Business

Frequently Asked Questions About Direct Mail Marketing

2009-10-19T02:14:00.000-07:00

Junk mail. Or, as my professors at New York University's direct marketing program called it "unsolicited direct mail" (they refused to call it the "J" word). Consumers have a love/hate relationship with those catalogs, credit card offers, and coupon packages that arrive daily in their mailboxes. "Why am I getting so much? I wish they'd stop wasting trees. Oooh, look, I've been looking for a blue blazer like the one on the cover, let me see that..."

And that's why people love unsolicited direct mail.

Face it, a catalog or two has caught your eye along the way. During its heyday, using unsolicited mail or prospecting via direct mail was a common way to acquire customers. As I like to say when people want to know "why do companies do that?" - it works. With direct mail, everything is accountable and measurable. If it didn't work, companies would stop doing it. Hence the beauty of direct mail.

Based on the most frequently asked questions I get on direct mail from friends and family, here's a brief Q & A on the joys of junk mail.

How do Companies Obtain Names for a Mailing List?

Marketers rent mailing lists and use these to prospect or seek new business. They get mailing addresses from a variety of places. If you've bought something from a catalog company, they can rent your name out to another. Magazine subscriptions, charities, organizations, newspaper subscriptions and others are just a small sample of where your name and address pops up.

Do a test. Call a catalog company or go to their website. Make sure it's a company you've never done business with before. Now ask to receive their catalogs and buy something small from the first one. When you sign up, misspell your name or give them the wrong middle initial.

Copright 2009

Now watch your mailbox and see what pops up 6 to 8 weeks later with the same mistake in the address. Now you know who's buying lists. It's an interesting test, isn't it?

How Can I Stop All Junk Mail?

If you want ALL junk mail to stop, visit DMA Choice. Reputable companies use this list of people who opt-out, or state they do not wish to receive unsolicited mail, and suppress or remove your name from the lists. It won't stop all your catalogs and other mail. If you've ordered from a company, they may continue sending you marketing materials - legal and legitimate. And of course, companies that run shoddy list management practices don't bother with preference lists.

Direct Mail Just Wastes Trees

Less so than you think. Something close to 95% of all unsolicited mail does get recycled - and about that much is just reused into paper products anyway. Most catalogs are now printed on recycled paper with "green" or environmentally friendly ink. The industry is more environmentally conscious than you think. They just do a bad job promoting it.

Catalogs are Sent at Random

Nobody would invest thousands of dollars in rental fees, postage, printing and more to do something randomly. Direct mail lists are acquired based on strict parameters. The best way is to analyze your own database first, develop a customer profile to figure out who is most likely to buy, then look for lists featuring those customers. That's the really simple explanation, but that's how your name ends up on three catalogs for plus sized clothing - someone analyzed your purchase behavior and saw that you're buy 18W sized dresses and knows you're in that size bracket and that you seek professional, contemporary clothing.

As for not working, companies that work their numbers, analyze their data, and rigorously test new lists often get great results. Customers who buy through direct mail tend to buy more through direct mail. If the lists is right for the offer, it works.

Of course sometimes you just get on the wrong list. That's why I keep getting catalogs for cigars.

I'd offer you a light, but I've never smoke a single day of my life, nor do I intend to begin chomping stogies anytime soon.

Making Direct Mail Work for Your Company

I've gone through some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about direct marketing that I hear from consumers as well as business owners. There's one big question that's the elephant in the room; what is a good response rate? To answer that question, please read my Ezine article, "What is a Good Direct Response Rate" which will walk you through the basics of that very important question.

Jeanne Grunert is a well known direct and online marketing expert and the president of Seven Oaks Consulting. For 20 years, she led marketing departments in the retail, financial services, and publishing industries. She helped companies save money and increase response rates - and profits - on their direct mail and online marketing efforts. Today, Jeanne shares her experience through her books, articles, coaching and courses available through Seven Oaks Consulting, focusing on low cost, high results marketing strategies. New clients welcome. For more information and a free consultation, please visit http://www.sevenoaksconsulting.com, or call 434-574-6253.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeanne_Grunert

5 Ways Your Business Benefits From GPS Tracking

2009-10-16T21:45:00.001-07:00

Getting your business to run on 'automatic' is like gold because it allows you to pocket more profits. Reducing your highest expenses drives profit to the bottom line of your business. Sound familiar? These strategies are at the core of business operating principles. And, once the economy improves, it is unlikely that they will change.

In that vein, here are five ways that a business can benefit from GPS Tracking systems which will help increase profits.

Benefit 1: Lowers excess vehicle expenses

Do you suspect that your company-owned vehicles are being driven excessively during off-business hours? Are your employees taking advantage of not being watched closely and are using your vehicles to make daily runs to the grocery store or other locations? GPS Tracking gives you the view that you need to see where your vehicles are located, the direction they are moving and even the speed at which they are travelling. Now you can get instant feedback that can help you reduce costs by keeping a closer watch over your company vehicles. That will save money on fuel and maintenance.

Benefit 2: Lowers insurance premiums

Check with any major insurance company and you will discover a willingness to lower premiums based upon the lower risk associated with outfitting a GPS Tracking system in your business and attaching devices to each of your company vehicles and other moveable assets. The cost savings alone will pay for the units in a short period of time.

Benefit 3: Lowers exposure to loss through theft

Theft not only robs a business of a valuable asset, but also steals productivity to perform jobs based on the loss of equipment. Even several days of 'down time' are expensive. That is why attaching GPS Tracking systems to your largest, most expensive and moveable assets are worth it. With them you can have stolen items recovered in a matter of hours, days, weeks, months, years or even never.

Benefit 4: Lowers need for employees

Managing a number of assets does not require many bodies, just a real-time system using GPS Tracking devices and the proprietary software called NavIQ from Rocky Mountain Tracking. Once in place, you can check up on the location and whereabouts of your assets at a moment's notice. Run a report to show location and hours used for billing purposes. One person with a PC, an Internet connection along with the NavIQ software can easily manage hundreds of units with GPS Tracking.

Benefit 5: Lowers Business Management Activities

You will benefit by keeping a tighter control on your assets while lowering the worry associated with watching your assets go out of the door and wondering if they will return. With a few steps, you can generate inventory reports to give you a snap shot of where your assets are and if they are where they are supposed to be located. As was previously mentioned, one person can manage many, many assets.

It's time to step up to closer, better business monitoring with GPS Tracking. This is a 'no-brainer' decision which will pay off instantly and down the road. Now is the time to grab onto more secure control of your assets and keep your business profitable.

James Neely, Writer and Entrepreneur

...is a freelance writer who writes about GPS Tracking systems. Visit this link: tracking devices to find the right system to meet your needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Neely

5 Good Reasons For Changing Careers

2009-10-13T23:54:00.001-07:00

For many people, making a change in their career is not by choice. In today's unstable economy, people can suddenly lose their jobs, even after many years with the same company, leaving them with the need to find a job whether it is in the same field or not. For others, it is a personal decision. While it isn't always the most profitable decision you can make, there are some good reasons for voluntarily making a change in your career.

1. You have advanced as far as you can, and have no way of being promoted. There may simply be no higher position that you can reach at the company where you are working. This is especially true of smaller companies who rarely lose people in higher positions. You shouldn't have to be limited by the shortcomings of your company.

2. You have achieved a higher level of education. Sometimes people work hard to get addition college credits by taking evening, weekend, or online college courses, while working fulltime. If you have worked to obtain a higher level of education, you don't want to stay in the same position you were in before. If there is no opportunity for proper advancement in your company, look for a position that is more in line with your new qualifications.

3. Something has changed that make your current job a bad choice. If you were single and carefree when you started your career but now have a spouse and kids, the same hours or benefits may not be appropriate. You don't want to work long hours, travel, or do without the insurance benefits that you need for your family. You will need to make a career move to a company that works with your new lifestyle.

4. The future doesn't look bright. If your company is in a field that is already diminishing, the time to make a change is before the company goes under. Don't wait to "see what happens" only to find yourself without a job and nowhere to go.

5. You need to make more money. If you have the qualifications for more than one type of work, then why stay with the one that offers the lowest pay? Some people do prefer to enjoy the work they want to do as opposed to making more money. However, it is up to your individual circumstances to decide if you need to move on.

Most people will tell you that if you have a good paying job with benefits and hope of advancement that you would be crazy to go through a career change. That isn't necessarily true. If you don't enjoy your work, or are bored or stressed, then it may be worthwhile to find a different type of work. Most of us spend more time at our jobs than we do with our families or anything else that we do. In order to be happier with everything, it is a good idea to be happy with your work.

Some people like to bounce from job to job for all the wrong reasons. They may not be good at settling down or they just don't like to work in the first place. Those are not good reasons for changing jobs or careers, and can hurt your prospects in the long run. If you are considering changing careers, weigh your options by creating a pro's and con's list. It will help you make the right decision.

