A New Season

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.

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