Messages In This Digest (8 Messages)
- 1.
- Web Development And Automated Dating From: Scott Lindsay
- 2.
- Boating On Lake Norman Has Left Us With Years Of Memories From: Ron Blackwelder
- 3.
- Should You Send a Thank You Note? From: articleannounce
- 4.
- Business Referrals - 5 Easy Steps To Increase Your List Of Referral From: articleannounce
- 5.
- How To Grow Your Company By Buying A Business From: articleannounce
- 6.
- AVOIDING DISASTERS: Construction Projects and Insurance Safety From: articleannounce
- 7.
- Can Becoming a "Thoughtleader" Give You an Edge? Attempts to Quantif From: articleannounce
- 8.
- Branding - Make Your Business Unforgettable From: articleannounce
Messages
- 1.
-
Web Development And Automated Dating
Posted by: "Scott Lindsay" distribution@isnare.com articles_isnare
Sun Jun 22, 2008 4:12 pm (PDT)
This is a free-reprint article written by:
Scott Lindsay
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Title: Web Development And Automated Dating
Author: Scott Lindsay
Word Count: 544
URL: http://www.isnare.com/?aid= 236669&ca= Internet
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Your business can benefit from an online presence because of
the flexible nature of online presentation.
It is possible to establish a cut off date for the sale of
certain products and then use the same date to establish a new
line. This can be accomplished through an automated dating
system in web builder technology.
You can even assign a certain product to show up in the
clearance section of your site months ahead of time if you wish.
In a brick and mortar business environment there is a lot of
work that has to be done whenever there is a change in sales
promotions or when items need to be repriced and segregated for
clearance sales.
Staff members are required to stay late or come in early to
make sure the new prices and displays are ready for the
consumer.
In the world of online business you can create all the changes
you want whenever it is most convenient. Because content
information is tied to a dating system the web builder software
will recognize those changes down to the minute.
If you've promised your customers a special sale beginning at a
specific time it is possible to manage this change hands-free.
When the time comes for the sale to begin the new information is
assigned to the location you predetermined for it and customers
gain immediate access to the sale prices.
Imagine the day after Thanksgiving, but without the hassle of
actually having to show up for work on time.
Many businesses enjoy the flexibility of making changes to
their business site well in advance of the date the changes are
to be put in place.
This idea may stand in stark contrast to the way you run your
website. In many cases the only changes that can be made are
alterations directed by the web designer.
Often a web designer lacks the ability to make immediate and/or
timely changes to your website. Businesses that use a web
designer often need to make multiple requests for work to be
completed on their site.
The growth of self-directed site design is due in large part to
the need businesses have of being able to make immediate changes
to their site if necessary. Due to the immediacy of the web it
has also become important for businesses to learn to manage
those changes quickly.
In a feat that might rival The North Pole and its inhabitants,
webs builder technology seems to operate on a magical plane
where things systematically change without the need for direct
human intervention.
If you're a website owner have you ever had trouble managing
even the simplest changes when you need changes made? It can be
frustrating to know that the alterations of your website are
contingent on the ability for someone else to view your needs as
a priority. If your web designer doesn't view you as an
immediate concern then you simply have to wait until they are
good and ready to help.
Orchestrate your own business symphony by making sure every
instrument comes in on time.
About The Author: Scott Lindsay is a web developer and
entrepreneur. Make your own website in just 5 minutes with
HighPowerSites at: http://www.highpowersites.com or Build A
Website at: http://www.buildagreatsite.com. Start your own ebook
business with BooksWealth at: http://www.bookswealth.com
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- 2.
-
Boating On Lake Norman Has Left Us With Years Of Memories
Posted by: "Ron Blackwelder" distribution@isnare.com articles_isnare
Sun Jun 22, 2008 4:13 pm (PDT)
This is a free-reprint article written by:
Ron Blackwelder
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Title: Boating On Lake Norman Has Left Us With Years Of
Memories
Author: Ron Blackwelder
Word Count: 655
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If you have never been to Lake Norman in NC, you need to check
this area out!
This mammoth man-made lake defines the whole region north of
Charlotte, and it is impossible not to be affected by the lake
in some way. During the summer months, many people use the lake
everyday and the lifestyle is more fun than you can imagine.