James Copper is a writer for http://www.baol.co.uk where you can find information on changing career

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Copper

Keep Driving Out of the Recession by Focusing on Productivity

2009-10-04T21:00:00.000-07:00

As a self employed Human Resources (HR) practitioner with 15 years experience, I was recently advised by a business owner that they would never use HR as there was no value in it. Well I trotted out the usual arguments about 'preventing employment disputes', and 'your most expensive cost centre'. But there were adamant, they could not see the value in using an HR professional.

Well, as a committed HR professional (and Scottish born Red-head to boot), I was not going to rest until I had proven to them the value of HR. And that is how the following analogy came about.

Staff are like cars:

1. You need to pick the right model - the sports car looks very pretty, but isn't much good if you need to tow the trailer
2. You need to steer them in the right direction otherwise they go off track, and ultimately are liable to crash
3. You need to service them regularly, or performance will deteriorate
4. A specialist mechanic (or HR Manager) will have much greater success at fixing issues properly than the enthusiastic DIY'er
5. Trade-ins can be very costly if you haven't done steps one to four properly

It is true that the wage spend is the single biggest cost centre in virtually any business. Therefore, HR professionals can have a major impact on the bottom line of the company simply by ensuring that the right models are picked, the steering mechanisms are effective, and the servicing is done properly.

One of the most significant ways HR can impact the bottom line and help keep the momentum going to get out of the recession is through focusing on productivity. Based on international studies, there are seven key drivers of workplace productivity:

1. Building Leadership and Management
2. Creating Productive Workplace Cultures
3. Encouraging Innovation and the Use of Technology
4. Investing in People and Skills
5. Organising Work
6. Networking and Collaboration
7. Measuring What Matters

Well just in case you hadn't spotted it, there is only one thing on that list, Encouraging Innovation and the Use of Technology, which is not under the direct influence of HR.

1. Building Leadership and Management

HR has significant impact in this area by:

• Ensuring that you have correctly defined the competencies required for the leadership roles in your business
• Ensuring that the leaders have the tools necessary to do their jobs effectively.

Whenever you start recruiting for a position, or are looking at how to increase an incumbent's effectiveness in a role, particularly a leadership position, you need to clearly understand the competencies required to do the job. For example, a Finance Manager needs the skills to do accounts, but also needs the competencies of Leadership; Delegation; Attention to detail; Ability to contribute to the strategic direction of the company etc.

All too often I see a great operative being promoted into a management position. As a manager it is very useful to have a good understanding of what your team do, but, ultimately, the role of a manager is to quite different. Managers are required to monitor everyone's progress, identify where the collective effort should be focused, steer everyone in the right direction etc. Unfortunately, this is out with the comfort zone of many operatives, and as a result they may have been a great operative, but are often only an average manager.

By 'defining the right model' up front then you will have a far great degree of success at selecting the right person through an interview process. You will also be able you to identify an individuals development needs (we all have them) to turn them from an average manager into an excellent leader.

2. Creating Productive Workplace Cultures

Bonus schemes to drive the right behaviour and Performance Appraisal system that are user-friendly and add perceptible value are major tools in creating productive workplace cultures.

Unfortunately bonus schemes are often not actually encouraging the behaviour which will create the desired outcome. For example, a bonus scheme that focus's purely on turnover, but ignores profitability will result in lots of sales, but often at discounted rates. You need to clearly understand what actually generates the desired results, and reward that. For example, customer service is rarely seen in bonus schemes, but more often than not excellent customer service is the key to retaining existing clients and getting their referred business.

I often hear managers describing Performance Appraisal systems as an onerous paperwork task, which just wastes their time. It is the job of HR to:

• Critically review any systems and eliminate any negative connotations
• Provide an easy to use, clearly value add, system
• Understand any underlying reasons behind why a system is not being used, and take action accordingly.

Frequently the 'problem' with the system has more to do with a manager's reluctance to have a 'courageous conversation'. Remove the fear through training and support, and you will often see a significant change in the outcomes.

A robust tailor-able Bonus scheme, easy to use Appraisal documentation, and 1 to 5 definitions of 20 different competencies are available to download from www.hrtoolkit.co.nz .

3. Encouraging Innovation and the Use of Technology

Though this may not be under the direct remit of HR we can certainly influence this by recruiting the right people and putting in place systems to encourage the right behaviour.

4. Investing in People and Skills

Supporting managers in doing this effectively is the basic fundamental function of any HR professional.

5. Organizing Work

The purpose of an organization structure is to enable communication flow and minimise cross-over between roles. Everyone within an organization needs clearly defined roles, and clear delineation around when tasks pass from one person to the next.

Duplication of work has a significant impact on productivity. Therefore, if the delineation between roles if not clear, you end up with two people repeating the same task which wastes time and decreases productivity.

The actual cost of such duplication can very quickly add up:

5 minutes per day X 5 days X 52 weeks = 1,300 minutes per year (21.7 hours)

6. Networking and Collaboration

Providing opportunities to network is not just the responsibility of the Social club, or the sales team. Training days can be a great opportunity to get representatives from different departments working together.

The opportunities for external networking and collaboration can also be influenced by HR through:

• Encouraging it through the appraisal systems,
• Defining jobs that include a requirement for networking, and not just for sales jobs,
• Creating a culture where you pay for staff to attend networking events, as opposed to criticising them for 'skiving off early' to attend such events.

7. Measuring What Matters

See comments above under section 2. This is absolutely critical to the success of any business.

So what is the value of HR?

HR is the difference between a group average employees filling in their day, and a group of enthusiastic, productive team members wanting to do the best for you and your business.

So help make sure the world keeps going the right way out of the recession by driving your productivity.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_A_Mackay

10 Keys to Success in Pay For Performance Solutions

2009-10-04T20:59:00.001-07:00

Pay for Performance Solutions enables companies to reduce their cost of labor while increasing the average take home pay of their workforce. It's a sophisticated, end-to-end incentive system that's accurate, fair and very effective. The cornerstone of our program is a proprietary software system that handles the complexity of the incentive program and enables us to reward employees based on their own level of productivity.

The 10 Keys to Success

1. Employee Bonuses Are Based Directly on the Employee's Productivity Level
Employees have direct impact on their productivity and reward. Employees are given a Production Goal for the container, pick slip or job order at the beginning of each assignment so that they have a goal to shoot for. .

2. Daily Feedback on Productivity and Bonuses. Daily reports give employees, supervisors and managers vital performance information. An employee will know where he or she stands on a daily basis.

3. Production Goals Are Set at a Fair, Achievable Level. Setting production goals is a critical aspect of bonusing. Top performers need to be achievable and motivating.

4. The New System Removes the Status Quo. There isn't an increase in costs without an increase in productivity. Doing things as they've always been done isn't the answer. The bonusing program moves productivity levels very quickly in an achievable manner.

5. Complex Software manages the complexity of individual tracking on a daily basis. The IMS software program manages the day-to-day logistics of a complex incentive system.

6. Major Productivity Constraints Are Factored In So Top Performers Continue to Achieve. Some productivity issues are beyond the employee's control. These issues can be factored into the software and accounted for so employees remain empowered.

7. Production Goals Do Not Vary Too Much By Type of Freight. The type of freight in a container often changes productivity levels. Employees are still very productive its just hard to see. Our system takes type of freight into account.

8. Productivity Gains Benefit Individuals So Motivation Is High. The incentive program creates a bonus for the individual and small team. It impacts the people doing the work. Because bonuses are seen daily motivation for gain is very high and change is usually immediate.

9. Daily Feedback Creates Constant Awareness and Purpose. Productivity reports are provided daily. Employees and Supervisors are aware of where they stand and what they want to achieve. Goal setting becomes a very meaningful exercise when a feedback loop reports success or failure.

10. Employees Understand the System and Know How To Improve. We offer a training program for all staff involved in the program. Everyone should have the opportunity to understand the program and know how improvement can be achieved.

Contact Dean Dorcas or Dan Keto For More Information
Tel: (253) 220-2962
Email: info@imsseattle.com
Website: http://www.imsseattle.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_L_Jensen

Improving Overall Performance With the Customer Indicator

2009-09-28T22:00:00.000-07:00

One of the factors that suggest that a company is successful is tat they have a solid customer base. This is why this is one of the main priorities of every business particularly those that are targeted into making profits. Companies know that the opinions and the feedback of their customers matter so they usually have contact centers in order for the people to reach out to them easily. With the customer indicator a company will be able to determine the performance of their business in terms of the response of their clients to their products or services.

Customers are the ones who are paying for the products that you offer and availing the services that you provide. This is why you need to take care of them. If you do not do so, you will most likely end up failing in your business venture. So how do you know that you are performing well? By means of having good customer indicator, you can identify the areas that need your attention in order for your organization to boost its processes that aim in giving the best to the customers. This is what customer service is all about. But still, there are organizations worldwide that do not even heed the complaints and the grievances of the people. And this is what makes them lose their consumers. A customer will always look for a product or service that he can afford or something that he thinks is worth his money. Otherwise, he will just go for another which can provide such for him. In this case, one of the key performance indicators that you can use is for the sales you have generated.

