding a formula or framework that works, practicing it and sticki... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32438_15.html 05th March 2006 Unfortunately very few start up businesses make it beyond their 3rd year. Failure is usually down to a number of clearly identifiable mistakes, which if small business owners are aware of, can increase their chances of survival. Here are the top 10 com... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32436_15.html 05th March 2006 There's a great line in Alice in Wonderland when the Queen says, "Sometimes I think of 6 impossible things before breakfast." I think you'll agree that this has to be creativity at its best! As a small business owner this is an ideal you really need to st... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32435_15.html 05th March 2006 You can have the best products, the plushest offices, the best location, but unless you are a 'customer focused' business, all of this counts for nothing, you will never really hit the heights you deserve. So what can you do to build a business which ... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32434_15.html 05th March 2006 If you are about to start off in business you will have no doubt heard these comments: "So many businesses fail. Why are you doing this?" "I hear that you need a large amount of money to get a business off the ground these days." "Why are you throwing ... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32433_15.html 05th March 2006 It all starts with a great idea, an idea that has probably been in your mind for a long time. You have the product sorted out, how you are going to deliver your service, where you are going to set up your office and how you are going to market your new bu... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32431_15.html 05th March 2006 Starting a new business is always tough. You have spent hours and hours putting your Business Plan together, sorting out the financing, arranging your office and buying equipment. And the big day arrives … you have to get out there and secure your first c... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32429_15.html 05th March 2006 In sales it's always said that if you understand your product and solve your customer's problems then you'll do well in the sales environment. But this presupposes one thing … that you have really listened and understood what the customer is saying. We're... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32427_15.html 05th March 2006 For many people the ultimate dream is to escape from the rat race and work from home. To some people who have achieved this dream it has turned into the ultimate nightmare! With the every day stresses of life, work and commuting, working from home can ... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32426_15.html 05th March 2006 Talk to many business people about how they approach customer service and the majority of them will say that they are aiming to have 'satisfied' customers. No! What we all should be seeking is to have loyal customers. Research has shown that 65% of cus... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32425_15.html 05th March 2006 Writing a Business Plan can be a daunting task. You have so many ideas floating around in your head that it can be difficult to capture them all in a logical format. However, committing time to writing an effective Plan can help improve your chances of s... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32424_15.html 05th March 2006 We all make use of traditional forms of getting new business in – advertising, direct mail, brochures etc but networking is one form of marketing which, has been under-utilised. Until now that is. Small business owners are finally beginning to under stand... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32421_15.html 05th March 2006 When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, little did he realise the positive effect it would have on customer service – or the negative effect it could also have! Yes, the telephone can be a great tool in helping to provide exceptional custome... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32420_25.html 05th March 2006 Whenever you go into a shop or pick up the phone to place an order, something has prompted you to take action and buy. Have you ever stopped to consider what that prompt was? What thought went through your mind, which led to you putting your hand in your ... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32419_15.html 05th March 2006 Being is business isn't just about getting a customer, selling him something and moving onto the next one. It's all about making sure that your customers keep coming back to you … and spend more money! But how can you make sure that your customers stay... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32418_15.html 05th March 2006 We have all been there at some stage in our business lives – the dreaded negotiation with your most awkward client. He regularly screws you to the floor each year on price and everything else you have to offer! Pretty quickly you see every negotiation as ... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32415_15.html 05th March 2006 As the Internet becomes an increasing part of our lives there are a growing number of web sites which are run for dissatisfied customers to publicly air their complaints about bad service. See your name posted on these sites or get contacted by them and y... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32413_15.html 05th March 2006 Do you often have the thought that your business would operate so much better without customers and all their demands? They want this, that and the other – all of which interrupts your day! But customer expectations are what drives your business and keeps... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32412_15.html 05th March 2006 Ask any small business owner to come up with ideas on how to market their business and they will say adverts, brochures, leaflets, direct mail etc. Whilst all these are great ways of promoting your business they all cost money! What if I could show you a ... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32411_15.html 05th March 2006 So, you have set up your business, got all your stationery printed, got the premises and office sorted and now you have to get out there and …sell! Suddenly you break into a cold sweat but you persevere, pick up the phone or approach your first customer a... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32409_24.html 05th March 2006 Cold calling … even the name is enough to strike fear into the heart of many a small business owner! What image comes into your mind? Sitting in a lonely damp office, surrounded by paper, 2 day old coffee cups and a stack of outstanding work. In other wor... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32408_15.html 05th March 2006 When people are asked to think of less than successful salesman, one of the unpleasant characteristics that springs to mind is them being pushy or aggressive. The usual memory is of looking for a new car or used car! We have all had experiences when ... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32407_15.html 05th March 2006 Ask many small business owners what goes into providing great customer service and you have answers such as, being polite, serving promptly, keeping your promises etc. But in this hi-tech age, we tend to forget that the humble letter has just as an import... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32406_15.html 05th March 2006 Getting a small business off the ground is challenging to say the least. Here are some tips which will prepare the ground for running a successful small business. Have Goals This is where it all starts – the foundation for success. Know exact... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32404_15.html 05th March 2006 Many business people have problems with banks but one of the main factors in getting your Bank Manager on your side is your relationship with him. People do business with people they trust – would you buy a car from someone you don't trust? No, of course ... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32403_15.html 05th March 2006 Are you thinking about approaching a Bank for finance to support your business? If you haven't already gone to see the Manager then you may not know that the first thing he will want to see is your Business Plan. Perhaps you are not convinced that all ... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32401_15.html 05th March 2006 Your success in getting a Bank to support a request for finance you may need does depend upon you choosing the right Bank in the first place. Even if you don't initially intend to borrow any money, you should keep this possibility in mind when you are res... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32400_15.html 05th March 2006 Just imagine. You have walked out of a shop or put down the phone after purchasing something and your immediate reaction is "Wow!" How do you feel? Excited; satisfied; fulfilled … eager to return and buy again? Wouldn't it be great if you could get you... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32398_15.html 05th March 2006 If you are looking for finance to either start up a business or expand your existing one you have to accept that if you want the Bank to say yes to your superb business idea, you are going to have to spend time preparing for the interview. The chat wit... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32396_15.html 05th March 2006 One of the challenges of planning and getting a new business off the ground is to establish what your start up costs are going to be. At best, it's going to be a stab in the dark or a wild guess, but there are some specific steps you can take to make your... http://www.a1articles.com/article_32394_15.html 05th March 2006