It?s hard to believe the year will be half over in just a few weeks. All the planning you did is either turning out great, coming along slowly but surely or hasn?t really gotten off the ground because other issues keep getting in the way. With so many things to distract you from your small business ...
This article relates to the Coworkers competency, commonly evaluated in employee satisfaction surveys. It tells the story of a coworker whose performance consistently facilitated effective cooperation, collaboration, and communication between the employees within one organization. While the Team Dyn...
Have you ever spent a small fortune on advertising that
generated disappointment rather than sales? Many small business owners have been down the road of flat
advertising results and are at a loss when it comes to
developing new ideas to improve the response to their ads. Whether you run ads in y...
When I promised readers that I was going to do an article on this topic I was scared. For two reasons - firstly, it`s a HUGE subject. I get lots of questions about it, and I see a fair bit of misunderstanding about it. Secondly, there are already a lot of good articles about it on the web, like
Creating Landing Pages For Google AdwordsBy George Kokolakis - 4/3/2009
In creating a Google AdWords campaign, advertisers often spend most of their time creating their ads and researching their keywords. There is often little or no thought to where the surfer will be sent when the ad does its job and generates a click. Often advertisers send the surfer to the home page...
Seven Critical Qualifying QuestionsBy Rob Halvorsen - 4/3/2009
Training your salespeople to not waste time working unqualified accounts, or building relationships with the wrong people in qualified companies is imperative to the long the term success of our sales team and your company. By understanding your salespeople`s natural fear of qualifying, you can bett...
Problem SolvingBy Andrew E. Schwartz - 4/3/2009
When problem solving, you may recognize that you were working on a symptom instead of the problem. An analysis of the more clearly defined problem may require an alteration to the objectives or the ideal solution. These reviews and changes are costly in terms of time and effort which emphasizes the ...
Podcasting Your Own PodcastBy Louise Anderson - 4/3/2009
The hippest new way to broadcast information on the internet, podcasting, crept into internet vocabulary in 2004. And the editors of the New Oxford American Dictionary have selected ?podcast? as the word of the year for 2005. Why is podcasting cool and so compelling? Unlike traditional broadcasting,...
The Hardest Job Of A Trade ShowBy Julia O`Connor - 4/3/2009
You?ve heard this before: There were four people named
Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was
sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it.
Nobody did it. Somebody got angry because it was
Everybody?s job. Everybody thought that ...
Using Those Business CardsBy Sue And Chuck DeFiore - 4/3/2009
One of the first things you do when starting a business is to have business cards made up. The next thing you need to do is give them out. If you keep them in the card holders or the box in your office, they are not doing what you got them for.
You should send a card out with any corresponde...
By Etienne Gibbs - 4/3/2009
It has been well documented that employees` productivity and job quality increase when we are made to feel welcomed at work. In other words, when the motivational climate is enhanced to meet their needs they produce quality work at the 100% rate. The factor that caused them to produce at such high s...
What Are You Fishing With? Lure, Bait and GearBy Catherine Franz - 4/3/2009
A 10-step exercise for services professionals to evaluate clients...
Fly fishing -- it doesn`t work, does it? When I first watched someone fly-fishing, they released the line and fling it far out into the water. No sooner had the fly hit the water was it being reeled back in. Even today, ...
By Thomas Murrell - 4/3/2009
Effective Media Relations Tips - What To Do After The Media Interviews You!
By Thomas Murrell MBA CSP, International Business Speaker
You`ve done all the hard work - prepared a media kit, engaged with a reporter and they`ve listened to your message and asked questions. What now? Well, effective med...
Walking Talking AdvertisementsBy Will Dylan - 4/3/2009
So you`ve made a sale. Great! Now what? You`re not just going to sell your new customer a product and let them walk away, are you? Not when you`re marketing on tight budget! You now have to use the customer in front of you to build your business, and you do that with a successful referral program. R...
Creating Your Own Lead Capture PagesBy Brian Beshore - 4/3/2009
Having a downline can be golden. A downline is a group of folks who have either signed-up or have already agreed to at least look at what you send them. There are currently many ways to get a downline on the internet, and more coming all the time. For example, promoting certain programs, such as sur...
PPC Management: When To Give Up On A LoserBy Dave Brown - 4/3/2009
Pay per click (PPC) advertising can be a dream come true. You can get traffic almost immediately from some PPC search engines. And it can be mighty cheap too. Next to joint ventures, PPC search engines have been responsible for most of my online income. I`ve gotten some great returns on PPC campaign...
What Does Your Business Card Say?By Mike McDaniel - 4/3/2009
Business cards are the most underutilized and
misunderstood marketing tool in business. Many
people spend the bucks for cards and don`t make an
effort to get them into the hands of those who can
hire them or buy from them. Everyday people throw away stacks of undelivered
business cards. Money down t...
Finding Air TransportBy Leon Chaddock - 4/3/2009
There are a variety of options open to you for air transport. You will find that these options are very versatile in several ways. They all use the principals of flying but they also allow for some of the most amazing types of air transport out there. Getting around has never been grander and mor...
