business articles

June 28, 2004

Keep Your Project Moving

Keywords: Will Power

I'll admit it upfront. I like starting new projects. Unfortunately, I'm hardly as fond of finishing them.

One exception is my book, A Manager's Guide to Newsletters: Communicating for Results, which I did get finished. Even on that project, though, getting finished wasn't a slam dunk -- it took more than seven years.

Do you have that problem, too? Many of us do, apparently, and it holds us back from reaching some of our goals, or reaching them as quickly as we would like.

So, let's explore what's happening, and what we can do to keep moving ahead with big communication projects.

First, the hurdles. One that immediately comes to mind is the determination to make everything perfect (at least in our own eyes) before we let others read, see, or hear it. Rather than settle for acceptable work (and after all, not everything has to meet the standard of excellence), we keep polishing and polishing.

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Posted by Angie at 06:55 PM | TrackBack

June 25, 2004

Establishing Change in Changing Times

Keywords: Change

This is not the first time that I am stating in an article that even change is not the only constant anymore, because even change is changing. We see it everyday: the speed of change today is much faster than it was 50 years ago, and still much slower than it will be 5 years from now!

Leaders in all workplaces are increasingly confronted with the phenomenon change. Some more often and more interfering than others, but none is really liberated from it. And even when change is not happening spontaneously - we all know after all how change-averse human beings are - it should be encouraged: Not for change's sake, but for the sake of the organization's existence.

If you, as a leader, want to successfully implement change in your organization, there are some points to consider:

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Posted by Angie at 11:34 AM | TrackBack

The Art of Knowledge Sharing

Keywords: Knowledge Sharing

Among all the concerning facts that surround us these days, there is one point that shines a positive light on current developments: The progressive trend of knowledge sharing.

Even in the not so far past education, whether in schools or non-traditional settings, was merely a matter of dumping knowledge from one source (the teacher or trainer) to another (the students or trainees). The person in front of the group was the almighty supplier of information, and everyone else was quietly and subserviently absorbing.

Fortunately, there has been increasing awareness that this "bank-deposit" method is not very stimulating or effective. More than half of the lecture gets lost when knowledge transformation is executed from an active to a passive source. There is growing evidence that active learning sorts much better and more rewarding effects.

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Posted by Angie at 11:31 AM | TrackBack

Write Better Web Content

Keywords: Websites

If you’re reading this article, chances are that you, like most professionals these days, understand the value of the Internet. It may be where you go to buy movie or concert tickets, browse restaurant menus, or plan your vacations. Most likely, you also turn to the Web to research business strategies, vendors and other companies.

But what about those surfers who are researching your company? When they visit your Web site, will they find what they’re looking for? Does your site provide the information they need in an interesting format that will keep them there long enough to convince them to do business with you?

While an attractive, professional-looking site is an important start, content is king. (What else would you expect from a copywriter?) But seriously, your site will never be truly effective without well-written content that answers visitors’ questions and creates enough interest to keep them coming back.

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Posted by Angie at 11:20 AM | TrackBack

How to Tune In Your Brain & Feel Confident with People in Moments

Keywords: Confidence

One day when I was in school, many years ago, the school principal wandered into our class room, sat down and started to talk.

He talked and talked; and there was nothing we could do to stop him seeing as how he was in charge!

For once he actually said something that interested me and I never forgot what he said. Not because he was so original but because he was the first person I heard saying it.

That day he spoke about the untapped potential of the human mind and how we are all capable of so much more than we realize.

And how once you learn how to use more of this vast intelligence you can become much more successful.

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Posted by Angie at 11:15 AM | TrackBack

June 24, 2004

What's your Business Online Attitude?

Keywords: Attitude

This article was prompted by some customer support work I was involved in for a private members site. One of the paid subscription members wanted someone to look over his website and give an opinion of what we thought of its design.

It was clear from the email that they had been online for a while (over 3 years) but hadn't seen any results from their efforts and were frustrated. Understandably so!

This person had created his own website in which to promote an online Opportunity. The purpose for having your own web site, rather than a static page, (one that you can't personally change, like the ones the most biz opps provide) is it to "Brand YOU".

After all, your site visitor is getting involved with something you recommend and in effect will want you to help them succeed.

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Posted by Angie at 10:55 AM | TrackBack

Understanding Your Importance To Your Corporate Team

Keywords: Teamwork

Fostering teamwork is a top priority for many leaders, according to Suzanne Willis Zoglio, Ph.D., the author of Teams At Work: 7 Keys to Success, The Participative Leader. There are obvious benefits: increased productivity, improved customer service, more flexible systems and employee empowerment.

A team is a group of people working towards a common goal. Generally, the objectives that a team sets out to accomplish can't be effectively achieved by individuals. Think of it this way: TEAM = Together Everyone Achieves More.

Within a business, every employee serves as a crucial member of the company's team. No matter where you are on the corporate ladder, you add intrinsic value to your organization through your strengths, talents, gifts and other assets.

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Posted by Angie at 10:43 AM | TrackBack

Put the FUN in Function!

Keywords: Fun

Where's the fun in your daily functions? With bills to pay, emails to answer, reports to write, projects to complete, phone calls to return, laundry to do, doctors to visit, forms to complete, children to care for, finances to manage, and relationships to squeeze in somewhere, it can feel completely overwhelming and not much fun at times.

Since all these important things need to be done, as they are the substance of your life (this not a dress rehearsal), doesn't it make sense to find ways to have more fun while doing each functional task?

When we think of fun, we usually think of weekend activities, or hitting the escape button and going on vacation. But here are some suggestions for making ordinary life more fun.

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Posted by Angie at 10:09 AM | TrackBack

Managers: Get Real, Please!

Keywords: Management

Personnel mentions in the newspaper and product plugs on radio hardly qualify as an adequate return on your public relations dollar, and you probably know it!

Especially unfortunate when your PR budget could be doing something really positive about the behaviors of those outside audiences that most affect your business, non-profit or association.

And also when it could be delivering external stakeholder behavior change – the kind that leads directly to achieving your managerial objectives.

And, finally, when you could be persuading those important outside folks to your way of thinking, then move them to take actions that help your department, division or subsidiary succeed.

On the other hand, if all you want is a simple publicity effort, fine. But if you want full-bore public relations performance like that above – performance that really contributes to your success as a manager – here's a blueprint that will start you on your way.

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Posted by Angie at 10:00 AM | TrackBack

How to Beat Your Fears

Keywords: Overcoming Fears

If you are not getting the results you want online, I'll bet the reason is fear.

Before you disagree, let me explain what I mean:

I'm not talking about the "run away and hide, there's a monster under my bed" type of fear. Instead, I am talking about an almost imperceptible, most often "masked" type of fear.

This type of fear is the inner demon often causing us to spend so much time perfecting our website, we never do anything to get traffic to it.

The type of fear that causes us to come to the end of another day, another week, another month without getting done that "one last thing" keeping us from getting our product done, our site up.

The fear causing us to be deaf to the solid advice we receive and do just the opposite.

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Posted by Angie at 09:51 AM | TrackBack

Part 1 of 5 - How "Pipe Dreams" Can Become Realities!

Keywords: Goals

Take a look at yourself - inside and out. Where do you live what job do you have, how do you relate to your friends and family? What interests do you pursue, what adventures do you have?

What do you truly want from life? Do you want wealth and success, happiness and peace of mind? Do you want a family and a yard, a yacht or a sports car? Where are you going? Do you have a particular goal or are you just wandering through life?

You can accomplish anything you want in life - that's true. Once you have a particular goal, you can fulfill that desire by straightforward commitment and total conviction.

But what if you don't know what you want? Maybe your goals are small ones - like losing some weight, or buying a new car. Maybe getting a promotion of finding a mate. Whether you want a bigger apartment or want to be a corporation president, any avenue of prosperity and achievement is open to you if it is truly what you want.

