The Business Base

 Whether you're a big company or a small business, the way you utilize your customer relationship management can determine your path to new business growth. Customer  relationship management or CRM is the business strategy used to improve customer service and relationships.  By: Stephanie Lopez 1. Keep in constant communication.  Touch base with your clients on a weekly or monthly basis by sending a follow up email with new information they can benefit from. A lot of times, we interact with a client via email for so long before we ever actually get to meet them. While it does take some extra time from your work schedule, giving your clients a call can further the already established relationship with your client. However, you will need to gauge how often to reach out to your customers, so you do not hinder the relationship by becoming another spam email or call they choose to avoid. 2. Send out surveys. This can help tremendously by not only knowing what is working ...

     Voice marketing has been steadily growing popular over the years. Consumers are constantly engaging with new brands, products, and businesses through other forms of media besides your typical social media platforms. Since the start of the nationwide lockdown in March of 2020, there has been a growth in the number of podcasts available online. So, we are going to dive into how podcasts can positively impact your business as well as a new app that has been making its way up the charts in the app store. By: Stephanie Lopez       Podcasts are a great way to engage with your customers on another level. Some people may not always have the time to browse through social media. That is when podcasts become appealing as it allows the user to play the podcast while they are going about their day. A podcast can be a great way for your customers to get further insight on who your company is. 1 in 3 people listen to podcasts and on average, people spend about...

A lot of us have started to work from home since the stay-at-home orders that began in March. Working remotely from their homes is a new environment for many. Whether you have a home office or not, here are some items we think could be beneficial to your new workspace. Having all the things you once loved on your desk in your home office will make it more comfortable! By: Stephanie Lopez Office staples Sticky notes are great to help remind you of your tasks at hand and keep you on track with your work. While this may seem small, if you are starting a home office from scratch these will be essential. Check out the variety of Post-It Note sizes we offer  here . A duo we can't forget is a sturdy journal along with a smooth writing pen . You never know when you'll have to jot down ideas or information to keep that isn't temporary enough for a sticky note. Some of our favorites are these Italian leather journals you can find on our site, check it out. Consider getting a statio...

As we go into this transition period of re-opening some parts of the state, it can be a time where we need to adapt to guidelines we weren't accustomed to before. Reconnecting to usual business practices impacts so much more these days as we all continue to stay safe. By: Stephanie Lopez First and foremost, let your loyal customers know that you have re-opened and what guidelines you now have in place. Depending on your kind of business, sending clients an email to advise you are now providing service is a great way to notify them. Another great resource to use is social media. Posting online that your game plan is to reopen will leave customers anticipating their return. If for any reason a client cannot find information they are looking for via your website, most customers turn to social media pages to find what they're looking for. Be sure to advise customers of your new (if applicable) business hours and what safety guidelines they are required to follow when coming back. P...

It's during times like these that maintaining communication with people is so crucial. Letting your clients know that you are there for them or checking in on them can let them know that you care about maintaining your relationship. By: Stephanie Lopez Send them an update via email Getting a response back from clients can sometimes depend on what they have going on so make sure your subject line is interesting and eye catching. While this is the easiest way to reach out to your clients, it may not always yield an immediate response. Still, any effort to show you want to be there for your customer is essential in keeping that connection. Give them a call If you're able to reach your client over the phone, this could be a great time to build that relationship further. This is an opportunity to really get to know your client on more than just a business level. Sometimes a phone call can brighten someone's day and what better time to check in than now. Video has...

With everything going on, a lot of companies and businesses are having employees work from home. If you aren't accustomed to working at home, it can be a challenge to keep yourself on a schedule and setting boundaries between work life and home life. Here are a few tips to help you get your work done even if it's not at the office. By: Stephanie Lopez Set the Scene At the office, everyone has their own designated area. So why should working at home be any different? Making your own workspace is pivotal in being productive. So, make sure to have your set-up in an area where distractions are limited, and you have enough room to not feel crowded. If you have the opportunity to set-up your work space near a window, that's one thing I would highly recommend. Stick to a routine Just like work, you have a routine to get up and get ready for work every morning. When working from home, I would encourage you to do what you normally would. Wake up, get ready, make you...

