Handle Bulk Vegetable Oil The Smart Spout Way

If you've got a restaurant, you probably deal with a lot of oil. Between changing the oil in fryers, making dressings and sauces, and cooking on the line, the only person moving more oil in the neighborhood is the local mechanic. And, like any restaurateur, you probably buy the stuff in bulk containers so that it's a little easier to handle and a little cheaper to buy. And we all know how annoying those bulk containers can be to handle. They're, well, bulky.

The Smart Spout is exactly what it sounds like: a smart idea that makes a restaurateur's daily life a little easier. It's simple, functional, and easy to use. What does the smart spout do? It allows you to pour bulk fryer or vegetable oil easily without spilling. Simple as that. Anyone who has stepped on oil on the floor in a commercial kitchen can attest to the dangers even a small spill can create.

The Smart Spout fits 1, 17.5, and 35 gallon bulk oil containers. It swivels so that oil can pour freely in any direction. It comes in red and green so you can tell fryer oil from ingredient oil. It's washable, sealable, and reusable.

The Smart Spout reminds me of old gasoline cans. 20 years ago they had a screw cap and that was it. Then somebody got smart and invented a pour spout so you didn't spill gas everywhere, which is both costly and dangerous. Now every Jerry can in the world has a spout.

I don't know if every bulk vegetable oil container in the world will have a spout one day, but they should, for the very same reasons every gas can now has one. If you deal with those bulk oil containers, make your life a little easier.

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

5 Reasons Why Your Boss Hates You

I was with a group of recently appointed IT managers and we struck the conversation thread of our relationships with our boss. I just love it when people begin to talk about the subjects that matter to them.

The group shared their thoughts on how they have suffered from a bad relationships with their boss, and more to the point, how their relationships turned sour in the first place. It was such an interesting (and enlightening) conversation that I am sharing with you what I learned.

I distilled the conversations down to 5 reasons why your boss might hate you (although there maybe more, these are the biggies)

You are a Threat
If your boss believes you pose a threat to their job then they could turn nasty. If you walk around with a halo on your head (put there by your peers, or even your manager's peers or superiors) then this could be perceived as dangerous to your boss.

This goes beyond the belief of your boss that you are after their job. By building up a strong profile inside your organization, which I fully recommend, it is likely that you a pedestal is also being built underneath you. If your profile creates support and sponsorship by senior members of your organization, then the likelihood of being knocked off is reduced, but there always remains the potential of being sniped off by a jealous boss.

If you suspect that this is the case, then you have a choice - continue as you are and live with the glory and the threat, or share your halo with your boss by ensuring that they always get 10% of the credit. (Number is arbitrary!). You do this by always mentioning their support and guidance as you achieve greatness.

You are Too Political
Politics is a banner of many behaviors, but roughly I am suggesting that your manager may get pissed off with you if you don't consistently align with the truth and behave like 'all things to all people'. Politics has its place, but over-emphasis on truth-economies can create distrust between you and your manager. Think about it: if they see you as a skilful player with your peers, then what do they read into your relationship?

If you're in a politically charged environment (despite best will, this does happen) then it's always best to disclose your political game plan with your boss. Even if they don't play too, at least they know what you're trying to achieve. Create a version of the truth that you both align to and will work together to achieve. Personally, I prefer work without politics, but if you must engage in politics then it's important to have the support of your manager.

You are Not Political Enough
The flipside to the above, and probably a more likely situation. The higher you climb the pole, the greasier it gets.

Your manager may be playing many angles and operating in grey-areas to achieve an outcome... only for you to come along with an honest and transparent communication to destroy their game-plan.

My feelings towards this are clear - this is your manager's fault and if they don't involve you in the game (or at least tell you where the goal-posts are) then that is their problem. Nevertheless, your lack of awareness, or refusal to play, can build up bad feelings which are likely not to be expressed. Your boss's hatred of you will seem irrational and may be sensed but not directly manifested.

There isn't much you can do in these situations. Sometimes, a direct challenge might work but the same political behaviour will be applied in your manager's response.

Lack of Rapport
Rapport is the X-factor in a relationship. When two people have rapport, they get along very well and the relationship flourishes. This happens when you and your manager perceive situations, and people, in similar ways and you make similar decisions and judgments based on that perception. Communication is effective. There is cohesion. It's a foundation of trust.

What about the lack of rapport? The opposite of the above is true. Relationships die at the point of inception when two people can't communicate effectively or agree on anything. When two people have two parametrically opposite personality traits, then building rapport is almost impossible. If you are a positive person, but your boss is negative, then it will be tough. If you are introvert, but your manager is extrovert, then it will be tough. Get the picture?

I don't recommend trying to be a person you are not, in order to overcome this. You will come unstuck at some point, and to be frank, you will be miserable and stressed. The best way forward, when faced with this problem, is to just keep working at it. A lack of rapport will diminish over time providing that you and your manager are trying to achieve the same thing. It will be a bumpy road - so expect that - but eventually it will smooth out.

You Don't Do What Your Manager Expects You To Do
Have you become upset when a mechanic didn't fix the problem with your car? How about when your credit card company didn't switch off payment protection, even when you ticked the option? It's the same when you don't do what you said you would do. Your manager gets pissed.

In modern organizations, strategic goals are cascaded from the most senior executives to junior employees. Your manager's objectives are dependent on you achieving your objectives... and so on. If you don't achieve your goals, your manager doesn't too.

Worse still, your manager's reputation can be drawn through the mud. Your failure could be a direct hit on your boss's credibility. If this failure is caused by forgetfulness, or bad judgment, or incompetence then you can expect your manager to be upset with you. Persistent failure like this can lead to total hatred!

A more dangerous ground to tread on is when you're going hell for leather for a goal that is different to the one your manager expects. It's dangerous because the point of realization that your expectations are different is towards the end of the project or assignment. You might get into this situation if you and your boss haven't built rapport.

This situation may be a deliberate coup by your manager if they're playing political games or if they perceive you as a threat. Unless your objectives are clearly understood in the same way between you, your manager has a ticket to call foul at any point.

Truth is, managers rarely resort to these shenanigans, but much more common is a surprise moment a long way into an assignment when both of you realize your mistake of a difference in expectation. This is why it's vital that you and your manager agree specifics, with little (or no) room for different interpretation. Especially so if your performance management, and your bonus, depends upon it.

I believe that total alignment of expectations is the only way to avoid pissing off your boss, and indeed achieving what they expect from you. I recommend you take a look at your current assignments now and check with your manager that your intended output is what he or she expects.

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

Raising Money - Venture Capital Vs Angels Investment

Contrary to what you are seeing in the press with the credit crunch and looming recession there is simply too much money in the World at the moment; too much capital seeking too few investment opportunities. Remember the 1930s depression created more Millionaires than in any other era (ever) and now will be no different. A large amount of high net worth individuals are seeking to diversify their portfolios away from traditional investments as a defensive hedge against stock market volatility. Historically and in times of recession the two best investment classes that have outperformed traditional markets have been commodities and private equity. So if there is so much capital available in the world today, why is it so difficult to locate the capital you need?