Continue reading "Part 1 of 5 - How "Pipe Dreams" Can Become Realities!"
Posted by Angie at 09:47 AM | TrackBack

Why Pacing and Leading is for Wimps!

Keywords: Communication

Okay, you have read some books on body language and they all said you must mirror and match, pace and lead....

And you failed miserably when you went out into the real world.

Let me tell you why and what you need to do instead. But first a story that illustrates my point...

A few years ago I moved into a very well paid position in the company where I worked. And in my new job I was dealing with company directors, business owners and senior executives -- face to face.

And to make it all even more challenging I would meet them on their territory - in their offices.

Teachers of pacing and leading would tell me to pace these executives and then to gradually lead them.

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Posted by Angie at 09:42 AM | TrackBack

June 23, 2004

Relax, You’ll Know What You Need To Run Your Business

Keywords: Confidence

When I started my business, I didn't realize all of the things I didn't really know about running my own business. Between all of the government requirements and the accounting knowledge I started to wonder just what kind of "stupid pill" I'd swallowed! I didn't know what I thought I knew, about the business of business. Whew!…what a shocker!

That was years ago and looking back, shivers still run up and down my spine. The good news was, I wasn't alone and in reality most of us go through the same thing. Not that it makes any of us feel any better at the time, but it is a part of the learning "dues" that most likely will be paid.

It's interesting but even though there is still new and unknowns facing all business people each day, we seem to handle it better as our business acumen matures.

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Posted by Angie at 05:27 PM | TrackBack

Writing Short Info Reports

Keywords: Information Reports

People want information, they want it quick, frequently in short form, and straight to the point. Its no wonder that they go straight for a computer connected to the internet to find anything from how to grow tomatoes to choosing a web host.

As a home business owner, this "information revolution" as I like to call it, is only to your benefit. After all, you are in the business of trying to give people what they want time and again. So, give them the information they crave.

Now, e-books are a wonderful way to , but in the spirit of the Infopreneur, short high content reports which I like to call info-reports are perhaps even better. If formulated carefully, they can even be put to use to literally explode the size of an opt-in list of subscribers. To proceed you simply develop several high content short reports, targeted at a specific market which you would like to add to your subscriber base, and give it away free just for subscribing to your newsletter. With content, and the word "free", many people will flock to subscribe. Best of all this is a win-win situation: You pick up valuable subscribers to interact with on a weekly basis, and your subscribers receive valuable information from you.

So, how is it done you ask?

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Posted by Angie at 10:45 AM | TrackBack

3 Kinds of Workplace Stress

Keywords: Stress Awareness

Workers across America will tell you that stress levels are increasing. The demand for anti-depressants is up. Doctor's visits are increasing. Stress-related ailments are shooting up like a rocket.

There are many stressors behind all these problems, but the gurus generally classify the stress itself into three categories. Understanding the major types is the first step to controlling stress and improving productivity.

1. Acute Stress. This kind of stress is caused by recent events. It is significant but temporary. Small doses can result in positive reactions: the adrenalin rush and feelings of elation can motivate achievement. Too much, too often results in headaches, backaches, upset stomach, and other tension-related responses.

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Posted by Angie at 10:29 AM | TrackBack

How to Choose the Autoresponder Right for Your Business?

Keywords: Autoresponders

Let's give a definition to autoresponder first. So, what is an autoresponder? Think of it as a 'fax on demand' service. When a customer sends an e-mail to the autoresponder address, this smart 'robot' sends back an e-mail response, usually informative letter.

You can set up hundreds of autoresponders. You can use them literally for anything you can think of, including customer support, new product offers, ezine broadcasts and a whole lot more...

Autoresponders can save you a lot of your hard earned dollars. They can be your best marketing tool, therefore, it is important to have a reliable service under hand. There are quite a few autoresponder services around that you might consider using.

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Posted by Angie at 10:27 AM | TrackBack

Top 7 Ways to Succeed in the Business of Speaking

Keywords: Public Speaking

How attractive are you as a speaker? No, your looks, but your consistent ability to provide a quality presentation, attract clients, and be irresistibly attractive to meeting planners and speaker bureaus? Below are some useful tips that I learned while owning a national, professional speakers bureau for 13 years.

1. Presentation - do you have something interesting, inspiring, and useful to share with audiences? Be mindful of your voice (keep it deep and low pitched), your personality and attitude (positive), your tone (soft, loud. Encouraging as needed), your style, your vocabulary.

2. Connection - how quickly do you get to the core of your audience's problems and challenges? Skip what is between their ears and go straight to their hearts.

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Posted by Angie at 10:20 AM | TrackBack

10 Mistakes That Reduce Profitability

Keywords: Increasing Profits

In my professional experience as a sales and marketing coach/consultant, I've had the opportunity to work with a number of small business owners on various issues related to sales and marketing. The owners who are struggling to keep their businesses afloat tend to engage in some, or all, of the following mistakes that reduce profitability.

Mistake #1: They fail to market or market inconsistently. Once you have committed to owning and running a business you must be equally committed to marketing and selling the products and services of that business. It is difficult, if not impossible, to stay and remain profitable without a commitment to ongoing concerted marketing.

Solution: Market all the time, every time.

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Posted by Angie at 10:06 AM | TrackBack

Top 7 Tips for Speakers

Keywords: Public Speaking

Public Speaking is the number one way to advance your business career.

Do you get nervous when speaking to a group? Do you feel butterflies in your stomach? The following tips will help you get your butterflies to fly in formation.

1. Everyone feels some nerves before a presentation. Try to do a quiet meditation, visualization, or exercise before you speak. Breathe deeply. Memorize those opening lines.and then quickly engage your audience with a question or humorous story.

2. Three keys to being a top presenter: practice, practice, practice. In front of your mirror, in front of your stuffed animals. Use a tape recorder and a cam recorder for playback and feedback. Try your material out with service clubs.

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Posted by Angie at 09:32 AM | TrackBack

A Day in the Life

Keywords: Starting a Business

This article is all about you.

But it's going to tell you a lot about me. Let me explain:

On a daily basis I am asked to contribute to the latest "How to Make Money Online" book. Sometimes the requests are a little odd.

The other day I was asked to write a couple pages about what my "typical day" looks like. I thought the request was interesting-but I never realized how much it would say about why you MUST have an internet business of your own.

So, I began looking at how I spend my days. (Stick with me here, you'll see my point in just a second.)

I get up between 4:30 and 5am. I don't use an alarm (haven't for 20 years), It's just when I get up.

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Posted by Angie at 09:18 AM | TrackBack

June 22, 2004

Pesky Interview Questions That Keep Coming Up

Keywords: Interviews

Those same questions keep coming up -- in every interview. They can be tough ones because they are about you and your thinking process. Preparing for them ahead of time can save you some grief during the interview.

What are your weaknesses?

The most dreaded question of all. Handle this question by minimizing the weakness and emphasizing the strengths. Stay away from personal qualities and concentrate on professional traits: "I am always working to improve my communication skills so that I can be a more effective presenter. I recently joined Toastmasters which I find very helpful."

Why should we hire you?

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Posted by Angie at 05:20 PM | TrackBack

THE PROBLEM WITH MANAGEMENT - PART 3 (Simplicity for Success)

Keywords: Management

In the story so far, I have suggested that management languishes in the industrial dark ages. I have pointed the finger at an upside-down management culture. And I have suggested that being a manager is like being a cyclist because, well, the analogy works - and I happen to like cycling. Let's ride this particular bicycle home.

In early July this year, cyclist Lance Armstrong will try to win a record breaking sixth straight Tour de France. Winning this three-week, 3500km event just once requires overcoming enormous obstacles. So to have won it five times on end is simply awesome.

How does he do it? Yes, there is enormous personal preparation and effort involved. But this would amount to little if not for the approach and support of his U.S. Postal Service team.

