JOYFUL

aak206

2008-07-28T06:56:00.003-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Like outsourcing, but over more time-zones in different languages and cultures, offshoring is a huge step to take if you haven't done it before. Getting it right can open up new avenues for increased productivity for a whole host of your organisation's processes. Getting it wrong can mean the "O word" is never mentioned again and your organisation is burdened with costs that competitors divested long ago.

Offshoring Models - Take Your Pick

Should you be considering a lower risk & reward partnership with a Big Four consultancy who own the offshore relationships, or a more "do it yourself" approach where you put all the offshore supplier relationships in place? On the other hand would you prefer to acquire or establish a business offshore? The typical risks and rewards of the models can be significantly different, so take a bit of time getting this decision right. Some companies take a progressive approach; they get help with the earlier offshored processes, and then ultimately transition to establishing their own organisation offshore.

Before You Do Anything

If you haven't offshored before, consider offshoring "back-office" rather than "front office" processes first and don't try to reinvent the wheel. Start by selecting the right project manager; someone who's "been there" and "done that" before. If you're not partnering with a "Big Four" consultancy and you can't wait for headhunters, give some thought to interim management as an alternative. Whatever route you take though, don't risk using someone who looks good, but actually hasn't done it before. You'll need someone who knows what actually happens, who really knows the key risks and how to mitigate them; someone who knows which are the emerging markets and those which are more mature.

Once you've found your experienced offshorer, give them unambiguous terms of reference and then build a full time multi-disciplinary offshoring team around them. If you think you can't afford to build a multi-disciplinary team, for the duration of the project, think again. Can you afford not to?

What's The Worst Case Scenario?

Before you go much further, get the team to work out what the likely benefits will be and also what your offshore disaster recovery plan is going to look like and cost. The latter may be a rapid re-onshoring of the process, but whatever it looks like, it's best to know what the worst case scenario is and decide whether the risk-reward ratio is right sooner rather than later.

Consider Re-Engineering Before Offshoring

In the rush to offshore, most companies overlook this, but whichever model you choose it's better to optimise your processes before you offshore them. This has several benefits. It ensures that the key steps to process success are documented formally, rather than them remaining carefully guarded secrets in your employees' heads. Understanding current process performance also helps to develop confidence about what level of improvements are likely to be achievable. The application of lean techniques can reduce the cost of a business process (before offshoring) by between 20-30% and reduce in process inventory levels and lead times by 50%. That way you capture the savings before the transition to offshore, otherwise your eventual supplier will retain them. Importantly simplification will help to make the process more robust, whoever's ultimately operating it.

Engaging With Offshore Suppliers

Identify what the key success factors for an outsourced relationship are, and issue a Request for Information (RFI) to potential suppliers. From this identify what additional benefits the offshore suppliers should be able to provide because they are specialists in the field.

Be absolutely clear about what your performance expectations are from the beginning. Set these as objectives when you first meet with long-listed suppliers, and repeat them for conditioning purposes at every important meeting. Back this up with a contract which includes comprehensive service level agreements (SLAs) as schedules; and where you want ongoing performance improvements draft clauses with win-win incentives.

Make sure that you get your "supplier quality assurance" assessments right. Run in-depth diagnostics inside the short-listed suppliers' businesses and let your process experts find out how suppliers really do things.

If you've comprehensively specified your requirements, give serious consideration to using e-Sourcing (e-Request for Information, e-Request for Quotation & Reverse e-Auctions) to minimise suppliers' prices, but don't forget to take account of any fixed costs which will be left behind and will have to be shared amongst the remaining onshore cost centres.

When you've selected your supplier, run "on-shore" trials with "offshore" employees to prove the concept and develop and train supplier "super-users", then run "offshore" pilots, before rolling the solution out on a grand scale.

Then when the relationship is established put full time supplier relationship managers in place, who understand in detail how the onshore process worked, and will work inside
your offshore suppliers to drive continuous improvement against the SLAs and maintain service quality.

Conclusion

Yes offshoring has its risks, but a carefully managed project led by someone who really knows what they're doing, can open up an entirely new range of opportunities to improve your organisation's performance.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak205

2008-07-28T06:56:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

The very foundation of outsourcing means getting someone to handle your work, a partner in business. Ideally the outsourcing consultant or company should have a similar vision as yours and solid work ethics.

Success in business would depend greatly on finding the right outsourcing company and for this you must:

Determine clearly what your core business competencies are. Know your strengths and weaknesses.
Clearly define your goals, future business plans.
Create an outsourcing proposal that outlines your objectives as well as needs. State clearly the details of the project, expectations, timelines, as well as budgets.
Do in depth research on outsourcing companies to find out which ones will satisfy your needs. Alternately one can hire a consultant to carry out the search.
Search for an organization that can source many talents. Flexibility in operations is crucial.
Interview at least 3-4 organizations. Check out their referrals and projects completed. Be sure to meet key personnel to gauge their competencies. And check out their technological expertise.
Do a cost effectiveness study as also how the selected company will fulfill your needs. Whether their infrastructure and training will be in synchrony with yours. Systems must be compatible. The costing should address impact of increased flexibility, difference in productive and time management, which is the time taken to reach the market and its effect on competition.
Study thoroughly the non-financial costs as well as advantages of outsourcing.
Check with local chambers of commerce like the California chamber of commerce at www.calchamber.com or other associations that focus on human resource like the Sacramento Area Human Resources Association at www.sahra.org.
Before making a final choice check whether the outsourcing company or vendor is trustworthy, find out what kind of security measures they use, check the company's reputation in the market; determine in no uncertain terms whether they have the right qualifications.
Seek answers to: are they an established and financially sound company; what is their customer service philosophy; what is their service record; who are their current clients; is their estimate transparent or are there any loop holes; are they limited or can they expand along with your growth; is there an implementation plan; what about disaster recovery mechanisms; can they deliver?
Check whether communications will be smooth and trouble free and if there are any cultural differences between you and the vendor. If yes will you be able to bridge the difference.

The cornerstones of a good and ideal outsource is a company that will enhance your performance; partner you in growth by infusing talent and technology; will share your visions; and contribute positively.

Interview the companies. After you select one discuss in detail the contractual terms. Be sure to protect your own interests well. It takes trust, collaboration, communication, and chemistry to make an outsourcing successful.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak204

2008-07-28T06:55:00.002-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

The globalization phenomenon of the 90s brought about two significant changes, which were looked quite an unrealistic proportion just few years before the dawn of the 90s. The internet revolution, the ultimate thing that helped globalize the world, caused physical distances to shrink and economies became more and more interrelated, in a way such that an economic change at some part of the world bound to have some sort of an influence in other economies as well.

Globalization virtually expanded the contours within which businesses functioned earlier - both in terms of economics and service - and redrew the limits to encompass every corners of the world where businesses can be set up without much hitch and services bought in plenty. This paradigm shift had indeed become the soul of outsourcing. A good 15 years since outsourcing commenced, market researches have shown that outsourcing accounted for services at a low cost - as fewer by 50% - and that without compromising on the quality of work and execution time.

In these early years of the new millennium, where we stand today, the Asian and south-Asian countries ranks themselves as hot beds of outsourcing, a fact substantiated by market experts who put the net worth of outsourcing industry based on these countries to a whooping $100 billion, and the number increasing by the day. The figures itself is clear indication of the amount of work outsourced to this part of the world. But if you are new to this field, how to get yourself started with outsourcing? Also, there are other questions such as how to outsource work and where to find the required services and talent? Furthermore, where to post the proposals so as to receive maximum exposure? Well, these are exactly what we are trying to explain in the following paragraphs.

There are various websites in which you can submit the project proposals and requirements. Most of the websites charge a fee for signing up so as to post the project details while some others are partly-free. Also, there are free sites which allow people to sign up and advertise projects free of cost, and a nominal commission will be charged if the advertiser finds a freelancer through the site.

Which ever website you choose to post to, it is the visibility one's advertisement gets that ultimately matters in drawing more talents and hence a better talent pool from which the final selection can be made. Therefore, tactically, it will be prudent to post the project in at least two websites at a time. Ideally this should be a pay-site with the most competent services and maximum viewer ship and a free one. The project posted in the former may provide an enhanced promotion - as per the marketing standards and quality of the site - meanwhile posting in the latter, and if it is a new one like WorkAsFreelancer.com, gives the client a place at the top of the list and hence better chances for finding quality bids with less struggle.

Alongside visibility, there is one more aspect that the advertiser need to stress on - it is the type of the project and a detail of the requirements and demands from your side regarding the freelancer who is bidding for the project. It is in fact a way of telling the freelancer about what you expect from him. Such enunciated way of posting projects eliminates the issue of inappropriate bids and draws more freelancers instead.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak203

2008-07-28T06:55:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

The IT revolution can still change the destiny of Pakistan, but will require a readjustment of the sights. This readjustment will require her to work with what she has, and not what she currently doesn't!

Pakistan has been unable to produce software developers in increasing numbers, but does possess skilled workers in reasonable numbers in other fields that can provide services to clients all over the developed world through the Internet. These services range from data entry to telemarketing to insurance claims processing to payroll management to computer-aided designing to financial analysis and forecasting.

Pakistan's doctors can be employed for medical data analysis; lawyers can provide legal advice over the Web; graphic designers can produce animations. The possibilities are numerous and the opportunities lucrative. The Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Net Present Value (NPV) numbers for many of these opportunities are similar to those for the software export business.

As an example, look at the function of an insurance claims processing company. Say an automobile accident takes place in New York City. The claimant fills a paper form describing the incident and providing his particulars and submits the form to the insurance company's office in New York. The company scans the form and sends it to the offshore company in Lahore, Pakistan. That form will be automatically routed to the computer terminal of a claims examiner. The examiner goes through the form and (using some simple business rules) determines the validity of the claim and sends his decision to the insurance company in New York. End result: the New York-based company saves 50 per cent of the processing cost!

The customers for such IT-Enabled Services (ITES) are looking for more than one benefit: on the one hand, they want to achieve cost reductions of around 50 per cent, and on the other, they want an improvement in the current level of their services. By outsourcing the non-critical tasks, they also want to focus all their energies on the processes that form the core of their businesses.

Canada is the easiest market to get ITES work from, as it has the highest percentage of businesses that use outsourcing services. Number two on the list is Australia, followed by the US. A higher percentage of companies in the energy sector outsource, followed by the financial services and then, technology companies.

Companies that outsource look for service level guarantees, a proven track record and specialization in the business process of interest from the providers. Many outsourcing relationships fail because of organizational resistance in the client company, unclear performance metrics, or the client's loss of control over the outsourced business process.

The primary advantage that Pakistan's ITES businesses enjoy is the relatively low cost of labor. Secondary advantages are zero corporate taxes and low-cost infrastructure. The time zone difference between Pakistan and the US can also be an advantage in certain ITES businesses.

The key challenges that an ITES entrepreneur faces is marketing the service that he or she is striving to provide and ensuring the confidentiality and security of the client's data. Another challenge is ensuring the quality of the service that can only be achieved by having a clear and continuous organizational focus on the training of the service providers.

Pakistan-based ITES businesses face three types of competitors. The most significant competition comes from prospective clients carrying out the non-core tasks themselves. However, if clients focus on non-core tasks, they suffer from higher costs and lower efficiencies. Hence, they can be enticed by offering high-quality service at a lower, fixed cost.

The second type of competition comes from developed-countries-based outsourcing operators. They run very efficient businesses but are hampered by higher labor costs. The final type of competition comes from outsourcing operators based in low-labor-cost countries like India and Philippines. Pakistan-based ITES businesses don't really have any advantage over them, but can ignore that competition for now as the demand clearly exceeds the supply.

In summary, ITES is Pakistan's irresistible value proposition because of the availability of the trained human resource in reasonable numbers. Moreover, increasing the size of this human resource is easier as compared with what is required for software development.

ITES is a lucrative opportunity for forward-looking entrepreneurs. While selecting an ITES sector, they should look for human resource-intensive business processes in which the difference in the cost of labor between Pakistan and the target market is the largest. They should focus on utilizing their existing strengths and should also try to develop contacts with Pakistan-origin expatriates for marketing purposes. To achieve long-term success, they should look for value-adding partnerships with international companies and focus on organizational excellence and customer satisfaction.

The US economy as a whole is depressed, resulting in squeezed revenues for almost all companies. To meet their profitability targets, most companies have no option but to cut costs. Pakistan's companies can benefit from this situation by offering IT enabled services and software development services at attractive rates. These should be the best of times for Pakistan's companies.

The economic downturn in the US is an opportunity for Pakistan's ITES and software development companies, not a setback!

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak202

2008-07-28T06:54:00.002-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Finding offshore customers for a call center startup is a difficult proposition. The real challenge, however, comes afterwards - delivering and meeting the expectations of those customers!

First things first though - how to go about finding your initial customers? The first question that you need to ask yourself is why some organization should outsource work to you? For them outsourcing is certainly an attractive, but high-risk proposition. It is attractive not only because it lets them concentrate more on their core activities, but also because of cost-savings. Their risks are primarily quality and reliability related. As a startup you should be prepared to address these risks in a satisfactory manner.

For starters, you should be able to back the quality and reliability of your service. This can be done in many ways: you should try to do them in as many as possible. A standard device guaranteeing the quality and reliability is a Service Level Agreement (SLA). You should develop an SLA defining industry-standard performance criteria for your company.

You should also show the prospective customer some evidence about your track record (e.g. list of customers and testimonials) in the running of call centers. As a startup, you may not have such testimonials. In that case, you should highlight the call-center-related experience of your key team members.

Call center customers prefer specialists over generalists. Try to select a niche for yourself, e.g., order taking, helpdesk, telesales, etc., and try to build your whole selling pitch around that niche.

Before making a pitch to prospective customers, try to understand how their business work and be ready to tell them the following: how they can make-more-money or save-more-money or get-more-business or enhance-the-quality-of-their-service or improve-their-product by outsourcing their call center function to you?

Do tell them about the processes that you have in place to assure the quality of your services. An industry-standard quality certification will be invaluable in this regard. Do develop a disaster-recovery plan and share it with the potential customer.

Here are a few more suggestions: get in touch with your country's expatriates in the target country for leads and other assistance. Register your company with country-specific organizations (like NASSCOM in India, PSEB in Pakistan) and international portals like offshorexperts.com. Write to other offshore companies in outsourcing powerhouses like India, Philippines, and Canada and see if they would like to develop a partnership with you.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak201

2008-07-28T06:54:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

The outsourcing industry worldwide is booming. There are very few Information Technology sectors which are not into outsourcing. The question arises, that when everybody is jumping on the outsourcing bandwagon for obvious benefits, then why not the construction and real estate industry.

One aspect where the real estate industry can immediately benefit is in outsourcing designing of 3d models or renders of their present and future projects. It is widely acknowledged that the 3d representation of a real estate venture creates a stunning impression in the mind of the buyers, if designed appropriately.

Today, architects and builders recruit in-house designers who design 3d models for them. But then most of these people are not 3d specialists, not at least specialists in designing 3d models for real estate ventures. To achieve this purpose one needs the help of civil engineers, architects and designers working in tandem. Also, the cost of outsourcing this work is much less than compared to getting it executed in-house.

Also, to allocate resources to 3d modeling is a problamatic affair for such consultants and companies as their core business is construction and not 3d design.

To tap this opportunity many companies have emerged worldwide who specialize specifically in 3d modeling. For an architect or builder to outsource such work to these specialist companies, is a proposition of significant benefits. Not only it saves them costs but also takes the headache off their shoulders.

Also, the architectural expertise and the design expertise of 3d modeling companies
can be combined to create life-like models which would be utilized on the project website, brochures and other sale materials.
After all, a real estate venture is not a virtual commodity and folks would like to have a glimpse of the future before they invest.

Many architects have already realized this and a significant amount of work is being outsourced. Its time others realize it too and make a head start.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak200

2008-07-28T06:53:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Two Approaches:

There are two negotiation approaches prevailing in the world today, but "unfortunately" only one that is more widely spread, especially in the negotiation training circles.

First is the basic negotiation tactics approach, that dominates the training industry especially in the Western world. It is also practiced widely and naturally in the developing nations of the world.
The second is the strategic negotiation approach that is more complex and less common or even understood in the training circles, among people or in practice.

Negotiation skills in general, are a prerequisite to success in any endeavor in life, from career progression, buying a car, resolving conflicts of any scale, growing a business to finding an attractive partner.

Being a vital skill to learn, I suggest that understanding the differences between the two approaches is a step in the right direction before you plunge into an expensive courses, books and seminars on the subject.

The basic negotiation skills training prevailing in the market place today is merely a teaching of some tactics that may help people to outsmart others and get what they want from them regardless of the consequences.

This training is basically about selling a bunch of negotiating tactics to people who are eager to learn the skills fast while being amused and entertained by the presenter at the same time.

In any of this training, you learn tactics and cliches like: be assertive, win win, be prepared, aim high, be patient, focus on satisfaction (I like this tactic myself!), don't accept first offer, don't make large concessions, always be willing to walk away and so on. While this "teaching granny to suck eggs" approach to negotiation may be entertaining and fun, it certainly doesn't give the full story or help people develop any negotiation skill.

Let me assure you dear readers, having come originally from Egypt where bargaining attitude is a way of life and where every thing is negotiable, you will be eaten alive if you try to use any of these negotiating tactics you learned at a course when you negotiate with these people. Secondly if you want presenters and teachers to talk to you about negotiation tactics, I can provide them to you by the sack from these old and great developing nations.

This type of training makes a poor excuse for not teaching strategic negotiation and put people at risk of thinking that they have now acquired this vital skill.

Strategic negotiation on the other hand is a much more complex area of knowledge and yet, once learned and practiced yields greater outcome that is also long lasting.

The irony in both approaches:

The irony in both approaches is that in order to practice what you learned in the basic negotiation training, you really need to act like a "street wise" in your walk and talk or you will look like a ready and nice meal for lunch to your opponent.

Not only this, I actually believe that this basic negotiation approach is a culturally inborn trait and cannot be transmitted in training courses. It is more like you were either born with it or you were not.

The bigger irony and paradox about strategic negotiation is that while it is far more complex skill and require greater analytical mind, it is considerably easier to learn. It also lends itself more to studying and practicing and in some cases doesn't require face to face "haggling" to achieve great outcome.

Strategic negotiation skill is not a culture driven inborn skill, it is universal in its application and methods.

Let me illustrate the two approaches by giving you a simplified negotiation case from the business world.

A Case for illustration:

A large company is buying important Data Base software to use as the underlying engine for all of its computer applications. Once this software is purchased and installed, replacing it would be near impossible because of technical and financial reasons. The price runs into millions of pounds with a huge yearly maintenance fees. The technical department satisfied itself while working with the supplier in "partnership" that the product is the best in the market and have recommended its purchase to the management.

The buying organisation is now asked to begin the negotiation to achieve best possible deal.

Basic Negotiation Approach:

Following the basic negotiation approach and applying all the tactics learned, the company will get good discount because of the large up front payment it is willing to pay and the basic negotiation skills applied to the situation.

But here is the problem: as soon as this software is purchased and installed the whole balance of power for all future purchases and upgrades changes in favor of the supplier. Maintenance fees will spiral out of control and the next time the buyer tries to negotiate another deal with the same supplier he/she will find that his/her negotiating world has completely changed.

The same nice yielding sales people he/she was used to dealing with have now turned into real sharks putting their conditions and demands on the company while possibly using their strategic negotiation skills that lead them to this powerful position in the first place.

Strategic Negotiation Approach:

The strategic negotiation approach to this situation is completely different. The strategic negotiator sees the bigger picture, uses the "whole brain" approach, doesn't wait till the company tell him that it decided to buy this particular software. He/she is also working closely with the technical department, the planners and the people who will make the decision. He/she knows that such software will be needed and that he/she has to move now and mobilise the company for the acquisition long before the supplier gets a "sniff" of it.

The strategic negotiator agrees with the stakeholders on the deal brief and the wish list of the users before hand. He then adds to it the commercial wish list which must include a long term frame work agreement among many other wishes.

With this kind of preparation, information and mobilisation of the company resources and agreement with the stakeholders before hand, holding a strategizing session can inform the negotiator on the best course of action to take for this aquisition and best negotiation strategies to apply before the negotiation begin. Now as they say - the world is his/her "Oyster", he/she is prepared for the "kill".

What have been Achieved:

What have been achieved in this strategic negotiation is not only the best deal for the company now but also the strengthening of the company negotiating position for the next five years to come even when the company doesn't have the financial leverage over the supplier.

Under the basic negotiation approach, the deal left the company in a weak negotiating position for the next five years and completely at the hands of the supplier.

Strategic Negotiation demands a set of preparation, analysis and strategies before going into any negotiation, to ensure a favorable long term outcome before the negotiation begins.

Let me leave you with this great quote:

"Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat."
Sun Tzu the Art of War

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak199

2008-07-28T06:52:00.004-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Negotiating is a skill that like warfare tactics must be honed. It is important to be mentally prepared to win. Do the ground work well before your reach the negotiating table and decide on the "path" you are going to take. Positivity will help as also a sense of confidence and self esteem. Set aside any doubts you may have and stride forward prepared to win at all costs.

The five cornerstones of successful negotiation skills are placing emphasis on common points; presenting clear arguments; being innovative and open to several options; focusing on the problem being dealt with; looking for a clear solution. The key is to be clear about your preferred outcome. However in the back of your mind you must be willing to compromise to some extent.

A good negotiator is an excellent communicator and understands how human beings think, feel, and function. You must be able to befriend the people seated on the other side of the negotiating table. You must know when to push hard, when to accept a compromise, and when to walk away. A negotiator is in many ways an artist he needs a great amount of creativity to steer the negotiations to a successful completion. A negotiator must keep in mind the 3Fs: fair, fast, and firm.

According to the gurus there are tactics to be used for negotiating:

1. Be focused on the problem or issue. Logical arguments are the key to smooth negotiations.

2. It is important to be firm yet polite when making a stand or presenting a point.

3. Clearly emphasize the advantages and disadvantages.

4. Be patient and let the process of negotiation take its course.

5. Put ego aside and concentrate on the matter at hand. It is finding an amiable solution that's important not self worth or position.

6. Never threaten or manipulate the opposite party-it is completely unethical and unfair.

7. Aim for solutions that are interest based and not what individual desires or aims are. It is best to consider any situation as a whole rather than from a personal view point.

8. Avoid psychological traps and have the magnanimity to admit when you are wrong. Be open minded.

9. Don't accept weak solutions and try and negotiate a plausible settlement. Temporary measures are not what you need. A permanent solution must be sought.

10. Value time, schedules, and deadlines. A good negotiator will not beat around the bush or adopt delay tactics or waste time talking about mundane matters. It is professional to immediately get down to the business at hand.

Most human beings are born negotiators. From the first breath a baby takes it makes all around him dance to his tunes. Most of us consciously or unconsciously do what we have to do to get our own way in life. And, if we look closely it is just mastering the art of negotiation.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak198

2008-07-28T06:52:00.003-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

By definition, barter is when parties swap services or resources. But in business terms, it's an exchange that ends usually with everyone a winner. All parties involved in bartering hold onto their cold hard cash and don't lose a cent. There's no worries about getting ripped off as a buyer or seller, so it's an exchange that's high on trust, low on tension. And finally, the government doesn't get its hands on any of the proceeds. Bartering is such a great system, it's no wonder it's been around nearly forever.

Historians and archeologists reckon that bartering is a human business practice for the ages. It goes back as far as written history, and perhaps even further into mankind's (and womankind's) history of business practices.

Between humans, the actual business practice of money came long before money was invented. In written history, as far back as 9,000 BC, shepherds used cattle as a means of exchange-from sheep to cows, camels to goats. Then when farmers came along during the course of the next couple thousands of years, grains and plants became the hot commodity in the world of bartering.

Bartering may have dissipated over the years, but it by no means went away. That's the amazing thing about bartering. It still is, to this day, the ideal method of business exchange for some business folk, including companies with millions in assets. But it's especially helpful for small businesses looking to get a leg up on their competition.

Listen to people talking in today's business world, and you'll hear stories such as the programmer who helped to code an interactive Web page for a startup graphic-design company, in exchange for a logo design for his own startup surf-board design shop. Then there's the story of the new Internet advertising firm rolling out an ad campaign for a restaurant. Later that year, the restaurant hosted a "free" party and dinner for that ad firm's clients.

Examples in today's business world abound for bartering. The reason is that bartering still has many advantages to it in this modern business world.

For instance, for companies that are just starting to build up their assets, bartering is an opportunity to save their hard-earned cash. Even established companies love the chance to keep their money in the bank. With bartering, a company can get what it needs, while providing a service that the other company needs.

And because there is no money passed between pockets, the taxman does not even need to know about it. That saves you, and your accountant, the trouble of figuring out one more piece of business income or expense.

Lastly, deals involving money may whip up the old Scrooge mentality-a combination of greed and mistrust. With money deals, you may always be left wondering if you got the short end of the stick. Not so with bartering. With bartering, you get exactly what you need. And in return, you give a fair share of goods or services.

