May 31, 2009
The Real Cost of CRM Programs
It's not difficult to see the value of a well-defined and implemented Customer Relationship Management (CRM) program. An essential part of any business operation, an effective CRM program will increase the company's revenue by enabling its marketing department to focus on the customer through a variety of means - finding new customers, building customer loyalty through increased customer satisfaction, and growing business from existing customers. The end result of an effective CRM program is increased revenue, a loyal customer base, and lowered costs.
While this all sounds great in theory, is a CRM program really cost effective, and is the return worth the investment?
Continue reading "The Real Cost of CRM Programs"May 30, 2009
How to Create an Effective Drug-Use Policy
Drugs in the workplace are a real problem for many employers. While employees may not be using illicit drugs in the facilities themselves, 90% of drug users have jobs, and 20% of employees between the ages of 20 and 30 used at least one illicit drug in the past month. So how does that affect you as an employer? Drug users on the job utilize almost twice the benefits of non drug users, are absent almost twice as much, and file twice as many workers' compensation claims. As you can see, those who use drugs can quickly drain a company of its resources and reputation.
There are a number of ways you can help to create a drug and alcohol-free work zone. One way to significantly reduce the number of drug-related incidents in the workplace is to create an effective drug-use policy. Your drug-use policy should include:
Continue reading "How to Create an Effective Drug-Use Policy"May 29, 2009
Computer recycling and disposal
It finally happened.That beloved computer that you've been nursing along for months, listening to its strange beeps and groans every time you turn it on or off, it's finally broken down past the point of repair.Maybe the monitor blew out or maybe your hard drive imploded one day while you were working on a most important project (now why on earth would you be working on something important on a computer like that?).
But now that it's dead, what should you do with it?You don't want to throw it in your trash can-your garbage man wouldn't like that too well.It is kind of difficult to simply throw something out that was once so much a part of your life-and so expensive.Plus, it can't be good for the environment to have large pieces of electronics filling up our land fills.There must be a better option than just throwing the dead computer on the curb (which you wouldn't want to do anyway because it looks trashy).
Continue reading "Computer recycling and disposal"May 28, 2009
Business Networking - The Three Foot Rule
Perhaps one of the most effective ways of marketing your business is through networking. Networking, which involves telling people you know about your services or business in hopes they will utilize them or pass the word about your services along, is crucial to business success. They say the average person knows about 500 people - imagine the marketing potential if you could reach not only those 500, but beyond that.
If you're looking for a creative way to market your business through networking, you just need to look around you - literally. Your potential customers and clients could be just three feet away if you practice the Three Foot Rule of marketing.
Continue reading " Business Networking - The Three Foot Rule"May 27, 2009
What are the best web conferencing services?
As technology advances at rapid paces each day, more and more companies are finding that web conferencing is an effective, cost-effective way to handle business. Web conferencing is a form of technology that uses an internet connection to hold group meetings or trainings in real-time via the internet. Businesses enjoy the following features web conferencing provides:
May 26, 2009
What is Bankruptcy?
When a person is bankrupt, it means that they have acquired an overwhelming debt to at least one person, company or organization.The person that owes the money in these cases is called a debtor.The people to whom he owes money are called his creditors.Bankruptcy is the state of being unable to pay one's debts in their full amount to one's creditors.
There are two types of bankruptcy; voluntary and involuntary.
May 25, 2009
How To Make Your Business A Bigger Money Maker For YOU
Want To Multiply Your Income And Increase Your Bottom Line?
You can turn your ordinary business into an extraordinary money maker.You can multiply your monthly income and bottom line profits. Your sales efforts can produce greater results and more financial payoff. Your marketing activities can pull like gangbusters.You can create more long-term business from what you do.
Continue reading "How To Make Your Business A Bigger Money Maker For YOU"May 24, 2009
A Few Do's and Don'ts of Business Plans
Every year investors receive thousands of business plans from entrepreneurs all over the nation for their financial support. Despite the relatively hard economic times we live in the number of plans proposed by people looking to start their own businesses only continue to increase, while the number of business plans accepted decrease. If you like so many are looking to get your business backed by the financial support of investors there are several things you need to know about the nature of business plans.
