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How Are You Growing Referrals?

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When we ask people what their growth strategy is, we hear a litany of response.  Here are some variations of what we often hear.

  • We’re focusing on advertising on google.
  • Our socials, we are really trying to engage with people and meet them there with a resource.
  • We run print advertising campaigns for brand awareness and to gain new customers.
  • Our website is top-notch and and we have focused on building a great site to help our customers and potential customers.
  • Mailers, Billboards, Offers, etc…

These are all good things and we think that you must be doing a variation of all the above. Most vibrant businesses understand the value of all the above. But, beyond the above the best businesses the thriving ones go beyond the above list and know the best way to grow is to take care of their own. The best and most affordable way to convert new clients is through existing ones. That’s right we’re talking about referrals.

Do you have a referral program in place?

The center of your business world must be your customers and taking care of them and thoughtfully engaging them to garner referrals is the best way to grow.

Example: We work with a dental practice that has a quarterly referral program that’s top-notch. They give away a prize worth hundreds of dollars every quarter in exchange for new “leads”. Each referral they receive from a current patient gives the current patient an entry into the quarterly referral contest, WOW!

Do you have something like this?

Having a great referral program only works if your clients trust you, like you and feel comfortable giving you the names of their friends, and family.

The first step in a great referral program is to be exceptional at what you’re doing and take care of people. This builds trust and Loyalty.

The second step is to have a system in place where you ask for the referral. You must have the right vehicle for getting these new leads. Don’t be afraid to ask.

The third step is to acknowledge a referral given with a gift, kind word, something. There must be something in it for them.

In the most competitive business climate we’ve seen you must be doing all of the above and focus on growing and leveraging the people you’re already taking care of. Referrals are the most affordable way to grow and build long-lasting relationships.

One way we help our customers is by implementing referral strategies. Do you need help? Don’t be afraid to ask us for help.

Customer Service & The Power Of Onsite Sales

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“We need more customers!” Most likely, you have either thought or even said this to your sales and marketing team. Especially at the slow times of business, we want to rely on the flow of new customers. This methodology just comes naturally to us, bring in new customers and the problem will be solved. But is that entirely true? In 1895 Italian economist, Vilfredo Pareto, discovered that virtually all economic activity was subject to a principle, in that 80 percent of the wealth of Italy was controlled by 20 percent of its population. This principle is widely known today in business as the 80/20 rule, put simply it is the rule in that 80% of your business’s revenue comes from only 20% of your loyal customers.

In business, it is vital to keep this in mind for strategic planning, this quality is shared by the world’s greatest important leaders. As the leader in your business, it is essential to implement this type of activity in your day to day efforts. I believe it starts all from the greeter, the customer service, the phone operators, the front person if you will. We so commonly overlook the importance of quality customer service and being courteous as soon as a customer first meets someone from the organization. For example, take a look at Chick-Fil-A, the chain ranks first in restaurant customer service surveys, Chick-Fil-A says, “it’s a service so consistent because it invests more than other companies in training it’s employees and helping them advance their careers – regardless of whether those careers are in fast food.” We all have had an experience that left a bad taste in our mouths on a business, pledging to never visit there again. I know I have.

I believe if we took a little more time in training and supporting all members of the staff, from the front liners to management, as simple as smiling more, being courteous, being appreciative, the results would be astounding. Not only will customers enjoy the visits to the establishment but they will be more inclined to tell their family and friends. Today, one of the biggest influences for a person to become your customer is recommendations and reviews. That all starts with your customer service, you can have the best product, but if someone doesn’t enjoy their experience the likelihood of them returning is a long shot. Not only will they not return, but with a pleasant experience, the average ticket sales increase because customers tend to want to spend more money supporting a local business that respects and appreciates their customers.

Implement a productive customer relationship strategy and it will be the best strategy for your business! The 80/20 rule will bring in those happy customers more often and you will grow that 20% of loyal customers. And the best thing is it only costs a smile and basic manners!

Why Marketing is a Must in Achieving Goals

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When over 50% of small businesses fail in the first year and 95% fail within the first five years. What sets apart the winners and the not so fortunate? With just about 1.2 million small businesses in Illinois alone, small business is the backbone of our economy. Entrepreneurship is not for everyone, while most people imagine a life of being their own boss, having their own schedule, and endless vacation time, that is not the case! As small business owners know, it takes blood, sweat, and tears to simply get off the ground!

Everyone’s goal is different. The keys to making your goals a reality is planning and implementing! You should be planning on the short term as much as the long term. One thing in common among the businesses who have lasted over the 5-year mark is they know the importance of marketing & advertising. Whether you are trying to be the dominant business in your local market or becoming the next nationally recognized brand, marketing is crucial!