There's no need to be a Scrooge here. Instead, the whole transaction is one of trust and understanding. Generally speaking, bartering for goods and services feels more worthwhile than paying money, whether you're bartering for a dinner party for your clients, Internet advertising space, or whatever it is that you and your bartering partner agree to. Perhaps it's because you can actually feel the value of your own goods and services. Or it may be just because you don't have to open your wallet.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak197

2008-07-28T06:52:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Negotiations can seem as complex as physics, and in fact, people go to college to study the science of negotiating just as they would the laws of nature. At the same time, negotiation is like an ancient art form, some sort of Zen mental jujitsu. When neither the Zen nor the science works, though, no one wins.

Just ask any hockey fan out there. The recent lockout and cancellation of the 2004-2005 NHL season is a perfect example of poor negotiating. Both the players' union and the league owners broke all of the rules when it came to brokering an agreement on player contracts. The result are hockey rinks across North America that are so quiet that you can hear a pin drop-unfortunately, not a puck. In dollar terms, professional hockey is missing out on television contracts, advertising fees, and tons of ticket sales.

Of course, you won't lose billions in revenue if you fail at the latest negotiation at your favorite online classified or auction site. But you could let a treasure slip through your fingers. Success in deal making, on the other hand, could land you that rookie Bobby Orr card, signed Stanley Cup puck, or whatever other fantastic item you're bidding on.

Plus, proper negotiations and compromise can ensure that you get the item for its fair value, including a good price on shipping and taxes. This increases the profitability of the trade for both you and the seller. The deal gets closed without nasty disputes, blow-ups, or hip checks. And both of you are left to do business again in the future.

To score all of these benefits, and avoid your own mini lockout, follow these simple tips on negotiating that will net results at online classified sites. As you'll see, victory isn't so much an exact science or a mystic sixth sense. It's more about simple know-how and common sense.

Warm up. Don't jump into a negotiation cold. Before you even face off with your opponent, figure out for yourself what would count as a victory. What do you exactly want out of the trade-and at what price?

Consider a truce. It may not even be worth dropping the puck at all. In other words, negotiations, like hockey games, can end in a loss for the home team, you. So weigh this risk before you start. If the item at hand is a dream buy, you may not want to endanger your purchase with a drawn-out negotiation.

Know when to pass. On the other hand, if the item is far from dreamy-and you're pretty sure something better may come along later-you could pass on negotiations. Or go for the score. Offer a lowball price. If you win, you won't be out too much, and if you lose, it won't leave a mark either. But be certain if you play this game. You could miss this opportunity without a guarantee of future prospects.

Know your enemy. Coaches and players spend hours before games watching films of their impending competition to study their tendencies. You need to take the same approach when it comes to making a deal. Try to read your opponent's mind. What is his or her goals in the negotiation? Does he or she have any strengths that they can use against you? Are there any weaknesses that you can use against them?

Spot all of your passing lanes. During your research, you may find that this particular vendor isn't the only one in the game with what you're looking for. Using these other vendors, and their prices, to your advantage can help you skate circles around your competitor.

Practice before you play. Also, research the item before you make a play on it. This knowledge, such as the going price and quality markers, can work as leverage during the negotiating, too.

Translate thought into action. Your strategy can become more complicated and unpredictable-and effective-once you're in the heat of battle. Just remember to think on your feet and remember all that you learned in your "training." For instance, if you know that the vendor has other items for sale besides your target, agree easily to one of these other purchases. Go for the easy one first. That will lure them into trusting you and giving you an easy pass on future, and more important, deals.

When it comes down to it, negotiation is all about this kind of give and take. It works out best when both parties get what they want out of the deal, without feeling ripped off as if they gave too much for too little.

That brings you to the one "don't" of negotiating. Don't fear a standoff. They are part of the art and science of trading, so don't be tempted to cave in just to break the deadlock. Instead, let your opponent make the first move. They will. They want to close the deal, too, don't forget. You both will be better off for this in the long run. And you won't end up like the NHL, the No Hockey League.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak196

2008-07-28T06:51:00.003-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

When you are planning for your next trade show exhibit you should look back to when you were only browsing the many different booths, exhibits, and displays. Remember what type of exhibits got your attention. Your presentation should also draw the crowd.

Before you just rush out and purchase displays for your trade show exhibition you must take into consideration many different aspects of how you desire your presentation to look and feel. You know you want it to speak to the potential customers that are passing by and hopefully bring them over so you can speak with them. Your exhibit must get their attention so will they walk over, and then you can get their undivided attention.

You must first decide which type of exhibit will be the best to present your products, services and your company image. You should also consider your budget. No matter what your budget you can find the perfect trade show exhibits that will convey your message with the image that you want others to see.

The size of your trade show exhibit can either make or break you. If you have one to large, the exhibit will be overwhelming and if you choose one to small it will look overcrowded and cluttered. The most common sizes for trade show exhibits are 10 feet by 10 feet, 20 feet by 20 feet, and 10 feet by 20 feet. Within this size limitation, you must also choose from pop-up designs, panels or complete Truss trade show display booths.

In the 10 feet by 10 feet size, you can find some great displays in various styles and designs. With the Clever 10 foot panel, you can choose from Backlit Header, lights, the color that you prefer for the lower panel and a different one for the upper panel. The benefits of using these panels are that they are sturdy and durable but very lightweight and easy to transport. The average weight of these panels is around 130 pounds. The Genius I 10 foot panel you can also choose whether you want lights, the counter base color, Counter Laminate Color, the color of the lower panel and the upper panel. The features of this type of panel is that it is a folding panel display system, has 6 upper hinged panels, 6 lower hinged panels, 1 backlit header and lights, 1 alcove counter top and 1 alcove counter base. This wonderful panel is very impressive for all types of displays and normally weighs around 200 pounds.

If you prefer a larger size like the 20 feet by 20 feet, you should like the features that are included with pop-up displays and Truss display booths. The best pop-up display of this size is the Trilogy 20' x 20' Island Pop up Trade Show Display. The features of this unique display are that it is in actuality three trade show booths in one. It has the 10-foot wide back-to-back exhibiting area that creates a triangular or star shape. If gives you the ability to present your products or different aspects of your company all the way around the display. You will also be able to choose the color and fabric that you desire along with a case to counter conversion kit and the colors and fabrics of this kit, lights, shelf package, Backlit Header Package and Reconfiguration Panels. 20 feet by 20 feet Truss booths come in a few unique styles such as the Cassiopeia, which features a steel construction; high shine silver color, 4 tabletops, and the ability to assemble with just four screwdrivers that are included. The Centaurus features the same quality steel construction, the high shine silver color, 24 silver spotlights, and the ability to add tabletops in either lightwood or silver in color. The Neptune is sure to grab attention with features like a modular system that is quick and easy to assemble. The Jupiter is another modern and innovative display which gives you great features such as high shine silver color, quality steel construction, 6 tabletops in either light wood or silver, 8 silver spot lights, and easy to assemble with screw drivers that are included. The Vega is similar to other Truss booths but is an eye catching and appealing booth with options for tabletops, colors, and design.

The 10 feet by 20 feet size of displays gives you styles and designs to choose from such as pop-display's, panels, and Truss booths. All of these also have many unique styles and designs that are sure to aid you in presenting your products, your company, or your services in a manner that is not only unique, stylish and original, but with prices within your budget.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak195

2008-07-28T06:51:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

When it comes to displaying items at a trade show, you have many options from banner stands, literature stands and pop-up displays. You may choose to use more than one type of trade show display unit since each one can be used together to give a more full effect and useful information.

Banner Stands
Banner stands come in an array of sizes and designs. the majority of banner stands are portable are designed to be set up in very quickly and have a practical existence for several trade shows as long as they are treated properly. Deciding on which type of banner stand is best for you is to decide among the varieties available. The main types are retractable, spring back and telescopic.

Rollable banner stands are great for creating a floor standing photo mural. This type has hardware that allows the graphic image to be seen from the floor to the top of the image. The main selling point for this type is that from the front of the stand all your potential customers will see is the image. All of the hardware is either hidden or a small portion is at the top or the bottom of the stand. Therefore, the hardware is not what is noticed by visitors to your display. The rollable display can also be attached side by side with other rollable banner stands to create a much longer imager that can be as long as ten feet or more.

Retractable banner stands may be better if you are seeking durability. The graphic in this unit is rolled in and out of a metal housing, which is at the bottom of the display. With retractable banner stands, the lamination is on both sides this will aid in preserving and protecting the image from any type of damage.

Literature Racks
Literature racks also come in many different styles, designs and sizes that will enable you to fit all of the literature that you would like to offer to potential customers. Most of the time trade show literature racks are silver or black and have 3 to 5 pockets. A few larger ones are similar to a magazine rack that you commonly see at the grocery store holding comic books.

The most popular literature rack is probably the Zed Up. This great literature rack has a shelf system that can be folded down and put into its own bag for transporting. The main reason this type of literature rack is popular is that you do not have to remove the literature when you are ready to pack up. There are two sizes of the Zed Up, one with 3 pockets that will hold single brochures and another that will hold larger quantities of literature in each pocket.

You may desire a more sleek and modern design which would be the Slope literature rack. It is also very easy to transport by just folding the rack flat. It has 3 pockets that will hold literature 10 inches wide by 57 inches high and 16 inches deep. The slope has its own carrying bag as well for easier transport.

Pop-up displays
There are quite a few different types of pop-up displays that you can enjoy using for your trade show needs. There are five fashionable types that most people prefer which include the Standard Pop-up Displays, the Photo Mural Pop-up Displays, the Fabric Mural Pop-up Displays, the Commercial Pop-up Displays, and the 3-D Style Pop-up Displays. Each one has their own unique qualities and style to enhance your trade show experience.

The commonest is the standard pop-up. These are normally around 10 feet wide with a curved design. They are usually made with lightweight aluminum frame, PVC or steel channel bars, individual aluminum, or Velcro fabric panels.

The photo mural pop-up displays are pretty much like the standard pop-up displays except they use photo mural panels instead of the Velcro fabric panels. The photo mural pop-ups draw more attention because of the large format graphics that they use.

With the fabric mural pop-up display, you do not have to worry about set up as much. The mural is attached to the frame, which makes setting up faster and easier than with the standard or the photo mural style. This type also weighs less than most standard pop-ups on the market today. You can choose from a curved or non-curved design and most come with their own carrying bag.

Commercial Pop up displays may be what you need, but they are a bit more expensive. This type is sturdy and can take a bit more mistreatment or mishandling than other units can.

One of the newest pop up displays on the market today is the 3-D Style Pop-up Display. These are similar to the fabric mural displays in that the fabric image is attached to the frame, but you can choose from different shapes such as square or round. Set up is easy and quick.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak194

2008-07-28T06:50:00.000-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Trade show booths come in an array of styles and designs that will show off your products, your services or your company in an unforgettable manner that offers a unique appeal, which is intelligent, chic and contemporary. Most trade show booths are very easy to assemble and transport to make your experience a more enjoyable one.

Choosing the perfect trade show booth to accommodate the products that you wish to display will be very easy once you know just how much room you will have at the trade show and how much material you will be presenting.

A bit of flash and sophistication never hurt a presentation. You only have a few minutes to grab the attention of a potential customer, client, or buyer. As they walk past your trade show booth, you must have something that will draw their attention, whether it is your personality, the products themselves or a very unique design displayed to entice.

To begin with, you should choose a trade show booth that will fit properly with the allotted space you have been assigned. You can choose from 10 feet by 10 feet, 10 feet by 20 feet or 20 feet by 20 feet Truss trade show booths. Each one has a compelling appeal that with the right graphics will draw a crowd to your booth. Be sure to get a trade show booth that will hold everything you wish to present without your visitors feeling claustrophobic, clutter will definitely turn them away. They should be able to walk around and through your display without bumping into items and knocking items off counters and shelves.

Remember most people will notice items that are eye level. This is where the main attraction should be. You want the area to be well lit, colorful, and maybe even add some music. You must attract attention just before they get to your booth. If they notice a pleasant, stylish, elegant trade show booth, they will at least stop and look around.

Now, you should start to think about what trade show booth you should purchase. In the 10 feet by 10 feet style, you can choose from the Carina, the Pluto, the Mars, Mercury, Cygnus, Lyra, Castor, and Sirius. All of these styles offer durable steel construction, 2 or 3 tabletops in either lightwood or silver in color, 2 or 3 silver spotlights, and the tools for assembly.

If you believe a 10 foot by 20 foot trade show booth will present your products better then you can decide on some quality and professional looking booths such as the Andromeda which comes complete with 4 tabletops and 5 silver spotlights, the Hydrus with 2 tabletops and 5 silver spotlights, the Venus with 5 tabletops and 4 silver spotlights, the Saturn with 2 tabletops and 5 silver spotlights, the Polaris with 4 tabletops and 5 silver spotlights, and the Arcturus with 4 tabletops and 7 silver spotlights. Each one of these trade show booths will have potential customers clamoring to your display to see what you are offering.

Next, in line to consider are the 20 foot by 20-foot trade show booths. You may believe these are just too big for your company. Nevertheless, remember you do not want any clutter and you want your guests to be able to walk around and feel comfortable while they are eyeing your products. This size may be the perfect size to display everything you wish without any worries about missing something you believe is an important selling feature. You can choose from Truss trade booths in this size and style that include the Cassiopeia, the Centaurus, the Neptune, the Jupiter, the Vega and the Orion. All have wonderful features that you desire with steel construction and easy to assemble.

Prices for trade show booths may seem a bit expensive, especially if this is your first time being involved in a trade show. But, you must remember trade show booths are an investment. You can use them time and time again and with the quality steel construction, they can last for years to come. Spending the money now to make a statement for your company is a wise decision that can lead to more money and loyal customers in the years to come.

There are also many different accessories that you can add with your trade show booth that will give your company many more options when presenting your services or products to the world. Enjoy setting up your booth and bring in more customers with the perfect trade show booth with a style of elegance, innovation, and style.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak193

2008-07-28T06:49:00.004-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Introduction
In today's U.S. marketplace, marketing to various ethnic audiences is vital to consumer-oriented product and service companies. Latinos and African Americans already have a critical mass of buying power of over $1 trillion combined and this total is increasing rapidly. The growth of the Hispanic and African American affluent and middle class is occurring faster than the majority of Caucasian Americans. These ethnic audiences are becoming so large and lucrative that even sub-groups of them command substantial buying power. Becoming the dominate player within a sub-group such as affluent and middle class 2nd generation Latinos would allow a company to make substantial revenue and develop a strong loyal customer base. To "own" an ethnic market space would enable a company to obtain monopoly-like profits!

The 4 Benefits of Owning Ethnic Spaces
Tapping into and creating ethnic space monopolies is at the heart of this article and should be the goal of every ethnic marketing plan. Owning an ethnic market space yields the following 4 critical benefits:

1. High Monopoly-Like Profits
2. Loyal Customer Base
3. High Lifetime Value of Customers
4. Low Competitive Dynamics (Competition Blind Spots)

It is for this reason that ethnic marketing and owning market space in the Hispanic and African American audiences is not a "side" item, but a vital strategy which affects the whole enterprise and will only increase in importance as this century progresses. This kind of marketing can turn a marginally profitable company into a revenue generating "powerhouse" and an unprofitable company into a firm that operates solidly in the "black" - no pun intended.

Importance of Perceived Needs
The first step to finding "ownable" ethnic market spaces is to discover which groups of ethnic consumers are underserved or are not actively targeted by an industry's product or service offerings. An executive, manager, or business owner must find an ethnic market space with a differing set of values, and different perceived needs than mainstream consumers. For example, Hispanics believe that family life and the home are very important, so products and services by a company geared toward key aspects of domestic home life have a chance to dominate niches within that space.

The most powerful driver of finding an untapped market space of ethnic customers is perceived need - whether that is for basic functionality or additional comfort or luxury. One may say that this is also true for the general market but a good marketer will understand that this perception of need differs from mainstream consumers. Latinos and African Americans view the world and products & services from a completely different paradigm than Caucasian Americans. Their values, lifestyle, cultural and taste are all different from the mainstream and this phenomenon translates into unique selection, buying, and usage habits for a given set of goods and services. For example, the urban African American 'middle class' higher desire for stylish and designer brand items and the raised threshold for luxury should be a driving factor in developing products and services for this market space.

Capitalize on Heterogeneous View by Competitors
An additional key factor for locating potential monopoly spaces is to examine ethnic spaces overlooked by the competition. In the multicultural marketing of even the most progressive companies, often whole ethnic groups are viewed heterogeneously. Especially for Latinos, this could not be a bigger mistake. Latinos have a multitude of sub-groups that are the result of the following major factors:

1. Country of Origin
2. Acculturation
3. Generation
4. Spanish Language Usage
5. Level of Affluence

A company cannot expect to use mainstream marketing to effectively reach Latinos and African Americans. For Blacks, the "they speak English too" syndrome pervades throughout industry and is used as an excuse for not trying to understand the various segments within the African American consumer audience. For astute executives and marketers, "broad brush" marketing by the competition to ethnic audiences represents huge opportunities to own a substantial set of key niche spaces within the Latino and African American audiences. To many marketers, these ethnic niches are invisible. This creates the perfect opportunity in many industries for companies to choose and capture valuable niche spaces within Hispanic and African American consumer audiences.

Important Relationship Strategy
Strategically, it is important for an executive or marketer to develop deep relationships with a particular ethnic audience. This relationship is particularly important for companies offering a service or providing a product that differentiates itself in the marketplace. This means not just having marketing featuring Latinos and African American characters and themes but targeting specific groups within this audience. This type of marketing will really speak to the target group and develop deep ties with them that will be hard to break by competitors. It is important to concentrate on a key set of sub-groups to maximize penetration and effectiveness, and to create a strong base. A company's product or service should not try to be all things to all members of the larger general ethnic group - this is a recipe for a weak market.

Conclusion
Owning ethnic market space is very profitable and in the near future for the U.S. market, it will become essential to ensure business growth. Companies are now looking to ethnic minority groups as a source to fuel their growth as the mainstream market continues to be over-saturated. To own a space, it is vital to let the perceived need of a targeted group drive the product or service offering, and to understand the nuances in reaching sub-groups within the greater minority audience. This creates markets within the U.S. which are equally or more attractive than China or India, due to their easier accessibility and huge buying power. In most consumer industries, these ethnic sub-space pockets are huge gold ores just waiting to be mined!

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak192

2008-07-28T06:49:00.003-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Network Marketers lose many prospects because they try too hard to close the deal. It is a natural reaction for people to shun being sold, but they love to buy. By letting prospects close themselves, you will end up putting more people in your downline.

Most MLM Trainers tell networkers to sell features and benefits. When promoting a network marketing opportunity, features and benefits selling is hard work. The prospect is always suspicious, and moving away from you.

The way we eliminate this fear and suspicion is to use what we call a Crossover Move.

Let's demonstrate what happens when a Crossover Move is used:

The Prospect says, "I really like your opportunity."
The Networker says, "Interesting. Based upon our discussion to this point, I would not have guessed you had any interest in my opportunity. What did I miss?"

Did you see the Crossover? Instead of moving in for the close, we gently moved away, and let the prospect close himself. Let's continue and see what happens next.

The Prospect says, "Maybe you missed how your marketing system will solve my problem with duplication."
The Networker says, "Really. I'm still a little confused. Could you be a little more specific?"
The Prospect says, "Sure. By doing... "

Did you see what just happened? The prospect is doing all the work to close himself. The prospect is buying, not being sold. Isn't that easy? Just one last move, and then we're done.

The Networker says, "John, what would you like to do next?"
The Prospect says, "I'm ready to sign-up."

No surprise stalls or last minute objections. The prospect feels in control, and is moving the process forward. And because of this, he is much more likely to sign-up for autoship and start signing up other distributors right away. Because he bought, he is self- motivated.

The Crossover Move consists of two parts: the build-up and the take-away. Here's an example:

"Conversational Recruiting^TM has been called the most powerful recruiting process in Network Marketing, but it's not for everyone."

The build-up is: "Conversational Recruiting^TM has been called the most powerful recruiting process in Network Marketing."

The take-away is: "but it's not for everyone."

The build-up captures the imagination of the prospect, while the take-away entices the prospect to want to know more. The prospect then begins selling you on why they would be interested.

Once you've mastered the fine art of the Crossover Move, you can sit back and watch your prospects sell you on wanting to get involved with your network marketing opportunity. You build up, then take away; build up, then take away... and if you do that long enough, prospects sell themselves.

Why is this called the Crossover Move? Because it is the opposite of what MLM Trainers tell networkers to do when recruiting someone new into network marketing. It crosses over from the expected, to the unexpected. Most of all, like all Conversational Recruiting^TM methods, it just flat-out works.

Achieving MLM Success requires that you step away from the norm. Crossover Moves allow you to do just that, and step into the ranks of the Super Recruiters.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak191

2008-07-28T06:49:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Ever hear someone say "Don't listen to them! They just want to take you on a rollercoaster ride!"

Many people who care about you and your well being will say something to this effect when you are provided with a business opportunity online. It is a way to deter you from joining up but what does it mean?

A rollercoaster provides anxiety building climbs, adrenaline pumping falls and exhilarating twists and turns. Half the time one is unsure which direction they are going and after all the ups and downs and twists and turns they find themselves back where they started.

Like a rollercoaster there are times when business is slow and times when things seem to be overwhelming fast. However, the scariest part is that no one wants to end up where they started with their business. Starting up a business costs money too, so if you end up where you started you are actually at a loss.

This is what upsets people. No one wants to put themselves through such a stressful event and come out with less than what they put in! It is true that the aim of a rollercoaster is to provide some exciting entertainment, but a business is viewed as a very serious money making system. If you don't make money then the business experience is considered a total waste. A scam.

But it is exactly this mentality that prevents people from succeeding in life. Money cannot buy happiness. If you're only goal is to make money then every drop, climb and twist in your business will be felt doubly. It will consume you. To a person with this state of mind every missed chance at a sale is a disheartening loss and reason to give up.

It's like wishing a rollercoaster ride was over as you climb into the seat. Your goal is to have fun but if you are too fearful of the ups and downs then when you get to the end you've missed the point of taking the rollercoaster! Many people get off at the end and say "I'll never do that again!"

The same can be said for a home business. If you wish you had all the money before you even started your business then you are missing the point of having money. Why did you want to join a business? Most people say for the money but then why would you want money? Many people who start up their businesses do not need it to survive but rather to gain luxuries in their lives. Sure you could buy that new car or house but why does that make you happy?

It is for the status. It is for the experience; for a sense of freedom and accomplishment. Money does not buy all of these things for you but rather it is the time and energy you have spent taking on the rollercoaster.
If you start up a business with the sole intent to make money then you will end up like the other 95% of internet based businesses that fail. The most successful people take heed of the advice, "Watch out, they want to take you on a rollercoaster ride." and expect that there will be ups and downs but they have fun with them. Even if they do not make money they learn from their experiences and apply the knowledge they learn. In real life there are ups and downs to everything and it is the way one deals with these ups and downs that determines the quality of their lives.

Money is only a symbol of one's real goals. It is an illusion born from materialism that blinds so many people from the rollercoaster ride that is their life; from the rollercoaster that is their business. It makes every twist and every turn more frightening and overwhelming. Do not become blind and miss the ride because sometimes the journey is more important than its end.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak190

2008-07-28T06:48:00.004-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

I'm sure many of you are familiar with the original ice cream shop that offers you a taste of any flavor ice cream you want before you make your decision on which scoop you are going to enjoy.

Giving you a taste (or as many tastes of different flavors as you'd like) is a brilliant way to ensure that you not only order a cone at that moment, but it's also a way to bring you back to try more flavors on another day.

You can use this brilliant marketing strategy in building your business, too. Offering your prospects a taste of what it is that you provide is a proven and easy way to get people to become part of your community, and part of your marketing/product funnel (the funnel is the "journey" (that builds a relationship over time) that your clients follow from the first visit to your website, where they enter by giving you their contact information, down through each level as they make their way through each purchasing step in the funnel). By offering them a sample, you're giving them an opportunity to get to know you without risking anything more than perhaps a bit of time.

In your marketing/product funnel, the taste you are giving your potential clients is at the top of the funnel, the widest part. The taste is your freebie/complimentary/gift offering and is your first (and usually only!) opportunity to engage your prospect. Your taste needs to be something of value that you offer for free to people who visit your website in exchange for their contact information, usually their name and email address.

This is often one of the most overlooked steps in building an online business. A prospect needs to see your message many times (it ranges anywhere from 5-10) before they will feel confident enough to risk handing over their money to you. In order to build a relationship with people you need to be able to contact them again, which means your goal is to capture their email address before they click away from your website.

If they leave, it's unlikely that they will come back, so don't lose the opportunity to welcome them into your community, your funnel. They landed at your website because they were looking for something (usually a solution to a problem they are having, right? :)). Give them a taste of the solution you offer. And remember to make it easy for them: make your sign-up form or email so obvious that they'd have to trip over it not to notice it (yes, that includes pop-ups and the like, because even if they annoy you as much as they do me, they work!).

