Take a Byte Out Of Time
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
In the world of business, the old saw, "Time is money," may
be more accurate now than ever before in the history of
commerce. Corporations and companies are constantly looking
for ways to increase profits while reducing time –
production time, shipping time, construction time,
development time – anywhere a company can reduce the amount
of time it takes to perform a task, it is increasing its
profit potential. And in today's global economy, every
second counts.
In the office environment, we are continually moving toward
a "paperless" environment. More and more, we are turning to
computers, their capabilities, and the World Wide Web to
literally get the word out. Meetings and collaborations
between entities around the world can now occur in real
time by way of computers, satellites and cameras.
Reports,
studies or proposals can now be completely written on a
computer (including inserting graphics and images), and
sent to a receiving party by pressing a button on our
computers that transmit an entire body of work via fax or
email, entirely eliminating the need to print, collate and
compile a physical document. Files can be sent between
workers without a single piece of paper ever being stuffed
in a file folder, placed in a manila envelope, sent by
courier, or hitting a desk surface. The money and time
technology saves us is extremely valuable, and some would
say priceless.
However, there is always room for improvement, and the
search for more powerful, more efficient, less expensive
methodologies is ongoing. Software development for computer
applications that save storage space while eliminating data
loss, reduce transmission time and increase security of
vital information is a huge industry. The power of the
visual presentation is still king in our information
society, so creating presentations for a multitude of
purposes is a fact of life in the world of commerce.
Because of the immense amount of data contained within a
presentation created using an application like PowerPoint®,
storage space requirements and transmission times can
become unmanageable.
Technology has again provided solutions for these issues.
Compression software has been developed that squeezes
millions of bits and bytes of data into a fraction of the
space previously required, freeing up valuable memory for
other programs and applications. Reduced file size also
reduces the amount of time necessary to transmit these
files, which means online network time is reduced, wait
time for uploads/downloads is condensed and production time
is increased. Smaller file are easier to manage, as well.
And all of this means time is better spent, improving a
company's bottom line. Compression software is THE
"must-have" for any person or corporate entity in the
business of creating presentations.
About the Author:
http://www.powerpointcompression.com is one of the leading
authorities on compressing power points. Also affiliated
with http://www.bossdev.com
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A Look at Slogans
Let's take a look at slogans and how just a few words can
say volumes. A slogan is a memorable phrase used in
conjunction with a political, commercial, or religious
advertisement. Slogans are used to convey a deeper meaning.
Slogans can be used to elicit emotions, or the slogan might
paint a visual image that implies something more.
When considering a slogan or a tagline, keep in mind your
objectives. What image do you wish to portray? Slogans
should be short, but not to the point of being pithy.
Slogans should conjure positive images and distinguish the
value your company or product provides.
The best way to analyze slogans is to look at a few.
Slogan: "The toughest job you will ever love" (Peace Corps)
Message behind slogan: This is much more than just a job;
it takes heart to be in the Peace Corps; join the Peace
Corps and you will be a better person. This job is not
about money it is about helping people.
Slogan: "Be Seen, Be Sold" (Shareware Promotions)
Message behind slogan: Being found on the Internet is not
easy. Use us to be found on the Internet."
Slogan: "You could learn a lot from a dummy. Buckle up"
(National Highway Traffic Safety Admin)
Message behind slogan: Learn from test dummies, be safe and
buckle up.
Slogan: "Parents who use drugs have kids who use drugs"
(The Partnership for a Drug-free America)
Message behind slogan: Model what you preach, do you want
your children to do drugs? It is your responsibility to
model appropriate behavior for your children.
Slogan: "This is your brain on drugs" (The Partnership for
a Drug-free America)
Message behind slogan: Do you know what this stuff does to
you? Taking drugs is stupid.
Slogan: "A diamond is forever" (DeBeers '1948)
Message behind slogan: Diamonds represent marriage,
marriage should be forever. If you really want your
marriage to last it should be sealed with a diamond.
