tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46719714042917769582024-03-13T17:40:31.557-07:00A determined manPeter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-44968573700522415832017-01-18T06:27:00.002-08:002017-02-01T05:59:46.536-08:00Working Determination<br />
It has been longer than I intended since I posted here. That is because an awful lot of life changing events have happened in the last three years. Some of the changes have come about from my inner determination to be grateful for the opportunities that have presented themselves.<br />
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Now I am sorry if that sounds like I am frightfully pleased with myself. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have gone down a few interesting paths and found them to be unsuitable for me. At times I have been truly down and felt trapped. When in this situation it can be hard to pull yourself together and move forward. Yet if you hold tight to the belief that some truly great opportunity is just round the corner, and are both prepared and determined to grab it, sometimes without knowing all it entails. You will attract good things, and out of the blue someone will offer you something you didn't expect.<br />
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To illustrate what I mean, I was working in a shop when someone I have known for a long time, came in and asked me about blogging. This conversation led to a job that I loved, and one that I feel I made my own. It was a very sad day when, for family reasons, I had to leave that job as an even bigger adventure was about to begin.<br />
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We were moving to Ireland.<br />
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This move proved to be a huge challenge, and also shows what I am saying about grabbing opportunities even without knowing everything. We felt that the kids needed a new school and cousins nearer their age; so we moved without having jobs to go to or having sold our house. The kids have settled really well into their new school, and have started things that they would not have done in Scotland. They have daily interaction with their cousins and have a good bunch of friends.<br />
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I have joined the local rotary club and am loving it. It has given me a chance to meet some great people, and I am about to become the club President. There are aspects of our new life that we hope will improve in the coming months, and some things have happened back in Scotland that are pulling at my heartstrings. I am determined to find an opportunity to change things in a way that improves my immediate family's life and lets me see my Scottish family regularly.<br />
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After all my determination has presented me with some great opportunities, and ones that I plan to build on. There is going to be some difficult times ahead, but I determined to try and stay positive. With the support of my wife I have got through some difficult years, and she is still there beside me as we look forward to a bright future.<br />
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Determination works.<br />
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As a way to have fun and get an additional income is by using the Advert Platform. You can spend 10 minutes a day and gradually build an income. <a href="https://beta.theadvertplatform.com/register/00000341946">The Advert Platform</a>Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-44212395314141567512014-04-26T08:31:00.000-07:002014-04-26T08:32:30.162-07:00The power of Yes I can<br />
When your tired it is easy to believe you can't do something. This is the biggest mistake.<br />
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When you are grateful for where you are and what you have, then you find it easier to believe in yourself. Then you can do amazing things. A great example of this is Stephen Sutton who through his you tube channel has raised £2.6 million for the Teenage Cancer Trust. He is dying and had a bucket list with 46 things on it before the cancer finally claimed him. He set out to raise £10,000 and believed he could. Well look at what he did.<br />
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I don't know what else was on his list but maybe he thought of writing a book. It is said there is a book in everyone. Well here is the book produced by a lady I am proud to say I know. It is the first book she has published after raising 3 boys.<br />
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It is a great read, and proves you can do amazing things. So don't take life for granted, crab it, be grateful for each day and make it count, by saying Yes I Can.Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-85664199110867534132014-04-26T08:29:00.001-07:002014-04-26T08:29:16.217-07:00Stephen's Story - When life gives you cancer<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/MvG3ifEd0t0" width="480"></iframe><br />
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Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-51158715533930658942014-04-25T12:24:00.001-07:002014-04-25T12:24:30.587-07:00Grateful for Staus QuoThe band produced great music, but this is not about them.
By starting from where you are you can make each day count. To do this you need a positive attitude, and the best way to have one is by being grateful for what you have and where you are. This includes being grateful for the experiences you have had along the road of life; both the ups and the downs; for they all make us stronger.
If you can be grateful for your experiences of both sorts then you will attract people and they will want to work with you. More importantly you will see the silver lining to every cloud and believe in yourself. This will enable you move onwards and upwards.
As it says in his book Make Every Day Count, Max Lucad talks about being grateful for Sour days, ungrateful days, as well as catastrophic days. <iframe src="http://rcm-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=streeartic-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&asins=140031822X&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>
As followers of this blog will know I have small children, for whom I have been Daddy Day Care and now that they are at school I am fortunate my job at the Scottish Stove Centre enables me to drop them off and be there to pick them up at the end of the school day.