So, what can you offer of value in exchange for their email address? A newsletter, an ecourse, an audio clip, or a special report, are all good options. Personally, I like the offer of an ecourse AND an ezine. You give them a taste of what your services are like with the ecourse, and then you keep in touch with them on a regular basis with the ezine. The ezine allows you to build a bond with your readers in a uniquely personal way, letting them get to know, like and trust you over time, with you having to build that bond one-on-one.

So, one caution is to not offer any one-on-one interaction with you at this level. You want to leverage your time, and offering free consultations or one-time meetings with you is not a good use of your time. Let them get to know you over the course of your freebie offering. When and if they become serious about you and your products or services, they will move further down the funnel (from free to fee) without you having to "sell" them on what you provide during a complimentary session (how nice is that?).

So what is your taste going to be? Here are some other ideas:

write a Top Ten article about the benefits of your products and services, convert it to a PDF file, and offer it as a special report.
record a short audio about the three key things your niche needs to know about X.
create a mini ecourse that encompasses the five steps to getting started for your market.
or create a quick-start guide that helps your market focus on how to get started.

Once you've given them a taste, they will likely come back for more, eventually turning from a prospect to a client. Creating a taste of what you provide is easy and it's fun. Try it and watch what happens!

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak189

2008-07-28T06:48:00.003-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

What makes one logo better than another?

Simplicity.

A good logo works in the simplest form. It is a memorable representation of your brand and inspires confidence in your customers. It should be fresh and original -- without visual cliches or amateur effects. A logo is well-designed when it looks as good on a business card as it does on a web page or a billboard. To be functional, a good logo must reduce well to simple black & white or grayscale for use on faxes or in newspaper ads. The best logos are elegantly simple.

Why do you need a logo?
In a way, a logo is a visual shortcut to who you are. Your logo will establish your corporate identity and credibility. It builds loyalty among your clients and employees. You invest in your brand image every time your logo is displayed on a Web page, on a sign, or in an advertisement.

A professionally designed logo enables you to be immediately recognizable and must be unique, memorable and simple. Such a logo will become one of your most valuable corporate assets over time.

How does your current logo stack up?
Run down this logo quick test:

Does the logo have immediate impact?
Is it good to look at?
Is it distinctive?
Does it create or evoke a positive image?
Does it accurately represent the organization or business?
Is it straightforward?
Is it comprehensible?
Is it memorable?
Is it flexible?
Does it copy well?
Will it hold up to both large and small scale use?
Will it wear well over time?
Will you be proud to use it?

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak188

2008-07-28T06:48:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Do you sometimes wonder where your customers have gone? In a study by the International Customer Research Institute, individuals gave the following reasons for becoming "non-repeat" customers:

1 percent died (makes you wonder how they responded)
3 percent moved
5 percent said friendships
9 percent said competition
14 percent were dissatisfied with the product
68 percent cited an attitude of indifference by employees

How many times do you think that employee attitude is communicated by phone? Very often the telephone is the first and only contact that people have with your organization. Make sure that this experience is the best you and your employees have to offer so that first-time callers become repeat customers.

Smile when you answer the phone. Even if your hair is on fire or the last caller chewed you out, pause for a moment to put a smile on your face and in your voice. Believe it or not, people can hear you smiling through the phone.

Answer the phone on the first ring, certainly no later than the third ring. If people have to wait through rings four and five, they begin to think that you have closed for the day, gone out of business or just don't care. We live in a world that expects instant gratification. Be sure you meet your customers' expectations.

Ask permission before you put someone on hold. You may have multiple lines ringing and a line of people standing at your desk, but wait to hear the caller's response. It is that person's choice to hold or not. Try not to turn this move into a power play. When you come back on the line, thank the person for holding. If you have to ask the caller to continue to hold, offer to take a number and return the call.

Transferring calls should be done with care. Before you connect the caller to someone else's extension, make sure that person is in and able to help. There is nothing more frustrating than being transferred over and over again and having to retell the same story to a multitude of different people before finding the right one.

Before you send the call to co-worker, give the caller that person's name and number in case there is a disconnect. Better yet, tell the caller who you are and how to reach you if there is a problem. You will have an extremely satisfied customer.

Always make an offer of help. It may not be your department, your issue or your job, but if it is the customer's problem, you need to show concern. Never tell the caller " 'I don't know'" or "I can't help you." The best response to a problem is a genuine "Let me see what I can do or who I can find to help you."

You will win customers and influence people every time when you use good phone skills.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak187

2008-07-28T06:47:00.004-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

The vast majority of business literature is boring. This applies to printed and web writing alike. It is sometimes tempting to inject a bit of light-heartedness into the text, but it is a dangerous game.

Some time ago, I edited the marketing materials produced by a London hotel. One of the hotel's attractions was its leisure centre, which included a well-equipped gym. The original script referred to a 'large satellite TV to give some relief from the torture.' Now, I have to admit that I agree with the sentiment. The strange machines in gyms are as painful as they are boring. Nevertheless, this was an unwise piece of ironic humour.

The gym is a selling point to people who already like hard exercise, not to couch potatoes like me. Why present a negative perception of the gym, however obviously it is intended as humour? Of course, it is unlikely to deter the hardened keep-fit fanatic and, no matter how the gym is marketed, I am a lost cause. The big risk is that it puts off someone who is wondering whether to try a gym during a leisure weekend. Reminding them that long-forgotten muscles are going to ache is perhaps not the best selling point.

We changed the brochure to say that the gym has a 'large satellite TV to keep you entertained.' The number of guests using the gym has increased. Enough said!

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak186

2008-07-28T06:47:00.003-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

I recently carried out a web-site review for a solid and successful company. It had followed most of the 'rules' for getting high traffic, but had somehow missed the mark. I suspect that a large number of visitors found the site unconvincing, uninspiring and unmemorable. The site certainly did little to enhance the company's otherwise very high reputation. I quickly spotted the problem, but it took me a while to figure out the underlying cause.

The problem itself was really very simple. Each page was fine on its own, but the site as a whole was not coherent. Some pages had long paragraphs while others were written in bullet points. Sentences varied hugely in length and complexity. Key staff were profiled by some departments, but not by others. Even key branding language varied, including, believe it or not, the name of the company!

The root of the problem was somewhere in the overall co-ordination of the site. The obvious conclusion was that whoever was in charge was not sufficiently skilled as an editor. But that was not enough. Why were senior executives not dealing with it?

The company's paper publications were excellent, with attention to detail and a common style across the range from annual reports and press releases to marketing materials and recruitment leaflets. Each department's copy passed through the hands of a small editorial team who corrected and improved the language and transformed it into a coherent company style. Beyond this, a director ensured consistency and co-ordinated the output of different departments in accordance with the board's strategic demands.

The web site was a totally different ball game.

The company leaders regarded the web site as a techie issue. The different departments were giving well-written copy, but there was no-one with proper editing experience to pull it together. Executives were satisfied with the web pages that were relevant to their own departmental responsibilities and were happy to leave the site management in the hands of someone who understood the technical issues involved. This was the equivalent of leaving paper publications in the hands of printers and graphic designers.

The lessons are clear. First, ensure proper executive oversight of your website. If it isn't already, your site will soon be the most frequently viewed representation of your company. Second, make full use of professional editors for your site's text. It depends upon your company's circumstances whether you are better off doing this in house or outsourcing.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak185

2008-07-28T06:47:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Do you often wonder why it is that some coaches and other solo service providers seem to be well-known and sought after in their niche and while others, many others (you, perhaps?), still struggle to attract all the clients they'd like?

I can give you a simple (really!) solution to that problem. It's called the Marketing Funnel and if you implement it in your business, I promise that you too can enjoy being considered an expert, in addition to selling more of your products and services. And you'll just have more fun!

You know what a funnel looks like, right? It's wide and the top and tapers down to a narrow opening. When your prospects enter your funnel through your ezine or other (usually) freebie offering, they are in the "getting to know you"level of the funnel. Once they get to know you, like you and trust you, they likely will move down to the next level, which will include your for-fee products and services, your least expensive ones first, increasing in value and cost as they continue downwards, until they eventually get to hiring you one-on-one or to your other big ticket item. That's basically how the funnel system of marketing works.

I see a lot of coaches and other solo service professionals offer a freebie at the top of their funnel, and then their one-on-one service packages at the bottom, with nothing in between. I've made this mistake myself. It's important to have offerings at each level of your marketing funnel so people can continue to get to know, like and trust you, as well as get to know, like and trust your products and services.

And when you offer your products and services at different price points, you are lowering the financial and emotional risk for your prospects. You are essentially making it impossible for them not to buy from you!

Implementing this system is easy. Get started by attract prospects into your funnel. Create a freebie offering (an ezine, mini ecourse, ebook, report, guide, checklist, etc.) and put a sign-up form 'above the fold' and prominently on your website. You'll want to add a link to your freebie offering in your email signature as well.

For example, one version of my current email signatures says:
"Are you on the verge of giving up on your business because you don't have enough clients?

Don't turn your back on your vision for entrepreneurial success. Get your FREE 5-day ecourse '5 Keys to Driving an Abundance of Clients to Your Business' by sending a blank email to clientabundance@aweber.com."

This is one highly effective way I attract folks into my funnel.

Once you have prospects in your funnel, find ways to give them more valuable content at increasingly higher prices as they go through the funnel.

For example, the second level of your funnel might offer an ebook for $27 or an ecource for $39. The third level might have a home study course for $147 or a series of teleseminars for $77 each. The fourth level might offer a boot camp for $347, and the fifth level might offer your one-on-one services for $500.

Get the picture? Fabulous - now go to it!

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak184

2008-07-28T06:46:00.005-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

You've written a great press release and it's ready to go.

But the bigger question remains: who do I send it to?

Before you begin sending the release to anyone and everyone, take heed. By not targeting the release to the right person at the right media outlet, your release will simply go into the trash and you'll never gain the respect of any reporter.

So look long and hard at your perfect release. Who would be truly interested in it? Let's face it, Oprah probably doesn't care you have developed additions to your product line.

So look for publications and media that match your target market, not where you'd like to appear.

Where to find media listings?
Once you determine who you want to send the release to generally, you need to get all the information on the media. You can use the following to find who your looking for:

1. Surf the 'Net. Several databases are available for a fee. But you may find they are out of your budget. In addition, there are several free listings of media on the Internet. These are great for a start, but often leave out important contact information and may never be updated.

2. Use the library. Most libraries have resource directories that list local and national media. Take a few hours and write down all the information you need. You'll need to remember, however, that since these directories are in print, many of the listings may be out of date.

3. Use what you already have. A savvy person is already monitoring what's going on in their target market's media, often to subscribing to publications and using RSS feeds & news alerts on the Internet. (Check out Google's News Alerts to create your own). Every time you find a story that is related to your topic, write down the name of the reporter and contact information.

Don't forget you need to verify the information. Editors and the like often change roles or switch companies, so regardless how recent you feel the information is that you have, you need to call to verify it. Gatekeepers (the receptionists) can often be protective with contact names and employee information and very seldom just give this information away. Asking them to verify what you have can prove to be more productive.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak183

2008-07-28T06:46:00.003-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

A magnet has the properties to attract certain metals, and a magnetic person has the qualities, talents, or skills to attract others in a magnetic like manner.

In the world of network marketing, how can someone acquire that type of personality, how can someone become a magnetic sponsor, and develop a large base of customers using magnetic like attributes?

Before I answer that question, read this quote:

"Nobody who bought a drill actually wanted a drill. They wanted a hole. Therefore, if you want to sell drills, you should advertise information about making holes - NOT information about drills!" - Perry Marshall

There is a lot of meaning behing this quote, but in a few words it contains the secret to becoming a highly successfull magnetic sponsor.

Would you rather spend $200 bucks on a drill, or first get free or inexpensive information to learn how to operate that drill properly and effectively? If you are like me, I am sure you would first learn more about how you can make a good hole with this tool before making that kind of purchase.

Would you rather buy from a salesperson who insists that his/her drill is the best tool for what you want to do? I wouldn't. Because I don't like to be sold, and I don't like people to pitch their sales number on me.

Would you rather buy from a person who gave you free information or inexpensive information on how to properly operate, and get the best results from that tool, and who did not try to pitch a drill on you?

Again, if you are like me, you would buy from a person who first took the time to educate you on how to make that hole proper. In your mind, this person is an expert in his/her field, he/she knows what he/she is talking about. So you sell yourself on buying that drill from him/her.

This is what many network marketers keep doing, they keep pitching their opportunities on their family, friends, relatives, and get all hyped up on the net, on their ads, and every one they encounter. But guess what? People do not care about your business opportunity, what they care about is a solution to their problems. In other words, you did not buy a business opportunity (drill) because you wanted one. You wanted a solution (hole) for more free time to spend with your family, be your own boss, earn a living online, or get rich, etc..

So, what you need to do instead of pitching your opportunity to your prospects, is to sell them inexpensive or give away free information that shows how to solve problems - how to drill that "hole."

If you can show them how to make that "hole", your prospects will come to the conclusion on their own without you pounding hard on them that they need a drill from you. Why? Because you gave them free knowledge or inexpensive information on how to accomplish their goal, and therefore earning their trust in you.

This is one of the main principles that will allow you to become magnetic and attract your prospects to come to you, instead of you chasing after them.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak182

2008-07-28T06:46:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

The first thing that I noticed when I got onto the small boat at the harbour in Enniscrone, Co. Sligo, was the cleanliness and order of the boat. The skipper in charge had all of the rods, upright, with their lines neatly tucked away, in holders. The holders were made out of piping, about 30cm long, which had been welded to the side of the boat.

A simple, inexpensive aid had made me sit up and pay attention. This skipper thought about his customers, and this device left a strong impression. We then got a very short lecture on safety, checked we had our life jackets on, and off we went. About 12 of us!

Finding your target market
About 12 minutes later, the skipper stopped the boat, and told us we should find some mackerel here. He explained that the lures on the hooks looked just like what mackerel wanted to eat. It certainly was not something I would have fancied!

He explained that through his experience and the help of a little sonar gadget on his boat, that he knew there was a shoal of fish below. We all slung our rods over the side and dropped our lines.

Reeling in the sale
Now I don't know about you, but this was totally new to me. I wound up the line frantically, as soon as I felt a tug, and hey presto, there were three fish dangling off the hooks. I started flailing about, one jumped off before I even got it in over the side, and when I was trying to reel it in the final bit I lost an other one. The one that I got in, I lost down the gutter when I finally got it off the hook.

The skipper explained to me, that once a fish took the bait, I should give a quick tug on the rod, to make sure it was firmly hooked. I should then take my time, to reel it in. Secure the rod in the holder, with the fish hanging over the bucket and deal with them one by one - I did, and I ended up with 20 fish, which delighted me, as I had set a target of 10, since my friend had caught 9 on his first time

So what are the lessons for marketing - if you are still with me, and have not already got most of them, here they are in business speak;
1. Set goals and targets that are realistic, and based on some valid foundation or research.
2. Have simple procedures set up, to make it easy to operate and for your customers to conduct business with you.
3. Speak in your prospects language, about what they want - it's a bit like the fish bait, unlikely that strawberries and cream will catch many mackerel!
4. Once you know what your prospects like, find out where they are, do some research and target them accordingly - as in our example, not much point in putting down shark bait in a shoal of mackerel.
5. Once you get your customers attention, or have a lead, qualify it, and ensure you follow up at all time to close the sale. Again the use of a good sales process is essential here.

The bottom line, if you know what problems or desires your customers have, and you can solve or fulfill these, while providing value for money, you will always be a winner.

And if you don't know the answer to that question, go ask the people who have already bought from you - they do!

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak181

2008-07-28T06:45:00.004-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

All companies are set up with one key goal in mind - to make money. Owners and investors put money into a company based on a business idea and plan. However, without continued and profitable sales they will fail.

It is essential that business owners realise how crucial it is to plan their sales and marketing effectively. This means understanding why people buy their products, who buys them, what problems purchasing those products solve, and what solving those problems enables the purchaser to do. Finally understanding how customers will put a value on the ownership of the product, as well as understanding the cost of not buying them.

In line with this, it is also very important to know the decision making process and also who their competitors are. This will impact the sales and marketing strategy, as well as pricing.

If you are not an experienced Sales or Marketing Manager, or indeed do not have the time to do everything yourself, you should look to investing in some services to compliment your own skill set. Below are some criteria, you should consider, before deciding on someone to help you generate additional business;

Experience -
Do they have relevant experience in my type of business - Do they have satisfied customers?

Understanding -
Do they understand what my issues and problems are - More importantly, do they understand my target market's issues?

Methodology -
Do they follow and implement proven processes - Will they work for my business?

Measurement -
Do they track all results - Can I see exactly what I am getting for my money?

Shared Risk -
Do they work on a flat or fixed Fee - Or is their remuneration part based on my actual sales?

Credibility -
Do they sound believable - Am I prepared to trust the future of my business with this firm?

Integrity -
How honest are they with me - Are my customer contacts, plans and aspirations safe?

And finally

Passion -
Do they have a passion to succeed in their own business, which will reflect on what they do for my Business?

Any engagement with an outside firm should be based on partnership. You need to share common values, and beliefs. While all businesses should operate to make a profit, there also needs to be a guiding principle of care and customer service.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak180

2008-07-28T06:45:00.003-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Create a Referral Strategy
The strategy that I am referring to is a referral strategy. Most importantly, ask them for a referral!For those of you married or with partners, think back to when you met them. Were you with someone you know, was there a connection to someone you know - or were they complete strangers that you just walked up to?

Most businesses will tell you that they do really well due to word of mouth. How well do they do? Most can't quantify it. In addition very few have implemented any formal process or strategy to ensure a referral system is in place.

A Referral Strategy in Practice
Let me share with you a simple strategy, which was put in place by a service garage. You should strongly consider a variant of this strategy for your own business. The garage owner created a simple card, which outlined in 5 short bullets, why they were a great place to get your car service done.

They gave this form to all people who had just had their car serviced. There were two blank spaces on the form. The first one entitled the person whose name was filled in to a 10% discount on their next car service. The second space was for the person who had just had a service.

If the card was used, that person then got a 10% discount as well. In other words there was an incentive to pass on the referral. In addition, there was also a strong subliminal message to the person being referred. They were being told that not only had the referrer had their car serviced and that they were happy with it, they also were prepared to go back again to get their 10% discount.

Create a Referral Strategy Today:
1. List all of your existing customers and categorize them by niche.
2. Ask yourself, what incentive you can give them to send you leads.
3. Set yourself a target of how many referrals you are looking for from each customer.
4. Do it, and measure it.
5. Once you know what works, and what doesn't - modify your system accordingly.

An opportunity lost, could be an opportunity gained.
There is one other great place to get referrals. And that is from the prospects that don't become customers. Let's assume you lose the sale, for whatever reason. You must remember that there is actually good in all people! When they tell you have lost, be nice and understanding, you may do business again at a later stage. Most importantly, ask them for a referral. The chances are, human nature, will kick in and they can absolve their conscience by giving you a referral

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak179

2008-07-28T06:45:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

As with everything, it does not take rocket science to get this right, however one slip, could seriously damage your bottom line. The three factors, equally weighted are as follows:

The value that your customers put on your product and service
Will you make a profit?
What your competitors charge for the same or equivalent
So how do we define customer value?
Value is what a purchaser gets when they make use of your product or service. It is the figure that they put on, their new capabilities. Ones that you have delivered to him through ownership of what you sell.

Value is not always quantified in monetary terms. A golfer may go to a professional, get three lessons, and knock 10 off their handicap - so what is that worth to them? If they had previously spent $5,000 on lessons and still been awful, it could be worth an awful lot.

The most important consideration is that the buyer must feel that they got "good value" from their purchase.

However this good value must not be sold at a loss!
Given, you are in business to make a profit, it is important that you do not sell everything at a loss. It is fine to have loss leaders and indeed, offer freebies, to encourage new clients, or to reward loyal customers. However you business must be profitable, or else you will not have one.

To understand whether you are making profit from a product or group of products, you should factor in all fixed and variable costs. Then look at how many you will sell, and ensure it is worth your while selling at that price.

But what if it's good for you and your customer, but your competitor is cheaper!
First and foremost, check that what they are selling is identical to what you are selling. If it is, all you will do is create a market that your competitor will clean up on.

The good news is that in 99.99% of cases, your products or services are not identical. This is where creating your unique value proposition is vital. This needs to distinguish you as being the best solution in your chosen target market or niche.

It is important also to realize that the best solution may also not be the cheapest. Let's go back to the golf pro. He charges $60 a lesson for his services; his competitor charges $30 a lesson. But if what you want is rapid improvement, and this guy has testimonials to prove what he has done, by spending $180 with him, to get 10 shots off your round of golf, could save you thousands, that you could have spent with the $30 guy.

The bottom line is that your pricing must take into account the three key considerations; providing the better value than your competitors, at a profitable price.

If you need help with your pricing strategy, give us a call, we would be delighted to help

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak178

2008-07-28T06:44:00.002-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

You can ignite your marketing efforts and passion for the game by learning to use your personal story and expertise to get potential clients subscribing to your opt-in list.

I want to show you 10 simple steps you can implement with a low-cost investment and a little effort that you can use as a springboard for more aggressive online marketing campaigns.

By creating an interesting web site, which consist of one simple, yet, well-designed web page you can begin a relationships with qualified prospects. The "Interest Site" is designed to share content and offer a customized introductory e-product to someone who would qualify to be considered your ideal client. The focus of the site has to be a HOT TOPIC for your ideal client and it has to tie back to your product theme in some logical way.

The Interest Site will include the following components:

1. The reason why the ideal client should read the content and subscribe to your list to get the introductory product. You written communication should be compelling, not contain hype, and impress the ideal client so they know free product does not mean no-value, low-value product, but it means you are a generous person, you are a skilled business person, and you are beginning your relationship with them on good and ethical terms.

2. Weave in a soft introduction that is designed to create affinity with your ideal client so they know you are like them, understand them, and share some of the same concerns and interests as they relate to this topic. Be brief.

3. Discuss one to three key points related to the topic that the ideal client would find very interesting. Notice I said the ideal client would find them interesting, you may not, and the non-ideal client may not. You may have expertise in this area or you may have to go and do some research. Either way, make sure the information is highly relevant to your ideal client and related to your primary business offering.

4. Include a message that lets the ideal client know that this content is incomplete and they can get more advanced information by signing up for the complimentary ecourse or workbook. Don't offer just a newsletter or special report. These things are over used and are often perceived as low value until your credibility is well established.

5. Give the ideal client a teaser preview of the HOT HOT HOT TOPICS covered in the ecourse or workbook. Summarize what you have provided and remind them to subscribe.

6. Provide a Bio-box with 3 or 4 lines about you, written in third person to start imprinting the ideal client with the perception that you are a great resource, expert, etc. Be sure to include email contact. Get yourself an official domain and email address. Make sure the web address you pick for your interest site relates to the topic being discussed. Remember to represent yourself as being an established professional. Do not use an ISP email address. Bob@my-interest-site.com is much more attractive than bob1698@yahoo.com.

7. Use an autoresponder to create an online signup form for your opt-in list. Include this sign-up form directly into your web site page. I use an autoresponder which allows for attachments and can create both text and html messages. You can use the HTML software inside the autoresponder to create simple yet elegant messages without knowing HTML. I recommend you stay away form text based messages, there quick, fast and cheesy looking. Imagine getting a text-based email from Amazon, it just wouldn't look all that professional, would it?

8. Set up your autoresponder so the subscriber gets an immediate message congratulating them on their new subscription. Assure that the e-product is sent with the first message. You can either attach the product or store it on a web server and include the link. The first option is the easiest if you use the full-featured autoresponder.

9. Instead of trying to push people to your replicated site or your affiliate site, or convince them to spend money with a stranger, you want to get them to your interest site and get them into your opt-in database before sending them off to some other web site or having a serious sales conversation with them.

10. You can get more information about tools and resources for the Interest Site Project and you can also receive a complimentary template for creating your first ecourse when you subscribe to our online newsletter at www.marketing-with-a-story.com.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak177

2008-07-28T06:44:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

You, like all marketers have a million and one things to do today! At the top of your priorities is marketing... finding more customers and raking in greater profits. If you're looking for a simple, proven model to create sales content without spending hours hunched over the computer, try the AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action) model. You'll be amazed at how fast you can create an effective salesletter.

1. Attention
What captures a reader's attention more than an exciting list of things that will benefit THEM? Think about the affects of starting right off with 6 of the most appealing benefits of your product or service.

A Multi Level Marketer might start a sales letter like this:

Experience the freedom of ...
Being your own boss
Financial independence
Benefit 3 and so on ...

That gets their attention, and compels them to read on.

2. Interest
Here's where we sneak in the basic facts that might otherwise be uninteresting. The nitty gritty details of the product features won't hold the customer's attention for long, so keep it short and sweet. Hey, it's great that your swimming pools have filters, etc., but let's face it... there's not a lot of excitement going on here!

3. Desire
Whet their appetite, but give them some cold, hard logic to back up their purchase. Most consumers buy on impulse, then ask themselve whether it was the right choice. Don't make them second guess! Preparing them to face the doubts with a solid logical reason they got the best deal for their buck might include:

The advantages of purchasing from YOU.
Testimonials from other satisfied customers.
An unconditional money-back guarantee.
A good deal!

