Category Archives: Services

How Can I Offer My Chinese Business Interpreter Skills?

Services, Starting Out

I am a girl living in Guangzhou, China. Canton Fair is hold in this city twice every year. Hundreds of thousands of foreigners come to attend these trade fairs. Most of the foreign businessmen can’t speak Chinese and cannot communicate with the Chinese businesses well. So I would like to solve their problems by offering my interpretation services. However, I have so many competitors: government, businesses, individuals, organizations… I find it difficult to compete with them to have good customers. The difficulty for me is how to let my target customer know me and what I do. And I can’t spend much money for this.

In effect, compared with others, I believe that I have much more advantages, because I am very familiar with the wholesale markets in and around Guangzhou, I can show them around the markets and help them find the lowest cost supplier, I can also hire cars at lower prices, and I am willing to offer quality inspection services for them.

###

Jay’s Answer: You’ve listed some good benefits: translation skills, familiarity with wholesale markets, familiarity with rental cars, and inspection services.

You haven’t (yet) identified WHO you’re trying to help (other than "foreign businessmen"). Is there an industry that you can specialize in? The more specific your specialization (niche), the easier it is to get your message to them.

Your letter to your prospects should focus on the problem you solve for your potential customers: We help global buyers new to China to efficiently find quality suppliers. We know the Guangzhou market, can translate all of your business negotiations, and provide ongoing quality inspections for your goods. Here are a list of services we can provide: Market Investigation, etc.

How Can I Market My Bathtub Reglazing Company?

Names + Taglines, Services, Starting Out

Our family company reglazes tubs, tiles, kitchen sinks for great price. It’s very convenient because instead of replacing it for so much money you can reglaze it.

Our approaches are hotels, apartment, buildings, residentials, and commercial anyone that needs to reglaze their tubs, clawfoot, sinks, and tiles for a fresh look without spending to much money on replasing.

We need help from you for a slogan and best ways to advertise.

###

Taglines:

  • The Smart Investment For Your Bathroom
  • The Inexpensive Bathroom Makeover
  • Redo Your Bathroom For A Song
  • Happy Glaze Are Here Again

If you have a commodity product, you need to offer different service.
Don’t worry about the “family” business – that’s not a bad thing at all (and in some cases, can be turned into a strength). Competition isn’t necessarily a bad thing – each of your competitors will be helping to spread the word about reglazing. What you want is when it’s time to choose a reglazer, that your business is chosen because it’s the best for them.

Study your competitions’ marketing. Who are they targeting? Who are they missing? Landlords? Rental properties? Vacation Homes? Commercial? Hotels? Low Income?

To get known, donate your services (i.e., provide them for free or at cost) to local homeless shelters, etc. The goodwill will translate into free press releases (sent by both you and the non-profit). The photo op for the “grand unveiling” should be attended by local media and begin to establish you as a caring business. It will also attract interest from other non-profits in the area.

To ensure that you’ll be around in 3+ years, spend the time to create a strategic plan for your business. Most businesses start with an idea, use their savings, get some people interested, print business cards and flyers, and…fail in a year or so. The ones that spend time planning the business itself, figuring out who they are targeting, etc. save time and money and ensure lasting success.

What Is A Good Tagline For Electrical Service Company?

Names + Taglines, Services

I am currently doing research of companies doing Servicing & Maintenance of electrical equipment such as Transformers, Switchgears, Air Circuit Breakers,etc. The focus will be on providing educational services to the customers as well as to tackle environmental issues through these services. Some of the taglines that I’ve came up with are: We’ll do the work for you, Knowledge saves the environment, The ability to give you peace of mind, and We ensure you to be sound asleep everyday.

###

  • We Make Your Home Shock-Free
  • Protecting Your Home From Bad Electricity
  • We Prevent Electricity Suprises

What Should Be In My Marketing Report?

Services, Starting Out

It has been one week since I’ve reported as a marketing executive in a company which owns a casual dining chain restaurant that serves Italian food. It is this company’s norm to conduct a week of mock service before the official opening of any of it’s new outlet. This mock service is basically conducted to train the all new employees and is done in a controlled environment where only a specific number of guests are invited for the complimentary lunch and dinner. I am now assigned to write a report on the mock service. How should I write this report and go about proposing strategies to enhance their business. I have done a small survey whereby I found out all the main entrance of the mall and also spotted the area where the traffic flow is really heavy. What else could I comprise in the report besides the traffic flow info and strategies?

###

Can you read reports done previously? That will give you a feel for what they’re asking.

You asking us about a marketing report based on a watching people in the restaurant for a week. If you didn’t collect data, then you have two more sources of information: your own eyes (if you were there and watched) and the staff at the new restaurant.

If you were there, write about your impressions of the visit. Imagine being one to the people coming through the door. Would you come back? Why or why not? That’s the key question. As for the subtle things: everything from look & feel, to service & taste.

If you weren’t there, then you need to interview the people that were there — the staff. How did the customers seem to them? Did they finish their food? Did they ask for seconds? Were people smiling (other than for the free food)? Were they engaging with the staff (or were they talking in hushed tones).

Your observation of traffic flow within the restaurant is important as well.

How Can I Create A Customer Advisory Council?

Services, Starting Out

We’re looking to develop a customer advisory council to elicit responses from our clients and improve our service. Any suggestions on how to get this off the ground and sustaining momentum?

