3 Tips to be More Casual with Clients

You always hear the principle, “business is business”. And we all know better than to be personal when it comes to anything professional. But then there are customers these days who are looking for more than just a negotiation, and sometimes a little informality is what it takes to close a deal. Find the right formula of personality and business, and you can hit the jackpot with your business.

People become customers when they start to relate to you. Once customers see something about your business they identify with, they get pulled in to your circle of potential market buyers or clients.

Add a little touch of personalization on your marketing tools. Some people are getting into putting their pictures in business cards. It might sound cheesy but you gotta admit adding a face to a name has more chances of recall.

Give gifts on special occasions. Customers and clients want to be taken care of so make sure you remember them on their birthdays and on important holidays. It doesn’t hurt to be a little more generous than your competition.

Make announcements. Nowadays, it’s easier to announce because of email, flyering and making phone calls. or even posting on your website. Why not making it a habit to update all your contacts about what’s new with your business? Make sure to include sales promos, upcoming events and company restructuring. The simple sentence, “Keep in touch.” will ensure that your customers will remain to be your friends, and vice versa.

Workplace Watch: Is ‘Boreout’ Killing You?

Browsing over my reading backlog, I stumbled upon this great feature on what’s said to be the “new office disease” - boreout. Forget burnout, Times Online’s Roger Boyes says as boreout has replaced burnout as the workplace virus.

Symptoms are quite similar to burnout. You feel irritable, drained and staring blankly into space. The main difference? The reason why. While burnout victims blame being overworked and underpaid, the opposite reasons are found with boreout victims. Many workers today feel that they are underutilized and under-appreciated.

Boreout works like this: a boss refuses to delegate work, frustrated underlings ask for more to do but are trusted only with mind-numbing tasks. After a while they stop asking and enjoy the free time at their desk, stretching out the low-intensity tasks with a series of strategems.

But mimicking work day after day erodes self-esteem. Result: the boss hurtles towards burnout while at least some of his staff edge towards boreout. The symptoms are almost identical.

So what does this mean? We can definitely infer that workplaces today are volatile presenting new challenges for management and human resources. And this creates new dimensions in management. That means that every workload to every employee should be carefully assigned making sure that both match.

The Clash of Web 2.0 and Business in the $1B YouTube Lawsuit

In so many words, this is where commercialization clashes with Web 2.0.

Viacom, the mother company of TV networks such as MTV, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon, has filed a lawsuit amounting to $1B against Google, the now mother company of video website, YouTube with grounds of copyright infringement.

The two sides of the story. First with Viacom. Here’s what Viacom has to say (the whole press release can be found here):

YouTube is a significant, for-profit organization that has built a lucrative business out of exploiting the devotion of fans to others’ creative works in order to enrich itself and its corporate parent Google. Their business model, which is based on building traffic and selling advertising off of unlicensed content, is clearly illegal and is in obvious conflict with copyright laws.

And Google answers with their own press release:

YouTube is great for users and offers real opportunities to rights holders: the opportunity to interact with users; to promote their content to a young and growing audience; and to tap into the online advertising market. We will certainly not let this suit become a distraction to the continuing growth and strong performance of YouTube and its ability to attract more users, more traffic and build a stronger community.

Viacom’s targeting all those uploaded videos that supposedly infringe intellectual property - clips of shows like Spongebob Squarepants, The Daily Show, Colbert Reports… They insist that it is Google’s responsibility to check the videos for any issues with copyright infringement criticizing the current ways of how Google handles things where they wait for copyright holders to raise the issue with them. And Viacom does just that not with a notification but with a lawsuit.

But many other networks have accepted the fact that policing YouTube (or the whole Web for that matter) is a futile task. Never mind if it’s the guys who brought us MTV (who were once the dictators of what’s “hot”) who want it done. Is it because, Google, by it’s great innovations phased MTV out as the thermostat of what’s hot and what’s not. Quite honestly, I haven’t tuned in to MTV for quite sometime now. But YouTube, I raid daily.

Take BBC for example. They have fully embraced the Tube revolution and made strides in joining the Tube bandwagon, offering their own channels for Tube viewers. It’s a win-win situation, in my opinion. No need for other people infringing their own intellectual property. With their channels, they can provide top quality videos and full attribution and control. Best of all, they get to earn side by side with Google.

BBC shows us that there is a proactive way to deal with the revolution that is YouTube. Even Google had to buy YouTube out because there was almost no seeming way to halt the Web 2.0 juggernaut. Take away all the copyrighted material and some other guy from his garage will build his own Tube alternate and the cycle will go on. Why can’t Viacom understand that. But apparently, Viacom doesn’t seem to want that. Perhaps they want to channel viewership away from the computer screen and back to the living room TV.