This is a common customer indicator that helps you measure the impact of your product to the people. Here, you will discern whether they remain loyal to your brand in such a way that you will know whether there is a decline or rise in the number of sales. If you see that there is a decline you should improve on something with regards to the product. These may include the cost, the quality and perhaps the advertisement or marketing strategy. Another customer KPI is customer relationship. Usually, you can determine this by means of the performance of your employees based upon how they treat your clients. This is because they are normally the ones who face and talk with your customers. Many organizations are aware of the fact that their employees play a vital role in the attainment of their goals particularly when increasing customer generated sales. And so they decide to take care of this area by means of training and educating them to improve the way they provide service to the people.

It is important that you choose a customer indicator that can give you potential earnings through your customers. Therefore, there is a need to study the different KPI's that can be utilized today. While there are almost no boundaries in the selection process, it is necessary that you choose effective ones for your business.

If you are interested in Customer indicator, check this web-site to learn more about customer service.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sam_Miller

Outbound Telemarketing Call Center For Proactive Marketing

2009-09-28T21:59:00.000-07:00

Contacting pre-existing and prospective customers over the phone is essential for business, where every interface is a challenge. Customers are contacted directly over the phone.

One of the most successful ways of growing business is through telemarketing. One of the most essential tools is telephone. Customers are contacted with directly over the phone, to know their views right over the phone.

Telemarketing for business is one of the most used marketing equipment, and people are getting increasingly bored of it. Therefore, telemarketing requires extreme refinement in convincing customers. Most customers put down the phone within no time. Outbound call centers have a dedicated team of executives, who are equipped with sound infrastructure, lucrative database, and techniques to woo customers to convince them of their products and services.

Telemarketing techniques are in every way professional in their approach. There are no false promises on their part. Many a times, calls are recorded to judge the ability of executives delivering telemarketing services for business.

Call Center Services are custom-made, so that every service is dealt with efficiently. Pro-active and prospective customers are contacted by Call center services for varying marketing abilities. These include lead generation, product promotion, surveys, verification, fund-raising campaigns, technical support and other related services.

Efficient, state of the art services are very beneficial to customers and Companies, both. Some of these benefits include

A one to one interaction between customer and business It's a real time interaction, where customers are equipped with latest promotional techniques, leading to end to end purchase. Customers are not aware of promotional techniques, many a times. A direct interaction gives full information and update customer, fully.

When a customer is approached on phone for same information, as desired by customer, then become a boon for him.

Telemarketing is a direct link between a Company and its target customer. This is the best way of getting more sales and more customers. Moreover, target audience spread across the relevant information through word of mouth, leading to still more potential customers.

BPO Service are immaculate in their nature. They are the best and most informative way of reaching customers. Telemarketing is a boon for almost all customers.

Jack Morkel is well known author has written article on Telemarketing Call Center, Customer Support, Lead Generation Services, International Call Center and many other subjects.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Morkel

The Six Levels of Shredder Security Explained

2009-09-18T19:51:00.001-07:00

Document security is, or should be, a major part of the life of any business. There is no better way to ensure that your most private and sensitive papers never get into the wrong hands than by having shredders on hand in your office and by using them frequently. Although there are shredding services out there, it is highly recommended that you and any of your employees that regularly handle and discard the confidential info of your customers, clients or other employees have their own desk side shredders and that they be trained in their proper use. If you are currently in the market for a shredder or shredders for your office, you may be a little confused by some of the terms that the manufacturers use. One of the aspects that can be hard to decipher is the "security level" of a given machine. Here, we discuss the six levels of shredder security.

Level 1: This is designed for low-level document destruction, such as general internal documents where nothing especially confidential is shared. The strips that are created range from three eighths of an inch to a half inch. Cuts can either be straight, or cross cut.

Level 2: When you regularly need to destroy sensitive company information or personal documents, you will need a machine that is capable of level 2 security. In straight cut machines, this means that the strips of paper that are produced are one eighth to one quarter inch wide. For cross cut machines, the dimensions are as small as three eights of an inch by an inch and a half.

Level 3: When the personal or business documents you need to destroy are what could be considered confidential, you will want to find a machine that is classified as a level 3. To fit this category, a strip cut machine must produce shreds that are no wider than one sixteenth of an inch. For confetti cut models (another name for cross-cut) this means that the shreds can range from an eighth inch by two inches to a quarter inch by two inches. Level 3 is the lowest security level that complies with federal regulations for the destruction of personal information derived from consumer reports.

Level 4: If you regularly need to destroy documents that are crucial to your company's existence, you will want to have a level 4 paper shredder on hand. Only cross cut machines fit into this classification, and they must cut documents into shreds no bigger than one sixteenth inch by five eighths of an inch.

Level 5: This is where we start getting into security levels that are required by government offices and for important research. The cross cut dimensions are one thirty second of an inch by seven sixteenths of an inch.

Level 6: This is the level of security that is for what the government would call "top secret," and is required by agencies such as the NSA and the Department of Defense (DOD). Although these machines offer the highest security, they may be a little extreme and expensive for the needs of the average business. These shredders produce such small particles that they are slower and require additional oiling to ensure optimal shredding performance.

If you are looking for a good quality Paper Shredder for your office, you might want to check out MyBinding.com. They carry the full line of Fellowes Paper Shredders as well as shredders from GBC Shredmaster, Martin Yale, Intimus, MBM DestroyIt, Dahle and HSM of America. Choose from a huge selection of cross-cut and strip-cut paper shredders all at great prices and with free shipping.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_McRitchie

How to Choose a Key Cabinet

2009-09-18T19:50:00.001-07:00

Bianca hands Tony a pen and a log sheet. As he signs his name in, she goes out back to a hidden wall, punches in a combination on a small steel box the size of a standard electric fuse box. She locates Tony's keys, takes it out and shuts the box back before heading back out front to hand him the keys.

The example above is a common enough scene in many offices around the world today. Business organisations have long since realised the importance of a safe and secure place to keep keys. Keys unlock business assets - literally. With assets that can easily be carried off or stolen, the key cabinet becomes even more valuable.

If you've worked with a firm that turns dull interiors into posh havens, classy corporate offices and stylish hotel rooms, you'd know a key cabinet does not only hold company keys; more importantly, it holds client-entrusted keys for each project site.

When dealing with personal property, the choice for particular key cabinets becomes very important. In cases where you are holding client-entrusted keys, you assume greater risk as your project contract is most likely to include indemnification clauses for losses the client suffers while your team is working on the property.

When choosing a key cabinet to hold your set of keys, consider:

The keys you are likely to store in it. Are you putting keys to company properties in this particular key cabinet? Is it for clients' properties? Do you intend to keep all keys in one place? The value of the related assets to the keys you are safekeeping, along with your calculation of risk helps you decide the level of security you'd like for this specific key cabinet. The more valuable the keys are, the more inconspicuous you'd like the box to look and the more security features you'd require of it.

The material the key cabinet is made. Most key cabinets today are made of steel. No two types are alike, however. Some are made of heavy-duty, fireproof steel, others from an inferior quality. There are also key cabinets fashioned from wood. Not nearly half as indestructible as fireproof, steel cabinets but adequately serve your purposes in certain circumstances, certainly where security is less of an issue.

Its locking mechanism. There are basically two types of locking mechanisms - key locking mechanism and the combination lock mechanism. The choice is often made based on which one suits your needs more. Recent models have dual-locking systems and digital keyless systems for added security.

Your company's policy on custodianship. For safekeeping of important assets, some companies have specific policies requiring all vaults, lock boxes, and key cabinets to have dual-locking systems. Often, this is in conjunction with a policy stating no two employees must know both combinations that would totally unlock the safe/vault/lock box.

Key cabinets minimise the risk of loss or damage. In this day and age, where honesty has become a personal policy only on paper, safekeeping responsibilities require more than trusting in the innate goodness of people; it requires minimising the temptation to steal.

Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who writes for a number of UK businesses. For Key Cabinets, he recommends Safe Security Services.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Derek_Rogers

The Environment That Boosts Labor Productivity

2009-09-16T19:48:00.000-07:00

There are many factors that contribute to workplace labor productivity. One of them is humor. Think about how high performing teams operate. There is always an element of humor present. Humor has been found to be one of the most potent ingredients in building strong bonds between people. If you consider the people you where you have the strongest bonds, think about the humor you share.

Humor is a natural human function and has an important place in today's work environment. It is an essential ingredient in relationships because it shows that we are human and contributes to building strong bonds between people. One of the most important social functions is sharing. Sharing humor is an asset in the workplace because of the important part it plays in helping to build relationships.

Look at your workplace. You will probably notice that when people are in groups they tend to laugh more because they are in the company of other people who are laughing. Think about how hard it is to keep a straight face when you are in the company of other people who are laughing.

