So, in the spirit of the #customerlove movement started by David and perpetuated by LaVonne and now Holly (And because it’s the Sunday night before Labor Day and Sunday nights such as this are supposed to be fun!)
I decided to share 5 things about yours truly (meaning moi for you slow folks that are already getting your holiday weekend party on…
) that you might not know.
(And by the same token, really might not WANT to know… just sayin’!) If that’s the case I’d suggest you close your browser NOW and step away from the keyboard. K?
No? Still here? K good.
In addition, I’ll be giving you 28 ways you can spread that “lovin’ feelin’” (No, not that kind dirty!) to your readers and customers yourself, in honor of the 28 day #customerlove challenge. (See, now you’re totally excited right? Knew you would be!)
5 of My Dirty Little Secrets
I’m Actually Super Shy
No really. I know ya’ll are like pssshtt… yeah right. But it’s true. I’d even go so far as to say painfully shy. At least when I first meet you or talk to you. (Or there’s alcohol involved. Alcohol tends to wash the shy right outta me.) Really, ply me with a drink or three and shyness and anxiety go buh-bye, right out the window.
You’d be hard pressed to shut my ass up in fact.
However, barring alcohol and other fun BAD drugs, anxiety disorders seem to run in my family. So despite my superhuman powers of will, sometimes I suffer from mild attacks of dread, when I have to go out and be social or chat on the phone with strangers.
And networking events, I have to have a solid, chatty wingman, or it’s highly likely you won’t hear a peep from me. I’ll be the girl back in the back observing everyone from a distance. Sad I know. But see? Bet you never knew that about me now didja!
Thankfully my cases aren’t nearly as debilitating as the panic attacks and such my grandma and aunt suffer from. Nor is my health and wellness too adversely affected like my girl Jade (talk about a brave chick!)… so I’d say I’m pretty lucky in that respect, all things considered!
I Have an Infant Step-Son
OK you might know that if you follow me on FB, but otherwise it may be news. I won’t get into details of how all that happened exactly, suffice to say I once had 2 babies (older babies now) now I’ve got 3! And the third is just as loved as the other two, and cuter than kittens too. That’s my crew below!
As you can see they’re hams, the lot of them. But lovable hams, so what can ya do?
I Used to Be a Goth/Rainbow Bright Hybrid Chick
OK, so this is something many people find really hard to believe when they first meet me these days, but it’s true! My only regret is I didn’t take enough pictures in those days to prove it! I did manage to dig up a couple photos though… you’ll have to pardon the quality.
As you can see, I tell no lies! Lol… I even had a pair of black leather pants and combat boots I wore all the time. Ask my mom, she’ll tell you! Ahh… memories.
I Have a Penchant for “Trash Backs” (AKA Romance Novels)
Yes, it’s true. I’ve been reading romance novels since I was but a ‘tween. And in my motherhood years, for some odd reason I’ve begun to gravitate towards the paranormal romances… vamp trash backs , werewolf trash backs, psychic ability characters, god and goddess characters… if it’s abnormal I’m all over it!
While I don’t have as much time these days to feed my little book addiction, it’s still there and I take advantage of every chance I get to curl up in bed with a good trash back and read from start to finish.
I Like Peanut Butter and Mayo Sandwiches On Occasion
Sounds gross right? Really though it’s not! It’s actually quite tasty and my friend Jenna is the bar wench that turned me onto them. That’s her below. Why do I call her bar wench? Because we used to tend bar at Medieval Times! THAT however you will see no pictures of. Yes there were costumes involved and no it wasn’t pretty. We’ll leave it at that.
There you have it! 5 little factoids you may or may not have known about me. You are now an official member of the Realm of Cori. Don’t you feel so proud? Now let’s talk lovin’ and feelin’.
28 Ways to Love Your Customers and Readers
- Buy them candy.
- Buy them chocolate.
- Buy them candy AND chocolate. (No really, they love that!)
- Listen to them. Really listen.
- Write to them, instead of over or at them.
- Be a leader.
- Be an example.
- Practice good business and good service.
- Operate with integrity. Always. No exceptions.
- Don’t lie to them.
- Don’t talk down to them.
- Make good on all your promises, written or spoken.
- Give them your best deals.
- Treat them as equals that deserve respect.
- Do the unexpected in a big way when you can.
- Surprise them with kindness and generosity, always.
- Help them achieve a goal.
- Help them set a goal.
- Help them identify strengths, and show them how to build on them.
- Introduce them to someone who can help them, especially if you can’t.
- Tell them you care. Real simple, just say it.
- Make them feel “part of the club”. AKA special.
- Send them handwritten cards of appreciation.
- Write a post on a topic inspired by them, and give credit.
- Offer them your skills for free on occasion.
- Give a surprise discount on an order or purchase already placed.
- Express thanks for something they may not realize they have done for you.
