United Nations – Paul Bonnallie – Support The Millennium Development Goals
At the Millennium Summit in September 2000 the largest gathering of world leaders in history adopted the UN Millennium Declaration, committing their nations to a new global partnership to reduce extreme poverty and setting out a series of time-bound targets, with a deadline of 2015, that have become known as the Millennium Development Goals.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are the world’s time-bound and quantified targets for addressing extreme poverty in its many dimensions-income poverty, hunger, disease, lack of adequate shelter, and exclusion-while promoting gender equality, education, and environmental sustainability. They are also basic human rights-the rights of each person on the planet to health, education, shelter, and security.
Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty
Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education
Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality
Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health
Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases
Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability
Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development
The world has made significant progress in achieving many of the Goals. Between 1990 and 2002 average overall incomes increased by approximately 21 percent. The number of people in extreme poverty declined by an estimated 130 million 1. Child mortality rates fell from 103 deaths per 1,000 live births a year to 88. Life expectancy rose from 63 years to nearly 65 years. An additional 8 percent of the developing world’s people received access to water. And an additional 15 percent acquired access to improved sanitation services.
But progress has been far from uniform across the world-or across the Goals. There are huge disparities across and within countries. Within countries, poverty is greatest for rural areas, though urban poverty is also extensive, growing, and underreported by traditional indicators.
Paul Bonnallie urges individual and corporate support of The Millennium Development Goals. Please do what you can to achieve this objective.
Paul Bonnallie, Global Statistics
Here is a great global clock, thanks to Poodwaddle
Success Architects is a group of experts and scholars from various fields organized for intensive research and solving of problems, who serve as consultants on matters of policy and strategy especially in the areas of technology integration to solve complex situations to predict or plan future developments. . The think tank is spearheaded by infrastructure guru Paul Bonnallie.
Rain Maker Paul Bonnallie — 10 Easy Ways to Get Involved In Your Community.
Rain Maker Paul Bonnallie — 10 Easy Ways to Get Involved In Your Community.
You can show your worth by being active in your community — join a local non-profit organization, setup a charitable fund, or even start your own community initiative, Says Paul Bonnallie.
1. Research the causes and issues important to you.
Look for a group centered around issues you feel strongly about. You might already be giving money to one of these organizations, and that might be a good place to begin your volunteer experience. If you can’t find such an organization, here’s a challenging and intriguing thought: why not start one yourself? Rally neighbors to clean up that vacant lot on the corner. Patrol the neighborhood. Paint an elderly neighbor’s house. Take turns keeping an eye on the ailing person down the street. Form a group to advocate for a solution to that dangerous intersection in your neighborhood. There is no end to the creative avenues for volunteering, just as there is no end to the need for volunteers.
2. Consider the skills you have to offer.
If you enjoy outdoor work, have a knack for teaching, or just enjoy interacting with people you may want to look for volunteer work that incorporates these aspects of your personality. Many positions require a volunteer who has previous familiarity with certain equipment such as computers, or who possess certain skills, such as ability in athletics or communications. For one of those positions, you might decide to do something comparable to what you do on the job during your workday, or something that you already enjoy as a hobby. This sort of position allows you to jump right into the work without having to train in preparation for the assignment.
3. Try something new.
Perhaps you would like to learn a new skill or gain exposure to a new situation. Consider seeking a volunteer opportunity where you’ll learn something new. For example, volunteering to work on the newsletter for the local animal shelter will improve your writing and editing abilities — skills that may help you in your career. Or, volunteering can simply offer a change from your daily routine. For example, if your full-time job is in an office, you may decide to take on a more active volunteer assignment, such as leading tours at an art museum or building a playground. Many non-profits seek out people who are willing to learn. Realize beforehand, however that such work might require a time commitment for training before the actual volunteer assignment begins.
4. Combine your goals.
Look for volunteer opportunities that will also help you achieve your other goals. For example, if you want to lose a few extra pounds, pick an active volunteer opportunity such as cleaning a park or working with kids. If you’ve been meaning to take a cooking class, try volunteering at a food bank that teaches cooking skills.
5. Don’t over-commit your schedule.
Make sure the volunteer hours you want to give fit into your hectic life, so you don’t exhaust yourself, frustrate your family, shortchange the organization you’re trying to help, or neglect your job. Do you want a long-term assignment or something temporary? If you are unsure about your availability, or want to see how the work suits you before making an extensive commitment, find out whether the organization will allow you to start volunteering a limited number of hours until you get the feel of things. Better to start out slowly than to commit yourself to a schedule you can’t or don’t want to fulfill.
