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I spend a lot of time networking online and answering a lot of questions. Because we are not as big a name as say, Yahoo Web Hosting, I try my best to make sure we provide a little more personal service and help to our customers when it comes to setting up their website and promoting it.
Anyone who has followed my blog for awhile now knows I’m always telling entrepreneurs that you have to read between the lines of what people are telling you.
People often times either don’t really know what it is they really want or they don’t say what they really mean.
As an example, I find people online asking about web hosting. One person asked which web host is a good one that will also help her with her website. She doesn’t know much about setting up blogs and forums but she really wants a site that has a blog, forum, and image gallery on it.
I offered to set up a WordPress blog, phpBB forum, and Coppermine image gallery for her on her website if she hosted with us. I never heard from her again.
Either another company offered the same (not likely) and she went with them or she didn’t tell me everything. I must have missed something. She didn’t tell me the whole story. Does she not have money? Is she just feeling out web hosting companies and not really serious right now?
Hard to tell.
But this is the perfect example of how you can answer a person’s questions, give them what they say they want, and nothing comes of it. I’m usually pretty good at reading between the lines and seeing what people are actually wanting and not just hearing what they are saying. This is important for entrepreneurs to learn and master.
When you answer the unspoken problems and questions people have, you are one step closer to making a sale.
Obviously I missed something this time. But that’s ok. I’ll still keep “truck’n on”.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Hi John,
We never know if we will hit a “home run” when we’re promoting our business, do we? Often people don’t know what they want, or maybe can’t afford it. They’re “just shopping”.
I think you did all you could. You let her know what you had to offer, and the rest is up to her.
Yours is the only webhosting site I know of with such personal attention to detail. Looking back, I wish you were around when I set up my blog as I spent waaaaaayyy too much time trying to figure it out on my own.
BTW: I like the addition of the “note” in the sidebar with the “Free WordPress Blog” offer.
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..NBOTW Will Donate $1,000,000
June 17th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Hello Barbara,
It’s true. Solving people’s problems is usually the best route to go in business; however, you never really know if you’ve solved all their problems, especially if they’re just shopping around.
We decided when starting our company that I would be the “leader of the band,” so to speak. We wanted our brand to have a more personal image and personal relationship with our customers.
And thanks for the sidebar comment. I was hoping someone would see it! Found the picture on one of the picture sites I mentioned in my last post.
John Hoff’s last blog post..Reading Between The Lines