It has been observed that people who laugh a lot are much more productive than people that don't. What is there about humor and laughter that enables people to produce more without even feeling tired.

Why should happy people be more productive than miserable people? Our workplaces have changed considerably over the last 30 years. Hopefully, we no longer work doing monotonous tasks in unfriendly and dangerous environments.

"Work" has been described as the place you are when you want to be somewhere else. So how do we make a workplace that is an environment that people enjoy?

The answer lies in the environment that we create in the workplace. In an environment where humor is an essential component, people feel relaxed, supported, and behave in a much more open fashion. We know that people work better together in this sort of environment. Not only do they work better together but they are much more productive.

How often do we actively try and create this environment in the workplace? How often do we feel a twinge of annoyance when we hear laughter knowing that there is a deadline to be met?

Generally, people like working together because work is a social activity. The majority of people like to work with others. Sure, there are the odd exceptions that work best when they are alone but they are in the minority.

On the other hand, people working in a humorous environment as part of a team tend to produce a higher level of productivity. This is because they are free to explore, to play, take risks and most of all---to make mistakes and learn.

Some reasons why laughter increases workplace productivity.

Researchers have discovered that laughter creates an increase in white blood cell activity and produces changes in the balance of the blood. Their work suggested that laughter may increase the production of certain neurotransmitters that contribute to memory and alertness.

It seems that humor stimulates both the left and right sides of the brain. This means that people tend to understand the message better and remember it longer when information is given in the right environment. Studies show that humor reduces stress and in turn learning can take place. So are people more productive because they learn better in an environment that fosters humor?

To further understand the effects of laughter the researchers considered the physiological results of laughing. We always seem to feel better after a good laugh. This is because laughter is the catalyst for the production of chemical called catecholamine in our bloodstream. This chemical has a positive effect on our levels of alertness. When this occurs your brain also starts producing endorphins.

Endorphins have been called the body's natural painkillers. They are the antidote to anxiety and depression.

When humor is used in a group there is a feeling of greater acceptance and membership to that group. Humor is the thing that creates a sense of belonging and goes a long way to removing social barriers. A group operating in a humorous environment has a ready-made deterrent for aggression or bad feeling.

It has been known for a long time that humor produces positive emotions and is great at reducing stress. In today's working environment, humor can be the antidote for negative feelings. Furthermore, it has a highly positive effect on productivity in the workplace.

It seems quite clear that humor is a vital ingredient in the personality mix in today's somewhat stressed working environment.

P L Mitchell is a business entrepreneur who has helped many businesses to lift their labor productivity in the workplace at little or low cost. Peter contends that you can buy bigger and better machinery to try and boost your business productivity levels. But it doesn't make sense to spend your money on capital equipment until you have got a highly productive team of people to get the best from the machinery.

You can apply the strategies and tactics from Peter's book and use them straight away in your business. The principles are simple and easy to apply. He has focused on the practical rather than the theoretical side of changing workplace behaviour. The ultimate secret of lifting productivity levels is the ability to create change without people working harder. In his e-book The Key to Productivity he has explained in detail how he achieved this in different businesses. The book is written in an easy conversational style which will enable you to follow the processes step-by-step. You can benefit from the years of practical experience that has been packed into this guide. As you apply the principles and your business productivity starts to rise, you will also see a rise in profits.

The cost of the book is a small fraction of Peter's hourly rate as a consultant and after reading the book, you can e-mail Peter for his advice on how to overcome your productivity challenges. Go to his website NOW and download your FREE booklet on increasing workplace labor productivity. This will entitle you to purchase a copy of his e-book The Key to Productivity at a specially reduced price. Go NOW to http://www.thekeytoproductivity.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_L_Mitchell

What is Disruptive Innovation?

2009-09-16T19:47:00.000-07:00

Professor Christensen discovered that in certain situations, firms revolutionize a market by pursing unusual business practices:

They make products that aren't good enough for existing customers: One of the most shocking things that he found was that established companies miss out on Disruptive Innovations because they listen to their customers and give them more of what they are asking for. Remember the weird people who bought digital cameras when they were expensive and didn't take good pictures? How could Kodak make money in what was a niche market when their customers were asking for better film?

Professor Christensen makes the point in a paradox: The most money is to be made where the product isn't good enough, once it is, it becomes a commodity and profits fall. Business schools teach that successful firms should seek profits, so entrenched companies are happy to cede these lines of business to new competition. However, as the technology improves, the new firms advance further and eventually traditional firms have no place to retreat to.

There is no profitable market for what they are offering: If there was a current market for the "Next Big Thing," it would actually be the "Current Big Thing." Established companies with big R&D budgets and large, effective sales forces would have a clear advantage in this type of innovation. Christensen calls it a "sustaining innovation" and it goes on all of the time. Big companies are actually extremely good at it.

Disruptive Innovations are so difficult for established companies to pursue because there is no money in them. However, the opportunity might be big enough for a small company and then as the technology improves, you have the "Next Big Thing."

It can't make money in the conventional way: A Disruptive Innovation represents a fundamental shift in value that requires a change in the way business is done (remember, Kodak made their money in film, not cameras). You can find fairly extreme (and exciting!) examples of this in Chris Anderson's new book "Free."

Do You Really Want to Pursue Disruptive Innovation?

So if you want to aspire to Disruptive Innovation you will need to think of something that doesn't work very well, has no market for it and no clear path to profitability (as Google did when "Search was dead"). That takes passion. If there are big budgets, nice offices or fancy cars in the parking lot, it probably either isn't disruptive or it won't be successful.

Nevertheless, the term "disruptive" has become so fashionable that even self styled "experts" are confused about it. A few years ago I attended a publishing course at Stanford University and a woman was giving a lecture on Disruptive Innovation. I asked her whether she was referring to the term in a general sense or using the Christensen term specifically. To which she replied, "Both."

I was annoyed at first but then I thought, "Hey, she's not a very good speaker, people aren't interested in what she is saying and she's not getting paid for this." Maybe she's got something there...

Greg Satell
http://www.digitaltonto.com

Greg Satell is an international media executive. Arriving in Poland in 1997, he has been working in Eastern Europe ever since, tackling assignments in Warsaw, Kiev and Moscow. He writes from the perspective of an industry insider who has managed online and offline media companies and advocates for a more rigorous approach to Digital Media issues.

He publishes a blog at http://www.digitaltonto.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Satell

Indian Textile Industries

2009-09-15T19:24:00.002-07:00

Textile industries have captured the entire world in a unique way. Everyone would be able to guess why. This is because it offers the great variety of fabric which is to be used on daily basis being it in different varieties. Garment manufacturing is the prominent one. Apart from it there are business fabrics, fashion material, shoes fabric etc.

India is moving higher on the different levels of industrialization and in regard to the textile industry, which is now a pioneer industry here, actually started getting established between 1970 and 1992, more around 1992 which was the start of liberalization. Ample of measures were taken by the government to protect the interest of the cotton farmers and labor force but they actually made the industry stand isolated and somehow hampered its prosperity.

India is standing on the second position for the textile industries containing around nine million hectares of cotton coverage. For fiber, it comes on the third position for production and sixth position for production of yarn filament which is simply remarkable. All over, it covers approximate one-fourth of the world trade in terms of production of cotton yarn. Employment sector of most of the countries including India, flourishes with the growth and development of these textiles industries. It captures around twenty percent of the total industrial development and production.

Certainly earlier textile industries were experiencing few shortcomings due to which there was a stagnant growth. As a solution to this problem, government modified some rules and regulations after which we can now witness the change in situation very clearly. One of the modifications was into the technical sector which required huge investments for change in machinery and its renovation both. Various accessories and different parts were replaced which produced much variation in the fiscal from $31.92 million to $39.71 million. These figures are majorly concerned with the situation in India, where in around 55% consumption was witness by the TMMAI, The Textile Machinery Manufacturers Association of India. But in contrast to this, the level of consumption that is demand in the country was much more so the other portion which was around $100 million was filled by the efforts of the importers.

Reversal of the movement is the necessity in order to cater the needs and demands of the textile industry and the users. This has been stated by the Chairman of the TMMAI association in his approach towards joint assessment.

The tenth plan for the improvement in the textile industry includes a few points stated below:

1. Complete rearrangement of the spinning capacity which needs modernization.
2. Renovation of the loomage that is the loom sector.
3. Improvement in the finishing sector and removal of the obsolete material.
4. Expansion along with the development of the jute, woolen, knitting and technical sector.

Both Indian and international textile industries have brought changes in their working structure in regard to the specific sector as textile is the prominent of all and is also an important requirement of the world which needs up gradation periodically.

Sava International is a textile manufacturing company India specializing in home furnishing textile manufacturing and designing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harry_Simons

Five Advantages of International Freight Forwarders For Export and Import

2009-09-15T19:24:00.001-07:00

Starting an export-import business is a challenging, but rewarding opportunity for both the small and large companies. There are many things which should be set in place before you ever make one business transaction. For instance, what will you sell? Who can you trust? What industries are booming, and which ones should you avoid?