May 23, 2009
Business Plan Development
Business plan development is a critical part of starting off any business.Entrepreneurs all across the world struggle with how to start their plan and begin developing their dream business.While the process is long and hard there are many ways to help in the process.If you are starting to create your business plan, several programs, books, people and tips can help you.
May 22, 2009
Business Plan Consulting
Business plan consulting is a saving grace for many hard working entrepreneurs.Writing a business plan alone is a long, time consuming process that can easily cost you an excess of 500 hours.It is draining and at some points boring.You have to make certain that your spelling, grammar, presentation, and content are superb, and it needs to be done in as few pages as possible.With the eternally busy world we live in, that task can easily sound nearly impossible.That is where the consulting firms step in.
May 21, 2009
What to do when a manager is accused of sexual harassment.
The topic of this article is what to do when a manager is accused of sexual harassment in your workplace.This topic of this article is especially important for you if you are a higher up manager or supervisor, but especially if you own a business and are the head employer.
Sexual harassment in the workplace is becoming more and more recognized.I think that it's actually less widespread than it was in the past when people didn't care about it; but now people recognize sexual harassment for what it is and so you have more and more claims, and rightly so.Between the years of 1991 and 1999 there was over a 50 percent increase in the number of sexual harassment claims that were filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (or the EEOC).Now, let us define precisely what sexual harassment is.The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has issues a precise definition of what sexual harassment is.Sexual harassment is "unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct" that makes people feel uncomfortable, that is unwanted, and that creates an unpleasant work environment.There are a whole lot of things that qualify as sexual harassment that you probably never even thought of, including blonde jokes (notice how they are always about women).
Continue reading "What to do when a manager is accused of sexual harassment."May 20, 2009
What to look for in hiring an air ambulance for emergency employee transfer
Medical emergencies happen.It is up to you as a responsible business manager to know how you are going to provide medical care for your employees.In some cases hiring an air ambulance for emergency employee transfer is the responsible thing to do.An air ambulance is typically used for those businesses that are far away from medical assistance and a traditional ambulance would not be able to travel long distances as quickly.Whatever your reasons for wanting to hire an air ambulance, you now must decide between the different air ambulance provider options that are available.But what exactly should you be looking for when hiring an air ambulance for emergency employee transfer?Consider the following factors:
May 19, 2009
What is Jet Aviation, what services do they provide, how do I contact them?
What is Jet Aviation, what services do they provide, how do I contact them?
What is jet aviation?
Jet Aviation is a world wide air servicing aviation firm.Jet Aviation was founded in Switzerland in 1967.They have 20 airport facilities that they use to service their clients. They have offices in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North America and South America.They offer a number of difference services.A few of those services are listed in the paragraphs below.Even more information about capabilities and directories is available in a PDF guide that can be downloaded from Jet Aviation's website at www.jetaviation.com.Local news and information about Jet Aviation can also be found on their website.
May 18, 2009
Using polygraph (lie detector) tests in the workplace
In a not so popular recently released Keifer Sutherland movie, the polygraph test was the determining factor deciding who the bad guy was. And we all should have paid more attention because we would have seen that the bad guy was the one who didn't take the test.
In this movie one of the many good guys was wrongly accused because when he took the polygraph test there were things he needed to hide, but he was not hiding what he was being accused of. Regardless, the polygraph test cannot tell the tester what they are trying to hide, but only that they are hiding something - so in this movie, the wrong man ended up going to jail.
Continue reading "Using polygraph (lie detector) tests in the workplace"May 17, 2009
Using outside cleaning services
So your office needs to be cleaned and your secretary's not willing to do it, what do you do? You could ask your spouse? Or my personal favorite, the person you're dating is always a little more willing to please right now. Are any of these options going to work for you? If not then it's probably a good idea to hire a cleaning service.
The first thing you need to think about is who can you trust? You can never know perfectly without establishing your own relationship with someone, but there are a few questions you can ask that will help.
Continue reading "Using outside cleaning services"May 16, 2009
How to increase productivity by using dual monitors.
This article is on how you can increase productivity in your workplace by using dual monitors.A few years ago, Jon Peddie Research did a study on productivity and dual monitors.Their results demonstrate that adding another monitor to your workstation-putting the two side by side and synchronizing them-actually increases your productivity a whopping 20 percent to 30 percent.Now tell me, honestly, that that bit of information does not make you excited.