- Simply ask them “What you can do to help them today?”
There you have it! 5 things you probably didn’t want to know about me, plus 28 ways you can show your customers, clients, and readers you care about them and want to do right by them. So how about you? Got some ways you show #customerlove yourself? Or dirty little secrets you’re brave enough to share here? Drop them all in the comments below and let’s talk dirty love! (Ha… I crack myself up sometimes!)
Warmest
Silly assed but necessary disclosure- Any and all Amazon links you find on BGB are most likely run through my Amazon affiliate account. Yes, I stand to make a dollar or two if you use them. So don’t use them indiscriminately, I wouldn’t want you to make me rich or anything… you know those dollar bills add up. Just ask strippers!




















{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow I have never been to your site before but I am glad I did with this post we have many similarities, makes me feel not so alone, I am also at times painfully shy and suffer from anxiety and also was a goth chic:)
Great post with all the tips I will keep those in mind and be back to keep up to date on more great info you may share!
Jenny´s last [type] ..What Is The Google Slap And What Can You Do About It
Aww, well glad you dropped by Jenny!
Feel free to subscribe if you’d like to receive email updates of new posts. Glad you enjoyed my secrets, seems lots of folks online tend to have a bit of social anxiety or shyness when it comes to face to face interaction. And nice looking blog you’ve got, I like Holly.. I keep up with her on Facebook, but hadn’t realized she had a book out! Going to have to pick that one up now. lol Happy Labor Day hun!
RT @BigGirlBranding: 5 Dirty Little Secrets and 28 Ways to Show #CustomerLove ##BGB ##blogging http://su.pr/AcDsNk
And now I love you even more, Cori. Thanks for sharing 5 of your {not so} dirty little secrets. You’re inspiring me to get a little more reveal-y on my own blog.
You really get this #customerlove thing, and that’s from way back before LaVonne & David fired up this challenge. Remember, *you* were the one blogger among a hundred or so that I was reading faithfully at the time who coaxed me out of my lurkiness prior to my own site launching. I’ll never forget that!
Aww thanks beautiful.
And you’re welcome… definitely be a little more reveal-y on your blog! Not all the time of course, I don’t think that’s always appropriate, but sometimes it just makes sense. People love people, and real people are real… the good, the bad, and the ugly! And thanks, I definitely try to make my customers and clients feel good as much as I can, so I’m glad it shows. Hugs and Happy Labor Day!
Your head lines, girl…irresistible!…you’re the Master! You’ve got ‘em down dirty ‘n all!
Best always,
Keem
Chef Keem´s last [type] ..Browning Meat – Flavor Building Technique For Goulash- Stews And Roasts
LOL.. thanks Keem! Glad they’re doing their job!
RT @BigGirlBranding: 5 Dirty Little Secrets and 28 Ways to Show #CustomerLove ##BGB ##blogging http://su.pr/AcDsNk
Thanks for sharing Cori. Yes, we all have a bit of the good, the bad, and then ugly, and there’s no sense in shame.
What a nice way for us to connect with you–OMG-that baby monkey is too cute!
Not that the children aren’t beautiful, as well.
LOL..thanks Linda! I agree that little monkey is adorable. I always wanted one as a pet myself, but it’s almost like raising a real child! And thanks, kiddies are pretty cute too.. although they resemble some monkeys in my opinion!
Brave soul you are. I would never share my old photos with my readers. Heck I won’t even share my current ones.
As you get older you can always look back at things you did years before that were crazy and/or hilarious.
Your list reminded me of some things I have been putting off that need to be done for some people who have been very good to me. Thanks. Hope you share more personal insights in the future.
Kathy´s last [type] ..Should You Publish A Mean Blog Post Or A Mean Comment
Hey Kathy! Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed reading it.
I definitely have some crazy memories! lol And glad I could give you a little reminder for those things you’ve been putting off.
And will most definitely share more intel down the road, I won’t be able to help myself!
Some great advice here Cori. Especially sending handwritten notes. In this time of texting and emails, a handwritten note on quality paper really stands out. Also like your “secrets”, which are not so secret anymore.
SenseiMattKlein´s last [type] ..Teaching Children Martial Arts- Exercise as Punishment
Thanks Matt! Lol.. yes, kinda doesn’t become secrets when the beans get spilled huh.
I totally agree Cori! We need to listen to our customers, not just hearing them but LISTENING. If we really listen to them, we would then identify their problems and how to solve them, things to be considered to improve our business and how to make our customers happier! Cheers!
Since i’m an internet marketer, i always give out freebies to my loyal readers like an e-book that teaches them how to do search engine optimization. It’s how i show my gratitude towards them.
Steve@Electric Cig´s last [type] ..Vapor King Electric Cigarette
Excellent practice Steve!
Gratitude goes a long way.
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