How To Use Humor Successfully In Your Business Communications
September 22, 2007
For generations people have been saying that laughter is good medicine. And now the scientists have taken an interest it turns out great-grandma was right. The boffins have discovered that laughter releases helpful goodies in the body which boost your immune system. In fact the therapeutic benefits of laughter are now being harnessed by academia and the business community into laughter workshops and other formalized chuckle sessions. Get the workers laughing and you raise productivity, so it seems.
However it is extremely easy to get humor wrong. And a joke that’s sent to someone who doesn’t see the funny side will create more ill health through raised blood pressure than a few laughs could ever cure.
So what’s the answer? How do we harness humor and make it work for us, not against us?
People often say that the internet’s international nature makes it an unsuitable environment for humor for fear of it not translating across national boundaries - and inadvertently causing offense. But there are a couple of simple rules which - although not universal panaceas that always work - can help you use humor without risk.
Goal Objectives: Looking Ahead To Get Ahead With Planning
September 21, 2007
With goal objectives in mind, consider the organizers of a marathon race. They take time to mark out the course. The way is planned. Otherwise reaching the finish line would be a matter of chance depending on whether a runner just happened to be in the area to see it!
Likewise reaching goal objectives requires planning.
It’s important to identify obstacles and also how to acquire help.
Make a list of possible obstacles and yet another list of knowledge, people or organizations that could help you.
Also there is a need for deadlines and the need to make another list of manageable slices or segments leading toward the main goal.
The next step involves using all the information gathered from these two previous steps.
Combine all these lists and put them in a logical order
Lay out the manageable steps in order of progression interweaving the details from your obstacles list and help list.
Get a large sketch pad and play around with the order of things until the plan begins to flow towards your goal objectives.
Acquiring knowledge for example would come before contacting people or organizations.
The Inside-Out Business Plan? — Your Small Business Plan in 10 Easy Questions
September 20, 2007
Writing a business plan for your Solo Entrepreneur business doesn’t have to be a daunting project. If you can answer 10 straightforward questions about your business, you can be ready to go.
The key to success is to answer all of the questions in enough depth that if a friend asked you to invest in this business, you’d say yes. Most importantly, make sure you record your business plan somehow…whether you write it by hand, type it into your computer, or put it on stickie notes on your wall. Keep it someplace handy where you can refer to it when you are making important business decisions. And, make sure you review it monthly–or, even better, weekly–and update it at least annually.
1. Your Dreams: What do you want your business to provide for you? (think time, money, freedom, who you work with) Be specific–how much money, how many hours, when do you want to “retire”.
2. Customers: Who are your customers and what do they want/need?
3. Products and Services: What products/services will you provide to meet customer’s needs?
Can a Home Internet Business Really Make Upwards Of $50,000 A Month?
September 19, 2007
Can a Home Internet Business Really Make Upwards Of $50,000 A Month?
by: Mark Bellinger
I can tell you that my online business isn’t even making $10,000 a month (yet) but I’ve only been going a year and going well!
Judging from the way my internet entrepreneurial sense and knowledge has developed since I started out as a raw online marketer, my online endeavors should be bringing in no less than $25,000 by the end of the year.
Therefore, the answer is a resounding YES - it is definitely possible to earn in excess of $50,000 per month from a home online business.
Unfortunately, for you and me, we are not all blessed with the internet marketing brain of a Corey Rudl who I’m sure would have agreed with this assessment - read the Corey Rudl Interview here…http://www.internetbusiness.co.za/corey-rudl-interview.php
So, is there hope for us mere mortals?
Well the good news is that we have as good a chance of making it big in our own internet businesses as the next guy.
However, despite most of us not having been blessed with supernatural internet marketing skills, as I mentioned above, there is a lot of hope for us.
Eight No Cost Ways to Market Your Business
September 18, 2007
Are you trying to promote your business with a tiny marketing budget? Opportunities are plentiful for low or no cost marketing. Here are a few that won’t cost you a cent.
Denise O’Berry helps small business owners take action to grow their business. To find out more, visit http://www.deniseoberry.com
Resume Tips To Take You From SAHM to WAHM
September 17, 2007
When looking for a telecommuting position, it is very important to have your resume in tip-top shape. This is often the only thing that a potential employer has to base a hiring decision on since they most likely will not be interviewing you in person, your resume has to make that great first impression for you.
When your resume comes across the fax line or is opened in an email, it needs to be presented as professionally as possible. Besides the obvious typos and misuse of words, your resume needs to be highly organized and make a great impression as quickly as it reaches your potential employers hands. With some organizational skills and a little work your resume can be the one that stands out.
