Comments for On Our Bikes

Comment on Don’t turn your back on me by Jon Stow

Jon Stow — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:31:03 +0000

It is all about thinking how we are perceived by others and what we are trying to achieve when networking, Carole. Thanks for stopping by.

Comment on Don’t turn your back on me by Carole G.

Carole G. — Sat, 12 May 2012 16:26:11 +0000

Good point on the avatar logo. Business logos are impersonal! I’m going to change my facebook business account to have a photo of me. I agree about the little cliques within some social circles. It is rude and does not promote a very open atmosphere for new comers. I have been in several of those types of gatherings and have never returned!

Comment on Hearing is not listening by Yvette Heiden

Yvette Heiden — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:09:33 +0000

I think this is a real great post.Really thank you! Fantastic.

Comment on Paying the price for our services by Jeremy Edwards

Jeremy Edwards — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:20:08 +0000

Many small businesses have issues over bad payers and are not prepared to press the matter for fear of upsetting the “customer”.

My view is if they are not paying, then they are not a customer, they are a parasite! One recent business client of mine came and asked what to do with a non-payer and was surprised when I said put them on stop and tell them why. A valid cheque arrived 3 days later. Some businesses will only pay when threatened, if that is the case, then worrying about upsetting them or delaying the threat is pointless, as it is just part of the game. It’s not personal, it’s business, (but a PITA nervertheless).

Comment on Telling your customers they are stupid by Jon Stow

Jon Stow — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:48:33 +0000

Thanks for your comment, Garry. I appreciate that you may have been on the wrong end of abuse on the service desk. However, in dealing with customers we all need to be courteous so that they will say good things about our business. “They couldn’t have done more to help when my new laptop refused to boot” rather than to say “What have you done to cause this?”

Rude customer service loses the company business because word gets around. That could cost jobs and is why it is essential that all customer-facing staff have good training which of course means amongst other things learning to deal with difficult customers, and of course when to call security.

Thanks again for stopping by.

Comment on Telling your customers they are stupid by Garry

Garry — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:17:30 +0000

To be fair, when someone comes into a store, the people on the service desk do not know you are this great, nice person and all that. When you deal with customers, even on the phone, you only hear a voice on the other end that, but you have no clue who they are, what they are about or anything, plus you are only with them for a short period of time. You can only go by the facts in front of you and make judment about that. There are people out there who are not very plesent and knowing who is ok and who is not is a difficult job, one thing I have learn’t is to judge the situation by it’s merits, never to trust a smiling face, as I have been hit by smiling, nice, plesent people. When dealing with customers I do like to give the the benefit of the doubt and approach the situation fairly, plus not to jump into any jugment to early, before all the evidence has been look at. But when someone says to me “do you trust me”, unless you are a close friend, a close family member, or someone I have built up trust with, the ansewr in my head is no, but I will look into it for you and give you the the benefit of the doubt and have a look at what you are saying.

Comment on New beginnings and old habits by Felix

Felix — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 23:38:01 +0000

Better get your heads down, use your wits and go ahead. Old habits clearly work for new beginnings. Yes, small business owners (SMEs) are an exclusive crowd. Put together, they simply outweigh multinationals. Oh! Thank you for the scintillating conversation!

I too wish a Happy New Year as also have to achieve a great 2012 with the right approach as a journalist.

Comment on How to annoy me on-line by Jon Stow

Jon Stow — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:27:03 +0000

As I said, we are all different, Lesley. We have different likes and dislikes and different styles.

As I said in my previous post, I wonder if some forget that social media activity involves real people. As long as we remember that, we can do what works for us, and you have found your preferred way.

Comment on How to annoy me on-line by Lesleywriter

Lesleywriter — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:52:44 +0000

I agree with some things and not others! I do have a pop-up on my site to get people to sign up for free reports, it should not pop-up if you visit the site again within 3 days, but it has made a huge difference to my sign ups.

I tweet my blog link out once on the day I post it, do retweet blog links randomly from time to time and always attach a relevant blog post link to the tips I post so people can read more if they wish.

I don’t accept friends on Facebook unless they are friends – I send them to the business page and ask them to join the community there.

I can understand your frustrations – some people really don’t get social media!

Comment on Why we don’t need social media for business by Peter Clark

Peter Clark — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:40:52 +0000

Well said, Jon! I recognise myself in your view of the “information overload” that has been made worse by the internet and social/networking media. I think we are all basically insecure and crave recognition for success, but the addiction with reading what people like us think leaves less time to concentrate on the people who have the potential to actually buy our products or services.