“If you build it, they will come”, if only it were that simple! Ever hear of a little friendly competition, Mcdonald’s needs its Burger King, Shell needs its BP, Apple needs its Microsoft. This level of competition keeps the market fair and innovated. You need to stand out from the competition. Having a clear and long-term marketing plan should be on every business owner’s mind. The U.S. Small Business Administration recommends spending 7 to 8 percent of your gross revenue for marketing and advertising if you’re doing less than $5 million a year in sales and your net profit margin—after all expenses—is in the 10 percent to 12 percent range. While everyone’s budget and needs are different, what it should tell you, is you need to be marketing!

Identifying your goal is the first step to having a successful business. What is your goal this month, quarter, or year? Write it down and hold yourself accountable. Most importantly, make it real and tangible.

Now that you have that figured out, next is the how. With the world moving at such a high speed and a new innovation coming out, every day, it’s important to stay up to date with your marketing efforts and reach your target audience where they are. Is it social media, print, SEO, referral, or email marketing? The best way to figure this out is through customer data and previous purchasing experiences. Ever wondered how the top YouTubers gain their millions of followers? It’s simple, they ASK! Usually, in the beginning of every video, they will ask you to subscribe and give them a thumbs up. You must be doing the same, see where your customers are coming from, how they found you, and why they chose you.

Maybe, try implementing a questionnaire you send to their email, ask them at check out, reward them if they take the time to help you. Not only do you gain more information, but you develop a relationship with your customers. Showing that you care and want to know more about them and what made their experience great, will help you achieve your goals.

 

Continue reading our blog for more helpful tips, tricks, and marketing trends! Don’t forget to like our page and join our Suburban Woman Network 😉

What is Marketing and Advertising

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Do you know the difference? Aren’t they the same?

Well sort of, the easiest way to think about marketing and advertising is this way. Marketing is the overall big picture of building brand awareness and advertising is one of the vehicles that marketers use to build a specific brand.

Marketing is everything from word of mouth, exceptional customer experiences, user-friendly and vibrant points of purchase, and incredible customer service. From the first engagement with a customer or potential customer, we’re seeking to build your brand with the hopes of some type of transaction.

In the 1980’s business cards were the most common piece of marketing materials, now it’s your website. Like business cards, your website tells people who you are, what you do, and how you can help them. We’re all marketers!

As mentioned, advertising is a tool, we use to market our brand. There are various verticals for advertising. Everything from traditional mediums like print, to more modern areas like digital which can range from Social Media, to pay per click. When advertising is used properly it should not only build the brand but cause people to take action. Advertising needs to draw people in and give them a reason for engagement.

When we understand the difference between advertising and marketing, we can better plan to grow your business.

Before we think about advertising, we must have a marketing strategy.

We hope these next questions will help point you in the right direction for developing a strong marketing and advertising strategy.

What do we want to communicate to potential customers and current customers about who we are, what we do, and how we do things differently? What makes us unique in our field of expertise.

In regards to advertising ask yourself these questions; what is the best way to get people to act, is there an exclusive story we can tell to cause people to choose us over our competitors. If you don’t have a story ask yourself about a deal, offering, or reason for them to choose you.

We hope this information is helpful and if you would like to chat about developing a marketing and advertising strategy please don’t hesitate to ask us for help.

Congratulations to Delilah Matos 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year!

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A Beautiful Fighter Who Won’t Back Down.

Pairing self-confidence, social good, a fighting spirit and entrepreneurship, Delilah supports women in developing and sustaining their inner confidence. Being an example herself, she reminds women to make time to better themselves for a better world while providing her healthy aging services for over the past decade. Delilah understands the fight. She worked hard to build her business, often working two or three jobs in the process of raising a son. Her journey had her experience firsthand what the “fight” of life is. Reflecting on her journey, she began thinking about others who are out there fighting, too. “My journey wasn’t easy, but no one’s is. We must “fight” to get where we want to be. If you want to achieve your dreams, you must overcome challenges. Sometimes they are challenges that are outside our control, sometimes they’re challenges that we bring upon ourselves by mistakes and the journey of life,” says Delilah.

Delilah started beauty school while a teenager and started working in salons as soon as she was licensed. Over the years she discovered her niche and moved into product research and branding, while servicing her clients. Delilah expresses an endless creativity for thinking outside the box, branding, and the ability to identify formulas that produce the best products for her customers. She now collaborates with cosmetic companies who consult her for branding ideas and conjuring up sway product names. Beautiful Fighter® is where she now focuses most of her time. This is a company you need to know about. Beautiful Fighter® is a line of skin care, cosmetics and much more. Believing everyone has the power to fight for what they believe in, Delilah has packaged her vision into an impactful, empowering product line that delivers a difference. “I didn’t create Fighter to be just another skin care or cosmetic company, it is created with the intention of delivering products with IMPACT, one that will touch people’s lives, a message that empowers and yes of course keeps us all looking and feeling our best.” Delilah says.