Slogan: "It takes a licking and keeps on ticking" (Timex
Corp)
Message behind slogan: It does not get any more durable
than this, other watches can not stand up, but Timex will
endure regardless of the treatment.
Slogan: "For all you do, this Bud's for you" (Budweiser)
Message behind slogan: After a long hard day, drink beer to
relax.
Slogan: "Where's the beef ? "(Wendys)
Message behind slogan: Our competitors use small patties,
but our burgers are big.
Slogan: "I love New York" (NYC)
Message behind slogan: New York is a special place,
everyone loves NY, you should come and visit, you will love
it too.
Slogan: "See what brown can do for you" (UPS)
Message behind slogan: We do more than just ship packages,
we have additional offerings and can do more than just ship.
Slogan: "The few, the proud, the Marines" (US Marines)
Message behind slogan: We are a select group of very
special individuals. Do you want to be elite? Take pride in
representing the US.
Slogan: "Friends don't let friends drive drunk"
Message behind slogan: You will die if you drive drunk. It
is your responsibility to protect your friends. Be
responsible, don't let people drive drunk.
Effective slogans leave impressions in the minds of people
who see or hear the slogans. Often slogans will have hidden
meanings, or be a play on words. The goal of the slogan
creator should be to create a memorable tagline that
conveys a key benefit or differentiates the brand. Slogans
will often help position the product or service in the
marketplace. Slogans with just a few words can indicate
superior value, excellence, or inspiration.
A business identity and image conveyed through a short
statement will affect the way that consumers, competitors
and others in the industry perceive your business. Slogans
will distinguish your company in a unique way. Words are
powerful, and if used properly, they can be an important
sales tool.
About the Author:
About the Author: Sharon Housley manages marketing for
FeedForAll http://www.feedfora ll.com software for creating,
editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition
Sharon manages marketing for NotePage
http://www.notepage .net a wireless text messaging software
company.
[Read more]
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Why And How To Create An Information Product
Have you put off, or given up entirely, the idea of writing that
book, or creating a CD or DVD, for your business? Maybe you've
let that idea slip away because you thought your business wasn't
suited to it. I mean, what you do is so individual and personal,
or too complicated to explain, or so intuitive in nature, that it
can't be captured in a product. Or maybe you already sell a
product, and you can't imagine what a book or CD would possibly
do for your business.
These kinds of products- books, CDs, DVDs and their digital
downloadable equivalents: pdfs, mp3s, mpegs - are called
information products, 'info products' for short. And, if you
are putting off creating one, you are doing a disservice to all
the people who are waiting for you.
What's the purpose of having an info product?
Some people will tell you the purpose is to have 'multiple
streams of income' or to 'fill your business to overflowing. '
It's true, a good info product can create these kinds of
results.
But that's not why you create one. If you create it for that
reason, you are chasing the money, and you'll end up chasing
away your customers.
The purpose of an info product is to help the wallflowers.
A wallflower is that term used at dances and other social events
where someone who is feeling a little shy or awkward will take a
seat next to a wall, and plant themselves there, and never get
out on the dance floor.
In junior high I was painfully shy, and lived as a wallflower.
High school wasn't much better, but I was able to retreat into
punk rock and avoid the 'popular' high school scene.
Even today, as my 20th high school reunion approaches, I can find
myself in wallflower situations. I have better coping mechanisms,
but it's still painful.
How many wallflowers are in your business' dance hall?
People who are struggling with something are unsure of
themselves. They are upset, insecure, hesitant. They want to
dance the tango, but they don't want to look foolish and be
rejected.
Do you think it might be easier for those wallflowers if you met
them at their seat with a glass of punch, and talked with them
awhile, before you even asked them to dance?
A good information product doesn't recreate your business to
give the full dance-hall experience. It doesn't deliver the same
intimacy, or the same instruction, or the same in-depth support,
or the same results that your main products or services do.