As for Google, this is just one major headache that they should have prepared to face upon acquiring YouTube last year. Now that YouTube founders have also cashed in their $1.6B payment from the Google buyout, they can relax and enjoy swimming in their money.

As early as the word got out, this has been the buzz among netizens of Web 2.0. Many have benefited from YouTube, and no doubt I, as LifeSpy’s main blogger, have made use of the many great video tips posted there. I’m not totally siding with Google here, but I find Viacom’s decision one of an irate old-timer. Let’s face it. This is the age of Web 2.0. This is where we, the netizens, decide what’s hot and what’s not.

We should all know to value copyrights and intellectual property. However, in my own humble opinion, I think we even have to review the essence of copyright since we are dealing with the social phenomenon that is Web 2.0 here. It is the collaborative nature of information that is now emerging as a paradigm. How are we viewing copyright? Is it for attribution and credit for the proponent? Or a way to control and manage earnings from a product? We can’t avoid to rule out the money part here. Money talks. And $1B is a screaming amount.

Hey, has anyone sued MTV for ruining rock and roll? Haha.

Any takes on the matter?

Aid to business startups: Kiva’s microfinancing for the masses

Going back to the article I wrote about starting a small business, third point. Startups can really benefit from outside help.

Kiva, a San Francisco-based startup has created a way for small-lenders to network together to reach a wider audience. Here’s what Computerworld wrote about Kiva’s work:

Kiva’s approach is straightforward. Entrepreneurs working with established local microfinancing institutions, or MFIs, put their business plans, financing needs and photos on Kiva’s Web site. Investors from the U.S. and other affluent countries visit Kiva.org, choose which entrepreneurs to back and then finance the loans.

My take? It’s great knowing that non-profit organizations such as Kiva is trying to bridge the world together. Startups from all over the world could definitely benefit from a lending network rather than just dealing with lending firms all by themselves. At least, here’s an organized network that builds both credibility for lenders and confidence and security for the startup. Good news, indeed!

How to Start a Small Business

Ah, business startups. There are a lot of business ideas that you can try out. Blogging and social networking can be considered small businesses. With the Internet, some have made a fortune out of eBay and MySpace. Or you can have a small diner with killer milkshakes. Or a guitar repair shop in your garage.

So you’re interested in being your own boss? Here are some steps to starting a business.

1. Do your homework
   You don’t want to rush head on. Starting out on a whim is very dangerous ground. What you’d want to do is ask around. You could even ask some experts for free advice. You an also draft out a business plan to pinpoint what exactly the services or products that you will be offering.
2. Paperwork
   Next you’d have to do would be the paperwork. This means getting thepermits from your local government. This also means picking a business name.
3. Check your finances
   Some would say that the best type of investment would be to use money that you have and not money that you will earn. Interests may kill you down the line. But for most people who have no money to invest, you just have to resort to financing.
   You can approach banks and other lending outfits for the capital. You can also cash in those loans that you can avail from social security and government institutions. But if you do have to resort to loans, make sure that you keep your business small on the onset. You can pay these off once your business starts earning.
4. Pick a spot
   Location matters depending on your planned business. Some start out in garages or small home offices. That way, you save on lease and rent expenses. Otherwise business like diners, restaurants and the like would mean that you have to target higher traffic areas. Also consider your customers’ comfort like parking spaces, proximity and security.
5. Manage your cash flow
   One startup killer is spending too much. Check your priorities. Definitely you need to spend on investments like office equipment and the like but always check which ones would benefit your startup. Always decide on thebest buck per bang deals.
   You don’t have to spend a fortune on buying things brand new. You can always check for warehouse sales or other offices who are disposing some of their older stuff. Beg, bargain, or barter.
6. Market
   You don’t want to go head-to-head with the big boys. You’d need more muscle than you think to do that. Focus on a niche market so that you’d have a distinct share. Building a client base assures you of guaranteed sales. Study market and corporate trends and learn from best practices.
7. Patience is a virtue
   Be patient. Not all businesses pan out immediately. Experiment on different approaches until you find one that works. Keeping a business sustainable is all about getting a winning formula. While you’re at it,build better relationships and explore new ways of promotingcustomer satisfaction.
8. Smile
   Not a fake one but a real one. Enjoy your startup. I would go the length saying that if you don’t have the heart in your business, it’s doomed to fail. Thinking positive on the job will reflect on your business. Since you feel great, you wouldn’t mind the daily grind giving you more energy for what’s in store for your business.