4. Action
Order now! Hey it says move it, but it doesn't pack the wallop of a stronger action statement like this one:

Hurry! Don't miss out on this LIMITED TIME special offer. Call now to place an order, or visit us at www.....

Be sure to give details of how to order. Make it a part of the command... make it easy to do... provide several options.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak176

2008-07-28T06:43:00.002-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Why do service professionals put up a website? When I ask this question of my students and clients, I always get some version of the answer "Because everyone has one these days. You need it to increase your credibility."

But then I ask: "How does a website increase your credibility?" To that question I usually get a few moments of silence. Apparently the need to build a website is so obvious that no one thinks about WHY they should spend thousands of hours and dollars on it.

There are many reasons to build a website, but the best sites are developed with a clear purpose. Amazon's purpose was to be the largest online retailer in the world. eBay's goal was to become the most popular online auction in the world. As a service professional, you may have a different set of goals, but the key is to provide value.

What is the goal for your website?
GOAL #1 - Attract New Clients
Yikes! The most common answer, and the least tangible. What does this mean? First define what a "client" is. Someone who signs up for your services one time or over the long term? Or someone who buys a product you're selling? Or someone who buys something from one of your joint venture partners?

Each type of client needs to be addressed very differently on your site. You don't sell your services exactly the same way you'll sell an MP3 of your teleclass. So if your goal is to attract new clients, define what "client" means to you.

GOAL # 2 - Establish Credibility and Increase Visibility
In my own coaching and teaching, I emphasize the ability of a website to both enhance your credibility, and to get your business seen by more people. These are important goals, but I don't think they should be your primary focus. The best way of generating trust for your services is to provide relevant, useful, and interesting content to your visitors. I believe the best way to increase your visibility is by distributing this information as broadly as possible, through multiples channels.

Search engine optimization is a dying science, as the engines become more savvy. What does work toward establishing your expertise is demonstrating your ability to solve your client's problem.

GOAL # 3 - Building Your List
Your list is golden, and can eventually provide you with a consistent stream of income. Communicating with your "people" consistently, providing hi-value information, and occasionally offering incentives to remain on your list will help you build a large, and highly responsive group of prospects and customers.
In fact, I would suggest building a quality list is the most important reason to develop a website. After all, if people find your website, read your information, and then move on to the next site, you've probably lost them forever, along with a great opportunity to develop a relationship with your prospect.
What's the best way to build a list? I teach about 100+ tactics to build a large list, but the essential key is to give something of value up front, in exchange for the prospects email address. In other words, offer your gift and step back. If it is of clearly perceived value, make it very easy for your visitor to take the next step and sign up. If they're not interested, you've lost nothing, and may have helped your visitor in some small way.
COACHING QUESTION: What can you give away to start building your list?
Some suggestions: A free report, a subscription to an ezine, an audio file, a complimentary session-these are the common offerings, but you can get very creative here!

COACHING QUESTION: How will you present your gift?
Don't presume people will jump at anything free. You still have to sell it. Think about your headline and the benefits you want to emphasize. I asked a single friend what she was going to write for an ad she was placing on eHarmony.com. She had been thinking about it for hours and ran some ideas by me. Although not a marketing person, she had intuitively known to stress benefits and use a compe lling headline-even for a personal ad!

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak175

2008-07-28T06:43:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

I'm going to start this off with the most essential mindset; I believe this to be the number one business-saving, money-generating rule. I call this the SGT method.

SGT Method

Sgt. Common Sense wants YOU ... to Stop your Greedy Tactics! With your own personal gain in mind for business decisions you'll get nowhere but a deceiving sense of success. Here's a small example for you to consider ...

A business owner starts an online website hosting company. He spends $1000 USD/month in advertising to the general public through Google AdWords. His first month he gains 200 paid clients at $24.95 USD/month revenue. With these new clients, he's gaining $4990 a month in revenue, $3990 in pure profit! Amazing!

He continues with his business plan, but decides to upgrade a few of his services. His advisor tells him that he needs to put funding into support services for his clients; this will cost $500 a month and should support 1000 clients. Ignoring his advisor, he throws another $2000 into monthly advertising with Google.

Now here comes the part where you should pay attention ... The business owner is looking at short term when he should be looking long term.

Month Two:
Advertising Costs : $3000 USD
Tech Support Costs : $0 USD (NO SUPPORT)
Clients (end of month) : 750 (200 + 550 for new month)

Business Owner: "We're doing GREAT! LOOK at the GROWTH!"

What's he forgetting? COMMON SENSE! If you don't take care of your current clients, how could you possibly take care of future one's?

Month Three:
Advertising Costs : $6000 USD
Tech Support Costs : $0 USD (NO SUPPORT)
Clients (end of month) : 1000 (750 + 250 for new month)

Incoming clients are now down 300. Why? Because 300 of his current clients left due to lack of support. This does not account for his clients that signed up, couldn't transfer over and demanded refunds. This could also put a freeze on the business owner's merchant account, costing him even more money.

Lesson? Take care of the clients you DO have.

Here's why, and this may come as a shock to you but you may not have to pay another cent in advertising, ever again.

"Josh, what the heck are you talking about?" - Confused Reader

It's simple, word of mouth. Word of mouth is the most powerful, and most cost effective method of advertising that is on the planet Earth. What is a better way to advertise, you tell me:

1) You pay $1000 in Google AdWords and gain 200 clients.
2) You pay $0 and gain 100 clients

Good question, is it not? Hint: I would say 100 clients for $0 would take the cake out of those choices. 100 clients for free?!? Sign me up!

Now here's another question. What sounds better out of these two?

A web surfer looking for a website to visit that will assist him with home gardening goes to Google, and types in "home gardening". He looks at the links and has his attention caught by ... what ends up being hundreds of possible assisting sites. But have no fear! After all, we're sponsoring the keywords with Google AdWords, right?

Guess what ... the buyer most likely won't buy from a website that he/she has never heard of before. So he/she calls his friends asking if they have heard of your website with a do-it-yourself guide. He call's his friend John, who replies with,

"No, I haven't heard of that one ... but I know of a good guide that we used for our garden, it worked wonders. Jill said she would have bought two times over, and subscribed to their mailing list for future ideas and tips. Now they send us a new tip every week, it's great! The website address is www dot ... "

What just happened here happens daily to EDUCATED shoppers. These shoppers are the kinds of people you want to purchase from you / sign up for your information. They realize that if they get one good nugget of information from you or a great product, they can get more. This goes back to the term in the introduction, they become a repeat customer.

Here's the best part:

You don't pay more to get them back. Your advertising money went even FURTHER than one sale with this one!
Your .20 per click just generated $50, $100, $150 or even THOUSANDS in sales! This also doesn't count everyone that this one person talks to about your products.

Of course, there are a few drawbacks. You won't become an overnight millionaire with this method. It takes time for word of mouth to properly work. But when it does, boy is it a beauty!

Bottom line to create a FREE advertising empire ...

Treat your clients the best that you can. It's a NECESSITY!

Personally, I believe that two years worth of work that will create thousands a month in revenue is worth the time. Of course, if you're impatient, thousands in advertising costs work too...

The bottom line of the SGT method is that if you treat your clients well, it's the best advertising method you can get!

SGT Recap

When Used Properly, you have an advertising team that ...

+ Is Extremely Effective
+ Pays YOU to advertise YOUR products!
+ Will WANT to advertise YOUR products!
+ Spreads with VIRAL EFFECT when done right.
+ Does the work for you ... and you get paid for it.

Does that sound like something you want? A free advertising empire that wants to advertise for you, and pays you to do so. It certainly sounds like something I want for my products.

Now let's go over the methods to turn visitors into repeat clients. The first one I'm going to present to you is the ...

The Triple R Method

Ah, the Triple R Method. These can be the most effective method when utilized correctly. This helps turn your website from a information site into a money-generating machine.

Let's get to this Triple R method:

Readability
Reliability
Reusability

Common sense but most businesses do not employ this method to better their futures in the online market. If a business owner keeps these in mind when they create a business and the business's website/content, they will have a 75% better chance they're next business will be as successful or more successful at converting sales and keeping clients.

I'm going to put the Triple R method into plain English and explain each point. Hopefully you'll see the power in making you're contact points with these in mind.

Readability
Your website, cover letter, or point of contact needs to be easy to read. It needs to contain simple English as well as easy to understand sentences. In general, it needs to have a good, basic, understandable format. If a user that knows nothing about your service or product reads your advertisement (or 'pitch') page and has no clue what you're talking about, how will you get the sale?

All of the content that you present to your potential clients or subscribers needs to be put in the simplest English possible. Let me put it this way: have someone that knows NOTHING about the subject check it for readability, understandability and coherence. If someone that has no clue what you're selling can have a general understanding of the product by the time they reach the order page, you have succeeded.

Reliability
Reliability is key. Your information that you sell must be consistent. The methods you give must be logical and easy to follow over and over. If you're a service-based company, the services you offer must be able to compete with the industry standard. For example, I'll use website hosting.

If you're a website host and you offer hosting, one of the main selling points that usually seals the deal is the uptime guarantee. The industry standard is around 99.5% or 99.9% uptime guarantee. If you can offer this, you'll gain a lot more sales from mission-critical clients. Mission-critical means one main thing, more money that consistently flows from the source month after month into your pocket.

If you have the choice between starting with a reseller from your 12 year old neighbor that's in school every day (and handles support himself) and another host that does the job full time, choose the full time. Will it be more expensive? Most likely. Will it handle more of the hassle itself? Yes. Remember, if you put a little more money in return for better quality it will give you less hassle. The company could practically run itself, with the exception of support, of course.

Reliability can either make or break a company. Great reliability will put the word of mouth method into full swing, and will gain you a lot more clients than you're paying in advertising costs. You wouldn't complain about getting clients for free, would you? I didn't think so.

Reusability
Reusability is the number one key to any project that you do. Unless it's a membership site, and possibly even if it is, it needs to be able to be re-used. Think about it in the following example regarding niche markets:

You have identified a niche market you want to start a business in. You launch your eBook site and subscription service around the niche, and impact the market hard. Now it's come to keep adding content and maintain the site. But now you stumble across yet another niche, which looks even more untapped and amazingly profitable. What will you do?

a) Design another website for it, code a site, etc...
b) Jump right in, your first niche site is a template and reusable!
c) Be sorry about not templating, and spend hours doing option A, once again.

Think about it! You spend an extra hour or two on the first site making it reusable and able to be duplicated, in return for hours saved on each and every website you launch after it. Imagine that you launch hundreds or thousands of websites ... that's how many hours unless it's templated? See the point?

Reusability will not only save you time, but if you do it right from the start it will also guarantee your success. If you spend hours looking into Search Engine Optimization and making the site comply with the backbone rules of success, you only have to do it once! There's software out there right now called SEOElite.com that's helped thousands of people achieve success over the titans throughout Google. Here's an example of what SEOElite.com can do.

Think of everyone out there that searches for the term "work from home" in Google. How many sites do you believe there are containing or even focusing in on that term? According to the testimonial from a loyal customer of SEOElite.com there were 468,000,000 at the time of his using the software. He obtained the #1 spot in Google for "work from home". Think of how much Return for his Investment he got from that software. One time payment of $176 USD, to return a flood of FREE DAILY TRAFFIC to his site to earn him more money. Wouldn't you say that's worth the investment?

HVP - High Value Products

Your products MUST have a perceived value. If it doesn't FEEL like it's worth anything, it won't be purchased. Think about it. If you sell a guide to making thousands of dollars for $5, why would people buy it? "It's a quick buck Josh, come on!" NO. If it were a proven method he would want a heck of a lot more than $5 for the guide.

If I gave you the choice right now between a $5 ticket to your local high school football game and a $75 dollar sixth-row ticket to your local NFL team's game, which would you choose? The key behind this is perceived value.

Have you ever heard the classic talk between a husband and wife on TV where the wife buys something and her reasoning is "for $xxx.xx it has to be good!". It's like open source software. Most companies won't use open source software because they think it has a problem. "If they're not charging for it, there has to be a problem with it." See the reasoning behind perceived value?

Ok, here's the kicker. If you're sitting there right now going: "Josh, you gave me this guide for free. What's that say about it?" send me an e-mail and I'll explain why it's free. E-mail me at Josh-_-__at_-_-_HowToMakeMoneyWithA)dot(com and I'll gladly answer you as soon as I receive your e-mail.

Until next time,
Josh Allen

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak174

2008-07-28T06:42:00.004-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

am amazed that it is taking such a long a time for procurement departments of indirect goods and services to perish and be replaced by a function called "commercial".

It seems that some of the good old procurement and business bureaucrats have managed to keep this function alive and kicking while spending hard-earned company money trying to save it.

In fact some bureaucrats have gone much further and persuaded their boards to develop a sophisticated procurement system solution which they claim will save a huge amount of money.

They have even managed to convince their companies that after they build this great system, they will save even more money, perhaps up to 50 per cent, if they also use an e-procurement tool that will interact automatically with all concerned.

I am not saying that creating an IT system for purchasing is a bad thing or not needed to control stray spending and increase leverage. I am not saying that creating an e-procurement solution is not a good thing or that it doesn't save time and money, especially when buying paper clips and printer toners.

I am simply asking how much that saving is and at what expense is it achieved?

The overall success of any procurement department surely comes from its ability to increase the competitiveness of its organisation in the marketplace. This success largely comes from being a commercially-centred department facing outward rather than a system and process-driven one facing inward.

I think building the system and buying stationery using e-procurement tools should be left to finance to handle. They usually know best how to build and manage a computer system that deals with money.

When I worked at House of Fraser Group earlier in my career, a core function of the finance organisation was running the purchasing and invoice matching systems. The purchasing department or, as they call it in retail, the merchandise department, was more concerned with making deals, researching products and markets and managing a merchandise system to understand the movement of stock. The same department was resourced with highly professional expert buyers, negotiators and merchandisers.

In the indirect purchasing of goods and services, good old bureaucrats are still maintaining a function that has long been transferred to finance in the retail and manufacturing world.

Such bureaucrats seem afraid of facing the real world of negotiations, sophisticated markets, dealing with suppliers, markets and technology, creating relationships and, most importantly, handling change.

Professionals who really drive and contribute to the overall success and competitiveness of their companies in the marketplace are needed.

For once, I will not blame senior management or company boards who have actually done their best to create the right environment for the procurement department to flourish, modernise and increase its leverage.

Many companies have centralised the procurement function and made it part of the overall governance. All they got in return was more demands from their procurement directors to build new systems. Company Boards nowadays seem to hear one mantra from their procurement directors which goes something like this, "if you build it, the saving will come". But does the saving come?

You will never know unless you ask the right question - how much did your function contribute to the company's overall competitive position in its market place?

This is a commercial question to be asked by senior management and not a system and process based one. What does a 60 per cent discount really mean? It means nothing unless it is compared with other discounts given to other organisation by the same supplier in the same market. And not only that, but also, on what terms is the deal is based and for how long if this supplier happens to be strategic?

Procurement departments must move quickly before they are moved by someone else. They should become a commercially-centered function resourced with highly professional and commercially-oriented people who add value by increasing the competitiveness of their organisation in the marketplace.

At the same time they should relinquish their system administration responsibilities to the finance department. After all, the first task of computers when they were invented was to computerise finance.

Osama El-Kadi is chief procurement officer at Centrica Plc

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak173

2008-07-28T06:42:00.003-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

In this hectic world of business, team management, team composition and team building is very important. A good team makes a good company and to keep a team gelled , team- building exercises became a part of every major company's agenda.

Earlier training used to be held in the stiff office board rooms within four enclosed walls and even though it seemed like a great idea, it usually turned into groupism, with members divided into small groups instead of a team and was not all that management wanted. Other plans like team sports and office picnics also fell by the way, because not every member was interested.

Outbound Training (OBT) is a new concept where it was neither a picnic nor a team exercise held within the four walls of the office. It was a combination of both and was a new venture .It focused more on team achievement and team centered goals, Individual achievements did not matter if the team did not do good. This was both good for the team and the individuals too as their focus was more on the team spirit than individual glory.

Outbound Training (OBT) are usually held in camps in a secluded jungle or hill regions and consists of a wide variety of activities, both physically and mentally challenging. Involving physical activities like trekking, Rappelling, treasure hunts and sometimes even more adventure sports like rafting and rock climbing. Team dynamics like communication, problem solving, decision-making and managing change come into focus during these periods.

The most prominent benefit of this kind of training is team bonding and self confidence building of individuals. These activities help develop, sharpen and fine-tune the behavioral skills and qualities of an individual and also mutual trust and understanding between members of a group. The training helps to generate fresh ideas and better attitudes, and acts as a trigger to reconsider existing work related attitudes. It helps them venture out of the comfort zone all the while boosting the team spirit. There are no employers and co-workers here, just individuals working for the betterment of the team. This achieves the goal of outbound training as each member to work together towards the fulfillment of a larger objective to achieve the organisation's mission.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak172

2008-07-28T06:42:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

It so happens that a very large percentage of automotive dealerships around the world happen to be family-owned businesses. Having said that, there are a great many issues concerning family-owned companies, mainly regarding succession and management, which must be dealt with so that the company can accomplish the goals that the family sets.

Autologica presents a series of articles titled "Common Problems in Family-owned Businesses" based on an interview between J.C. Aimetta, an expert and coach who specializes in family-owned companies, and Al McClymont, CEO of Autologica Dealer Management Systems (www.autologica.net).

J.C. Aimetta is 46 years old and has dedicated the past 15 to helping owners and directors of over 65 family-owned small and medium-sized businesses manage growth, professionalize their management and prevent problems with succession. He has been a negotiator in family conflicts and in the sale of family-owned businesses. Mr. Aimetta teaches the subject in graduate and post-graduate courses in 3 Argentine universities, and has given conferences in Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela.

Here are some thoughts that emerged from the interview.

Al McClymont: I know this is a broad subject to be treated in such a short time, but I hope we can go through some of the main points. The first thing I would like to ask you is: What do you think are the main reasons a family-owned business can fail?

J.C. Aimetta: Well, the main reason is that the owner and manager roles get mixed up. Thus, an endless number of confusions occur as regards to who is the owner and who is the manager, the administrator.

For most family businesses the role is only one. Therefore, whenever you ask someone, Why do you run this business?, the answer is: Because it is mine. And what empowers you to run the business? The fact that it is mine.

Al McClymont: It's also important to analyze this from a management and operational point of view side, for example, when the sons and daughters of the owners reach an age appropriate for them to work in the company.

J.C. Aimetta: Well, what happens is that the new generations evolve and the children inherit the same notion, and believe that they can manage the business simply because they own it. As the children are generally more, two, three, four... a company cannot have four managers. And it is at this moment that most confusions arise.

Another thing to bear in mind is that in the long run the family always grows more than the company. In other words, there are more people intending to live from a business that is not growing as fast as the family. If we also consider the in-laws that sometimes, not always, want to work in the family business, conflicts may arise.

Furthermore, we have to bear in mind that job evaluations are done under emotional parameters. That is to say, whenever a relative is hired, it is very difficult to punish lackluster performance, a poor job. Because an emotional cost is paid, a "happiness" cost.

In a nutshell, a family-owned business maintains a delicate balance between happiness and efficiency, profitability and affection. As the business grows, its owners must try to gently tip the balance to one side. Because it is impossible to simultaneously achieve maximum profitability and maximum happiness, and make the growing family's entire happiness depend on one particular business.

In the next part of this interview, we'll talk about problems that may arise in a family-owned business when one family member wants to sell their share of the company.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak171

2008-07-28T06:41:00.002-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

An Evolving Operational Focus
In the past when companies pondered corporate strategy, operations had been peripheral to the discussion. Operations were considered a technical matter with one way of doing things and therefore not, strategic. Strategy is about products, markets, and competitive advantage with divergent possibilities.

Operations were seen as a series of puzzles with single best solutions. The realization that optimization of parts did not optimize the whole led to new focus - operational management went up a level from looking at individual tasks to looking at whole processes. During the 1960s, Japanese manufactures obtained competitive advantage by optimizing operational efficiency, which meant lower prices, flexible production capabilities and a reduction in lead times. Operational considerations became a key theme in strategic discussions.

During the 1990s, companies like Dell took this further. The computer market was changing faster than any other market had done in history. Dell began managing operations by synchronizing functional activity into a single corporate heartbeat. An order instantly drove procurement, which drove production and then distribution. The result was a further drop in lead times, inventory requirements, and operating costs along with flexibility. Operational efficiency was Dell's sole source of competitive advantage and it reaped enormous market share gains.

Collaboration - The Next Step
The historical trend is clear. The impact that one activity has on the next means they cannot be optimized in isolation. The result is that operations have become the key corporate strategic consideration. Yet the nature of competitive advantage is to elapse as competitors replicate it, which places a continual onus on companies to find new differentials. This begs the question - what next?

The answer lies in another step up in the way we view corporate operation. We need to look beyond the borders of the firm in our search for operational efficiency. Optimized company operations can only be achieved through alignment and coordination with the agents up and down stream. Collaboration with suppliers and customers is the essential vehicle of the 21st century for achieving competitive advantage from operations.

The benefits of Collaboration
1. Sharing demand signals
The first step to collaboration comes through information sharing. Across nearly all industries, companies play a guessing game (called forecasting) to estimate the products and quantities that their customers will demand across different markets. Even if a company gets it just right it still needs large inventory buffers to cope with demand variability, thus dramatically reducing its capital efficiency. It is imperative to compress lead times to meet demand rapidly and lessen these negative effects - this can negate the production-cost benefits of today's off-shoring vogue in China. The butterfly's wing effect on forecasting and ordering means the end demand signal gets wildly distorted as it echoes up the supply chain being reinterpreted and exaggerated at each turn. Inaccuracies are amplified at each stage, leaving suppliers facing high-stake production gambles.

The answer is simple - relaying end user demand signals and likely future order quantities to suppliers up the chain. This is the single biggest benefit of collaboration and it comes at virtually no cost reducing much of the variability from the forecasting calculation. A supplier's response will be a much closer fit to market demand if information about likely order quantities is shared. Typically, inventory levels can be reduced by two thirds, service levels sky-rocket while lost revenues evaporate, and supply costs are cut by a quarter when demand information sharing is implemented correctly.

2. Efficiency through alignment
The next step is operational coordination. Working capital naturally collects at the borders of the firm. Finished Goods nearly always account for much more inventory than Work in Process, mainly because of the typical inadequacy in coordination between supply chain entities. Accounts receivable tend to be swelled by disputes and billing problems, which would be ironed out instantly if they were internal issues. Most companies currently allow working capital to accumulate at the point where their processes meet those of their customers and suppliers, which provides a great opportunity for freed cash flow and increased capital efficiency.

Costs can also be reduced dramatically through simple operational coordination between suppliers and customers. Systems, processes, and organizations can be joined up much more effectively to eliminate unnecessary duplication and increase the through-put and flexibility of both supplier and customer organizations.

The interfaces of goods delivery/goods-receipt, invoicing/invoice-processing and collection/payment all exhibit the same misalignment and duplication. The painstaking effort spent on internal efficiency is negated by a clumsy operational weld between suppliers and customers. Functions get managed to performance metrics, which encourage activity that runs, counter to the efficiency of the organization, let alone the total supply mechanism. Firms should optimise their impact on their key customers' total cost of supply. Configuring and managing the organization to better align with key customers and suppliers facilitates a more fluid transfer of goods, cash and information up and down the supply chain. This provides a win/win of capital and cost reduction at the same time as enhanced revenue levers for all organizations involved.

3. Joint exploration of strategic options
The final step is a strategic coordination-unlocking new market development and product development possibilities based on co-exploring avenues to competitive advantage. This is only attainable once trust has been built through information share and some steps in operational integration. With the foundation of operational collaboration set, customers and suppliers can combine in entering new markets, coordinated off-shoring and shared selected R&D to explore exciting product development opportunities and condense launch times.

Overcoming the Zero Sum Mindset
The greatest barrier to successful collaboration is the conventional mindset of a combative relationship with suppliers. Negotiations are perceived as a zero-sum margin tug-of-war, with the relative power balance determining the result. This precludes a focus on win-win value driving activity. Suppliers and customers end up perpetually wasting and reworking because they see opening a constructive dialogue as weakness or even as surrender. Many executives fear a loss of flexibility through higher switching costs from greater collaboration. The truth is that most firms' key supplier base has not changed dramatically over the last 2 years, so collaborative activity would have been massively beneficial as the payback period can be. Still, this does not irreversibly affix firms together - competitive pressures still work to drive down prices and provide the incentive to offer the best value.

Another fear is that companies would give away their competitive advantage to customers or suppliers if they collaborate. The reality is that core competencies do not vanish through sharing demand information, or through bridging operational rifts. The reason that there are few truly vertically integrated industries is testament to this - core competencies dilute and effective organization is impossible over too lengthy a chain. Such anxiety may be unfounded, but the fear is real and debilitating. This is why companies should commit progressively and in parallel, reaching a point acceptable to both parties; from information share, to operational alignment, through to symbiotic strategic planning. As a further development, (depending on the concentration of the end user markets for a product), a company can then extend its collaborative relationships further up and down the supply chain to suppliers' suppliers, customers' customers and beyond.

