To open a shop is easy...

"To open a shop is easy, to keep it open is an art"

This Chinese proverb probably hits home as the economy's downturn impacts your design business.  No matter if you're a one person shop or one of many in a large firm, the realization is that forces, often outside of your control, impact the job you do.  But what about the things that ARE in your control?  What are the things that can be done on a regular basis to differentiate you or your company from your competitors?

I've partnered with Design Arts Seminars, Inc. to do recurring blog posts targeting areas like marketing, communication strategy, and customer retention that can be used to make your business more productive.  Through this blog, I'll be sharing ideas to help reach the people who matter most to you. 

So, to start our journey, I want you to consider one major question: "What is your business promise?"  For example, do you promise to be low cost? Do you promise high quality?  Realize that if you promise something...even if the promise is implied...your customers will judge everything you do by it. 

Really stop to think of how you're communicating your business promise to your customers. If you advertise that your approach is "cutting-edge" and you haven't kept up with trends or haven't attended a class in the past five years, then there's a strong chance you aren't living up to what you say you are.  These simple disconnects in your "promise" and "what you really do" can really impact your likelihood to keep and grow your customer base.

Questions to ponder until next time:
• What is your business promise?
• How are you meeting your promise with your daily activities?
• What are the things you're doing that may go against your business promise?

I'd like to know some of the "promises" that your business makes to its customers. Please post them below. When you post, be sure to tell us how you're delivering on the promise.

I look forward to hearing from you.