Seven Mistakes You Might Be Making When You Network

If you own a small business, or are part of a larger network marketing company, you have probably heard about networking, and you may even have been encouraged to go to networking groups. However, very few people receive advance training, and when they go to networking events, they end up making mistakes that they later regret. So take a look at these very common errors, and learn what to do instead. That way, when you run into the people you met the next time, they will be pleased to see you, and even better, to help you!

Understanding the Purpose of Networking

You might have heard the adage that people do business with those they know, like and trust. Certainly that is the first reason to network. But there's a better reason, and that is because if people know you and know your business, you don't have to sell anyone; other people will sell for you. As an example, if your neighbor's car breaks down, and you happen to have an excellent mechanic, it's natural for you to recommend your mechanic. Now if you happen to also know a fabulous plumber, a great math tutor, an amazing insurance agent, and a lawyer better than Perry Mason, well, it's natural for you to recommend them also. And, in a nutshell, that is what networking is: to build up a list of business associates to whom you can refer business.
Now you're thinking, "But that benefits them. How does that benefit me?" The answer is simple: at the same time that you are building your list, everyone else is building theirs, too. You want to make sure you are on everyone else's list. However, too many people end up not being on those lists, because of the mistakes they make.

Mistake #1

Selling

The point is not to sell one-on-one. After all, unless you are a salesman, that isn't your job (and yes, all small business owners are salesmen to some degree). Remember, you are not after one client; you are after a stream of clients originating from the person you are talking to. You shouldn't care if the person you are talking to becomes your client.
Think about it from the other person's perspective. No-one likes to be sold to, especially the hard sell. If you sell to the person you're talking to, you're almost sure never to get a referral from them.

Mistake #2

Pigeonholing

Too many people at networking events meet someone and immediately categorize the person they meet: "Oh, another __________ (choose one: insurance agent, realtor, financial planner, mortgage lender, piano teacher, etc.)." People are not cookie cutters, and don't come into their professions in the same ways. All lawyers are not alike, and that goes for every single profession out there. Instead, find out what is different about the person with whom you are talking. Every profession has its specialties, and you don't want to refer a divorce case to a criminal lawyer (at least we hope not). You'll find some people who are at the top of their field, and have a very narrow specialization; others will be somewhere in the middle, and others will be just starting out.

Mistake #3

Don't Differentiate Yourself

When you go to a networking meeting, especially if you are part of a larger network marketing organization, the probability is that the experienced networkers there may already know twenty or even fifty people who work for the same company. They may even have married someone who works for the same company or is in the same profession as yours. So how do you get referrals from that person?
The answer is that you must have a specialty. Rather than a cosmetics company representative saying, "I can help anyone with a face," figure out what your own specialty is. The more you can stand out, the more likely it is that people will remember you and refer business to you. And even if the person you meet is married to someone who works for the same company or profession, if you have an unusual specialization, you might get business from them because their spouse doesn't want to deal with that particular kind of client. Learn to stand out!

Mistake #4

Focus on Yourself

Too many people at networking events go around passing out their business cards, and pointedly ignore the other person's card, or don't even bother to ask what someone does. This creates the wrong impression, because in addition to doing business with someone we know, like, and trust, there is another factor to consider. Someone in business is going to refer a client with whom they have a relationship: friend, neighbor, relative, or business colleague. If you appear to be focused only on yourself, you will give the impression that you won't be focused on your clients, either.
The problem is that the person who refers business to you still has to deal with their friend, neighbor, relative, or business colleague long after your business with them is finished. So they are going to be very careful in their recommendations, because they will have to live with the consequences of their referrals.
Focus instead on the other person, and how you can send business to them. Why? Because if you send business to someone, they are more likely to send business to you. And the more business you can send them, the more likely they are to send business to you.

Mistake #5

Don't Go Back

Too many people go to networking event, hand out their cards to everyone, disappear, and then complain they are not getting any business. Remember, people do business with people they know, like, and trust. If all someone does is hand their business card to you and disappear, how likely are you to trust them?
Most networking groups meet at least once a month; some meet every week. Usually, it will take several months of attendance before you get your first referral. Keep going back, and eventually people will start to feel that you are dependable enough to refer someone to you.

Mistake #6

Don't Learn About Others

Let's face it, would you hire someone you met in a grocery store line wearing a company shirt? No? People won't send business to you, either, unless they know you and feel they can trust you. And one of the best ways to get to know someone is to invite them out for coffee or lunch, and learn all you can about them and their business. Experienced networkers will also want to know you.
In addition to knowing about someone enough to send referrals to them, this meeting (often called a one-on-one), is a great way for you to find commonalities. Perhaps your two businesses are synergistic (that is, they are businesses that people often use together, such as an insurance agent and some kind of home repair). Perhaps you have a similar client base, such as families with children. Or maybe you have connections that can work together.
The formula for one-on-ones is usually 1/3 about me, 1/3 about you, and 1/3 about how to help each other. Allow at least an hour and be sure to follow up afterwards with an email, a quick note, or a small gift.