6. Non-profits may have questions too.
While most non-profits are eager to find volunteer help, they have to be careful when accepting the services you offer. If you contact an organization with an offer to volunteer your time, you may be asked to come in for an interview, fill out a volunteer application, or describe your qualifications and background just as you would at an interview for a paying job. It is in the organization’s interest — and more beneficial to the people it serves — to make certain you have the skills needed, that you are truly committed to doing the work, and that your interests match those of the non-profit. Furthermore, in volunteer work involving children or other at-risk populations, there are legal ramifications for the organization to consider.
7. Consider volunteering as a family.
Think about looking for a volunteer opportunity suitable for parents and children to do together, or for a husband and wife to take on as a team. When a family volunteers together at a non-profit organization, the experience can bring them closer, and teach young children the value of giving their time and effort. It can also introduce everyone in the family to skills and experiences never before encountered, and give the entire family a shared experience as a wonderful family memory.
8. Virtual volunteering?
Yes, there is such a thing! If you have computer access and the necessary skills, some organizations now offer the opportunity to do volunteer work over the computer. This might take the form of giving free legal advice, typing a college term paper for a person with a disability, or simply keeping in contact with a shut-in who has e-mail. This sort of volunteering might be well suited to you if you have limited time, no transportation, or a physical disability that precludes you from getting about freely. Virtual volunteering can also be a way for you to give time if you simply enjoy computers and want to employ your computer skills in your volunteer work.
9. I never thought of that!
Many community groups are looking for volunteers, and some may not have occurred to you. Most of us know that hospitals, libraries, and churches use volunteers for a great deal of their work, but here are some additional organizations you may volunteer with:
- Day Care Centers, Neighborhood Watch, Public Schools and Colleges
- Halfway Houses, Community Theaters, Drug Rehabilitation Centers
- Fraternal Organizations and Civic Clubs
- Retirement Centers and Homes for the Elderly, Meals on Wheels, Church or Community-Sponsored Soup Kitchens or Food Pantries
- Museums, Art Galleries, and Monuments
- Community Choirs, Bands, and Orchestras
- Prisons, Neighborhood Parks, Youth Organizations, Sports Teams, and after-school programs, Shelters for Battered Women and Children
- Historical Restorations, Battlefields, and National Parks
10. Give voice to your heart through volunteering!
Bring your heart and your sense of humor to your volunteer service, along with your enthusiastic spirit, which in itself is a priceless gift. What you’ll get back will be immeasurable!
Full article at http://www.mylifetime.com/my-lifetime-commitment/10-easy-ways-get-involved-your-community?page=0,0
Paul Bonnallie – 9 Steps to Become a Better Person
Paul Bonnallie – 9 Steps to Become a Better Person
- Step 1 — Be teachable! Nobody knows everything. Be willing to learn new ways to do things. Close your ego and open your mind to new ideas.
- Step 2 — Evaluate your behavior. When something doesn’t work as expected, evaluate your actions. Nobody doubts your best intentions. It is not a crime to make mistakes. It is a crime to not learn from your mistakes and to repeat them.
- Step 3 — Emulate the behavior of those who are successful. Are you bypassed promotions in work? Emulate the behavior of those that receive those promotions. Do you respect somebody in your community? Write down the qualities that you respect and incorporate them into your behavior.
- Step 4 — Ask for help. Find a mentor. If you want to become a great sales person, talk to as many sales people as you can. Learn from them. Learn what to do and most importantly, what not to do. Ask people in work for help. If you are sincere, people will help you.
- Step 5 — Ask how to be successful. I teach for private organizations and schools. Whenever I interview, I ask the interviewer what makes a successful teacher? They give me answers that help me learn.
- Step 6 —Read. Successful people read! Read books that are not part of your discipline. For example, I read about successful coaches to become a better teacher. Want to be a great sales person? Read about people that inspire others.
- Step 7 — Be humble. If you have to tell people how great you are, you’re not great. People know when you do great things; you don’t have to tell them.
- Step 8 — Never forget the bad times. We all have our ups and downs. Don’t let success go to your head. It may take a lifetime to become successful but only a moment to become a failure.
- Step 9 —Define your own meaning of success. Success does not necessarily equate to earning a million dollars. Success can be living the lifestyle you choose, raising a family, making a living doing what you love, et cetera.