My family and I are fortunate to live in a lakefront community
that provides a marina for keeping our boat in the water. With a
wife and three teen-agers that love the water, our boat and jet
ski get a tremendous amount of use! It is not unusual for the
kids and their friends to spend a large part of the day during
the summer on the boat or jet-ski. I know it's something they
will always look back on and remember their childhood memories
of growing up on the lake.
The "fun factor" that Lake Norman provides is second to none.
Whether you want to go out to dinner at a wide range of
restaurants, play putt-putt at a family entertainment center, or
just hang out on a summer's day on the boat, Lake Norman spells
FUN! Spending an afternoon with friends, with everyone enjoying
the water sports has helped us create some friendships that will
last a lifetime.
Because Lake Norman is primarily a residential lake, there are
numerous activities going on all the time. We personally have
many friends who live on the water and have parties. If you have
never had the chance to go to parties by boat (especially in the
summer), you are missing out! There are also a lot of regional
events such as the "world's largest raft-up", the "white trash
party" and other annual events that can attract hundreds of boat
loads of people looking for fun.
Lake Norman is large enough that you can get various conditions
depending on what part of the lake you are on. The south side of
the lake is more crowded because of the growth in the towns of
Huntersville, Cornelius and Denver. Once you get north of the
150 bridge, you can start finding some very quiet coves that
offer great scenery and great serenity.
Since the lake is 33 miles long, there are plenty of places to
hide. Lake Norman has an abundance of coves, and while you will
not get total seclusion, there are plenty of places to pull up,
drop the anchor and sit a spell (as we like to say in the
south!).
The week-ends are crowded on the lake, and sometimes we do not
even bother going out on the week-end. If you can squeeze a few
hours in during the week, the lake is typically very uncrowded.
That's the best time to be on the lake.
My kids have grown up on the lake. When we first moved to the
lake, the kids were smaller and we started them off with tubing.
We had many laughs watching the kids as they hung on for dear
life on the tube. We then moved to beginner skis, and then to
regular skis, to slalom skis, and finally to wakeboards. Now
that they are older, they go out with their friends for a day of
watersports (usually returning the boat empty of gas
naturally!).
I have told my wife many times, that boating with the family is
the best quality family time we ever spent with the kids. The
quiet time away from phones and chores around the house,
combined with the laughter of good times on the boat, has
provided many great family memories that we will cherish
forever.
Come on down to NC and visit Lake Norman. You will fall in love
with the area and have a little fun along the way.
About The Author: The author grew up playing on Lake Norman
when it was undeveloped, and now lives with his family in the
Lake Norman areas. Please visit
http://www.online-boat-trader. info
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- 3.
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Should You Send a Thank You Note?
Posted by: "articleannounce" articles@submityourarticle.com articleannounce
Sun Jun 22, 2008 9:24 pm (PDT)
You have permission to publish this article electronically
or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are
included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be
appreciated - send to dgoodman@gotthejob.com .
Title: Should You Send a Thank You Note?
Word Count: 469
Author: Don Goodman
Email: dgoodman@gotthejob.com
Category: Business - General
Article URL: http://www.submityourarticle. com/articles/ easypublish. php?art_id= 27275
The article is preformatted to 60CPL.
Should You Send a Thank You Note?
In today's electronic age, there is often some confusion as
to whether you should send a thank you note after a job
interview. Some people believe it is not necessary and
others think it is a nice touch. I will go beyond that and
say it is a must!
Jobs have been won on the basis of a good thank you note.
But it must be a good follow-up note. Although there is
nothing wrong with saying "it was nice meeting you... and I
am excited about the position", that kind of communication
doesn't SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY a thank you letter offers.
If you did your homework and CONTROLLED the interview, then
you will walk out knowing exactly what they are looking for
in a candidate and what the greatest challenge is that will
be faced. Your thank you letter is your opportunity to
remind them that you can overcome that challenge and
deliver the results they are seeking. This little reminder
can often tip the scales in your favor.
Imagine though that the interview didn't go as well as you
wanted or you want to ensure that you have the competitive
edge. Another smart tactic with a follow-up note is to add
that you gathered a lot of information in your interview
and will surely have some additional questions as you give
some thought to how you would face the challenges the job
presents. Add "I hope you don't mind if I give you a call
in the next day or so to ask you some follow-up questions".
This indicates that you are taking the job seriously and
are thinking about challenges and solutions. It also gives
you the chance to continue the dialog and build rapport
with the key decision makers. Remember: people hire people
that they like!
Here are my rules for a good interview follow-up letter.
