8 Unique Features That Can Endear Your Business to Your Customers

If you are running a business as an entrepreneur, I have no doubt that you know why you are in business. In case you can not situate the reasons properly, let me assume that you are in business to create value that others want and are prepared to pay for. The value you create is the reason for your business. The people who patronize your business know what value they want from you. If you are able to provide this value as they want it, they will remain loyal to your business by patronage. They must be able to know your business for what it means to them. It is your duty therefore to decide exactly what you want your own business to be known for. The following eight features are about the best features your business can have to endear it to your customers. If your customers know your business because of one or more of these unique features, it is very likely that you will earn their loyalty for a prolonged period of time. That loyalty is what sustains you in profitable business.

01. High-quality products. Everyone I know always wants value for money. The higher the quality of your products, the better the value they offer for money.

02. The finest service. Customer service is a very important feature of any business. If the quality of your service is the finest around, it is very good for the business. If customers know your business for its fine-quality service, you will earn their sustained patronage.

03. Reliability. If customers can rely on your business to meet their expectations at all times, the business will be well-known and patronized because of that feature.

04. Unparalleled expertise in your field. Unparalleled expertise makes your products very unique. If the products stand out from others, your business could be patronized for that uniqueness alone.

05. Unique guarantees. If you are sure of the quality of your products, you can offer customers many guarantees including unique "money-back" guarantees if and when they are not satisfied with the product.

06. Lowest but competitive prices. Many customers always want high quality products at very low prices. If your business offers low prices for high quality products, that alone can be a feature it is known and patronized for.

07. Customized solutions to customers' problems. If your business is known for finding solutions to customer problems in ways unique to each customer, it can also be a feature your business is known for.

08. Fast service. If your business is known for fast service, it can help it to create the reputation it needs to make plenty of money.

Have you decided yet what unique feature or features you want your business to be known for? If you have, congratulations! You must however factor in that every customer has a compelling reason for buying any product. Every smart entrepreneur must therefore learn to tailor her business to take these reasons into cognizance by recognizing and using these unique features. Failure to do so can lead to customer dissatisfaction which can be very bad for business. Any business run with one or more of these features is bound to attract and retain customers for a long time. That by all accounts is very good for business particularly the bottom-line.

7 Great Opportunities to Negotiate a Raise with Your Employer

Whether in business or social life, it is inevitable that everyone has to negotiate. However, to negotiate successfully, timing is very crucial to the outcome. What ordinarily you may have been able to get easily, if your timing is poor, you could lose it. In any employment, keen observation and a quick decision on when to act, most times makes the difference between success and failure. For this reason, one person may succeed to get something out of a boss while some other person may fail woefully in similar attempt. The key is timing. It is of utmost importance to know when to take the opportunity to negotiate with your employer either for a raise or for some other concessions. The following opportunities come in very handy if you want to successfully negotiate a raise with your employer.

01. When your employer is in a very good mood. All humans have mood changes from time to time. Some persons experience these changes more frequently than others depending on individual differences. If you are able to time your employer very well, you can always seize the opportunity to initiate the matter of a raise with her when she is in a very good mood. At such times, your chances of success could be very good.

02. When you have just completed a major project successfully. As an employee, any time you are able to deliver to expectations on your job, it makes your employer happy. Such times usually present a very good opportunity to negotiate a raise.

03. When company reports indicate that the company’s earnings are up. Most employers are always in upbeat moods when their company’s earnings are up. Such periods are usually good opportunities for smart employees to negotiate a raise.

04. When you have just acquired a new training or skill useful to the company. With a new skill or training in your kitty, your value to your company usually increases. That is a very good opportunity to negotiate a raise. A good employer will at such times accede to a raise if she wants to retain you. If not, she knows she could lose your services to rival employers. 

05. When you have just brought in a very good and profitable business for the company. Only very valuable employees bring good businesses to their companies. If you are able to do that, it will make your employer happy. Negotiating a raise with her at that moment could earn you a very sympathetic and favorable hearing.

06. When your employer’s confidence in you is at the highest. Many employers do have plenty of confidence in employees who always deliver on promise. Any time you are able to deliver successfully on some valuable projects that earn you the commendation of your employer, such times are okay to negotiate a raise.

07. When you have just made a significant amount of money for your company. The bottom-line in any business is to make money. Employees who are good at helping their companies to make money are very valuable employees. If you are able to make a significant amount of money for your company and your employer acknowledges it, the time is conducive to negotiate a raise.

Many employers know that no employee wants to earn a fixed salary in perpetuity. Employees who are capable of making themselves extremely valuable to their employment and are able to time their moves very well usually get raises from their employers if they ask. With keen observation and action taken when the time is ripe and proper, more often than not, you can always succeed to negotiate a raise with your employer. That is what many smart employees know which enables them to get a raise from their employers anytime they ask for it.