Stress Managment: 5 Things to Clean Out of Your Mental ClosetBy Jeff Herring - 4/3/2009
Excuses We all have them. It amazes me how creative I can be when I need a good excuse for something. In life we either have success, or we have excuses. Life tip: For one week, pay attention to how often you create excuses for yourself. You`ll be surprised by how many excuses you make and how often...
Three Alternative Methods On Getting Quality Testimonials with BonusBy Catherine Franz - 4/3/2009
Here are three alternatives to increase your testimonial numbers or their quality. Create an online diary or blog, use an auto responder method, set up a form on your web site or set up a survey.
1 -- Set up an Online Diary
Usually an online diary is a fun way to keep friends and fam...
By Terry Hadaway - 4/3/2009
"Where do you work?" is one of the top three questions to ask someone when you run out of things to say. Most people respond to that question with a description of their employment status--company, job title, job history, stock prices, and a description of the view from their offices (or cubicles). ...
Advanced Process Control Increases ProfitsBy James Hunt - 4/3/2009
Advanced process control has come to be a term synonymous with computer based technologies. Many companies use this process to help them with increasing their profits by improving the product capacity and minimizing expenses. Some companies have reported that they have cut their operating expenses b...
Globalism: What Does It Mean?By John Alquist - 4/3/2009
It means that inexpensive Internet and telephonic technologies, coupled with more open national trade policies, have forever flattened national economic boundaries, creating one global market. Some fear globalism, thinking that America should be self-sufficient and indifferent to world markets. Some...
How to Increase Traffic When Your Promotion Budget is TinyBy Paul Easton - 4/3/2009
Writing articles for your site and for the use of others, is a
simple proven way low cost way to get more traffic. Articles can be used for all subjects and just like newspapers
and magazines, is a recognised way of sharing information. Articles a low cost way of promotion but they do take time
whic...
Business Lessons Learned At The MallBy Tim Knox - 4/3/2009
Normally in this column I dispense highly-intelligent small business advice in response to thought-provoking questions submitted by future and fellow entrepreneurs. This week, however, I have a couple of questions for myself, one of which makes me wonder how truly intelligent I really am. Q: Dear Me...
Italian Charms BraceletsBy Artur Cosicov - 4/3/2009
Italian Charms Bracelet is a flat modular bracelet, consisting of around 20 Italian charms which are little rectangular pieces. They are available in various designs that are inserted into the `started bracelet`. Besides the charms various other items like key chains and watches are available as wel...
A Sample Resume Template Can Help Get The First InterviewBy Larry Washington - 4/3/2009
Trying to land that perfect job that`s come your way? A sample resume template can help you do just that. A sample resume can help you get that first interview. That`s one step closer to getting through your future employer?s door. That is your goal...right? You might be wondering "How can a sample ...
Mission-Critical Public Relations?By Robert A. Kelly - 4/3/2009
As a business, non-profit or association manager, any tool that helps you reach your department, division or subsidiary objective IS mission-critical. And particularly so when that tool helps you persuade your most important external stakeholders to your way of thinking, and then moves them to take ...
Fundraising BasicsBy Joseph Then - 4/3/2009
Today there are more non-profit and charity groups than ever. On the one hand, this is a great development (I hope) - it means that as a society we are becoming more aware of a need to give to others. We even see that people are taking the necessary steps to ensure that we help others. On the othe...
The Heroic Entrepreneur: Profiting from Your BrillianceBy Donna Gunter - 4/3/2009
If you look up the definition of hero in Webster`s, you`ll find a definition something like, `A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life: soldiers and nurses who were heroes in an unpopular war`. Some heroes in our lives ha...
Athletic Scholarships Or Non-Athletic Scholarships? - 3 Good Reasons Why You Need To Search For BothBy Kenneth Harrison - 4/3/2009
If you are a student athlete you have probably not considered applying for non-athletic scholarships and college grants because you are too busy trying to obtain an athletic scholarship.
Changes,described below,in the recruiting and application process for USA student athletes seeking athletic sc...
Business LeadsBy Barry Stein - 4/3/2009
Anyone who runs their own business can tell you how
challenging it is to generate business leads on a consistent
basis. Finding good leads and generating more sales is vital
to the long term growth of any business. There are many well
documented sources of business leads ? we will try to cover
...
Develop Your Managers and Keep Your StaffBy Lorraine Pirihi - 4/3/2009
Following on from the last edition of The Organised Times where we spoke about developing the people in your business, this week we`re focussing on the importance of the continual development of your managers. Leadership comes from the top down. Poor management skills is the cause of most employee d...
What Advisors, Managers, and Coaches Need to Know in Order to Maximize PerformanceBy John Eliot, Ph.D. - 4/3/2009
When someone joins a group, a team, or takes a new job, they are seeking some experience or benefit that the group offers. In other words, they see the group as a resource to a particular experience or set of experiences. The choices they made to get into that position and the choice to join the g...