That's not its job.
The job of a good information product is to help people dance
along off to the side, out of the spotlight. This will not only
help them get some of the results they need, but it will also get
them ready to get out on your dance floor and engage more deeply
with what will really help them: your main products and
services.
And, it's not a bad thing that info products can create a nice
flow of income for you as well.
Ready to deliver that glass of punch and create an info product?
Keys to Creating an Info Product
* What seats are your wallflowers sitting in?
Identify the main hesitations of some of your reluctant
customers. Some common hesitations have to do with:
- Is this weird, or is it normal (do people like me do this?).
- Does it really work?
- Do you really know what you're doing?
- How does it work?
There are others, including ones specific to your business or
industry. Search your heart, and also ask your newest clients
what concerns they had before they purchased from you.
* Where does your record skip?
With new clients or customers and in newly-started classes, you
give them explanations, key ideas, and foundational notions.
These notions may be new to your clients, but you've repeated
each of them 1000 times in different situations.
At a dance, if the record skips, maybe it's a DJ working the
grooves, or maybe it's just a bad scratch. (But you hear it
repeating the same line over and over.)
When you repeat yourself it's like a scratched record- and
you've just found a prime place to focus on a product. Stop the
skipping record, and turn it into a workbook, article, or
recorded audio product.
* Don't forget the how-to's.
In your info product, you want to teach them something, and
include instructions on how to actually do it. But, remember,
that this is a 'getting-ready / dance-along' product, and not
the dance itself.
This means that while you want your how-to's to be complete, and
you expect your reader or listener to apply them to some extent,
don't worry about trying to recreate the dance hall experience.
Because you can't.
Instead ask your heart to show you how much (or how little) they
really need to know to feel comfortable dancing. Lead them up to
the edge of the dance floor, maybe have them dance along to the
music a few steps off to the side. And, believe me, people can
get a lot out of dancing along off to the side.
Then, they'll be ready for the dance hall. And that's when
you'll find your dance card overflowing with new customers and
clients.
Go mix up that punch, and start serving out info products to all
of your wallflowers.
My very best to you and your business,
Mark Silver
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
Mark Silver is the author of Unveiling the Heart of Your
Business: How Money, Marketing and Sales can Deepen Your
Heart, Heal the World, and Still Add to Your Bottom Line.
He has helped hundreds of small business owners around
the globe succeed in business without losing their
hearts. Get three free chapters of the book online:
http://www.heartofb usiness.com
[Read more]
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No Leak Marketing: Plug the Holes in Your Business Bucket
Do you have customers that you are currently working with
who are NOT your Dream Customers? Do they demand extra
time? Do they treat you with disrespect? Are they
unprofitable?
These customers are holes in your Business Bucket. They
drain your time and your energy. They prevent you from
having the time you need to market and provide service to
your DREAM customers.
Here are some simple questions to answer to see if your
Business Bucket leaks:
- Do you currently have unprofitable customers?
- Are there any customers you would like to have off your
plate?
- Are you spending too much time trying to "close the sale"
and convincing people to buy from you?
- Is it hard for you to convert prospects into customers?
- Are you getting a lot of repeat business from your
existing customers?
- Are your customers referring others to you?
- Are your customers loyal or are you scared they will
shift to your competitor on a whim?
- Are customers seeking you out for your expertise?
If you answered "no" to any of these questions, your
business bucket is leaky. It's time to implement a No-Leak
Marketing Strategy so you can get the absolute maximum
impact from all of your marketing efforts.
The first thing you have to learn is the word "NO." Don't
be willing to accept money from just anyone. You want to
get into the habit of "cherry picking" your customers. The
ones who aren't a good fit are unqualified and you are
wasting your time with them. You will spend too much energy
on these types of customers and you will often lose money.