This came about because even though I was doing something I might rather not be; I was using my time to teach myself a new skill that other people heard about, and so I was approached to do the same for the Stove Centre and create them a website (www.scottishstovecentre.co.uk).
My gratitude for the chaotic and stressed-out days shone through and presented me with a possibility I didn't think possible. I got a better job that a lot of the interviews I had been to in the previous 5 years.
By being grateful for the status quo, you are happier in yourself and more appreciative of others.
Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-67410890419744781782014-04-04T12:03:00.001-07:002014-04-04T12:03:21.108-07:00Using gratitude to build a loyal followingBy simply saying thank you to people who use your business and comment positively on social media, is a great way to grow a loyal following.
Recently a fantastic bistro near where I stay announced that due to circumstances beyond their control they were going to have to relocate their business. They are not going out of business just moving premises. The way they have interacted with the community and people who have recommended them to others is a lesson to any business. In this case recommending Macmillans Bistro and Coffee House is not hard to do. The food is quite simply out of this world, or as one reviewer on Trip Advisor put it Amber Nectar.
Still the way the owners have interacted with reviewers and locals is a great way to build a loyal customer base at no cost to the business. They attract people just by making them welcome and thanking them for their involvement. People want to help their business do well because they are appreciative and great people to be around.
Any business that can create this feel good factor around it, has something priceless going for it. The best way to start is by using that two word phrase we all learn as children: Thank You.
When this is not forced, and said with a genuine smile, it is amazingly powerful. It will make people want to come back, and back. Even when things happen that aren't so good, people who feel they were valued by the people who run a business, will bear with that business until they are back on track, or put it right.
Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-86506519083041913862014-04-01T09:52:00.000-07:002014-04-01T09:52:30.025-07:00Gratitude for me timeWhen you have young kids it can be hard to get time to yourself over the holidays, but you too need a break. If you don't look after yourself you will be no good to the young ones.
There are a lot of good movies out at the moment and by enabling you children to choose a film on demand you will be grateful for the peace and quiet. Especially so if it is cheaper than going to the cinema with all the demanded additional costs.
The kids will be happy and you will get the time you need to unwind and recharge your batteries so you can have the energy to look after them the next day. I came across this and think it might be of interest to people like me.
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It could be the saving grace when you need it, and the young ones will be grateful to you for providing this selection of films.
Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-88158337443071971452014-03-29T12:31:00.001-07:002014-03-29T12:31:28.284-07:00Cooking GratitudeAfter a long and busy day at work, I find cooking simple food for my family amazingly relaxing. It helps you to sort out the wheat from the chaff and cut up all the worries that have caused anxiety during the day, into manageable chunks.
When you have young ones, which your other half has been looing after all day, it is a way to say thank you for all that they have done. It takes one important task off their shoulders, and gives them time to relax. When the dinner is ready it gives you time to talk to your kids, and appreciate what they've done during the day.
So with Mother's day tomorrow, what could be a better way to say thank you for all your mother has done for you, than cooking her a meal. All too often the Mums' do all the coking, and so when they don't have to they appreciate it all the more.
If you don't know where to start, as Delis Smith points out it really is easy. I mean believe me, if I can make a really tasty meal, then anyone can. With the mind boggling range of cook books available for a beginner it can be hard to choose a simple one. You can't get much simpler than this <iframe src="http://rcm-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=streeartic-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&asins=0091922291&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>
It really does show you the fundamentals and how to take some shortcuts. Once you have got the basics it is fun to experiment, and push yourself. Not only is it worth doing but you will grow in confidence, and you will be amazed with how cheaply you can cook an delicious meal.
So when someone does something for you, you then have the ability to repay them by cooking a meal for them. After all a home cooked meal is a very social able experience.Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-73580950744000081372014-03-27T07:40:00.000-07:002014-03-27T07:40:03.089-07:00Determined to AchieveWhen you get a major task done the sense of achievement can be so immense, you just want to tell the world about it. If it is a major project that you have been working on for months, the fulfilment of the project can give you a feeling similar to the enjoyment you get at the birth of a child.
Like a child, sometimes the project needs nurturing and tweaking to make it better. I have designed and built a website for the Scottish Stove Centre ( www.scottishstovecentre.co.uk ). It is the biggest site I have built to date and has involved a lot of hours of work in my free time to finish it on time. I was so determined to reach the deadline that I didn't mind. The benefits to me will be profitable in time, as more people see what I can do.