First of all, if you met multiple people, send each one a
note and make sure it is different and reflects the
conversation you had. I suggest you email them a note
within 24 hours and then also follow-up with a mailed
letter - handwritten is best. If you provide this kind of
attention to detail and service, imagine what you can do
for their internal/external customers? You can't lose by
doing this and you have everything to gain. In short, there
is no downside and it might just be the reason you get the
offer.
Note: I just saw these statistics after writing this and
they confirm my thoughts: in a recent poll, 88% of
executives said sending a thank-you note following an
interview can boost a job seeker's chances and only 51% of
applicants do so. They also said that 52% prefer a
handwritten note and 44% prefer email. Need more proof?
About the Author:
Don Goodman, President of About Jobs
(http://www.GotTheJob.com ) is a nationally recognized
Career Coach and Resume Writer. A graduate of the Wharton
School of Business and Stanford University's Executive
Program, Don has helped thousands of people secure their
next job. Read his blog at http://www.GotTheJob.com/blog/
or contact him at 800-909-0109 or by e-mail at
dgoodman@GotTheJob.com .
----------
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Takanomi Limited is a limited company registered in England and Wales.
Registered number: 5629683. Registered office: 31 St Saviourgate, York YO1 8NQ.
Full contact details are at http://takanomi.com
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- 4.
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Business Referrals - 5 Easy Steps To Increase Your List Of Referral
Posted by: "articleannounce" articles@submityourarticle.com articleannounce
Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:24 am (PDT)
You have permission to publish this article electronically
or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are
included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be
appreciated - send to brichter@profit-strategies. .biz
Title: Business Referrals - 5 Easy Steps To Increase Your List Of Referral Partners To 100
Word Count: 641
Author: Bonita L Richter
Email: brichter@profit-strategies. biz
Category: Business - General
Article URL: http://www.submityourarticle. com/articles/ easypublish. php?art_id= 27321
The article is preformatted to 60CPL.
Business Referrals - 5 Easy Steps To Increase Your List Of Referral Partners To 100
Do you obtain much of your business through referrals from
others-from people who know, trust, and like you?
Is your network of referral partners producing the number
of referrals you want?
Do you want to increase the size and quality of your
referral partner network?
Getting business by referral from other people is one of
the best ways to grow your business. If you want to earn
more business by referral, you have to be involved in a
referral partner network that is large enough so it can
provide you with a steady stream of new business. Referral
partners are people who are in touch with your prospective
clients on a regular basis.
If you want to earn more business by referral, you have to
be involved in a referral partner network that is large
enough so it can provide you with a steady stream of new
business. Referral partners are people who are in touch
with your prospective clients on a regular basis.
For example, if a business provides web site design
services to small business, their referral partners may
include graphic artists, copywriters, business coaches, etc.
Get the picture?
By actively seeking out referral partners, you will
increase your chances of developing relationships with
people who can refer business to you on a regular basis.
A network of 100 referral partners is usually large enough
to provide you with enough business. Yet, is not too large
that you can't handle staying in touch with them---perhaps
monthly with an eZine publication, or meeting them
quarterly for coffee or lunch.
Here are the 5 steps you can take to build your referral
partner list:
1. Think about who your potential client is, and brainstorm
what type of business services they need to operate their
business. This information will give you clues about what
other professional categories may be good referral
partners. Develop a list of 10 professional categories.
2. For each professional category you identified, actively
seek to make the acquaintance of 10 people. There's a good
chance you already know people in these occupations. If you
need more individuals to increase your list to 10, ask
current business associates if they know individuals they
would recommend. Then, ask them if they would introduce
these people to you.
3. Schedule a time to meet with your potential referral
partners. Meeting these individuals provides you an
opportunity to tell them about your products and services,
and their benefits. It also gives potential partners the
opportunity to tell you about their products and services,
as well.
At your meetings, provide prospective referral partners
specific details about your market niche so they will be
able to quickly identify if a prospect is right for your
business. For example, if you are seeking businesses that
generate $1M to $5M in revenues, and operate in the
metalworking industry, give your referral partner this
information.
4. When you meet someone who seems willing to send you
referrals, add their name to your referral partner list
until eventually you attain 10 people x 10 occupations =
100 referral partners
5. Once you have 100 names on your referral partner list,
and you've made acquaintances, develop your tactics for how
you will stay in touch and build relationships.
