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A Note from Ruth: Refocus, Reinvent, Reinforce

What's Happening: Procrastination NO MORE!

Ruth In The Media: Complete Woman...December. 2009 issue

Feature Article: Your Brand & Customer Service by Ruth Klein

Ruth Recommends: Trial and Heirs! and Holistic Chambers 

The Ruth Klein Report, published monthly, is your resource for timely news, emerging trends & analysis, and smart advice that will help you boost your bottom line. Please add rklein@ruthklein.com to your white list or address book to ensure receiving future issues! P.S. Forward newsletter to a colleague.

 

I heard a statistic that 80% of the economists feel that our economy is on the uptake. I'm happy to hear that, but there seems to be a backlog of recovery because so many people are out of work and many entrepreneurs have not seen the upward change.

Now is the time to do three things in your business and your writing so that you are positioned well to be completely available when business starts to go up again...Refocus, Reinvent and Reinforce.

Refocus on your your business' core values and make sure that all your strategies and systems are in alignment with these values.

Reinvent yourself and what your business can provide. A graveyard has reinvented themselves by offering a large wide screen to show movies to the community during the evenings. A writer that I was coaching realized that she could reinvent a new target niche to her writing...she was amazed at how easy it would be for her to do...it just took a change in focus.

Reinforce your marketing and customer services around your brand image, statement and vision. I've shared a few ideas of business reinforcement around your brand in the featured article this month.

Here's to your Brand Image,

Contact Ruth Klein at rklein@ruthklein.com.
www.ruthklein.com

Procrastination, No More!
Six week class in the comfort of your own home or office....! Next class starts December 9th.
 
Brand & Pitch Book Camp
This five month program is offered only once a year. It starts Thursday, January 21, 2010 and culminates at the Book Expo in New York in May!

If you'd like to book Ruth for a speech, please email her at rklein@ruthklein.com.

Complete Woman...
December 2009 issue

Smart Women's Coaching:
Ruth was interviewed on Smart Women Talk Radio just last week.
Click here to listen to the recording.

Your Brand & Customer Service
by Ruth Klein

Have you ever thought that customer service is separate from your brand? Most entrepreneurs, professionals and writers feel that customer service is a separate part of their business. In fact, there are divisions set up just for customer service without working on the brand message before sending out a new customer service program.

How can that be? I wish I knew the answer to that, but I don't. What I do know is that customer service can be a very large part of your brand statement to your clients and customers.

Here are some businesses that are reinforcing their brand image with their clients and customers:

• Starbucks identified and branded itself as the "third" location. The first location is home; the second location is work, and the third location is the coffee shop... and in this case, Starbucks. I was pleasantly pleased when I went to Starbucks this morning and found that there were fresh LA Times and New York Times newspapers. I really couldn't believe it... but, as I looked further, I saw that they were from the day before. Can you imagine if they put a few of these newspapers out on the actual day they came out- as a reinforcement of the third location principle? Implementing that little, inexpensive customer service strategy would tie-in and really reinforce Starbucks brand as the "third" location.
  
  Note: What could you add to your customer service that would be inexpensive and create a "Wow" customer experience?

• Dance Studio: I've taken dance lessons since I was very young and I've dabbled in local theater where I've had the opportunity to be in 42nd St., Anything Goes and most recently, Some Like It Hot. But, I've never taken ballroom or Latin dancing...until now. One of the dance studios where I'm taking dance lessons (yes, I'm really getting into it and I'm taking lessons from two great dance studios...after all, I'm in LA!) offers weekly ballroom and Latin dancing so that their students and others who simply like to dance can practice their dances and meet other dancers in the community. I find this to be a huge customer service piece that only reinforces their brand image of being a dance studio and keeps them in touch with their students. Students who take dancing lessons need and want to dance more than just during their lesson and, meet other like-minded dancing spirits! The other dance studio does not offer this weekly customer service benefit.
  
  Note: How can you help your customers and clients become "active" or interactive with your products and/or services?
  
  
• Restaurant: I joined a professional women's group and during our last breakfast meeting we formed our mission and vision statements. We met early in the morning before the restaurant actually opened. I suggested that we have some protein (such as hard-boiled eggs that can be made the day before since they can't make anything hot that early in the morning ). Presently, they offer delicious pastries, fresh fruit, fruit juices, coffee and tea for twenty dollars. The owner overheard me speaking to the manager and said that they could also add salmon to the morning breakfast at no extra charge. This is an example of superior customer service. Once again, here's a small restaurant located in a prime location (Rodeo Drive) that reinforces their brand image by listening to their clients.
  
  Note: Have you been listening to your clients lately? You can easily use www.surveymonkey.com to receive customer feedback.

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Holistic Chamber of Commerce:

Do you want to be associated with high-quality like-minded holistic professionals, entrepreneurs and businesses? It's time for the holistic business community, and YOU, to come together ~ to add our efforts in providing solutions for the health & wellness needs of everyone! We invite you to join the Holistic Chamber of Commerce, known as Holistic Chambers USA, by visiting us at http://HolisticChambersUSA.com, e-mailing us at holisticchamber@live.com, or calling us at 310-490-6862. Have a blessed day!

 

Five In 5

Are you tired of spending big dollars on the latest miracle beauty cram only to be disappointed with the results? Well, those days are over. With the newest app for the iphone, you can take beauty into your own hands.

After researching the five most effective facial exercises, they've been combined in a workout that you can do anywhere in 5 minutes. Read more about this all natural, do-it-yourself treatment!

Branding Strategist and Productivity Coach, Speaker and Author Ruth Klein is owner of the award-winning boutique firm, The Marketing/Time Source, and author of six books, including the best-selling Time Management Secrets for Working Women...getting the most out of each day.

If you liked today's issue, you'll LOVE these best-selling books: "The Everything Guide to Being a Sales Rep", "Time Management Secrets for Working Women"and the "De-Stress Diva's Guide to Life."

You can find more of Ruth's smart time management and productivity tips at AOL Coaches at www.aol.com.

© Ruth Klein 2009

Contact me directly at rklein@ruthklein.com.

A note to my readers: I welcome your comments, questions and suggestions.

Here's to Your Branding & Productivity Success,