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The Customer Is Always Right

It takes a long time for a self employed business owner to build up a reputation for great customer service. I am a caring person, and putting customer service first is something I hold very dear as an important aspect of how I do business. And recently, I almost blew it. In a fit of irritation over a client's request for help, I made a very poor assumption -- and almost made an idiot of myself in the process.

As I reflected on that experience, I came up with these four elements of providing great customer service as a self employed business owner. I share them as a model of how to think about your own customer service interactions (especially those that occur via email) and as a reminder to myself too. I call it the CARE model of email customer service.

Read The Rest of This Article | Comments |  Customer Service
Terri Zwierzynski is a GE Network Expert. View Terri Zwierzynski's profile or read more articles from Terri Zwierzynski.

Flying Wind Turbine

The higher up in the air you go, the faster wind travels - so naturally the further from the ground a wind-turbines gets, the more efficient it can be. Combining wind power with floating blimps, Selsam has been hard at work expanding the horizons of alternative energy with SuperTurbines.

Read More | Comments |  Technology

Shoe Drop Vacation

After popularizing the cause-driven, buy-one-give-one consumer product model, TOMS Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie's latest endeavor may just do the same for branded volunteer vacations. What started off as an outreach program to help educate consumers has evolved into a full-fledged travel company.

Read More | Comments |  Non-Profit & Charity

Facial Recognition Network

Tuyuan is a new, Beijing-based social networking site that employs facial recognition technology to let users get connected with friends. Once users upload a photo and tag a person, the service automatically suggests other pictures it thinks the same person is in.

Read More | Comments |  Online & Social Networks

Death Note? No, Its Death Watch

Have you heard to the one of the popular Japanese comic Death Note? A powerful Notebook with the ability to cause the death of a person in an accurate timing. Now, we have a Life Index Watch, a concept developed for a Timex competition that keeps track of your remaining days based on personal biometrics.

Read More | Comments | Gadgets

Photovoltaic Mac Laptop

Apple just filed a patent to infuse their hand-helds and computers with a thin film of solar cells, paving the way for a new generation of gadgets with battery life boosted by the sun. The patent approaches the prospect from every angle, with schematics to stack photovoltaic cells beneath the entire surface of their portables - including the screen!

Read More | Comments | Environmental

Twist And Activate

Putting a "twist" on the standard beverage bottle design, this new airtight cap also serves as a storage device, keeping active ingredients separate from the liquid. Once the cap is twisted, the ingredients are released, creating a fresh, instant, power-packed drink. Activate drinks feature these twist & release caps.

Read More | Comments |  Food & Bverages

Password Never Easy Now

Password Chart is an online application to help you create really really strong passwords. These are the sort of passwords your average policeman would have trouble deciphering in a 40 year career. The neat thing is the printable chart for decoding your word or phrase, just don’t lose the chart or its identity number.

Read More | Comments |  Online & Social Networks

Are Employment Policies or HandBooks Really Necessary?

Among my clients and many other businesses the question often arises: Do we need written employment policies or employee handbooks or manuals? The following is what I usually advise and why. In general, there’s no statute mandating that businesses have such policies or manuals. 

Read More | Comments | Human Resources | Article by Charles Krugel

How To Create Instant Rapport!

Do you realize that when you speak, move or look at people in a particular way, you actually trigger off certain judgments? Are you aware that the manner in which you speak, the body language or posture you take on affect the people around you, and this could put you in unpleasant situations.

Read More | Comments | People & Relationships | Article by Adam Khoo

Why Should You Expand Your Business As A Franchise

There are many reasons why you should consider expanding your established business as a franchise and you will find 10 great reasons here to do just that! Your business will grow much quicker as a franchise network than an independent sole trader. New outlets will add to your business portfolio.

Read More | Comments | Franchise | Article by Aine Meade

10 Steps To A Great Support Team

Having a long and successful working relationship with a team of contractors is somewhat of an anomaly among solo entrepreneurs. Four years ago this month, we hired its first contractors: 3 fabulous VAs. Between them they handled the details of hundreds of items of content for the website.

Read More | Comments | Business Ideas | Article by Terri Zwierzynski

Checklist For A Healthy Business

Whether you’re thinking it’s Spring Cleaning Time or time for an annual checkup, your business needs to undergo a checkup each year. No matter how large or small your business is, you cannot gauge the effectiveness of any changes you’ve made without analyzing the benefits and bottom line. 

Read More | Comments | Planning & management | Article by Steven Teo

Online Business Mentoring 

Once started his business, Sturdy rapidly built a successful business. Then he found MicroMentor. MicroMentor is a pioneering web-based community and social network that helps aspiring entrepreneurs build successful businesses by matching them with volunteer business mentors from around the country.

Read More | Comments | Online Business | Article by Marcel Sim

Turning Your Idea Into A Homebased Business

Having racked your brains for weeks to find the perfect home business idea there can be a sense of elation when you finally decide this is it - I’ve found my big idea. The excitement can soon evaporate however when you’re faced with the next challenge - actually turning the idea into a real live business.

Read More | Comments | Home-Based Business | Article by Steven Teo

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