Where should you start, I would suggest starting with a list of your skills. Most people would probably not start in that manner but I think that it gives you a more positive basis to work from. When I speak of skills, I don’t just mean how many words you type or that you can operate a hundred programs on your computer. Use skills from volunteering with every organization from the school PTO to your church. You might be surprised when you really stop and think of everything that you learned while being an officer in the PTO or organizing the volunteers for the Little League concession stand. All of these are skills can be effectively used when organizing your resume. Not only do they require leadership and organizational skills but an ability to work well with others.
Five Key Strategies for Making Your Nonprofit Business More Effective
September 17, 2007
I love tennis both as a spectator and a weekend player. I also believe that effective nonprofit organizations are an essential part of vibrant, engaged communities. As I was watching The Championships - Wimbledon this year, I realized there are lessons from Wimbledon (both from the players and the tournament itself) that can help your nonprofit achieve attention-getting results. What are these lessons? Have a game planSuccessful players know their own strengths and weaknesses and the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents. They develop game plans designed to take advantage of their best weapons and to capitalize on opportunities provided by their opponents. Successful nonprofits know their external environment, know what they do well, stay flexible so they can capitalize on opportunities and use strategies based on their strengths. Don’t play a clay court game on grass Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam event played on grass. Grass is a fast, slick surface and the ball bounces in strange ways. Players must be able to adapt their game to compete effectively. The nonprofit environment is constantly changing and effective organizations are able to anticipate and adapt to these changes. Stand out from the crowd Grass courts. All white tennis attire. The green backstops and stands. Turn on a televised tennis match and these images let you know immediately that you are watching The Championships-Wimbledon. From the distinctive crossed rackets of the Wimbledon logo to the familiar Wimbledon colors of green and purple, the Wimbledon brand is well-defined. Like it or not, nonprofits must develop an identity and consistently communicate their values and mission. You can’t play doubles alone Although not as popular as singles, doubles is an integral part of tennis. Doubles teams are partnerships that take advantage of the strengths of each player. It is not uncommon to see competitors in singles form successful doubles teams. In the nonprofit world, effective partnerships can enhance the ability of each organization to meet community needs and often result in more effective use of each organization’s resources. Take advantage of rain delaysWimbledon is famous for its rain delays. These delays often turn out to be opportunities. Time and again I’ve watched players raise the level of their game or successfully use new tactics after unplanned time in the locker room. All of us get caught up in day-to-day activities and feel we can’t take time out. The reality is that taking time away often leads to new ideas and new strategies for advancing your mission.
Sales Trap - We Love to Talk, But Need to Listen
September 16, 2007
My research has clearly shown that, when it comes to selling, the part we’re most comfortable with is talking about what we do - explaining our services and how we can help the client.
So what do you think happens in most sales encounters? That’s right? we tell ‘em what we do.
Problem #1 - Clients don’t really want to know what we do.Not to start with anyway. Usually they first want to know that they can trust us and that we comprehend their situation. They also want to understand ‘how’ we can help them. This is different to knowing exactly ‘what’ we do. To achieve this we need to look at what they want to achieve, and what their concerns are.
Problem #2 - When we’re talking we’re not listening.It’s a fact. People can think many times faster than they talk. This means that when you’re talking, your client can think about lots of other stuff (like their next appointment, or your unpolished shoes). So keep your client focused by getting them to do the talking.
Three Simple Keys Will Make Your Customers Stick
September 15, 2007
Do you spend a lot of time and energy courting prospective new customers, hoping to pump up your bottom line? If so, you’re probably missing an untapped source of sales that exists right inside your company — there’s truth in the statement that your customer list is your most valuable asset.
There’s a gold mine of opportunities to make easier sales and create a loyal following of customers that will return time and again by using your existing customer base to grow your sales. But when I ask small business owners what action they are taking to keep in touch with current customers, the answer is normally “we don’t.”
Free Satellite TV
September 14, 2007
Free Satellite TV
by: Gary Davis
Free Satellite TV
Legality aside, any kind of Free Satellite TV offered by a business is looking for a profit. However, stealing channels is an unintelligent activity at the very least. Free Satellite TV is a bonus for paying the monthly service fees for at least one year. So how free is Free Satellite TV? If you sign up and pay a monthly service, the company is more than willing to offer a free installation, free DVR, free HDTV, free equipment and free channels.
What is Free Satellite TV?
Not all Free Satellite TV is the same. Different companies offer different policies. Generally speaking, more and more techniques are used to get people to sign up for a satellite TV service. Free Satellite TV is one of these things that people seem to think means getting a box from a company for free and then manipulating it into an all channel free service. Which is not only unwise, it’s unnecessary. Free Satellite TV means getting free equipment, free installation, free to air channels and paying monthly service, just like everyone else. You can choose to pay for more channels other than the basic service, but that is your choice, and you pay only for what you are interested in. Channels you don’t want, you don’t get.