And those questions are just for beginners.

Once you have determined an adequate direction for your business, you need to worry about the logistics. How will you handle shipping? What forms of payment will you accept? Have you covered all the bases when it comes to licensing requirements and tax identification?

It can all be overwhelming if you have to learn the business from the ground up, and that can be the difference between success and failure.

Perhaps two of the biggest areas where you must excel if you hope for your business to be a success are in the areas of customs and shipping - in particular, shipping. After all, not all products ship the same, and mistakes in shipping can lead to excessive fines and loss of product.

To navigate the maze, it is worth the money you will pay to hire professional international freight forwarders for the enhancement of your business.

Here are five ways international freight forwarders can really bring out the best in your company:

1. Clearance through customs: Customs paperwork is a tricky and sordid maze, especially if all you know about are the business-to-business commerce aspects of trade. Customs authorization is a complex area that will only further tax your understanding and clog your ability to take care of customers, vendors, and marketing. International freight forwarders, in addition to knowing all the ins and outs of proper shipping procedures, offer customs clearance services to aid you in simplifying your business.

2. Any and all issues arising with documentation: In order to receive your payment from a bank, there are many documents that may be required to satisfy the involved bank or financial institution. One such document is the bill of lading. A proper bill of lading will facilitate fast payment, so you can keep your business moving along with your freight.

3. Insurance: Not only do many freight forwarders provide insurance options for your shipments, they know what is best for the needs of your business, and can quickly determine the most protective and cost efficient way that you can complete each transaction.

4. Inventory management: Who better to help you with inventory management than the service that handles your freight? Freight forwarders and international freight forwarders can help ensure your product, which means you will always have a clear handle on your company's assets.

5. Logistics and supply-chain management: Logistics is, of course, the management of the flow of goods and resources between the point of origin and the point of consumption. Careful planning is a necessity of successful freight flow, and freight forwarders are professionals at accomplishing this task.

Domestic and international freight forwarders are skilled at planning and execution. Both are full-time jobs. Where will you find the time to devote to it, when you've got your own business to run? Let freight forwarders take care of you, so you can take care of the customer.

Browse trade leads - Contact International freight forwarders or freight forwarders

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darren_W_Chow

5 Creative Ways of Using Brochures For Your Pizza Parlor

2009-09-14T19:42:00.000-07:00

You can utilize brochures printing to produce cost-efficient promotional prints for your pizza parlor business. Creating brochures is an effective method that can help you come up with informative prints. The printed materials can be used in many ways to attract more clients to visit your store. These are the following ways that you can do to your pizza parlor's brochure:

1. Menu Prints: Use the prints to offer different meals and side dishes. Include the details about specific menu items like ingredients, calorie counts, and prices. You can also provide information about your catering and takeout services using the menu prints.

2. Discount Coupons: Offer at least 20 percent discount on your large sized pizza, or other meals that you offer at your store. The discount coupons can also be used for upgrades and add-ons. Instead of having a specific meal at a discounted price, a client can use the coupon to upsize a drink and order for a free side dish.

3. Free meal Stubs: Provide free meal stubs to clients who have large orders. The food stubs can be used by clients for their next visit. Make sure that the free meal stubs have expiration dates.

4. Survey Forms: Use the back side of your prints to gain feedback from your clients. Customers can answer the questions on the back of your brochures, while waiting for a takeout order. Gaining your clients' comments can help you improve the quality of your services.

5. Brochure Maps: You can use the back side of your prints to provide a location map. You can also include the different places of attraction near your pizzeria.

With these creative ideas, you can effectively present and promote your pizza parlor. Create attractive brochures with the help of a reliable printer. You can utilize online printing services for fast and convenient method of producing prints.

Online printing is a fast and convenient method of producing brochures. Visit UPrinting to learn more about brochures printing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kat_Nocom

The Business Lessons Learned From a Trip Back Home

2009-09-14T19:41:00.000-07:00

I donated a day to return to my hometown of Crothersville, Indiana to present a lecture for an in-service meeting of the school's teachers and administrators.

I have to admit that well before the program even started I was already feeling scared to death. Sitting in the front row was one of my former teachers!

Part of the problem I experienced was caused by my memories of the tremendous crush that I had during my elementary school years on this then-cute, petite very young teacher. On my return home, I naturally looked forward to seeing her again. However, the image in my mind of her was of the way she looked when I was in the third grade. Imagine my shock to see her now -- 62 years old -- and noticing that her stretch pants had no choice!

Of course, she was just as shocked...standing in front of her was not the skinny, bespectacled eight-year-old kid with the "burr" haircut of her memories. It was a mid-40's guy with a mustache and a bit of a potbelly!

Being more that just a little nervous, I decided to start my presentation with a very standard question that many speakers and authors ask to begin a lecture to teachers. "Let's start by having you tell me," I said, "what you believe is the biggest problem is for educators in today's world."

I thought I knew the answers these teachers were going to give. Naturally, their biggest problems were going to be: 1) the discipline of the students, 2) encouraging the involvement of parents, 3) dealing with change and, 4) funding challenges in education.

Imagine my surprise when my former teacher raised her hand and declared, "Scott -- I believe the biggest problem in education today is 'Sesame Street.'" I immediately responded with a profound, "Huh?"

Calmly, my former educator asked me "Scott, who taught you your 'ABC's'?"

I answered truthfully, "Well, my mother and my grandmother."

"Of course," she said. "However, for the last 30 years, young people have been taught their 'ABC's' by 'Big Bird,' and 'Bert and Ernie.' That means they arrive on the steps of this school for their very first day of formal instruction expecting to be entertained as they are educated."

"Wow!" I thought. Then I realized, my elementary school teacher was still teaching me.

For the past three decades and more, we have taught everyone in this culture that education -- as well as training, selling, motivating, managing, serving and everything else that a business is supposed to do, and everything else that is supposed to happen in life -- will be integrated with a degree of entertainment.

In this age when most of us grew up learning our ABC's from Big Bird and Cookie Monster rather than the disciplined rote and repetition of a former time, our fervent desire for a wise person - or distinct organization -- to "tell us stories," just continues to expand.

If you want to create traction - both in the marketplace and with your colleagues, you must communicate in a manner that engages, entertains, and creates interaction! Communication is infinitely more impactful when you tell your story!

Scott McKain is a successful business professional and speaker. He is the Vice Chairman of Obsidian Enterprises, and co-founder of the Value Added Institute.

McKain is the author of three #1 business bestsellers (Amazon.com): "Collapse of Distinction," "What Customers REALLY Want," and "ALL Business is Show Business."

He is a member of the "Professional Speakers Hall of Fame" and "Speakers Roundtable," an elite, invitation-only group of twenty business speakers considered to be among the best in the world.

http://McKainViewpoint.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_McKain

Tips on Deciding 8 Page Magazine Printing

2009-09-04T19:56:00.001-07:00

Are you looking for cheap 8 page magazine printing? Whether you want to make a catalog printing periodical or news sheet journal, the budget line will remain a big concern for you. Anyhow, you don't need to be worried at all. Budgeting concerns for your printing can be determined with accurate choices and information. Below are few tips for your custom 8 page periodical printing:

First of all, you will need to decide on the best printing assortment. Periodicals can be printed in more than a few forms for instance monthly catalogs, leaflets, brochures and obviously a right weekly in the accurate journal design. All you need is to stay away from extra charges of printing your periodicals.

If you want to get cheap 8 page journals, you will need to make the best deal. How will it be possible to make a good transaction? You will barely need to ask over your close friends and relatives about the specific products which you are actually looking for. More to the point, you should conduct a good research on the internet regarding your printing needs. As a result, you will be able to find the finest online printing firm so as to make the best deal within economical price rates.

You can make your full color 8 page magazines printing cost effective by putting emphasis on the quality of cover and then leaving the internal sheets with uncomplicated tints and paper stocks. Besides, you should decide on cheap binding methods. Last but not least, you should mull over wholesale printing as this will be resulted inexpensive.

You can choose a variety of publications. If you are interested in wild lives, you can buy animals journals. If you want to know the changing trends of fashion, you can acquire fashion weekly online. Then if you are interested in art events, you can pay money for art journals. Besides, you can decide on a wide variety of 8 page periodicals printing.

I have been writing articles for last few months and found it an interesting activity. I love to think about different hot topics and write about them.

sticker printing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Muqtada_Khalid

The True Meaning of Independence

2009-09-04T19:53:00.000-07:00

For as long as I can remember, I wanted my own business, but I didn't have a clue where to start. I knew I didn't have enough money in the bank to begin a "brick and mortar" business, and anyway, I noticed that a lot of small businesses in my town folded after a year or so, so it seemed pretty risky to me.

Still, I kept thinking how great it would be to have real independence, a way to produce income around the clock, and the ability to take time off when I wanted to without having to "ask." (It always seemed more to me like begging.)