The most probable answer to your question is that the amounts you are seeking are way too small to tempt Venture Capitalists or Hedge fund managers. After all it is relative. If a VC has tens of millions of pounds to invest into private equity why invest into 100 or 200 start-up companies? Who could possibly manage and foresee all of these investments and entrepreneurs? Its hard enough to manage one sometimes! So relatively speaking, investing in you would most-likely prove cost-prohibitive for them even though arguably they would receive more value overall.

The Hunt - VCs vs Angels
Venture Capital firms are one way to raise a serious amount of capital but as you may imagine there are pitfalls. The main one being loss of equity far beyond the 51% mark. Further the final vote on 'the right of sale' will also most probably be a mandatory right for them. Since VCs main motivation is 'ROISAP' (return on investment soon as possible) VCs will always have a frantic desire to flip every deal as quickly as possible. And they will not care where that return comes from, yourself or an outside party as long as they receive a massive bonus for the risk and skill for what they have invested.

More appealing to an entrepreneur starting-up is to seek a business angel investor interested in the line of work you are involved in as they will either take an equity position and some level of debt (or typically a combination of the two) in exchange for their investment. They will also take a seat on your board of directors, which they will use as a platform to monitor their investment and to provide invaluable advice. Sometimes they can actually take an active role in the organization and get it kick started into high gear. This freedom can afford an organization the ability to swiftly hire key employees and develop its business model to the point where it is ready to seek larger scale, second-round financing at a much more reasonable cost-to-equity due to the proven track record within the organization.

Other benefits to the entrepreneur include access to the expertise and business networks that the angel investors may be involved with. In addition to this, the growing trend of angel investor syndicating means that an individual entrepreneur can raise significant capital (significantly above the £500K mark) in a single financing deal without the need to negotiate separately with each investor.

Health Warning:
Venture capital money is not for the faint-hearted. Too often, it is only for the desperate - unless your desire is to build a business with an exit strategy in mind from day 1. There is nothing wrong with such a goal in the short term, as the returns can be staggering, but expect to make them many - many more millions than your side - that is if you even get that far. A great many other original creators have been squeezed out long before the 'D-day - big pay day'.

Angel investment therefore represents an invaluable source of alternative funding. And one that is far more attractive and realistic for a start-up entrepreneur. Benefits for both the Entrepreneur and the Angel can be great provided of course that the expectations are well drafted and thought out from day one and the funding agreement is structured to meet the demands of both sides.

The main difference between a business angel and a venture capitalist is that VC funding will come with legal agreements that will be inevitably always be Venture capitalist biased with terms that almost are utterly unfair and unjust, whereas, Angel investment will be far more flexible. It's not uncommon for some Angels to even shy away from using corporate solicitors when drafting agreements for funding. The reason being that if a high net worth individual should choose to invest in 8 - 10 companies, the total legal bill could turn out to be over £50,000.00 (assuming a lean estimation of £5K per company which is low!) - money that could be used to fund crucial working capital or further expansion.

Executive Summary
Receiving successful venture capital funding can provide a lot more than just money to the start-up. They can bring a wealth of managerial talent and experience that can advise you on external growth and how to jump over major pitfalls.

This professional advice can be a massive boost for a young company looking for every competitive edge. Another major benefit of VC Capital is that their network of contacts could end up making all the difference in a successful exit (or not).

But always remember what being funded by a VC actually means. After they have invested millions into it and regardless of whether or not they actually hold a controlling interest in your company they will be in control of your organization and will have a lot of power over how the company runs and how they will get their money out. You will be forced to go down directions that you may not be too happy with.

The Plan
More often then not, it's best for an entrepreneur to start up on their own or with the help of an Angel Investor (or syndicate if the investment requirement is too large to be funded by one individual). After running and evolving the business, the next best course of action is turn to VCs when you believe you are ready to take your company to the next level and will need a serious amount of capital to do so. Before even considering approaching a VC, you will have to demonstrate that you have a degree of success in your past, which is where the first round of your funding and management of your cash flow will come in handy.

When you do decide to approach venture capitalists and if by some miracle should they agree to back you, then it will be crucial on your part to seek-out the best legal advice that you can afford for the ensuing negotiations. One sentence or even a phrase within the initial contract can determine your success or failure. VCs are consummate professionals, and you will have to become one before playing in their league.

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

10 Steps to Build a Compelling Vision

Are you building a new organization, launching a change effort, or just managing an organization through changing times? If you are, you will be much more effective if you communicate a clear compelling vision that sets the direction for your organization. A clear vision not only keeps your organization focused and motivated but also enables other organizations to fully engage and support you, ensuring your success.

Below is a list of 10 steps you can take to build a compelling vision.

1. Assess what is happening around you. Determine who your stakeholders are, and assess their needs and expectations of your organization. (Stakeholders can include major customers, partners, board members, peers, influential people within the organization) Find out how your stakeholders will measure your success. Then look externally and review how your competition is responding to changes in the market. Consider if there is anything you can learn from them.

2. Look for trends. As you do this analysis can you see any trends that you need to address. If things continue the way they are what will that mean for your organization?

3. Think Big. Give yourself some time to think about the opportunities in front of you. What is the biggest thing that you want to achieve. Think outside of the box. Don't limit your thinking. Is that big enough?

4. Think long term. Make sure that you are taking a long term view, and not being side tracked with short term needs or personal ambition.

5. Dream your vision. Take a moment. Imagine yourself in the future - one year from now. Write down what will be different in clear simple terms. Your organization has been successful. Describe what you have achieved and the key people that have contributed to your success. Describe the benefits that this brings to the company, your customers, partners and employees.

6. Have passion. Does this vision get you excited and motivated to act? Does it have meaning? If not, what would it take for you to have real passion for your vision? Revise your vision. Address any obstacles that are in your way.

7. Access the available resources. Review the capabilities of your existing resources. Are there any gaps? When you start to implement your vision you will need to address these gaps.

8. Invite others in. You are now ready to involve others in your planning. People generally like to collaborate and help. Be open to other's ideas and input and share your vision with them. Begin to build a joint plan for how to implement the vision.

9. Balance conviction vs. openness. As you communicate your vision, you need to believe that your vision is right while still being open to new ideas and suggestions from others. Without the support and commitment of others you cannot succeed.

10. Keep objective. Your vision is not you. If people reject your ideas they are not rejecting you. Keep your objectivity with you at all times so you can be open to suggestions that will improve your vision.

By Doris Kovic, Business and Executive Coach of Leading Insight.

Leading Insight is a management consulting company, based in San Clemente, California. Its purpose is to provide services that help companies increase the effectiveness of their people, resulting in greater productivity and revenues. We provide a range of services from leadership coaching and team development, to visioning, business planning, and a variety of workshops on leadership and management.

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

There Are More C's to Team Building

Yes there are. I have put C's to team building simply as a way to remind me of all the aspects that go into team building. There are many different areas that need attention from time to time if not daily. But that does not mean it takes an incredible amount of time. It is more about checking on tasks and giving bits of attention to the team. They need to know the leader is involved. So more C's?