Mistake #7

Don't Give Anything Away

Would you invest in an expensive product without sampling it or reading reviews? Probably not! By the same reasoning, people are going to be hesitant to recommend you unless you let them have an experience of your work. You should be prepared to give something away for free: a sample, advice, or something. Sure, you can give someone a brochure, and they will file it either in their filing cabinet, or the wastebasket. But giving someone an exciting experience will give them something to talk about to potential clients, resulting in more business for you.

Putting it All into Practice

Before your next event, figure out your specialization. Who is your ideal client and how do they find you? The next time you go to a networking event, ask the other person first: "What do you do?" Then ask more questions. Get their business card (you don't care if they get yours) and set up a one-on-one. Then find out when the next event for that group is, and go back and do it again!
In your one-on-one meetings, get to understand the other person's specialty. Put your heads together and figure out how your customer base or your specialties overlap (sometimes you might have to think about it for a while, but it's almost always there). Then offer the other person something for free. Not a discount, not a coupon, but really free, with no strings attached.
Try this approach, and you'll be amazed at the results you'll see in just a few months. Here's to your business!

Better Keep Watch on Your IT Guy

Disgruntled employees are proven to be management headache. While most won’t probably bring a gun along with his lunch bag and start a shooting spree during the mid-day crunch, they’re still liable to hurt your company even in small doses. Retaliation may come in many forms from the petty stuff like the theft of every paper clip inside the office and the worst, like having your whole client database leaked to your competitor. And who’s most likely to be able to do that? Yup. Mr. System/Network Admin.

Okay, I might be exaggerating. Everyone who’s got squat knowledge about computers can, one way or another, hack into sensitive information and sell them out as part of disgruntled rage but logic points us to the immense power of your IT guy.

Here’s a great article on research findings that your IT guy is a key person in terms of security and the integrity of your business. That person can either be your keykeeper or a security threat himself.

According to the research, 86 per cent of those who committed cyber-crimes held technical positions and 90 per cent had system administrator or privileged system access. Almost half - 41 per cent - of those who sabotaged IT systems were employed at the time they did it but most crimes were committed by insiders following termination.

While most IT admin will probably be up in arms at this, it is sound advice. Beware of any weird and out-of-line behavior from your IT if you’re top management. It just might spell your company’s demise. Make sure that you also keep track of what your IT department has been doing in their measures to keep your system integrity.

Then again, if ever your IT guy does lose his screws, better take a good look athow you’re running the business. Only a crazy work place can drive people to be crazy enough to bring your whole business down.

Big Brother is big business – Lisa Marks goes inside America's new fame school

 

By Lisa Marks, 08/11/2009

"We're standing in a beautiful landscaped courtyard. I'm in a group with three strange men - one is singing me a love song, one is pretending to be rapper Ice-T, and the other is doing his best to impersonate a TV presenter. Before I know it, we're all singing about a product we've just invented called the iLove.

The watching crowd applauds wildly, my face goes bright red and as I walk to my seat, I almost clonk my head on a sound boom attached to one of the many cameramen who are following my every move. Welcome to the first night of reality TV camp.

Writer Lisa lists her attributes

I'm spending three days at the New York Reality TV School, founded by film producer and director Robert Galinsky. He launched his reality TV workshops last June to help wannabes make it big in the competitive world of reality TV. His trick? Improving their confidence and story-telling abilities, apparently. Simple.

So far his success stories include Jorge Bendersky, who came third in Animal Planet's Groomer Has It (nope, I've never heard of it either), and Jonathan Fable, who won $10,000 (£6,100) on the US version of Hole In The Wall.

This is Robert's first $795 (£487) weekend residential course, which he says focuses on: "Bringing out your inner potential and giving you the edge on the competition when you audition for a reality TV show."

The group takes notes from director Robert

Okaaaay. So far, all I've discovered is that I can't sing, but I've only been here two hours.

Like most people, I avidly watched Big Brother from day one and sneered from the safety of my sofa as the crazy antics unfolded: "How can people who have just met declare they're best friends? Do you really have to run to the diary room to bitch about your housemates?"

But as I soon find out, normal rules do not apply when you live your life on camera 24/7.

Robert hands out graduation certificates

This course, held at the isolated Center For Energetic Healing in Simi Valley, California, has been designed to mimic life inside a BB house - the aim is to immerse us wannabes in reality TV-land. There are shared dorms, secret challenges and four camera crews roaming the grounds, all there to catch every moment - be it dull or explosive.