Even though there was no shortage of people who told me the world is headed for disaster, I found out the real facts for myself. These aren't really a "secret." You just have to look up some figures. But since so many people believe otherwise, I want to make sure you know the truth:

The economy has never been better and the opportunities never greater, especially for those who are self-employed.

Here's another fact I ran across in my research. It changed my life, and it's something I think you really need to know:

Less than 20 percent of all the workers in America are self-employed, yet that small group makes up two thirds of all American millionaires.

When I read that, I realized that I was much more likely to become wealthy if I was self-employed than if I kept plodding along at my regular job. My mind was made up.

Since I didn't have the money to start a traditional business, and didn't want to take on the many headaches and risks involved with one, I realized my best opportunity to become wealthy in today's economic landscape was to start my own profitable home-based business.

You can do it too.

Instead of worrying about how you are going to make the next mortgage or car or insurance payment, you can learn how to generate a substantial income that will secure your financial future. I am offering you the opportunity to learn my step-by-step business plan. No, you don't have to do it by yourself. You'll have the guidance of others who have learned the system and who want to help you.

Of course, while the opportunity is unlimited, we do have to limit the number of entrepreneurs we can take on at one time, so I urge you to take action now. Since there are no special skills or education required, the first group of people to respond will be the ones who become part of a wealth-building phenomenon.

I'm sure you've heard the saying "It's all about attitude." Well, I've changed mine. I've learned that to get what you want from life, you just have to go for it.

I'll be back with another article soon. As you may have guessed, it will be all about attitude.

Remember, Step One is to take action. I can and will help you change your life, but you have to let me know that you want to do it. Get that ball rolling by calling me or emailing me. You will find my contact information at the bottom of this email.

http://www.5HourWorkDay.com Earn a 6 figure income working from home.

Good luck and all my best,
Dennis Rossignol
206-786-0098
http://www.5HourWorkDay.com
twitter.com/dennisrossignol

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Rossignol

All About Postal Scales

2009-08-18T23:07:00.002-07:00

Efficiency is one of the benefits of owning a postal scale. Be it for home or office use, a postal scale allows fast information on how much postage is applicable to an envelope or package. For business people, this is a good way to stay on a budget and control costs. The inconvenience of standing in line at the Post Office and waiting for one's turn as well as the time driving or going there is another consideration. There will always be long term advantages when owning a postal scale.

There are two types of postal scales:

- Manual or mechanical

These postage scales are also known as mechanical postage scales. They use a balance or spring to weigh envelopes or packages. Since this is a manual scale, the user will also manually go through the postage prices once the weigh is given. Manual scales have proven to be accurate but since users read weight from a mechanical needle, this can be prone to errors. This is one factor to be considered when getting a manual postage scale. The cost of the scale is much cheaper than a digital one so this is also a factor why people opt to get this scale.

- Digital or electronic

This type of scale uses a microprocessor which is pressure-sensing to give out a reading of the weight. This readout will then be the basis of the number given on the LCD panel. A lot of digital postage scales can be programmed for rates so the user can get the rates without referencing a table. Once the reading is made a corresponding postage price will also be given out making it convenient and faster.

Most people find it difficult to choose which type, model and brand of postal scale is going to be acquired. The number one factor when buying is the determination of need. The user must be able to identify where and for what the scale will used. One can also make decisions by going through the postal scale features:

- Security - Some models have capability to store passwords. This is a feature to watch for especially if the scale is used by authorized persons only.

- Design and layout - A scale should have easy to read LCD panels or scale numbers. One should get a model that is effortless to use and carry around.

- Capability to compare postage rates - A useful feature in most digital postal scales is the "comparison shopping option". With this option, the cheapest rate can be generated based on programmed rates by different couriers including First Class and Standard Class rates of the US Postal Service.

- Capacity - Almost all postal scales can weigh less than 2 lbs. Some can handle big packages and heavier weights. This is the first consideration when getting a postal scale. If the user foresee a diverse mix of weights and packaging then it would be best to get a scale that has options to change the weighing platform.

- Capability to connect to a postage meter - To further enhance the usefulness of the postal scale, digital types have the ability to link to directly link to postage meters. Some require special connectors and this should also be considered in terms of cost and availability.

- Accounting features - This feature is very useful when charges will be made to clients or departments. This allows automatic credit to an account as each envelope or package is weighed.

User preference should always be taken into account when buying a postal scale. The features presented will be able to help in making the right choice.

Weenie Rifareal is a home-based online worker specializing in SEO.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Weenie_Rifareal

3 Big Small Business Challenges

2009-08-18T23:07:00.001-07:00

Business owners are looking for solutions to rising costs of employing and managing their staff. Throughout the country many businesses have experienced increases in workers' compensation, health care, and employee administration. Those rising costs have, unfortunately, put them at a disadvantage in the marketplace. In addition to the time spent on payroll, the cost of taxes, human resource compliance, safety programs, offering employee benefits, managing employee issues, and fighting unemployment claims is increasing every year. Business owners need solutions to many of these challenges.

Challenge #1: Workers' Compensation

The workers' compensation system for small business owners is broken in many ways. Small employers may receive discounts on workers' compensation insurance, but one bad claims year and their company is dramatically penalized. Those discounts go away quickly and now they see large percentage increases. For example I ran into a small transportation company with 15 employees who was paying $25,000 to $30,000 a year for workers' compensation insurance, but with one bad claims year they were non-renewed and now are paying $75,000 to $80,000 in premium a year. How can small businesses withstand that kind of increase? This is one example of how the system is not set up to help small businesses succeed. Small businesses need large group purchasing power not only for the up-front discounts but for long term rate stabilization. Those same claims in a larger company will not drive the rates up as dramatically because the claims are spread out over more premium dollars.

Challenge #2: Health care and Employee Benefits

Throughout the country, cost for providing health insurance is rising so drastically that many small businesses have started to drop coverage for their employees. Double-digit increases are common. If the employers keep coverage then many times these increases are passed on to the employees through higher contributions from their paychecks, higher deductibles, and increased out-of-pocket expenses. Again, small businesses have a distinct disadvantage over large organizations because of a lack of purchasing power and expertise in finding solutions. There is a better way for small business owners to solve this huge business challenge.

Challenge #3: Employee Administration

The ever-increasing burden of employee administration has put an unfair and undo burden on small businesses. Payroll, payroll taxes, human resources, employee benefits, risk of employment law suits, unemployment claims, fraudulent workers' compensation claims, and adherence to OSHA regulations can be overwhelming for a business owner. One wrong move could cost him his business. Small business owners are at a disadvantage because many times they lack the time or ability to manage all of these areas proactively resulting in fines, laws suit settlements, and increased costs.

Many Small Business Owners Have Found Their Solution in a Professional Employer Organization (PEO)

A PEO joins many small and medium-sized business owners and their employees together to gain economies of scale and expertise. Utilizing outsourcing strategies to solve these three main business challenges, a PEO creates win-win solutions that can lead to lower costs, reduced liability, increased productivity and more time to focus on growing your business.

To learn more about how a PEO can improve your current business challenges, please contact Mark Lichty at mark@EmployerBusinessSolutions.com or http://www.EmployerBusinessSolutions.com. Mark is a small business owner and has 12 years experience in helping other small business owners meet the challenges of having and managing employees.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_S_Lichty

How to Find a Job Fast!

2009-08-12T00:36:00.000-07:00

There are times when it's not a matter of finding the best job, but finding a job period, and finding it fast. Those types of times are upon us, and using the usual means of sending your cover letter and resume out don't work if you need something quickly. So here are some tips on what you can do when you need to land a job like yesterday.

The first secret to finding a job quickly is to understand that starting at the beginning doesn't work, we need to tap into already existing circumstances in order to do it quickly.

One way that works is to look at the networks you already have; whether professional or personal. Many times these networks aren't really tapped that often or even thought of as networks because they may be people you just hang out with in general, or professional ties you connect with to let of some steam, etc.

But when it comes to finding a job quickly, forget about anything but letting people know you're looking for a job and that you're willing to work at just about anything to get it.

Remember, you're trying to get a job in a very difficult market. That requires lowering expectations in order to survive until things turn around.

The key point it to identify networks you already have and don't assume they don't have any value in job hunting. Anyone has the potential to know about a job available somewhere. Just start asking and you'll be surprised at how many opportunities start to turn up.

If you're too fussy at a time like this, then in reality, you're really not trying to get hired quickly, you're acting like we're in a normal hiring environment, which we're not. So you must be flexible in this type of economic situation, and if you're not, you're going to end up having to be one way or the other. Better to do it right away than be brought to the place of having absolutely no option but to take the first thing that comes your way.

How about your neighbors

If you have had some contact with neighbors, they can make an excellent source of information for possible job openings. They also talk to one another a lot, so if you ask one about it, they can spread the word around the neighborhood and you're sure to get a hit quickly.