Commitment- There needs to be a commitment to the goals of the team. This comes down to wanting the team to succeed. However this should be defined so each member knows what that means. Getting each task done every day is success. Learning new things is success. Being a part of the team is success. But where does the team need to go? Where is each destination? How does it tie into the company's vision?

Content- I view this as what makes a team a team? It consists of a training manual that is updated often. Policy and procedures manual along with everyday instruction. Content also consists of the things that are not written down. It is always an expectation for people to be professional. Even this needs to be explained and have the team understand the leader's definition of this.

Challenges- There will be challenges. This is simply going to happen no matter how good a team is doing. If they did not happen it would probably get a little boring. The most important thing about teams is not that they get challenges but more about how they react to this. The mindset needs to be to get challenge taken care of whether it is correcting something or reaching a goal.

Changes- There is nothing wrong with change. Yes it takes adjustment and sometimes is not easy but the more a person fights change the harder it becomes. Teams need to know that there will be changes. But I suggest that things are not changed for the sake of changing. I have seen this happen almost as if taking ownership of a team, but teams need to see the benefit or it can have ill affects.

Caring- Teams must be cared about. This is the easiest thing for a team to see if it is true or not. If they think they are not cared about there is no reason for the team to care.

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

Creation of a Winning Business Plan

Winning funding for a new pharmaceutical company, as well as becoming successful in this lucrative market space requires the creation of a carefully crafted blue print which details every aspect of your new (or existing business). Running a business without a business plan is analogous to flying a plane without a flight plan!

Pharmaceutical consultants have traveled this road before you, and have an understanding of what investors want to see, as well as what pitfalls you may have before you as you progress towards your goals. They can help you clarify your key objectives, and solidify your marketing, operations, and management strategies.

A good business plan has many elements. It should first have a comprehensive overview of what you want to accomplish, your measurable deliverables, and your key defensible advantages. This is particularly key, as you must be able to show investors that other companies have barriers to entry, and cannot simply copy your technology and beat you in the marketplace

Next, you must demonstrate the need for your product or products by showing the market size, and market projections going forward. This section needs to be carefully crafted so that it paints a realistic yet optimistic picture of the market landscape.

In the pharmaceutical industry, the operations plan receives a lot of attention. How are you going to make your products cost effectively? What manufacturing techniques will you use? What is the size of your production facility, and what are your plans for keeping it productive and controlling costs? What qualifications and standards must you meet in order to be able to release product, and how long will it take?

A Go-to-Market plan is essential to any complete business plan, and details your strategy for receiving market focus and actually selling your product. Here, you should describe your Marcom plan as well as your sales channel plan. Without a plan to reach actual customers, no product can be successful.

The final element in any business plan is what wraps it all together - your financial projections. Pharmaceutical consultants can help you develop something that is both conservative and interesting to investor - which is no easy task. If you are too aggressive - your plan will lose credibility. If you are too conservative, no one will want to invest. This is the area where a consultant with expertise can add considerable value, and save you time and money.

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

Solo Professional Marketing - 3 Simple Ways to Raise Your Profile in Membership Organizations

Membership organizations were a well-kept secret for me until about 3 years ago. And what I mean by that is I never belonged to one until I went solo!

I'm not sure why. Maybe I was comfy in my corporate selling role and it didn't occur to me to look outside for support or resources, or those in my network weren't on the membership organization bandwagon either.

But my eyes were opened wide to how choosing the right organizations could make a huge difference in expanding my network, reaching my target market, and raising my profile. And it can do the same for you!

3 simple ways you can raise your profile by joining an organization:

Choose the right organizations. This seems a little obvious, but it's important. Because you're a business owner, you wear many hats. Do some research into the organizations that serve the needs involved in running your business, and the ones that serve your target market.

For example, let's say your business is HR consulting. First research the groups that can support your role as a woman business owner (a group like eWomen Network fits this need). Then research the groups where those companies looking for HR consultants hang out (a group like Society for Human Resource Management fits this need). See the difference? Make sure to test the groups before you join; many organizations will allow you to attend as a guest first to see if it's a good fit for you.

Introduce yourself to the board, and stay in touch. I've grown so many business relationships and friendships just by getting to know the board members of an organization I join. And guess what? You stand out for making the effort, especially when you keep in touch, offer ideas, or provide valuable feedback to make their lives easier and the organization better. Those board members will think of you first when opportunities arise - it could be a speaking engagement, a new client opportunity, or a key introduction.

Join a committee or chair a board position. I can personally attest to the power of volunteering in a board position. First, when you raise your hand to lead, people take notice. And as an entrepreneuse, you WANT your clients and potential clients to view you as a leader. Second, you're now in a position to interact with influencers in your industry, especially if you're responsible for arranging speakers and programming for the organization. Both raise your profile, and build your trust and credibility.

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

Cement Industry in India - An Overview

An increased outflow in infrastructure sector, by the government as well as private builders, has raised a significant demand of cement in India. It is the key raw material in construction industry. Also, it has highly influenced those bigger companies to participate in the growing sector. At least 125 plants set up by the big companies in India with about 300 other small scale cement manufacturers, to fulfill the growing demand of cement. Being one of the vital industries, the cement industry contributes to the nation's socioeconomic development. The sum total utilization of cement in a year indicates the country's economic growth.

Cement plant was first set up in Calcutta, in 1889. At that time, the cement used to manufacture from Argillaceous. In 1904, the first organized set up to manufacture cement was commenced in Madras, which was named South India Industries Limited. Again in 1914, another cement manufacturing unit was set up in Porbandar, Gujarat, but this time it was licensed. In the early years of that era, the demand for the cement tremendously exceeded but only after few years, the industry faced a severe downfall. To overcome from this the worsening situation, the Concrete Association of India was founded in 1927. The organization has two prime goals, one was to create awareness about utility of cement and another was to encourage cement utilization.

Even after the independence, the growth of the cement industry was too gradual. In the year 1956, a Distribution Control System was established with an objective to provide Indian manufacturers and consumers self sufficiency. Indian government then introduced a quota system to provide an impetus to this industry, in which 66% of the sales was imposed to government or small real estate developers. After the implementation of quota, the cement industry tasted a sudden growth and profitability in India. In 1991, the government de-licensed the cement industry. The growth of the industry accelerated forthwith and majority of the industrialists invested heavily in the industry with the awarded freedom. The industry started focusing on export also to double the opportunity available for it in global markets. Today, the cement manufacturers in India have transformed into leading Indian exporters of cement across the world.

The demand of cement in year 2009-2010 is expected to increase by 50 million tons despite of the recession and decline in demand of housing sector. Against India's GDP growth of 7%, the experts have estimated the cement sector to grow by 9 to 10 % in the current financial year. Major Indian cement manufacturers and exporters have all made huge investments in the last few months to increase their production capability. This heralds an optimistic outlook for cement industry. The housing sector in India accounts for 50 % of the cement's demand. And the demand is expected to continue. With the constant effort made by cement manufacturers and exporters, India has become the second largest cement producer in the world. Madras Cement Ltd., Associated Cement Company Ltd (ACC), Ambuja Cements Ltd, Grasim Industries Ltd, and J.K Cement Ltd. are among few renowned names of the major Indian cement companies.

