Part I: CONSISTENCY - Using Social Media

A few weeks ago, we introduced the concept of the 3 C's: Connection, Consistency, and Concepts. This week we would like to cover the topic of consistency. And, just so you don't have to fiddle with that annoying back button on your browser, here is a review of consistency:

Consistency - if you post hours you're going to be open, be open, or utilize social media to explain why you have to close. Also,  ensure that the logo, motto, service, and products always go above and beyond.

This is a two-parter. Part One:  consistency with business hours, and using social media to your full advantage. Part Two: logo, motto, service, and product consistency.


Consistency has become such an issue with small business, that CBS has even dedicated pages to this issue:

The importance of consistency in business seems so basic as to not need discussion. Yet many companies -- especially smaller ones -- operate in a day-by-day, case-by-case fashion that is disorganized, undisciplined and certainly inefficient. 

CBS reports on products, employees, service, and operations, and growth. We're going to look at some simple steps you can take to achieve consistency. And, because we don't want to bore you (stifle that yawn!) we will only be discussing business hours & social media is this part. See Part II for logos, mottos, and service consistency.  

Part 1: Business Hours, Social Media, & You

Business Hours

In our previous post, we demonstrated the need for CONNECTION with your customers and other businesses. Connecting via social media is important not only for contests and specials, but also to let your customers know when and even why you must close during normal business hours. 

Make the best use of social media by advertising
your business hours, including unexpected closures!

Your customers count on consistent business hours. Sometimes they are running late for lunch, and stop by after 2pm. Many customers are first timers, solicited by your sign on an impulse purchase, and stop in after 5pm on their way home from work. It's important that they know that you are going to be open when you say you are going to be open. When a business is closed during their reported business hours, it makes customers question the dependability. Often, they will go somewhere else, and you have lost an important client. Even worse, the word of mouth in a small town like Klamath can be detrimental to the business as a whole. 

For family run or small businesses, sometimes emergencies occur and business must close their doors. Often, there is little time to place a hastily written sign on the front door for customers that may not be connected with you on your social media site. However, if your business is already connected with social media, make and effort to communicate to your customers a statement of why and when you will close and reopen. 

Here is an example of a local business that used this principle to it's fullest:

Indian Hurry Curry

Check out their facebook page for
daily specials here:  
https://www.facebook.com/41frederick) 

Raksha Chhotu, owner of local business Indian Hurry Curry, arrived to her store one morning to find it was flooded after a recent heavy storm. Knowing she would soon have her usual lunch rush, she quickly posted on Facebook that her store had flooded and she would be closed for the rest of the day. When she reopened, her customers waited in line for her to open to get their "curry fix" that they had missed the day before. There was little to no complaints, and that day she nearly ran out of food for all the customers that had to wait an entire day for their favorite dishes! Raksha's quick and consistent use of social media to connect her hours & specials with her customers turned her business from closed into a thriving busy place in just a few  
                                                                                       days! 


No matter what you prefer, from social media to the handwritten personal sign, the consistency in your business hours can make all the different to your customers. It only take a few minutes to show the customers you care about their business, by reaching out to them via your electronic device. It will keep your customers coming back for more. 





For more on business consistency, check out the article at CBS.com:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505143_162-57374851/how-consistency-touches-every-area-of-your-business/


Read  Part Two Here: http://the13thfloorkf.blogspot.com/b/post-preview?token=E2mctzgBAAA.a0tZoFs4MOQXaNVV3rWPlw.d4IMiwIfu8cw_SIWVqtpIA&postId=1551194131794155914&type=POST