Another thing you shouldn't be doing is spending a
tremendous amount of time and energy trying to convince a
prospect that what you offer is of value. Instead develop a
method to find out if people are a good fit for you in the
first 10 minutes of your conversation with them. This will
greatly decrease the time you are spending with unqualified
prospects and your sales closing ratio will go up. If your
gut says "no" and/or you see red flags early on in your
conversations with a prospect, then make sure you listen to
these signals.
ACTION ITEM: Take the time to list your customers who you
have worked with, but were NOT a good fit. Describe why
they were a bad fit. Review your "horror" stories. What
types of people cost you too much time, energy, and
profits? What strategies can you implement to "cherry pick"
your DREAM customers?
About the Author:
Wendy Maynard, the Marketing Maven, publishes REMARKABLE
MARKETING, a weekly ezine for business owners, freelancers,
and entrepreneurs. If you're ready to skyrocket your sales
and easily attract customers, subscribe today at
http://www.gomarket ingmaven. com/ezine. html
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Interpersonal Communication Secrets that Work Every Time
Interpersonal communication is something most of us do on a daily
basis, although we may not be aware that is what it is called.
Interpersonal communication differs from other forms of communication
in various ways. It is also very important in development.
The following list outlines what interpersonal communication is and
what some of the characterizes are. It also explains why we need it.
1. What is it?
Interpersonal communication involves a close group of participants. It
is basically the everyday conversations you carry on and it includes
speeches, general friendly exchanges, arguments and basically anytime
you speak to someone.
2. How is it different than other forms of communication?
Interpersonal communication involves face to face encounters. You are
talking in person not over a computer, phone or through written
information. You can get immediate responses.
You are also able to benefit from body language. You hear a voice
where you can pick up on different dialects and speech patterns.
3. How does interpersonal communication vary?
The variances in interpersonal communication involve the people and
situations. You communicate differently with someone you know well
verses a stranger. You will have different topics of conversation when
talking to your preacher or your best friend.
These variations make interpersonal communication flexibility
important for difference circumstances.
4. How do we use interpersonal communication?
We use interpersonal communication for a variety of reasons. You use
it to learn new information, such as when asking questions. You use it
to share information, such as when telling a story. You use it to
define yourself, such as when giving a speech.
You also use it to fulfill the natural need for contact with other
people. Interpersonal communication is how we develop from infant to
adult. We learn about different cultures and languages through
interpersonal communication as well. It gives you a human element, a
real nature that other forms of communication can not provide.
5. Why is interpersonal communication important?
Interpersonal communication is important because you need it to
develop throughout the stages of life. You get so much from
interpersonal communication.
You learn, teach and get an identity through interpersonal
communication. You also share with others who you are. You need
interpersonal communication to learn how to pronounce words correctly,
how to speak properly in certain situations and how to communicate in
general.
Interpersonal communication has taken a back seat to other forms of
communication in recent years. More people than ever are using the
internet to exchange information and make contact with others.
We must also be sure to keep interpersonal communication in our lives.
Without it babies will never learn to talk properly and we can never
expand our language abilities through learning form others speech. The
spoken word should never have its importance underestimated.
Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very
popular free report: 10 Simple Steps to Developing Communication
Confidence. This report reveals the secret strategies all high
achievers use to communicate with charm and impact. Apply now because
it is available for a limited time only at:
http://www.howtotal kwithconfidence. com/report. htm
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How to Write a Press Release
When faced with the prospect of writing a press release,
most writers (even the most well-seasoned) would cringe at
the thought. The idea of a press release sounds difficult,
but it is not.
A press release is actually a simple form. Once you're
used to them it is easier still to create the release for
your own company. Here are the basic steps that you will
need to follow:
- Find out the format – Depending on where you are
submitting the release, the format may be different. Try
to determine what the person reading it will be looking for
before you send it off to them.
- Put it on company letterhead – You want the company that
is the focus point of the press release to be emblazoned on
the top. This allows the media to know immediately who the
‘star' of the press release is and who they need to contact
if they want or need more information.
