From the eye of iolite

Businesses need to help people decide to buy.  Augmented reality can help simplify the buying decision.  AR can help you attract new customers, retain the ones you have and increase opportunities for cross-selling.  With AR, you can improve the overall customer experience by creating an interaction instead of a transaction.

Are your marketing, sales and customer service activities "one size fits all?" Some businesses rely almost entirely on generating new business, while for others the top 20% generate 80% of revenue.  And, regardless of whether they rely on new business or retention, often they communicate with customers in a standardized mass-approach way.  Companies like American Express, Adobe, Lands’ End, and SAP are creating senior management positions dedicated to optimize “customer success” which really puts the customer in the driver’s seat. Technology has given customers more autonomy and choice and to keep and grow your customer base you need to make sure they have a great experience every step of the way – from sales to service to billing.  So it’s really important to segment your sales pipeline by looking at customer acquisition, retention and cross-selling, setting specific growth goals and targeting your prospects or customers with relevant communications.  

In this fast-paced, interconnected world, dis-satisfied customers post tweets or facebook updates that can spread like wildfire. Customer satisfaction has become an expectation -- and entrepreneurs who aspire for "satisfaction" as the goal are not likely to be successful.   In this episode we will talk with Colleen Mook, the founder and President of Baby Be Hip (www.babybehip.com).  Colleen has moved the goalpost from customer "satisfaction" to "enchantment".    After her first child was born, Colleen made a transition to become an entrepreneur, launching Baby Be Hip. Her goal was to start a company that put a stylish and fun spin on essential items for new moms, such as burp cloths that are personalized with the baby's name. Colleen will share advice about how to create customer experiences that result in enchantment, customer retainment and rave reviews!

  Dans cette émission de radio, nous allons parler avec Thierry Roussignol, Directeur Associé, Consultant en Recrutement chez Actuaire Search sur l’évolution de son entreprise et ses conseils pour choisir un associé.  Son avis est qu'un entrepreneur doit avoir la tête dans les étoiles et les pieds sur terre.

Managing your employee's workload and skill development can be a full-time job -- and entrepreneurs are already overwhelmed with responsibilities! In this episode, we'll talk with Andrea Dolph, co-author of "Hit the Job Running" and President of Pragmaticus, and Linda Dowd, Vice President of Pragmaticus.   They will provide insight and advice that will help you mentor and train your new hires, with a focus on employees in their first jobs out of school (ahhhh, yes, we mean the "Millenial" generation!).  What's different about the Millenials? How can you best work with this generation? What are the suprising insights that will help you coach and develop your new employee so you can best manage your business? Listen in!

  Successfully understanding, and anticipating, customer needs and wants may be a hallmark of longevity in the business world.   In this episode, we will talk with Richard Sherman, photographer and owner of TousJour Photography, to discuss how what differentiates a company may not be the just the product - in this case, art - but also the art of providing the service itself.  Products and services mentioned: http://www.tousjour.com/ Rich Sherman's corporate website http://www.thefancy.com/ A great new website to "fancy" products - and buy.

  Part of being a business owner involves taking on the identity of "entrepreneur" or "owner / operator". Have you made the transition from "expert" to "wearer of many hats"? In this episode, we will explore the concept of building your identity as an entrepreneur, and begin to relate it to branding your business. Matt Hovland, founder of Affordable Sewer and Water in Minneapolis, Minnesota, will join us to discuss how he became an entrepreneur, and how he concepted and branded his business.  

Many people think of promotional advertising such as television commercials, billboards or flyers when they think of marketing. And certainly, that's a part of it. But marketing is actually about creating a total package for your brand. To build an effective brand, you need to have the product, price, distribution model, and yes, the promotional stuff too, all working together in harmony. Join "From the eye of iolite" as we take a look at defining the basics of marketing through the lens of real life case studies. Brought to you by ioliteglobal.com. Hosted by Erika Hovland, Adjunct Professor of Marketing at Temple University, and Managing Partner of iolite global consulting.