A New Season

A New Season

New opportunity for growth

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.

Featured

  • Survey: 54% of Organizations Cite Technical Debt as Top Hurdle to Identity System Modernization

    Modernizing identity systems is proving difficult for organizations due to two key challenges: decades of accumulated Identity and Access Management (IAM) technical debt and the complexity of managing access across multiple identity providers (IDPs). These findings come from the new Strata Identity-commissioned report, State of Multi-Cloud Identity: Insights and Trends for 2025. The report, based on survey data from the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), highlights trends and challenges in securing cloud environments. The CSA is the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment. Read Now

  • Study: Only 35 Percent of Companies Include Cybersecurity Teams When Implementing AI

    Only 35 percent of cybersecurity professionals or teams are involved in the development of policy governing the use of AI technology in their enterprise, and nearly half (45 percent) report no involvement in the development, onboarding, or implementation of AI solutions, according to the recently released 2024 State of Cybersecurity survey report from ISACA, a global professional association advancing trust in technology. Read Now

  • New Report Series Highlights E-Commerce Threats, Fraud Against Retailers

    Trustwave, a cybersecurity and managed security services provider, recently released a series of reports detailing the threats facing the retail sector, marking the second year of its ongoing research into these critical security issues. Read Now

  • Stay Secure in 2024: Updated Cybersecurity Tips for the Office and at Home

    Cyber criminals get more inventive every year. Cybersecurity threats continue to evolve and are a moving target for business owners in 2024. Companies large and small need to employ cybersecurity best practices throughout their organization. That includes security integrators, manufacturers, and end users. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols. 3

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions. 3

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge. 3