The Six ?F? Words Every Entrepreneur Should Know
February 21, 2008
Start your own business, and soon enough, you find yourself in a situation where there are many things you want to say, all of them unprintable.
It happens to every entrepreneur ? a moment of extreme challenge that causes you to wonder why you started the (expletive) business in the first place. I’ve had my share of those moments since starting our public relations firm in March 2002.
But while trading notes with a fellow entrepreneur recently, I started to think about all the moments of extreme challenge I left behind when I decided I no longer wanted to be somebody else’s employee.
That got me thinking about what really matters to me as an entrepreneur. As I shared my thoughts with my friend, a new list developed ? the "F" words I believe every entrepreneur should know. They’ve done the job for me so far, keeping me rooted, married and talking to my kids while we build a successful business. I hope they have the same effect for you.
5 Key Factors to Consider When Selecting an Outplacement Firm
February 20, 2008
With today’s economy, more and more companies are finding themselves faced with the situation of having to reduce headcount to remain competitive. Here are five key factors to consider when selecting an outplacement firm if your company is ever faced with a workforce reduction.
1. Types of Services Provided. One decision you will need to make regarding outplacement is whether your displaced workers would benefit most from group or individual one-on-one outplacement. For the majority of outplaced employees, if your budget permits, individual outplacement is the preferred option since it provides one-on-one support that will help them move forward more quickly than they would on their own.
If you decide they would benefit most from individual outplacement, you will then need to determine what services would be most valuable to your displaced employees. One option would be to select an outplacement firm that develops their resume and cover letter for them. Another option would be an outplacement firm that offers office space and a computer for the displaced worker to prepare their own job search materials.
Business Marketing Strategies
February 19, 2008
For many small business managers, finding the time and commitment to develop business marketing strategies is difficult. There are so many other obligations vying for our attention it is tempting to push formal strategy development to the back burner. Giving into that temptation, however, means putting your business at a disadvantage. Marketing strategies help point you toward the best marketing programs for your business. Without strategies, you risk becoming unfocused in your marketing efforts, choosing programs that do not support general strategies.
To be most effective, your marketing strategies should be integrated into your marketing plan (which in turn should be part of the business plan). By integrating strategies into your overall company plans, you can better achieve business objectives. Additionally, over time this will result in more consistent decision-making throughout the organization.
Integrating Marketing Strategies into the Marketing Plan
A marketing plan is similar in structure to a business plan, but with a narrower focus. Marketing plans include overall objectives; marketing strategies; and marketing programs, each progressively narrower in scope.
A-Z Of An Online Business - Professional Methods That Worked For Professionals
February 19, 2008
A-Z Of An Online Business - Professional Methods That Worked For Professionals
by: Moe Loubani
Preface
Ever wondered why some sites make it without using the caveman techniques that are taught so widely on the internet. Its because they know the tried and tested methods of advertising and marketing that can create a hype about your site in its own world — offline and online. I started using the internet before Google was even a recognized search engine. eBay was just a little site not much different then one I can put together in a couple of days, and I watched the internet go from what it was then to what it is today. There have been ups, and there have been downs, but there have been general trends and key things to remember that made the whole experience more profitable and enjoyable, and without further rambling, I’m going to get started.
PERCEPTION
When trying to do business on the internet, the ways people perceive your site and you as a business are key. It can mean the difference between a customer that thinks twice before ordering from you and a customer who impulsively buys, without thinking. Go ask any sales team in the world, and they’ll tell you that a sale today is better then the promise of 10 tomorrow.
Micromanagement and Delegation
February 18, 2008
Micro-Management and Delegation
Recently I had a long discussion with a friend of mine about Managers and managing. She is a former HR Manager for several major companies and was bemoaning the fact that training for managers has been cut back so significantly in recent years and that managers no longer receive the type of help, guidance and assistance that they received just a few short years ago. My background has been in retail and telecom. Hers was neither. Yet the same problems and issues seem to rise in every industry. Of course, this is exactly the reason that I got into coaching. Coaching allows those managers who want to improve a very personalized venue to do just that.
We went on to agree that the common pattern these days seemed to be for the department star performer to be promoted from contributor, to team leader, to manager in seemingly record time. We agreed that new managers have difficulty moving from the contributor to the manager role because no one is willing to spend the time and energy to coach them through the various hurdles that new managers and leaders face. We agreed that this lack of training never seemed to lower the expectations of the manager, just the performance.