Delilah works in conjunction with Northwestern Medicine, where she administers Oncology Facials, extending her Beautiful Fighter® message to those facing cancer. Due to the versatile nature of the product line, Beautiful Fighter® products are utilized at the cancer resource center and are a proven great match for patients undergoing cancer treatments. Her treatments and products have enhanced the quality of life of many patients. In the past year, boxing has become a big part of Delilah’s life, she has seen her personal life and business grow alongside her love for boxing. She started boxing just a little over a year ago and has blossomed into a Beautiful Fighter® herself. She also competed as a finalist in her first boxing match at the Chicago Golden Gloves. As she thinks of women who must fight throughout their lives for various reasons, she shares that it made her realize that the fight is not just in the ring, but it is even more so outside the ropes.

“The fight is every day, each day we ALL wake up and face something. I see it when I work with my clients at the cancer center. Or women and children of domestic violence. When it comes to boxing or sports in general, I began to think of athletes that must fight through their own personal challenges to get to where they are today, that is why I had to take Beautiful Fighter and go straight to the USA Boxing Olympic Organization.” Delilah says.
Recently, Delilah met with the USA Olympic Boxing Organization in Colorado Springs. She now is in partnership with the Organization and is an Official Sponsor for the USA Boxing Team, providing top athletes with Beautiful Fighter products.

In partnership with the YWCA, Beautiful Fighter® products are available through the nonprofits online store with a portion of all sales going back to support their anti-domestic violence program. A similar program is in place
with Chicago’s largest nonprofit anti-domestic organization, WINGS. She is also a longtime supporter of Project HELP of DuPage, whose mission is to empower parents, nurture families and strengthen communities. Delilah desires women, children and teens to experience the strength to face their fight beautifully and is on a relentless mission to deliver her message.

When asked about advice for other entrepreneurs, Delilah says, “Don’t compete with one another, compete with yourself, don’t focus on what others think, people are going to think you’re crazy anyway. Fight for what you know is calling you and believe in. Keep fighting and don’t back down. Don’t try to be perfect, always be yourself.” Delilah also shares “Determine what matters to you most, ask yourself, what does success mean to you? If your focus is only money, you’ll miss the mission of your work and the magic that happens along the way. Feeling wealthy is not about money, it’s about serving others, improving the lives around you, money will come. God feeds all the birds so try not to worry too much.”

Also, on Delilah’s agenda is another mission trip overseas. “I do a lot for our local communities here first, but / also love to help women and children in need from other parts of the world.” she says. This time, she wants to go
back sharing boxing and Beautiful Fighter with women, young adults and children. “I want to bring a bin of boxing gloves and red lipstick for all the women and mini boxing gloves for all the children. Being able to share an entire week of boxing with a village that maybe has never had the opportunity to put on a pair of gloves and experience boxing would be like a dream come true.”

In asking Delilah why she picked boxing as her outlet, she had this to share: “Boxing has changed my body, the way I experience being fit inside and out. It pushes me physically, mentally and emotionally. There is always room to grow and learn. Find an activity that makes you tick, and challenges you. If we’re not pushing outside our comfort zones we will get too comfortable where we’re at, don’t settle, keep pushing for your best.” Delilah’s making her goals and dreams come true, and she’s learned to fight for it. “With faith all things are possible, but even with faith you still must face the day and fight for what you believe in. Faith without work is nothing. Believe in yourself, and keep fighting”

Visit www.beautifulfighter.com and stay connected to the first company if its kind. Congratulations Delilah! 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year. A recognition well deserved

Are you ready for a New Style for the New Year?

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New Location in Crystal Lake

We are thrilled to announce we are offering all of the comfort, care, and excellence you’ve come to expect from the Bii team…now at 2 locations!

At both Biis, we provide hair and products that you can feel good about, using only products that are high performing, ethically sourced, and formulated with eco-friendly ingredients.

At Bii, we are dedicated to a beautiful present and a healthy future.

The new Bii Natural Salon & Shop is right off of Northwest Highway, across from Mariano’s. The address is 12 Crystal Lake Plaza, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Give a Healthy Gift!

This holiday season, treat your friends and family to naturally derived and eco-friendly products, including deodorants, facial cleaners, body washes, lotions, and home essentials. Our Bii Lifestyle Market provides products that are hardworking while remaining gentle on the earth, and they safely break down in the environment, too.

If you are looking for natural, non-toxic products and want to support companies committed to 100% renewable energy and water offsets, visit Bii Lifestyle Market.

We Discount Your Upkeep

Whether you are interested in Balayage Hair Color for a sun kissed, dimensional feel or a Precision Cut with exact and elegant angles, we understand the importance of keeping an on-point look. Our Bii Three Visit Offer is a way to save money while maintaining your signature style.

  • 50% off — 1st visit

  • 25% off — 2nd visit

  • 15% off — 3rd visit

At both Bii locations, you’ll find Hair Artists who listen and produce quality results. That’s why the Bii Hair Salon Happiness Guarantee is in effect wherever you see the Bii name.

Are you ready for a New Style for the New Year?

Call bii Hair Salon at 847.428.8821 now or book your appointment online at www.biihairsalon.com