Networking is a huge part of business. What is networking? Networking is building relationships with others who are in business for themselves, and possibly doing business with them yourself, then passing on their information to others that need their services (also called a referral). The important thing is to build the relationship so you can feel confident in passing along their information so others can also benefit from their great services. The lifeblood of business is all about networking! This is why over the next few weeks, I'm going to be sharing some very special people and their businesses with you. Get to know them and their business, build a relationship. Both of you will benefit in the end.
First up is a wonderful lady I met online. Her business touches my heart. We used to homeschool and of course books are a big part of schooling. Our children enjoyed Barefoot Books! So without further ado - here's our business SPOTLIGHT of the month!
Karen D'Agostino is the mother of two rambunctious little
boys. In March of 2010, she was looking for a way to stay home with her
children while still helping her husband support their family. Karen had tried
many other direct sales businesses, but none of them seemed to fit with her
ideals. That's when a friend introduced her to the gorgeous, captivating
illustrations in Barefoot Books. She fell in love immediately and knew this was
the business that she and her family could feel good about and could work together.
Now, Karen doesn't think of it as a direct selling business. She thinks of it
more as an outlet to help her community. Through fundraising, community events,
online sales, and home or catalog parties, Karen helps to spread literacy and
get children excited about reading.
Barefoot Books began with two mothers who wanted their
children to have books that would feed the imagination, while instilling a
respect for the diversity and a love of the planet. Today, we are a world-wide
community of writers, artists, storytellers, musicians, and others who are a
committed to providing timeless stories and captivating art that can help
children become happy, engaged members of a global society. We offer not only
books printed on 100% recycled paper, but CDs, puzzles, puppets, activity
cards, craft kits, stickers and games!
Karen is currently a Sales Leader and 2nd Level Team Leader with Barefoot Books
who has a wonderful team below her that she helps motivate and guide as much or
as little as they need to make their dreams of owning their own business a
success. Working her own hours, she is able to work around her family's
schedule, making it to all of their sporting events. And her children get just
as excited as they are Christmas morning every time a new shipment of shiny,
new books arrives.
For more information about the books, fundraising, or joining the Ambassador
community, please visit www.wereadbarefoot.com or email Karen at
gobarefoot@verizon.net You can also stay up to date on new items, sales, and
enter giveaways on Karen's Facebook page www.facebook.com/wereadbarefoot
Kick of your shoes and Go Barefoot!
Good customer service - if you have a business it's what you strive for, right? Or maybe not as much as you would like and even (shudder) not at all! What is customer service? So glad you asked! Customer service is the life blood of your business - the way you make your customers feel, the following up, the going out of your way to make them happy. Without it, businesses fail.
I'm sure you've been there. You go happily into your favorite store and are excited about the purchase you are going to make, only to find the sales person on the other side of the counter lacking the same smile you do and actually looking like he or she doesn't even want to be there today, let alone wait on you! Takes away from your happiness quite a bit. So you joyfully ask for the product you have saved so long to purchase and she half-heartedly goes to 'find' it only to come back a minute later and tells you they don't have any....in not so many words. Boy, talk about bursting your bubble. Now your happy joyful self is getting a little perturbed as you point to the product in plain view. Your helpful customer service rep cracks her gum, rolls her eyes, and basically throws it on the counter telling you the price.
Or better yet....you go to the store to make a purchase and the person behind the counter doesn't even acknowledge your presence. They keep on standing there staring into space, or chatting with the other employees about how stupid another sales person is, etc. Did you really think you were born invisible? Seems that way because after a few 'excuse me', and 'can someone help me please' they finally come over and 'help' you.
These are just a couple scenarios that urk me to no end! And for me, I refuse to shop in that store again...ever! (unless of course the manager offers me a 500.00 shopping spree!!) Honestly one of the main concerns with businesses is that they don't take the time to train their workers on how to really help the customer, be kind, go all out, and do whatever they can to make that customer happy because in the end, that one customer could know 250 people and that could have been 250 new customers!
What if you are involved in direct sales? YOU are basically the boss. What is your routine for making your customers want to come back to you? After all, there are tons of other reps doing the same business as you. What makes you so special after all? Your good customer service will go a long way in keeping and getting customers. Referrals are extremely important and if a customer isn't happy, she will make sure she tells all her friends not to do business with you.
Building business requires believing the customer is always right...and that they deserve the pickle!
Ill be teaching all about this pickle in our upcoming teleclass later on this month on September 21st! More info to come! If you are serious about building your business, this is one class you wont want to miss!