Before I even step out of my car, a camera is shoved in my face. I immediately feel uncomfortable, but strangely, after just a couple of hours, I start to forget they are there.

I was expecting my fellow classmates to be desperately fame-hungry, but during our first session, called Triumph And Tragedy, it becomes clear that although everyone has a story to tell, the craziness level is nowhere near as high as I thought it would be.

During the very honest introductions, a flood of personal information pours out. I share with my housemates that I've had spinal surgery (my tragedy) and that I've won a short film competition (my triumph).

Renee laps up the attention

Our group of 15 include a recovering anorexic, a recovering alcoholic, a police chief who'd seen his partner killed, a dad with an autistic son (who I had to make dance with me during my first secret challenge - sorry Pennel!), a single mum supporting three kids, and a businessman who had been adopted. Oddly, not everyone is desperate to feature in a reality show, but like many, they are intrigued by the potential of reality TV fame.

Later, we are shown the diary room where we are encouraged to 

talk freely. I go in on the first evening and sit there like a lemon mumbling about how nice the grounds are. Not exactly riveting stuff.

After dinner, however, things kick off when one of the group, David, a 34-year-old New York computer consultant, has an argument with Ian, 25, a singer from Florida and probably the most fame-hungry of us all. "If the universe wants me to be a celebrity, that will happen!" Ian trills.

Lisa gets more intimate with a camera

I'm not sure exactly what is said, but there's a screaming row and every cameraman comes running. I watch from afar until Robert the director steps in to calm Ian down. It is hilarious to see how quickly the cameras pounce on a dramatic moment.

The next morning at our 8.30am physical fitness session (star jumps on camera - wobbly bits for all to see) we are told that three people are self-evicting after deciding 'it isn't for them'. Cue dramatic gasps and gossipy whispers and, of course, a queue for the diary room.

Interestingly, things gel better within the group once the three naysayers have gone.

Every minute of the course is filmed

Saturday is busy. We meet with US reality star Marcellas Reynolds, 42, who's been brought in to give us his words of wisdom after he got down to the final five of US Big Brother in 2002, and then hosted his own show, Shop Like A Star, for the Style Network.

"Think very carefully about going on a reality TV show," he warns. "Particularly about whether or not you want to lose your privacy." Gulp.

Later in the day, I start hanging out with Sigi, a 23-year-old actress from LA, and Renee, a 31-year-old cocktail mixer from New York.

Recovering alcoholic Renee reveals: "I'm an artist, but I'd be interested to see how far I could go on Big Brother."

Sigi, a recovering anorexic, is equally candid. "If I can put myself outside my comfort zone I know I'll discover new things about myself," she says. "That's how you become a better actor."

Marcellas Reynolds talks about his time on US Big Brother

By now the cameras have become window dressing, so when it comes to Saturday night karaoke, I grab the microphone and blast out an off-key rendition of I Will Survive. And it may be the yummy cocktails that Renee's made (although she isn't drinking), but we end up declaring we were each other's BFFs.

It seems bonkers but I now have a better understanding of why people on these shows form such close bonds - if you go from 0-80mph in a pressure-cooker environment, it's going to speed up friendships. So hugs-a-go-go!

The next day kicks off again with physical fitness, but I get upset that three of the group hasn't bothered to get out of bed in time. In fact, I'm so annoyed I go to the diary room to have a rant. In two days, I've become a reality-TV cliché - moaning in private but hugging in public.

Sigi learns to love the camera

After a session where we have to tell two truths and a lie to see if we've been listening to our classmates closely enough to root out the fib, it's time for graduation.

We whoop with joy as we receive our certificates. We've graduated from New York Reality TV School 'with all the rights and privileges thereto pertaining'. (No, I haven't figured out what it means, either!)

Success! Lisa's got what it takes

Before I leave, I speak to Woody, a 57-year-old dairy farmer from Michigan who has applied many times to be on Survivor, a Robinson Crusoe-style show where teams of wannabes are left to live on a desert island.

Having completed the course, he's convinced his chances of getting picked next time have increased.

"I've sent off a lot of tapes, but now I can be more specific as to what will make me a great contestant," he says.

I glance across at course guru, Robert, who is beaming with pride.

Wannabe Woody gets some tips from guru Robert

"What I have tried to create here is a learning experience that can get difficult sometimes but with room for the 'students' to grow - and I think we achieve that," he tells me with satisfaction.