Full article available at www.ehow.com
Consumer Advocate Paul Bonnallie – Ways to Give Back to Your Community
Ways to give back to your community are insurance that your community will be there for you. Most of us go about our days caught up in what it is that we need do routinely. Have you ever thought about in order for us to function in our community routinely, the community had to have a routine? Exactly. Have you ever thought of ways to give back to your community? You would be surprised at the little things you can do to ensure your local community continues to run like clockwork.
To begin to examine ways to give back to your community, just look around you at the local needs. Are there a lot of homeless people? Is there a lot of trash around in your community? The last time you were in your library was it tidy, were the people overworked? These are all places that you can volunteer that offer ways to give back to your community.
If you attend church, and the church has a day care center, volunteer at least once a month to help with day care. Volunteer to bring healthy snacks to the children that are in the day care. You can also volunteer your service by offering to clean the church, bring fresh flowers, or offer to volunteer in office work at the church administration office. The fact is all of these are ways to give back to your community because you are providing your time, which in turn provides a service.
The schools are suffering in every state. Our children are in need. Offer to volunteer in some capacity at your child’s school. There are always committees and functions that will need the assistance of parents, and volunteer service. Your face being a regular fixture around the school also serves to keep you abreast of how the school is running, the issues being dealt with, the assets, the deficits, and the needs of the school community in general. Your mere presence, your volunteer effort, and your being active as a parent at the school are all ways to give back to your community.
Other ways to give back to your community involve serving food to the homeless, and providing clothing to organizations that help others get prepared to get back into the workplace. A major volunteer service particularly for the homeless or for people who have been out of work is offering to prepare a resume for them. Many of these people don’t know where to begin to write a resume. Not only will you be helping an individual in need, you will be helping the workforce by helping to put someone back in it. All of these ideas, al of these efforts are ways you can give back to your community. If one person can do all of this, imagine what a whole community can do.
Mentor Paul Bonnallie – Ten Inexpensive Ways to Spend Time with Your Kid
With the economy in its present state everyone is doing what they can to save money. Saving money, however, doesn’t mean that it has to cut into time spent with your family. Spending time with your family reinforces bonds with one another, and there are several activities that help you learn together. Sharing inside jokes, discovering things you each know (and don’t know), learning something new — all of these things are just basic rewards you and your family will receive from spending time together. But, when you spend that time together doing something that costs little or no money, you can do it more often, and sometimes begin a new family tradition.
I’ve put together ten of my favorite ways to spend time with my family. All of these activities cost very little, but the rewards are incredible.
Movie Night
My husband and I have two children (ages 9 and 11). Once a week we try to make sure to sit down and watch a movie together. We take turns picking out the movie, but we try to keep the options limited to movies that we would all have some kind of interest in. And, of course, we do everything possible to keep the movies family friendly, and appropriate for all the ages watching. Movies about animals are always a big hit at our house. Because we watch so many movies, we’ve invested into purchasing a plan with Netflix. For approximately $10.00 a month we always have an unlimited amount of movies to watch either by downloading them onto our computer or having them sent to our home. Most of the time we have dinner together as we watch our movie, but on occasion we’ll pop some microwave popcorn and chow down on that along with it. We try to make the night a little more special by having food for dinner that isn’t something we would normally eat like a new recipe or order in (pizza night!).
There are so many board games on the market today that the possibilities are almost endless. Of course, one good thing about board games is that with most of them you only have to buy the game (or pieces) one time and then you have it there to play over and over again. A lot of creative thinking has gone into making games these days, and there are some great options available. For example, our family loves to play chess, but with a traditional game only two players can play. A new game called “Tile Chess” was developed that makes it possible for several players to play at once while keeping the main idea of the game intact. Other favorites are Monopoly, Risk, Uno, Clue, Battleship, Scrabble, and typical card games like Hearts and Rummy.
Another great thing about board games is that a good number of them have an educational value to them. For example, with Uno young children get an opportunity to use colors and numbers. Monopoly allows children to figure out how to use money (on a broad level). Risk, like Chess, is a game of strategy so it allows for a different type of thinking.
Hiking and Nature Walks
When our children were very young we began hiking. It has become one of our favorite things to do now. On several occasions we have seen animals on the trail such as deer, and that has always a treat. Planning even a small hiking trip can be a great opportunity for the entire family to pitch in and help decide where to hike, what specific trails to take, etc. We bought a book that references most of the major plants and animals that live in our area, so we use it as a time to point out wildlife that is native to us. We’ve discovered several plants and animals that we hadn’t seen before and the children can tell you the names of almost all the butterflies that live in our area now. From hiking we learned what poison oak and ivy look like, and some of the plants that you can eat. There’s something truly incredible when you are all working together toward a goal that really brings you all together. Every hiking trip we have ever been on has been memorable for one reason or another, and it has given our family an opportunity to make some lasting memories together that we wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Another special treat about hiking is that it is such great exercise. It also helps to loosen you up and get you more relaxed. And, its a wonderful time to have a picnic with your loved ones by a bubbling brook. It offers a great opportunity for conversation.
