Listed below are various articles -- tips actually -- on how to improve your business. These are drawn from ActionCOACH and our clients. If you have questions about any of these, please contact us.

How to get Great Testimonials and Referrals - Everytime

The best person to sing the praises of your company, product or services is a raving fan and NOT YOU. In today's market especially, having someone else tell someone that they should buy your product or service is a golden gift. And simply asking someone for a testimonial or a referral is not enough. Happily, there is a systematic way of getting your customers to give you exactly the testimonial or referral you want. Click here for an article on a Referral System which will tell you how to do this.

The Rule of 3's - Maximizing Results at Networking Events

Has this ever happened to you? You met somewhere and ask "What do you do?" and then they launch into this long winded, boring monolog. We all have experienced that and, in most cases, we have also been guilty of doing that to someone. If you approach networking as a series of gates where you have to earn the right to continue to the next level of disclosure you'll never again bore the listener – and you'll do a much better job of networking. Click here for an article on the Rule of 3's – How to effectively network.

Setting Prices 

One of the biggest challenges is setting prices. Brad Sugars, Chairmand and Founder of ActionCOACH outlines the 7 Biggest Mistakes in Setting Prices.

Connections Networking

How can you make the most effective use of a networking event? It is not a question of how many business cards can you collect or how many of your cards you can give out. The real measure is the number of real connections you made -- where you and the other person actually learned about each other's business and were able to help each other in some way. Click here for an article on how to work a networking event to make connections.

Difference between Coaching and Consulting

Everyone knows what a consultant is and many think they know what a consultant does. But what is a business coach and what does a coach do DIFFERENTLY than a consultant? This whitepaper explores that topic. Click here for the whitepaper which answers the question How is a Coach different from a Consultant?.

Lean Thinking — How to Fatten-up Your Profits

Want to increase your profits? Implement a Lean Thinking Program: With roots in the Lean Manufacturing pioneered by Toyota, a Lean Thinking Program is focused on preventing waste before it occurs. So avoiding over production of products, marketing collaterial or office communications – all save costs before they occur. Lean Thinking goes further and looks at how to prevent wasted wages due to waiting in queue or walking too far for a photocopier; eliminating the wasted wages of administrative inefficiencies. The catch phrase for Lean Thinking is “doing the right thing in the beginning, so that one does not have to redesign, rework, increase cost, etc.” It is not cost reduction but waste elimination. To view a brief presentation on Lean Thinking click here.

Joe Girard

Ever heard of Joe Girard? He was a car salesman and he is in the Guinness book of world records for having sold more cars than any other car salesman in the WORLD. The average car salesman sells 8-10 cars/month. A “good salesperson” sells 40 cars/month. Joe Girard sold 119/month or 6/day everyday of his career!

How? He used a number of strategies but he credits his success to building and maintaining relationships. He did this by staying in touch with his customers and prospects every month. Joe used to send 13 cards to all his prospects and clients every year. One every month and one for Christmas. He created a place for himself in the brains of his prospects and clients by keeping in touch with them. So when they were ready to buy a car, he was uppermost in their minds. He is now a motivational speaker. (learn more)

Here is what you can do to stay uppermost in your clients' minds:
♦ Keep in touch with people regularly
♦ Send them “Thank you” card every month/quarter Click here
♦ Send them season’s greetings and birthday cards
♦ Send them news and information that will be beneficial to them
♦ Send them gifts

21 Lead Generating Truths

ActionCOACH coaches have been involved in the development and deployment of scores of lead generation programs over the past 15 years and we’ve identified 21 “truths” about generating consistent, sustainable, qualified leads. Click here for an the full list of 21 Truths.