Franziska Iseli: Hi and welcome back! I am so excited today because I have a very special guest here today, Sue Izzo.

Sue Izzo: Hello, hello.

Franziska Iseli: Thank you so much for being here. Now a quick background story here. Sue is here all the way from the U.S. and Sue is our U.S. partner for Basic Bananas in the USA. So I just quickly pulled here aside today and I said, “Sue, could you please share your number 1, hottest tip with you, because obviously, Sue has been running companies for the last 20 or so years. I know she looks like 21 but that‘s another story.

So what was one of your tips, you were talking a little bit earlier to me about personalizing approach in marketing.

Sue Izzo: Absolutely. You know when we think about reaching out to perspective clients and customers, we know that there are so many people, other people reaching out to them trying to get their business. So here are 3 little tips to help personalize that connection to just make you top of mind when someone‘s looking for your services.

First and foremost, do your research. Before you reach out to this perspective client and your customer, take the time to go on LinkedIn or Facebook or even Google them to find out tidbits about this person. Perhaps, maybe, the university they went to, certain film interest they have, even sporting teams that they‘re into. So when you get on the phone with them, it‘s a little bit of a personalized touch of, “hey, I saw that you went to so and so university. Oh my cousin went there as well.” Or, “hey did you see the tennis match? (they have an interest in tennis). What did you think of Nadal playing federal the other day?”

Franziska Iseli: So you have something to talk about, it‘s not just business talks, right?

Sue Izzo: Absolutely. It‘s not just going for the sales, it‘s making it genuine, it‘s making it personalized.

The second tip I would give is, how do you use this information? When you get on the phone with your client, perspective client, you want to gather – What are their desires for their business? What are some of their frustrations for their business? Make notes about them Also, it‘s not bad to find out, again through your research, what their birthday is, anniversaries, special dates for them, celebrations. Put that in your database and make notes in your calendar and great programs to help you do that to filter in this information. So then when certain special moments come, you can send out a note or a card, shoot an email. It lets them know, again, that you care about them personally, not just professionally.

Franziska Iseli: I love that. That‘s so effective.

Sue Izzo. It is.

Franziska Iseli: And then you have a third one?

Sue Izzo: Yes. Number 3, stop with the email and texting. Can we bring personalization back to the way it really was? If they do something to me, hire you for a certain business, pick up the phone. Say thank you on the phone or take the time to actually handwrite out a card. These are lost arts and this is really a great way to separate yourself from the pack. People really do appreciate it when you take that time. It only reflects in your interest in them and your sincere interest in their business.

Franziska Iseli: I agree. Actually, our members believe and know that we have a post card challenge, which you know in the program, where our members have to send out post cards, actual post cards written, hand-written to people and the feedback that they get and even the business that get out of that even without trying to get business is huge.

Sue Izzo: It is. It really is.

Franziska Iseli: So for you, maybe look at your business and see how can you personalize more of your activities? Because it really goes a long way. And as you know, often corporates don‘t do that because there are so many customers. So for small and midsize companies, it‘s a really huge advantage to go after.

Sue Izzo. Absolutely.

Franziska Iseli: If you know anyone with a company who would love to hear this tip, please share it with them because as you know we are all about creating ripple effects and the more that we can do that, the more you help us do that, the bigger our smiles get.

Sue Izzo. Awesome. Best of luck!

Franziska Iseli: Thank you, Sue.