Bird Watching and/or Star Gazing
Bird watching offers you and your children the opportunity to see animals that you may have missed during the busy hustle of daily life. Taking the time to quietly watch these animals gives an opportunity to see they live, how they act in different situations, how they eat, and so much more. With so many different varieties of birds, the different colors of the feathers, the different ways each bird acts gives you an opportunity to be amazed at these little creatures. Your children will be amazed as well.
Just like bird watching, star gazing opens up your eyes to endless possibilities. There are so many clusters of stars, planets, and meteor showers out there, that you may find yourself looking toward the heavens for hours. It is an incredible canvas for imaginative thinking, and there is so much to learn! You can discover where the North Star is and what the scientists call it. Can you find the Big Dipper? What about Pleiades? It is so much fun to sit and point out these constellations to your child, and hear them repeat their names. On the nights of meteor showers the atmosphere becomes almost magical.
Finding information for either pastime is easy online, and, of course, free. You can do both from the comfort of your own back yard, so there’s not even the expense of gas. Have some yummy snacks on hand, and you’ve got yourself a wonderful new hobby that’s free!
Learning a New Craft
There are so many different crafts out there that any family could find a few to do together. There’s knitting, sewing, painting, wood working, wreath making… the list is endless. Learning how to build a birdhouse takes on a whole different meaning when there’s someone beside you to help in the process. Learning how to crochet an afghan becomes a wonderful opportunity to laugh at your mistakes. Tole painting becomes mesmerizing when you see the creative ideas that pop from your child’s imagination. Homemade clay is easy and inexpensive to make (the cost of a bag of flour and some salt). You can get acrylic paint for $1.00 a bottle or less. You can purchase a skein of yarn and two crochet hooks for under $5.00. Many projects can be done with very little money.
One of the best things from working together with your family on a craft project is the different levels of creativity that you discover you and your children have. I’ve heard several people tell me that they don’t have a creative bone in their whole body, but then I’ve seen this same person sit down with their child and make some of the most creative, incredible pieces of art. It blew their minds!
Cooking
We love to cook with our children. Recipes can be found online for easy dishes and very complicated ones, depending on what you and your children want to try your hand at. A lot of recipes don’t even call for cooking.
Here’s an easy no-bake peanut butter fudge recipe: www.recipezaar.com/15-Minute-No-Bake-Chocolate-Peanut-Butter-Fudge-153028
Cooking together gives your small child an opportunity to learn about measurements and how parts make a whole. For older children its a great way to promote self esteem with eating that wonderful dish when its ready to put on the plate.
Window Shopping
Sometimes my family and I like to pile in the car and head down to the mall just to look and dream. We peruse through all the different stores and pick the items we would want in our dream home. We get ideas for future crafts there, and we get ideas for Christmas and birthdays too. We’ve used it as an opportunity to help the children learn how to stretch a dollar by comparing prices. We’ve also done this to prepare for a home remodeling or redecorating job. Many stores have put ideas together for you in their models so that you can look and see what you want to change at your home. We also use this as an way to help the children learn to save their money. If there’s something in the store that they really want, we give them ideas on ways they can earn money and save it to purchase it. It’s a great way to teach patience, perseverance, and how to teach them to avoid impulse buying. The key, however, is to go with a limited amount of money on you! Just enough to buy a treat afterwards. It’s always fun to wrap up the day with an ice cream.
Library
A lot of libraries have become savvy to the needs of their patrons. These days even the smallest of libraries have a video section, and many even have music cds to check out. Looking through the books together gives you an opportunity to help your child find new stories that will interest them. Of course, it helps promote reading, but it also helps expand your child’s imagination and interest in different things. Once your child can print his or her name, they can get a library card, and its free! Most libraries also have a lot of different group activities you can do together. One library near us has a movie day every week, a summer reading program contest, and an annual art/writing exhibit.
You can find myriads of books to help you plan that hiking trip or the new craft you’d like to do. You can get your movies for movie night here, and books on stars and birds. Most libraries are online too, so you can through the card catalog at home and find a book that you’d like to read and have it saved so that it isn’t checked out before you get it. If the book or movie you want is across town, you can also request that it be sent to your nearest library to save you time and gas.
