A New Season
New opportunity for growth
- By Lindsay Lougée
- Mar 01, 2017
Spring evokes images of freshness—spring cleaning, after
all, is meant to encourage people to re-organize, refresh
and start anew. For business owners, this means a clean
slate full of potential and endless opportunities. This can
be exciting, but it can also be daunting if you don’t know
where to start. A well thought-out, organized approach to tackling
your top business goals can make your efforts more effective.
When Allan F. Mogensen coined the phrase “Work smarter, not
harder” in the 1930s, he was certainly on to something. In an industry
poised for growth and transformation, it’s time to think outside of the
box and expand your possibilities.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
The time spent interacting with a company can drastically change a
customer’s sentiment.
Customers demand and deserve respect, transparency, timely
resolutions, and open communication. When these elements aren’t
present, it can lead to dissatisfied customers who take to the internet
or other mediums to voice their opinions. Make sure your
company stays clear of that risk by having well-trained staff and
clear company policies.
Recently, smart home security and technology company, MONI
Smart Security, implemented a new “Customer Bill of Rights,” which
lays out exactly what customers deserve and respect, making no excuses
when it comes to meeting their needs. This is an example of
how you can impact your customer base and increase their loyalty
through creative, forward thinking initiatives.
ONLINE PRESENCE
Thirty-seven percent of people in the United States bought one or
more smart device in 2015, and many of the people in this large
consumer market are tech savvy. So, how do you tap into them?
Having a broad online presence with positive messaging can help
take your business to the next level. But, you may ask, “How do I
get started?” It is best to focus on a smaller number of mediums and
then increase from there.
Reviews. Ask customers that have a positive experience to write
you a review online. Make it easy by posting a link in an email or on
your website. Often, online reviews are the first chance you have to
impress a potential lead.
Social Networks. Social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter,
give your business a voice and personality that resonates with consumers.
Share photos, customer stories and anything else that will personalize
your organization. This is also a great forum for customer communication
and interaction, so make sure to remain active and responsive.
Blog. Blogging increases your website traffic and drives consumers
organically to your site, creating credibility and recognition.
Companies that blog 15 or more times per month get five times the
amount of website traffic than those that don’t, and companies that
increase their blogging from three to five times a month to 6-8 times
a month almost double their lead traffic.
Todd Town from 1st Alarm, a MONI Authorized Dealer, started
small with social media and online presence and has already
reached a plethora of potential clients he otherwise wouldn’t have
been introduced to.
LOOK FOR LEADS IN NEW PLACES
Traditional lead-generation methods have long sustained the security
industry, but a new era of smart home technology and customer expectations
means it’s time for security dealers to broaden their scope.
Customers rely on research, word of mouth, and professional endorsements
when choosing who they do business with. Reach out to
and form partnerships with other local professionals that have mutually
beneficial business goals, utilizing others’ established reputations
to lend credence to your own.
For example, Gary Bender from National Security Alarms, a
MONI Authorized Dealer, works with a real estate company, builder,
insurance agency, and other local businesses that touch moving
homeowners on a consistent basis. Relationships such as these could
be your inside track to new business, growing your referral potential
exponentially. Referrals are the lifeblood of many businesses and go
a long way towards building your reputation. Take time to build a
strong network and nurture relationships. You’ll be the first to know
when a house is on the market or to alert a customer of potential
insurance discounts for home security installation, which could send
several extra sales your way.
Spring brings with it new life, and a renewed focus. Hold on to
that momentum as you get organized and test new ideas. Successfully
implementing the right initiative can mean a successful summer sales
season and great abundance in 2017, so use these tips to get started
today.
For more tips on optimizing your business, read “The Importance
of Two-Way Communication.”
This article originally appeared in the March 2017 issue of Security Today.