Being determined to achieve might mean that as you strive to do so you have to go the extra mile, sometimes for free, in the belief that it will be worth it in the end. The immediate reward is the powerful sense of achievement, you get on completion. Then comes the spin offs.
It can take baby steps to achieve your goal but it can be worth the effort just like in this book.
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Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-71635677788065052662014-03-24T14:42:00.000-07:002014-03-24T14:42:00.814-07:00Determination is not a fad, it is like a good recipe.It is funny how in life we do things in spells sometimes. We pick up a new hobby and go at it hell for leather. Then something else comes a long and we still do our hobby only just not with as much gusto as before.
That something can be large or small, like starting a new job or the birth of a child. Determination however is not something that can be dropped like a play thing. It is as important as the blood that runs through your veins. It is instinctive, and natural, but when bashed by circumstance can absorb the good points to make it better.
A good Christmas cake absorbs the alcohol, and or juices you put in on Stir-Up Sunday, over time which makes it better and richer. The same can be said of the way that determination absorbs what life throws at it. As the saying goes what goes against, you makes you stronger. The more you can influence circumstance, will make your determination bear better fruit, or to use another analogy make a better cake. Like cooking you need to know what the end product looks like, you need a vision.
I love great recipes but they don't need to be complicated as Mary Berry shows you can produce great results with simple recipes.
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By having a vision and remaining true to it, the recipe will mean your determination gets you there.Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-33037513421675328192014-03-24T04:14:00.000-07:002014-03-24T04:14:21.476-07:00What a weekendMy son recently joined Beavers and I am working towards getting my warrant, so I become a leader. The Beaver leader in charge of the Colony organised a weekend away for the Beavers at Auchengillan last weekend, and all the boys signed up to go.
The thought of looking after 24 excited 6-8 year olds for a whole weekend, was one that exhausted me just thinking about it. It would be the first time a lot of them had slept in a dorm, and in a sleeping bag; not to mention being away from their parents for 2 nights.
The programme that the leader in charge had organised for them was so well structured that they all had a great time. The place was fantastic and all the boys grew in confidence from the experience.
Yes it was exhausting for all the leaders; but hugely rewarding too. For those of us who grew up in Scouts and got a lot out of it was a chance to pass on some of what we enjoyed to another generation was rewarding. This couple with being at a place that was opened by Lord Baden Powell, and the good weather we had made it all the more enjoyable.
Whilst it wasn't living wild, because you can't with that age group, it was enough to give the kids a taste of what can be done, and make them want to know more. The scouting movement is very lucky to have at its head an inspiring Chief Scout such as Bear Grylls. If anyone can teach Scouts about Field Craft this man can, so this book could prove very useful.
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Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-42833309414022178292014-03-20T07:09:00.001-07:002014-03-20T07:13:13.637-07:00Proof of determinationThe last few years have been interesting, but the power of blogging has put us on a great road. The future looks bright and with some hard work my family are going to be in a great place.
This shows the power of determination and positive thinking. Even when the silver lining is hard to find, you have to believe it is there. This will help you create the opportunity that will point you in an amazing direction. I have now got a fantastic job in addition to building my blogging business and that has come about from someone seeing the sites I have built. One was for Caldwell Wright (www.caldwellwright.co.uk) and the other was for Eco Door Systems (www.ecodoorsystems.co.uk).
My determination to find a way of improving my lot has worked. By keeping going with this blog and the one on my website, I am sure the road will get better and better.
If I can help you find the road that is right for you I would be happy to do so. In the meantime this book might help you.
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Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-82228192681663412432013-12-31T11:49:00.002-08:002013-12-31T11:49:49.518-08:00Hugs for growthAccording to a recent study 12 hugs a day from someone important in your life is required for personal growth. Hugging someone important to you is a great way to say THANK YOU for all you do for me, to that person.
This could be just what they need. They might appear to be stong but when you hug them, the warmth of a supportive hug might break t down the defences and make them feel able to unburden themselves of what is concerning them.
This might enable you to discover a new skill you never thought you had. Alternatively you might be able to repay them simply by listening to them. Which ever way it is for you, you will both grow in confidence and personal strength.