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

Systemize Physical Security in Your Business

It's tragic that we continue to hear of those who lose their lives during a robbery. My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones, and those whose businesses were terrorized.

I'm not a security expert. My purpose here is to entreat all businesses to create systems and training so you know what to do if the worst happens.

Nobody wants to think that their business will be victimized by crime. However, I'm sure you would rather be prepared than surprised if it happens. There are many resources you can check with, both security consultants and websites, to give you a complete list of security measures. The items I list below are just a few to get you thinking about this very important subject

Considering the topic, an ounce of prevention is worth far more than a pound of cure. Here are some ideas to consider:

• Keep the area around your business well lit, especially around the entrances.
• Eliminate hiding spots such as large shrubs or trees.
• Plant low, thorny hedges around windows.
• Install security cameras.
• Keep your building and grounds well maintained.
• Never schedule workers to be alone in the building early in the morning or late at night.
• Install an alarm system, including an easy way to alert police of an emergency.
• Never allow criminals to believe that it will be easy to target your business. If they think it will be difficult, chances are they won't.

So, what if the worst happens and your business is being attacked? Here are a few thoughts.

• Stay calm. This is extremely important, because the criminal is probably already on edge.
• Be polite and cooperative at all times. In fact, tell the perpetrator that you will cooperate and do whatever he says. Your object is to get him out of the building as quickly as possible.
• Give the thief everything that he asks for as quickly as possible and don't try to hide anything. Typically, that's all they want. You can always recover a monetary loss; you can never get a life back.
• After the criminal has left and as soon as it's safe, call 911. Do not chase or follow him.
• Don't allow anyone to enter the building until the police arrive and can assure your safety.

The most valuable advice I can give will be to systemize the procedures that you decide to use. Keep in mind that it's not a system until it's documented. Re-visit your systems on a regular basis to ensure they are up-to-date. Then create training for your employees to ensure that everyone knows these systems inside and out. Be sure to include security as a part of training for every new employee.

Remember, nothing is 100% foolproof; but you owe it to your staff to do your utmost to keep them safe.

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

Three Ways to Qualify Interested Prospects

If you're in a selling situation where you get to call back leads that have expressed an interest in your product or service, then consider yourself lucky. Whether they come from traditional advertising sources or from the internet, inbound leads save you the time, effort - and often the terror! - of cold calling. While these leads are great to get they also present some challenges that many sales reps aren't prepared to handle.

If you've called leads like these back, then you know what I mean. In many cases sorting through the shoppers, the people looking for the best price, people who were just bored and filled out the online form, etc., can be a huge task. The problem for most reps is two-fold:

1) They immediately assume that a warm lead is more qualified than a cold call and,
2) They've never been taught how to really qualify these kinds of leads.

Here are three things you must do to qualify interested prospects:

#1) Find out if they are a shopper or a buyer. Most sales reps (80% or more) automatically assume that a warm lead is interested and qualified so they immediately launch into pitch mode. This is a big mistake. The best way to open your call is to ask questions to find out how close your prospect is to making a decision. Good opening questions to ask include:

"Thanks for visiting our site; what motivated you to (request info, fill out our online form, etc.) today?"

"Ideally, what are you looking for today?"

"When are you looking to move on something like this?"

Listen carefully to their answers and respond accordingly.

#2) Find out who else they are looking at. Let's face it - if your prospect has taken the time to fill out your on line form or call your company, they have probably filled out others as well. One thing you absolutely must do is find out who you're in competition with. Try:

"Thank-you again for contacting us. Who else are you getting information from?"

"What did you like about that (company, website, etc.)"

"Have you spoken with someone from that company yet?"

"What did you like about that?"

"Who do you like best so far?"
While it may seem negative to bring up your competition, you absolutely must know what your prospect is thinking and how far along in the buying decision they are. It's much better to know up front how likely they are to go with another company, and/or what you need to say or do to get them to buy from you.

#3) Find the key buying motive. While this may sound straight forward, you'd be surprised by how many reps think the buying motive is already there because the prospect called in or submitted a form, etc. That's why most reps go into pitch mode and literally wait for the prospect to buy. Unfortunately, as many of you know, that doesn't happen.

What you must do is ask specific qualifying questions to find out exactly what it's going to take to get your prospect to buy. After you've asked the previous questions, try:

"Why have you decided that now is the time to finally act on this (product or service)?"

"If you could get everything you wanted from this, (or - were 100% satisfied) what would that be?"

"Prospect, I'd love to earn your business with this, what do you think it would take for you to choose our company?"

Ultimately, understanding why your prospect will and will not buy from you is what you need to know as a sales rep. And getting this information from an "interested lead" is just as important as from a "cold" lead as well.

I hope you use these three ways to qualify your interested prospects - they are sure to save you a lot of time and energy.

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

Cold Calls - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

For the past 26 years I've worked on the phones as a qualifier, broker, sales associate, sales manager, director of sales, V.P. of sales, owner of various inside sales companies, consultant - you get the idea.

I've worked with, monitored and heard thousands of sales reps over the years, and I've heard it all - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Here, for your reading enjoyment and education, are my all time, Top 5 classic opening statements:

First, the ugly:

1) When I was an investment broker in the 80's, I worked with a woman, Barbara, who was one of the top brokers in our five office broker dealer network. It was always hard to get through to prospects at their offices, but she had a way of almost always getting through. While I do not recommend it, it sure worked for her back then:

Gatekeeper:
"ABC company, can I help you?"

B:
"Yes, I need to talk to Jim, please."

G:
"Can I tell him who's calling?"

B:
"Yes, tell him Barbara is holding."

G:
"Will he know what this call is about?"

B:
"He sure will. Tell him it's about what he left at my apartment last night - he'll know. I'll hold while you put me through."

Oh, the good old days...  Ugly for sure, but effective back then!

Next, the bad:

2) There are so many BAD ways of opening a call it's hard to choose, but here are two that people still use (believe it or not) that they need to stop using now!

Prospect:
"Hi this is Bob, can I help you?"
Rep, (either):
"Oh hi, this is Brad Johnson with the XYZ company, have you ever heard of us?" Or,

"Oh hi, this is Brad Johnson with the XYZ company, do you have a few minutes for me now?"

Obviously, you're starting the call off with a 'no' response ("No, I've never heard of you.") or you're giving your prospect an immediate opportunity to get rid of you - ("No, I don't have time, good bye!").

Seriously, if you're using either of those, stop it today...

3) The other bad way to open a call is to try to trick the gatekeeper to put you through. Again, believe it or not, many sales reps still do this:

G:
"Can I tell him who's calling?"

Rep:
"Yeah, tell him it's Brad."

G:
"Does he know you?"

