But a repeat customer alone doesn't create a sales team. The trick is to transform that dedicated buyer into a promoter who spreads the word and converts friends, family and associates into customers, too. By building great word-of-mouth, you nurture an all-volunteer sales force that generates leads, boosts sales and leverages marketing dollars. Here are three basic ways to persuade people to talk up your business story. As you develop the customer sales force, you'll find other options suited to your business.

1. Set Up a Referral Program

The easiest starting point is to ask customers who are already fans to recommend you. First, let them know you're creating a referral program by sending out a letter or a postcard that explains how much you value their business and that your continued quality depends on their referrals. You'll get a better response if you include an incentive - say, a discount on the next order or a gift for every referral sent your way.

To keep building advocates, send your referral program letter to every new customer within a few days of his first purchase. You might also ask for written testimonials about your products, which can be included on direct mail postcards, mailers or brochures or posted on your website and included in e-mail marketing. Send these testimonials to targeted customer lists, along with your appropriate sales materials.

Customer referrals can also be mailed to prospects to help open doors or to introduce you to important contacts. For instance: "Tom Smith thought you'd want to see this." Then follow up with phone calls.

Once you have set up the referral program, Business Contact Manager for Outlook 2003 lets you to track the referrals. Each Business Contact or Account listing has a Referred By field that you can use to quickly identify the source of the referral, whether by advertisement, direct mail, seminar, trade show, internal referral, external referral, partner or public relations.

In addition, the Source of Leads Report in Business Contact Manager quickly gives you insight into customers you'll want to contact. This pre-formatted report lists all of your Accounts and Business Contacts, grouped by how they were referred, whether by advertisement, direct mail, seminar, trade show, internal referral, external referral, partner or public relations.

2. Elevate Your Profile

Whether you sell upmarket services or mass-market widgets, you can generate positive publicity to make your company stand out - although it takes some sustained effort to build recognition.

As a professional service, you can position yourself as the go-to authority for media or industry news reporters. That requires some investment in crafting an innovative speech or survey or advocacy position that gets you noticed on the conference or trade show circuit. You might also hire a publicist to help get exposure. Such pros are often paid on a per-project or per-performance basis so you aren't on the hook for hefty retainer fees.

Or, you can publicize on your own - for instance by highlighting your family's background or its homegrown recipes. Your goal is to weave an emotional story or hook that will draw press.

You can also become identified with a cause or a charity. Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, for instance, was founded on only (USD)$12,000 back in 1978. But the two owners created a national powerhouse out of high-priced unconventional flavors and the good will of philanthropy. Before that, few companies talked about social responsibility. Nowadays, hundreds do.

Either way, the important thing here is to be sincere. Promote only what you really believe in. To begin building publicity, create a personal and company media kit, which can be quickly done with Microsoft Publisher.

3. Choose MySpace: A Viable Marketing Tool
MySpace is not only for teenagers and musicians. MySpace is also making a buzz among Internet marketers. At the invitation of Internet marketing guru Marlon Sanders, I set up a profile to see what the buzz is all about. Marlon calls it "...a ‘secret’ networking method the people on the inside are using."Being the active experimenter that I am, once I got started, I couldn't stay away from MySpace, setting up my profile, posting on my blog, adding events to the public calendar. As I poked around, I thought about how this networking space could work for professionals as a business tool.It's pretty easy to set up a profile and it's free. If you're using it as a business tool, be profUp a Referral Program

The easiest starting point is to ask customers who are already fans to recommend you. First, let them know you're creating a referral program by sending out a letter or a postcard that explains how much you value their business and that your continued quality depends on their referrals. You'll get a better response if you include an incentive - say, a discount on the next order or a gift for every referral sent your way.

To keep building advocates, send your referral program letter to every new customer within a few days of his first purchase. You might also ask for written testimonials about your products, which can be included on direct mail postcards, mailers or brochures or posted on your website and included in e-mail marketing. Send these testimonials to targeted customer lists, along with your appropriate sales materials.

