One Step At A Time
As the holidays approach, and we get busy being busy, it is easy to lose sight of what we are attempting to accomplish. I've seen loads of posts about Black Friday and how to capitalize on that. There are also loads of email from all sorts of places reminding us of the necessity (questionable) to hurry, hurry, hurry.
Personally, this is the time of year I avoid ( and I mean AVOID) going into a mall or store unless I absolutely have to. Why? Because the atmosphere is not conducive to actually shopping, it is intended solely to get my money - even if I wasn't really inclined to spend.
Our visitors and customers are in a similar boat.
As I look at WA and the mindset we were given at the beginning of our training (to be helpful) and I look at the push for sales, sales, sales, I have to wonder if something might have gotten a bit lost in the shuffle.
Yes, we want our businesses to be successful and pay for themselves, but don't we really want visitors/customers to come to us for the information and assistance we provide? We want to give value for their time and make it easier for them to make their choices and spend their hard earned cash.
In developing our sites, we looked for affiliates that would fit within the niches we chose. We worked hard to provide content with value that, when combined with our affiliates, gave our visitors opportunities for goods and services they could trust.
Sam Walton built a business by looking at what his customers needed and wanted and providing that and excellent service at a price point that wouldn't break the bank. He made sure his customers knew he and his company would stand behind what they sold - and the customers kept coming back.
We could all learn a lot from Sam Walton. The lessons he taught are timeless, even now, more than 50 years after Walmart began.
Kyle has posted about the Wolf In Sheep's Clothing. There is a lot to learn there, too.
Let us not forget to keep our eye on the right target. Selling 50 boxes of whatever may be great for today's bottom line, but if those customers don't return to buy again what have you really gained?
Recent Comments
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Well said Janet, it can be a time for harvest for many businesses at this time of the year, it also is a good time to reflect on our core values and to find that balance, thanks for the reminder and for sharing your insights.
I couldn't agree more. I like it when the holidays are about family and friends. Every thing is monetized now. Sure I like to make a little money also but I try not to let that be top priority. Thanks for the post.