Service Marketing - A Relationship Building ApproachBy Ram Balaji - 4/3/2009
Can we imagine a place in the world today without a marketing activity. It looks remote. When we all move from one place to the other, we need an interactive or a Communicative Response System (CRS) to facilitate a marketing activity and enable the market to respond. When this Communicative Respon...
Top Ten Reasons to Start A Catering BusinessBy Detra Davis - 4/3/2009
There is little doubt that Americans still have a deep abiding love for all things eatable. Despite the health craze that has forced Ronald McDonald to sport a jogging suit, Whoppers, Big Mac?s, and French Fries is truly why we have fat thighs. So what?s the answer? We need great home-grown cooks...
Budgeting for a Postcard MailingBy Martha Retallick - 4/3/2009
If you`ve never done a postcard mailing, you`re probably wondering, "What should I budget for?" Here are three items to account for:
1. If you`re a designing woman (or man), then you`ll need to get that great postcard design out of your computer and into the hands of the postcard printing co...
By Etienne Gibbs - 4/3/2009
Employers pay a high price for absenteeism, often more than they may realize, in terms of both financial and production losses and employee morale. Managers may view the tasks of finding a substitute employee as a short-term inconvenience; however, absenteeism frequently has more serious long-term e...
Career Change: Success TipsBy Marcia Zidle - 4/3/2009
Successful career change is based on first making an honest assessment of your skills and experiences. Then you match them against the current market conditions. Finally you set realistic goals. Here are five strategies to keep in mind when changing careers:
- Plan for a longer job search....
By Graham Yemm - 4/3/2009
?The human brain starts working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public.? (Sir George Jessel) Have you had this feeling before? Rest assured you are not alone. You might be one of the many who would rate your fear of public speaking alongside or ahead ...
A Discussion about Facilitation SkillsBy Chris Stowell - 4/3/2009
Interview with Julia Apple-Smith, Manager of Employee Development at Sauer-Danfoss Ames, Iowa about Facilitation Skills: Q: Would you tell me a little bit about the culture at Sauer-Danfoss? Julia: About nine years ago, Dave Pfeifle, President and CEO had a vision for us to change our cultu...
Five Questions To Ask Yourself Before Buying a StockBy Tanner Larsson - 5/14/2008
If you are like most people today, you have either thought about investing in the stock market or you actually went out and bought some stock. If so that?s great, there is lots of money to be made in the stock market, but the important question is; How do you pick your stocks?
Are you buying the s...
Building A Reputation in the Executive Interim Management FieldBy David Jones - 5/12/2008
As any executive interim manager knows, when you`re operating your own business, ?reputation is everything? and an executive interim manager is only as good as their last assignments and the references and referrals that can be obtained from them.
A pointed remark or two from a client to either a...
What is the Cost of College Tuition?By Michael Carter - 5/9/2008
What is the average cost of college tuition? This is one question that most parents and future students ask themselves and need to know in order to plan for a college education.
The national average college tuition rate for public universities is $4,694 per year for in state residents. This figu...
A Completely New Way To Get Rich RapidlyBy Martin Thomas - 5/3/2008
This new way is catching on around the world. People are compounding money rapidly for themselves.
Its called "opportunity investment" and it has nothing to do with the traditional way to invest. Stocks, bonds, shares etc.
This is hands on. The entire premise is based on compounding and becoming...
Preparing to OutsourceBy Sherese Johnson - 4/22/2008
It`s important to understand when to add individuals to your business model. Adding a new team member should be an easy transition - that’s where organization comes in. Clearly defined processes such as workflow, workspace, filing system, and other key functions in the business should be iden...
Retaining An Expert -- What Every Business Owner Needs To KnowBy Kathy Szpakowski - 4/16/2008
As an entrepreneur, hiring an expert can be one of the most efficient ways to turbo-charge your business. However, thousands of consultants flood the Information Highway, and each one promises to positively impact your bottom line. How do you know which expert has the right combination of smarts, sk...
Breaking The Chains!By Jason Gober - 4/16/2008
Everyday, customers and business owners are bombarded with billboards, logos, print and electronic ads from huge corporations. With annual ad budgets that are more that our businesses` SALES in an entire year, our small independent businesses are getting squeezed out of consumers minds (and wallets...
Don`t Just Pick Any DividendBy Hari Wibowo - 4/15/2008
Dividend is earnings distributed to the shareholders in the form of cash. Now, not all publicly-traded companies pay dividend. Most of the dividend-paying companies are profitable or have long history of profitability. This is key because in the long run, I believe profit will dictate stock price mo...
Budgeting For ProsperityBy Paul Goldner - 5/10/2006
Budgeting For Prosperity
Seven Steps to Follow To Achieve Financial Freedom
Without a sound financial plan, a business is doomed to failure - managing your personal finances is no different. A sound personal financial plan is crucial to both your financial and emotional well being.
We have ...