Rep:
"Yep, we've spoken before." Or,

G:
"Can I tell him what this call is about?"

Rep:
"Yeah. He asked me to keep in touch with him." Or, "I'm calling him back."

Both of these responses are blatant lies, but it's amazing how reps justify them with, "Well he gets a lot of calls; he won't remember," or "Well, I make a lot of calls, and I did call him 2 months ago." (Of course they never reached him, but that doesn't stop them!)

If you're using any of the above trick methods, please stop it immediately. There is a better way...

Now the good:

4) I was consulting with a company a few years ago when I received a cold call that was so honest, so refreshing, that I recruited the guy on the spot. Here's how it went:

Me:
"Hi this is Mike, how can I help you?"

Rep:
"Hi Mike, this is Carlos Avalar with the XYZ company. Mike we have never spoken before and I don't mean to barge into your day, but I represent a company and a product that I think could be very beneficial to you.

It has to do with your lead tracking system, and all my clients are happy they took a moment to listen. Can I run a few details by you now to see it there's a fit?"

Wow. Now that was different - honest, respectful, and it contained a value statement for me. I listened...

5) The best way to get through a gatekeeper is to use this statement:

G:
"XYZ company, can I help you?"

Me:
"Yes please, please tell Bob that Mike Brooks with Mr. Inside Sales.com is holding please."

Use please three times - it will change your career, believe it. And once you get through:

"Hi Bob, this is Mike Brooks with Mr. Inside Sales, how's your (Tuesday or day of the week) going so far?" [Listen carefully here to how and what your prospect says!]

"Bob, I know you're busy so I'll be brief....I see you visited my Inside Sales Training website, and I wanted to find out what kind of help you were looking for in regards to your inside sales team?"

Now, obviously, I'm calling back a warm lead. Here's how you handle a cold one:

"Bob, I know you're busy so I'll make this brief. I got your name from (name your lead source - paper, association, list, etc.) and I see you manage an inside sales team. Now we've not spoken before but I've sat in your chair for many years and I understand many of the challenges you're probably facing right now.

"Let me ask you - if I could give you some free resources that would help your team sell more and avoid rejection, would you be interested in downloading them today?"

Now, those people who blow me off are not buyers, and those who listen and respond are potential clients. It's as simple as that.

Compare your own openings with those in this article (and adapt yours to fit the last two). Where do you or your sales team stand in regards to the good, the bad and the ugly?

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

Sales Force Management Tips - Identifying the Three Types of Salespeople

Sales force management is all about organization, planning, and recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of the individual members of your sales force. Just as there are different learning styles and personality types, there are three types of salespeople that most sales professionals identify with. This article will provide information about these four types in order to help you discover which types of sales professionals currently make up your sales force. As you read on, you will probably gain insight into which type of salesperson and sales manager you are as well.

The first and most common type of salesperson is what is known as the team player. Team players are typically top performers, and work well with others. These types of sales people are also prone to conservatism, and may be more reluctant than others to try new sales approaches and techniques if they feel like these approaches won't be successful or if their fellow sales team members won't like them.

The second most common type of salespeople is usually known as the performer type. At first glance, these types seem like the ideal salespeople because, as their name suggests, they consistently close deals and bring in new clients. The one downside to performers is that they don't deal with failure well, and may require constant motivation and encouragement. When properly motivated, however, these types of people are invaluable assets to any sales team.

The third most common type of salesperson is the one who always seems to be building up and encouraging others even at the expense of their own career at times. Nurturers can be found everywhere, even in the business world. These people are great team assets, because of their desire to motivate, but need to be encouraged to stray from their comfort zones and take occasional risks.

Most salespeople fall into one of these three categories, but of course, combinations and variations are always possible. Effective sales force management requires any business owner/sales manager to identify and recognize the individual strengths and weaknesses of their sales people, and the best way to do that is to pay attention to how they relate to each other, to potential clients, to you, and to the duties of their jobs. By encouraging their strengths and helping them to improve on their weaknesses, you will be well on your way towards creating a more effective sales force.

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

Marketing Financial Services - Do Seminars Work?

When it comes to marketing financial services there is no shortage of options. From cold calling to direct mail, to attending local networking events, advisors have lots of choices in their ongoing pursuit of new prospective clients.

Among all of the options, hosting marketing seminars remain a key method for getting known to prospective clients. Which raises the question, "When marketing financial services-Do seminars still work?"

Recently I had the opportunity to attend a seminar hosted by a well-known financial advisor. Lets take a look at what went well, as well as where the missed opportunities were that perhaps would have made it an even more successful event.

Location. At first glance the venue for the location was great. A private meeting room in an upscale golf club in a wealthy community was "pitch perfect". Unfortunately no one checked what would be going on next door. As a result, the first 30 minutes of the presentation were overwhelmed by a terrifically loud movie that involved much shooting and screaming.

So what's the lesson? Although it seems obvious, a quick check on who your neighbor is going to be and what they're going to be presenting, can help avoid these situations from occurring. I realize that this sounds basic, but as they say, "the Devil's in the details".

The seating arrangement was theater style with about 150 chairs, most of which were filled. While it's a great testimonial to the sponsoring organization's ability to fill the room, we did feel a bit like sardines. Now was this necessarily a bad thing? Not really when one considers who the intended audience was.

According to the firm's marketing materials, they were seeking investors with a minimum of $15,000 to invest. That's really not a lot of money. Thus the program was primarily directed to new investors or those with relatively modest amounts of capital. So the seating was probably not viewed as a negative. (However there is a psychological disconnect between having the event take place in a very elegant setting, but having the seats jammed so close together.)

However, if the firm were focusing on affluent and ultra-affluent prospective clients, the seating arrangement would definitely be a turn-off. Upscale programs I've attended usually cap the guest list at 30-35. And I use the word "guest" deliberately. The event I attended recently had "attendees". Programs targeting the affluent have "guests". That's a true distinction in everything from the invitations, to the room arrangement, to the content of the presentation.

In this particular instance the content of the presentation matched up well with the audience. Not surprisingly, a seminar targeted at investors with $15,000 to invest, attracts a wide diversity of prospects. Since it's virtually impossible to customize a talk to such a group of modest-investors, there's no real point in trying.

However if one were targeting the affluent market, one would want to take a different approach. Remember that they key to marketing to the affluent is to make sure they feel that you are catering specifically to them. Open with the issues of commonality that this affluent group faces. This would be even better if you sub-niched your marketing to "affluent women business owners" or some other more targeted segment. This would enable you to open your presentation with specifics that make the guests feel that they we truly listening to an advisor who understood their unique needs. So overall I'd give this presentation a good solid "B".

However it does beg one important issue. These financial advisors are expending a great amount of effort to attract very small investors. At the $15,000 investment level (and yes I realize that some-but probably not a lot-have more than $15,000 to invest) you would need to get 34 of them to equal one investor with $500,000.

