We receive thousands of phone calls each year, and a significant number of them are from pond owners and pond-service companies who are struggling to keep a pond clear and beautiful. This is so sad, because they are being robbed of the joys of living the pond life, especially considering that keeping a pond in […]
Read MoreBusiness owners and managers spend a great deal of time managing a long list of business functions and directional planning to ensure success. Every year, every month, every day they invest hard-earned capital in products, services, equipment, staffing, training and employee benefits to secure a positive business reputation and a loyal customer base. Yet, every […]
Read MoreIt’s just a fact of life that if you have customers, at some point you or your staff will have to deal with a frustrated, rude or angry customer. In fact, some dissatisfied customers can be so emotionally charged that it’s like having a blowtorch in your face. It is no wonder that communicating effectively […]
Read MoreIn part one of “The Five Golden Minutes in Sales,” we took a look at the fact that the words we speak account for only 7 percent of what we communicate. We learned that tonality accounts for 38 percent of our communications and body language accounts for 55 percent. Each of these three elements provides […]
Read MorePond lovers love fish. Pond lovers love plants. The problem: fish love plants too, and a few hungry koi can destroy your precious flora in a matter of days. Thankfully, creating an easy separation between the two is just one of the many benefits of an upper-pond design. From aesthetic appeal to filtration and oxygenation, Rick Smith outlines why a second tier may be just the design your water feature needs.
Read MoreIt is in the first five minutes of a conversation that we have to establish rapport and trust. Understanding what influences good communication and being able to quickly adjust naturally to each personality type will greatly contribute to a mutually positive outcome — and, in the case of a sales call, greatly increase our rate […]
Read MoreEarly in my sales and marketing career I was fortunate to be surrounded by great mentors. All were successful businessmen in their own right, but the reason they excelled beyond others was because they understood and demonstrated the laws of great leadership. One of those early mentors told me to always be a student of […]
Read MoreAfter 24 years of rapid and very successful growth in the water features industry, many contractors who specialize solely in water features have been faced with a very challenging economy in recent years. Since the economy has, historically, been a cyclical beast, we can be confident that this too shall pass over into better times. […]
Read MoreROI (Return on Investment) is one big reason to provide lake and pond management. Lakes are an important part of our landscape; they add beauty, provide recreation, and are a habitat for fish and wildlife. But an out of balance pond can be pretty awful. Learn about the importance of Aeration; Beneficial Bacteria; and Weed and Algae Controls. Besides being good for business it also helps the communities we live in.
Read MoreKnowing where, when, and how to focus marketing plans is extremely important. This industry expert believes that networking will play a key role in these plans. Learn about diversifying and teaming up with others. Includes a list of great ideas for you to explore, to identify new customers.
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