HOW TO KEEP YOUR EMPLOYEES DURING A ROUGH ECONOMY Everyone knows the economic times are challenging. If you're an employer, you've probably seen your income drop. But you have a good group of employees, they've been with you a while, and you don't want to lose any of them, even though times are tough. What can you do to keep your employees motivated and content when the going gets rough? You may be surprised to learn that some things that are extremely important to employees have nothing to do with the wages you pay them. Job security. That's one of the most important things to employees, especially now. If you're struggling to keep them on the payroll, let them know that. Don't threaten them; ask for their help in bringing in business, changing things, and keeping the business going. They may have some ideas that will surprise you. Take an interest in them. A vast majority of employees would love to know you're interested in them and their families. They say communication is extremely important to them, and an interest in their lives outside the workplace pays off plenty of dividends in keeping them happy on the job. Be flexible. If you have a lot of moms working for you, flexibility is a big part of their happiness on the job. If you're flexible with their schedules, days off, or sick days, it can help make them much happier, and it can lead to them staying with your business, rather than looking for another job. Appreciation. Show your employees you appreciate them. Respect their ideas, develop trust between you and your employees, and most of all, recognize them when they do a good job. Praise, trust, and recognition are worth more to most employees than wages or benefits, so learn to recognize and appreciate employee contributions. Challenge them. Most workers want to feel challenged and motivated on the job. If you challenge them to do their best, they'll feel like you trust them to make the right decisions and come up with a solution, and that will make them more motivated and focused to the challenge at hand. So, if you're worried about keeping your employees happy during the economic challenges we all face, use these tips to keep them happy, motivated, and on the job. Business Networking Online - Websites Focus http://www.focus.com This community focuses on IT professionals and business leaders make informed decisions.PartnerUp http://www.partnerup.com Created especially for small business owners to meet and exchange ideas. PerfectBusiness http://www.perfectbusiness.com Here, entrepreneurs can find investors, business experts, and other entrepreneurs to encourage growth and development. Staying Healthy This Holiday Season With worries about the flu, colds, and respiratory ailments going around, how can you manage to stay healthy? Well, try to limit the stress first of all, because stress can wear down your immune system and make you more susceptible to illness. Get a good night's sleep, too. Rest is also important for keeping yourself healthy and at your best, so try to sleep on a regular schedule to keep yourself strong and happy. Take a multivitamin, too, and take it at the same time every day to get your system used to it. Skip the fast food if you want to stay healthy. With so much holiday snacking and parties going on, it's a good idea to eat healthy, low-fat meals throughout the holiday season. It will help your immune system stay healthy, and it's not bad for your waistline, either. Try to stay away from others who are sick or show signs of getting sick. That's hard to do in these busy days, especially when you're rushing around doing holiday shopping, but make an effort to stay away from sick friends and relatives if you can. If you do think you've been exposed to a cold or the flu, try taking one of the early preventatives, like Vitamin C and such. Don't stress over what you can't do, or what parties you can't attend. Enjoy what you can do, and pick the parties you know you'll enjoy the most. You'll every day more and you'll be less stressed as a result. Finally, avoid the crowds at the malls. Shop specialty vendors (like The Giftbasket Concierge!), on-line, or from catalogs. Not only will you save time and energy, you'll stay away from crowds carrying all kinds of germs, too. So, avoid stress, eat right, get some sleep, and try to relax during the holidays. That way you'll stay healthy and enjoy the holiday season even more! Customer Appreciation How Do You Maintain Client Retention? During the Christmas season, many businesses focus on marketing through customer appreciation by providing tokens of appreciation to their clients. But what happens when Christmas is over? Those clients who are inundated with Christmas messages and gifts often don't hear from the businesses they patronize the rest of the year. Customer Appreciation Should Be Ongoing In the past, marketing always included keeping up with the customer after a sale or service. Now, many customers feel abandoned once the business transaction is complete. As a business owner, you rely on these individuals to keep you going year after year so it is essential to be proactive. How Can My Business Say Thanks? Saying thank you can be simple: a phone call or handwritten note letting clients know they are appreciated. These are simple but powerful