Paper or Plastic?

I'm not talking about the trip to the grocery store, for which the correct (if somewhat inconvenient) answer is paper.  Rather, I'm talking about how your customers pay you.  The job of marketing is to start conversations that can lead to business -- and to keep them going.  There are lots of other processes in your business that can actually thwart your marketing efforts.  A key one is your approach to invoicing and receivables.  Every time you ask a client to pay for your services you are, in essence, making the sale all over again and reinforcing whatever your clients happen to feel about you at the moment.  So it's a good idea to give some careful thought to your invoices as affirmations of your relationships.  Also, you want that decision to pay you to be as seamless and friction-free as possible.  Marc Halpert of Your Best Interest helps businesses streamline invoicing, get paid faster -- and communicate effectively with their customers in the process.  He is also an expert at helping businesses navigate the treacherous waters of accepting credit cards, a necessity in times like these when you absolutely must make it as easy for your clients to pay you as possible.  Marc is giving a free webinar on the subject, "Credit Cards:  Can't Live With 'Em, Can't Live Without 'Em" on July 9th from 2 -3 pm.  Sign up here.