2014 is going to be a great year for a lot of people, me included. Having been searching for a way forward in the last year I have found it and with the hugs of my better half and the encouragement of the clients I have picked up recently; 2014 is going to be the year of the blog. The strength a hug can give you is amazing. It can restore your faith in yourself and make you believe you are indestructable, and can do what you want.
Happy New Year.Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-29950109809680278692013-12-31T11:31:00.002-08:002013-12-31T11:31:42.245-08:00The new year is a new bookIt has been a while since I posted on this blog, due to trying to build a business called <a href="http://www.arromar.com">Arromar</a> and the pace of life in the run up to Christmas.
Tomorrow is the first day of a new year and the first page of a new book in the story of your life; with 364 pages to follow. Use gratitude to make the contents of it well worth reading.
New year is a great time to reflect on all the things you have to be grateful for, and use these things to spur you onto great things in the New Year. After all Christmas can be a stressful time for families with all the pressure to come together and play happy families. It is possible to use gratitude at this time to show others how to be a pleasant person who attracts people to them.
This does not mean lowering your standards or grovelling to others, for some crumb of approval. You can use gratitude to show them that there is a better way to live, and one which means people want to hear what you have to say.
If you do this then every chapter of 2014will be a rivetingly powerful read. We would all love to make a fabulous impression in the year a head. If you could do this by using gratitude it would be worth trying, wouldn't it?Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-76137528529396632032013-11-06T08:17:00.003-08:002013-11-06T08:17:56.222-08:00Gratitude can help you use your passions to you advantageWhen you do a SWOT (Strengths Weakness Opportunity and Threats)analysis, you can find that one or more of your passions can help you turn what you perceive as a threat into a strength.
I have a passion for cooking, but don't often get the chance to indulge my passion. Yet that doesn't mean I don't use this passion to my advantage. Telling someone about a dish you have made, and how to do it can be a great ice breaker. It can also be a way to find something in common with a prospect, or a way to be remembered by a gate keeper that doesn't cost you anything.
In this later case, you might see your ability to get to see the right person in an organization as a weakness. This means by finding something as simple as good food in common with a receptionist, can be enough to establish a warm relationship that helps you get to the right person.
It can also mean that you establish a bond with colleagues that gets them to work with you, and help you.
By being grateful for your passions you can be proud of them and use them to prove you have something of interest to offer others. In light of the success of the Great British Bake Off a passion like this can get a great response quickly. Even more so if you bring in the evidence occasionally.Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-51930010705607669702013-11-05T13:18:00.001-08:002013-11-05T13:18:27.586-08:00You never know where opportunity will come fromI was at a meeting for the Buchlyvie Community Association Play Park project and my head was full of all the strategies we were trying to help us raise £100K. At the end I was approached and asked if I could help them with a web site and a blog.
My head was spinning with figures and I actually gave them a brilliant figure. Perhaps it was too good but the knock on effect is that the website I will do for them will open doors to others, and in particular my ideal target market. This is due to the fact that a government agency is going to help them with another project involving their website. so by working along side with this agency I can prove to them what I can do and then get referred to other businesses in my target market.
So the conclusion be ready for the unexpected, and be grateful for surprises.Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-38753461006736483592013-11-05T13:00:00.000-08:002013-11-05T13:01:58.907-08:00If you ever thought of having an EzineYou will be grateful you read these top 10 reasons to have an Ezine
1. Establish yourself as a trusted expert. People search online for information and will look to you, as a subject matter expert, to provide it to them. Every week (or whatever schedule works) provides an opportunity to build on this, while reinforcing your brand.
2. Build a relationship with the people on your list. It's common knowledge that people like to buy from people they like. By using ezines to connect with readers in their homes, you can develop a relationship of familiarity and trust. Be sure to share a little about yourself or your company in every issue, whether it is an anecdote, event, or employee spotlight.
3. Keep in touch with prospects and clients. Consideration should be given to eventually developing two ezines: one for prospects and one for clients, as each require different information. This is a great way to notify your readers of weekly specials or upcoming product launches, offer new articles or customer stories, and provide links (or urls) to updated FAQs, blogs and splash pages.
4. Drive traffic to your website or blog. As noted in #3, remember to call attention to new blog posts or other changes to your website with links directly to those pages. Remind readers of your online newsletter archives. Promote special sales (maybe with discount coupon codes only for subscribers) with a link to the sales page. Use links to turn your ezines and newsletters into 'silent salespersons'– driving traffic to your website and building your lists around the clock.