Some ideas about how to do this are; develop a tickler file
to remind you to contact and meet them, send out a monthly
eZine to keep your business top-of-mind, attend networking
functions they may attend, send greeting cards, or invite
them to a cocktail or holiday party. The methods you can
use to keep in touch are endless!
TIP: Contact your referral partners at least one time every
three months-once a month is even better!
Over time, you may find some people are not good referral
sources. Replace them on your list to keep it fresh.
About the Author:
Bonita L. Richter, MBA, founder of Profit Strategies,
http://www.profit-strategies. (for FREE tips on how tobiz
craft the successful business you desire, visit
http://www.Profit-Strategies. ) teaches entrepreneursbiz
and business owners how to start and grow businesses,
attract more clients, and market their businesses to
increase sales, business success, and generate wealth.
----------
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SubmitYOURArticle.com is a trading name of Takanomi Limited.
Takanomi Limited is a limited company registered in England and Wales.
Registered number: 5629683. Registered office: 31 St Saviourgate, York YO1 8NQ.
Full contact details are at http://takanomi.com
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- 5.
-
How To Grow Your Company By Buying A Business
Posted by: "articleannounce" articles@submityourarticle.com articleannounce
Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:24 am (PDT)
You have permission to publish this article electronically
or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are
included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be
appreciated - send to articles@marshallkeen.com .
Title: How To Grow Your Company By Buying A Business
Word Count: 601
Author: Andy Warren
Email: articles@marshallkeen.com
Category: Business - General
Article URL: http://www.submityourarticle. com/articles/ easypublish. php?art_id= 27487
The article is preformatted to 60CPL.
How To Grow Your Company By Buying A Business
Growing a company organically can be a long and arduous
task. Developing products and services. Marketing and
selling. Building a relationship with customers whilst all
the time worrying about the costs and whether your business
will work.
An alternative way to achieve a fast increase in the size
of your company is to make an acquisition. This means
buying a company that you can merge with your existing
business. Sometimes the investment you would have to make
to reach a certain size in 2 to 3 years can be more than
the cost of acquiring a company that could get you there
tomorrow. So it's worth considering.
This can even work if you are starting up. We raised
finance for starting a business and, before we even
embarked on implementing the business plan, we found one of
the main competitors in the market was up for sale. After
agreeing it with our investors, we made an offer and
acquired the company for a good price. Within 6 weeks we
had a fully fledged business completely up and running,
with an established name, services, customers, offices,
staff and a year's worth of marketing already done for us.
It jumped us at least 18 months ahead in our business plan
and probably saved us over £500,000 in costs.
If you already have a business or you're thinking of
starting one, then it's worth taking some time to
investigate the opportunities in your chosen market and
seeing what's available. One of the biggest advantages of
buying a business is that it can bring a ready-made
customer base. And whatever business you're in, you'll
know that the costs of acquiring customers can be
significant.
You can find businesses for sale through the internet and
through specialist business brokers. You can also find
them by talking to others in your industry, including your
competitors.
You'll most likely need help from professional advisers
when you decide to actually make an acquisition but your
initial investigations can be done at a low cost and with
minimum disruption.
It's up to you whether you choose to look for a business
that's smaller, the same size or even bigger. It really
depends on what your plans are. You may even find yourself
inspired to move into a different industry when you find
what's available.
Of course, acquisitions don't come without their own
special challenges, so you'll need to understand the risks
and rewards involved in buying someone else's business.
However, if you set clear objectives and create a solid
action plan then it's something that can really work for
you.
Make a list of what you want in your own business. This
could include more customers; more products or services;
bigger offices; more experienced staff or any other items
specific to your needs.
Then start your search for companies that fit your criteria
and at the same time calculate how much it would cost you
to achieve all your objectives by doing them yourself from
scratch. Once you find some companies that match what you
want, you can start making approaches and offers. Your
calculations will show you how much you want to pay by
comparing what the acquisition would bring you against what
it would cost to build it yourself. And you may be able to
pay a lot less than that.
Just imagine, after reading this, you could find yourself
in 6 weeks time with a business twice the size of your
current one and with many more opportunities to explore.
About the Author:
Andy Warren is the Managing Director of Marshall Keen Ltd.
He is a chartered accountant, successful CFO and
entrepreneur with extensive experience in M&A, Corporate
Finance, Business Growth and Exit Strategies. Marshall Keen
http://www.marshallkeen.com specialises in CFO services for
early and mid stage businesses, particulary in the tech
sector. Andy is also the author of How to Buy a Business
for a Pound http://www.buyabusinessforapound. com
----------
This article is distributed on behalf of the author by http://SubmitYOURArticle.com
SubmitYOURArticle.com is a trading name of Takanomi Limited.
