Top drivers of small business satisfaction

A couple of business colleagues recently attended the Enterprise Council on Small Business Annual Summit. They shared their conference notes and summary with me and others when they returned. Information and knowledge share of meeting events is a great way to create conversation within your team and possibly create positive change in your organization.

One of the lists they shared with me was full of good principals that I thought was worthy to share and document on MerchantStand.com. It lists the top drivers for satisfaction when selling products and services to small business owners.

Top drivers of small business satisfaction in order of importance:

1. Make the message simple

Owners want a hassle free experience from suppliers. The same applies for individual consumers also. People like simple. People get simple. People use simple. So keep your message simple and on point.

2. Talk Straight

Talk about the problem you are solving for your customer, not your products. When you do discuss a price, show the price up front and give a dollar amount rather than a percentage off amount. Doing this will show that you are honest and credible.

3. Serve on their terms

Give small business owners control in service interaction. Owners are “take control” individuals, allow them to select the method in which they interact with your organization. This means traditional channels will blur. Some customers may choose to transact business with you on the phone, some on your internet site, others in person, and some via social media.

4. Commit Early

The first supplier of a product or service is most likely the one the small business will stick with for the foreseeable future. If part of your business plan is to become the first provider to new small businesses, then get in and commit your solutions early. This means becoming a recognized leader in your industry by participating in the conversations that are out there. It could be social groups, networking events, social media, blogs, etc.