Customer referrals can also be mailed to prospects to help open doors or to introduce you to important contacts. For instance: "Tom Smith thought you'd want to see this." Then follow up with phone calls.

Once you have set up the referral program, Business Contact Manager for Outlook 2003 lets you to track the referrals. Each Business Contact or Account listing has a Referred By field that you can use to quickly identify the source of the referral, whether by advertisement, direct mail, seminar, trade show, internal referral, external referral, partner or public relations.

In addition, the Source of Leads Report in Business Contact Manager quickly gives you insight into customers you'll want to contact. This pre-formatted report lists all of your Accounts and Business Contacts, grouped by how they were referred, whether by advertisement, direct mail, seminar, trade show, internal referral, external referral, partner or public relations.

2. Elevate Your Profile

Whether you sell upmarket services or mass-market widgets, you can generate positive publicity to make your company stand out - although it takes some sustained effort to build recognition.

As a professional service, you can position yourself as the go-to authority for media or industry news reporters. That requires some investment in crafting an innovative speech or survey or advocacy position that gets you noticed on the conference or trade show circuit. You might also hire a publicist to help get exposure. Such pros are often paid on a per-project or per-performance basis so you aren't on the hook for hefty retainer fees.

Or, you can publicize on your own - for instance by highlighting your family's background or its homegrown recipes. Your goal is to weave an emotional story or hook that will draw press.

You can also become identified with a cause or a charity. Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, for instance, was founded on only (USD)$12,000 back in 1978. But the two owners created a national powerhouse out of high-priced unconventional flavors and the good will of philanthropy. Before that, few companies talked about social responsibility. Nowadays, hundreds do.

Either way, the important thing here is to be sincere. Promote only what you really believe in. To begin building publicity, create a personal and company media kit, which can be quickly done with Microsoft Publisher.

3. Choose 12 Sure-Fire Ways To Improve Your Customer Service Skills
I would like to dedicate this article to my father-in-law Alec! His life was the true role model of dedication and loyalty to his customers.He started a little open front fruit and vegetable market that expanded into a family friendly super market. It supported 3 generations and continues to survive against all odds with the big boys. He used to jokingly tell us.... There are 2 rules in customer service.Rule 1. The customer is always right! Rule 2. Refer back to rule 1.Keep this in mind as you read..... "12 Sure-Fire Ways To Improve Your Customer Service Skills" Want to impress your customer? And sharpen your customer service skills?This article should heppropriate sales materials.

Customer referrals can also be mailed to prospects to help open doors or to introduce you to important contacts. For instance: "Tom Smith thought you'd want to see this." Then follow up with phone calls.

Once you have set up the referral program, Business Contact Manager for Outlook 2003 lets you to track the referrals. Each Business Contact or Account listing has a Referred By field that you can use to quickly identify the source of the referral, whether by advertisement, direct mail, seminar, trade show, internal referral, external referral, partner or public relations.

In addition, the Source of Leads Report in Business Contact Manager quickly gives you insight into customers you'll want to contact. This pre-formatted report lists all of your Accounts and Business Contacts, grouped by how they were referred, whether by advertisement, direct mail, seminar, trade show, internal referral, external referral, partner or public relations.

2. Elevate Your Profile

Whether you sell upmarket services or mass-market widgets, you can generate positive publicity to make your company stand out - although it takes some sustained effort to build recognition.

As a professional service, you can position yourself as the go-to authority for media or industry news reporters. That requires some investment in crafting an innovative speech or survey or advocacy position that gets you noticed on the conference or trade show circuit. You might also hire a publicist to help get exposure. Such pros are often paid on a per-project or per-performance basis so you aren't on the hook for hefty retainer fees.

Or, you can publicize on your own - for instance by highlighting your family's background or its homegrown recipes. Your goal is to weave an emotional story or hook that will draw press.

You can also become identified with a cause or a charity. Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, for instance, was founded on only (USD)$12,000 back in 1978. But the two owners created a national powerhouse out of high-priced unconventional flavors and the good will of philanthropy. Before that, few companies talked about social responsibility. Nowadays, hundreds do.

