.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} It happens all the time at restaurants. You order a burger, and they ask if you want fries. You order a drink, and they ask if you want a specific premium brand of liquor. And when was the last time you ate out, and they didn’t ask if you wanted dessert?

It’s called up-selling, and it isn’t just found in the food service industry anymore.

People are so busy filtering out all the noise and interruptions that they often filter out information that could be useful to them. This is certainly true of your own customers and clients. They can get tunnel vision. They only know your capabilities based on their own experiences. So if they only buy one or two of your products or services, they may not know all that you offer.

Haven’t you ever had customers say, “Oh, I didn’t know you did that too!” Or you find out they bought something from your competitor that you have sitting on a shelf?

I know, you’re shocked. After all, you have signs up. Or send out a newsletter. And there was that article about you in the paper.

All good and necessary efforts. But none of those passive tools are a substitute for taking the time to talk with your clients and tell them about the depth of your services. Show them samples. Ask their opinion. Offer a demonstration.

There’s probably a lot more you can do for your customers. Just like the fast-food kings, you need to ask. r