4 Common Sales Errors
When salespeople are afraid of what a customer might say, they end up losing sales opportunities because they don’t find out what the customer really wants. For example, what if the customer says, “Your price is too high.” It’s a knee-jerk reaction to offer a lower price. Instead, be proactive and try to uncover the unique buying criteria important to that customer so the price objection doesn’t come up in the first place.
Getting The Most Out Of Your Advertising Dollars
Prospective customers need to see the name of your company at least seven times before they even think about making a purchase from you. Advertising is expensive, and advertising needed to reach customers seven times can drain a budget. Incorporate some of these easy actions to make your promotion efforts more effective and dollar efficient.
10 Tips For Deducting Losses From A Disaster
National Hurricane Season is officially in progress. If you suffer damage to your home or personal property, you may be able to deduct the losses you incur on your federal income tax return. Here are 10 tips you should know about deducting casualty losses.
Walking The Social Media Tightrope
In today’s digital workplace, few issues cause more confusion than social media. Numerous laws are relevant to social media, ranging from Title VII to the Fair Credit Reporting Act to state-specific laws barring requests for applicants’ personal passwords. However, employers can navigate the social media minefield by identifying and addressing the risks.
Defining Your Brand Strategy And Telling Your Shop’s Story
Do your uniforms look like every other shop in the area? Does your waiting room look the same? Do your advertisements look exactly like what everyone else is sending? These things are all part of your shop’s brand – its image in the community. And you can either choose to look, sound and act like everyone else, or you can choose to build your own brand, tell your own story and set yourself apart.
Start Planning Now For Next Year’s Taxes
You may be tempted to forget about your taxes once you’ve filed your tax return, but did you know that if you start your tax planning now, you may be able to avoid a tax surprise when you file next year? That’s right. Now is a good time to set up a system so you can keep your tax records safe and easy to find. Here are six tips to give you a leg up on next year’s taxes.
Buying/Selling An Aftermarket Business
Many shop owners with whom I interact who are considering the sale of their businesses, or at least planning ahead for that inevitability, have gained the very valuable knowledge that, regardless of whether transitioning the business to a family member, employee or outside buyer, it is important for the seller to focus on making the business as sellable and valuable as possible for as long as possible.
Lights, Camera, Action!
In the social media arena, Facebook and Twitter often get the most attention when it comes to marketing one’s business. But, with the growing influence of online video – particularly with younger generations – YouTube should not be overlooked. To promote your brand, you don’t need a high tech studio and loads of editing software; you simply need a smartphone or basic video camera, a YouTube account and a little creativity.
Is Business Coaching Right For Your Shop?
Whether you’re a new shop owner looking to increase your car count, or an industry veteran hoping to build loyalty from your existing customer base, hiring a business coach to help you achieve your goals might be worth considering.
Free Or Cheap Websites Help Competitors Eat Your Lunch
Pick your cliché. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. You get what you pay for. When it comes to web-hosting and website creation, there is a lot of advertising and marketing pushing free services or services that are so inexpensive that they aren’t representative of the true marketplace.
When Timing Is Everything … The Best Time May Be Right Now
The automotive aftermarket is viewed by many, both within and outside the industry, as a healthy, vibrant, vital growth industry. Qualified serious buyers consider auto service as more recession proof and less stressful than restaurants and other popular categories of businesses for sale.
Five Ways To Keep Your Business Out Of Court
When it comes to business, there are so many things that owners need to do and think about to keep the shop running. The last thing they need is a lawsuit related to employment matters that can be easily avoided. Here are five tips to avoid employment lawsuits.