Companies, Organizations and businesses are rapidly growing as more young adults are entering the work force; filling entry level jobs everyone once started out doing. With the office compiled with different age groups, the various communication styles may cause some confusion or issues when it comes to interaction. A refresher on the types of Generation age groups are as follows: Baby Boomers: 1946 - 1964 Generation X: 1965 - 1980 Generation Y (Millennials): 1981 - 1996 Generation Z: 1997 - 2012 Every generation is presumed to have certain qualities that others are not aligned with but in some instances some age groups are quite similar. Be aware of generational differences and participating in generational bias. Getting to know your employees individually will help facilitate work relationships that will help instead of hinder interaction with other co-workers. By assuming someone's qualities according to their generation, you are basing a significant group of pe...

It's no secret that communication methods are constantly evolving. One thing we can expect from the new year is a change in the amount of media use from smartphone users. According to Spectrum Reach , there was a 4.7% increase in the average time spent on a smartphone from 2018 to 2020. And although we are seeing less minutes spent on phone calls, we are seeing a gradual increase in screen time which by the year 2021 will be up to an average of 3 hours per smartphone user. Blog by Stephanie Lopez Especially considering the new generations that are becoming more tech-efficient, we see a continuous growth of smart phone dependency.  Video consumption has also become more popular in recent years. Facebook analytics show that consumers are more likely to spend more time on video content than they are on static posts, especially videos that are longer than 3 minutes. A popular in-demand video platform that arose at the end of 2016, TikTok becam...

What are these logos anyways?  Logos are a company's first point of contact with the world. A logo is a range of elements that work together to form a distinctive picture. A logo is brand identity. By Shirleyann Cameron With a logo comes branding, they go hand in hand. Together with logos and branding there leads to a plethora of business possibilities. When you think about it what do you first notice in a logo?  You see shape, colors, and if you are still focused you explore what it's about. The use of a logo is a  prehistoric  identity practice.  History shows us the deeply rooted and vast cultures all had the need for communicating identity, visually, in common. Looking a the past's ideas leaves much room for interpretation on a broader aspect of future designs in branding for a company logo. So when you are ready to choose something that will bring your company some recognition look into hiring a graphic designer to burst out creativity for ...

By, Victoria Martinez Studies have shown that the average consumer in America sees thousands of advertisements every day. With that kind of competition out there, how do you make sure that your business/organization stands out? 1. Customer Service Customer service is arguably one of the most important aspects of a business.  If a customer leaves your business feeling negatively, this will reflect poorly on your business as a whole.  Clients and consumers like to have positive feelings when they finish doing business with a company. If you have superior customer service at your company, positive word of mouth will be spread about your company thus increasing profits! One easy way of improving your customer service is to implement surveys. By asking your clients & customers about their experiences, you can learn what you do well and what you can improve on.  2. Competitive Advantage What makes your company different from other businesses? Why should custom...

BY VICTORIA MARTINEZ Although July is over, summer in Texas is far from gone. With each day in the 90's, it's important to remember to stay cool! Promotional Products offer a great way to keep your business cool all summer long! I have picked out my 5 favorite products to help you and your customers keep cool in the heat: 1. Sunglasses Lets start with the basics, no one likes having the hot sun beating down on their eyes. So why not try a pair of sunglasses ? While you're at it, why not add some spice to your sunglasses to really make your outfit POP ? Sunglasses have many different designs to choose from whether its the frame, the arms or even the eyepieces themselves, the options are endless!  2. Cooler  No one likes to have a hot drink when they're out and about, so why not offer them a cooler ! Not only do coolers offer a large area for you to add your logo, but they are also a very useful product for your customers. Whether is small or large, e...