There's an old saying in marketing that unless one can automate and remove the human labor element from the process, it takes just as much effort to attract a small fish as it does a big whale. Unfortunately, hosting marketing seminars are highly labor-intensive endeavors. Focusing on the small investor isn't necessarily the best use of money time and effort. Granted they "small fish" is easier to attract, but you have to get a lot of them to equal one affluent investor.

When one contrasts the results that come from events that cater to the mid-market compared to the affluent, there is no doubt that the latter yields much more substantive results. Granted, attracting the affluent requires a different message and approach. The reality is that many advisors are less comfortable approaching the affluent, although they all verbalize a desire to get more of them as clients. If one is serious about marketing to the affluent one needs to be willing to create events that are different than those that cater to the mid-market.

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

The 5 Biggest Mistakes Store Owners Make When Going Out of Business

The scene generally plays out in one of three fashions:

1. Store owner is retiring.
2. Store owner is ready to close.
3. Store owner is forced to close.

Now there are many variables to each of these scenarios, but the bottom line is that when a store owner is in a position where they are closing their store it must be done correctly, otherwise they could end up losing a substantial amount of money and minimize the profit potential.

This article is going to explain to you the 5 biggest mistakes store owners make when going out of business. Or more specifically, "...when going out of business with the intention to either not lose any money and be in position to make a profit".

You must ask yourself some questions when you first start thinking about going out of business. Things like "How well have I run my business?", "Do my customers like my store?", "How large is my customer database?", "How much competition do I have?", "Are my prices competitive even in lieu of the service-oriented atmosphere most popular with small business owners?", and other similar questions.

Depending on how you answer these types of questions will play a role in precisely how successful a going out of business sale will be for you. For example, if you have a large mailing list of customers that you have communicated regularly with, if your customers like your store, and if your store is known for always being well stocked, then you are well positioned to have not only a successful going out of business sale, but also a profitable one.

This is not to say that you can not successfully close your store if you can't positively answer these questions...it simply means it's going to be more challenging to make it successful, and may require additional planning.

MISTAKE #1: Lack of Proper Planning

Proper planning is probably one of the BIGGEST mistakes most merchants and store owners make when going out of business. Why? Because many have a preconceived notion that conducting a Sale of this nature is "easy" and can be done while they run their business as usual. Also of misconception is the notion that all there is to conducting a going out of business Sale is to simply "mark stuff down".

It's because of this first, and BIGGEST, mistake that professional help be sought when planning a going out of business Sale.

MISTAKE #2: Timing

Many store owners think that once they've made their mind up to close their business that a Sale can immediately commence without any forethought of when the Sale should begin and, more importantly, how long the Sale should last to maximize profit.

This can actually make or break a Sale as well. Preparation and length of a going out of business Sale are almost entirely dictated by the size and/or kind of inventory. If you have an inventory that dictates a 9-week Sale, but the price reduction strategy is miscalculated, the store owner will lose profit dollars because too much inventory was sold at too high of a discount too early in the Sale.

MISTAKE #3: Marketing

A rock solid marketing plan is essential for any business, and such is the same for a going out of business Sale. In fact, it's probably even MORE important for this type of a Sale because you only get one shot to make it work, unlike regular business Sales where if you screw up you can always try again.

A rock solid marketing plan with a going out of business Sale is one that includes maximization of every possible tool available. This means one that gets the store the most exposure to the right people for the least amount of marketing dollars. It is for this reason that full utilization of the Internet is essential, particularly email because it's free to send email communication over and over again.

While, generally speaking, a marketing budget for this type of Sale generally hovers around 10% or less of the inventory's cost, there are many factors that could affect this in either direction...things like the size of your existing internal mailing list and how often you communicated with it.

MISTAKE #4: Merchandising

In order for a Going Out of Business Sale to be successful a store must have a healthy selection of merchandise, priced right, and a healthy amount of traffic. If you are able to get the traffic, but the store is merchandised poorly, it fails. If you are able to get the store merchandised well, and it's poorly marketed, it fails.

So, why is it so important to execute a great merchandising strategy? Think of it this way: in order to be successful with the going out of business planning you MUST invest in the right amount of marketing anyway. And if you're going to HAVE to invest in this marketing ANYWAY, then why not capitalize on the traffic that's generated and stock your store fully with popular, regular selling items before the Sale begins?

And even if you DO take advantage of this profit maximizing strategy, the merchandise still needs to be priced and displayed well in order to tempt people to buy it.

MISTAKE #5: Management

This really coincides somewhat with Mistake #1, yet still has enough differences that it needed to be it's own "mistake".

Many store owners believe that a Going Out of Business Sale is just like any other Sale they may have had in the past and that they can easily and simply run this Sale while running their day to day business.

This type of Sale is very tedious and many different aspects need to be addressed. Aside from all the things mentioned in this article, there's also fixtures in most cases, so there has to be a plan in place to sell them as well.

It is for all these reasons that professional help is highly recommended if your intention is to not lose money and be in position to actually profit from a Going Out of Business Sale.

To close, here again are the 5 biggest mistakes store owners make when going out of business:

1. Proper planning - seek professional help that can help you through the entire preparation stages of the Sale.
2. Timing - conduct your Sale at the right time and for the right duration.
3. Marketing - develop a solid plan that minimizes expenses and includes a healthy mix of Internet and print marketing.
4. Merchandising - make sure the store enough of the right merchandise and that it's displayed correctly to maximize profit.
5. Management - get a consultant that understands the process to manage the Sale...a Going Out of Business Sale is NOT "business as usual"

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

Top Tips For Before, During and After an Assessment Centre

Before the Assessment Centre

• The assessment centre is designed around the requirements of the job. Analyze the job description to learn what assessors will be looking for.
• Find out as much as you can about the format of the assessment centre in advance, to focus your preparation
• Research the company in the same way that you would do for any other interview
• Find out the competencies and skills that the company is seeking from the job description. Identify examples of situations where you have demonstrated them and be prepared to talk about your actions
• Rehearse presentations and interviews preferably with an interview coach to get some real feedback
• Arrive within plenty of time on the day. There's nothing worse than walking in late when the day has already begun. Assessment days run strictly to time
• Practice for verbal and numerical tests and personality questionnaires at shldirect.com
• If you can't remember how to do some basic numerical calculations such as percentages, graphs and charts, refresh your memory!
• Be enthusiastic. Make sure you have a good night's sleep the night before so your energy levels are high

During the Assessment Centre

• Prepare a 60 second blurb about yourself and your background. You will always be asked to introduce yourself and tell the audience something interesting
• An assessment centre is a great opportunity for you to get to know the company and hiring managers in greater depth. Ask lots of questions and build rapport
• Accept that some parts of the day will go better than others and one bad exercise doesn't mean you haven't got the job
• You are not in direct competition with the other candidates. It's possible that everyone will meet the criteria the assessors are looking for. Speak to other candidates. This will help when it comes to group exercises
• Use all coffee and lunch breaks to speak to assessors and create an impact. Ask intelligent questions and show an interest in them and the company
• Be yourself. You won't help yourself by pretending to be someone you think the company want
• Try not to focus on the assessors. You can get put off by trying to gauge their reaction or by trying to read their notes
• Don't be tempted to launch straight in to exercises. Make sure you understand the instructions, facts and requirements of the exercise
• Make sure that you take the lead on at least one of the exercises. Remember that team playing is also a great attribute so include the whole group, to demonstrate good leadership skills

After the Assessment Centre

• Feedback is important even if you aren't successful. It will help you think about skills you could develop and improve. If you are successful the feedback will help you prepare for starting the job and the skills you can improve when you join
• If you are unsuccessful, take time to reflect on your performance while details are still fresh in your mind. Identify some specific actions that you can take to ensure that you are better equipped next time

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

Boost the Profits of Your Business

The business world is becoming increasingly more competitive. In this type of a society, it is extremely important for businesses to be even more receptive of their customers and who they are doing business with. If you are an owner of a franchise, then your options for change might be a little less obvious, but you still have the opportunity to make your business prosper just a little more so that more people will do business with you and more people will appreciate the personal touch that you add to your business.