There are a number of benefits to using dual monitors to increase your productivity.For example, you can run two programs simultaneously.You will not have to minimize anything to see another program, you won't have to juggle all of the different minimizing and maximizing or trying to make two programs fit into a screen by making their field of view smaller-small enough that you end up not being able to see anything.You might not realize it, but all of that toggling between programs actually wastes a ton of time.It leads to frustration, and it means that you just are not as productive because you do not have all of the information that you need right in front of you when you need it.
May 15, 2009
Using a staffing agency to get experience with employees before hiring
So you need to hire someone. Just applying for a job is a big enough pain, but it can be an even bigger pain for those who have to review all the applications and do all the interviews. How can you possibly make a decision when so many people apply for a job. Most of us would love to be able to just give everyone a job and not have to make a difficult decision that will inevitably leave some people hanging without employment. That is usually just the nature of business, but there are other options that can help to eliminate the hassle and work associated with hiring a new employee. You have probably heard of temporary staffing agencies. These are companies that have a large group of people on call to work for you at any time. Many of these individuals are qualified and can perform many different tasks. They are not just available for heavy labor, but also for a number of different jobs that may require different levels of skill. The temporary worker comes into your business and performs the particular task you need he or she to perform. There is no contract and when the temporary worker is done with the job, you can choose to either never work with them again or give them further work. Temping, in other words, allows for you to get special projects done that you don't need to higher a whole new employee to do.
May 14, 2009
Using air freight forwarders to cut shipping costs
Do you have a large shipping project in your future?Are you going to be dealing with a lot of air freight shipments?Is the whole process becoming too difficult and costly for you to manage on your own?You know that when you have valuable merchandise that you need moved by air freight you want to choose an air freight company that you can rely on, and that there are a number of options to consider.Air freight services have come a long way and can transport your freight goods with efficiency never before imagined.But what if you don't have the time to manage all of the shipments that you are going to be making?What if you would just rather have someone else manage your total shipping needs, both in the air and on the ground?
May 13, 2009
Using airfare consolidators to reduce travel costs
Some common synonyms for the word "consolidate" include "to join, unite or combine."So what does this mean in terms of airfare?What is an airfare consolidator?An airfare consolidator is an entity (usually a travel agent or on-line travel site) that purchases the unwanted/unused seats on a particular flight and attempts to sell them to a buyer.Naturally the airline is happy to have a guaranteed sale, even if it is lower than they charge directly through the airline.The airfare consolidator can then add their commission to the price and sell it to the consumer at a price still lower than the airline would charge had you bought the ticket directly from them.With airfare consolidators all parties receive the advantage of saving or in some cases making money.
If you do a lot of air travel you know that it can be quite expensive.Airfare is constantly on the rise and so are the bargain hunters.Fortunately the rest of the business world has caught on to trying to cure the epidemic of high air travel rates.There are many different companies that offer reduced rates.You have probably heard of the more popularly advertised on-line agencies, but don't forget the ever present travel agent.Using airfare consolidators to reduce travel costs is certainly an economical idea, however, in order to save a few bucks you often have to sacrifice something.
Continue reading "Using airfare consolidators to reduce travel costs"May 12, 2009
Using aerial satellite views in your business
So you have been looking at those satellite images of your neighborhood. Don't you love looking down on earth like it was a tiny ant hive. It's so interesting to see what houses and neighborhoods look like from space. You might have even looked at your own home. While this is highly amusing and a good way to spend time, you might want to learn a few things about how aerial satellite views can help your business. This might seem like a strange idea. You are probably wondering to yourself about how a picture of a house, business, or even neighborhood will help you sell something or improve your relationship with your customers. Well think again because it very well might make a huge impression on customers. Obviously this will only be useful for certain types of businesses, but for those who need to display lots of different pictures of a property or area from many different perspectives, this could be a great way for you to boost your productivity.
May 11, 2009
Using adjustable keyboard trays to increase efficiency and reduce injury.
The topic of this article is how you can use adjustable keyboard trays in your office environment in order to increase efficiency and reduce injury.Work place injuries are not just for those with heavy equipment jobs or jobs playing on professional sports team.There has been an increasing amount of injuries associated with more white collar jobs, where you spend the majority of your time in a cubicle, at a desk, working on a computer.This attachment to and dependency on computers had led to the development of eye problems that now are medically treatment, and an increase in injuries associated with repetitive movement, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.One of the best ways that you can avoid the chance of serious injury to your wrists, arms, hands, back, and neck, along with improving your efficiency and productivity, is to use an adjustable keyboard trays.