BY VICTORIA MARTINEZ Salespeople are arguably the foundation of many great businesses. Without talented, outgoing, positive people reaching out to new clients for us, we would find ourselves in a lull during business days!  So what are some key aspects of being a successful sales person? I had the pleasure of interviewing one of YNIS best, Georgie Wiebe. Georgie is not only a successful salesperson but she is also an extreme NASCAR and cat enthusiast! Georgie started out at YNIS as the Front Desk and Admin Assistant and then moved to a Production Manager and then later the Owners Assistant. Because of her strong foundation within the company, she was able to continue and enhance the relationships with many of the clients when her boss retired. Georgie is now an Inside Sales Manager at YNIS and loves her work. What words come to mind when you think of yourself as a sales person? Achiever Projects Deadlines Multitasker Follow-ups  Explain the typica...

BY VICTORIA MARTINEZ Technology has become such a prominent part of our everyday lives. Sometimes, the best way to escape from the never ending emails and phone calls is to go on an adventure! People love to travel. So why not provide them with really cool traveling products emblazoned with your logo on them? In this blog, I am only going to mention my top 3 favorite travel products. However, there are hundreds more that you can find on our website . While on any adventure, I love to eat! That's why the first traveling products I will mention are mugs/thermos' . There are so many different options for you to choose from! You can get anything from a classic plastic mug, to a 3-in-1 thermos. Not only are these essential to any trip, but they can also be really fun to show off to your friends. After I have planned out all of my meals for my  adventure, I think it's a great idea to grab a travel kit with all of my traveling necessities already ready to go. If you...

BY VICTORIA MARTINEZ Many of us have a lot going on at work. Finding a way to juggle everything at once can become really challenging. In my opinion, the best way to overcome disorganization is with time management. Personally, I try to incorporate these 5 things into my everyday life to stay organized at work. 1. Positivity Starting off each day with a positive attitude is the first step towards a more organized work day. Instead of thinking "I have to go to work today" try "I get to go to work today". Putting yourself in a good mood will help to motivate you throughout the rest of the day! 2. Plan Ahead Monday's and Friday's are great for planning ahead. Every Friday, I go through and make a list of everything I need/want to get done. Then, every Monday, I go through this list and set goals for myself for the rest of the week based off the list I made on Friday. These blogs are a great example of planning ahead! The Friday before I post, I w...

BY VICTORIA MARTINEZ Summer is upon us! Here in Texas, we're already up in the triple digit heat. With the heat moving in, vacations are on the rise. Instead of allowing your brand to take a break during the summer time, your company should embrace the heat and enhance your summer marketing campaign! Below I go into more detail on how to revamp your summer marketing campaign in 2018: Social Media Social Media is a great way to market your company. So why slow it down during the summer time? By pulling on your creative strings, there are endless ways to effectively use social media during the summer time. Start off by taking some photos outside. Highlight products in images with cute "beachy" vibes. Not only will your social media platforms stay active and engaging, but they will also keep your followers excited about what you want to post next! Videos People LOVE videos. Not only are they visually pleasing, but they are also a great way to learn/spread...

BY VICTORIA MARTINEZ Did you know that 88% of promotional product recipients remember  the name of the advertiser on the products? Promotional Products are the best way to increase brand recognition! Last week was Promotional Products Work Week . We have dedicated an entire week to celebrating promotional products because they actually work! Not only do promotional products get your company's logo in the hands of your consumer, but they also provide practical uses for many of your consumers. Still not convinced? Here are 5 reasons why promotional products work: 1. Useful Promotional products are one of the only forms of advertising that creates a way for the consumer to actually interact with a brand. By providing this unique form of interaction, your brand is much more likely to be remembered. For example, if you were given a really cool pen that you really liked, you would be more likely to use this pen everyday. This would then result with you using the pen constant...

BY VICTORIA MARTINEZ Social Media is arguably one of the best ways to reach millennials today. With millenials moving into adulthood, it is really important to market to them as a business! Not only are they bringing in new business, but they are also really excited to spend money! So why don't more businesses have a strong social media presence?  If you know your company isn't properly utilizing social media then I hope to inform you on all the benefits you can get from social media by the end of this blog. IT'S FREE Okay, first things first. Social media is FREE! So why not get some platforms for your business? It won't even cost you a penny! There is honestly no harm in signing your company up for a Facebook business page. Not only is this a great way to build relationships with your customer base, but it is also FREE marketing! What could possibly be better than FREE marketing?! Networking As many business people already know, networking is super i...