Articles - Customer Service en-us http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article N/A http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article melanie@ducttapemarketing.com 20 http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article/articles/793/1/How-Important-is-On-Demand-Customer-Service-to-Your-Small-Business/Page1.html I am constantly amazed by the fact that some companies don’t bother to respond to website information requests…acknowledge voice mails…reply to emails, etc. It’s safe to say that being totally ignored represents the extreme end of the (bad) service spectrum and very few will argue that “indifference” is not a good customer service strategy. But what constitutes reasonable or excellent service in today’s marketplace? When I research a product/service online, I find myself getting agitated if I don’t get a reply acknowledging my interest within the same business day. Are consumers more demanding today than in the past? msmiciklas@intersectionconsulting.com (Mark Smiciklas) Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article/articles/774/1/Theyll-No-Longer-Pay-For-Botched-Surgeries/Page1.html I came across a local news story a few months ago that had me absolutely astounded. A health insurance company here in Indianapolis released a statement saying they will no longer pay hospitals for performing the wrong surgery, performing surgery on the wrong body part, or performing surgery on the wrong patient. Karen@ModernImage.com (Karen Scharf) Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article/articles/769/1/Summer-at-Copper-Mountain-Resort/Page1.html Summer at Copper is still in full swing for about 4 more weeks, pending snow.  There is an amazing amount of activities to keep the family happy and entertained.  My initial thought when I was doing my research was “this is not going to work for a day trip – my kids will never want to leave.”  We went anyway.   During our weekend there, there was a Guitar Festival.   Copper holds a celebrity guitar auction every year.  For Labor Day weekend, the Copper Country even will be held featuring live music and a rodeo.   Golf enthusiasts appreciate a challenging Copper Creek Golf Course, which has an altitude of  9700 feet.  Golfing at this high altitude takes your ball even farther with your normal swing.   Before teeing off at the ninth hole, you can place your lunch order and enjoy it as you finish the last nine holes.  The front nine wanders past lakes and streams, but then on the back nine, you can view a 19th century mining town.  This is a par 70 course.   Copper Mountain features golf play and stay packages.   Other summer activities abound:  outdoor climbing wall (or climb the Rockies), bumper boats, paddle boats, a go-cart track, mini-golf.  Scenic chairlift rides launch you to the top of a mountain to 11,250 feet.  Now that’s a view of the Rockies.  Lunch is available at the top.    Bungy-jumping.  My kids are small, so I didn’t know what to think about that.  My ambitious 4 year old would be willing, but would I?  Much to my pleasure, it’s carefully hooked up with 4 trampolines.    How about some horse-riding and a cattle drive?   Feel like living the movie, City Slicker?   Here you go.  Pony rides are available too.   Dining at Copper Mountain has international flair.   Options abound from the elegant CB Grill featuring wild game, steaks, and seafood – prepared over a wood fire grill.   Let your junior chefs dazzle you with an awesome pepperoni pizza with the Kids in the Kitchen program at Pizza Carlo where the kids do the cooking.   Not only do they handle the main entrée.  They also prepare a chocolatey dessert pizza.   Yum!   You have the opportunity to roll your own sushi at Storm King Lounge positioned with a beautiful view of the lake.    We had a tour of a couple of condo accommodations at the resort, courtesy of Copper Vacations.   Five star accommodations.  Very lovely.  For those who have never booked condo accommodations, it is a must.  Similar to your own little apartment away from home, you have a fully equipped kitchen, separate bedrooms and a little deck to breathe in that fresh mountain air.  When you’re logged on to thetravelshowwithbobbijo.com… you’ll learn a new meaning for the word vacation…you’ll discover how to travel in a way that is affordable on almost any budget.     vacationoften@yahoo.com (Bobbi Frazier) Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article/articles/685/1/A-CRM-Solution-for-Small-Businesses/Page1.html Managing customers, conducting marketing campaigns and achieving timely follow-up on sales leads is a vital process that can overwhelm a small business.  Keeping promises, storing correspondence, managing sales and being able to quickly determine the status of accounts is crucial to success.  Having a single, integrated solution to accomplish all this makes the lives of small business people so much easier and more productive.  Here is the perfect customer relationship management (CRM) solution for start-ups and small businesses. akernek@smallbizsmartmarketing.com (Al Kernek) Wed, 21 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article/articles/659/1/Rating-0-out-of-5-How-To-Turn-Negative-Reviews-Into-Positives/Page1.html So you've checked out what other people are saying about your online store, and to your horror, there's a few negative reviews out there! Before you start an all out war on anyone who criticizes your ecommerce store, read on to find out how to transform negative customer reviews into positive feedback. fearless.business@gmail.com (Mark Raleigh) Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article/articles/591/1/quotLogo-Designerquot-or-quotWolf-in-Sheeps-Clothingquot/Page1.html Recently, a catering company approached me in need of several different services. These services ranged from logo design to online marketing and menus.He had explained to me that he had a budget of about $700.00 and was wondering what my marketing company could offer. In lieu of this info, I decided it would be best if I pick up a phone and start calling around. Here is what I found. blastoffstudio@gmail.com (Jonathan Ortiz) Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article/articles/552/1/So-You-Think-You-Know-CRM-Software/Page1.html A year ago if someone asked me if I knew my way around the CRM Software Industry I would have confidently said yes, however, as it turns out the old saying the more you learn the more knowledge you realize you lack, is true. When talking about the CRM Software Industry it is almost impossible to actually say that you know it inside out since there are so many CRM vendors around the world, all developing their technologies at such a rapid pace. whiting003@gmail.com (Josh Whiting) Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article/articles/541/1/5-Ways-to-Treat-Your-Customers-like-a-Person-not-an-ATM-with-Feet/Page1.html One thing that is difficult for many professional service providers is that they view their customers as little more than walking ATM machines who pay them money for services or products. The best customer service companies realize that they are dealing with real human beings who have to be dealt with on that level.  davidtillinger@gmail.com (David Tillinger) Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article/articles/523/1/Guarantees--Why-You-Should-Offer-Them/Page1.html There are many questions that often come up for new small business owners around offering guarantees - what kind, how long, am I risking too much by doing so, and even if they should offer them at all. alicia@clientabundance.com (Alicia Forest) Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article/articles/522/1/Ethical-Marketing-Practice---Remember-Your-Check-Engine-Light/Page1.html When your clients approach you for marketing services think of when your check engine light comes on in your car: What is your first response? You don't know why it came on but you want to find out so you bring it to a mechanic. When you bring it to a mechanic a number of things run through your mind- blastoffstudio@gmail.com (Jonathan Ortiz) Sat, 29 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500