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Posted by Angie at 05:06 PM | TrackBack

Managers: Why PR is SO Key

Keywords: PR

When outside audiences important to your operation do not understand what you are all about or, worse, harbor misconceptions, inaccuracies, untruths and false assumptions about you, you are likely to suffer negative, key audience behaviors that can prevent you from achieving your operating objectives.

As a business, non-profit or association manager, you simply cannot avoid such consequences when you allow external target audiences to hold negative perceptions about you which lead inevitably to those hurtful behaviors.

If this describes your operation, why not do something about it now?

Spend some time with the public relations people assigned to your department, division or subsidiary. Review together the fundamental premise of public relations which contains the answer to the challenges outlined above.

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Posted by Angie at 04:51 PM | TrackBack

A Silly Question Worth Serious Thought -Do You Want To Be Rich?

Keywords: Wealth

That sounds ridiculous. Of course you'd like to be rich, wouldn't everybody? But do you really?

Your words might say you do, but our thoughts and actions very often say something entirely different.

What am I getting at? Well...

If you are still doing things the same way you've always done things, then reading this could be the most important thing you do all year. Why? Because your thoughts and actions can be the fuel you need to get your business up and running.

However, consider this - your thoughts and actions can also act like a 'straight jacket.' They could be stopping you from reaching your fullest potential, or making it easy for competitors to knock you around.

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Posted by Angie at 03:53 PM | TrackBack

Are You In Business To Help Customers?

Keywords: Customer Service

Customers want to believe you are in business to help them.
They don't mind if you make a profit by helping them. But
they won't buy from you if they believe you are only in
business to get their money.

Here are 4 ways you can assure customers that you are in
business to help them.

1. Personalize Your Sales Approach

Customers will not believe you really want to (or can) help
them when they see you trying to sell the same product or
service to everybody.

Continue reading "Are You In Business To Help Customers?"
Posted by Angie at 03:43 PM | TrackBack

June 21, 2004

Accessing Your Own Wisdom

Keywords: Time Management

"Let nothing come between you and the light." -Henry David Thoreau

Sometimes I spend quite a bit of time working with my clients on personal productivity issues like time management, prioritization, and effective systems. We do this because it is much easier to achieve work-life balance when we are productive! Having a sense of accomplishment helps us to more easily shift from our work to our personal lives when we feel the need to do so.

One piece of personal productivity strategy that often gets overlooked is that sometimes to do more, we need to do less. Much less. As in nothing. Some call it down time, others call it recharge time and others call it meditation. It doesn't matter what you call it or what form it takes for you. The key is to quiet your mind and be open to the surprising breakthroughs that can happen. I do some of my best strategic thinking when I am doing non-mind engaging activities -- running, yoga, cooking, walking, cleaning my house, doing dishes, journaling. Basically, anything that is routine enough to be done almost automatically. I have noticed that if I can manage to take my brain out of the fast lane for a minute or two my creativity and my ability to creatively solve problems become reinvigorated.

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Posted by Angie at 01:12 PM | TrackBack

Don't Call Me

Keywords: Phone Calls

A recent issue of Psychology Today (3/2004) reports on an experiment involving identical business negotiations between test subjects. The only difference was that half started the transactions with a brief phone call and completed it with email. The other half used only email.

The transactions beginning with a phone call turned out much better.

So we should all foster our business relationships with more phone calls, right?

Well, maybe not.

See if this script sounds familiar. You're watching Jeopardy (or whatever your favorite TV show is) when the phone rings. You answer it and get tied up with a telemarketer, your sister, your business associate, or a wrong number. It's fairly easy to get away from wrong numbers and the telemarketers. Your sister and your partners, however, require your attention for more time.

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Posted by Angie at 12:02 PM | TrackBack

The Top 10 Reasons Businesses Succeed

Keywords: Success

Only one of every 5 businesses makes it to its 5th year, and fewer still make it to 10 years. What do the successful businesses have in common?

1. The experience and skills of the top managers. Over half of business failures are directly related to managerial incompetence.

2. The energy, persistence and resourcefulness (the will to make the business succeed) of the top managers. Many business owners have failed or come close several times before their "instant" success. Don't give up.

3. A product that is at least a cut above the competition and service that doesn't get in the way of people buying. There must be a compelling reason to buy; the product is great, the people love to provide service, and the buying experience is easy and fun.

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Posted by Angie at 11:44 AM | TrackBack

Managers: Why Not PR Like This?

Keywords: Public Relations

I mean public relations that presumes from the get-go that the right message, strategy and communications tactics can change perceptions among each of your business, non-profit or association audiences. And do so in a way that produces the behaviors you need to achieve your objectives.

It all comes together when you persuade those important outside audiences to your way of thinking by doing something about their perceptions, thus moving many of them to take actions that help your department, division or subsidiary succeed.

I believe the Rosetta Stone that allows such "magic" to happen is the fundamental premise of public relations, and it looks like this: people act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action the very people whose behaviors affect the organization the most, the public relations mission is accomplished.

Continue reading "Managers: Why Not PR Like This?"
Posted by Angie at 11:31 AM | TrackBack

Stepping To Success

Keywords: Success


***This article was originally written for freelance copywriters, but the steps apply to anyone who runs their own business. ***


As freelance copywriters, with our own writing services businesses, we're lucky. We have all the freedom we could wish for. We work the hours we want, when we want. We can take time out in the middle of the week to play golf, watch a movie, or attend functions at our kids' schools.

With that freedom comes responsibility. We need to make sure that we're making the most of our time, that we’re setting achievable goals, and that we're working to achieve those goals.

Here's an article on making the most of your time:

http://www.digital-e.biz/articles/art_motivation1.html

Continue reading "Stepping To Success"
Posted by Angie at 09:29 AM | TrackBack

June 18, 2004

Focus and Fear of Success - The Biggest Monkey on Your Back?

Keywords: Motivation

If you have been on the internet for awhile, you know that there are millions of people trying anything and everything to get your attention. They want in your wallet. It's a great big money grab out there folks, and the net has become the biggest marketing arena on the planet, driving whole industries and generating Billions of dollars in sales.

So what's the problem? Well, none if you are one of the small businesses with focus. A whole lot of problems if you lack focus.

There are myriad small business opportunities on the net today. And if you do your research and find something you want to associate with, or you create a product for a well-researched target market, you are well on your way to financial success. Or are you?

Continue reading "Focus and Fear of Success - The Biggest Monkey on Your Back?"
Posted by Angie at 04:55 PM | TrackBack

How To Get 50% of Your Freelance Fee Up Front - And a Whole Lot More!

Keywords: Freelance

This is valuable content from my free online newsletter, the FREELANCER'S BUSINESS BULLETIN. In the April 2004 issue I shared with my subscribers the secret to getting at least 50% of your freelance fee up front, plus a whole host of other important requirements for your freelancer's business.

It was FREELANCER'S BUSINESS BULLETIN subscriber and copywriting expert Susan Fantle who asked for a discussion of this topic because she had recently encountered some difficulties with clients. In her own words:

"I've been in this business for 23 years and only in the last two years do I finally see the need to have a contract with new clients."


Continue reading "How To Get 50% of Your Freelance Fee Up Front - And a Whole Lot More!"
Posted by Angie at 04:53 PM | TrackBack

The Power of Being (and Staying) Down to Earth.

Keywords: Motivation

Ever had a day when you woke up feeling disgusted about yourself? A day when nothing; no accomplishment ever achieved, could make you feel better about your very being? Ever had such an episode in which the feeling lingered all through the day, making it almost irresistible to crawl back in bed until it would be over…if ever?

If you had such a day, and especially if you had it more often than once, you are one of the many who are blessed with an inner detector that keeps you down to earth. These moments come and go unexpectedly, and they may be triggered by various matters: Sometimes they may be linked to the books you’ re reading at that moment, and at other times just to the overall circumstances in your life. Things may not have been going too well for you, for instance. But even if they were, you could still experience these moments, based on impatience about the slowness of certain developments, or based on your very character.