May 10, 2009
Tips on using employee relocation services
The purpose of this article is to give you tips on using employee relocation services.First, let us define what exactly employee relocation services are.First of all, relocation itself.Relocation is the name for the process of moving something to a different place, either your entire business or your employees.You would obviously move your employees if you have more than one office or center for your business.For example, my uncle is a lawyer for a major international technology company.He has been moved on several locations by his company from various places in Asia and the United States. The United States government is a major industry which often has to relocate employees as they move from different field offices.Anyone who works for maybe the State Department or any foreign offices, such as embassies, will undergo a substantial amount of employee relocation.Relocation services are services provided by a relocation firm that fully relocate businesses or, in this case, employees and their families.
If you are relocating an employee internationally, there are a number of elements that you have to keep under consideration.Not only will you have to find a house, pay for schooling for children, provide and organize transportation and more.You are also going to have to arrange for visas, passports, and finding a job for the spouse of the employee.
Continue reading "Tips on using employee relocation services"May9, 2009
The importance of anti spam filters to increase employee productivity
Spam is unsolicited e-mail.Spam is sent commercially to mailing lists, individuals and other groups.It is also referred to as junk mail.Spam is just that too, junk.Spam wastes time space and productivity.That is why it is so important to have some sort of spam filters for your employees.
It is estimated that spam costs business $20 billion dollars in lost time, efficiently and expenses.Anyone can purchase millions of e-mail addressed for a few dollars.This results in billions and billions of unwanted e-mails that plague our business' productivity.The sheer volume of spam is staggering.Just attempts to contain and control it have cost US businesses millions of dollars.It is said that spam accounts for more than half of total e-mail messages received.Going through these e-mails one by one to sort out the advertisements from the genuine messages is painstaking.
Continue reading "The importance of anti spam filters to increase employee productivity"May8, 2009
The best places to buy quality, inexpensive address labels
If you have ever owned a business you know how much mailing you need to do every month, week, or even day to keep things going. The piles and piles of mail start to loom like mountains before you, and the amount you need to send is equally big. How can you possibly save time in the midst of so much mailing? It might seem that you spend most of your time addressing envelopes. With the invention of the internet this problem is no longer as severe, but let's face it, you still need to send lots of correspondence to clients or other associates.
Any family can be faced with the same sort of task when they send out the family Christmas letter or need to make an announcement. Some people have very large families or lots of friends they need to get that yearly family news letter to. Once again the problem is one of time. No one should have the time to address three hundred personal letters. It simply doesn't pay. So what are the alternatives? The simple solution is to invest in personal or business address labels. These labels simply peel off and stick onto whatever letter or envelope you need to send. It's just that simple. You could save several hours, and in the case of businesses, several many, many hours a year that could be used otherwise. You might have seen labels on fancy correspondence and wondered how you might every afford such labels for your home or business.
Continue reading "The best places to buy quality, inexpensive address labels"May7, 2009
Tax Advantages of Incorporating
Incorporating a business is something any business can do, regardless of its size or number of employees. Incorporating allows business owners to separate their personal identity and financial assets from that of their business. When a company is not incorporated, creditors or partnerships can seize the business owners' personal assets, such as homes, savings, or cars. However, when a business is incorporated, only the money put into the business can be seized or lost in the event the business tanks or cannot support itself financially.
There are many advantages to incorporating. In addition to separating personal identity from business identity, incorporating gives a business credibility. A corporate business, regardless of the size, that has "inc" or "corp" at the end of its name conveys a sense of credibility. Incorporating also allows capital to be raised in an easier manner; investors are more likely to invest in a company that separates its owner's personal assets from his or her business assets.
May6, 2009
Spanish in today's workforce
Today the Spanish speaking populations makes up fourteen percent of our society - fourteen percent! That's huge! Whether from a marketing, a political, or a general public perspective that is a large percent of people in our little Northern America who speak Spanish. It's true, there is no official language of the United States of America, but come on, a little common courtesy would say pick up the language of the country your living in. However, that's not how it is. And as it is, we have to cater to it.