Community Project
On occasion a community project will arise that we all take a part in. We have been part of a clean up effort in our town to pick up trash. We had an opportunity to help make a new hiking trail. My children learned how fortunate they were by helping at a food closet. It gives you and your family a great feeling to help give back to your community. Driving down the road my little girl told her grandmother, “We made this road pretty. We all picked up the garbage and now it looks beautiful! ” It gave all of us a sense of pride and belonging. Some community projects, however, aren’t appropriate for small children, so you may want to ask about that before you sign up for it. You can check your city town hall, any churches, library, or public boards at restaurants and stores to find out where there may be opportunities for you and your family to serve. It is time well spent.
Badmitten anyone? What about a game of Frisbee? Tag football, relay races, volleyball, mini golf, croquet, basketball, baseball, woofle ball… there are so many outdoor sports to choose from! It’s a great way to get outside in the sunshine and see what you and your children are made of! It’s a great way to get that rusty pitching arm back in shape, or teach your child some hand-eye coordination. You could even take it a step further and design a treasure hunt. It may not be classified as a sport, but who cares about classification. It’s all about having fun with your kids!
Article Published December 23, 2008 by: Karen Greaves
Business Coach Paul Bonnallie – 7 ways financial reform will impact your life
7 ways financial reform will impact your life by Lynnette Khalfani-Cox is information you need to understand, Paul Bonnallie
Full article: http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/07/21/7-ways-financial-reform-will-change-your-financial-life/?ncid=webmail#ixzz0uQ5WRFel
Now that President Barack Obama has signed into law the biggest overhaul of the banking industry since the Great Depression, many Americans are wondering exactly how financial reform will impact them.
Officially called The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the far-reaching implications of the 2,300-page law will take many months, even years, to be fully felt. Moreover, since specific rules must still be written, observers fear that loopholes and carefully-worded fine print could muddy various elements of financial reform.
Despite these uncertainties, there are some clear ways that financial reform will impact you and your wallet. Here are seven of them:
Your Consumer Complaints
Upset with a debt-settlement agency or feeling ripped off by your mortgage lender? In as little as six months, maybe as long as a year and a half from now, you’ll have a pit bull in your corner.
One of the most important changes to be ushered in by financial reform is the creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This watchdog agency, likely to be headed by the highly-regarded consumer advocate Elizabeth Warren, will be charged with safeguarding the public from shady business practices, predatory lending and abusive financial products. The bureau will also collect consumer complaints and monitor them, providing regular reports to Congress.
Unlike some regulatory agencies, the CFPB won’t be all bark and no bite. Armed with sweeping authority and an estimated $500 million budget, this consumer advocacy powerhouse will pack a strong punch. Housed within the Federal Reserve, the CFPB will be an independent body that draws its funding from the Fed, not Congress. It will have the authority to write and enforce policies impacting virtually every area of consumer lending.
The agency will also likely reduce the mounds of paperwork and fine print contained in most financial agreements. In a recent article in theBoston Globe, Warren said the CFPB should make financial disclosures to consumers shorter and clearer. “I would like to see a world with two-page mortgage disclosures, two-page credit card agreements and two-page overdraft contracts,” she told the Globe.
Your Loans
Because the Consumer Protection bureau will have broad powers to oversee an array of financial products and services, everything from credit counseling and payday loans to mortgages and credit cards will come under its jurisdiction. Even an ombudsman for private education loans will be appointed to help borrowers resolve complaints with college lenders. (An ombudsman for federal student loans already exists within the U.S. Department of Education.)
Your Home
Even before financial reform has been implemented, it is “already becoming tougher and tougher for an average person to get a home loan,” says Ray Kuplaste, sales manager at United Capital Lenders in Southampton, Pennsylvania.
Though mortgages will become harder to get, they’ll be cheaper in many ways too. For example, the new legislation requires lenders to fully document a home buyer’s income – preferably with tax records from the IRS. That means no more “stated-income” loans or fudging about how much money you make, a common practice during the housing boom.
“In concept, it’s a great idea,” he says. “But to actually create legislation that discloses this complex (scoring) system, or discloses winners and losers, is going to prove challenging.”
Your Investments
One office will oversee large financial institutions, regulating swaps, derivatives and other complex Wall Street products. Another SEC office will better monitor asset-backed securities, like the toxic mortgages sold by Wall Street firms during the subprime meltdown. A final office will review newly-created Wall Street securities and make sure adequate investor protections and disclosures are in place.