As with preceding operational evolutions, collaboration will doubtless be pioneered by some companies and shunned by others. Far from the micro/technical operational thinking of the past, collaboration offers a strategic perspective, divergent options and colossal profit, and capital efficiency benefits. Until it becomes universally adopted, collaboration is the most promising source of competitive advantage from operations available today.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak170

2008-07-28T06:41:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Frequently I am asked "how do you get information about the competition?" Most people are surprised when I tell them that getting useful competitive intelligence is actually the easiest part of managing successful business competition. One of the best methods to gain valuable competitive intelligence is so simple, straightforward, and productive that I have put it on my list of Business Competition Best Practices: Win Loss Research.

The benefits that Win Loss Research routinely delivers include:

Increasing your rate of successful wins in competitive sales situations
Enhancing your product management and development initiatives
Reducing the level of uncertainty involved in sales forecasting
Strengthening top and bottom line results for your business
Improving the efficiency of your sales cycle process
Setting the stage for future business growth

Win Loss Research is a succinct, guided discussion with decision makers and influencers who have been involved in your recent win and loss sales decisions. The goal is to learn what key distinctions they saw between you and your competitors, the importance of those distinctions and the value they assigned to each competitor. While the focus of this research is on gaining insight into how your competitors operate and how you fare in comparison, it is inevitable that you also gain valuable customer information in the process.

Win Loss Research drills down beyond standard pricing issues and gets into territories such as: decision process, sales team approach and professionalism, company reputation, product attributes, service issues, and handling of proposals. Although pricing information is involved, it should not be the centerpiece of the research unless it becomes apparent that it really was the key issue that drove the decision. The goal of Win Loss Research is to provide you with competitive insight you can act upon - actionable competitive intelligence - for sales process improvement and better results.

Typically this research is conducted either over the telephone or in a face-to-face interview. The latter is more common in places and cultures where that is the preferred communication modality. Getting the results that you want out of Win Loss Research is a combination of art and science; art being the skill of the researcher in eliciting the intelligence that you need; science being the development of a research guide that facilitates the discovery of actionable competitive intelligence.

As with almost anything worth doing, focusing on Critical Success Factors (CSFs) increases the likelihood that you will get what you need. For Win Loss Research, focusing on the following CSFs will greatly increase your likelihood of obtaining productive competitor intelligence:

1) Use professional competitive researchers who are skilled in drawing out actionable competitive intelligence. They will also be perceived as unbiased, thereby ensuring candor.

2) Selecting the optimal mix of win and loss opportunities to research is a reasonably complex task which must be done correctly to ensure that you are gaining insight from the target markets that matter most.

3) Development of a stimulating research survey that operates as a guide rather than a questionnaire is the backbone to outstanding results.

Surprisingly, the tone and quality of the initial research request can make or break your ability to get robust participation.

A common pitfall among companies that report doing Win Loss Research is that they have their employees, typically the sales representatives, perform the research. You do need to have your sales people find out what happened. This should precede Win Loss Research which goes beyond the limited conversation from your sales reps' debriefing. Also, it defies human behavior to think that the customer will feel comfortable being candid with a sales rep who has not met their expectations or that the sales rep will be candid in passing along information that may be construed as unfavorable to them.

An extraordinary thing about Win Loss Research is that any size or category of company should be able to implement this as an ongoing business practice and see steady gains in their customer acquisition and sales. This form of research is not particularly costly or difficult to do, yet it does take a certain willingness to expose yourself to news that may make you uncomfortable at times.

One of the most frequent comments our researchers hear is a compliment to our clients for taking the time to learn and improve from their experience. Once you establish a practice of doing Win Loss Research routinely and take action on the results, your company will realize the benefits of implementing this business competition best practice.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak169

2008-07-28T06:40:00.005-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Increasing your rate of successful wins in competitive sales situations
Enhancing your product management and development initiatives
Reducing the level of uncertainty involved in sales forecasting
Strengthening top and bottom line results for your business
Improving the efficiency of your sales cycle process
Setting the stage for future business growth

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak168

2008-07-28T06:40:00.003-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Working capital is a highly effective barometer of a company's operational and financial efficiency and effectiveness. The better its condition, the better placed the company is to focus on developing its core business.

The early, primitive attempts at maximizing cash management can be traced back to the late 1970s. Unbelievably, there are still some companies who haven't yet understood that putting cash trapped in the balance sheet to better use can give them a competitive edge over their rivals.

A most recent report shows a further reduction of working capital in companies in the US and Europe compared with the previous year, of between 3 per cent and 5 per cent. This demonstrates the continuing increase in the importance of working capital management to help companies achieve their strategic objectives.

How to do It
There is more to working capital management than simply telling a company to collect its debtors as quickly as possible, to delay paying its suppliers as long as possible, and to keep stock levels as low as possible. A properly conceived and executed improvement program will certainly focus on optimizing each of these components, but will deliver additional benefits that extend far beyond the merely operational. It will demonstrate the need for ambitious corporates to integrate working capital management into their strategic and tactical thinking, rather than view it as an optional bolt-on extra.

There are a number of dos and don'ts to help guide corporate thinking. Firstly, do think of working capital management as a strategic objective that can enable your corporation's goals. We cannot over-emphasize this opening point. The same factors that drive a company's working capital also drive its operating costs and customer service performance. Therefore, by addressing the drivers of working capital a company will also experience significant improvement in operating costs and customer service.

For example, a company's working capital is deteriorating due to an increase in past due accounts receivable (AR). A review of the overdue AR illustrates a high level of customer disputes. The disputes are taking on average 30 days to resolve and consuming significant amounts of sales, order entry, and cash collectors' time. By tackling the root cause of the disputes, in this case poor adherence to pricing policies, the company can eliminate the disputes, thereby improving customer service.

This will free up the time of staff in sales, order entry and cash collections, enabling them to be more effective at their designated roles. This in turn increases productivity, reduces operating costs, and potentially increases sales. Working capital will improve, as customers will have fewer reasons to hold payment. This example illustrates how working capital is one of the best indicators of underlying inefficiency within an organization.

Consider Another Perspective
Don't think of things only from your own company's perspective. If you can help your own customers plan their inventory requirements more efficiently, for instance, you can match your production to their consumption, efficiently and cost-effectively, and do the same with your own suppliers. The potential implications for inventory levels are huge. By aligning ordering production and distribution processes, you increase inherent efficiency and achieve direct cost savings almost instantly, as a by-product. And then you discuss the best way to bill or to pay.

Do educate your organization to consider the trade-offs between different working capital assets when negotiating with customers and suppliers. Depending on the usage pattern of a raw material, there may be more to gain from negotiating consignment stock with a supplier versus pushing for extended terms. This could apply particularly in cases of long lead-time items, or those that require high minimum order quantities.

Agree Formal Terms
Do agree formal terms with suppliers and customers and document those terms carefully. Keep them up to date, and communicate those payment terms to employees throughout your business, particularly those involved in the customer to cash and purchase to pay processes, including your sales organization.

Don't allow prolific new product introduction without a clear product range management strategy. Poor product range management creates inefficiency in the supply chain, as companies are required to support old products with inventory and manufacturing capability. This increases operating costs and exposes the company to an obsolete inventory that may have to be disposed of.

Collect your Cash
Don't forget to collect your cash. Many businesses fail to implement effective ongoing collection procedures to prevent excess overdue funds or build-up of old debtors. Ask customers if invoices have been received and are clear to pay. If not, identify the problems that are preventing timely payment.

Confirm and reconfirm the credit terms agreed upon with the customer. Often, credit terms get lost in the translation of general payment terms and what's on the payables ledger in front of the payables clerk. Do devote the requisite amount of time and attention to the critical issue of dispute management.

Don't set top-down targets uniformly across the business. For instance, too many companies impose a 10 per cent reduction in working capital for each division. This fails to take into account the potential opportunity within a division and can result in setting an impossible target that acts to de-motivate. Instead, balance top-down with bottom-up intelligence when setting targets.

Targets Drive Behaviour
Do set targets that drive the desired behaviour. Many companies will incentivise collections staff to minimize the aged AR over 60 days. Does this mean that customers who pay one to 60 days late are good payers? No, aged AR over 60 days will result in increased costs and time it takes to collect the debt. By incentivising staff to lower the amount over 60 days, you keep your costs down. Do educate staff, customers and suppliers that cash and cash management are important, and are an integral part of a successful business relationship.

Look Within Yourself
Don't assume that all the answers are to be found externally. Before approaching existing customers and suppliers to discuss cash management goals, fully understand your own process gaps so you can credibly discuss poor payment processes.

Do treat suppliers as you would like your customers to treat you. Far greater cash flow benefits can be realized by strategically leveraging the relationship you have with suppliers and customers. In addition, a supplier is more likely to support you in an emergency if you have treated them fairly.

Don't however, treat everyone the same. Use segmentation tactics to split your customer supplier into similar groups. This may be based on a basket of criteria including profitability, sales, AR size, past due debt, average order size and frequency. Define strategies for each segment based around the criteria and your strategic goals.

Do celebrate success in hitting targets. Emphasise the actions that helped you get there.

Conclusion
To summarise briefly, following the dos and don'ts will enable you to optimize cash and to highlight inefficiencies in your processes that must be remedied to better serve customers. It will enable you to build stronger partnerships with your suppliers across the total working capital value chain. This translates ultimately into improvement in bottom-line results, often a good deal quicker than you might expect, and helps clarify the senior management focus on strategic imperatives.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak167

2008-07-28T06:40:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Before you start reading any arguments about why you should have a super professional Business Plan for your new venture, you might as well first take a look at those lean statistics.
Only 400 out of 40.000 new ventures are funded by Venture Capitalists (VCs).
Only about 4.000 ideas reach the pre-business plan stage.
Only 400 entrepreneurs have available some kind of business plan.
Only 40 out of them receive some funding by business angels or any other sources.

Statistics also tell us that there is more money looking for good projects than vice versa. Why then is it so difficult to raise money?

It is all about investing on a qualified Business Plan.
This is a methodical first step that leads to the anticipated Fundings.

Your Business Plan is your "road map" of your enterprise and shows you where you want to go. It is to become your checking list to follow up, the same way an orderly routined pilot does, before taking off his plane.
As Henry Kissinger remarkably said: "If you do not know where you are going, every road will get you nowhere

Why let Professionals Prepare A Business Plan for you?

They have the skills to detect the investors' preferences.
Have the experience to eliminate mistakes.
Define and focus your objectives.
Can uncover overlooks and weaknesses in your planning process. This will help you to build up an overview of your business idea. They also prepare you to give a thought to the potential investor's unexpected questions.
Guide you to avoid common mistakes.
Create a meaningful content which is expected by professional investors who recognize generic phrases, created from business plan software. They compile for you a convincing content that covers from hard to find market research to articulating the value of your message.
They free up your valuable time. Instead of collecting material, gathering market research, writing creating drafts and revising, it would be better used working on your business.

Professionals model your business:

They teach you how to both create and communicate true value to potential customers, suppliers, employees and even investors.
They formulate a start up strategy which will minimize the capital needed to launch your company.
You have only one chance with many investors. They help you make it count and stand out.

Who qualifies for Venture Capital today?
Ask yourself the hard question if you have what it takes to turn your vision to reality. Your business idea, as good as it may be, will mean nothing if it is not backed up by your entrepreneurial skills. For Venture Capitalists are like winning horse track gamblers, they bet on the jockey not on the horse.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak166

2008-07-28T06:39:00.003-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

To say that today's business environment is becoming increasingly more global is to state the obvious. Meetings, phone calls and conferences are held all over the world and attendees can come from any point on the globe. On any given business day you can find yourself dealing face-to-face, over the phone, by e-mail and, on rare occasions, by postal letter with people whose customs and cultures differ your own. You may never have to leave home to interact on an international level.

While the old adage "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" still holds true, business clients and colleagues who are visiting this country should be treated with sensitivity and with an awareness of their unique culture. Not to do your homework and put your best international foot forward can cost you relationships and future business. One small misstep such as using first names inappropriately, not observing the rules of timing or sending the wrong color flower in the welcome bouquet can be costly.

There is no one set of rules that applies to all international visitors so do the research for each country that your clients represent. That may sound like a daunting task, but taken in small steps, it is manageable and the rewards are worth the effort. Keeping in mind that there are as many ways to do business as there are countries to do business with, here are a few tips for minding your global P's and Q's.

Building relationships: Few other people are as eager to get down to business as we Americans. So take time to get to know your international clients and build rapport before you rush to the bottom line. Business relationships are built on trust that is developed over time, especially with people from Asia and Latin America.

Dressing conservatively: Americans like to dress for fashion and comfort, but people from other parts of the world are generally more conservative. Your choice of business attire is a signal of your respect for the other person or organization. Leave your trendy clothes in the closet on the days that you meet with your foreign guests.

Observe the hierarchy: It is not always a simple matter to know who is the highest-ranking member when you are dealing with a group. To avoid embarrassment, err on the side of age and masculine gender, only if you are unable to discover the protocol with research. If you are interacting with the Japanese, it is important to understand that they make decisions by consensus, starting with the younger members of the group. By contrast, Latin people have a clear hierarchy that defers to age.

Understanding the handshake: With a few exceptions, business people around the world use the handshake for meeting and greeting. However, the American style handshake with a firm grip, two quick pumps, eye contact and a smile is not universal. Variations in handshakes are based on cultural differences, not on personality or values. The Japanese give a light handshake. Germans offer a firm shake with one pump, and the French grip is light with a quick pump. Middle Eastern people will continue shaking your hand throughout the greeting. Don't be surprised if you are occasionally met with a kiss, a hug, or a bow somewhere along the way.

Using titles and correct forms of address: We are very informal in the United States and are quick to call people by their first name. Approach first names with caution when dealing with people from other cultures. Use titles and last names until you have been invited to use the person's first name. In some cases, this may never occur. Use of first names is reserved for family and close friends in some cultures.

Titles are given more significance around the world than in the United States and are another important aspect of addressing business people. Earned academic degrees are acknowledged. For example, a German engineer is addressed as "Herr Ingenieur" and a professor as "Herr Professor". Listen carefully when you are introduced to someone and pay attention to business cards when you receive them.

Exchanging business cards: The key to giving out business cards in any culture is to show respect for the other person. Present your card so that the other person does not have to turn it over to read your information. Use both hands to present your card to visitors from Japan, China, Singapore, or Hong Kong. When you receive someone else's business card, always look at it and acknowledge it. When you put it away, place it carefully in your card case or with your business documents. Sticking it haphazardly in your pocket is demeaning to the giver. In most cases, wait until you have been introduced to give someone your card.

Valuing time. Not everyone in the world is as time conscious as Americans. Don't take it personally if someone from a more relaxed culture keeps you waiting or spends more of that commodity than you normally would in meetings or over meals. Stick to the rules of punctuality, but be understanding when your contact from another country seems unconcerned.

Honoring space issues: Americans have a particular value for their own physical space and are uncomfortable when other people get in their realm. If the international visitor seems to want to be close, accept it. Backing away can send the wrong message. So can touching. You shouldn't risk violating someone else's space by touching them in any way other than with a handshake.

Whether the world comes to you or you go out to it, the greatest compliment you can pay your international clients is to learn about their country and their customs. Understand differences in behavior and honor them with your actions. Don't take offense when visitors behave according to their norms. People from other cultures will appreciate your efforts to accommodate them and you will find yourself building your international clientele.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak165

2008-07-28T06:39:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Business Planning is for Wimps!

After 20 years of self employment and the last 4 as a small business consultant and coach helping people to start or grow their businesses, I can say with no shame I used to feel that business plans were only for wimps. That was until I did one.

It is easy to knock something you've never tried. After many years of not only starting businesses but actually succeeding in them it would have been easy to think that business plans aren't necessary. Part of that lies in the fact most entrepreneurs are actually working a job not growing a business. That is certainly where my maturity as a self employed person was until I hit my mid 30's. Sure I had earned an income and eeked out a life in a business of my own but I really didn't see the business of the business. What I saw was that I got what I wanted which was to not have to work for someone else. Woo hoo... I was my own boss. Truth be told it was my lack of planning out the business that hindered my growth and financial prosperity. Thankfully I figured it out and now, my newest business is going places I never dreamt possible when I lacked a plan. Doing a plan, the very act of doing it, almost in its very nature is enough to take you to the next level as an entrepreneur.

You see, put simply, when you plan a business you begin to understand it as a business. When you don't plan a business but still go into business for yourself, you more than likely created a job. For example with lawn maintenance we think of the cutting of the lawn, not the structure of the organization, the future growth and direction of the business, the various marketing strategies etc.. There is a critical difference between having a business and the business of business and that requires another article of its own. So, if you ever want to get out of the grind and truly grow a business you need to plan to grow it. Plan every little bit of it and then re-visit this plan often and make changes as things evolve. We've all heard it before - "when you fail to plan you plan to fail". Only when we sit down to do a business plan do we see it is so much more than that. Not planning a business causes us to fulfill the role we "thought of" when we thought of that business and not see the things planning would have taught us.

Yes, most business planning is boring with a capital B and a really long "O" but that is because most planning mechanisms and information on the topic is intellectually based and they have you planning at a level of logic - business, marketing, operational procedure, organizational structure, customer service, accounting - when we plan these things we are mostly adult minded and leave the excitement, the passion out of it. So when it is done the traditional way, you're left with a stack of paper, a business plan that bores you and leaves you uninspired. That to me is a waste of time. Be sure to put the fun into planning a business. Have it appeal to you on an emotional level because that is what drives results and stop worrying what type of business planning procedures the academic world is trying to push. Fewer than 10% of businesses in the Fortune 500 ever borrowed start-up money from a formal institution. They got it from friends and family. So most likely a banker won't see your plan anyhow. Make the business plan appeal to you first and foremost. Happy planning.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak164

2008-07-28T06:38:00.004-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

"A full 17% of respondents admitted that their CEO's had pressured them to misrepresent results at least once" per a 2002 Electronic Business article. How comfortable are you with the financial results used to manage your business?

This article will cover five major areas you might look at or have someone look for you to increase your ability to better know where you really are financially, to be able to sleep better at night. The more of these areas that may be a concern at your company, the more urgent a corporate physical may be.

1. Most companies do not accurately know their top ten customers.

2. Many companies have capitalized some item in the past, whose realizable value will become questionable.

3. Most companies do not know how they will be affected by profitability changes at their top ten customers.

4. Many companies have an asset that strategically they would be better off sel! ling at a loss to pursue some new opportunity.

5. Many companies have painted an overly optimistic picture to a customer, vendor or financing source.

Top ten customer profitability "I am starting to visit our top ten customers. If you find out who they are, please let me know." said the CEO. I have been asked different versions of that question by more than one corporate leader. A little talked about secret is that most companies do not accurately know their top ten customers. If you are willing to define that as the largest customers by revenue, maybe you know this top ten list. If you want to accurately know the ten most profitable customers, good luck. Changes in business, product changes and system incompatibilities often make this difficult to do without getting the right eight people in a room for a day.

A past capitalized item will be questioned. Cisco wrote off two billion dollars of inventory several years ago. Many companies have capitalized some item in the past that will be questioned. Goodwill will be reviewed annually. All of us have read the horror stories of write-offs that in hindsight raise questions that often were not valid or even a factor when those assets originated.

One of my favorites was a company that accidentally set up a sophisticated process that accidentally capitalized part of the write off to that asset in the current year additions to the capitalized asset. If you have reserves, allowances or estimates for loss, why not take a critical look at them at least once a year for downside risk. In more conservative days, the CFO would cover things like this when a year came in better than expected.

Profitability change at the top ten customers Those fortunate companies that accurately know the profitability of their top ten customers normally fail to cross the next hurdle of knowing with conviction how the fortunate company's top customers will be affected by profitability changes to those customers. There is a timeframe when top ten customers drop off the A list.

Having discussed how this affects the best performing companies, guess what that means for the companies who do not accurately know profitability of their top ten customers.

One very interesting exercise I helped on was to estimate the benefit our customer received from our service to see which customers were benefiting or losing money on being our customer. That produced some very interesting and unfortunately accurate estimates of customer retention.

Sell that asset and re deploy the money Has your financial department ever told you that the company has to keep losing money on branch or product because we can not admit to the financial loss the company would have to take if it disposed of the asset? I suggest a lesser version of this situation is failure to look at return on equity related to assets or departments. Many companies have one or more assets they would be better off selling at a loss and re investing in another opportunity. This can be particularly true when the executive bonuses are mainly a function of the dollar level of profitability, with limited influence on return on equity or similar measurements. For those of you who say their company has a mechanism that investment proposals meet threshold rates, how often does someone report back convincingly with what return the investment actually received?

Painting an overly optimistic picture to outsiders Last but not least. How many companies have painted an overly optimistic picture to a customer, vendor, or financing source? If "forty four percent of Americans lie about their work history" per ADP Screening and Selection Services, might they stretch the truth a little while representing your company. The effects of this are really hard to quantify. When does puffery become misrepresentation?

I have told CEO's and groups that Murphy's Law suggests your not knowing your company's real equity and risk areas will be a problem at the worst opportune time. Just take a look at all the items someone like me will ask for using a due diligence checklist, and follow up to see how well your company's rough spots would stay hidden. If you do not have such a list, contact me for an example of a standard list. What will you do next week to understand the soft areas and risk factors that all companies have to some degree?

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

ak163

2008-07-28T06:38:00.003-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

The need for a Free Patent Search Training course is very intense around the world. State of the art Patent Search is becoming an important function of all Research and Development centers across the world. The reason is simple. The European Union estimates that about 20 billion Euros are spent every year in Europe alone trying to research and find out inventions that are already patented.

If some invention is already patented how the researchers who are specialists in their chosen fields do not know this is a good question that can be easily answered. The world has about forty-five Million Patent Documents and not all are available in the same language and not all are available online. And most importantly only two per cent of the patents granted go in to commercial exploitation and so the very knowledge that some thing is patented will not be available unless a through and intensive patent search that covers all world databases is done.

This is again a difficult task as the patent documents are not available in one database. The largest Patent issuing authority in the world is the United States Patent and Trademark Office that has about 33 million patents issued from 1790 onwards in its database. But you can search through the database only from the year 1976 using free search queries as you may make with Google. And for Pre 1976 Patents, you need to search either with the exact number of the patent application or you need to search the US class that applies. Alternatively you can use expensive patent databases where depending on your subscription and the database selected, you are billed for the search and for viewing the results separately. If you want to look at just Five hundred patent documents, which is quite normal your costs will shoot up dramatically and many in the developing world cannot afford the luxury of all this.

In addition you must also go through Non-Patent Literature and find out if the invention has been published in any scientific journal.

Now this is a very difficult task unless you are thoroughly trained in both the subject where you are seeking a patent and in patent law and patent search methodologies.

The numbers of people who are available to do the patent search work are in short supply around the world and this remains a very expensive service. The United States for example is in short supply of at least 5000 Patent Attorneys notwithstanding the fact that it has a million Attorneys. In developing countries that are trying to become scientific powers the lack of this skill set is particularly acute. A very large country like India with a population of over 1 billion people has just about 700 licensed Patent Agents and Attorneys and even out of this not all completely focus on Patents alone or patent search alone. The number of Patent Search specialists is in very short supply around the world.

The position is so bad that the compensation paid to qualified people is very high and at the same time, many corporations do not have the money to invest in the services of a full time Patent Search specialist. This is particularly true of small companies in the United States who cannot afford to invest in a full time Patent Search specialist. Many inventors therefore try to do the patent search themselves but they keep their fingers crossed until the official examination report comes to them in a positive way.

The Patent Search website Tmpsearchers.com has started a Free Patent Search Training course online. We can train you online wherever you live and the lessons and exercises are sent on the basis of modules, each module increasing in complexity and depth of knowledge. Once you master the fundamentals, you are taught the basic and advanced methods of patent search of various free databases and some paid databases. The Patent Search Training course is offered free till December 31, 2005.

If you want to know more or learn other advanced techniques of patent search using the Free Pat ent Search Training course that covers both free and patent databases, please contact us for any help needed and we will be delighted to assist you.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak162

2008-07-28T06:38:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Are you working longer and taking home less than your staff? Are you working all hours of the day and night and still barely managing to keep your customers happy? Are you unable to delegate or outsource work to give you more time to work on your business? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, maybe its time you learnt what Brain Surgeons do.

Most business owners we talk to believe almost everything they do in their business, only they can do. They have learnt from experience if they give work to someone else, they mess it up. And then they spend twice as long fixing things. But this is not what Brain Surgeons do. When they operate on a patient, they are not in charge of the theatre- the theatre nurse is. They don't open up the patient, or close. They leave that to a junior surgeon. Everything is prepared for them, and someone else mops up the blood later. All they do is the brain surgery. And some marketing before hand (client needs), and afterwards (client satisfaction).