tools that show people you are thinking about them and want to stay in contact. When staying in contact, keep in mind that while e-mail has its place in business, when it comes to building and maintaining customer relationships, a more personal touch is necessary. What about that client that stays with you year after year, who keeps coming back regardless of the economic climate? This person deserves something special. The Gift Basket Concierge has a variety of options to help your business show loyal customers how much they are appreciated. The Thanks A Million basket line is a great place to start. Here you will find a selection of fine foods, sweet treats, wines, and the ability to build baskets on a budget. When Should My Business Use Gift Baskets? Gift baskets are the right choice for a number of events for your business throughout the year. Often, they are used as a display of appreciation after a major purchase but this isn't the only time to use them. If you want to celebrate the anniversary of your business, send out a basket to loyal customers to mark the occasion. To really impress your clients, celebrate their own anniversary with your business. Taking the time to acknowledge and remind people of how they use your business is a great way to boost customer relationships. However you choose do it, take the time to say thanks. In this fast-paced world, people appreciate those who take time to remember them. And, chances are, next time they're ready to make a purchase, they will remember you. Employees, Grab Bag and Clients Every year it gets harder and harder to choose a fun and imaginative gift for associates and clients in the work place. We are hampered by budgets, economic times and creativity. If you need a fresh idea, try a gift basket. These can be custom built on budget and theme so you can stay on target this holiday season. Some ideas are: Movie baskets are so well received. They are fun and bring back the old movie candies and treats we loved so much in our younger years. The sizing can be done to your specifications and can also be value added with a movie gift card to Blockbuster or Netflix. This gift type is also great for nurses or medical field professionals who give so much of their time every day to help those in need and don't take time for R&R! Polo baskets. Down here in South Florida, the winter is Equestrian season. The influx of professional riders, trainers and polo enthusiasts jumps off the chart. The gift set shown here is a great array of rich treats and polo items. It is a fabulous marketing basket as it is a congratulation basket. The contents can be customized to display the favorite items of the recipient so that it won't be that run of the mill gift. These favorites are perfect for employees, grab bags and clients alike. Take a moment to assess your recipient and have fun with the design and product choices. You can create a unique gift every year. Say Thank You All Year During the Christmas season, many businesses focus on marketing through customer appreciation by providing tokens of appreciation to their clients. But what happens when Christmas is over? Those clients who are inundated with Christmas messages and gifts often don't hear from the businesses they patronize the rest of the year. Customer Appreciation Should Be Ongoing In the past, marketing always included keeping up with the customer after a sale or service. Now, many customers feel abandoned once the business transaction is complete. As a business owner, you rely on these individuals to keep you going year after year so it is essential to be proactive. How Can My Business Say Thanks? Saying thank you can be simple: a phone call or handwritten note letting clients know they are appreciated. These are simple but powerful tools that show people you are thinking about them and want to stay in contact. When staying in contact, keep in mind that while e-mail has its place in business, when it comes to building and maintaining customer relationships, a more personal touch is necessary. What about that client that stays with you year after year, who keeps coming back regardless of the economic climate? This person deserves something special. The Gift Basket Concierge has a variety of options to help your business show loyal customers how much they are appreciated. The Thanks A Million basket line is a great place to start. Here you will find a selection of fine foods, sweet treats, wines, and the ability to build baskets on a budget. When Should My Business Use Gift Baskets? Gift baskets are the right choice for a number of events for your business throughout the year. Often, they are used as a display of appreciation after a major purchase but this isn't the only time to use them. If you want to celebrate the anniversary of your business, send out a basket to loyal customers to mark the occasion. To really impress your clients, celebrate their own anniversary with your business. Taking the time to acknowledge and remind people of how they use your business is a great way to boost customer relationships. However you choose do it, take the time to say thanks. In this fast-paced world, people appreciate those who take time to remember them. And, chances are, next time they're ready to make a purchase, they will remember you. |