Local pals

We tend to put our net way too far at times we're looking for jobs, and if we have the time to do that, it works great, but when we need a job quick, local is probably the best place to spread the word.

So any of your friends can be sources for job opportunities, and don't fail to let them know you're looking. Almost all of this is about communication, and the more you communicate locally, the better chances at getting a job quick.

Organizational Ties

Most of us belong to some type of organization or another; whether church or what have you, and there are a lot of people you can let know that you are job hunting, and that can very quickly generate legitimate job possibilities in a hurry.

Just get the word of mouth going and get out of the way.

Former managers or supervisors

Assuming you're on good terms with former bosses, they are a great source for job openings; not only for where they work, but they are always in contact with other businesses and managers that are looking for people. You never know, if you left on good terms with them, they offer you a job then and there.

Let your fingers do the walking

Yes, the yellow pages are still around, and they offer up plenty ideas of jobs you can look for. Remember, local will provide you a job much quicker than national searches, so look through the businesses to find places you can contact immediately.

This one almost always works

I've had to apply this strategy to my job searches in the past when I was getting desperate, and that's to go to a local mall and start applying.

Many times you don't have to go store to store, but can find an answer desk where any store in the mall that is looking for workers has that information available.

While that's what I would try first, I would still try individual stores if there's not much there, as many stores don't immediately post job opportunities, and so you could walk into one without any competition to battle for the job.

This can be one of the fastest ways to get a job if you are getting right down to it.

Online job searches

You would have thought I would have listed this first, but with needing a job quickly, the Internet, in many cases, is much slower to respond, and you may have to go through many hoops to get something.

So because the parameters we're talking about is securing a job quickly, we can't rely on the Internet for that.

Now having said that, I would still put out my application, but I would it in conjunction with my local networks and searches. If you don't you'll find yourself getting deeper in financial trouble waiting for an online opening or response, which probably is the most competitive and time consuming out there.

Follow these numerous strategies and you should be able to get a job quickly and start bringing in some much needed income.

Find a Job Fast

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ellen_Stevens

Business Writing, Presentation Skills Training Brings Out the Effective Communication Thinker in Us

2009-07-27T22:27:00.000-07:00

Writing: An Opportunity, Not A Chore

"I write entirely to find out what I'm thinking, what I'm looking at, what I see and what it means." Joan Didion, author

The lady's right on the money. I drive the point home in all my business communication (writing skills and presentation skills) training: Writing is thinking. Don't view it as a frustrating technical exercise in grammar, a series of hurdles to trip over as you dump your jumbled thoughts on a blank legal pad or screen, hoping that they'll eventually come together in some loose confederation.

Writing allows you to think -- really think over time -- about what you know and what you might need to find out before you put your thoughts in some logical order. Please indulge me as I offer an example close to home:

I have a 19-year-old son named Will. He's a promising sophomore baseball pitcher at a fine public liberal arts college in Maine. (Fortunately, he's adopted. Had be been our biological child, he'd probably be third-string Chess Club.) Will is a decent student -- nothing exceptional, but shrewd enough to use the English language in ways that satisfy his professors.

When he was in high school, we used to talk back and forth about his pitching tactics, which I found riveting because baseball is far and away my favorite sport. But talk is usually spontaneous and anecdotal, and doesn't always frame itself into a context that takes in precedents and projects future behavior.

Now our contact is mostly by email, which turns Will into a practical (non-academic) writer who knows that the usual abbreviated electronic lingo young people pass back and forth won't work for someone of my generation. So now when I ask him how baseball practice is going, he has to think, which led last spring to the best "conversation" we've ever had about pitching. Here's what he wrote after I inquired about a practice session:

"I was receiving a lot of advice and help from older guys, so I needed to filter the stuff that was going to help me and the stuff I could fix another time...I just kept the fastball knee-high, outside corner, which has got me here. I have also gained enough confidence to throw inside...I messed around with some grips, so now I have a tailing fastball and a running fastball, sort of like a cutter/forkball...My changeup sucked yesterday...I need to work on the grip and [get] more practice spotting it.

"So to answer your question, the last guys I started with curves or outside or inside fastballs. Then worked a harder fastball up in the zone or maybe another curve outside. Then I would just blow one by or maybe throw a deuce [curve] that would fall in for a strike. They were all strike three-looking, so they watched the fastball or then watched the curve."

Never before in the six or seven years he's been pitching competitively has Will put so much thought into any discussion we've had on mound tactics -- itself a form of on-the-spot analysis matched in sports only by golf when it comes to creative judgments. (Again, the crucial element is having the time.) The writing challenge allowed him to put it all together and think about where he is and where he wants to be.

Email does the same for all of us. It turns us into writers, an unmatched opportunity to show just how smart we really are.

Stop Yelling At Me

That's right. I'm not looking to buy a used car at unbelievable rock-bottom prices or send in $19.95 for an amazing gadget that'll suck food residue out of the bottom of the dishwasher and double as a self-administered dental hygiene device. Shouting may work (it must work; else why would they keep doing it?) for car pitch men or guys with British accents hawking the latest techno-mop on cable TV, but that doesn't mean you have to yell.

No, when it comes to presentation or public speaking skills, what I teach in seminars is straightforward: Be yourself.

I recently sat through a breakfast meeting presentation by a renowned local motivational speaker who irritated the stuffing out of me. So excited was he about his secrets of small business success that his voice quickly turned into a hoarse rant well beyond the acoustical limits of a medium-size church hall.

It didn't stop there. As he turned to and from a flip chart in a frenzied rush, he couldn't keep his hands from jerking up in tandem with every point he made. Inside 10 minutes, he was reaching for a handkerchief to wipe perspiration from his face on what was a cool late-summer morning.

As you may have guessed, I was distracted and lost track of his message. The gestures, the pace, the visible results of exertion, they all kept me from listening closely to what were probably valuable lessons about management.

(By the way, I do give him credit for using the flip chart. Had he throttled back on his tone and gestures and kept eye contact around the room, we would have followed him with eyes and ears as he turned to the flip chart to make key points. That's a far cry from PowerPoint, where the lights go down, eye contact fades into the gloom and the speaker stands there, transfixed by the need to keep turning away from us and reading from the huge, domineering screen.)

The key, again, is to be yourself. Not too long ago, I guided a VA hospital CEO in the Midwest through a videotaped "60 Minutes"-type interview, with a few "gotcha" questions thrown in for good measure. Being a quiet, almost bashful professional, she found that she could relax and speak in a normal tone of voice that projected self-assurance and competence. The result pleased her and she came to accept and control her natural nervousness.

Please visit my website at http://www.davegriffithscommunications.com, where you'll find that I've worked with a variety of government, nonprofit and private-sector clients on business communication skills -- from effective writing to presentation skills to media relations.
I travel widely to do writing and media and presentation skills training for clients ranging from the U.S. Coast Guard to the Red Cross to the Department of Homeland Security to the Veterans Administration to the National Nuclear Security Administration to Navy SEALs to senior executives at a variety of federal agencies to businesses that need help with technical writing and written sales proposals.
My professional background is journalism, having reported for the Kansas City Star and covered national security for several publications, including Business Week magazine. After leaving Washington, I was a member of the Penn State journalism faculty for six years. I have a degree in English from the University of Virginia and a masters in journalism from the University of Missouri, and served as a U.S. Army field artillery officer in Germany and Vietnam.
I live with my wife and two sons in a small town in Maine, where I publish a municipal newsletter and chair a school board.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Griffiths

Seven Reasons Why Many Small Businesses Fail

2009-07-24T22:26:00.000-07:00

Starting your own business can be an amazing adventure. But today more than ever you need to be aware of why so many small business start ups fail to prevent you from making the same mistakes.

It is an uncomfortable fact of business life that four out of five start-ups end in failure, this can be for a multitude of reasons; however, the underlying issues are surprisingly common.

Give your new business venture a fighting chance by taking care to avoid these fatal errors:

Reason 1 - Cash Will Always Be King:

When money is tight and business may not be as abundant as it once was, conserving your cash resources is critical. Keep an eye on expenditure and watch credit control carefully. Make sure money owing to you is paid promptly.

When I send out an estimate, I always have our terms stating 'All work MUST be paid on day of completion'. When we know we are about to finish a job, I give our invoice to the customer on that day. We don't allow 30 days credit. Thankfully, up to now, it has worked.

Reason 2- Location, Location, Location:

Location is critical to the success of your businesses survival. A decent location can cost more but it can make the difference between just getting by and turning a decent profit. Don't let a cheap lease tempt you into opening your doors in the wrong neighbourhood if your gut is telling you it's not right.

Things to consider when choosing a location:

• Where are your customers based?

• Traffic, accessibility, parking and lighting

• Location of competitors

• Condition and safety of building

Reason 3- Keep Purchase Prices Low:

You need to know how to get the least expensive price on everything you purchase. This can make a huge difference. Use the internet to check prices, and then negotiate prices down with suppliers. Do not just accept the first price they give you.