How is this possible?
Hospitals have very sophisticated systems, and everyone is highly trained in their use. There are checks and counter-checks. Nothing is left to chance. And the very expensive surgeon, the most highly trained person in the theatre, only does what he or she has been trained to do. They don't waste their time doing jobs others can do. In other words they don't spend dollar time on penny jobs. So the brain surgeon only does the brain surgery, and a bit of marketing.

This is, of course, a rather simplistic description of a brain surgeon's job. And I hasten to add an apology to any brain surgeons reading this if they feel insulted (after all, you never know I might need their services in the future - some might argue my need is immediate!) The point of this for business owners is to understand where the real brain surgery is in their business. The part of their job that is most valuable to the business. The part only they can do.

Examples of brain surgery are: the marketing of your business, the relationships with your key customers, or if you are a consultant, the analysis of the problem you have been asked to solve. Not data entry, or possibly even data collection. And not the bookkeeping. So the challenge for business owners is to identify what part of their role is brain surgery. Theoretically, everything else can and should be delegated or outsourced.

A great theory, but how can you make this happen in the real world?

Business Systems. When you delegate or outsource, you need to document what the person who is doing the work will receive and what they will return to you, complete with standards and the form in which they will provide it to you. Then all involved need training in the system. This takes some work, but for a small investment in your time, the dividends are huge.

The theatre nurse does not know how to do brain surgery, but they know before the operation, what equipment the surgeon will need, and when they will need it. They will also know how the theatre and patient are to be prepared. Detailed procedures will have been developed so everyone in the theatre will know their role, and the brain surgeon will have optimised his or her time doing what they have been specifically trained to do.

When you know where the brain surgery is in your business, you will be able to leverage your time. You will spend more time with your customers, and more time working on your business, rather than in it. Ultimately, you will have a business that runs without you.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak162

2008-07-28T06:37:00.004-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Seminars and events have always been implemented as a holistic experience to participants. Thus, organizing an event requires extensive planning and preparation with most work implemented at least a few months before the actual event. Most of the time, seminars seem to run like clockwork with all events flowing smoothly according to schedule. In reality however, much groundwork has been worked on with the purpose of developing the right atmosphere in addition to a beneficial experience to partipants.

1. Establishing the theme of the event
Each event follows a theme and purpose which will drive the event set-up, the target audiences or the participants, the guests and the marketing approach. In general, a business event such as an international conference for a particular industry will appeal to participants conducting businesses within that industry as well as sponsors who gain mileage out of publicizing their products during the event.

Apart from that, the theme of the seminar will also determine the type of marketing channels to be used to for publicity. This also holds true for the seminar marketing team who will need the event theme to correctly identify target participants and companies to sell the event to.

2. Selecting a venue
Venue selection is highly dependent on the scale of the event. Usually this is determined by the number of participants, the presence of any guests of honor (such as royalty or politicians) the activities during the event, or if there are additional floor space required for exhibition purposes.

A typical seminar of about 100 - 200 can be comfortably implemented in a hotel seminar room, possibly in a theater style setting or classroom setting. However, larger scale events with participant numbers scaling be! tween 500 - 1000 may require a large hall, ballroom, auditorium or a convention center.

The location and quality standard of the venue is also important especially if the event involves the participation of VIPs. With this, a reputable location would be imperative, including good quality and wide range of seminar facilities available. It is always wise to explore the possibility of a few venues and examine their location suitability, level of services, ambience, and costs before coming to a decision.

3. Seminar Marketing and Publicity
Seminar marketing is by far the most critical and often most challenging task in event organizing, and is often regarded as the most critical factor of an event's success. This is because the number of participants turning up for a seminar is highly dependent on the strength of marketing activities and publicity. Whether or not the event achieves its objective or whether the organizers will walk home with a profit or loss largely depends on the marketability of the event. This means that the right marketing strategy and seminar positioning must be adopted in order to draw adequate event sign-ups.

Most of the time, event organizers who have large budgets will turn to above the line marketing such as newspaper and magazine advertisements as well as radio and television advertising to publicize the event. Press releases may also be sent in to major newspapers, in order to create the awareness of the upcoming event. Additionally, large advertising media banners and posters can also be purchased to advertise the event in high human traffic areas. When using print advertising, the specific magazine or newspaper used must have the target audience of your event as their primary readership base. Also all print media should be copy written with an enticing approach, highlighting the extensive benefits of participation.

However, if budget is a problem, then below the line marketing may also do wonders. If the event is industry specific, mass faxing to companies belonging to the industry would be feasible. Telemarketing is a very effective marketing channel to create awareness within the right participant group. Additionally, dispatching sales personnel to attend to the requirements of large participant groups is an ideal and effective strategy. Mass emailing has become one of the most cost-efficient methods to reach out to large target audiences. This would be really useful if the event organizer already have an existing database. Otherwise, a list of names can be rented from database companies to attain the same results.

4. Collaboration with sponsors
Getting reputable sponsors to participate in an event will help boost the creditability of the event, as well as reduce costs. Sponsors can also help with marketing, as they also help publicize your event to their customers. Apart from that, some of the sponsors can chip in on venue rental in exchange for exhibition space or publicity for themselves. Some sponsors also require a short message of their company to be given to the participants during the event. Others give away sample products or door gifts to participants.

5. Managing People and working with speakers
A seminar will not be successful without the people running it, as well as the speakers sharing their knowledge to the participants. Invite speakers who are of caliber and reputation to the event, and who will provide the participants with relevant information to their work, industry or business. Prepare the speakers beforehand and work with them on their Power point presentations as well as pre-inform them of the logistics processes, timing as well as the expected audience size. Check with them on any special requests, such as the requirement for an overhead projector or additional microphones to be used for question and answer sessions.

All events require a good team of people handling tasks on ushering, registration, customer service as well as handling financials. Familiarize the team with any required event protocol to eliminate the possibility of confusion or error. In order to ensure smooth implementation, each person should be familiar with their individual roles. This can be ensured through a preparation of a detailed schedule of events coupled with roles and responsibilities for each person. Ideally, a project manager should control the whole team and ensure that everyone is carrying out their duties efficiently. Apart from that, the project manager also has the delegated authority to deal with all parties such as the venue management as well as the sponsors and event exhibitors.

6. Actual Day - Preparation, Registration, Ushering, Feedback
All seminar planning and preparations, constituting 80% of total work involved, cascade to the actual event which may last only for a few hours or a few days. On the day before the event, visit the venue to ensure that everything is in order according the requirements and specifications. Microphones, projectors, audio and video systems must be all checked to be in excellent working order. Over at the office, have a packing list prepared and get all require items transferred to the actual venue at least a day before the event. Event staff should be dispatched to work on site preparations, including setting up booths, decorations and posters, the day before the event.

On the actual day, staff should be present at the venue at least 1 1/2 hours before commencement. They should report to their duty stations and must be ready to receive participants half an hour before they are scheduled to file in. Registrations must be made at the door to ensure authorized access. Name tags, door gifts and event schedules or booklets will be given out at this point and ushers will show participants to their seats in the event hall.

Staff will also be responsible for providing advice or help to participants during the event. Finally, feedback forms should be distributed and then collected from participants to determine the satisfaction level on all aspects of the event experience. This is in order to receive pointers, ideas and advice for future improvements.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak161

2008-07-28T06:37:00.003-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Ever heard of the "round peg in the square hole" syndrome? It can essentially be used to describe a situation where you have hired the wrong person for the right job or vice versa.

Most companies generally hire employees based on their essential qualifications and experience. However it holds wise to remember that there are a multitude of factors that need to be kept in mind, while hiring a new incumbent. No matter how long it takes to find the perfect person for the job, it pays to wait for the right candidate to walk in than hurry and choose an ineffectual.

Sadly in spite of a growing awareness about these factors, a lot of companies still go wrong in the hiring process and end up placing the wrong person for the job. A wrong hire does not only add to the cost burden but also to the work and time burden of a company. As is often said, 'wrong hiring is worse than no hiring'.

This article seeks to provide you with answers to the essential question: Why do so many companies still make the same mistakes? Additionally giving you pointers on what you should remember during the interviewing process.

Look beyond qualifications and experience
Generally, when a job need has been identified, HR executives draw up a brief, detailing the job tasks and the relevant qualifications and experience needed from potential candidates. So while IQ and aptitude required for the job is listed, the EQ and attitude required for the job is given a see-through. The failure, to assess the inter-personal and intra-personal qualities needed of an individual for a job, is one of the more common reasons for hiring a mismatch.

Pointer#1
To avoid this mistake remember to list the qualities you think are required for a job profile. This makes for a scientific hiring process. One that will help you pick the right candidates from the wrong.

Prepare for the interview

An interview is by far the most accepted method to recruit new employees. Given its criticality many companies, in reality, rarely give a thought to planning the interview process. The fallout of an unplanned interview is that the right questions remain unasked, leaving you with a misfit in hand.

Pointer #2
Plan the interview. Determine the questions you want and a general guideline of the answers you expect for the same. As an interviewer, YOU need to guide the interview process. A well-thought interview process will effectively help you to evaluate a person's skills and determine if he/she is the right candidate for the job.

Follow the 80/20 rule

An adage that interviewers generally tend to forget is that "It pays to listen". More often than not, it's the interviewers who end up talking more than the interviewees!

Pointer #3
While interviewing follow the 80/20 principle: Listen 80% - Talk 20%. You need to learn as much about the candidate as you can, to best judge if the incumbent is the best fit for the job. At the same time, remember to allocate sufficient time to brief the candidate on the company and the basic job requirements.

We've listed some of the more common reasons for wrong hires.
What if you've already made a wrong decision? In such circumstances, just be patient and let the person grow into the job- have them groomed for the job by offering them the necessary training and letting them learn on the job. Else, you may want to examine the possibility of redirecting the candidate to a job more suited to his aptitude and skill set.

All said and done, the hiring process should be dealt with, with more care and thought. While this ready reckoner will make your job of interviewing easier, it definitely pays to hire a professional staffing company.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak160

2008-07-28T06:37:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Richard L. Daft one of the country's recognized academic leadership experts raises the question, "What kind of people can lead an organization through major change?" A Turn-A-Round restructuring qualifies as major change and requires transformational leadership. Daft points out that this type of leader is characterized by the ability to bring about change through innovation and creativity. This type of leader motivates people to not only follow their lead but to believe in the vision of corporate transformation, the need for revitalization, to sign on for the new vision and to help institutionalize a new organizational process." Daft points to four principles in discussions about leading an organization through major change. These four principles are the foundation of the restructuring Turn-A-Round process.

1. Create a compelling vision
2. Create a new organization
3. Mobilize commitment, Empowerment
4. Institutionalize a culture change

Caution - Beware of the Dip
A "Transitional Performance Dip" is common when introducing major change accompanied by a culture shift. Performance most commonly gets worse before it gets better. There are four phases of the transitional dip with associated cause. They include:

Denial - Confusion exists, feelings of being overwhelmed, acting like nothing is different & checking out are common employee reactions in this phase. Communication and sharing of information is critical to overcoming this type of employee reaction
Resistance - Complaining, blaming others, spreading rumors, frustration, anger and erratic performance are common employee reactions. Again, communication, understanding and listening skills are critical during this phase of the transition.
Acceptance - Renewed energy starts to become evident, optimism appears and doubt begins to dissipate. Excitement and risk taking become evident. This is when the vision must be restated and shared with every employee taking the time for full explanation and answering all questions.
Commitment - Discretionary energy is released. Employees become action oriented toward new goals. Ownership of the vision is now company wide. Rewards and reinforcement are essential during this stage.

The length of time or "depth & width of the dip" depicting this phenomenon cannot be accurately predicted due to the complexities that determine it. Factors contributing to the length of time before the change efforts begin to show improvement can be impacted by the following factors:

Magnitude of the structural changes
Success of the communication to all employees
External environment factors
Critical mass of the company itself
Competency of the middle management group and their experience with structural and cultural change
Competency of the executive staff and their people skills
Effectiveness of leadership at all levels
Severity of the financial crisis or level of financial success
Timing

Change Process
The restructuring change process begins with the strategic restructuring of the organization, which is required to "Stop the Bleeding." This process starts with the immobilization of the old culture. This is mandatory, as introduction of change into any existing culture is difficult at best. Introducing change into a losing or stagnant culture is almost impossible. This change must deal with organization theory, social psychology and business history. It must be dynamic and include the introduction of fresh new leadership. This is a behavioral process. People can create change but people also resist change. The change process introduced must answer the question, "How do we get from here to there?" The answer to that question is your new vehicle for success.

This vehicle includes the restructuring plan, individual one-year departmental plans and every strategic initiative developed by the new management team. Most importantly, this new vehicle is submerged in the empowerment theory releasing individual employee initiative. The plans must be unified, simple, consistent and universally understood by everyone. Most of the change that has been introduced must be induced change versus autonomous change. Autonomous change has a life of its own. It proceeds due to internal dynamics and follows its own course. It is not easily controlled as it forms its own dynamics. Induced change is calculated and planned. It can be controlled if buy in is generated through sincere communication and employee involvement. Each step along this path will be accompanied by distinct challenges. As questions arise, management must be prepared to answer openly and honestly. While the old culture is suspended, change can thrive under the right circumstances. It is the responsibility of the executive team to insure that these circumstances exist. The primary ingredients that create the right circumstances include open honest communication, empowerment, risk taking, acknowledgment and reward.

Organizational Behavioral Process (OBP)
This is basic to creating change, and it becomes an important part of the new vehicle for success. OBP may be described as the wheels of the new vehicle. This process will carry the organization on to new heights, new accomplishments. Organizational behavior has its roots in organizational theory and group dynamics. People are the most important ingredient to every organization and the organizations behavior. People and how they are treated will reflect the organizational characteristics, the way it acts and interacts with its own people.

Empowerment, the decision making process and the communication channels are examples of how the organization interacts with its people. Organizational behavior is not easy to change. That is why it is so important as mentioned earlier to immobilize the old culture to introduce change. (E-mail rick@ceostrategist.com for a list of immobilizers) The behavioral process of the organization can withstand personnel changes. In other words, changing out management does not guarantee change in organizational behavior. You must take proactive steps designed to create new organizational behavior. The new vehicle is part of that. It includes, focused specific objectives, open channels of communication, empowerment and a sincere respect for the individual employee and his contribution to the organization.

Organizational behaviors become generalizations. They are discovered from observations of everyday work habits and they have no independent existence apart from the work processes in which they appear. They are difficult to identify but they are extremely important. They affect the form, the substance and the character of the work processes themselves. They actually affect the way the work process is carried out. They are different from culture because they represent more than just values and beliefs. They actually are involved in the sequences producing work. The decision making process is a major characteristic of the behavioral process. The decision making process is a much studied process beginning with the studies of Chester Barnard and Herbert Simon who argued that organizational decision making was a distributed activity, extending over time and involving a number of people. In other words, decision-making is not the personal responsibility of a single manager but a shared, dispersed activity that they only need to orchestrate and lead. This is still a surprising and often unaccepted theory of managers today.

The Eight Road Blocks to the Change Process

1. The lack of a sense of urgency
2. The lack of buy-in, a coalition of support
3. An unclear vision
4. Failure to communicate the vision
5. Failure to provide resources and remove obstacles
6. Not systematically planning and creating short term wins
7. Declaring victory too soon
8. Failure to anchor change in the culture as it is occurring

Sense of Urgency
Success at anything requires a sense of urgency, a commitment to accomplishing something. If employees don't have this sense of urgency, complacency can become an issue. To meet difficult challenges, to excel at anything, to create competitive advantage it is absolutely essential that employees release their discretionary energy toward achieving company objectives. Discretionary energy is that extra that you can't ask an employee to give but is automatically given by those employees that have a sense of urgency. Of course, no employee will release that discretionary energy for a leader that has not earned their trust and their respect. A leader will not be respected by the employee until he shows respect for the employee. A leader will not be trusted by the employee until he shows trust in the employee.

Forming a Powerful Guiding Coalition:
Success is not an individual accomplishment. Initiating change requires buy in and agreement. A group of believers, achievers and team players must be assembled to not only support the change process but to drive the process. The group must function as a unit showing unilateral support of the change process. Examination of market and competitive reality is part of the challenge as well as identifying and discussing potential crisis, critical constraints and major opportunities.

Creating a Vision:
Success at initiating change starts with the creation of a compelling vision that provides a roadmap for the change. This roadmap clearly answers the question "What's in it for me". WIIFM. The vision is supported by the development of strategy and action planning to achieve the vision.

Communicating the Vision:
Success requires leadership and leadership without communication is like a gun without a bullet. It looks impressive but it can't do anything. A specific communication strategy must be outlined and acted upon to insure that all employees are aware of what the vision is and how it is expected to be accomplished including defining individual roles and contributions. It's about buy in.

Empowering Others to Act on the Vision:
When critical constraints or roadblocks are identified, they must be removed or overcome quickly. This means allocating resources accordingly. Systems or structure that can undermine the change must be eliminated. Empowerment involves trust and allowing people to use their initiative and creativity.

Planning for and Creating Short-Term Wins:
Milestones need to be set up to mark progress and allow victory celebration along the change path. Success breeds success and excitement breeds' excitement. Create that success and excitement by setting interim goals that can be achieved and celebrated. Recognize and reward employees accordingly that are part of the accomplishments.

Declaring Victory too Soon:
Interim success and short term victories are important but don't spike your own Kool Aid. Be realistic and keep your long term goals in sight. Consolidate those short term improvements to produce continuing change. Use increased credibility to change systems, structures, & policies that don't fit the vision. Hiring, promoting, & developing employees who can implement the vision is essential to continued success during a major change effort. Reinvigorate the process with new projects, themes, and change agents.

Institutionalizing New Approaches:
Success must be anchored as it occurs and then built upon by articulating the connections between the new behaviors and corporate success. Leverage this success to ensure leadership development and succession.

Make no mistake, effective leadership is about creating change. This is true in every circumstance, whether a company is facing restructuring or dealing with the challenge of accelerated growth. Change is the defining moment that identifies true leaders from imposters. To become an effective leader, understanding change, creating change and most importantly managing change is the first prerequisite.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak159

2008-07-28T06:36:00.000-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Staffing companies help organizations with their manpower requirements. There are primarily three different types of staffing services offered by staffing firms:

Temporary Staffing Service
As the name suggests, temporary staffing meets the short-term needs of employing organizations. Temporary staffing helps companies fill in for positions made vacant by their absent employees or helps in supplementing the existing staff during times of high workload. Temporary staffing enables organizations to meet their working challenges with minimum human resource overheads and avoiding lengthy recruiting and assessment processes. The huge cost savings involved make temporary staffing an attractive alternative to permanent employment.

Long-term Staffing / Project Staffing Service
Long-term staffing services involve placing employees in long-term assignment, where there's no definite period of time involved. This type of staffing requirement is common in the professional and technical sectors, where people are required on a project-to-project basis. It makes more sense for these organizations to hire on a project basis than on a permanent basis, so as to avoid idling of human resources.

Temp-to-Perm / Contract-to-Hire Staffing Service
This type of staffing service is a combination of temporary staffing and permanent employment. The temp-to-perm staffing service allows a company to take an employee on a temporary basis for purpose of evaluation and should the employee meet their satisfactory requirements, the company may then take the employee onto their payrolls. This type of staffing service gives the company a safe alternative to permanent hiring and allows the company to critically evaluate the capabilities and managerial skills of the employee in concern.

Most staffing companies offer all these types of staffing services. You will also find specialist agencies that offer industry -specific staffing services.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak158

2008-07-28T06:35:00.000-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Are you a good or bad planner? Do you cringe at the very mention of the word 'plan'? If you do then you are not alone. Thousands of online (and offline) marketers find themselves in the same position.

A good many of these people may well have never considered a plan of action as part of their daily marketing activities. Others may think they are too busy to spare any time for planning. Still others may feel they do need to plan, can see the benefits to be gained from planning, but don't think their skills or personality are suited to this task.

It seems perfectly clear to me that without planning, the long term success of any business,large or small, is unlikely to be realised!

A plan need not be elaborate. It need not be detailed, but you should at least commit something to paper.

Start off by taking a positive view of planning. Don't just look at it as 'another boring chore I've got to do'. Say to yourself 'This is my plan for success.'

Also consider the following benefits to be gained from good planning:

you can meet deadlines
you can meet or even exceed your targets
you can create a feeling of achievement for each step you fulfill
you can monitor and control your marketing activities to greater effect
you can initiate improvements
you can achieve personal growth and success

Once you have accepted that planning for success is a positive thing, it is then time to think about your goals. And just what do you want to achieve? Why are you marketing this or that product in the first place? Do you know what your short term and long term aims are?

Answering these questions accurately will enable you to take a big step forward to achieving whatever goals you ultimately set yourself. So what are your goals? And how do you plan to achieve them?

The great thing about targets is they give you a way to measure your performance and give you a sense of direction - you are going somewhere. It is important also to consider that in order for your goals to have substance and meaning they should satisfy the following criteria:

they should be achievable
they should be measurable
they should be challenging though NOT impossible

Here are THREE achievable, measurable and challenging goals that Bill, an Ezine owner, has set himself:

to get 200 subscribers within the first three months following launch
to ensure that AT LEAST 70% of subscribers are still in place after 6 months
to increase the number of subscribers by 800 in the year following the initial 6 month target

What three goals relating to your business can you think of that meet the above criteria? Write them down.

Now let's look more in depth at each of Bill's goals to see how he can evolve an Action Plan that will enable him to meet each goal in a systematic, cost-effective way.

In order to work out the Action Plan he should consider a set of specific questions he should ask. These questions are:

When should this happen?
How is it going to be carried out?
How much is it going to cost?
Who is going to do it?

GOAL ONE:
To bring in 30 subscribers

WHEN:
Within the first 30 days

HOW:
By advertising in Ezines, on PPC Search Engines, via opt-in email lists, and via other media such as Classified Ad sites and also offline via magazines and periodicals

WHO:
In the first instance Bill himself and then by others as the subscriber base grows

HOW MUCH:
The budget is under $50 a month

Bill's next step is to start to put together the Action Plan in more detail. This is a very important stage of the overall plan because it focuses on specifics:

how many hours is he going to devote?
which specific advertising media is he going to use and how often?
which advertisements is he going to use?

When getting down to the nitty gritty of executing his plan, Bill will try to keep in mind:

his daily advertising routine (stick to it)
whether he is keeping to the budget
his target

When considering your own marketing campaign always think to yourself that EVERY day you follow your Action Plan is a step closer to the achievement of your goal!

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak157

2008-07-26T04:58:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

So... you're a new marketer, and you want to make extra money or even perhaps a great living! One of the first things you do is join an affiliate program or downline club of some sort. Or maybe even you are trying your hand at Ebay or another auction service by marketing some nicely profitable product. Now, once you have some sort of online business vehicle, your mind must gravitate to exactly what kind of advertising to generate sales or memberships.

Online business is an awful lot like regular advertising. What draws you to a business in your home town? Coupons? Specials? Give-aways? A personal recommendation from a friend or trusted associate?

Oh yes - and here is a little secret that is often not known or ignored:

When it comes to building any kind of business online you do the same thing! Give away a free report, an informative ebook, a trial software, an online course, or maybe a subscription to a free newsletter or ezine. This is just simply the way it is done with online business, period. But here is the most critical part... you MUST capture the name and email address FIRST before you give access to it!

It is widely known by all of the top marketers online that your PRIMARY task to be successful is to compile a list of people (prospective customers) that are interested in the type of thing you are giving away! This is so easy to do with an autoresponder. They just fill a form, and they are automatically added to your list, and then are redirected to your download page or membership site.

Then the next task is to automatically send a series of messages with that autoresponder that tell more about the reasons why your product or products (or membership program) are BENEFICIAL to them! WHY? Because it is infinitely better to contact a prospect several times rather than only once. It is a proven fact that most people will NOT buy from you or join your program until they have been approached at least 5 to 7 times. This is done as I said, automatically, on a timed basis slowly tapering off until it is a slow drip of messages until they buy or join- or unsubscribe from your list. And when you run special promotions of any kind, a feature of the best autoresponders allows you to broadcast to your entire list any time you want. This is how many marketers can make huge amounts of money and sales ON DEMAND- whenever and as often as they like!

Details about which autoresponders are best, and the techniques of developing a list and how often to mail to that list are subjects that deserve more time and attention than can be given here... but suffice it to say that if YOU are not FIRST developing a list, and then marketing to your list AFTERWARDS- you're just missing the boat!

Pure and simple!

So if you are advertising an affiliate link, or your products' sale page... or anything other than your free subscription, report, ebook, or course - it can indeed be the most tragic mistake you can make in your online business strategy!

If this is you, pull back and regroup, and completely re-think your marketing strategy now before you lose too much time, money, energy, or motivation.

And remember... BUILD your LIST!

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak156

2008-07-26T04:57:00.004-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Pay-per-click is a fantastic way to drive web traffic to your site from the major search engines. It can also suck your marketing budget dry in just a couple of days if not done properly. The bottom line is someone is going to profit by implementing paid search. The question is, is it going to be you or the search engines? The goal of the search engines (and their strategies) is more clicks. The more people click on your ads the more money the search engines make. Their strategy is to get as many clicks as possible with in your budget and they are willing to do that all day long. This is great for them bad for you.

