Arshad Merali

Arshad Merali

WOW Squared
Arshad Merali, former COO of WebHosting.com and CEO of Aracnet Internet Systems, is a world-class business executive and serial entrepreneur with a passion for sharing his lessons and experiences with other business owners around the globe. Look for his book, Wow Squared: How To Really Wow Your Customers.
  • 3 comments 3,736 reads
    Posted on 2007-10-08

    Some companies really value their customers while others see them as a necessary evil… where does your organization sit?

    If you’re like me, you know the value of your customers, and you maintain a focus on them.

    One of the things I learned early in my career is the power of a handwritten card. Usually I receive bills in the mail and most of my life is handled through email, so when I receive a handwritten card in the mail… it gets my attention. And knowing that, I try my hardest to send out handwritten cards every month.

    The results are amazing! I usually get a call or email form the recipient… they go out of their way to contact me, just to say thanks. Now that’s powerful customer relationship management! Not only does it put me front and center in their mind, it helps bring us closer together, and makes us both feel better about knowing each other… knowing each other as people not business associates!

    So if you want to take your customer relationships...

  • 0 comments 3,252 reads
    Posted on 2007-08-25

    Ever been in a conversation with someone that keeps interrupting you in the middle of a sentence? Or someone that tries to complete your sentence? Generally, you don’t leave thinking what a great conversation.

    For entrepreneurs and salespeople alike, a little gap of silence is paramount when talking to customers or prospects. The first step is to listen intensely… try to listen to what’s not being said. Then, process everything… make sure they’ve finished what they wanted to say. Many times, people finish a sentence and because of the gap, they feel comfortable telling you more. We all know that the more information you can get, the better you can respond.

    “The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.”

    Mark Twain (1835 - 1910) American Author

    So the next time you’re probing a prospect to understand their challenges and needs, leave a gap between when they finish talking and when you...