The best way to boost sales is to truly find out who your customers are. If you own a smoothie joint, then you know that most of your customers are probably health food people who enjoy eating and drinking food that is good and nourishing for the body. Find out what types of things they would like to see coming from your store and figure out a way to make that happen.

Another excellent way to get more customers is to advertise. Even if you just sent out postcards or little notes that said that your business is up and running or running some sort of a promotion, you will guarantee see more and more people flock to your business. Things like that really do work and they will get you more profits in the long run.

For those customers who are loyal to your business, create a survey for them to take. This survey will give you a good idea of what your customers want to see happen to your business. It makes them feel as though you personally care about them.

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

Making a Strong and Positive Impression Through Presentation Folders

A positive and strong impression is what you need to achieve every time you launch your marketing and promotional campaign. A strong presence and impact is what you must have in order to get the attention of your target clients and become interested in the products or services that you are offering. In most instances, impressive presentation folders and brochures that are expertly prepared can bring in more business opportunities than you can ever imagine. When properly designed and executed, these promotional materials can lead to greater business opportunities in the form of stronger business relationship with current clients and productive business relationships with new clients. It also becomes a strong leverage by your company in the face of stronger challenges being put up by the competition.

These marketing campaign materials can greatly support the company to project a positive and impressive image. Since these company materials are the show window of your company and what you can offer to your clients, it is essential that these items are carefully designed and executed so that the bottom line of your business can be achieved.

Your company's information portfolio is generally simple yet considered a critical company asset that you can use in order to pursue a stronger relationship with clients. These company assets are indispensable tools that the company needs in order to maintain the current client base and pursue new ones.

The company portfolio are effective tools in the marketing campaign since you can use it in order to project an image of a focused and organized, professional and competent business interest. This is akin to promoting professionalism and positive company image through properly dressed staff. In the same token, you can project a positive image and impress upon your target clients your strong points through carefully designed and well executed marketing and promotional assets.

Here are some of the tried and tested design ideas which your company can adopt in your marketing and promotional items.

Large Format Informational Portfolios

The overall concept in the design and development of the company's promotional portfolios is to make the elements or variables come out bigger than life. The overall intention is to impress and such objective is achieved through sheer size. This means that you are going to use printing sizes which are larger than the rest. You can also use larger graphics and images in order to deliver a strong statement to your target clients.

Insert business card inside the company portfolio

You can provide special slots inside the company portfolio so that you can furnish your clients with your business cards along with the other promotional materials that are inside the portfolio. It is one good way to meet the call to action that you require from your campaign materials.

By providing your clients with your business cards, you are in effect marking your business territory and the business cards shall help clients match and associate your company with the attractive business portfolio that you provide to them. This is particularly important if you are dealing with corporate accounts which calls for a more dedicated and personalized business interaction and coordination.

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

Leveraging Your 15 Minutes of Fame

Imagine...you've been featured in a print article in your local business publication or even better, a national magazine like Oprah Magazine. How great is that! Getting press attention is one of the quickest ways to be seen as a credible expert and boost your business visibility. The exposure can be long lasting, if you don't let it go unnoticed.

Here are a few tips to capitalize on your published article:

1. Post a link to the article on your website. Make sure you add a link to the article on your website. You can even add a page called "Media" or "Press" to your website so you can post links to all of your published articles, press mentions and other media coverage. You also want to add your professional bio, professional photo and description of your company.

2. Make copies of the article. Make copies of the article and send it to your current and potential clients. Also, use the article in your press kit or hand out at networking events or trade shows. Your credibility is instantly boosted! Another idea is to send it to people of influence or potential joint venture partners.

3. Mention to media people when pitching other stories. If you have gotten some publicity elsewhere, perhaps from another magazine or newspaper, make sure to mention it. Your contacts may be even more interested in you if they know other media outlets have published your story. When pitching new reporters, let them know what coverage you have already gotten in the past.

4. Post the article on your website. If you are fortunate enough to get some media coverage, make sure you keep the clippings (or electronic media files) so that you can use them to promote yourself. If you had radio or television coverage, get copies of the audio MP3 files, DVDs and online video. You can easily post a link and a pdf file of the article in your online press room or web page.

5. Repurpose the article to use in your e-newsletter, blog, or social network. Your story makes a great piece to add to your e-newsletter. You can summarize the content of the article and then add a link to the actual article on your website or online press room. Write a posting to put on Facebook or a "tweet" for Twitter. You can even create sample "tweets" and Facebook postings and send them to your contacts with a similar target market, so you'll have the added benefit of having others promote you.

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

How Secure is Your Outsourcing Contract?

Outsourcing is the modern mantra of doing business efficiently wherein both the companies get to have a fair deal of profit. It's a win-win situation at both the ends. However, the present conditions make it necessary for you to be extra careful and proper security of your outsourcing relationship. The recent terrorist attacks, racial attacks and such other problems can affect your outsourcing business immensely. Therefore, having an outsourcing contract with protection is a must in this uncertain world. Here are some of the points that your outsourcing contract should address for a secured working relationship.

1. Revision of clauses- You can revise certain clauses such as force majeure as it is the prime clause that protects you against any uncertain mishap. It is a clause that releases the buyer and the vendor both from any liability during the prevalence of any such event that is not within one's control like natural disasters or such similar instances.

2. Review the termination provisions- A termination provision should be such that it permits the buyer to respond to the dynamic vendor conditions. The provisions should also deal with the matter of the vendor's viability of the unforeseeable threats.

3. Modify Change of ownership provision- This provision should include acquisitions, breakups. It should deal with the events such as breaking up of the supplier.

4. Owning of the Assets- the contract should clearly mention about the ownership of the assets such as the software developed or the documentation and it should also address in details regarding intellectual property.

5. The terms and conditions- the contract must address to the terms and conditions in detail with its special focus on the emergent concerns. For this purpose clauses such as transition out requirements, audit provisions, and termination costs must be addressed.

6. Take a professional's advice- before making the contract it is always better to take advice from an experienced and well qualified professional. An expert can get your contract done in the exact manner.