After one of the most surreal experiences of my life, I still have no ambition to go on a reality TV show but, worryingly, when I wake up at home the next morning, the first thing I look for is a camera. New habits die hard!"And then it's time to leave. The hugs seem to last for hours and we all swap business cards, promising to request each other as friends on Facebook, and vow we will stay in touch.

How to Supercharge Your Business Card

Perhaps one thing that most people neglect is their business cards. If you collect other people’s business card (some even have those little albums for them) try to see which ones stand out. The problem with business cards today is that many of them are too lame. Home-made ones are a dead give away with those jagged-edged borders.

Companies should also take a look at the how business make an impact. For one, it one of the leave-behinds that you bank on for recall and further contact with potential clients. Here are some tips on supercharging your business card.

• Sit down with a graphic artist and review the key messages that you want to convey. Corporate branding is very important.
• Check out a good color scheme that stands out in a good way (not like a sore thumb). This can be a challenge since companies can be limited to their own logo and color scheme. But a good artist can get one done for you.
• You might want it to be hip and cool but don’t over-accessorize it too many images. Business cards must spell out “professional”. Believe it or not but the best business card I’ve seen so far is that of the coyote’s character in Looney Tunes that spells out “Wile E. Coyote - Genius.”
• Review the job title. Most companies have made it a point to give out profound-sounding job titles to give their people more credibility. For some reason, authority appeals to people. So if you brand your sales people as “account executives” instead of “salesperson,” your people can command respect not only from other people but it boosts their morale as well.
• Keep the information brief - name, job title, company name, office address, telefax, mobile number, e-mail address.
• Use quality printing on good paper. Getting a professional printer will be the best way to go. Some of my artist friends make DIY cards and use photo paper. The colors stand out and it’s quite durable too.

Believe it or not, I do collect business cards. And when I observe myself when choosing the the first one to call, I always end up calling the best designed one. So business cards are really effective for recall value and to re-establish contact. Well, what goes from there is another story. At least you’ve made a good impression.

Dating Tips: Cheap Valentine’s Day Dates

Valentine’s day is looming and you might have some issues on what to do with your date. Fancy dates can make your wallet cry and dinner-date-and-a-movie are too common to make it work (unless you put some spin into it). So what are some date ideas that are cheap but wouldn’t make you look cheap (oh the cliche!). Here are a few ideas:

• Candlelight dinner at home - This wouldn’t cost you much. That is, if you have some mad cooking skills to boot. This may also sound passe but this works. Put on that apron. Whip up your specialty (Or if you can’t cook better buy some roast chicken, that’d work). Surprise her at the door with some flowers. Chill a good bottle of wine. Pop on some slow music for some dancing afterwards.
• Picnic by the lake (provided that you live somewhere where it isn’t icy cold during February) - Or some place clear enough to watch the sky. Your typical picnic gear. You can cuddle and wait for some cheesy falling star to pass by.
• Ice skating (for those who live where it’s chilly in February) - Put on those ice skates. Skate with your special friend. Get some hot cocoa after.
• Pizza and fajitas - Try a group date with couple friends. Get a movie or play some board games.

If you’re pretty suave yourself, then you could think of many other ways to go out on Valentine’s. Just remember, too many frills and you might just mess it up. Simple and sweet always works.

Small Business Tip: More on Marketing

Marketing has a very crucial function in any sales business. It is the source of creative and innovative ideas which does the positioning of your products in the market. This is why belonging to your company’s marketing department is both exciting, challenging, and a little scary. But don’t worry. Take a look at these suggestions on how you’re work can be easier from now on.

Secure market statistics. The key to any marketing endeavor is to target your client base properly and nothing can clearly help you to do that other than solid numbers. Statistics would help you to optimize your selling process so that you can focus your attention and effort to people who need your product and could buy it. No use in pitching a bum to buy a Rolls Royce.

Create a client database. If you don’t know who you’re selling to, then you have some serious problems. Having a database would help you touch base with these people whether by phone call, e-mail or even a personal visit from one of your people. Making them feel valued is a plus for your customer-caring image.

Make regular announcements. Consult with your boss on what’s your scope of resource when it comes to making press releases. Your scope is your domain. Master it. Be the first person to know when there’s a new development in your company and in the business. Keep a designated notebook where you’ll be keeping all these new data. After knowing the development, explore the potential of it getting turned into a press release.

Make a write-up about it and discuss with your boss if you can turn it over to themedia for release. Never forget to always give out critical business information like the products you sell and the contact details for interested customers.

Invite a select few media partners during corporate events. Press cons are different from corporate events. But you have to consider the possibilities of getting another free publicity. The key here is to invite only those you’re sure will write good things about the event and the company.