###

You have 2 issues: internal and external motivation.

Internally, why are you creating the council? Is this a request from “on high”? Will the council have the ability to do anything more than report? Will the council threaten anyone politically?

Externally, why would someone report to your council? Presumably, you have a customer service department that fields problems.

The key to getting input is giving the council the power to resolve the issues. Otherwise, the only thing that will happen is the council will write up a report which will sit on someone’s desk.

The key to getting buy-in is getting the organization customer-centric. It’s more than lip-service and simply having fewer complaints. It’s about converting complainers ABOUT your company into fanatics FOR your company.

What Is A Good Tagline For A Childcare Program?

Names + Taglines, Services

I’m searching for a tagline for my in-home licensed childcare program. My business name is Crayons to Castles Childcare. I’m struggling with putting in something about high quality care into the tagline or just making it go with my name. Suggestions? So far I have: “Where creativity and Big Dreams Meet”

###

  • A Fun Place For Princes & Princesses
  • Where Kids Can Have Fun Safely
  • My Home Is Your Kids’ Playground

How Can I Get More Customers For My Mortgage Business?

Publicity, Services

I am a mortgage originator. I am looking to do a postcard mailer to get people to call me. I would like to get ideas for a catchy phrase that would make people call or email me. The mailer is going out to people that recently got married or are getting married!

###

Imagine I’m the newlywed couple and I got a postcard from you. What would make me pick up the phone and call you?

  1. I’m in the process of buying or thinking of buying a home
  2. I don’t know anyone else doing mortgag
  3. I can trust you do help me.

A single postcard drip can’t do all this. Building a reputation takes time.

Instead, focus on what do newlyweds need. Stress reduction in financial guidance/planning? Planning for their children? Tax advice?

Give the newlyweds a free financial planning guidebook for newlyweds. Make sure it’s something of true value – worksheets for combining incomes, short/medium/and long-term goal-setting, retirement, saving for children’s education, etc. Make sure that the guidebook has your contact information on it.

Do a seminar on planning. Bring in some other financial experts for a freebie class.

Teach them how to save money in buying a house, why they should buy a house, etc.

All these are steps to build trust in you.

“If You Call By Midnight, You’ll Get A Special Gift” can work, but only if the prospects already knows you, trusts you, and is on the fence about buying from you.

How Can I Create An E-Marketing For Our Bank?

eMarketing, Services

I’m working in bank (in the middle east market) and we’re planing to create an e-marketing dept. We want to increase our sales in bank product (loans , cards, acounts, etc.)

###

For eMarketing, you’ll need 3 things: a website (that allows prospects to enter their email contact information), web analytics (Google Analytics is free and great), and a contact manager (to send emails).

The goal is to have a set of email addresses for people that have opted-in (in the United States, this is paramount, but in other countries the laws may be different). Regularly send them useful information (i.e., an e-newsletter) about your services, testimonials, white papers, etc. You want people to trust your bank.

Using the contact manager (Constant Contact, etc.) you’ll notice which emails are invalid and which get opened (and by who). With the analytics, you’ll be able to track web visitors.

With these 3 things in place, you can then start on a pay-per-click (or other online) targeted marketing campaign. The goal is to get people to your website, to give you their contact information, and for you to follow up with them. The more information that you request in your contact form, the fewer the number of people will subscribe

What Is A Good Name For A Wedding Planner?

Names + Taglines, Services, Starting Out

I am in the midst of obtaining my Wedding Coordinator license, so still a student. I thought I should start exploring potential business names for when the time comes. I am located in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada. The wedding planning business is booming here. I am looking for names that will stand out from the rest. Wedding planning is my passion, I love nothing more. I cant really put into words what it means to me, but I’d like it to be known, if you know what I mean.

Many companies in the area have names like: The Wedding Planners, Dearly Beloved, Devoted To You, Fairytale Weddings, or I do! Weddings. You catch the trend? I want to stand out more. I want to be more than just another corny WP business.

My target audience? ANYONE getting married, of course! Its hard to pin point.

I’d really like a catchy name with a neat tag line. I also would like something that could, in the future be modified so I expand my services (like event planning in general – not just weddings).

###

Jay’s Answer:

  • Eventualities: I Plan For Everything
  • The Big Event: Making Your Dreams Realities
  • A Day In Your Life: Every Event Is Unique
  • It’s All In The Details: Problem-Free Special Events

How Should I Brand My Rural Clothing Store?

Services, Starting Out

I am writing a business plan to seek financing to open a family clothing store in rural north central Idaho the nearest department store is 70 miles away. Most of my inventory will come in as department store overstocks..think ross, marshall, and tj maxx as the concept. We will also carry domestics and will phase in cottage industies (artisans) to attract the tourism and seasonal customers. The area is low/moderate income and I will be selling at discount but I do not really want to have an image that is really low end… would it be a mistake to brand our store around the discounts or should we go ahead and capitalize on the discount image?

###

It seems to me that you want to position yourself as the nearby shopping choice. You don’t need to mention price at all – that’s a given that people will care. Instead, focus on serving the community itself.

Create “We have what you need” type tagline. Because of your demographic, that’ll determine what you sell and for how much. Stress convenience. Stress saving time & gas. Stress that you hire locally and give back to the community.

If there’s no competition right now, position yourself not only as the only choice, but also the smarter choice.

If your community’s demographic should change, your store’s image/inventory can change with it seamlessly.