As long as you're going to cater to it, go all the way.You have to know that Spanish speaking does not necessarily, Mexican. In America there are Spanish speakers that come from many different Spanish countries; we have Brazilians, Mexicans, Chileans, Argentines, Spanish, as well as many others. This is important to know because not all Spanish countries have the same culture; in fact many of the Spanish cultures are very different. Just as you wouldn't fly a British flag on Independence Day just because we speak a common language, be careful when catering to your Spanish speaking customers not to offend them in the same manner.
Continue reading "Spanish in today's workforce"May5, 2009
Should You Pay Stock Options?
It used to be that stock options were reserved only for executives or members of top management. However, more and more employers are opting to offer stock options to all employees as part of their compensation package. In fact, more than 10 million American workers receive stock options as part of their compensation or as bonuses.
What Are Stock Options?
Stock options give employees the right to buy a specific number of shares of their company's stock during a time and at a price that the employer specifies. The price the company sets on the stock, also referred to as the grant or strike price, is offered to employees at a discounted price. This price is most often the market price of the stock at the time the employee is given the stock options. After a certain amount of time, an employee can elect to cash in his stock options. The idea behind this is that the stock price will have gone up during that amount of time, so the employee will be able to sell them at a higher price, thus yielding a profit.
May4, 2009
How to hire a sales training consultant
Whatever your business may be, it is always important to have a good system in place to help sell your product or service.Without such a system, you business suffers and your product or service is not sold, leaving you without your desired amount of profit.Perhaps you already have a well-designed sales system in place.But without a good training program to teach new employees the "ropes" of your sales procedure, your business will also suffer.That is why it is important to hire a good sales training consultant.
Should You Pay Bonuses?
An employee bonus can be a motivating factor for any employee and is an excellent way to boost performance, build loyalty in employees, and motivate employees to reach goals. However, if handed out incorrectly, a bonus can be ineffective in regards to motivation as well as a waste of money for employers.
May3, 2009
Sexual harassment in the salesforce
The topic of this article is sexual harassment in the salesforce.Sexual harassment in the salesforce is a much bigger issue than most people realize.You might think that sexual harassment is a problem of the 50s, and went out in the 80s, but the truth is much different.Take this into consideration:there was an over 50 percent increase in the number of sexual harassment claims filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (otherwise known as the EEOC) between the years of 1991 and 1999 alone.In the past ten years, the average amount of money that a jury has awarded victims of sexual harassment is $250,000.And who pays this money?Generally, the employer is the one who has to pay, because employers are held liable for any sexual harassment that takes place in their business or organization.Now, this doesn't mean, I think that sexual harassment is actually on the rise, but that more and more people are getting fed up with hostile work environments and inappropriate behavior, and they are finally doing something about it.
May2, 2009
Reducing mailing costs using mail sorting suppliers
This article is on how you as a manager or an owner of a company can reduce mailing costs using mail sorting suppliers.Let's start out with a question.I want you to think about how exactly you are sorting and managing the mailing aspect of your business now.There are a lot of different things that you're mailing.You have to send out newsletters.What about flyers announcing special sales?What about notices that include updates and possibly coupons for your services?What about a special release to all of the shareholders in your company that gives them background information on a new member of your company board?Are you a manager or owner of a company that sends out a lot of orders?Are you involved in the distribution of goods over long distances?It doesn't matter whether the packages that you send out are small packages, medium packages, large packages, or perhaps newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, or something of that sort.The point is that your company is heavily involved-by necessity-with mailing.It's absolutely integral to the functioning of your company, whether or not you deal with mail order.
May1, 2009
Outsourcing
Now more than ever, some companies are opting to outsource certain aspects of a business, or transfer management of that area to an external company that specializes in that area. Some forms of business that are typically outsourced include information technology, tech support, accounting, call center duties, or property management.
Outsourcing has a number of benefits, depending on how you look at it. Many companies opt to outsource to foreign markets because the cost of labor is so much cheaper, and they can save money by outsourcing rather than paying a higher salary to employees in-house. In fact, companies who outsource spend roughly 40% less on training employees than do companies who do not. Even companies who outsource nothing but say, their technical staff, will save a larger amount of money in the long run.
Continue reading "Outsourcing"