Whatever the reasons are that bring you in a depressed mood, you may want to keep the following in mind to endure them, and even be thankful for them:

Continue reading "The Power of Being (and Staying) Down to Earth."
Posted by Angie at 04:48 PM | TrackBack

Find 50,000 Referrals for Your Business in Your Little Black Book

Keywords: Networking

When you need an auto mechanic or an air conditioning repairman, where do you turn for help? Sure, some people turn to the yellow pages. But most will turn to friends and family and ask if they know of anyone who can do the work.

The best place for your business to be positioned is to be the business on the tips of the tongues of the people asked to make the referral.


THE 300 RULE

Preachers, funeral directors and people in a few other professions have learned "the 300 rule" through their own personal experience.

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Posted by Angie at 04:41 PM | TrackBack

Writing Your Affiliate Home Business Plan

Keywords: Affiliates

Here's a typical scenario: You are deciding to start a home business and suddenly everyone you know has his nose in your business, literally. What do you tell them? And how do you answer your own questions? What should you expect from the company in terms of stability, longevity, vitality, trust, income, and so forth?

First the bad news: there are no guarantees. Then the good news: there is plenty of information from which to draw your own conclusions. The internet is huge, and any good company will offer free marketing tools and training.

But back to the WHY of that business plan. You're going to be starting small, slow and boy! is there a lot to learn. What's the point of actually sitting down and writing a business plan? You're not Bill Gates, this isn't Microsoft, just you in your home office a few hours a week, slowly building an online business presence, not really understanding what the heck you'll be doing.

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Posted by Angie at 04:37 PM | TrackBack

Maximum Affiliate: Becoming the Next Super Affiliate

Keywords: Affiliates

The term "Super Affiliate" has become common online in the last year or so. For those of you wondering what the term refers to, let me give you a common definition:

A super affiliate is a person who has the ability to create a large number of affiliate sales for a vendor website in a short period of time.

For example, my friend Rosalind Gardner is a super affiliate. She produces hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales each year for a variety of online match-making sites.

[By the way, she has agreed to allow my readers to pick her brain about how she does that here: http://www.All-In-One-Business.com/brainpick ]

A super affiliate will typically have a high-traffic site and a large list within a market niche.

Continue reading "Maximum Affiliate: Becoming the Next Super Affiliate"
Posted by Angie at 04:21 PM | TrackBack

Financial Intelligence: Age of the Pro-sumer

Keywords: Investing

The Consumer
============

Fortune magazine is calling this New Millennium we are living in the "Age of the Consumer." And for good reason. With on-line shopping and the expansion of huge discount chains, prices for goods and services continues to drop daily, "saving" consumers billions and billions of dollars every year.But wait a minute! Are you really "Saving"?

Consider this, when you buy a $150.00 item at 50% discount, you don't "save" $75.00. You "SPEND" $75.00. So you not only lose $75.00 from your net worth by spending it but you lose the ability to invest that $75.00 to grow more money over time.

"Consumer-thinking = spend money."


Continue reading "Financial Intelligence: Age of the Pro-sumer"
Posted by Angie at 03:58 PM | TrackBack

Ten Ways to Add Abundance To Your Mind, Your Life & Your World

Keywords: Peace of Mind

Abundance isn't something you find from the outside. Abundance begins within and radiates outward. Find the ways that increase your abundance inside. Add time to your day, simplify, or make a difference in the world. Gratitude multiplies. Find something in these ten ways to add abundance to your life and enjoy the positive results it will attract.

1. Step up and become a world peacemaker. Volunteer to help keep peace in the world. Yes, even one hour this year will make a difference. Think about it -- if 2,000 people volunteered just one hour, that 2,000 hours that peace is closer in the world. It is like interest, it compounds. You can and do make a difference. Visit The 1,000 Years of Peace Project (http://www.pledgepeace.org/) and pledge just one hour in 2004 towards peace!

Continue reading "Ten Ways to Add Abundance To Your Mind, Your Life & Your World"
Posted by Angie at 03:51 PM | TrackBack

How to Tune In Your Brain and Feel Motivated in Minutes

Keywords: Motivation

One day when I was in school, many years ago, the school principal wandered into our class room, sat down and started to talk.

He talked and talked and there was nothing we could do to stop him seeing as how he was in charge!

For once he actually said something that interested me and I never forgot what he said. Not because he was so original but because he was the first person I heard saying it.

That day he spoke about the untapped potential of the human mind and how we are all capable of so much more than we realize.

Continue reading "How to Tune In Your Brain and Feel Motivated in Minutes"
Posted by Angie at 03:09 PM | TrackBack

The Top 10 Ways To Turn Your Clients Into Raving Fans

Keywords: Maintaining Clients

Do you find great joy in being a coach? If so, you will find that your enthusiasm is contagious and will attract clients. Be sure to develop a superb and supportive community. Enlist them in building a practice and in supporting you as you go down the coaching road. Embrace change. It is your constant companion as you build your coaching business.

1. Be someone that they really enjoy as a person and as a vendor.

2. Call your Client each quarter to ask if they're having any problems or challenges with their organization.

Continue reading "The Top 10 Ways To Turn Your Clients Into Raving Fans"
Posted by Angie at 02:26 PM | TrackBack

Get Results from Your Writing & Speaking

Keywords: Effective Speaking, Effective Writing

When we communicate, we usually want something to happen. We want results. And, when we're conscious of results, we're seeking effective communication.

To put it another way, the effectiveness of communication can be measured by the responses it gets. It's not measured by how well we wrote or how eloquently we spoke, although those can help us get the responses we want.

Good writing and speaking help us get a response because they help get the message across. As I've argued in my book, A Manager's Guide to Newsletters, a newsletter that doesn't get read cannot get a response from readers.

So, writing, designing, speaking, and all those other creative activities matter. But, in the end, responses are what count, and effectiveness means getting the responses we want.

That's true for all types of communication, and not just marketing campaigns. Managers who send messages to employees, for example, want employees to respond in a particular way. Maybe they want the employees to do something differently, or maybe they want to reinforce existing behaviors.

Continue reading "Get Results from Your Writing & Speaking"
Posted by Angie at 01:06 PM | TrackBack

Why To Dump Will Power And Get Motivated The Easy Way

Keywords: Motivation

Does will power work?

Will power alone will never work over the long term. It is the hardest way possible to get yourself to do anything.

Why?

Because it is like trying to open a tin can with your teeth when there is a can opener in your pocket.

Instead you need to tap into the limitless power of your mind. When you do you can break bad habits, create beneficial new ones and put yourself back on track easily, quickly and with very little effort.

You see...

Continue reading "Why To Dump Will Power And Get Motivated The Easy Way"
Posted by Angie at 12:32 PM | TrackBack

Who Answers Your Business Phone?

Keywords: Telephone Services

Your Small Business Image can be Shattered by Your Phone

Business to Business relationships come to expect a certain level of professionalism, from the first telephone call to the final delivery.

Your business can be on the Really Big 500 list, employ only a handful of people, or be a business of one but what is said by that business to other business customers will reflect the personality of that business. It can be a PR boost or a PR blowout.

Have you called the telephone company or your long distance provider lately? Chances are you will get a machine telling you to "listen closely because the menus have changed" (as if they know you called last year).

Continue reading "Who Answers Your Business Phone?"
Posted by Angie at 12:28 PM | TrackBack

Business Etiquette for Lunch Interviews

Keywords: Lunch Interviews

"Help!" the twentysomething croaked, learning he was to have
his interview for a high level IT job at an upscale restaurant.


"What if I forget what fork to use?"

When it comes to business dining etiquette, which fork to use
is rarely a problem - especially during lunch.