Takanomi Limited is a limited company registered in England and Wales.
Registered number: 5629683. Registered office: 31 St Saviourgate, York YO1 8NQ.
Full contact details are at http://takanomi.com
----------
- 6.
-
AVOIDING DISASTERS: Construction Projects and Insurance Safety
Posted by: "articleannounce" articles@submityourarticle.com articleannounce
Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:24 am (PDT)
You have permission to publish this article electronically
or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are
included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be
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Title: AVOIDING DISASTERS: Construction Projects and Insurance Safety
Word Count: 781
Author: Phyllis Recca
Email: phyllisrecca@comcast.net
Category: Business - General
Article URL: http://www.submityourarticle. com/articles/ easypublish. php?art_id= 27520
The article is preformatted to 60CPL.
AVOIDING DISASTERS: Construction Projects and Insurance Safety
Construction projects can be simple, short term tasks or
complex, multi-year endeavors involving millions of
dollars. In major projects, numerous outside contractors
(and subcontractors) are often hired, even if the overall
project is awarded to a large well-known engineering or
construction firm. Unless the project is insured in a Wrap
Up program (all contractors, subs and subs of subs are
insured under one contract for one job), then management
cannot presume that all of their contractors are insured
continuously through the period of the project.
Many Construction Projects Involve Multiple Tiers of
Subcontractors
In a major project involving multiple aspects such as
roadwork, foundations, electrical, plumbing or roofing, the
general contractor awarded the overall contract often hires
a variety of local contractors, assigning them small
portions of the job. These subcontractors may even hire a
second or third tier of subcontractors to perform specialty
work not within their area of expertise. Subcontractors
often work on vital aspects of the project. If an injury,
death or serious industrial accident involving hazardous
materials occurs, dealing with the consequences can be
daunting, even for a well capitalized firm. Recently a
settlement for $458 million was reached by contractors in
the Boston 'Big Dig' construction project due to the death
of a motorist from a tunnel ceiling collapse. Insurance
claims are the responsibility of the contractor and
subcontractor. However, if their policy has lapsed or
carries insufficient limits, the company could be held
liable- often for tens or hundreds of millions of dollars.
Despite Contractual Risk Transfers the Company May Be
Responsible for Uninsured Claims
Ultimately, the company is responsible for anyone who
enters their premises or performs any activities on their
behalf, leaving them basically three choices on how to
handle that risk:
* Avoid the risk - don't do the activity or let anyone on
their premises (often not an option)
* Assume the risk or part of the risk - large deductibles
and Loss Sensitive insurance programs are examples
* Transfer the risk - often done by contract and/or
insurance.
Even if the company has transferred the risk via contract
to someone else, such as a vendor or a contractor, they
need to be sure the vendor/contractor has the financial
resources to finance that risk, which often is by insurance.
Require Proof of Insurance - Certificate of Insurance Form
Most companies require proof of insurance prior to
beginning a project in the form of an Insurance
Certificate. Unfortunately, many companies stop there and
fail to monitor the ongoing coverage status. This can
result in policies expiring and not being renewed, changes
in limits, or other issues later on. Tracking those
insurance certificates is a basic Risk Management activity
and one that every company should do. Without this
function, the company or it's own insurance carrier assumes
their vendor or contractor's risk (even if they have signed
contracts transferring the liability). Manually checking to
see that each contractor is insured may be overwhelming,
however, companies which specialize in this service can
make the process easier.
Implement an Effective Certificate Tracking System
Tracking the insurance certificates can be performed by a
service or managed internally using software. Although
outsourcing hands off the daily responsibility, the
solution means on-going monthly fees and may limit your
control on what requirements you can track and how you
interact with your vendors/contractors on issues. Software
packages give you: 1) more flexibility, 2) greater control
of your data and 3) are generally less expensive on an
ongoing basis. Regardless of which option you select, the
minimum requirements of an effective certificate tracking
system would include the following features:
* User defined Insurance Requirement Categories- used to
set vendor certificate policy, limit and additional terms
requirements.
* Compliance verified- for no certificate, missing
policies, insufficient limits, missing additional terms,
soon to expire and expired policy dates. Ability to
override individual policy, limit or additional term
requirements.