Either way, the important thing here is to be sincere. Promote only what you really believe in. To begin building publicity, create a personal and company media kit, which can be quickly done with Microsoft Publisher.

3. Choose Not Getting Hired because of Haircolor, Height or Weight
As a nation we have come to accept the idea that good looking people are more likely to get hired than less attractive people. However, there are some physical characteristics we are born with that can cause our hiring likelihood to drop in stock. With the fierce competition to beat out equally qualified candidates for a job, now another hiring trend may put some of us at a disadvantage.In 2004, Yale psychologist, Dr. Marianne La France, conducted a study to compare hair (color, style and cut) to getting hired. Results of this study noted that hair color should be believable, flatter your skin tone, and have a professional appearance (www.casualpower.com). It was also noted within the same e referred, whether by advertisement, direct mail, seminar, trade show, internal referral, external referral, partner or public relations.

2. Elevate Your Profile

Whether you sell upmarket services or mass-market widgets, you can generate positive publicity to make your company stand out - although it takes some sustained effort to build recognition.

As a professional service, you can position yourself as the go-to authority for media or industry news reporters. That requires some investment in crafting an innovative speech or survey or advocacy position that gets you noticed on the conference or trade show circuit. You might also hire a publicist to help get exposure. Such pros are often paid on a per-project or per-performance basis so you aren't on the hook for hefty retainer fees.

Or, you can publicize on your own - for instance by highlighting your family's background or its homegrown recipes. Your goal is to weave an emotional story or hook that will draw press.

You can also become identified with a cause or a charity. Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, for instance, was founded on only (USD)$12,000 back in 1978. But the two owners created a national powerhouse out of high-priced unconventional flavors and the good will of philanthropy. Before that, few companies talked about social responsibility. Nowadays, hundreds do.

Either way, the important thing here is to be sincere. Promote only what you really believe in. To begin building publicity, create a personal and company media kit, which can be quickly done with Microsoft Publisher.

3. Choose Do You Know the Difference Between Commercial and Executive Suites?
If you don’t, it could cost you a lot of money. Particularly if you’re a small business, start-up or a company looking for short-term office accommodations. At first glance you might say to yourself, “Executive suites sound way too expensive for my budget.” But don’t be fooled by a name. If you’re looking to set-up and staff an office, executive office space could save you as much as 70% over commercial office space. Executive suites go by several different names. They might be called: Shared Office Space Temporary Office Space Executive Office Space They all refer to the basically the same type of money saving, anti-hassle, eaze on your own - for instance by highlighting your family's background or its homegrown recipes. Your goal is to weave an emotional story or hook that will draw press.

You can also become identified with a cause or a charity. Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, for instance, was founded on only (USD)$12,000 back in 1978. But the two owners created a national powerhouse out of high-priced unconventional flavors and the good will of philanthropy. Before that, few companies talked about social responsibility. Nowadays, hundreds do.

Either way, the important thing here is to be sincere. Promote only what you really believe in. To begin building publicity, create a personal and company media kit, which can be quickly done with Microsoft Publisher.

3. Choose Smart Partners

By forging alliances with businesses that target the same customers as you do, you'll create a word-of-mouth customer network that refers business. For instance, if you're a pediatrician, you might leave your business cards at the reception area of a local daycare center. Likewise, the center might put up some posters on your office bulletin board. A parent who uses daycare services might recommend you to another.

Or, let's say you own an auto body shop. You can partner with a car wash/detailing service. The car wash might mail out your flyers along with monthly invoices and also place a stack of flyers on the counter for customers. You obviously do likewise. Take-out delis and caterers provide another matching combo. You get the idea.

You can also develop special arrangements with partners to offer discounts or special offers - printed on the back of the flyers - that are only available to customers who patronize both businesses.

Don't forget your suppliers and vendors. Ask them to recommend you to their customers. Remind them that by referring sales leads or business to you, you're helping to build their business, too. To make it work, you must return the favor.

Experts say that customer referrals and word-of-mouth are about 10 times more effective than other marketing.

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