The key thing to remember is that the interview isn't about
eating, it's about the presenting yourself effectively and
positioning yourself for the job.

Here are 5 Quick Tips For Success

Continue reading "Business Etiquette for Lunch Interviews"
Posted by Angie at 12:07 PM | TrackBack

That One Thing That Kills Procrastination

Keywords: Procrastination

What can you do when you do not feel like getting started?

We all know what that feels like. You sit there staring at
the mountain of work in front of you while your mind
screens a horror movie of toil and effort.

I am sure you have tried making a list of things to do. But
the problem is the longer the list the harder it is to get
started.

Good news.

I have a very effective remedy you can use whenever you
feel this way.

Continue reading "That One Thing That Kills Procrastination"
Posted by Angie at 12:02 PM | TrackBack

Making Transitions

Keywords: Effective Communication

Ever notice how smoothly some speakers or writers move you through their speech or memo? It seems they effortlessly take you from start to finish without making you strain to follow.

Yet, while the reading may be effortless, the writing probably took some extra work and attention to detail. In fact, some writers would say you should work as hard on the transitions between ideas as you do on the ideas themselves.

Consider copywriting guru Joe Sugarman, who says the job of each piece of copy, from the headline down, is to get you to read the next paragraph. And the paragraph after that. And to keep on reading them until you get to the 'offer,' where you're asked to order the featured product.

To get readers from one paragraph to the next, or from one idea to the next, we use transitions, words or phrases that 'pull' the reader along, or in the case of speeches, pull the listener along.

Continue reading "Making Transitions"
Posted by Angie at 11:06 AM | TrackBack

That First Step to Massive Success

Keywords: Success

Do you want to know the key to beating procrastination and achieving much more?

Let me tell you how I discovered the secret to achieving massive success...

I had some work to do yesterday and I kept putting it off.

I thought to my self - I´ll wait until later when I feel more alert and in the right frame of mind to do it just right

Do you ever do this?

Continue reading "That First Step to Massive Success"
Posted by Angie at 11:01 AM | TrackBack

How You Developed Bad Habits That Cost You The Success You Value Most

Keywords: Goals

Today I want to tell you why you absolutely have to take charge of self-motivation.

As you read this article you will start to understand why a lack of motivation is costing you even more than you realize.

As you read the story below notice how much you have in common with me...

Growing up I never really had much trouble getting things done. I was told what to do by my parents or by my teachers and I did what was expected of me because it was the easiest choice for me.

Getting punished never appealed to me very much.

Then as I got older and especially when I joined the workforce I could get away with doing less and with leaving things until the deadline approached.

Continue reading "How You Developed Bad Habits That Cost You The Success You Value Most"
Posted by Angie at 10:58 AM | TrackBack

How to Stay Motivated Day In and Day Out

Keywords: Motivation

If I could tell you one thing to help you to be highly motivated this would be it...

Staying motivated requires a daily ritual.


In other words, motivation is not a one-time event. To stay motivated you need to do certain things each day to stay driven.

I was reading some tips recently - written by an extremely successful business man. He has risen to the top in two different and very competitive industries so I assumed he was one of those naturally driven people.

I was wrong.

Everyday he has certain rituals he counts on to keep himself motivated. Here are three tips you can start using today:


Continue reading "How to Stay Motivated Day In and Day Out"
Posted by Angie at 10:01 AM | TrackBack

June 17, 2004

Dreamers and Doers...

Keywords: Advertising

Are you a dreamer? I like dreamers, but as a worker I need to
spend quality time with DOERS. They're the ones with the energy,
motivation and ambition that gets things done.

Dreamers fantasize about how much money they'll make from all
those New Customers who miraculously waltz through the door.
Doers dream, too, but first they take action. They FIND those
New Customers to make the dreams happen! So, I'm talking to
those of you who are very serious about what your business.

Every single day, you literally pass by more potential money than
you might realize in the form of shoppers who are eager to spend
their money! These folks are all potential New Customers. The
problem is they don't know you exist! People aren't magicians.
They can't BUY what they don't know about! It's up to us to
blow our own horn.

Continue reading "Dreamers and Doers..."
Posted by Angie at 05:39 PM | TrackBack

How to Achieve More by Dealing with Resistance

Keywords: Goals

Today I want to discuss the missing link in goal attainment...

Your personal success and achievement depends on your ability to act upon what you know. Yet this is where most people stumble.

It is easy to find out what to do.

Simply ask the right people for advice, read the best books on the subject and attend the seminars that will fill in the missing details.

It is following through on what you know that makes the difference between the people who are achieving and everyone else.

Think about something you want to do...

Continue reading "How to Achieve More by Dealing with Resistance"
Posted by Angie at 05:23 PM | TrackBack

How to Have Industrial Strength Self-Motivation

Keywords: Motivation

It is not your fault if popular self-help courses have never worked for you over the long term.

Why?

Because generally speaking there are problems with the material you have read and listened to in these courses:


To appeal to a wider audience the self-help experts often leave out the more complex and the more powerful concepts and techniques.

Instead you get a burst of short term inspiration that cannot and will not last. While the best material is only taught to a small group of enthusiasts who are willing to pay extra for it.

Continue reading "How to Have Industrial Strength Self-Motivation"
Posted by Angie at 05:05 PM | TrackBack

Stay In Charge of your Time

Keywords: Time Management

Are you in charge of your own time?

Think about what you did last week at work. Were you in control of your time? Or did it seem that your time was being controlled by those around you? Are you pleased with what you achieved, or do you think you could have done more if only you hadn't been constantly distracted from your main task?

Did you decide what you did and when?

If not, then it is time to get a grip on your timetable.

Continue reading "Stay In Charge of your Time"
Posted by Angie at 04:55 PM | TrackBack

Multiple Channels, Multiple Times

Keywords: Human Resources

I've just been reading about the frustrations of a Human Resources manager. He's tired of having to answer the same questions about benefits over and over again.

I understand that, having been on both sides of the issue, both as a consumer of benefits and in communicating about them on behalf of corporate clients. Benefits can be the slippery eels of internal communication.

But, to put the issue into context, this is another case of complex communication. In this case, a large volume of information that's not easy to understand.

Continue reading "Multiple Channels, Multiple Times"
Posted by Angie at 04:36 PM | TrackBack

Have you ever wondered…?

Keywords: Politics in Business

Have you ever wondered about the ridicule of corporate life, where one person - or a small group of individuals - is considered competent enough to judge another’s performance and bring out a report as to whether this other one meets the criteria for pursuing this or that?

Oh yes, it may be that the examiner has particular credentials that justify his or her authority to do the selecting, but how do we deal with the age-old problem of chemistry? As you know, chemistry is not just something that determines the success rate in a love affair. It works just as well in the business world. People determine at first sight whether they like someone or not. And sometimes, unfortunately, they are influenced by historical or personal views about members of other ethnic groups or sexes. It may be an accent, a color, a way of dressing, or anything else that makes this other person different from them. And, even more unfortunate, it is not written on recruiters’ foreheads whether they are influenced by biases of any kind. Many of these recruiters or scrutinizers are wise enough never to admit or show their prejudices. Actually, some of them even make it their specialty to conceal or abnegate this shortcoming.

Continue reading "Have you ever wondered…?"
Posted by Angie at 04:29 PM | TrackBack

Speak With E's Part 3

Keywords: Public Speaking

"Educate, Energize, Entertain, and provide an experience
for your audience"

1. Use direct eye contact. You can focus on one person when
making a point. and everyone else in the audience will
think you are speaking to them, too.

2. Don't just stand behind the lectern move around,
gesture.
Be animated. (Fifty-five percent of how people
perceive you is by body language; 38 percent by your voice;
7 percent by your words.)

3. If you are telling a story, assume the posture of the
character you are acting out.
For example, if you are
talking about babies then look like one and sound like one.