* Follow-up letters automatically generated- containing
detailed list of non-compliance issues. Letter template can
be customized. Reminder letters sent automatically.
* User defined fields to organize/identify vendors- for
filtering/sorting screens and reports.
* Attachments for electronic archival- of actual
certificates.
* Comprehensive insurance certificate tracking reports-
detailing non-compliance issues by vendor.
* Password access- with multiple levels of user rights.
* Audit Trail- created for certificate maintenance history.
Accidents Happen Despite the Best Safety Programs
Unfortunately accidents do happen! One of the ways to
protect your company from unnecessary costs is to ensure
your contractors have valid insurance that meets your
requirements. Don't wait until that first multi-million
dollar claim to discover your contractor's insurance lapsed
and you are now liable for their employee's injuries or
negligence. Implement an effective insurance certificate
tracking system as part of a comprehensive risk management
program.
About the Author:
GG-One Software has been providing insurance certificate
tracking software since 1994. Their Fastrack Insurance
Certificate Tracking and Document Management product is
available in Web and Windows versions. Visit their website
to learn more.
http://www.ggonesoftware.com
----------
This article is distributed on behalf of the author by http://SubmitYOURArticle.com
SubmitYOURArticle.com is a trading name of Takanomi Limited.
Takanomi Limited is a limited company registered in England and Wales.
Registered number: 5629683. Registered office: 31 St Saviourgate, York YO1 8NQ.
Full contact details are at http://takanomi.com
----------
- 7.
-
Can Becoming a "Thoughtleader" Give You an Edge? Attempts to Quantif
Posted by: "articleannounce" articles@submityourarticle.com articleannounce
Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:54 am (PDT)
You have permission to publish this article electronically
or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are
included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be
appreciated - send to ken@thoughtleading.com .
Title: Can Becoming a "Thoughtleader" Give You an Edge? Attempts to Quantify Its ROI Say YES
Word Count: 1081
Author: Ken Lizotte
Email: ken@thoughtleading.com
Category: Business - General
Article URL: http://www.submityourarticle. com/articles/ easypublish. php?art_id= 27525
The article is preformatted to 60CPL.
Can Becoming a "Thoughtleader" Give You an Edge? Attempts to Quantify Its ROI Say YES
Have you ever thought about or noticed a competitor
utilizing "thoughtleading" as a business development
strategy? Positioning yourself and your firm as
leading-edge thinkers in your field involves publishing
articles and books, speaking regularly to professional
groups, getting yourself noticed by the media and surveying
your target market in order to produce research data that
only you possess.
If that sounds like fun, or simply a potentially
advantageous way to distinguish your firm's services, one
major hurdle to choosing to implement such a novel strategy
might be the question of ROI, specifically: : Does evidence
exist that a thoughtleading strategy really will generate
new business growth? Is there any way to accurately measure
this? Can a "thoughtleading Return-on-Investment (ROI)" be
quantified? More importantly, can it pay dividends for YOU?
Happily, the answer to all four questions is "yes."
Studies indicate that a quantifiable ROI can in fact be
discerned, and, just as happily, indications are that
results will be overwhelmingly affirmative. Getting to the
heart of the issue, however, first requires an
understanding that age-old ways of measuring ROI may not
always apply here. That's because a new equation in our
economy, one that's mistier than traditional bottom-line
measurements, demands alternative methods of measurement.
This new equation is the economic asset of "intellectual
capital" (or IC).
The concrete ROI metric standard until now has always been
based on "I-can-see-it-with-my-own- eyes." This still
applies to material goods of course but IC's decidedly
non-Industrial Age elements can be harder to fathom. Mary
Adams, Managing, Principal of Trek Consulting LLC
(http://www.trekconsulting.com/ ), specialists in the
developing study of IC as an asset that can be measured,
explains it this way: "Can you imagine a merchant without
an inventory report, having to sell product without knowing
the quantity or price of goods he owns? Yet this is the
position that most corporate leaders are in today. They
lack basic consolidated information about their most
important resources: Do we have the right people, network,
and knowledge to meet our goals? Are we positioned for
continued innovation? Where are we at risk?"
