Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Transitions: You Are Not Alone! Let LaMothe Services Help Answer Your Most Pressing Business Related Questions!

Are you going through a transition? I have to admit that I am going through a bit of a transition myself! My website(s) are in the middle of a redesign, I will soon have some new,  time saving, applications in place and I'm learning something new every day, one being that the only one who can set limits for me is....me! And the same goes for you, my friends!

What are your most pressing business questions? Please share them in the comments or contact me through any of the social media listed below. I will take each one and write a blog post and do my best to answer your question or reflect on your comment. 

You can always e-mail me at: Sharon@LaMotheServices.com
I invite you all to add me to your LinkedIN connections: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamotheservices

I also invite you to friend me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SharonLaMothe
Let's not forget about Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/lamotheservices
and then there's twitter https://twitter.com/SharonLaMothe 

I look forward to hearing from you!
Sharon LaMothe

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Getting Out From Behind Your Computer; In Person Networking!


So today I want to share with you some tips to networking in person! So often we are stuck behind a computer screen or the phone and not really interacting with people in person (missing out on that all important body language anyone?). That can make you feel isolated if you don't make it a point to get out and actually shake hands and look someone, anyone, in the eyes!

Here we go! If you have anything to add please share in the comments!

Radiate Confidence 

Even if you are shy or nervous, keep your poise and have a confident attitude as you walk into any meeting or conference. This will attract others. As you do so, you need to be prepared to carry on an intelligent discussion.

Study what is going to be discussed during the meeting. When people understand that you are serious about participating in the discussions in a meaningful and useful way, they will respect you and seek you out.

Do Not Dismiss Small Talk
 
Small talk is a vital part of business communications. By making small talk, you will make other people feel comfortable in your presence, and also slowly build up a level of trust with them.

You can start your sales ‘pitch’ after you have come to know something about the likes and dislikes of the other person. Serious discussions and negotiations will eventually be conducted, but small talk has its place in interactions between business people.

Observe the Other Person

When you are talking with other people, observe their reactions and their body language. You might find that a particular person is more interested in hearing details about you and your small business. You can then focus on that person, since you will have already captured their interest.

This strategy will save you from wasting time on people who are not interested in your company or your products. Limit the amount of time you spend trying to convince someone, before you move on to the next group or person.

Wasting your time on someone who is clearly not interested in what you have to offer will only leave you with less time to converse with others.

Keep Your Business Card Ready

You should not give your business card to each and every person, but you should give it to anyone who displays even the slightest potential of becoming a customer.

Follow-Up Is Important, Too

Call, email, or fax the people you’ve had a good interaction with during your meeting. This will indicate to the other person that you enjoyed meeting him or her, and that you are now interested in conducting serious business.

Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

Do not be afraid of what the other person might think about you. You can expect to have a few misses before you find an approach that works. Until then, keep on trying and attend as many networking events as you possibly can so that you can meet a wide variety of people. A few setbacks should not stop you from meeting new and interesting people that can help advance your business goals.

Use the above tips to better networking, and you will turn into a networking specialist in no time. In addition to getting increased business, you might also make some new friends - and it is this combination that makes networking fun and profitable.

What do you that makes you feel special or confident when getting ready to attend a business function or meeting? Please do share! I would love to hear from you. Feel free to email me at Sharon@LaMotheServices.com! Take me up on the Free 40 minute consult. You never know what will come out of talking to someone else about your goals. 

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Customer Service: How To Work With Your Customers to Take Your Business to the Next Level


Let's chat about costumer service. Where has the customer service gone people ask....maybe department stores can ignore the importance of customer service these days but "service related" industry's simply CAN NOT afford to allow their clients to believe they are not special, unique and cared about. Your clients are your number ONE marketing and networking tool. If you have a happy client they are going to spread the word about how wonderful, compassionate and caring you are...have a client who is disgruntled, unsatisfied and ignored will cost you more then money when THEY start telling their story! Customers need to know that you care...that they mean something to you other then a paid invoice. Treat them as you would like to be treated and watch your business grow!



It comes down to this: You may have the best product or service out there, but that alone won't guarantee your success if you haven't built loyal bonds with your customers. As I've already said, your existing customers are your best customers. They will thank you with their repeat business and send you business referrals. And they will think of you when they're ready to buy -- in good times and in bad. But customer loyalty must be earned.