Continue reading "Speak With E's Part 3"
Posted by Angie at 01:32 PM | TrackBack

The Magic of Change

Keywords: Change Management

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power." - Alan Cohen


Often when I ask new clients how they handle change, I hear responses such as "I hate change!" or "I'm terrible at change." It's very rare that someone says to me "I love change. When change appears in my life, I just go with the flow."

Change is a part of life. In fact, some would say that maintaining balance in the midst of change IS life. Change is always happening. We only need to look at the natural world to know this. Human life, like nature, ebbs and flows, lives and dies, can erupt like a volcano and be as peaceful as the stream burbling through your backyard. Yet so often we resist that which is natural.

Continue reading "The Magic of Change"
Posted by Angie at 01:02 PM | TrackBack

Trust the Power of Your Intuition

Keywords: Intuition

"Every time you don't follow your inner guidance, you feel a loss of energy, loss of power, a sense of spiritual deadness." - Shakti Gawain


You have an important decision to make...your intuition is telling you one thing and your mind is advising another direction. You may have read about intuition or, heard people talk about the importance of following it, but still you hedge at taking the leap. What's missing can be summed up in one word: TRUST.

What stops you from trusting your intuition?

Continue reading "Trust the Power of Your Intuition"
Posted by Angie at 12:20 PM | TrackBack

Customer Service-Lessons Learned at the Ballpark

Keywords: Customer Service

How to make sure your front-line people are creating life-time customers

I often times receive my best training in customer service in the most unlikely situations.

My 6-year-old son, Taylor, had been pressuring me for weeks to take him to a baseball game. At the time, I was still on strike as a major league baseball fan. Hence, I decided to take him to see the local team play in the College Baseball Regional Championships.

The game was terrific. It had all the elements that has made baseball our national pastime: great hitting, exciting fielding, and a late-inning comeback by the home team. In fact, the home team won the game.

Taylor thoroughly enjoyed the game except for one aspect.

Continue reading "Customer Service-Lessons Learned at the Ballpark"
Posted by Angie at 12:09 PM | TrackBack

Your One Minute Mental Vacation

Keywords: Mental Vacations

Do you find yourself stressed out doing all the marketing things you need?


How would you like to take a one-minute vacation? Do you think it can help you cope with your challenges each day?

Are you worried about sales, taxes, competition and your work schedule?

Here is an excellent exercise to help you cope with your workday.

Try it every morning.


Continue reading "Your One Minute Mental Vacation"
Posted by Angie at 11:45 AM | TrackBack

Decrease Your Business Costs to Increase Your Profits

Keywords: Increasing Profits

Henry Ford taught us that to simplify the manufacture of automobiles, that the best way to do so was to install the assembly line. That one change revolutionized the auto manufacturing industry permitting the industry to build cars at a cost whereas the average person could afford to buy one.

The lesson we should take from this is that having the ability to improve the process of getting the job quicker and cheaper, without compromising the quality of the job being done, will help catapult the person who simplified the process to the top of his/her field.

Pennies saved in your home business can turn into dollars at the end of the day, and dollars can quickly multiply into hundreds or thousands of dollars over time.

Continue reading "Decrease Your Business Costs to Increase Your Profits"
Posted by Angie at 11:29 AM | TrackBack

What a Leader Should Consider

Keywords: Leadership

One of the interesting parts of being a college professor is, that you can obtain the most interesting and holistic pictures of the examined topics, through the fairly straightforward process of horizonalization, which is placing all answers from all participants on one level and subsequently eliminating the redundant parts.

On my question: “What, in your opinion, are the most important aspects for a leader to consider?” my students recently came up with the following.

A good leader should consider:

* His or her mission and vision. The strength of a leader starts with having a clearly defined purpose in life.

* His or her conviction and the most appropriate leadership style, given this conviction.

Continue reading "What a Leader Should Consider"
Posted by Angie at 11:09 AM | TrackBack

3 Keys To Building a Successful (Online) Business

Keywords: Online Businesses

Want to know the secret to effectively building a successful online business? I'm afraid the answer may not be what you're expecting.

Take this simple pop quiz. (I know, I haven't given you time to study yet. But I think you'll pass the test anyway).

If you want to build a structurally sound home, you must first do what?

If you said, "Lay a solid foundation". Then congratulations. You've passed! :-) Building your online business is no different. The secret is not new. Just follow these 3 keys:

Continue reading "3 Keys To Building a Successful (Online) Business"
Posted by Angie at 10:51 AM | TrackBack

Make Ideas Your (& Their) Own: Persuade Yourself and Others

Keywords: Idea Persuasion

Have you ever watched a TV program where the supporting actor has a grand idea only to find the lead actor immediately repeat the idea as if it were his own?

You've probably experienced it yourself! It goes something like:

Friend: "I've got it! We should go to Sparky's for dinner!" You: "Hmm... how about we go to Sparky's for dinner?" Friend: "That's what I just said!" You: "No you didn't!"

Well, there's a reason for those common conversations. It's because the best ideas are ones we personally created and we often don't hear other ideas unless it comes from our own mouth.

Continue reading "Make Ideas Your (& Their) Own: Persuade Yourself and Others"
Posted by Angie at 10:42 AM | TrackBack

The Timing and Importance of Gratitude

Keywords: Gratitude

We've said it before and we'll say it again: Gratitude is key. Key.
It's key to success. It's key to maintaining and enhancing
relationships. It's key to persuading people. It's key, period. When
was the last time you said "thank you"?

There's a team of people behind you who've been helping shape and
inspire you. Do they know how important they are? Do you tell
them?

Let me give you two true and exceptional stories that I've
encountered when it comes to expressing gratitude. One story
coming from the business world and the other from the political
landscape. I encourage you to consider implementing the
strategies from the stories below into your business and daily
living.

Continue reading "The Timing and Importance of Gratitude"
Posted by Angie at 10:30 AM | TrackBack

Strategic Checklists

Keywords: Checklists


I've been through a couple of checklists in the past few days, and the exercise has reaffirmed my faith in their effectiveness as a communication tool.

Now, there are at least a couple of ways we can look at checklists in a communication context. First, in the strategic sense, and second in the tactical sense. You'll probably recognize the tactical advantages of using checklists: a clear and logical, as well as economical, way to write.

But, let's start with the strategic perspective today, and explore checklists as a tool for achieving our objectives.

Continue reading "Strategic Checklists"
Posted by Angie at 10:08 AM | TrackBack

Ten Secrets of Super Successful Meeting Planners

Keywords: Meetings

Whoever said that being a meeting planner was easy, lied! Rather, it should be classified under the tough and demanding job category. But, along with being tough, it's also fun, exciting, exhilarating, stimulating, and never, never boring. You have the opportunity to go to exotic places, stay in luxurious hotels, and experience life from a totally different angle. Who could ask for anything more? For those of you ready to shoot me at this point, know that I fully understand your pain!

The purpose of this article is to look at ten skills that help make a super successful meeting planner, and how you can take this expertise and use it to enhance the great job you're already doing.

Continue reading "Ten Secrets of Super Successful Meeting Planners"
Posted by Angie at 09:54 AM | TrackBack

June 16, 2004

How to Give Yourself a Motivational Warm Up When You Wake Up!

Keywords: Affirmations

What is the worst thing you can do when you start your day?

Wake up feeling lethargic and expect yourself to perform at 100% from the moment you get up in the morning. And then compare how you are doing during the day against this unrealistic benchmark.

There is a better way!

As you wake up in the morning take charge of your thoughts in that early morning awareness before you fully awake.

Do this before you get up out of bed by repeating some affirmations. Affirmations work very well WHEN you say them with strong feelings in a state of deep relaxation.

If you have heard about affirmations before and never got the maximum benefit from them it is because you did not know how to take a very ordinary approach and supercharge it.

