Stay the course for success

Monday, November 30, 2009

With the recession tailing off and the holidays fast approaching, you might want to take your foot off the pedal. DON’T. Even if your business is booming and you think you deserve a rest, you have to keep the momentum going if you want your business to continue to succeed.

Because you’re busy enough this season, we will be updating redline™ online every week with tips to help you:

Let us know what you think and learn from other like-minded businesses, simply comment on each article and give us your feedback.

For more great advice subscribe to receive redline™ magazine in the post. The latest issue is out now.

In the meantime, check out our new competitions and offers, read our helpful articles and find out how you can keep the momentum going at this time of year.

Here are some great tips to help you succeed this season.

Maintain the good business practices you’ve already put into place.
If you’ve put new systems in place lately (perhaps you’ve asked staff to amend address details when they contact customers or maybe you’ve stepped up a gear on giving great customer service), it’s now up to you to ensure that these continue to run smoothly.

You made changes for a reason so, don’t let it all go to waste.

Assess every aspect of your business.
It’s easy to focus on the parts of your business that cry out for your attention but try not to overlook all the other areas. Check you’re happy with how all of your business is operating.

Your business can only be successful if all the cogs are turning together.

Update your business plan and refresh your marketing.
Revisit your business plan and update it if necessary. It’s likely that today’s business environment is different from when you launched your company – it’s different from even six months ago!

And if you started without a business plan, it’s never too late to write one, you’ll find it invaluable.

Make sure you’re promoting your company to the right people. Take a look at how using addressed, direct mail can help you communicate more effectively with your customers. Don’t forget your website – is it working? And what about your sales literature – in need of an overhaul?

Review all your marketing activity, refresh, polish and buff as you go.

Talk to your customers and your staff regularly.
What your customers want today may not be what they want tomorrow. Keep up with changing attitudes and new trends. Stay in touch with your customers and ask them what they want.

Also, you need your staff and your staff needs you. Look after your team, talk to them and listen to them. Encourage feedback and work together to make your business successful.

Give your team a motivational boost, take them out, do something as a group and be sure to reward outstanding achievements and individual success.

Smarten up, first impressions count.
You may have pulled your business practices into line but how do you look? Ask yourself what first impressions your company radiates when customers walk in, ring or visit your website.

It’s maybe time to tidy up your offices, answer the telephone with a smile and improve your website.

Network like never before.
Get some stimulation from others – network. Join a business forum and go to all the relevant seminars and events you can. Talk to people and hand out those business cards.

Set time aside to give your business the TLC it needs.
If you think you’re too busy to give your business the on-going TLC it needs, set time aside. If you are heading into a quiet period, use this time wisely. Otherwise, draw up a task list and work through it whenever you get the chance.
Win The E-Myth Revisited by business consultant guru Michael E Gerber.
We have five copies to give away*. Packed with easy-to-follow principles for success, this is essential reading for everyone in business.

*Terms and conditions apply.

Win a professionally designed ad for your business plus space for it in the next issue of redline magazine*.
Use this ad to promote your business - include it on the bills and statements you send out to your customers. A good-looking ad will spice up those invoices and help you sell your products.

*Terms and conditions apply.

Win one of ten KiwiStamp™ first day covers.
To mark the launch of the KiwiStamp™ postage stamp, we are giving away 10, highly collectable KiwiStamp™ first day covers*.

*Terms and conditions apply.

Win the chance to send a parcel via International Economy Courier™ for FREE
So you can discover for yourself just how good our International Economy Courier™ service is, we’re offering to send five parcels for FREE*.

*Terms and conditions apply.

Win one of five packs of ParcelPost™ Postage Included Bags.
Our ‘Stuff it’ campaign has proved successful so we’re giving away five packs of ten ParcelPost™ Postage Included Bags* – each worth $50.00 (RRP)!

*Terms and conditions apply
We have some great offers for you, as featured in the redline™ magazine ‘Grow with Mail’ toolkit. Subscribe today if you didn’t get a copy.

Start smart with your own stamps
Personalise your postage and innovatively promote your business - or a special event - by creating your own stamps. You simply upload your chosen image, customise your layout and then place your order. Your stamps will be delivered to you, gummed or self-adhesive, whichever you prefer.

Offer: Create your own stamps online before 31 December 2009 and you won’t pay any set-up fee*. That’s a saving of $199.90!

*Terms and conditions apply.

Step up with free envelope overprinting
Express your brand or a special message to your customers on a postage included envelope. This is a great, simple way for you to connect with customers. And because the envelopes include postage, you can help keep a lid on costs.

Offer: Call us on 0800 276 7848 to order your paper postage included envelopes before 31 January 2010 and receive the overprinting for free*!

*Minimum order one box. Discounts for volume. Range of envelope sizes available. Free delivery with New Zealand. Standard New Zealand Post terms and conditions apply.

Free Marketing advice – for that extra boost!
If you’re keen to get the best direct marketing advice – you can’t go past our experts. We can help you understand how direct mail can work for you – and how to use it for maximum results. We can help you with setting up and maintaining a database, and we can give you all the techniques to take your direct mail to a whole new level

*Terms and conditions apply.
Can you believe that it’s mid-November already? You may be wondering where the year went. But don’t rest up yet, you need to stay business and customer focused until the end.

If you need a boost of enthusiasm to stay on track make sure you’re registered to receive the next issue of redline™ magazine, out in two weeks time and free to your business.

In this coming edition we discuss how you can maintain momentum and keep your company on an even keel this Christmas (speaking of which, remember to keep your eye on the Christmas sending dates, the first deadline is imminent).

Plus, keep visiting us here, at redline™ online, where you can find the latest redline™ articles. Remember to add your comments under each one - we like to receive your feedback. In the case of our Trade Me and tracking tool articles, your thoughts helped shape services that are designed to make life easier for your business.

Later this week we will provide you with some tips on how to stay customer focused so come back soon and please add your own thoughts.

Stuff it. ParcelPost™ just got better!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Did you see we removed the 70mm thickness restriction from our ParcelPost™ Postage Included Bags? So many of you commented and said this was a great step to make ParcelPost™ easier.

Now there’s even more good news – we’re having an online sale on all ParcelPost™ products! We are offering 10% off ParcelPost™ Postage Included Bags (Tracked and Untracked) and ParcelPost™ Untracked tickets. Plus there’s a 5% discount on ParcelPost™ Tracked tickets.

There’s really no reason to delay, stock up now!

We look forward to your feedback, please comment on this article and tell us what you think.