5. Build content on your website. Make a habit to adding your ezines and newsletters to your website in an archive area. This serves a several important purposes:
o Visitors can read an issue or two to determine if your ezine will be of interest to them, which could help to increase sign-ups and potential sales.
o If you optimize your article placements, you will not only make your website 'meatier', but you'll also bring new traffic from the search engines.
6. Get feedback from your readers. Make it easy for you to stay in touch with prospects and customers and vice versa. Ask them to take action and comment on your articles and offers. Conduct polls and surveys. Start a 'Letters to the Editor' column in your ezine. Feedback allows you to fine tune your messages, target your marketing, and expand your product line. It's also great for relationship building!
7. Develop an information product. If you deliver your newsletter once a week and include two articles, at the end of a year you'll have 104 well-researched articles in your portfolio! Pick the best-of-the-best and turn them into a bonus ebook for opting-in to your list, submit to download sites to build your list, or sell in PDF-format!
8. Grow your mailing list. Let your ezine subscribers work for you. Be sure to remind your readers that it's okay to forward your newsletter to anyone they'd like. In addition, it's important to include sign-up instructions for those who received your ezine from viral marketing methods. A simple line titled, 'Get Your Own Copy of XXXXXX', with a link to your squeeze or opt-in page is all it takes!
9. Gather demographic data. By offering surveys, feedback forms, and niche reports, you'll be able to get valuable information about your prospects and customers. Learn what makes your readers tick, how to better serve them, and how to give them what they want. Make sure they become repeat customers!
10. Save money! All of the above benefits of publishing an ezine are free or almost free. The small cost of a top-rated ezine publishing system is nothing compared to the cost of brochures, business cards, advertising, direct mail, pay-per-click or other means of promotion. Not only that, but someone has to manage that production! Because your newsletter is delivered online, you can grow your list to be as large as you want without worrying about the expense. Bottom line − it's proven that email marketing is the most cost-effective marketing solution for companies just like yours!
You'll be grateful you have an easy to use auto responder like Get Respone http://www.getresponse.com/index/PeterRob
Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-64105551397892054062013-11-04T05:17:00.001-08:002013-11-06T08:01:28.146-08:00Using gratitude as a key factor in customer relationship managementSince it is estimated to be 5 times more expensive to get a new customer than to retain an existing one, given that most countries are just about emerging from a turbulent economic climate; customer relationship management has never been more important.
Customer Relationship Management is a term for the methodologies, technologies and e-commerce capabilities used by firms to manage customer relationships. You can get software packages that aid the interaction between the customer and the company. These enable the company to coordinate all of the communication efforts to ensure a unified message and image is presented to the customer. By treating the customer with gratitude and respect as part of this, your organisation can ensure they are delighted to hear from you, and deal with you.
Since customers are now using multiple channels more frequently, they may buy a product from a salesperson and another from a website. This means that you need to offer as many channels as possible for the customer to use, and ensure that whatever way they contact the company the information about them is up to date. Thereby ensuring that whoever deals with the client can view the same information.
By keeping correct up to date records about customers can enable your company to shape appropriate marketing offers to them and nurture them in a way that ensures an on going relationship.
Simple gratitude can be a way of aiding this, even more so when the way the company shows gratitude is shortly after a recent transaction or inquiry. A good example of this is the gratitude offerings Tesco gives its clubcard users. The data Tesco collates on their purchases enables the company to send them money off vouchers for products the company knows they buy.
There are some factors that lead to the success of a CRM strategy; and these are:
1. Ensuring the organisation is customer focused, and the CRM system is organised around customers
2. Taking a single view of customers across all departments, designing an integrated system for customer facing staff
3. Having the ability to manage cultural changes that come out of development of the C.R.M. system
4. Involving everyone in the C.R.M. design process
5. Designing a flexible system that can change to meet future requirements.
6. In large organisations having a board-level champion of the C.R.M. project to ensure commitment to it from all departments.
7. Enabling quick-wins to provide positive feedback on the implementation of the project.
8. Piloting the new system before full launch.
All these factors need gratitude between the parties involved to ensure you get the best results.Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-76544436638878600142013-11-04T04:30:00.002-08:002013-11-04T04:33:50.258-08:00Is Corporate Social Responsibility worth doing?
Nowadays something that gives your company an edge can be the key that gets you into a new market. Corporate Social Responsibility, or C.S.R., can be that key.
