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What Your Small Business Can Learn From The Doctor
Most doctors never distinguish the difference between customers and patients. That's why they have waiting rooms instead of reception areas. Walk into most any doctor's office and you'll see numerous chairs -- typically full of people waiting to see the doctor -- and signs that tell you what you can't do or must do (e.g., you must wait 3 days for a referral, you must present co-pay before seeing the doctor). On top of that, doctors have the best gatekeeper's in the world -- not to keep salespeople away, but to keep the patients (customers) at bay. What other business could not only survive but thrive by conducting themselves the way many doctor's offices do? Not many if any at all. You certainly couldn't keep my clients waiting outside your business for an hour when they have an appointment -- you'd be out of business! So what can your small business learn from this? - If you have a reception area, make sure your clients or customers are made to feel like they are important to your business. This area should match the look and feel of what your company values. - It's a good thing to have policies and procedures, but don't post it on signs all around your office for the world to see. - Make sure the first person your customers find when they visit your office is the "Creator of Great First Impressions," not the gatekeeper. Denise O'Berry helps small business owners take action to grow their business. Find out more at http://www.smallbusinessmatters.com
MORE RESOURCES: News provided by Yahoo! News and Google News Small Biz: New shop strives for global connection - Online Athens $1M goes to Mass. small biz supporters - Bizjournals.com Smallbiz Brain Presents America’s Best Companies - PressReleasePoint (press release) Wage Increase Will Hit Some Small Biz Hard - NBC4i.com 26% of Small Biz Raises Ad Spend, Precipitating Online Growth - Marketing Vox News US Celcos Urged To Create New Small-Biz Programs - Telecomweb Poll: 25% of small-biz owners worry about survival - Bizjournals.com Six small biz tips from a CEO who flies right - BloggingStocks Apple Reworks iWork for Small Biz - bMighty.com |
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