Continue reading "How to Give Yourself a Motivational Warm Up When You Wake Up!"
Posted by Angie at 12:34 PM | TrackBack

Are You Making These Mistakes In Your Business?

Keywords: Successful Businesses

You've probably heard the statistic that 95% of small businesses fail in the first five years. That's not a very encouraging number! Although being part of the 5% that succeed is not easy, it's definitely possible. What it takes is a lot of common sense, some marketing and sales skills and the ability to learn from the mistakes of others.

To get you started on the road to success, here are three of the biggest mistakes small businesses make and some tips to help you avoid them:


Mistake #1: Having a Poorly Defined Sales Process

The key to making money with any business is to stay focused on how you can "sell", "sell more" and "sell more often". Unfortunately most businesses don't consider all of the ways they can make money from customers and end up losing potential revenues.

There are three ways you can make money from your site:

Continue reading "Are You Making These Mistakes In Your Business?"
Posted by Angie at 11:43 AM | TrackBack

Speak With E's Part 2

Keywords: Public Speaking

"Educate, Energize, Entertain, and provide an experience for your audience"

1. Use the "Rule of 3." The most successful speakers limit their remarks to three major points. Here is where you use your signature stories (your own personal stories) to support your points and help people visualize what you are saying.

2. Every five to seven minutes, back up your facts with signature stories (about you or others). Stories are out there everywhere. Find them in stores, at restaurants, on the airplane, at home. People retain information better when they hear a story.

Continue reading "Speak With E's Part 2"
Posted by Angie at 11:19 AM | TrackBack

Understanding Editorial Guidelines

Keywords: Editorials

Editorial guidelines, also known as writer's guidelines, are the rules set forth by publishers for contributing authors. In order to have your article taken seriously you must review the guidelines prior to submission. It is also recommended that you review previous editions of the publication to get a better feel for the types of articles favored by the editor(s).

Outlined below are the typical issues covered in editorial guidelines along with their definitions and any additional information you should know.

Continue reading "Understanding Editorial Guidelines"
Posted by Angie at 11:06 AM | TrackBack

The Problem With Management - Part 2: The Upside-Down Manager

Keywords: Management Styles

(Read Part 1 at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aabusiness/message/6509)

Have you ever noticed how much more relaxed things are when the boss is away? Or the feeling of freedom you get when another department is attracting all the boss's attention, leaving you relatively free to get on with the job? Somewhere behind the cause of these liberations lies the heart of the problem with management.

As a manager, you have a job to get done. No matter what your rank or what size the organization, you are accountable for making sure that something happens. It might be generating sales at a certain level, keeping the customers happy, achieving target production rates, balancing the books - or all of these and more.

Continue reading "The Problem With Management - Part 2: The Upside-Down Manager"
Posted by Angie at 09:31 AM | TrackBack

June 15, 2004

Those Unexpected Telephone Screenings

Keywords: Telephone Interviews

The phone rings just as you are about to sit down for dinner, but this time it’s not a pesky telemarketer – it’s a company recruiter calling. You’ve been caught off-guard! The telephone “screen call” can come at any time – day or night. Some interviewers find evenings the best time to catch people at home, where they will be able to talk more candidly. Therefore, you should be on-call and prepared to receive a telephone interview at any time.

Telephone interviews, typically conducted by a human resources staff member or a hired recruiter, are used as screening tools. By asking key questions, the interviewer determines whether or not it is worthwhile to pursue you further as a candidate. The screenings may consist of a few quick questions or as much as a one-hour grilling.

Some general questions you might expect in a telephone screening are:

Continue reading "Those Unexpected Telephone Screenings"
Posted by Angie at 10:56 AM | TrackBack

Don't Forget Your Existing Clients Quest for new clients shouldn't ignore those who pay the bills

Keywords: Maintaining Customers

Acquisition.

It's a big word in small business marketing. Companies are constantly looking at ways to draw new people to the business and generate new streams of revenue. In this quest, some small businesses make the mistake of focusing too much on new customer acquisition, only to find that their existing customers have been lured away by a competitor.

Ironic, isn't it? The very tactics you use to drive new customers to your business are the same ones that your competitors can use to take them away from you. Losing sight of your existing customer base is truly an example of not seeing the forest for the trees. Did you know that on average, it costs a small business 10 times as much to attract a new client as it does to retain an existing one? Think about that the next time you are planning an acquisition marketing campaign, then use these three tips to ensure that your customers don't fall prey to your competitor's acquisition efforts:

Continue reading "Don't Forget Your Existing Clients Quest for new clients shouldn't ignore those who pay the bills"
Posted by Angie at 10:50 AM | TrackBack

Five Steps to An Effective Business Plan

Keywords: Bussiness Plan

You have an idea for a business. You know what you want to sell, who you can sell it to, and how much you stand to earn from it. There's just one more thing you need: a business plan.

Many people dread the idea of preparing a business plan. They think of them as complicated, unnecessary documents that exist only to make it more difficult for them to get started as an entrepreneur. They are wrong.

Business plans are necessary because they help you “see” your business. Instead of just talking in abstract ways about your “customer base” and your “profit potential,” it lets you put those things in writing and in concrete terms. It forces you to think through every aspect of your business in advance so down the road you don't realize you've made a mistake that's cost you your business, your life's savings, and your job.

Besides all of that, they are also important tools for getting other people interested in your business. For one, if you've taken the time to create a business plan, others will realize that you are serious about this endeavor and that it isn't just some pie-in-the-sky dream. A business plan also shows people that you are a professional and that you understand what it takes to start and manage a business. This is all extremely important, particularly if you need any type of outside funding, such as loans or investors.

Continue reading "Five Steps to An Effective Business Plan"
Posted by Megan at 10:22 AM | TrackBack

Understanding MLM Compensation Plans

Keywords: Compensation Plans

Introduction

Down lines, up lines, overrides and spill over. Understand? Of course not! But it was exactly these types of terms that I was bombarded with when I was at first trying to learn about the world of multi level marketing. It made it a slow process to say the least, so I thought that I would write an article to help the folks out there that are about to undertake the same journey.

The way that a multilevel marketing company pays the person who invests in it and sells the products or services that it provides is through a “compensation plan,” and there are a great many types of them that are employed.

Matrices

The first one we will look at is the one that revolves around the idea of matrices.

Continue reading "Understanding MLM Compensation Plans"
Posted by Angie at 10:01 AM | TrackBack

How to Use Discouragement to Motivate Yourself

Keywords: Motivation

Ever feel like giving up? Do you ever feel so discouraged that even one more day of frustration will be too much too handle?

Everyone gets discouraged at times. However there are a number of key differences between people who keep on going and those who give up.

Read on and use these insights to transform discouragement into positive momentum.


Continue reading "How to Use Discouragement to Motivate Yourself"
Posted by Angie at 09:33 AM | TrackBack

If You Want To Succeed, Don't Get Too Comfortable

Keywords: motivation comfort zone

Break away from the usual to get what you want. It sounds easy. For a lot of people, it is not. They want the future of their dreams, but can't bring themselves to do the things that will get them there.

Many people are stuck in a "comfort zone", a place where there are no surprises, no difficulties, just the same old same old, day after day. These people have become complacent, satisfied with what they have right now. Unfortunately, this leads to living an unfulfilling life. "In a rut", some would say. Being afraid of change really limits what you can accomplish. Living in a comfort zone stops you from trying new things. Trying to run a business while staying in your comfort zone is a total waste of time and effort.

Succeeding in a small business of any kind means doing things that other people are not willing to do. The person that overcomes the competition to be around in the long run will not be married to their comfort zones. Everyone has one, the question is "Are you willing to leave yours from time to time?".

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Posted by Megan at 09:32 AM | TrackBack

June 14, 2004

Can You Say No?

Keywords: Management

As a manager you are constantly being asked to do things - by your boss, by one of your fellow managers, by the head of another department, by one of your staff.