Choose only good tie-ups. Working in the marketing department means you get a lot of proposals regarding tie-ups and sponsorship. Don’t just trash them all yet, thinking they’re just costs. Some of these proposals are actually very good avenues for publicity. Compare the cost with the return of that investment.

For example, participating in a school exhibit could be a very powerful strategy to reach out to your target market if your target market is the student population. You can even use these exhibits to promote ongoing promos. One way you can maximize exhibits is to bring a hefty number of brochures and flyers so you can really push your products.

Small Business Tip: Promoting Your Business

Those working in the PR industry know the true value of publicity. The need for promotion is constant. Business and publicity goes hand in hand. If you wanna sell, you gotta publicize. If you’re a newbie in the publicity industry, here are tips for you so you can capitalize on your resources to achieve publicity.

Work harder than your competition. Your goal is to be the most recognized in your field. Publicity can help you achieve that. Let the word out. What are you selling? Explore different channels you can use to reach your target market. One of the most effective ways to broadcast is to make yourself visible online. Make a website of your product where people can order online so that you can have a wider range of clientele.

Sponsor local events. Your community might have one of those one-in-a-year events that you could sponsor, oftentimes for just a small amount. This creates the image that your business gives back to the community. Free publicity too.

Do you know someone who knows someone who’s an editorial staff in a local paper? A free press release can generate a lot of leads and inquiries. Tap your networks / contacts who can help you announce your business to the world. Just think, how much does advertising cost nowadays? With a little knowledge on public relations you can score a space for free!

Get to meet more people who work in the media. The more writers you befriend, the more chances you have of getting free publicity. One way to do it is to hold press conferences. Research on the lineup of staff in leading papers. You can get this info online or you can make phone alls to the publication and inquire about the writers’ contact numbers. Press cons cost less than paid advertisements. Besides, a good friendship with the media translates to good and free publicity for your business.

Get your business listed in directories. A cheap alternative is to promote your business through the yellow pages. If you have a bit more cash to spend, then get a larger ad spot in the directory. And yes, web-based business listing brings you to the 21st century. Try iBegin and be part of a large database of business providers.

Choosing the Ideal Business Location

The success of your business largely depends on where it’s located. Finding the ideal business location takes more than just choosing the place with the lowest rent. A lot of factors have to be considered before you move in.

Check the space
You have to think about your location’s size, layout, and quality. Check for any damages in the electrical wiring, plumbing, and construction – any repairs will be added to your expenses. Also, the location should be large enough for all the storage and retail space that you will need to run your business. It also helps to do a little research on the location’s crime rate, and whether it is well lit at night. These factors may affect the amount of crime insurance you’ll pay for.

Reach your customers
Your location should be ideal for your type of business. Restaurants should be near a car park or accessible via public transportation, and video game arcades should be in an area that kids can safely and easily access. Think of your target demographic and make sure that they live nearby. Even if your target market doesn’t live nearby, make sure that your business is located in an area where they can get to comfortably. Be sure that you can shoulder the extra advertising costs to attract customers that live far from your business location.

Face your competition
Look around your new location and try to spot any possible competitors. Evaluate whether you can successfully compete with them. This doesn’t mean that you should avoid competition – you can actually benefit from your competition’s marketing efforts by staying close to them. As long as you’re confident about your products, being close to your competition can be beneficial to your business.

The best thing you can do is to talk to other people in your business. They’ve been through this process before, and they can give you valuable tips and advice based on their own experience. Apply their advice as well as the three tips above, and you’ll definitely come out ahead.

What to Do in Job Fairs

Still unemployed? Hey, it’s not as if you haven’t tried, it’s just really harder than you thought it is. No doubt it is! Everyone is waiting to grab every vacant position. With the competition this tough, how can you get ahead of the others? Answer: take advantage of the job fairs. You can maximize your participation in job fairs to increase your chances at getting hired. Follow these suggestions.

Bring what you have to bring. Whenever you’re going to a job fair, you will always have to bring 1) pencil 2) pen 3) several copies of your resume 3) portfolio (if you have any) 4) supporting documents such as transcript and other certificates. You will be filling up application forms so think how annoying you will be if you had to borrow a pen every time. And don’t feel stupid bringing all those documents. Some companies do require all sorts of certifications so it’s better to have them on the ready.

Prepare for it like you would for a real interview. You never know how when there’s an urgent position. Sometimes there are on the spot interviews. So just be ready for some typical interview questions which usually include a description of yourself and your career goals.

Apply to the companies you are really interested in. Sometimes what happens is, you sweep the whole area giving everyone your resume to double the chances of employment. While this seems like a win-win strategy, it could also be time consuming, not to mention unwise. The companies’ booths in job fairs are usually so near each other that you’re sure to get noticed if you’re someone who gives everyone a copy of your resume. You might be taken as desperate or not so career-driven, but just a person who desperately needs a job. Narrow your application by applying only to companies which really offer your career interests. One way you can do this is by doing a research before the job fair so you already know where to apply.

