It is a good idea to appraise your business because it is going to show the health of your business and what your business is actually worth. However one factor that will weigh heavily in how your business is assessed is your cash flows. healthy cashflows come from healthy sales and recurring revenue. This is another reason why having a good and robust sales system and framework is essential to a business. Without a good sales framework, a business isn’t worth much.

Customer service processes and framesworks are handy in the business because they are the “lay up” to ensure that we get repeat business and referrals from happy customers.

We have to empower our customer service reps to be able to do more than just apologise and take down notes. If those are the only functions they have authority to undertake, then they are hampered and are not going to be able to function appropriately and do what needs to be done to make the customer happy.

When handling customer service complaints, ask questions about the initial goal the customer had for your product or service. This will give clues about where you need to look to solve the problem.

Getting reviews, repeat business, and referrals is an important part of the sales process... however before you pursue testimonials and those other things after the sale, you want to make sure the customer is happy and there are no unresolved customer service issues.

Customer service is essential to growing a business except if you’re a monopoly or a public utility. The first step to solving the problem is asking questions to figure out what the customer is unhappy about.

Good customer service begins with accepting responsibility for the problem. Accepting responsibility isn’t the same as admitting FUALT for a bad customer experience. It just means promising that you’ll do all in your power to rectify and redress. Take responsibility for solving the problem NOW and we can worry about fault later.

...because the chief beneficiaries of the podcast seem to be folks beyond the bounds of the wedding industry. The focus will still remain the same about how simples sales principles and conversational tactics can be applied to the Nigerian context and challenges of building a business. Thanks for listening over the last 3 years, and here's to 3 more!

Figure out what the competition is up to by talking to your customers and the potential clients who hit you up. This way you’ll get more relatable information about what is out there, at what price, features and services that work, and also the approaches that the market dislikes. This will give you better and more usable information than snooping around at your competition’s websites.

Feedback is good because it leaves clues about what we should do to improve the customer experience and our business. It also tells us what to avoid that could be costing us business. Because feedback is this important, we should be proactively seeking out feedback from our customers.

If someone calls for a product or service that you don’t offer, qualify the situation and then make an appropriate recommendation or referral. It’ll be good business karma and set you apart as a useful business resource

To keep your customers coming back, make the business about them and not you. Your progress as a business person or influencer might be appealing for now, but it won't keep people over the long haul if that doesn't translate into value for them - audio from my Instagram Reels and TikToks.

Will bootstrapping frustrate your business ideas? or should you go the fundraising route to increase chances for success?

What’s important in business development and growth is not just our minds but our bodies as well. Learn to take care of your bodies too - audio from my TikTok and Instagram Reels.

Can excessive competition kill your business? And how do you differentiate yourself in a world where all goods and services are commoditized? Is brand differentiation better that setting yourself apart by how you handle sales, customer service, and other customer facing functions of your business? - audio from my Instagram reels and TikTok sessions.

The "rivalry effect" or "positioning" - Adventures in business theory - how to stand out from the competition.

How sales and selling skills can help with invetory management. You don't have to hold on to stock that the market has no appetitie for. Good sales practice will give you a read on market appetite, current trends and preferences with your customers and clients - audio from my TikTok and Instagram Reel videos.

The real reason why your business might be failing and the simple thing you can do to get back on course. Also why you don't need to be outgoing and have "personality" to be good at sales conversations and keeping customers happy - audio from my Instagram Reels and TikTok videos.

Do what you are passionate about and you'll never work a day in your life? Really?

Is a lack of capital killing your business? How about learning how to persuade investors and talk to potential customers and clients? These options will help your cash woes quite effectively. Capital from investors and from paying customers ought to ease your mind for a while - audio from my TikTok and Instagram Reels.

Good consulting cannot make bad business ideas work. The focus of your efforts in the early days of the business should be to get market validation. Are there people who think your idea is useful enough to pay for it? Once you answer this question, then you'll have some drive and data that a consultant can work with after you have brought them on - Audio from TikTok and Instagram reels.

Do you have to bring in a consultant or sales professional at the beginning of your business venture? Why would it be more profitable for you to validate your business idea first? - audio from my Instagram Reel and TikTok sessions.

How will you know if people like your products or your services? You ask them in simple conversations after the purchase. Call, email or text to see what they like and what could've been done better. This will help you know what to emphasize in future sales - audio from TikTok videos and Instagram reels from my accounts.

Do you have to be passionate about something before you run it as a business? Does turning your passion into a business guarantee that you'll have fun doing it always? - audio from my Instagram Reels and TikTok account.

What marketing channels are best for my product and services? More session summary from the NEST Project Business Development Session 2022 facilitated with Aiivon Tech Hub Abuja. Also the beginning of what should have been Q and A from the live session.

It's not a good idea to try and "time the market" when introducing a new product or service. The "perfect time" can only be figured out with hindsight. Do your homework and anticipate the best you can. Take market feedback and adjust on the fly - video posted on TikTok and Instagram Reels.

NEST Project Business Development Session 2022 - Aiivon Tech Hub Abuja

Ask the right questions before you launch the business - TikTok and Instagram Reel video

Is it tough doing business in Nigeria? or is the problem that we've delved into things we shouldn't?

Being proactive with customer success to create loyal clients. Video featured on the Instagram and TikTok short video platforms.

Who to court in business: DMUs, critical decision paths, and increasing your sales and profits!

Standard operating procedures and new fangled ideas to grow the business

Sales and macroeconomics - two sides of the same coin

Customer retention and customer service conversations VS qualifying conversations

TikReels - How to deal with impulsive clients and make sure you don't get into trouble

TikReels - Potential customers VS clients: what kinds of conversations should we be having?

TikReels What do you call a potential customer, and what’s the best way to deal with them?

If someone hasn’t done business with you yet and they are merely interested and looking into the thought of that, can we call them customers or clients?

Why offering “free” services isn’t always a bad idea, and how testing prototypes can help you sell better in the future.

Some folks are worth keeping around in the business much longer than others because of their drive and enthusiasm that they bring to the role, especially if they go beyond their job description and joyfully take on sales, customer service and other customer facing functions. Those folks will bring outsized returns for the business in the future.

Does how we do business have to change from one age to another? Do technological advances mean how we do business and marketing becomes outdated? Will “know”, “like” and “trust” reign supreme in sales and marketing for all time?

Does it matter how you think about yourself? And does an advisor mindset make it easier to handle conversations with potential clients? Does it enhance your positioning and level of credibility with the potential customer?

Is the conversation about how many people you might scare away? Or is this about the best way to “sort through” potential clients to be sure you’re speaking to “serious people” only?

Is it possible to have “everyone” as your target market? Or do you have to narrow down to a particular demographic or psychographic to be effective in your sales and marketing efforts?

Is it realistic to keep going for “big kills” every time you’re with a potential client? Or is it more effective to go for smaller commitments with each conversation until we have earned the right to ask for the sale?

It’s important to have a selling framework, process, or philosophy to guide you on how to initiate relationships as well as determine criteria for when to STOP talking to a potential customer. Do this and you’ll be fine.

Staffing issues. Who to keep? Who to fire? Who’s worth what?

It’s necessary to approach everyone in the beginning because you don’t know who your ideal market is. But should you continue with that over time? And how do you determine what your message should be? And who your customers are?