Your working life is a constant bombardment of requests coming from all quarters.

Your boss will ask you for a quick report on something or other in time for his upcoming meeting with the directors or his visit to see overseas customers. The report is, of course, very urgent.

Or you will be asked to give a presentation about some aspect of your department's work to colleagues elsewhere in the company. It will be an important communication between departments and will result in good publicity for you, your team, and its work.

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Posted by Angie at 05:28 PM | TrackBack

Get Paid To Shop And Keep Everything You Buy - Without Having To Pay!

Keywords: Mystery Shopping

Can You Tell Good Service From Bad; Recognise Value For Money; Compare Prices, Staff Efficiency, Product Range, Customer Service Between Rival Firms?

If so you might easily find work as a 'Mystery Shopper' and be paid to comment on service in shops, banks and building societies, hotels, cinemas, veterinary surgeries, restaurants, even on long distance flights and holidays.

Poor service is the number one reason customers turn their back on a business and start shopping elsewhere. Worse still, one dissatisfied customer tells on average sixteen more people about their experience, meaning even greater loss of customers and profits for business owners.

Even taking too long to answer the telephone or replenish the shelves, inadequate parking facilities, crowded toilets and poor staff-customer relations can alienate customers quickly.

No company can afford to be complacent or fail to check its own operating standards for long.

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Posted by Angie at 05:02 PM | TrackBack

Writing SEO Copy – 8 Steps to Success

Keywords: Search Term Keywords

We all know that the lion's share of web traffic comes through the search engines. We also know that keywords and links to your site are the two things that affect your ranking in the search engines. Your keywords tell the search engines what you do, and the inbound links tell them how important you are. This combination is what determines your relevance. And relevance is what the search engines are after.

There's a lot of information around about how to incorporate keyword phrases into your HTML meta tags. But that's only half the battle. You need to think of these tags as street-signs. That's how the search engines view them. They look at your tags and then at your copy. If the keywords you use in your tags aren't used in your copy, your site won't be indexed for those keywords.

But the search engines don't stop there. They also consider how often the keyword phrase is used on the page.

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Posted by Angie at 04:15 PM | TrackBack

You CAN do it!

Keywords: Motivation

Today I just wanted to encourage you.

Why?

Because even as you are doing your best to motivate yourself there will be days when it all seems too much.

Still, no matter how challenging life gets bear in mind the following three points.

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Posted by Angie at 02:30 PM | TrackBack

Speak With E's Part 1

Keywords: Public Speaking

"Educate, Energize, Entertain, and provide an experience for your audience"

1. The most important objective of any speaker is to appear credible and knowledgeable about the subject.

2. Embrace your audience. Remember, it is about them, not you. Are you going to challenge them to think or behave differently, or perhaps confirm or explain something they already feel?

3. Speak to your audience as if you were having a conversation with them. Don't lecture the audience. Be inclusive. Say "us," not "you".

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Posted by Angie at 01:57 PM | TrackBack

6 Steps to a Perfect eMail Message

Keywords: Email

Each day the Internet delivers more than 5 BILLION eMail messages. To be sure your message is delivered and read, it must be politically correct, free of errors and innuendoes, inoffensive and still convey the essence of what you want to communicate

Follow these steps for better eMail messages

1.Compose Off-Line Develop the habit of writing your eMail messages off-line (use your word processor). This eliminates the sub-conscious need for speed (the line is open, hurry-hurry). Use the spell checker but don’t rely on it exclusively. You still need to proof your message several times. The spell checker will not highlight the word YOU if you meant to type YOUR.

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Posted by Angie at 01:52 PM | TrackBack

Why Bosses Don't Get All the News

Keywords: Communication

Not long ago, a friend who works in television complained that the industry has no interest in real business stories. And, I had to agree with him, since we don't see much coverage that doesn't involve stock prices or some sort of scandal.

But, there has been one important exception. A few years ago, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) began airing a business show that became as popular as some of its regular prime-time fare (American and Canadian television networks followed up with their own versions of the program).

Fast Company magazine told us about the BBC program, which sees CEOs leaving their corner offices for a stint on the front lines. And, as they work on the front lines, the cameras are rolling.

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Posted by Angie at 01:48 PM | TrackBack

14 Great Reasons To Get Motivated And Stay Motivated

Keywords: Motivation

Why should you bother to spend your valuable time to learn how to get motivated and stay motivated?

Here´s why.

Your quality of life will change dramatically when you take charge of how motivated you feel in any given moment.

Family and friends will respect you more and see you in a whole new light. And deadline frenzy will be a thing of the past.

There are several good reasons to learn the secrets to getting motivated and staying motivated.


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Posted by Angie at 01:44 PM | TrackBack

5 Tips For Writing Sales Letters That Sell

Keywords: Effective Writing

1. Be Focused: Know what you want the sales letter to achieve, stick to it and organise your thoughts and words to achieve just that. If you talk without an aim, you are sure not to miss your mark; Aim at Nothing, you Hit Nothing.

2. KISS: Keep It Short and Simple. Forget about all the ramblings. Say what you want to say in a short, straight forward and simple manner. Here is a little secret. When you talk too much, your audience most times have forgotten the beginning by the time you reach the end. While still being persuasive and convincing, talk straight and simple. An helpful way to getting this done is to talk one point per paragraph and write short and sharp sentences in your paragraph.

Remember, one paragraph with just three lines written in a short and powerful manner is better than one whole page which contains nothing more than ramblings.

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Posted by Angie at 01:40 PM | TrackBack

A New Day-A New Look at Time Management

Keywords: Time Management

You can maximize your potential by changing how you manage your time and setting new goals each day.

"Carpe Diem" a latin word which means "Seize the Day". In other terms you can either waste a day or use it for good.

We who are in this race for FREEDOM should be encouraged to know that in an ever changing world that demands new ideas, new ways of doing things, new leaders, new methods of teaching, new inventions, new methods of marketing, new books etc. but behind all this demands for better things there is one quality we must possess and that is...

....the knowledge of what one wants.

How much time out of 24 hours do you devote to:


(a) Your Profession
(b) Sleep
(c) Play and Relaxation
(d) Acquiring useful knowledge
(e) Waste?

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Posted by Angie at 11:16 AM | TrackBack

Accept Credit Cards Online without a Merchant Account

Keywords: merchant account

Getting your credit card accepted online can be easy even if your business doesn't have a merchant account.

It is often assumed if you want to accept credit cards on your website that you must have a merchant account. This is not the case. You can accept credit cards with a Third Party credit card processor.

1) What is a Third Party Credit Card Processor?

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Posted by Angie at 10:31 AM | TrackBack

June 11, 2004

How To Develop a Great Business Strategy

Keywords: Business Strategy

Business strategy development is key to growth and profits. Here are 10 ways to help you devise a powerful business strategy.

As you may know, in management there are 3 main levels: strategic-, middle-, and first line management. Strategic management is the top level of an organization. Therefore, strategic management does strategic planning. Sounds logical so far? Good! Now, strategic planning pertains to the company’s performance over the next 5 or 10 years: long term, in other words.

It may be best to start out by trying to explain what a strategy is in simple terms: If you are now at point A, and you want to go to point B, then the road you choose to go from A to B is your strategy.

A ---strategy---> B

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Posted by DK at 01:24 PM

June 09, 2004

E-Learning Increases Profits For Companies

Keywords: Internet Training

Eight Ways That Providing E-Learning Maximizes Profits and Minimizes Customer Training Problems

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) -- Looking for ways to increase your bottom line and your customer satisfaction? Read on! Find out how you can get a share of this growing, multimillion dollar industry, using your existing training materials and resources.

E-learning (training via the internet) benefits you, your company and your customers. Dave Meyer, successful software manufacturer many times over and currently the founder of 3DCourseWare.net, reveals how e-learning can boost revenues and productivity:

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Posted by DK at 03:33 AM
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