Unlike big busin
ess, small organizations are uniquely able to cater to customer needs and earn their loyalty. How do you do that? By being 100% customer focused every day, with every interaction, in every aspect of your business. What are the best ways to show that you care about your customers/clients? Here are a few suggestions:

~Extend invitations for customers to give you feedback at every opportunity. If you have a physical store, put a suggestion box at the counter -- alongside your email sign-up list.

~Include an open-ended question at the end of every email marketing communication asking, "How are we doing? What could we do better?"

~Survey your customers to find out what they want and need right now. Ask them, if they're not buying from you now, why not? What would it take to get their business back? Report on that feedback to your mailing list in your future email marketing communications.

~Write a Question-and-Answer column in your blog inviting customers to sound off and tell you what's on their minds. Offer free advice. Use customer feedback to inform your email marketing content and drive your campaigns.

What are you currently doing to show your customers how much you care about their business? Please share with the rest of us in the comments below!

If you have any comments I would sure like to hear from you! Feel free to PM me or email me at Sharon@LaMotheServices.com or visit www.LaMotheServices.com.

Thursday, March 7, 2019

Blogging Tips, Ideas and Simple Topics

Hello and welcome again! Have you done anything to promote your business this week? Because I am on social media everyday for my clients I, of course, spend time working on my own online presence.

I also blog.... I spend quite a bit of time blogging for others. Usually I write 4 blog posts at a time and my clients either schedule them on their own blogs or have me post them directly to their sites. Either way, I enjoy writing on a multitude of topics.  Of course I am also promoting what ever services or products my clients tell me are on special for that month. But that can't be the only thing your blog is about. You need to have a variety to keep people coming back and interested.


At times small business owners are stumped as to what to write about. So here is a short list of possible simple topics to get you started. You will quickly notice that many of these posts can be written in a few minutes.

Meet one of our employees 

Meet one of our customers 

Here’s an upcoming event you might be interested in. 

A quick tip 

One of our clients sent us this photo 

Something I read that you might find useful 

A couple of websites that can be helpful 

An industry trend we see developing 

Why did we start this company. 

What it is like to work for our company 

Something we are doing to support our community 

How our business was founded 

We had a client ask us this yesterday 

A new service we are offering 

A new product available 

How we make the ordering process simple for you. 

Meet our customer support team 

Find us on Facebook, LinkedIN, Pinterest, Twitter etc

Visit us at ________event

Sign up for our newsletter

In the News

Quote of the day

In the comments please share some of the blog tips/ideas you are currently using. If you simply don't have a blog or don't like writing, you can always contact me at www.LaMotheServices.com or email me to set up your own free 40 minute consultation!

CONFESSION--I spend so much time blogging for others my own blog is a little behind...like 2018 behind...I'm trying to make up for that now! 

Friday, March 1, 2019

Social Networking is Great for Your Business!

Today I am going to share with you one of my most popular services: Social Networking. If you hate spending time on Facebook or Twitter then I can help! Especially if you just KNOW that the more you put yourself out there, the more exposure you and your business can get, the better!



Social Networking is the fastest and easiest way to stay in touch with colleagues, co-workers, industry professionals, family, and friends. But learning how to navigate a site by yourself can be frustrating especially if you would rather be spending time doing other things. Networking in any form is a great way to keep your business in the forefront of everyone's mind and lead you to a better position in your industry or field.

Package #1 includes:

Facebook~LinkedIN~Twitter~etc.

Setting up your social networking site with your e-mail and contact information

Posting your bio and other relevant information

Feed your blog to your networking site if possible

Showing you how to invite friends from your address book to your site

Teaching you how to navigate the site easily and quickly

Package #2 includes:
(paid monthly)

Everything in Package #1 and

Maintenance of your social networking sites

Posting on your sites 2/3 times per week

Networking with other relevant groups on your site

Keeping you informed of events posted on your sites

I believe most here have already set up all of your online social networking sites but if not, I am here to help. The posting, however, is what often takes up the most time.

I just want to say that it's ok to post a meme or a quote or something personal once in a while. It shakes things up and will allow your readers to get to know the personal you!

What types of information do you post on your social networking sites? Please share your ideas in the comments. Local events? Specials? Memes? Personal photos? Your blog? (Do you have a blog? I think I will write about that next!)