Such relatively "soft" questions leave the interpretation
of data and resulting ROI conclusions in the hands (and
minds) of analysts to a greater degree than has been true
of traditional ROI measurement with its clear numbers and
black-and-white company balance sheet. As one example,
Kennedy Information, the nation's premiere management
consulting think tank, which regularly conducts surveys of
management consulting compensation, has found that firms
and individual consultants at the topmost point of the
compensation chart are paid way, way better than the
remaining 99% below. When asked how the top 1% manage this,
the response is crisp and clear: "Oh, those highest
revenue-producers are the ones who regularly publish
articles and books, do speaking engagements, and connect
with the media," the Kennedy people explain. "They are the
thoughtleaders."
Another recent study has also correlated increased revenue
with publishing, speaking, media and other individual
thoughtleading actions, adding that thoughtleading's ROI
will be measurably high when thoughtleading actions are
integrated with a firm's more traditional marketing and
sales activities. Article-publishing ROI, for example,
incorporated in the marketing and selling pipeline, can
easily be measured by asking prospects if the firm's
published articles had played any part either in their
initial decision to approach the company or in their
ultimate decision to do business with the company. One
professional services firm can testify to this personally.
"We always email prospects a PDF or two of our published
articles early in the sales process," says the firm's
president. "We want our prospects to see a relevant
published article of ours so they will glance at it and be
impressed. 'Wow, this looks pretty cool' may be all they
say, then we move on. But that's sufficient to stamp my
firm as something more than some run-of-the-mill
consultancy, which is what they may be thinking."
Some studies have even produced clear and definitive
measurements sufficient to satisfy even the most old school
quantifiability standards. One survey of law firms by
Levick Strategic Communications and PR Newswire surveyed
200 firms that had gotten themselves mentioned consistently
in the legal media. Their survey found that the 25 firms on
its list with the highest revenues were also those with an
average increase of nearly 20% in overall media presence
over the previous two years. Firms ranked below these 25 in
terms of income, however, reported a mere 1% increase in
media presence.
Is there also anecdotal evidence that thoughtleading
produces a measurable ROI? You bet. Former top executive
recruiter Jim Masciarelli, now founder and CEO of
PowerSkills Solutions, a "relationship capital" consulting
firm, recalls one time when his book PowerSkills: Building
Top-Level Relationships for Bottom-Line Results clearly led
directly to a piece of business that he certainly would not
have landed on his own: "A partner of a top venture capital
firm who knew me from my past career as a retained
executive search consultant called me up after receiving an
announcement of my book PowerSkills, which details a system
I created for building profitable business relationships.
He said, 'I understand you're now doing advisory and
alignment work with CEOs and executive teams. We could
really use your help!'
"Their portfolio company had just acquired a major Internet
company in a 22- billion dollar stock deal," Jim recalls,
"but the CEO did not yet have a plan to integrate these
companies. The mere announcement of my book (and, with it,
my new practice) repositioned me as an expert in his mind
in this new line of work I was now pursing. As a result, I
got the introduction to the CEO and ultimately the
assignment as well."
Are you wondering if all this means that publishing an
article or a book, or engaging in other thoughtleading
actions such as public speaking, media and research, will
automatically yield you new business and/or drive your
incomes levels up above that of your competitors? Well,
there are no guarantees in life, so no one can say for
sure. But it is clear from all the data and anecdotal
evidence that the likelihood is there. Since most of your
competitors will ignore it, a thoughtleading business
development strategy could be the smartest decision a
professional services firm could make. There are just so
very many facts, figures, studies, stories and personal
experiences to back you up.
About the Author:
Ken Lizotte CMC is author of the new book The Expert's
Edge: Become the Go-To Authority that People Turn to Every
Time (McGraw Hill) which shows professional service
providers how to position themselves as thought leaders so
they can "separate themselves from the competitive pack."
Chief Imaginative Officer (CIO) of emerson consulting group
inc. (Concord MA), Ken speaks at conferences and other
business events on such topics as becoming a thoughtleader,
getting published, creative thinking and work/family
balance. Visit Ken's website at
http://www.thoughtleading.com
----------
This article is distributed on behalf of the author by http://SubmitYOURArticle.com
SubmitYOURArticle.com is a trading name of Takanomi Limited.
Takanomi Limited is a limited company registered in England and Wales.
Registered number: 5629683. Registered office: 31 St Saviourgate, York YO1 8NQ.
Full contact details are at http://takanomi.com
----------
- 8.
