How do you come up with a great title that people are really interested in reading? Well, the trick is to use some very simple words at the beginning or end of your sentences and fill in the blanks. They are:
How to...
Avoid...
Who Else Wants....?
Are you...?
How I...
Secrets of...
Warning:...
Top 10 ways to...
Don't...
You can play around with these titles as much as you like, but if you use them, it's very difficult NOT to have an interesting title.
The other tip I would give you is to just say in the title what you're going to be talking about as though your target audience is stood in front of you. Let me give you an example - which sounds more interesting:
Title 1: The power of blogging, or
Title 2: How to start blogging and make it work for your business
I hope you agree that the second title sounds more interesting. In it I'm just saying what the topic is about.
Try these tips for your business and see if they make a difference.
Thursday 29 January 2009
Wednesday 21 January 2009
How to deal with non-payers
This year, dealing with non-payers is more important than ever. Every second that someone who owes you money delays payment, it has major implications on you and your business. I've seen many a small business go under because they haven't been tough enough with non-payers.
Being tough is definitely a mind-set. If you make it clear to your clients that you expect payment, they'll toe the line 90% of the time. But if you're pretty laid-back about payment and your clients recognise this, they'll definitely mess you about.
Here's my policy on payment: if we do work for a client, we expect payment.
That's it. Full stop. If there's a problem with the work, we're happy to have a chat and fix it of course, but we do expect payment for work done.
I don't think I'm being unreasonable. We're not a charity and anyone who doesn't pay, as far as I'm concerned, isn't holding up their side of the bargin.
I make this policy very clear up-front and very few people have a problem with it.
On the rare occasion where payment is overdue, here's how I deal with it:
1) Polite, gentle reminder about payment - which sorts 95% out
2) Tougher letter/email reminding them about payment - which sorts another 4% out
3) Small claims court letter - this is where I send them a stern letter with a fill-in small claims court letter attached telling them if they don't pay, the small claims form will be sent
4) Small claims court letter sent to court
In 6 years of doing business, we've only had one serious non-payer which was resolved in the small claims court. Most people are sorted out by the above steps.
So, get tough. Don't put up with non-payment. If you do a job, expect to get paid for it and go to the ends of the earth and back if you don't.
Being tough is definitely a mind-set. If you make it clear to your clients that you expect payment, they'll toe the line 90% of the time. But if you're pretty laid-back about payment and your clients recognise this, they'll definitely mess you about.
Here's my policy on payment: if we do work for a client, we expect payment.
That's it. Full stop. If there's a problem with the work, we're happy to have a chat and fix it of course, but we do expect payment for work done.
I don't think I'm being unreasonable. We're not a charity and anyone who doesn't pay, as far as I'm concerned, isn't holding up their side of the bargin.
I make this policy very clear up-front and very few people have a problem with it.
On the rare occasion where payment is overdue, here's how I deal with it:
1) Polite, gentle reminder about payment - which sorts 95% out
2) Tougher letter/email reminding them about payment - which sorts another 4% out
3) Small claims court letter - this is where I send them a stern letter with a fill-in small claims court letter attached telling them if they don't pay, the small claims form will be sent
4) Small claims court letter sent to court
In 6 years of doing business, we've only had one serious non-payer which was resolved in the small claims court. Most people are sorted out by the above steps.
So, get tough. Don't put up with non-payment. If you do a job, expect to get paid for it and go to the ends of the earth and back if you don't.
Friday 16 January 2009
Post New Year Blues?
Hello and Happy New Year to you! Here, at Exceptional Thinking, we've been back two weeks now and yet we only just feel as though we're getting back into the swing of things.
It's seems we're not the only ones too. Many of the people I've been speaking to have said that they've felt a bit of the Post New Year Blues. I think before Christmas, people were talking up the New Year and now that it's here, it's difficult to hold onto that optimism of New Year's Resolutions and having a great 2009.
If you're feeling a bit down at the moment, remember that:
a) The weather hasn't been great
b) January is naturally quieter for business, and
c) Projects that all of us wanted to start come 1st Jan don't have to happen now - you've got all year!
So, forgive yourself for having the New Year Blues. But, make it your goal next week to snap out of it and get back to some hard work. Yes, I think this year will be hard work to achieve what you want, but YOU can do it.
It's seems we're not the only ones too. Many of the people I've been speaking to have said that they've felt a bit of the Post New Year Blues. I think before Christmas, people were talking up the New Year and now that it's here, it's difficult to hold onto that optimism of New Year's Resolutions and having a great 2009.
If you're feeling a bit down at the moment, remember that:
a) The weather hasn't been great
b) January is naturally quieter for business, and
c) Projects that all of us wanted to start come 1st Jan don't have to happen now - you've got all year!
So, forgive yourself for having the New Year Blues. But, make it your goal next week to snap out of it and get back to some hard work. Yes, I think this year will be hard work to achieve what you want, but YOU can do it.
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