The real goal should be more conversion with less clicks and lower cost. Let's take a few minutes to look at some strategies that should make a difference in your campaigns. We will get more specific and articles to come.
General strategies

1. Turn off Content Network

In Google when you first set up a campaign there is a default setting that turns the "content match" setting to "on". For now, turn that setting off. What this does is present your ads on websites that are using AdSense. If you go to a website and see "Ads by Google", those ads are coming from Google paid search accounts. Those ads show up on these websites based on the content of the website. At first glance this may look like a good idea and it usually is, for Google. There are two things that you need to consider before turning on the content match. The first is that the website that is hosting your ad gets paid every time someone clicks on your ad. Most of the click fraud that happens is when an owner of a site or so want affiliated with the site clicks on these ads. The second thing is that individuals who click on these ads are not actively seeking what you are offering. These folks are tire kickers. Even though your ad may be presented (number of impressions) to a lot of people, the click through rate and conversion rate is very low. The magic of search engine marketing is that you come in contact with individuals who are actively searching for what you have to offer. Only pay for clicks that come from people in that category.

2. Search Terms.

The more general the term the less qualified to lead (generally speaking). Personally, I am not a big fan of hundreds of key words for paid search. This is a great strategy the search engines and paid search management companies that are paid a percentage of your spend. What I try to figure out what terms would work in order to get my ideal customer to my site. Remember, you want people to come to your site who are actively searching for what you are offering. For example if you sell "long term care insurance" what type of people do you want clicking on your ads? Of course, you want individuals looking for long term care insurance, not "long term care" or "insurance". You can use these terms if you create a list of "negative" key words. We will talk about that at another time.

3. Keyword "types"

There are three types of keywords "Broad", "Phrase" and "Exact". Do not use "broad match" except for phrases with four or more words. For example, long term care insurance quote. The rule of some that I use is for single word phrases, I use exact match and four search phrases that are two to three words, I used "phrase matching". I am also experimenting with using "exact" matching for these terms as well. Remember the more specific the search term is to what you are offering and who your ideal client is the more qualified to lead will be. Better a small number of qualified leads than a large number of leads that waste your time and ultimately cost a lot more money.

4. Ad Copy Just a couple thoughts on writing ads. When you write your ads put the following in your "headline" box: {keyword: "your main keyword}. This will put your keyword phrase into the headline. This is very important for a lot of reasons that we will get into at another time. Your ad should be specific enough to attract only your ideal client (someone who is looking for exactly what you have to offer). Your ad contained at least one of your "unique selling propositions". This can be very challenging because of the space limitations. Rule of thumb, find out what your competitors are doing and do something different. For example, if everyone is offering free shipping, use one of your other unique selling propositions.

5. Landing Pages

You need to put a lot of thought to your landing pages. Your landing page has to do one thing that is answer the questions are up that the searcher had in mind when he typed in his key words. The searcher type in his search terms because he has a problem, needs a solution and is in some kind of "pain". You have about two seconds to convince him that you understand what he is going through and what he needs. It does not matter if you are selling hammers, insurance or investment products. The last thing a searcher wants to see is that you can jump higher, run faster and do it better than the competition. He just doesn't care. Besides, 99% of the websites that he visited probably stated that they do that. You must show him that you have the answers to his needs. Do not just send him to your home page unless your home page can accomplish the above. Once you connect with your searcher you must have a call to action. It can be a "buy now", "for more information contact us", "contact us for a free evaluation" or "consultation". You must be very specific and clear about your next steps. Have your phone number or contact us button on every page.

6. Tracking

Finally, track everything. Paid search is not an exact science. It takes time to set up and optimized your campaigns to get the results that you are looking for. You must monitor your campaigns at the least weekly in order to catch market changes. Unless you have a time of venture capital money laying around, paid search is not something you turn on and forget about. Google, Yahoo and MSN have free tracking tools that work great.

Pay-per-click is a great marketing tool, if used correctly. It can also, as stated earlier, suck your marketing budget dry in a heartbeat. It is a lot cheaper to find someone who knows what they are doing and does this day in and day out to help you than it is to lose thousands of dollars trying to figure it out yourself.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak155

2008-07-26T04:57:00.003-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

What does every business owner want? To be noticed, to stand out amongst their peers and competitors, to be more visible.

Here is a number of tips pointing business owners/marketeers in the right direction.

1) Be different, a perfect example of poor marketing is the common trifold. An over-used piece of Graphic Design and Printing. Perfectly formulated to be a mail-out, the flyer / brochure in the letter-fold or trifold format has been used by every business / service provider / retailer or restaurant you can imagine. When going to press on a project, understand that within reason your piece of printed paraphernalia can be any shape you like. Stand out.

2) Get to the point. Too many business owners dilly-dally when talking about their product or service. Remember, if your potential client is interested or needs your service half the battle is already won. The customer should be able to take the initiative and go through any materials you may have at their own pace. Clear and concise graphic design will also help communicate those points, for example: if you have plenty of text, and it is all necessary, try to break it up with shorter lines and complimenting visuals to keep them interested.

3) Be bold. If you are attempting to advertise a product, keep your focus on that particular product or service. It is a common design flaw in much marketing where due to advertising cost, companies want to put in everything they can possibly think of, as well as their office sink!! Good Graphic Design creates clean visuals that stand out even at a glance, that is the aim of advertising, a hook to reel them in, not the companies autobiography and catalogue all rolled into one!

4) Prioritize. All forms of communication, including Graphic Design and Advertising must have a subject. You may have digression and sub-points, but there must be the all important message, keep it in mind and keep it obvious.

5) Graphic Designers share the same goal as business owners. This is a personal point, but one I like to make. Graphic Design is the art of communication, a graphic designer WANTS your ad / poster / flyer / website / catalogue / etc etc. to be noticed, thats what they worked for. They want your product to look good, they need you to be successful, their own success rides on yours. If the work they produced for you goes unread or unnoticed they have been a complete failure.

Finally, find out all your options. There have been dramatic reductions in printing costs and many marketing techniques, speak to a graphic designer, market or advertising specialist and find out what exciting possibilities are out there. Don't limit yourself to what you know or have done before, if its no longer exciting for you, its really not thrilling your audience!

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak154

2008-07-26T04:57:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

The Inter Killed The MLM Business Model"
I know this may sound like a bald statement, and honestly, I don't think that the internet actually "killed" the multi-level marketing business model, but it certainly redefined it in many ways. Let's go into depths with that, and try to learn what did changed in the MLM business model and/or what needs to change, since online advertising and marketing has been integrated into many network marketers' business plan.

If you're a network marketer, and you just got started, or you already have a solid customers base and downline, do you think the internet could actually help you build your business or would the internet make it more difficult for you?

There are many ways to see this, and for my part i believe that the internet somewhat killed the MLM business model as we know it, and if the internet didn't kill it, it certainly made it more profitable for the people that knows how to use it. The internet offers endless possibilities, it is a 24/7 marketplace and millions (or should i say billions) of people are clicking on webpages every single day.

With that said, why would someone use the internet to promote his or her business opportunity?
Of course there are multiple reasons for not promoting your business on the internet, here are some examples:

- Your company doesn't want you to
- You don't know how to do it
- You don't want to go through the learning curve
- You are not yet convinced that it would be profitable to you
- You are afraid of all the scams on the internet
- How to train your downline if they live far from you?
- Any other reason is actually a good reason

Now let's take a look at some reasons why you should seriously consider promoting your MLM business opportunity and products using the internet.
First, It cost almost nothing to build a website or blog, and you probably already have a website (from your company), which can be seen by thousands of people from all around the globe day and night, and you would also cut your expenses. Think about it for a second, how much do you spend on a weekly or monthly basis to meet people and do those meetings?

Typical meeting example:
You go for a coffee with your new prospect, get in your car and drive to that coffee-shop, you also grab something to eat on your way, oh and don't forget to print the documents you will need before you leave. The total cost per month if you do, let's say, from 4 to 6 presentations per week can easily be in the couple hundreds of dollars. Of course if you do all those meetings and presentations, it surely means your business is growing.

But...
What if you could cut the time you spend on your MLM business and meetings by half?
In the end, MLM is simply your vehicle, on your way to financial freedom...

Are the prospects you meet pre-qualified before you leave the house?
Do they know what MLM is and if they do, are they interested in starting their own business?

You know, using the internet you can set up advertising campaigns that will run for you 24/7/365. And if you carefully choose who you target with those ads, the people who will contact you will be pre-qualified. I'm not talking about having people running to you with their credit cards in hand, it doesn't work that way. But the internet can make your business grow exponentially, just like that. In a matter of hours, you could have new prospects coming to you, new customers, more sales, more money in your pocket and you could cut your expenses. How does that sound?

I am not saying that the "old-school" way of doing MLM is bad or doesn't work, i know many many people who are extremely successful doing it this way. But if take into account the number of people using the internet, there is no doubts you can reach way more people than by doing those home-meetings and 1-on-1 presentations. Why not combine traditional MLM, and online advertising? You could end up with a faster growing business.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak153

2008-07-26T04:56:00.005-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

n recent years, portable USB flash drives have become increasingly popular for transporting and transferring computer files. These flash drives, also known as thumb drives, pen drives, USB fob or jump drives are available in a wide variety of styles and memory capacities. With this recent popularity of flash memory devices, competitive pricing has made these handy units very affordable.

One of the best 21st century marketing and promotional items that businesses and organizations have discovered is custom logo flash drives. These reusable flash drives are a perfect way to market or promote your company, business or organization with a logo printed directly on the flash drive. Wholesale flash drive suppliers that specialize in large quantity USB flash drive orders are offering this unique service as part of a bulk order to companies or organizations wanting to take advantage of this unique, practical way to keep their brand name in front of your customers.

The following four ways are some creative uses for custom logo USB flash drives to promote your business or organization:

1. Company Marketing and Promotion: Out With The Old, In With The New

Anyone who has been to a tradeshow or conference in the past decade knows that most companies hand out CDs with product data, catalogs, video presentations or slideshows. While this is an effective way to deliver information to potential customers, it provides no additional benefit to the customer. In many cases the CD will be put in a shelf or drawer and forgotten or even worse, tossed in the trash. * A more effective approach to reaching potential customers is to include your electronic marketing files on a custom USB drive. Company logos and website addresses can be custom printed on the side of the jump drive. * In addition to the traditional information that is usually distributed electronically, a full archive of podcasts or blog entries could be collected on a thumb drive and sent to existing customers to generate repeat business or to prospective clients to further introduce your services and products. * The added benefit of distributing this information on a USB pen drive is that your customer can use the unit everyday to conveniently store their own files along side yours. This means your company name or web address will be in front of them every time they plug or unplug the flash drive from the USB port.

2. Graphic and Web Designers: Your Portfolio on a Custom Jump Drive

Graphic designers can create a full portfolio that is easily distributed using a jump drive.

* Different categories of work can be stored in separate folders such as company logos, letterhead and business card design, corporate identity packages, brochures, book or CD cover layouts.

* In addition the designer can add shortcuts to existing websites they have designed as well as to their own website for contact info and additional examples of their work.

3. Fitness Professionals: Transfer Recorded Workouts to Portable Flash Drives

A workout that is guided by a personal trainer can motivate and inspire you to reach new fitness goals.

* Workouts can be recorded in MP3 format and loaded onto a custom thumb drive.

* The person who is exercising can select the type of workout they want and then load it onto an MP3 player to listen to while exercising.

* As the trainer takes the listener through the workout, music can be added in the background to increase the intensity.

* Additionally, short video clips can be loaded on the pen drive to demonstrate proper form.

4. Non-Profit Organizations: Flash Drives as a Premium Incentive Gift

USB keyfobs can have a twofold use for non-profit organizations.

* A simple approach is to use them as a premium incentive gift for a donation. The charity's name or slogan can be custom imprinted on the body of the pen drive.

* The charity's story can be told with the files stored on board including slideshows of previous work, documents outlining the need for donations and fund raising goals.

* The most effective message could be a short video presentation with "thank you" messages from those who have benefited from the non-profit's efforts.

The possibilities for using a custom flash memory drive to promote or market your business or service are nearly endless. You can harness the power to quickly deliver large files and content as well as to give the recipient a convenient tool they can use everyday.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak152

2008-07-26T04:56:00.003-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV ShowsConsider the scenario of a business networking event. These are superb sources of leads and referrals that can be the life blood of your business. The business skills you develop in this arena can easily be applied in any business scenario. Assume you have engaged in conversation with a good potential contact. Once you have created a positive first impression start the interesting chat about various areas of common ground. By careful listening, you may identify an opportunity to do some business to your mutual benefit at some later date. You are looking for the moment when someone says something to you to make you think, "Ahaa, there's a potential business opportunity here." Suppose you are a business development consultant who specialises in the food industry and who has a good track record in helping companies to increase their margins. If you were asking all the right questions such as
"So how you finding things at the moment?", and you hear the answer "We're doing reasonably well but we don't seem to be getting the efficiencies in the factory." That is an Ahaa moment.

Can I mention again, that networking using business development skills isn't selling; it's building business relationships, and gathering business information?

This should be the start of the follow up business development process which is as follows

1. Ask for their business card and read it carefully

2. Always find something to comment on; maybe the spelling of their name or perhaps they have their business in a particular part of town which you know intimately. It doesn't matter as long as you show them that you are interested in them, their business and their circumstances

3. Now this is a key moment. Ask if you can phone them next Wednesday or Thursday to discuss the problem they have with their margins. You can say something like "Now isn't the time or place, but maybe your problem is a simple issue which I can give you some help on". The chances are if you have made the right impression, the answer will be "yes".

4. Bear in mind all the time that if you don't ask the question then you don't give the other person, with the business opportunity, a chance to say yes.. You will be at your most popular at this juncture. If you have done it all right, are you really going to waste a great opportunity? Not every business event and not every person you meet is going to turn into a business opportunity but if you are awake alive and alert, listening attentively and with empathy... you just never know

5. Write down on their business card the day you have agreed to call and let them see you do this. This shows that you are serious and the chances are you're likely to do it. At this point, there is no reason whatsoever not to excuse yourself in one of several ways which we will show you another time..

6. As part of the bridging process ensure that when you get back home or to your office or even before you leave the business networking event write down where and when you met the person a quick description of them and any salient facts which you may use at a future date to show them that you are truly listening to what they had to say.

7. When you make the follow up call as agreed, review the business card or refer to your business development software if you use it and confirm that they were happy for you to follow up. If you had picked up that the person was going away for weekend then make sure that one of the questions you ask is "How did the weekend go?" I'm not asking you to remember these details. What I am doing is asking you to write down some small talk facts that you gathered on their business card. It helps break down their barriers to talking about business.

When I ask my audiences "what is the most important thing with regard to business cards?" the normal answer I get is "make sure you carry plenty of them with you". Of course you know now that the most important thing is to ask for theirs. Offer your business card by all means, but don't be too quick to do this. I think it's a little pushy and it's another form of saying "aha you want to know all about me don't you. Here's my business card". It just may be that they don't want to know all about you ... not at that moment anyway. There's a lot more to say about business development training and in particular working the room but you can find out about that on my other articles.

Take note that business development and networking is about giving first and receiving second. If you go into it thinking "What's in it for me and what am I going to get out of this tonight" then the chances are you won't succeed. If you ask questions such as

- "How can I help you?"
- "Who would you like me to introduce you to?"
- "How will I know if someone I'm talking to will be a good introduction for you?"

You will be showing them you are a proficient and skilled business networker.

Dr Albert Scweizer once said "Give without remembering and receive without forgetting". That should stand you in good stead when you're out there looking to create new business opportunities. Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak151

2008-07-26T04:56:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

My daughters and I loved watching The Crocodile Hunter. Steve's Passion and enthusiasm for wildlife conservation were unmatched. But in addition to being a masterful entertainer and educator. Steve Irwin was also a brilliant marketer.

Instinctively he knew that to spread his message of conservation, he needed to first grab his audience by the eyeballs and get their attention.

A skilled showman and communicator, he could make the most mundane animals appear deadly and interesting. Captivating his audience by building suspense and tension that kept them riveted to his message.

With his hyper-animated presentation, colorful language (he introduced the world to his very Aussie catch phrase "Crikey") and unwaveringly khaki wardrobe he created a consistent and memorable personal brand. He was his own, walking talking USP (unique selling proposition.)

While many wanabes and knock-offs tried to copy his adventurous style and antics none of them ever came close to matching his level of success. He was truly one of a kind.

The Crocodile Hunter was also a master at generating publicity and working the media. Probably the greatest ambassador to the world Australia has ever had. Steve Irwin regularly made the rounds on every major television show imaginable, from small local news stations to Letterman, Leno, Larry King and Oprah. He was a walking, talking news hook. A publicists dream!

Even when his actions stirred up controversy (who can forget the image of him feeding a croc with his newborn baby in his arms...) his ratings and popularity only improved.

And if viral marketing is your thing, Steve was one of greats! The viral buzz his TV antics created around water coolers world wide was simply astounding. His exploits spread via word of mouth like wildfire as folks energetically recreated, described and relived the "close calls" Steve had on the previous nights show.

In fact in a recent blog post Michel Fortin identified three essential response-boosting ingredients for effective viral marketing. Curiosity, scarcity and controversy. (Steve was an absolute master of all three.)

• Curiosity? What's more "curious" than a man kissing a 14 foot crocodile on the head and saying, "isn't she a beauty"?

• Scarcity? There was (and will always be) just one "Crocodile Hunter".

• Controversy? Steve certainly had a knack for stirring up and leaving controversy in his larger-than-life wake.

And boy could he work the backend! His spinnoff products are almost countless...

From toys and games to books and movies, Steve Irwin exploited the "Crocidile Hunter" brand to the fullest. He almost single handedly built the entire "Animal Planet" network on his coattails.

His face, logo and even his catch phrase "Crikey" found their way onto every imaginable product from lunch boxes to clothing lines.

And the amazing part is... he funneled the vast majority of the profit windfall his Croc Hunter brand generated into his beloved Australia Zoo and into other wildlife conservation based programs.

But in spite of the many powerful marketing lessons that can be learned by studying the life of Steve Irwin, I think the most important lesson we can learn from him is about PASSION.

This was the true secret to Steve Irwin's success. I've rarely seen anyone with more raw passion and enthusiasm for his mission in life.

His passion for life, his family, and the wildlife he spent (and gave) his life educating the world about, was evident in everything he did.

And... What Steve can teach us about passion is not just a lesson to apply to your marketing, but one to apply to your own life.

Live with passion.

Live with passion for what you do and communicate that passion to others. That's the key to real and lasting success.

If you're not passionate about what you are currently doing for a living... Find something you are passionate about, and do it to the fullest.

As Steve has shown us... Life is short. And the end can come at any moment. But a 44 year life of passion and adventure is far more rewarding than 100 years of "quiet desperation".

Steve Irwin lived his life to the fullest. He spent his days doing exactly what he loved and he transferred that love and passion to millions of others.

Rest in peace Steve. You'll be sorely missed mate...

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak150

2008-07-26T04:55:00.003-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Submit to Directories
There are a lot of free web directories on the net now and there are an equal number of sites that list free web directories.
So your first step should be to visit every directory and submit your link to every free web directory you can find.

Link Exchanges
If you are taking part in reciprocal link exchanges it is important that you 1) Exchange links only with related sites. If a site has nothing to do with your site a reciprocal backlink from it will serve little to no purpose and 2) Do not mass mail webmasters. If there is one thing that will guarantee i will ignore you it is if i receive an email that has been BCC'ed to a thousand other webmasters. You could also get other webmaster to ask for a link exchange by putting a contact form on your site and letting people know you are open for link exchanges.

Link Baiting
Link baiting is when you post something controversial, a flame or something very interesting on your site with the intention of getting people to blog about it or post it on forums. Link baiting is sometimes seen as "spam" but take no notice of that, It's not, People are choosing to link to you, It's upto them.

Providing Quality Content
This is my favorite way to get backlinks. Make a good site with good content.
If there is one thing people like, and like to link to, it is a good site.

Posting on forums
I am hesitant to include this suggestion, But i will, and i will explain exactly what i mean.
When i say by posting on forums read it as `join a forum and contribute`. It does not mean join a forum, spam your link 50 times and then leave. Most forums allow you to include a signature in your posts so it's an easy way to get backlinks. If you become a trusted regular poster it will also mean you get a lot of traffic from these backlinks. Spamming not only make you look like an amateur, But it will be deleted that same day by a moderator, Probably before a google bot even gets to see it.

RSS Feeds
RSS feeds allow you to syndicate your content. This means other sites display your content on their pages via a feed which includes a backlink to the original article or page. So you could syndicate us ;)

Submit Articles
If you know a lot about the area you work in (as you should) then writing articles could be very beneficial. Every time you write and submit an article that is one backlink, and the good thing about articles is they are often copied and used on other article sites, sent in news letters or posted on forums, Each time this happens you get another backlink.

Provide a link to me code
Put a page on your site that contains link to me code. This will be HTML code that people just have to cut and paste into their site to link to you. But don't use all text. Provide a few banners, some buttons, Be creative. Sometimes if people are trying to find filler for their site they will be more than happy to include your sexy looking banner or button on their page.
The trick is to make it easy for people to link to you.

Buy Text Links
If you have money set aside for your advertising you can also Buy Text Links from companies such as LinkWorth, Also good if you want to make money and sell text links.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak149

2008-07-26T04:55:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Call Centers have been around for a while, but haven't been widely deployed in the network marketing community. This is beginning to change. The results of those groups who use call centers have been stagering. Let me explain how call centers can help your network marketing efforts.

Home-based businesses involving network marketing have some major problems. The main one is that often times prospects who join have no idea how much work it takes to build a large group of people under them.

This is a major problem because when people join, they might try it out for a few months and then quickly become overwhelmed and then quit when they don't see the results they were hoping for. This means that all the time that the network marketer spent in getting that person to join has now been wasted.

Let me explain what a call center is, and I'll use the Coastal Call Center as an example. The coastal call center is filled with professionally-trained sales staff, who do 95% of the work for the network marketer. The coastal call center staff will answer the phone, present the business plan to prospects calling in, do all the follow-up, and eventually close the sale.

With the coastal call center model, a network marketer's main responsibility is simply to advertise, and get people to call the coastal call center phone number, with a tracking code that identifies which network marketer referred the prospect.

From the surface it may seem like the only person this benefits from the call center model is the network marketer, since they no longer have to do the grunt work of answering phones, presenting the plan and following up.

However, there is another often overlooked benefit to this. It actually helps sales tremendously because prospects are now told that they don't have to do anything except advertise. Now, advertising and marketing may not be the most appealing idea to the prospect, but it certainly beats having to do everything else along with advertising!

If your network marketing organization is not using call centers, you may want to consider opening a call center. Your group will quickly embrace the idea that they no longer have to do all the work themselves, and you will see increased sales as a result!

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak148

2008-07-26T04:54:00.002-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Information based marketing is one of the oldest and most effective techniques for bringing targeted prospects to your site and converting them into buyers. This is part of the reason that software, and distribution services that make the process of article promotion easier are so popular lately.

Though the various tools you can use to make the process of distributing your articles more easily are invaluable in getting your content the most exposure, that's only half of the story.

Getting article marketing to work for your site lies primarily in two things:

The article you're submitting
The preparation you do before you a single word of your content is written.

Since those two determining factors make at least 50% of the difference in bringing you success, let's take a look at what the most common mistakes are in that area, and how to overcome them.

Mistake #1 - Confusing the Reason to Promote with Articles with the Reason to Write Articles
There are three key benefits to promoting an article - branding, lead generation, and as a corollary, online promotion, particularly as part of your optimization efforts.

Yet there is only one reason to write an article, and that is to inform your audience. If your article is not geared towards this as its primary purpose, you will fail to see the three benefits of promotion - because no one will want to read your article.

How many links you're able to generate by submitting your article to hundreds of sites will matter little if you're unable to get them picked up by publications, or read by people who search for information.

Sure, if you know what you're doing all those links pointing back to your site will count for something in your search engine results - but remember that generating links to your site is only one part of optimizing your site for Google, Yahoo or MSN.

To overcome this issue, you'll need to figure out how to get people to read what is in your article, and then click through to your site from your resource box. The best start to a solution is to produce better content.

In the end it's a matter of choice. You can get a little exposure from increased link backs, on a very basic level, or enjoy massive exposure from a little extra work.

Mistake #2 - Starting The Article Promotion without a Plan
Not every article can fulfil all three purposes of promotion. Some will work better for branding, others can generate leads and increase sales. But if you don't start out with a plan for what the function of your article should be, you'll end up unhappy with the results.

To overcome this issue, before you write a single word, decide what purpose the article is supposed to serve. An article meant to brand you as an expert should display your knowledge. One for generating leads may need to be geared towards solving a very specific problem.

An article that gets published every where and helps to make you known is not meant to have the same level of exposure as hyper-targeted content geared towards a narrow group of people. Learning the difference will help you know what kinds of articles to write.