- At the top of the press release, it should read ‘PRESS
RELEASE' and if it's for immediate release, then put
‘IMMEDIATE RELEASE.' These are placed in the top and left
hand margins, respectively.
- The headline needs to be in boldface print in the center
of the top of the document under the ‘PRESS RELEASE' and
‘IMMEDIATE RELEASE' statements.
- The main text of the press release should offer some sort
of valuable and interesting information that a reader would
want to know about. In terms of business, you would want
to talk about a new innovation or a new product that you
are releasing.
- You'll also want to include relevant quotes from people
at your business to help add credibility to the statement.
The more that you attempt to make the press release
exciting and personal, the more likely you are to get it
released in media markets.
- Make sure that the press release is clear and well
formatted. Try to use common fonts and leave space so that
your reader doesn't feel overwhelmed by the content.
If you're still not feeling like you're the one to write
your own press release, there are plenty of copywriters
that you can hire for the job. By giving the copywriter
the information that you want to share with the audience as
well as the format that you expect to release the press
release in, you will be well on your way to having your
news be on the news.
About the Author:
Lynn VanDyke's content website is in the top 1% of all
websites worldwide according to Alexa. She recommends this
hosting company for your online business:
http://my.sitesell.com/buildit . You can work directly with
Lynn by visiting her site at http://www.LynnVanDyke.com
[Read more]
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Use Email Instead Of Spyware As A Marketing Tool
In a world where sneaky tactics like spyware are used to gather
product preference information and other valuable marketing
tidbits, you don't need to lower yourself to that level to help
increase your sales. Email can be just as effective a marketing
tool as any underhanded method-and probably more so since it
won't annoy people. In fact, at a recent event for florists
called SAF (Society of American Florists) Naples 2006, Rich
Finstein of CommPartners Inc. offered some excellent advice not
only for florists but for any businessperson hoping to attract
customers and raise their sales levels.
First of all, you must allow customers to sign up for email
promotions and newsletters, and make sure they're aware of what
they're signing up for. Otherwise, you're doing little more
than spamming your customers, which could anger them and have the
opposite effect of the one you're hoping for. Make sure your
process for collecting email addresses includes asking your
customers what kind of information they'd be interested in
receiving. A florist might ask customers if they want information
about arranging loose flowers, new gift items, or flower care. A
store that sells software might ask customers if they'd like to
receive information about educational software, business
software, or entertainment software.
Once you've collected the email addresses of interested
customers, be sure to put them to proper use. One great way to do
that is to track items customers have purchased and send them
promotions or information specifically talking about something
they recently bought. For example, a florist might send a
customer who recently bought roses a promotional email for an
upcoming event centering around roses, such as a sale or a class
on caring for them. When customers receive just a few emails from
you talking about things they are interested in, rather than many
emails that contain little content they care about, they'll pay
more attention to the ones they do receive and take action.
Be sure to make your email campaign as professional as your other
marketing strategies. Put the necessary time and effort into
making sure the right messages reach the right people, and that
they are well written and appealing when they get there. If you
find that your click rates are declining, take a good look at the
emails you're sending. Is there a way they could be improved?
Or, perhaps you're sending too many emails and should cut back.
Finally, all emails should include a link for customers to follow
to unsubscribe if they decide they no longer want to receive
emails from you. Be sure you have a system in place for promptly
removing anyone who clicks unsubscribe from the email
list-continuing to send unwanted emails is almost as frustrating
to customers as spam and spyware.
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
Wesley Berry is member of the American Academy of
Floriculture (AAF) and President of Wesley Berry Flowers
(http://www.wesleybe rryflowers. com), a successful multi-million
dollar floral business that was established in 1946. As a
member of the Henry Ford Hospital Community Relation Board
he has contributed to the community at large
(http://www.hospital -locator. com). He owns both a brick and
mortar and an internet flower delivery business. Visit Wesley
Berry Flowerson the web at http://www.800wesle ys.com
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