Your Financial Education
Your Retail Shopping
Consumer advocates expect that many tweaks to financial reform will occur during the rule-making process. But they’re hoping that the spirit of the overhaul envisioned by Congress will remain intact. They’re also hoping that changes will come sooner, rather than later.
Business Coach Paul Bonnallie; 6 Sure Ways to Increase Sales
Here is another great article I came across … Shift Your Sales Focus for Increased Sales By Susan Ward, About.com Guide Full article at http://www.sbinfocanada.about.com/od/salesselling/a/increasesales.htm
Want to increase sales dramatically? Then shift your sales focus from attracting new customers to enticing your proven customers to buy again. The best sales prospect is a prospect that’s already converted – in other words, one of your current customers.
Think of it this way; if your business is located in a small town with a population of 1000 people and you sell a sprocket to everyone in that town, man, woman, and child, you’ve sold 1000 sprockets – and saturated your market. Your sprocket selling days are over. Is it time to pack up and move on?
No! If you start focusing your sales efforts on your proven customers, you’ll be able to increase your sprocket sales dramatically. And these sure ways to increase sales will help build customer loyalty, too. Try some or all of these ideas to increase your sales:
1. Set up a sales incentive program.
Give your sales staff a reason to get out there and sell, sell, sell. Why do so many businesses that rely on their sales staff to drive sales have incentive programs in place? Because offering their sales staff the trips and/or TVs for x amount of sales works. See Paul Shearstone’s Creating Sales Incentive Programs That Work for how to make your sales incentive program “sweet and simple and attainable”.
2. Encourage your sales staff to upsell.
Essentially, upselling involves adding related products and/or services to your line and making it convenient and necessary for customer to buy them. Just placing more products near your usual products isn’t going to increase your sales much. To upsell successfully, the customer has to be persuaded of the benefit. For instance, when I last had my carpets cleaned, the cleaner noticed a pet stain. Instead of just cleaning it up, he drew my attention to it, and showed me how easily and effectively the spot cleaning solution removed all trace of the stain. Did I buy the spot cleaning solution? You bet. He persuaded me that buying it was beneficial to me and made it convenient to purchase it. Result: increased sales for the carpet cleaning company.
3. Give your customers the inside scoop.
Recently I was shopping at a retail housewares store. I had picked out an item and was mulling over whether to buy it or not when a salesperson came up to me and said, “I see you’re interested in that blender. We’re having a sale next week and all our blenders will be 20 percent off. You might want to come back then.” Guess what? I did – and bought two other items as well. Lesson: if you have a promotion or sale coming up, tell your customers about it. They’ll come back – and probably bring some friends with them too. (And don’t forget – you can give your customers the inside scoop by emailing or calling them, too.)
4. Tier your customers.
There should be a clear and obvious difference between regular customers and other customers – a difference that your regular customers perceive as showing that you value them. How can you expect customer loyalty if all customers are treated as “someone off the street”? There are all kinds of ways that you can show your regular customers that you value them, from small things such as greeting them by name through larger benefits such as giving regulars extended credit or discounts.
5. Set up a customer rewards program.
We’re all familiar with the customer rewards programs that so many large businesses have in place. But there’s no reason that a small business can’t have a customer rewards program, too. It can be as simple as a discount on a customer’s birthday or as complex as a points system that earns various rewards such as discounts on merchandise. Done right, rewards programs can really help build customer loyalty and increase sales.
6. Distribute free samples to customers.
Why do so many businesses include free samples of other products when you buy something from them? Because it can increase sales in so many ways. As the customer who bought the original product, I might try and like the sample of the new product and buy some of it, too. Or I might pass on the sample to someone else, who might try the product, like it, and buy that and other products from the company. At the very least, the original customer will be thinking warm thoughts about your company, and hopefully telling other people about your products.
Attracting new customers is a good thing. But attracting new customers is not the only way to increase your sales, and is, in fact, the hard way of going about it. Shifting your sales focus to enticing your current customers can make increasing your sales easier – and best of all, build the customer loyalty that results in repeat sales.
Infastructure Guru Paul Bonnallie – Strategies To Help Improve Your Internal Communications
About the Author:
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Rain Maker Paul Bonnallie – Working From Home Tips
About the Author:
www.HowToMakeMoneyWhileYourSick.com has an excellent Free Report on how to make money online with some excellent tips and guides on webhosting and more. - http://www.howtomakemoneywhileyoursick.com/