The use of the word corporate does not mean it only for big global companies. Every company should have a social conscience, and therefore should develop a C.S.R. policy. This should be a policy that you can prove your company is implementing, and by being able to do this you can attract new clients, and form part of your attraction marketing strategy.
Attraction marketing is one of the best ways to get new customers and to get people talking about you. C.S.R. is key to it and can include philanthropy and sustainability, as in the Plan A policy of Marks and Spencer.
Even small companies may be able to offset charitable and philanthropic donations against tax. This alone makes it worth bothering with. It can also be an easy part of your social media and local press marketing. This may mean that clients may be willing to pay more to support your community involvement.
Donations can be as simple as donating 2p in every £ to a charity or a local group. This makes it easy to track and prove. whilst making tax calculations easy. The charities don’t have to be national or international charities, in fact you may get the best buy in from clients by donating to local ones, or supporting a local team or event.
People involved or affected by the work of the charity will be grateful for your involvement and will tell others about your organisation.
This can mean extra revenue for you. So it is worth doing.
Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-85402185740113597522013-11-04T04:27:00.002-08:002013-11-04T04:27:48.362-08:00How to be grateful for Ezine Marketing.
A lot of new web site owners think once they begin their online business is that a whole wave of people are going to come to their site and buy. They a fortune on a professional appearance, add all the relevant information and then think they can sit back and watch the hits turn into income. When they find out that this is not the case, it can be a hard pill to swallow. This means they ask themselves, "How can I get more visitors to my site?".
The best answer to this is to start a marketing campaign. There are several ways to go about this.
One options that can get a lot of attention are ezines. The problem the web site owner now face is finding information on how, where and how much. It is important to find the right ezines or website to post your article on. There are a lot of fly by night sites that will take your money and then have you wait in vain for the traffic.
There is always a tradeoff between money spent and the return on your investment, so you need to make sure you that you find an ezine that offers you a good return on your investment (ROI).
The age old saying applies to ezine marketing as well “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”. Here are some points worth bearing in mind.
1. You get what you pay for.
2. Your offering must be relevant to the niche market.
3. Know your audience and target your advertising to them.
4. The best things are not always free.
The newsletter or advertising medium that is right for you will depend on what you have to offer. The good thing about ezines is you get newsletters on virtually anything.
You can then post a link to your ezine on social media to spread the word.
So by doing your research before you start an ezine campaign and you will be grateful you spent the time on research as you reap the rewards.
By building your own list with subscribers, and thanking them for joining it, you will be assured your ezine is targeted to an those that want to hear about your product or service and it will cost you virtually nothing to advertise to them. This in turn may mean that they pass your message on to their friends, giving you a bigger audience, and a greater return on your investment, by your message spreading virally.Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-7180366624203058802013-10-11T11:34:00.002-07:002013-10-11T11:34:55.765-07:00Social Media, worthwhile but time consumingIn today’s business environment social media is a necessary part of any above the line marketing strategy. The huge gains that can be made from responding quickly to changes that affect your client’s situation is extremely valuable.
In fact social media is taking a greater share of the advertising budgets of large companies than TV advertising, because of peoples’ ability to skip adverts. When couple with the fast moving nature of society, when your target audience do see your advert it might be irrelevant to them or even out of date. So by building followers on social media you can collect information on them and respond more directly to them immediately.
For a small business this is very time consuming, and time is money. To prevent you from being distracted from your core business activities it is worthwhile using the services of someone like Arromar, to do it for you. That way you can build followers, and let them know of your successes and thoughts in a time effective manner.
You will be grateful that you did.
Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-49941649697835160912013-09-12T15:36:00.003-07:002013-09-12T15:36:55.255-07:00Grateful for great service
I have recently had a few issues with my laptop, and am becoming a frequent flier to a certain PC shop, getting full use out of my insurance. Given the number of problems I have come across I considered buying a new one.
It was incredibly refreshing to find a salesman who works on a principle I share, actually be interested in the customer and don't just try and sell them anything. This might sound like a contradiction in terms, but actually the people you deal with will come back to you and your company when they do need something; because they know they can believe and trust what you say. You as a customer can show them gratitude by coming back to them, and recommending them to others. It might not cost you anything but can improve the salesman's lot significantly.
