$99 Banners and Skyscrapers: Want to promote your business? For NAFE members, a banner or skyscraper ad in one issue of the NAFE E-Newsletter will cost you just $99.00. (Regular rate is $150.00.) Contact newsletter editor Paula Damiano to place your ad: paula.damiano@nafe.com. [Note: you must be an active NAFE member to receive this special rate.]

NAFE Women of Excellence Awards for 2009. It’s that time again… time to nominate an outstanding female executive (a friend, colleague or yourself) for the 2009 awards program. Submissions will be accepted via US Mail or by fax. As always, nominations will be accepted in five categories:
Woman of Achievement - A woman who has achieved recognized success over her career and has utilized her position, stature, and expertise to break down gender bias and effect positive change for women
Outstanding Entrepreneur - A woman entrepreneur who not only strives to build a great company, but also contributes to the success of other entrepreneurs
Mentorship Award - An individual who serves as an example of hard work and effective management and provides assistance to help advance other women
Community Service - An individual who is changing the face of neighborhoods through initiatives to provide services that benefit women
Rising Star - An up-and-coming female executive with less than 15 years at a company or an entrepreneur in business for less than 5 years

Click here for more information. There’s a link on the page to download the application form. Deadline is February 28, 2009.

Free Teleseminar on BUSINESS BLOGGING. Tired of seminars with fluffy, generic content? Here’s a session that offers concrete advice. Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff, aka The Blog Squad, will present a free teleseminar from 4:00- 5:00 PM EST on Monday, January 26. It's called "Boost Your Biz with a Blog," You'll learn about the biggest mistakes bloggers make and how beginning bloggers can sabotage their own success. Click here to register.

NAFE Discount on Whirlpool Products. Through a special arrangement with Whirlpool, NAFE members can reap big savings on Whirlpool appliances, accessories and other Whirlpool items. You and your family can purchase up to 12 products a year under the VIPLINK program and get substantial savings on everyday retail pricing. Go to the NAFE website to sign up for the discount program – just click on the Whirlpool banner at the top of the NAFE home page.

Therese Tappouni will be at the FLORIDA BOOK FAIR BLITZ on January 25th in downtown St. Petersburg. The event is sponsored by Key Business Partners, benefiting the Florida Literacy Coalition. Therese says, “Come by and say hello to me… and the many other authors who are participating in this worthy cause.”

5 Tips for Building Relationships & Guaranteeing Repeat Business

This issue’s 5 Tips come from Wendy Weiss, The Queen of Cold Calling. Wendy is a sales trainer, author and sales coach. Get Wendy’s free special report, Getting in the Door: How to Write an Effective Cold Calling Script, at http://www.wendyweiss.com.

Would you like to have customers return again and again to buy? Would you like to be first in line for additional orders and repeat business? Would you like to keep your customers for a very long time? Then read on:

1. Give your customers exactly what they ask for. “Sort of” doesn't count. Make sure that you are delivering quality each and every time. In addition, don't oversell. Persuading customers to take more product than they actually need will quickly make you a one-time resource.
2. Make absolutely certain that your offering will solve your customers’ problems or help them in the way they need to be helped. If your offering is not truly a solution, tell the truth. Selling a product/service that does not solve the problem it was purchased to solve may put money in your pocket in the short term. But in the long term, it will guarantee that you lose the customer.
3. Do everything you say you're going to do when you say you're going to do it. Nothing builds trust and credibility like doing what you say you’re going to do. And tell the truth no matter what. While being truthful might sometimes cost you a sale, the trust you build with your customers will more than make up for any lost revenue.
4. Keep a new customer informed every step of the way. Whether it’s a delay, a pricing issue, a mistake or any potential problem, let your customer know about it as soon as you know. Do not delay. She will find out eventually and not telling her and/or allowing her to discover it on her own will lose you business.
5. Become a valued team member and go above and beyond your customers’ expectations. Show your customers that you are interested in their business. Invest time thinking about their needs and how you can help.

What are YOUR views on life, love, the new year or the current economy? Let the world know what you really think. Connect with others; learn and share. Have YOU blogged today? Visit the NAFE blog page today.

Are You Taking Full Advantage of Your Membership?
Click HERE to view the complete list.

NEW BENEFITS – check the NAFE website!

H&R Block - $20 off tax preparation at participating H&R Block retail offices
Quicken – Help manage your finances – discounts on products
Tom Tom – Discounts vary on our entire line of award winning portable GPS navigation devices
IMView offers 10% discount on the parental controls and internet usage monitoring.
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