The Anatomy of Hype
February 17, 2008
On a copywriting board I frequent, someone expressed bafflement that several respected marketers criticized the tone of a sales page he wrote. “Why did they apologize to their subscribers while linking to my pitch? This approach sells,” he said.
Hype was the problem. If you use the following tactics, many educated shoppers cringe and go elsewhere:
Overblown claims. “If You Can Write Your Name, You Can Write a Book in 30 Days - Guaranteed!”
Overexcited tone. Lots of exclamation points, phrases in bold capital letters with underlining and a drumbeat of emphasis. “Programmers poured out their TOP-SECRET strategies that you, too, can use to earn a GATES-LIKE FORTUNE in the software business!!” “Take out your credit card and order RIGHT NOW!”
Unsupported and extreme superlatives. “The most important new product launch, ever.”
Adjectives and adverbs you would not encounter from Exxon or IBM. “Mind-blowing” “Exclusive” “Huge” “Incredible” “Wildly” “Literally” (necessary to distinguish truth from hoopla).
Exaggerations. “They’ve made millions under the radar.” (When most haven’t made that sum and the “secrecy” is just not having been asked.)
Sounds impressive but untrue. Calling someone a best selling author who has not appeared on a recognized best seller list.
Three Fast, Short, Simple Ways to Escalate Your Sales
February 16, 2008
1. Sell an inexpensive product to sell an expensive product. If people like your inexpensive product, they will be persuaded to buy your expensive one.
2. Allow your visitors to decided how much they want to pay for your product. I only recommend it for products that don’t sell or ones that hardly sell.
3. Create an extra revenue stream with your web site’s articles or content. Publish the first paragraph of each article and charge people to read the rest.
Catherine Franz is a Marketing & Writing Coach, niches, product development, Internet marketing, nonfiction writing and training. Additional Articles: http://www.abundancecenter.com blog: http://abundance.blogs.com
15 Tips for Writing Winning Resumes
February 15, 2008
The thought of writing a resume intimidates almost anyone. It’s difficult to know where to start or what to include. It can seem like an insurmountable task. Here are 15 tips to help you not only tackle the task, but also write a winning resume.
1. Determine your job search objective prior to writing the resume. Once you have determined your objective, you can structure the content of your resume around that objective. Think of your objective as the bull’s-eye to focus your resume on hitting. If you write your resume without having a clear objective in mind, it will likely come across as unfocused to those that read it. Take the time before you start your resume to form a clear objective.
2. Think of your resume as a marketing tool. Think of yourself as a product, potential employers as your customers, and your resume as a brochure about you. Market yourself through your resume. What are your features and benefits? What makes you unique? Make sure to convey this information in your resume.
The New Age Work at Home Revolution
February 14, 2008
The New Age Work at Home Revolution
by: Craig Richards
For more than a decade, the Internet has revolutionized the work at home business opportunity industry. Never before has it been possible for so many people to make a part-time or full-time living from the Internet, and it’s no surprise why.
More and more companies are realizing that the best way to sell their products and services online is to get other people to advertise and promote them, in return for a set commission or an agreed percentage of the sale value. This method of online marketing has made it possible for the affiliate marketer to earn an income well in excess of six figures a year.
Although affiliate marketing has become a win-win situation for both the company and the people working to promote their products, the financially successful affiliate needs to have many such income streams. But this can prove to be quite expensive for the affiliate in terms of advertising and other marketing and promotional costs. Hence, its appeal is not as wide-reaching as it may first appear.
Nine Advance Networking Skills for Seasoned Networkers
February 14, 2008
A seasoned networker knows the real meaning of networking — being organized, efficient, effective, and, of course, work the event to its fullest. Attending networking groups after so many years can tire and drain anyone’s excitement. Especially since these situations are not social events. It is easy to have one foot in the event and the other some place else. A major challenge for all networkers is to be there with both feet.
What propels someone to advance networker? Is it the number of events or the number of years they attend? No. Is it the delicate balance and expertise on how they work the event? Yes.
Here are nine techniques that raise networkers skill level:
1. Business cards. If you are networking for a new job or career, there is nothing inappropriate about having a business card with a tag line of what type of job or company you are seeking.
Basic networkers learn that wearing an outfit with two pockets is important for the business card shuffle. Advance networkers think of those pockets as their in-box and an out-boxes.
