Boost your advisor business by asking more questions, part 2

March 15, 2011 at 08:00 PM
Share & Print

Last week I shared my first four ways to implement asking strategies to boost business results. Here are four more strategies.

1. Ask for top-quality referrals. Just about everyone in business knows the importance of referrals. It's the easiest, least expensive way of ensuring your growth and success in the marketplace. Your core clients will gladly give you referrals because you treat them so well. So why not ask all of them for referrals? It's a habit that will dramatically increase your income. Like any other habit, the more you ask the easier it becomes.

2. Ask for more business. Look for other products or services you can provide your customers. Devise a system that tells you when your clients will require more of your products. The simplest way is to ask your customers when you should contact them to reorder. It's easier to sell your existing clients more than to go looking for new ones.

3. Ask for feedback. This is an important component that is often overlooked. How do you really know if your product or service is meeting your customers' needs? Ask them, "How are we doing? What can we do to improve our service to you? Please share what you like or don't like about our products." Set up regular customer surveys that ask good questions and tough questions.

4. Ask to renegotiate. The negotiating room should never be locked up for good. Regular business activities include negotiation and often re-negotiation. Many networkers get stuck because they lack skills in negotiation, yet this is simply another form of asking that can save a lot of time and money. As long as you negotiate ethically and in the spirit of a win-win, you can enjoy a lot of flexibility.

Sign up for The Lead and get a new tip in your inbox every day!

More tips:

Jack Canfield, America's success coach, is the founder and co-creator of the billion-dollar book brand "Chicken Soup for the Soul" and a leading authority on peak performance. If you're ready to jump start your life, make more money and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your free success tips from Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com.

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Related Stories

Resource Center