Do targeted applications. Sure, job fair seem to be a hit or miss thing so you could just carpet bomb all of the participating companies with you resume. Still, you can maximize your efforts by doing some research on the companies who will be participating. Prepare your resumes to tailor fit their needs. This might take real effort to make a resume for each of the companies you’re interested in but this ups your chances.

Workplace Watch: How to Make Your Employees Your Company Assets

You take pride in the people who work for you. But it’s human nature to seek for greener pastures. Your employees are your assets. They are the ones who keep your business running – staying late overnight on bad days and celebrating your milestones. And it’s just sad to see that the ones you’ve chosen resign and become useful to your competitors. How do you keep your employees’ loyalty to your company?

Get ahead in getting the best people. You might be surprised at how aggressive HR teams become when it comes to getting the best people. The increasing rate of unemployment gives you a good number of applicants. But you’re not after a large number fighting over one position. You just need one right person for the job. There are a lot of labor pools which you can dive into when you need manpower. But make sure that one of the requirements is an attitude of loyalty.

Companies invest much on training, but this also costs a lot. It is a very positive move to offer trainings to your employees. But if after your training, your trained employees don’t stay long, then that’s a real loss. To save on costs, hire people who are already competent.

Make your company look good. Getting good publicity encourages the best people to take pride working for you. Promote your business to show its concerns and contributions to the community so that your people will feel that they are part of something good.

Give them opportunities to lead. People who leave usually feel stuck in their work. If you give your people fair chances at promotion, then they can see themselves staying for good. As long as you can provide avenues for growth, your people will be happy workers.

Make them feel valued but… it’s a tendency for some employees to let this get into their heads. Sometimes they would feel indispensable and would try to abuse your trust. If this happens, be prepared for to enforce some discipline to put them back into their place. And face it, employees will move on one way or another so be sure to have contingencies.

How to Deal with a Problem Employee

Being the boss requires a high level of leadership. Since you are the one who’s driving your team, it is important that you can control your personnel to some extent. In any team, it is common to have employee problems, because managing them depends largely on individual differences such as work attitude, motivation factors, and character.

Having a problem employee slows development of projects, commitment failures, and over-all efficiency of the team. This is why when one employee is going astray, you will have to do some corrective actions to get him back on the right track.

Whenever the employee does something that’s not acceptable to you, pull them aside and explain what they’ve done wrong. This is important because a sensitive reprimand usually leads to respect. Public reprimand often just results in the opposite.

Consider that maybe the employee is ignorant of the proper way to do it and you are merely informing him. As a first offense, you should write it down on their files so you can keep a record of offenses and see if they commit the same mistakes in the future. Employees should have a learning curve, and this is best manifested by not committing the same mistakes twice.

Meet the regular schedule of employee performance evaluation. Performance evaluation at irregular schedules usually render employees lenient. To promote consistent performance improvement, hold performance reviews on a regular basis.

Promote accountability among your staff. All actions have consequences. Good decisions generate rewards and incentives, and failures result in punishment. That’s how simple it is. An employee who is motivated to do the right thing will develop a habit of it and an employee who suffers from his violations will have all the reasons to try harder.

More on Changing Career Directions.

I’ve read somewhere that “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” Do you believe it in the context of a career change? What if you’re in the middle of your life and you suddenly find yourself seriously contemplating about switching to another career path? Would you go for it, or would you shake it off? Changing something in your life is really a tough decision, especially if it’s something stable like your job. It’s even scary — the thought of leaving your comfort zone and risking a new livelihood.

Consider these tips to help you go through this.

Do you want to pursue a new career or do you just want to leave your present job? When things don’t go well in the office, we’re bound to think about exploring other avenues. While it’s good that you’re thinking of expanding your horizon, it is not good to make a big career change just because you hate your boss, or if you find the company policies inhumane. Changing your career should be in pursuit of a passion which you always had but never got to doing.

If you’re not so sure about what to pursue, make a list of new careers which sounds good to you and individually assess your facility to which you can function in the new job. In your assessment, consider two factors: your potential to excel in the new field, and your chances to be happy in this new career.

One way you can check which among your list is nearest your talents is to draft a resume for each job target. By doing this, you get to see which career you’re more familiar with, and which career will require you to do a lot of keeping up.

Go for it. Your plans cannot change your life until you go ahead and do it. Now’s the time to really file that resignation you’ve been dreaming of for the longest time.