Reason 4 - Never Stand Still:

An old mentor of mine once told me - if you never change anything, everything will remain the same. It is business insanity to do the same thing this year as you did last year and expect a different result.

Successful businesses innovate and change all the time - those that don't are simply left behind.

Reason 5 - Don't Give Up Too Quickly:

Any new business will be lucky to break even in their first year. Many people new to business often assume that they are going to make a fortune within 12 months. In reality less than 80% of new start-ups make a profit in their first year. Do NOT give up too easily.

Reason 6 - You Need A Website:

Simply put, if you have a business today, you need a website. Period.

At the very least, every business should have a professional looking and well-designed website that enables users to easily find out about their business, their products and services? Later, additional ways to generate revenue on the website can be added; for example selling ad space on your website.

Remember, if you don't have a website, you' will probably be losing business to your competitors that do. Make sure that your website makes your business look good; -- you want to increase revenues, not decrease them.

Reason 7- You Need To Get Your Name Out There:

You need to advertise, customers can not walk through your front door if they don't know you're there. Learn how to cost-effectively advertise and promote your business through such tried-and-true methods as ads in local newspapers, Web sites, blogs, even by sponsoring a local little league team. The number of advertising and promotional ideas that exist is only limited by your own creativity.

Mike Zane has put together a complimentary report on offline advertising that holds some amazing tips, it could save you thousands. To download instantly please visit http://www.fastadboost.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Zane

Top 10 Tips For Startup Businesses

2009-07-24T22:25:00.000-07:00

1. Affordable office space

There are many affordable places to start a business. If you chose an up and coming place to base your business at then your overheads will be less. Many technology business for instance can work from anywhere because the majority of their services can be provided over the internet.

2. Gain expertise from experts

Business mentoring is absolutely key to the success of the entrepreneur. You don't know everything and so need experts around you to aid you. A common mistake that young businesses make is trying to do everything. They secret is to kind other people to compliment your own weaknesses.

3. Networking events

Network events allow you to find work and other businesses to compliment your work. Valuable leads can be found at both the free business networking events and the more specialized fee based business events.

4. Cashflow is key

You've heard about profitable businesses going under right. This is because they ran out of cash. They had got enough leads and business but could do the job because their cashflow can dry. This is because they didn't plan properly.

5. Planning

You've heard of a business plan. Well, you need one. The business plan isn't a static document either. It changes throughout a businesses life cycle. If you fail to plan you plan to fail.

6. Pricing

Your price must reflect your experience. As your experience grows so will your earnings. At first work may be scarce but try not to deviate from the specialization. It is ok to do the odd job which is not par of your specialization but stay focused on your business plan.

7. Marketing

You must get word out that your product or service exists. But more importantly you must use your available resources informing the right people that your product or service exists. This is where market research comes into it.

8. Sales

So you've started to get interest in your services but you're having difficulty closing that sale. Are you asking the right questions? Don't push too hard. Make friends with them. Ask them about there business. Find out what they want.

9. Quality

Do a good job and deliver your product to a high standard and your customers will refer their associates to you. Do a bad job of inferior quality and your ex-customers will tell their associates not to use you.

10. Get paid

If you don't get paid then your Cashflow will suffer (see 4), if should be part of your business plan (see 5) to maintain your cashflow. If you don't get paid then you will fail.

For more information visit http://www.enterprisingbarnsley.co.uk.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_J_Greenwood

International Relocation - Overcoming the Barriers

2009-07-22T20:01:00.000-07:00

Although the expatriate assignment package has been trimmed back in recent years as organisations strive to become more competitive, the contents still provide a number of benefits that aim to encourage employees and their families to relocate abroad.

When employees and their families are asked to relocate abroad, the prospect of living in a foreign country may seem daunting, even overwhelming. The reality of an expatriate lifestyle is far removed from dreams of tax-free income and life by the pool. Setting up one's home and functioning effectively as a family during times of upheaval requires considerable employer support. As we'll see, expatriate policies do typically provide a wide range of benefits to help families settle down, and for employees to become as productive as possible quickly.

In addition to the financial elements that comprise an international relocation package - salary, premiums, incentives (such as mobility premiums, compensation for living in remote locations or other regions deemed 'hardship'), and provision to deal with tax, pensions and social security - there are a host of other elements of support typically made available to the relocating employee and family. These are considered here.

Preparation

Prior to relocating, employees and their partners (and sometimes the children, too) are typically offered a pre-assignment trip to enable them to see first-hand the new location and to decide whether to accept the assignment. The trip may also (or alternatively) be used to look for housing and schooling in the new location. In addition, before the move takes place, employees and their partners are typically offered briefing on their new destination country, cross-cultural training and language training. The aim here is to reduce culture shock and aid the settling-in process. Being able to speak the local language helps employees and family members to reduce barriers in their everyday living and working environments.

Assistance is also generally provided with immigration, in terms of obtaining visas and work permits. Although clearly required as part of the employment process for the employee, this is often extended to help support the spouse, partner and perhaps even older children in their search for work, or to enable them to pursue further education opportunities as appropriate in their new country.

Housing

Living abroad clearly necessitates the provision of suitable accommodation. Housing assistance in the form of home search, assistance with renting (both in terms of costs and in dealing with the formalities and legalities) is therefore also included in the package.

Help with managing the home-country property may also be included in the relocation policy by some employers. This may include assistance with finding and meeting the costs of rental agencies or home management/maintenance services.

Health and stress issues

Health is a major factor when living and working abroad. As a result, employers typically ensure that employees and their family members undergo thorough medicals before the assignment, and also provide health insurance cover while away. Life assurance and other risk benefits are also included, together with emergency evacuation cover.

In dangerous areas, secure housing (usually in a compound) and drivers are provided. In such situations, it may be advisable for the assignment to be undertaken on an unaccompanied basis.

It is important to establish social ties and to network in the new location, and so contributions may be made by employers to the cost of joining social or sports clubs. Building a sense of community is important for expatriates and their families, in terms of reducing stress and fostering a sense of belonging. Building stronger links with locals also helps to reduce culture shock for employees.

Shipping, travel and leave

Shipping of personal and household goods is usually included, with a mix of sea and air freight as appropriate. Storage at home may also be required, particularly if the alternative of furnished accommodation overseas is offered instead. The cost of transporting pets abroad may also be met, although this is less common nowadays, as organisations trim back relocation packages. However, there is usually scope within the disturbance allowance given to employees for them to meet the costs of the odds and ends involved in moving home, and this could cover pet removal (assuming a normal domestic pet of course!).

Although it is not normal practice for employees to ship their cars with them to the overseas location (unless in Europe, where they might choose to drive to their new location from the UK), a car or a car allowance is normally part of the package. Cost of travel to and from the destination location (air fares) are the norm, with payment for home leave typically offered once a year. In remote or more insecure regions, rest and relaxation trips are usually provided, with air fares and hotel costs met.

Education and careers

One of the key barriers to relocation is children's education, and as a result there is usually significant emphasis on the provision of assistance in this regard. School fees may be met in full or in part (depending on cost), and the services of a specialist education consellor used to assist in locating suitable schools. This may be combined with home search during the pre-assignment trip - or carried out within the first few weeks after arrival in the new location. Alternatively, children may remain in the home location and the costs of boarding schools and trips to and from the destination location in the school holidays may be met, in full or in part.

Another critical potential barrier to moving rests with second careers. Increasingly, employers have policies to assist the relocating spouse, including help with job search for him or her, visa applications, interview training, CV preparation, education and retraining assistance via the payment of course fees, and so on.

The international move is usually seen as being career enhancing for the employee - but this should not be taken as a given. As organisations face rapid organisational change, so the expatriate assignment may change from being a preparatory step along a career ladder into a potential career gamble. To combat this problem, and to encourage employees to relocate internationally, career development planning is an essential part of the relocation package - typically including mentoring and sponsorship arrangements. The aim of these initiatives is to keep employees in touch with developments at home, and to ensure that their careers are managed purposefully. Career management arrangements may also potentially be extended to cover spouses, partners and even older children accompanying the employee on the assignment.

Repatriation or localisation

The return home also needs to be managed, and repatriation assistance (including briefing, cultural preparation and job review) should be provided for both the employee and accompanying family members as appropriate. Clearly the costs of returning are met as part of the expatriate allowances and benefits package - air fares, shipping, and so on.

If the assignment is extended and the employee and family remain in the destination location, localisation may be required. Employers do not typically shut off all expatriate benefits - though it is certainly more usual for continuing issues such as housing and schooling to be subject to a phased reduction - although expatriates cannot expect all the elements of their package to remain intact indefinitely. The key rests in clear communication of the outcome of localisation prior to the family going on the assignment.

For more information on relocation issues such as health, travel, housing and education, please visit Re:locate Magazine at http://www.relocatemagazine.com/index.php/international-assignments/370-overcoming-barriers-to-international-relocation

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sue_Shortland