Gratitude can be simple, effective and free to you. The salesman in question advised me really well, understood my situation, and whilst he didn't make a sales now, he will later because in time I will come back to him when I am ready to buy. In the information age service like this can be the key to attracting and retaining customers.Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-91498614279796644972013-08-29T06:07:00.001-07:002013-08-29T06:10:43.149-07:00Determination WorksAfter an interesting few years, my determination to make things better for my family is starting to bear fruit.
I recently had a client who took a leap of faith and believed I could build a website for them, phone me to tell they were delighted with the result. Have a look for yourself at <a href="http://www.caldwellwright.co.uk">Caldwell Wrights</a>' website.
They have asked me to come and see them about doing a monthly blog for the site,and other things that I might be able to do for them.
I had built a site for myself and enjoyed it, but I had to teach myself how to do the type of website they were wanting. For this I used You Tube. The result got me another commission from <a href="http://www.ecodoorsystems.co.uk">Eco Door Systems</a>. I was determined to find other sources of income for my family and so I set about building a website, never thinking that this would lead down this road; but am delighted that it has.
The skills I have learnt and my blogging experience has given me a really exciting new opportunity with a local firm. One that takes me back to my key area of expertise, and thanks to my determination with even more to offer.Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-48871718748820576692013-07-18T04:32:00.000-07:002013-07-18T04:32:23.100-07:00Some say Thank you is not coolSome people say that to use the phrase Thank you is not cool, or hot.
Well if that is the general opinion abroad, then it means when you do use it, it can have a greater impact. Manners maketh man, and provided you genuinely mean it, then a simple phrase can mean you stand out from the crowd.
It is too easy to say the cool things like "Cool", "Much Appreciated", "Cheers", "Ta", or even "Wicked", but these can be half hearted and therefore can be ignored as it can appear that the person using it doesn't mean it.
Put Gratitude in you armoury, and use the phrase Thank you to stand out from the crowd.Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-46331794428093258072013-07-18T04:25:00.002-07:002013-08-29T06:11:00.009-07:00Andy Murray used gratitude and determination to make history<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgIvTXCLZB3zSYvbv-WtnOfeYshqq4qJEKl5_i2tVxMv_8hqGokORRwjYkTBS40nbWBIqmNk9gmkSTBHck2nHhEmHKDsMTQacivrVHg2QgfiOmeRNvhwUIkI1WhGw63Z_SvddfrnFxA-f/s1600/Andy+Murray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgIvTXCLZB3zSYvbv-WtnOfeYshqq4qJEKl5_i2tVxMv_8hqGokORRwjYkTBS40nbWBIqmNk9gmkSTBHck2nHhEmHKDsMTQacivrVHg2QgfiOmeRNvhwUIkI1WhGw63Z_SvddfrnFxA-f/s320/Andy+Murray.jpg" /></a></div>
From when Andy Murray was young he was determined to win and he reveled in good competition.
This determination, was supported by his gratitude for the support of his parents gave him. This support enabled him to go to Spain and attend a school where he could play the best of his generation. His gratitude for that experience can be seen in his desire to make it possible for others to benefit in the same way he did. He and his mum are driving the creation of a similar training facility in the United Kingdom.
In addition to working incredibly hard to get where he has got from a young age, using his determination to reach his dream. Andy shows his gratitude to those around him in many ways.
One way was his donation of his winnings from Wimbledon and Queens Club to a charity that will help his friend fight Cancer. This is just another example of how Andy is expressing his gratitude by helping others.Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671971404291776958.post-1996727862276147592013-02-13T06:05:00.000-08:002013-02-13T06:05:31.126-08:00Disaster to opportunityWhen you have a disasterous event in your life you can use gratitude to turn it into an opportunity.
It can be as simple as forcing you to learn a new skill, or teach yourself one. It could be that it makes you change your focus and move country or industry. So rather than feeling sorry for yourself, which I can be good at, turn it around be grateful for the good things that came out of the situation. This is something I am learning to do, as it will help me keep my resolutions to be more positive and believe in myself. By being grateful for something in the situation you can capitalize on it, and believe in the future. When you are more positive good things will come your way. Opportunities will arise to such an extent that you will be able to pick and choose.
This will mean you can turn the disaster into the planting of a seed that means you'll have a flourishing future. Embrace gratitude and help it enable you to be positive. This will help you attract people, and opportunities such as employment.Peter Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18072367183478399079noreply@blogger.com0