Mistake #3- Publishing Content That Doesn't Help Your Reader
Maybe you're thinking: "All I want is links back to my site - any visitors the article generates is gravy."

Well guess what? Not all article banks and directories are going to accept your content automatically. You can double the number of sites you can submit to by writing articles that the directories want to share with readers. And all it takes is one publisher with a hundred thousand readers to increase yo ur potential audience tenfold.

So if you want article marketing to work for you, write articles that publishers want in their publications.

This also means obeying the standard guidelines, running a spell check, researching a good topic to write about, or even hiring a writer to produce articles on your behalf.

Mistake #4 - Failing to Maximize the Promotional Opportunities of Article Marketing
You already know that articles marketing can help you generate additional links back to your site. But did you know that you can get more visitors and better search engine results from articles in a variety of ways?

You can mention your desired keyword in strategic places, though you should take care not to overdo this. Some people will also tell you to make use of anchor text, which can also is an effective method. However, you should know that the majority of directories and publications aren't able to support this.

There are alternatives to this method that are just as effective, if not more so, but they require more space to explain.

It's not just about the links back to your site either. Part of doing well with article marketing is getting picked up by publishers with large audiences, or gaining the ability to leverage other brands due to the quality of your work.

Better search engine results are great.

But by themselves they don't put money in your pocket - there are a myriad of factors that can turn your article marketing efforts into an opportunity to increase your income, not just the number of visitors to your site.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak147

2008-07-26T04:54:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

n today's world of high-speed internet, fast-foods, and super efficiency, the home-based business market is growing by leaps and bounds. While there are many types of businesses that people can do, working from the comfort and convenience of home, this article will focus on the pros and cons of multi-level marketing (MLM), also known as network marketing.

MLM can offer a person a wonderful lifestyle. Why is it, though, that an incredibly number of people fail to find success, even after years of working hard at their businesses? I have personally seen people who are far more intelligent than me, and who have been a lot more successful in their careers than me, fail miserably at network marketing!

Perhaps, the following lists of many of the advantages and disadvantages of network marketing will help you determine whether or not you should even consider pursuing this type of home-based business.

MLM PROS - Possible Reasons that MLM Could Be a Great Business For You!

Usually start-up costs are low.
Many of the highest-quality products are manufactured by MLM companies.
You can work it part time if you choose, which allows you to work a job fulltime and work your MLM business in your spare time.
You can work from your home.
Your business expenses will be deductible from your income tax.
You will be your own boss.
You choose which hours you want to work.
You may develop a small extra income or possibly even a very large income, allowing you to quit your job, or have a great retirement.
Your income will be a "residual" income, which will come to you month-after-month, year-after-year.
You will have time freedom.
You will meet many like-minded people.

MLM CONS - Possible Reasons that MLM Should NOT Be the Business For You!

At first you could work very, very hard without making any money!
The ease of start-up can cause people to get into several companies, with the mistaken belief that they can easily develop several income streams. This causes a lack of focus and makes the person far more likely to fail.
The products could be overpriced and it may be difficult to determine whether they are any better than you could purchase at a discount store.
People may look at what is possible to make with MLM instead of what is likely to happen. There are a lot of very inaccurate "get-rich quick" claims out there. When success doesn't come quickly, a person may be more likely to quit and join something else.
It can be very hard to distinguish a legitimate company or opportunity from a scam.
Many people do not seem to realize that it takes time and money to build a solid business.
Ideally, MLM is based on everyone doing a little bit. In reality, most people don't do their part, making it necessary for the few workers to work much harder to find any amount of success!
The failure rate is extremely high.
As in any business, to succeed with MLM takes a lot of dedication.
Unlike a job where you may punch a clock or have a certain number of hours to work each day, no one is requiring you to do anything with your MLM business. YOU must be the one to decide to work it, or invest your money into advertising. It takes true self-discipline!
Your family and friends may not at all understand what you are trying to accomplish. Hopefully, you will get very helpful support from others, but realize that they may not support you at all, no matter how dedicated you are!

I suppose that both the PROS and the CONS list could go on and on, but perhaps, you see the picture. If you are a person who can visualize some awesome long-term goals for success, and have the dedication and self-discipline to do whatever it takes, network marketing or MLM could provide you some of the greatest benefits you can imagine. It may very well be worth extremely-hard work and sacrifices in order to realize your dreams.

On the other hand, you may not be cut out for this kind of business. Jumping in and out of one business opportunity to the next will not be what you need. If you do not have the dedication and self-discipline to persevere through the disappointments that you will probably encounter, then I think you should steer clear of MLM.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak146

2008-07-26T04:53:00.002-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Internet marketing can seem mystifying not only for beginners, but for moderately skilled internet marketers. With all the courses, forums, blogs, reports, seminars and teleconferences available to help people learn how to get traffic to their sites, it is one of the most overwhelmingly dense subjects on the internet.

Unfortunately, and this is perfectly true, most of the advice or "expert" tips are outdated or completely false. Since anyone can publish on the internet, you have a mixed bag of good information followed with much more bad information.

The mysticism of internet marketing is created largely by this glut of some good and mostly bad information. It makes the whole topic SEEM like rocket science when, in fact, much of what was true about internet marketing years ago is true today.

Most people think that since search engine marketing changes every five minutes, that ALL internet marketing tactics must have changed as much in the same amount of time. Not true.

The basics, like trading links, article syndication, testimonials, forum signatures, joint ventures, affiliate programs - most work as well today as they did years ago. That is, if you know how to value the work above for what it will truly do for your website traffic.

Funny thing is, no one places much value on the above tactics anymore because there is always some "new" tactic around the corner that claims the death of everything that came before it. And most people blindly follow that advice as if it were true.

Most of the time, this is to the detriment of their internet marketing efforts. The basics are what work all the time and what have always worked on the internet.

You can always experiment with new things, as long as you have not forgotten to do the basics. The basics proven to drive traffic, page rank, link popularity, and branding to your business.

Conservative, relevant reciprocal linking
Article syndication
Participation in your field and among your market (forums)
Blogging
Offline advertising
Non-reciprocal linking tactics
Press releases
...and many other proven methods.

Everything else is just a big experiment until proven to work over time. "Over time" being the operative words. Lots of flash in the pan crack pot schemes work for awhile. But most never stand the test of time.

Links from a widely syndicated article will never fade away, yet I see people chasing down fly-by-night linking pyramid schemes as if they truly believe something like that is a smart thing to base their internet business on!

Tens of thousands have walked away from their dreams, gone back to their depressing, predictable, slave-la! bor jobs never knowing how close they were to actually succeeding.

Good people have left this business proclaiming it an utter lie that any average person can make it with an internet business and an internet marketing plan.

I guess there is truth in that statement. Average people do in fact quit this business before they ever get started because average people fall for tricks and schemes that above average people avoid on their way to success.

If you have read this far, you are probably in the above average category. Why? Because average people would have take one look at the list of things I mentioned that are the bread and butter of internet marketing and saw nothing but hard work. And they'd be right!

Above average people don't shy away from work though. I don't know a single soul (and my rolodex has some of the biggest names in internet marketing in it) who got where they are today without a lot of hard work.

You can succeed in internet marketing if you are not afraid to work, and not constantly tempted by those who say you can succeed without it!

Focus on the basics of internet marketing and stay with them as you try new strategies. We all experiment. But successful internet marketers never leave their bread and butter tactics behind unless they cease to be effective.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak145

2008-07-26T04:53:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

There are hundreds of ways that you can promote your online business or website, some more effective than others. These five proven methods will help you to generate traffic to your website and also to generate income into your wallet.

One thing that appeals to everyone is "free." If it is free people will take it. Think of the samples of cheese given away at grocery stores. Do you really want a small piece of cheese? Of course not! But you take it simply because it is free and someone is nice enough to offer it to you. The same principle applies with information or services offered from your website. You can send out free newsletters or offer a free trail period. One popular thing that is being given away now are free credit reports or free PC scans. These freebies are what we in the marketing field like to call teasers. After running the free credit report or PC scan we alert the customer if there is something found on their credit record or PC and then offer to show them what it is or repair the problem for a price. This can be an effective way to get information to your potential customers, create sales or to generate traffic to your site.
Your website contains information about a service or product that you are very knowledgeable about. You can use this knowledge to generate traffic to your site by writing articles in your area of expertise and having them published in an ezine or an article information site. The most effective way to use these articles is to write them for free and ask in return that the publisher allow you to include a byline. A byline is a very short summary of the author, their credentials and their website. Your byline is a way that readers will come to know you as an expert on the topic and will in turn come to trust your site as a source of credible information.
Some search engines will allow a website to purchase their ranking. This is an excel lent Internet marketing technique in that it is effective and inexpensive. In the pay-per-click programs, website are only billed for those who actually visit the page, unlike banner ads which may be seen by millions but only used by a few. When using the pay-per-click program you are asked to choose keywords and when those are entered your site will appear and if the surfer chooses to view your site, you are billed for that click. Many pay-per-click programs will offer other benefits as well, such as updated lists of commonly used keywords.
You should remember that others are in the same boat as you. You can choose to network with those who have similar marketing ideas. When networking you will be able to share links and refer customers to each other. You should always be very cautious when choosing a networking partner as everything that you recommend is a reflection of yourself or your product and therefore, you should be certain that your networking partner is a reputable source of information.
Simply because your website is online, doesn't mean that all your advertising should be. Advertise in newspapers, TV, the radio or you can even send out a press release to get your information to thousands of people all over the country.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak144

2008-07-26T04:52:00.003-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Hello everyone,

I've been around in network marketing for a few years now. I was always trying to figure out new ways to keep money in my pocket using the Internet. Yes that's right, KEEP money. The reason why I'm saying this is because I did make my share of money in the MLM industry, but I did lose a bit too. Nothing major, but if I go back and add up all my unnecessary expenses, I would have been richer in less time.

Now it's time to outline the places where I was losing tons of money. Take good notes of these situations, since many of you are probably experiencing the same issues! After that, I will explain how I patched my money leaking problems.

Communication fees
If you want to be successful in network marketing, you need to be on the phone doing sales pitch to new clients, train your team, provide customer support, etc. Communication fees include international long distance fees & teleconference fees that represented close to 45% of my entire budget. At that time I was actually holding back on calling people since I knew I was paying 0-10 cents a minute / per person.

Time wasters
Now this is probably the most important one! Time is money. so I consider time an expense too. For example, I was saying the same thing over and over to different people. Imagine having to say the same sales pitch more than 40 times in a day! They would usually last around 15 minutes each! And the worst part, some of my calls didn't result in a sale! All that time wasted for nothing! Another example is driving down to meet some of my local clients. The province of New-Brunswick might not be that big, but let me tell you that it sure is when you start accumulating hours of driving in between destinations. I was spending another 35% of my budget on gas and other traveling expenses like meals, hotels and car expenses.

Now with the solution: A ground breaking technology that will help you communicate more effectively, while saving time and money! Believe me, there's even more to it!

I'm glad to present to you the next online business trend. Web Conferences! Web conferencing is the new way to communicate effectively on the Internet today! People from all over the world are using this technology right now. Imagine that, you can talk all you want, when you want for less than a dollar a day! There is no long distance fee and no user limit. I simply send an email to my team or prospect and I don't even need to tell them how to setup since its so user friendly. Since the day I switched to Web Conference, I've seen my sales increase and I now have more free time away from the business. Now you wonder how web conferencing helped my online business?

Automate support for my client base
I run a variety of daily live seminars to an unlimited audience in real-time audio and video
I do live pre-sales
Promotions and fire sales
Customer networking in live chat rooms
I reduced travel expenses and time for business meetings
I reduce long-distance phone bills
I can talk to anyone anywhere in the world for an unlimited amount of time, for free
I can send documents, files, and other applications instantly to anyone anywhere in the world
I improved collaboration with my downline
Finally I can build and maintain valuable customer relationships

Now for those of you who can relate to my past experiences, you need to do something now! You need to figure out a way to lower these expenses if you want to survive in this industry. Web conference is the way to go! If you would like to learn more on Web Conferencing and other money saving tips, visit http://www.connexions247.com/webconference today!

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak143

2008-07-26T04:52:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Visual processing is the most important way for gathering information for all human beings. A good design or graphics work is remembered for ages and that is what drives the multinational companies to spend millions of dollars on developing their logo and other branding material. They would go to any extent to create a solid visual impact and leave a permanent impression on their customer's mind.

While designing your logo and providing the necessary details to your designer you need to always keep in mind what you want your customers to feel about your company when the see your logo. A logo design can actually be a compressed story for your business and tell your customers about the nature and attitude of your business.

"Logo Design" Begins at Home
Yes, your home is the place where you take the first step of your logo design process. Look at the different bottles and pouches you are using everyday in the kitchen, look at the logos they have, look at the logos on your electronic equipment, check the logo on the bag that you got from the shopping mall yesterday. Everyday we come across 1000s of logos but we remember just a few, if we look around, we can find different types of logos around us. Also, visit the local supermarket to check the logos on the array of products they have. It is always better to check out the logos of your competitors who are in the same industry. While doing this, you are sure to find some logos that stand out from the others and this is going to help you conceptualize your logo design.

Once you have made up your mind on how you want your logo to be, its time you write them down clearly demarcated into small objective points which can work as instructions for your logo designer.

One thing you should be careful, while going through different logos of other companies you must not be so influenced by any of them so that your logo becomes a replica or modified version of another logo that you saw. A good design often affects our sub conscious mind and we unknowingly duplicate certain parts of it. It is extremely important that your logo design is unique. A unique logo design increases the likelihood for getting a trademark protection. It is advisable that you take the assistance of a trademark lawyer for your trademark search and to ensure that you do not run into the risk of infringing some other companies trademark symbol or logo.

Using ClipArt
If you area small local business or a mom-n-pop shop you might not be that keen in investing towards a logo and establishing your brand (though I sincerely believe that's very wrong). In such situation, you can try using some high quality royalty free clip art combining it with a suitable typeface to put your company name. You can also use more than one clip arts to create the total graphics for your logo.

However, you should keep in mind that clip arts would never give you the effect of a custom logo and they can be easily duplicated or stolen. Even if you are modifying a clip art, it is almost impossible to get a trademark on that. In the future, once your business grows to the level when you need to have trademarked logo you will have to get a total new logo (may be something closer to the one you have) and start with your branding efforts once again to establish that new logo.

To avoid all these problems it is advisable that you get a unique custom logo and it is not always that you need to spend a lot on your logos. There are companies on the web that offer custom logo design at reasonable prices.

Some More Logo Design Tips

1)	Keep it simple: Remember, simplicity is the key. Most of the great logos are absolutely simple and it is always easier for us to remember and recognize a simple design than to identify a complicated artwork. If you want to have some complex illustration for your logo, try to minimize the number of lines and make it as simple as possible keeping in mind that the viewer should be able to understand what has been drawn.
2)	Typography: You should be careful while deciding on the typeface that you intend to use for your logo. Choosing the correct typeface can make a lot of difference. For example, a finance company depicting strength and stability would like to use some bold, thick font. Also, the letters can be twisted to create simple yet nice logos. Some ideal examples of logo that contains only letters are "SONY" and Dell - remember the twisted "e"?
3)	Always Use Vector Graphics: Always ask your designer to provide you the logo as vector graphics. The advantage is, vector graphics can be resized without any loss of details and image quality. You can resize it as per your requirement. In addition, vector graphics take lesser memory capacity in your computer.
4)	Choice of Color: You should be careful while deciding on your logo colors. It is advisable to restrict yourself to RGB or CMYK colors so that your logo looks equally good in print as it looks on web. Also, ensure that your logo looks good in black and white as well, mind it, you will also have to use your logo on while faxing any of your marketing material or corporate documents.

Finally, it is always better if you are employing any specialized logo design firm to create your logo design than doing it yourself. It is their profession so they would know it much better than you do and neither is logo design always very costly. Definitely, there are companies that charge you $500 for a logo, however there are also companies that offers equally good services with very affordable pricing ( http://www.mycorporatelogo.com ). It is just a matter of locating that designer and you can be on your way to having a wonderful custom logo design.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak142

2008-07-26T04:51:00.002-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

There seems to be a never ending argument among marketing and sales professionals as to what really is the difference between marketing and sales functions. More often than not, both business activity terms are used to describe any business activity that is involved in increasing revenues. For small businesses, with limited resources, there often is no practical difference in marketing and sales functions, all revenue generating activities are typically implemented by the same personnel.

As a company grows in revenues and number of personnel, it typically follows a logical business function progression of "specialization", a process where the lines between more generic, departmental descriptions and functions became much more definitive and associated functional responsibilities become much more focused. Marketing and sales functions are no exception.

Marketing and sales functions are diverse yet very interdependent. Typically "sales" cannot exceed revenue objectives without an effective marketing planning and support, and "marketing" directives ultimately becomes useless without sales to implement the plan.

Like many complex business issues, it is sometimes easier to define something by what it's NOT as it is to define it by what it is. Let's take a closer look at marketing to better define what sales is not.

Simply defining "marketing" as the "Four P's", product, price, place and promotion, based on your Marketing 101 class in college is not practical in today's global markets. In a general sense, marketing is more theoretic than sales, focused on purchase causality and is more prescriptive in purpose than descriptive. Marketing involves micro and macro market analysis focused on strategic intentions where sales is driven more by tactical challenges and customer relations. Let's take a closer look at how marketing is truly different from sales:

Marketing responsibilities are distinct from sales in that marketing:
* Establishes and justifies the company's best competitive position within a market
* Initially creates, helps sustain, and rigorously interprets customer relationships
* Locates and profiles potential markets and key participants within
* Generates quality sales leads
* Develops effective selling tools
* Formally analyzes and tracks competitor's business strategies and tactics
* Defines, prioritizes and justifies new product or service improvements and developments
* Promotes an explicit company product or service image
* Facilitates information transfer from customers to the rest of the company
* Simplifies the customer's product or service procurement process

A full time Marketing Manager would be responsible for the following tasks:

New Product Rollouts: Strategy development, program incentives, timing and media coverage
Agency Evaluation: Selection and evaluation of outside marketing contractors
Customer Database Management: Software selection, training, maintenance of customer contact Information
Market Research: Market definition, prioritization, project management, data gathering
Pricing Analysis: Pricing as a marketing tool, initiate and analyze competitor's pricing practices
Product Audits: Establishment of a formal means to evaluate competitive offerings
Public Relations: Establishment, guidance and coordination of all areas of public Relations
Trade Shows: Definition, participation, prioritization and audit for effectiveness of all trade shows
Product Promotions: Strategy formulation, program composition, premium definition, all media coverage
Marketing Communications: All printed / electronic communication: brochures, catalogs, price lists, case histories
Media Selection: Assist in selection and prioritization of all media options: print, broadcast, multimedia
Internal Communications: Establish and maintain all inter-company corporate communication means
International Marketing: Establish company presence in targeted international markets, audit for effectiveness
Strategic Planning: Offer strategic information and alternative insights to corporate management strategies
Board Meeting Participation: Communicate and reinforce the company marketing priorities, strategies and tactics
Corporate Vision Statement: Proliferate and reinforce the corporate vision throughout the Organization
Corporate Identity and Image: Create, maintain, improve and "manage" all corporate images and symbols

To a "pure" marketer, the marketing role in a company is not just a business function, but a business philosophy. An effective marketer truly believes "dominating" their target market is "owning" their market. The more a marketer can do to maintain market leadership the more effective they are perceived within the organization and within the industry.

As customer retention has become more of a business priority in our intensifying competitive markets, the marketing function has evolved from influencing potential customers to involving them the company's business planning and advancement. Effective marketing also has blurred the distinction between product and service and continues to apply more influence on the company's sales representation priorities.

In conclusion, marketing and sales functions are deeply rooted in each other's purpose and revenue growth intentions. There are few functional areas in business that relate more to each other. So the next time you hear someone say the word "sales", when the appropriate description would have been "marketing", or vise versa, think of this article and choose from any one of these documented business functions to make your point of distinction!

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak141

2008-07-26T04:51:00.001-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

Whether seeking a supplemental income or a full-time income, many folks have undertaken the task to discover a viable home based business solution to meet their personal needs.

For most folks who contemplate a home business, a low-cost or no-cost solution is not only nice, but also very necessary. Many also seek to find a home business that will permit them to maintain their regular day job in order to protect their base income.

Taking the cautious approach to a home based business and keeping one's job during the start-up period is often a very good decision. By maintaining one's job, one can maintain the health of their personal finances while permitting their home business grow healthy and strong.

Fortunately, most home based businesses can be started with little or no cash, can be maintained on a shoestring budget, and can be operated successfully with only a part-time investment.

One day, the business will be strong enough to support itself and its owner. When that time comes, it will make good sense for the business owner to leave his or her outside job to dedicate more time to growing and maintaining their new thriving home based business. You will know when that time has finally arrived.

The nature of a home based business makes it easy and very realistic for most folks to take the plunge into home business ownership.

Yet, many folks put off starting their own home based business, because they have the misconception that they will have to risk thousands of their own hard-earned dollars at start-up. Then later, if their business fails, they fear they may be forced to take out a second mortgage on their house just to stay out of bankruptcy.

Are you one of these folks? Do you let your fears of failure keep you from reaching for your dreams?

If so, then allow me to introduce you to a few home business ideas that you can start for less than $100 and can be started and operated very profitably as a part-time business.

THE LIFEBLOOD OF ALL SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES
First of all, let me advise you to search out a business model that will deliver steady and repeat business. It is the one thing --- above all others --- that will assure that your company can survive the test of time.

HOME-BASED MAIL ORDER:
Home-based mail order is a good example of how one can quickly grow a home business income. Mail order is a low cost start-up business that can be launched for around $100 USD.

With proper planning, your home-based mail order business will not require up-front inventory purchases. In the mail order business, it is not uncommon to rely upon drop-shippers for product fulfillment services.

By utilizing drop-shippers, we can sell the products, collect the money and then purchase the products from the wholesale outlet. The wholesale outlet will then put a return address for your company on the product packaging and deliver the product directly to your customer.

By using the following link, you can explore the drop-ship directory, which will let you explore the drop-shipping companies that will enable you sell 500,000 products from over 1,000 brand name manufacturers:
http://www.home-business.com/dropship.html

Your primary expense in the mail-order business is advertising. Classified advertising tends to be a relatively inexpensive form of advertising with thousands of outlets available to the small business owner.

WHOLESALE BUSINESS:
Buy low --- sell high. You can acquire high quality, top-of-the-line merchandise for a fraction of the retail cost. Starting a wholesale business would require a Wholesale Dealers Directory as your source for merchandise, such as the one above or the one listed here:
http://www.home-business.com/auction.html

AUCTIONS:
Auctions can be an excellent source for buying cheap and selling high. Both government auctions and Internet auctions can lead to some excellent profit opportunities. Auctions are an excellent tool for both acquiring and selling merchandise.

MAKE AND SELL YOUR CRAFTS:
Crafts are a hot seller at country fairs, swap meets or anyplace where people gather. Make your own crafts and sell them for a tidy profit!

SELLING INFORMATION:
Selling information by mail is another good example of an inexpensive home based business start-up. One can gain the resale rights to information for usually about $50 USD. Other costs will include printer cartridges, paper and postage. There are plenty of free classifieds sites on the Internet, in which to successfully advertise your information.

WRITE INFORMATIONAL BOOKLETS:
Write and publish your own informational booklets; sell them at a high price! All you need is a little know-how, a printer, paper and stamps. This is a GREAT home business idea! You can also sell the resale rights to others, for extra profits. In this age of the Internet, you may also take advantage of the fact that selling information is one of the most profitable endeavors one can pursue online.

OFFICE SERVICES:
Offer office services for hire in your local paper. You'll be surprised at the amount of regular office business that can be gleaned from one little classified ad. Word processing, typing, accounting, data entry, proofreading, transcription, promotional letters and newsletters. All these tasks can be accomplished right from your own home office.

AVON REPRESENTATIVE:
Yes, Avon's been around for eternity, hasn't it? Then it's not such a bad prospect as a home based business, is it? I once knew a woman who did so much business as an Avon rep. that she had people calling her and knocking at her door wanting to order products at all hours of the day and night! Once you are an established Avon representative, you, too, will turn a good profit.

CONCLUSION:
On your search for the ideal home based business, try not to get caught up in any scams that will run off with your money. There are thousands of scam artists out there just waiting for the next sucker to come along. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Just use your good judgement and invest wisely in proven methods of earning extra income.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak140

2008-07-26T04:50:00.005-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

aak139

2008-07-26T04:50:00.003-07:00

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows

1. Most companies do not accurately know their top ten customers.

2. Many companies have capitalized some item in the past, whose realizable value will become questionable.

3. Most companies do not know how they will be affected by profitability changes at their top ten customers.

4. Many companies have an asset that strategically they would be better off sel! ling at a loss to pursue some new opportunity.

5. Many companies have painted an overly optimistic picture to a customer, vendor or financing source.

Having discussed how this affects the best performing companies, guess what that means for the companies who do not accurately know profitability of their top ten customers.

Just Click here for Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Articles, Animations,Live TV Shows