-
Branding - Make Your Business Unforgettable
Posted by: "articleannounce" articles@submityourarticle.com articleannounce
Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:54 pm (PDT)
You have permission to publish this article electronically
or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are
included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be
appreciated - send to brichter@profit-strategies. .biz
Title: Branding - Make Your Business Unforgettable
Word Count: 664
Author: Bonita L Richter
Email: brichter@profit-strategies. biz
Category: Business - General
Article URL: http://www.submityourarticle. com/articles/ easypublish. php?art_id= 27678
The article is preformatted to 60CPL.
Branding - Make Your Business Unforgettable
The branding of your business identity will increase public
awareness of your company. By being "brand aware", you
will provide a higher level of consistency and continuity
in your advertising and marketing materials, and you will
become more memorable in prospective clients' minds.
It is important to carry the same theme, message, and
"feel" throughout all of your marketing and promotional
materials so that your company is easily recognized. The
goal of consistent branding of a market identity is to make
your company and its products stand out from others, and
are easily recognizable.
Make Your Visual Identity Unforgettable
Your marketing materials represent you and your company
when you are not present. With an effective visual
identity, every letter, business card, and brochure you
present serves as a mini billboard for your company.
Do your marketing materials draw a second glance? Do they
create interest that someone receiving them will be
interested in reading further what you have to say or
learning more about you? Your graphic image needs to be
unique, attractive, and full of impact. Make it stand out
from all the other symbols and designs in the marketplace.
Be consistent in portrayal of your design throughout ALL of
your marketing materials!
Collect some of your competitors' marketing materials and
study them. What do you like or dislike about them? Are
they interesting? Can you create a design that stands out
from theirs?
What's Your Name?
Your company name is the centerpiece of the identity of
your business. It is the first thing that you hope "pops"
into peoples' minds when they need a product or service you
provide. Avoid names that are:
Vague - like ABC Associates, Moonlighting, Inc. (what do
they do?)
Similar - Joe's Restaurant, Mike's Restaurant (I forgot
which one I liked!)
Forgettable - not easily recalled, such as Executron
Hard to spell or pronounce - Hors De'ouvres Catering (You
try it!)
Sounds bad - Poo Poo Catering (No explanantion required!)
Your name needs to clearly identity what you do. If it
does not, it has little marketing value. If people have to
make notes on your business card, that's a sign that your
business name and business cards do not clearly identify
what you do.
Creating a Recognizable Company Identity
When creating a recognizable brand for your company,
consider the following:
* Who are you trying to attract?
* What is your vision of how you want to be perceived?
*What do you want people to think of you?
* What five attributes best describe you?
* Do you have a tag line for your business that is
benefit-driven, inspirational, and descriptive.
* Do your marketing materials convey the image you want
them to? * What colors describe your company?
(Green-ecological; Gold-finance; Blue-water, Red-high
energy)
Be Unique
You can also differentiate your marketing materials from
your competitors' in several ways. Some examples include:
* Classy - Present marketing materials in a custom-
designed folder with gold leaf lettering rather than a
plain two-pocket.
* Mini billboard - Don't waste valuable real estate! Print
additional information on the backside of your business
card. Or, use a custom-designed and sized card. Example:
for a personal chef your business card can be the shape of
a chef's coat.
* Substance - Use heavier, thicker paper instead of
standard 60# weight.
* Stand out - Use a custom-designed envelope that is larger
the standard to "stand out" in the mail stash.
* Presentation matters - Deliver materials, brochures, etc.
in a box with a custom tag with your company name attached
by a ribbon or cord. OR punch a hole in your business card
and attach!
Remember...
Branding your business identity is a marketing tool that
helps create a consistent and memorable image of your
company.
Set yourself apart from the crowd and pay special attention
to crafting the visual identity of your business. A
graphic designer can assist you in developing a
professional image, as well as assist you in working with a
printer.
Copyright 2007, 2008 Bonita L. Richter and Profit
Strategies.
About the Author:
Bonita L. Richter, MBA, founder of Profit Strategies,
http://www.profit-strategies. (for FREE tips on how tobiz
craft the successful business you desire, visit
http://www.Profit-Strategies. ) teaches entrepreneursbiz
and business owners how to start and grow businesses,
attract more clients, and market their businesses to
increase sales, business success, and generate wealth.
----------
This article is distributed on behalf of the author by http://SubmitYOURArticle.com
SubmitYOURArticle.com is a trading name of Takanomi Limited.
Takanomi Limited is a limited company registered in England and Wales.
Registered number: 5629683. Registered office: 31 St Saviourgate, York YO1 8NQ.
Full contact details are at http://takanomi.com
----------
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