Thus, make sure that your contracts for outsourcing involves all these important clauses and thereby allows you to run your business smoothly even in the times of uncertainty. Hope this helps you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_J._John

Top 5 Ways Nonprofit Organizations Can Save Money

It doesn't matter whether the economy is booming or busting - nonprofit organizations are always interested in saving money. Of course, "saving money" doesn't necessarily have to mean "cutting corners" or "doing without altogether." There are plenty of ways nonprofit organizations can save money and still operate effectively and efficiently.

1. Accept Donations

Whether you need a few simple pieces of equipment like telephones and cameras or larger pieces like computers and fax machines, chances are there's a family member, friend, or another business or organization that's already in the market to upgrade and willing to donate old supplies to you.

2. Buy Refurbished Electronics

If you can't find everything you need through donations, consider buying refurbished electronics. Buying refurbished office equipment like refurbished telecom systems, computers, printers, fax machines, copiers, and even cameras is a great way for nonprofit organizations to save money.

After customers return them to the stores (either because they've changed their minds or found some minor problem with the way the electronics functioned), manufacturers inspect the items and make any repairs before certifying they're ready to return to store shelves as "refurbished" items. The manufacturers can't sell the items at the same prices as they'd sale brand new items, so they sell them at significantly lower costs. Purchasing refurbished electronics at lower costs than brand new electronics at regular costs helps nonprofit organizations save money.

3. Look for Volunteers

Many nonprofit organizations already acquire much of their legwork through volunteer efforts, but they can also find volunteers to donate time and skills to things like building and designing websites, creating logos for contact cards and stationary letterheads, and writing copy for websites, newsletters, and fliers.

4. Do It Yourself

While many people have family members or friends (or friends of friends or family members!) who are skilled at tasks like writing and website and graphic design, not everyone will agree to provide these services for free. If you can't find someone willing to donate his or her services, consider doing the jobs yourself.

Because there are many free and easy-to-use website template available, these days setting up a website costs little more than the price to purchase server space. If your nonprofit is a local chapter of a national organization, use the national logo and create your own stationary letterhead and contact cards. If you need to know how to effectively write simple copy for a newsletter, advertisement, or your website, do a little research online for tips on how to keep your words brief yet effective.

5. Find Freebies

Volunteer work is free for you and many do-it-yourself projects are either free or cheap, but keep in mind that there are also tools available that are completely free and in constant supply.

Open source software, for example, is a great way for nonprofit organizations to save money on otherwise pricey software tools. If your nonprofit organization regularly takes and publishes photos, look for free online picture editing tools such as Picnik in lieu of expensive software like Photoshop.

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

Networking - It's One of the Most Successful Job Hunting Tools

What is "networking" and why it is one of the most successful job hunting tools?

Networking is establishing new relationships with people who can help you in life, your job or career transition. One of the most important career management skills you can develop is the ability to network.

Unfortunately, for some, the thought of working a room" or placing business cards into other people's hands can be intimidating. But networking does not require bold tactics to be effective. In fact, it's this perception -- and others -- that discourage many job seekers from networking in the first place. Like anything else, you will become comfortable after a few attempts and you will be pleasantly surprise how well you are received.

Make a list of friends, business contacts including competitors. Advertise your job search by letting these people know you are looking and ask them who they know or suggest you contact. Consider information interviews as great sourcing tool and proactive tool for you to market your credentials.

Do the same with any professional groups or associations you either belong to or know of. You do not have to be a member to ask and receive their help.

Read trade journals and the newspaper business sections for company and people movement. You will be surprised by how many old and new contacts you can make.

Network for Life -- Once you start networking, continue to make it part of one of your life functions. Volunteer your time for community functions. Join professional associations. Try to get to know more people in your personal and professional circles and find out what their personal and career interests are. Document your contacts.

Make and take advantage of opportunities to help others in your networking circles. It is a very rewarding experience!

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

4 Tips For Working With Business Brokers

It's important that you cast a wide net when working with a network of business brokers. This allows you to check out more business in a wider range of industries. As a business buyer you may want to look geographically as well as in a finite range of businesses. Most business buyers do not seek representation or assistance when buying a business, consequently the results can be disastrous.

Here are a few things to be aware of when working with a business broker who represents a buyer.

I. The business broker must represent YOU- Frequently in a business transaction the listing broker will show you the "deal of the week," or try to answer questions for you assisting you in the process of buying a business. Traditionally the listing broker represents the seller - not you (the buyer). Be aware that the listing broker giving you advice may have great intentions but the way they get paid is by selling the business.

II. Commissions - One of the most obvious yet confusing practices is that not all business brokers will share their listings and co-broker deals. That means that if you procure a business buyers representative, you may have to compensate this representation out of pocket before or at the time of closing. Please don't let this deter you from getting representation. A good business broker can be well worth their weight in gold. A good buyers representative should assist you in putting in your offers, helping with due diligence, helping you with closing and finally transitioning into the new role. Remember a listing broker maybe compensated anywhere from 5%-15% of the transaction's purchase price! You may want to only look for listings where the buyer's representative will receive part of the commission - consequently saving you money for representation.

III. Research your representative - Business buyer's representatives will wear different hats including attorneys and accountants. Research your representative and make sure they have experience assisting other business buyers. Ask for referrals from the representative of buyers who they have completed successful transactions with. Ask them what type of businesses they've owned. A brand new attorney or CPA may have experience from a local school - however it's important that you hire assistance that will know the intricacies of buying a business in your trade.

IV. Educate yourself - Prior to working with a broker or even seeking for a business to buy educate your self on the process of buying a business. Business acquisitions can be more lucrative than real estate; however you need to have a firm grasp of every step of the acquisition process. You don't need a degree in business management; however you do need some specific knowledge. Inherently no one will represent your interests better than yourself.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ted_E._Sanders

Card Making Ideas For Your Business

In these days of fast food and quick fixes, it really is not that difficult to stand out from the crowd. Just put a little effort, creativity and imagination into your business and you will be happily remembered and rewarded.

One way of doing this is by using some card making ideas for your mail outs to clients, customers and business associates. It could be as simple as hand writing a pretty colored envelope and attaching a lovely sticker. It could be sending out postcards printed from your computer and then hand stamped to add color and dimension. Of course purchasing some lovely postage stamps to complement the look makes a nice touch and the recipient will be sure to actually read it instead of tossing it in the trash along with their other boring offerings.

When we can see that someone has actually taken some time to do something out of the ordinary it does command more of our attention.

Card make ideas are everywhere. Just adding a simple personal touch to a letter or card doesn't have to take up much time but the results may surprise you. Here are a few suggestions:

• Send a handmade card to your most valued clients to let them know how much you appreciate them.
• Create a little piece of art to send to your best customers on their birthdays. They will be overjoyed that you remembered.
• Add flourishing to your envelopes for your regular business mail outs. You will stand out from the crowd.

I have a very deep drawer filled with business offers / mailings that I have received over the years which have given me hundreds of card making ideas for my own clients and customers. It might be a good idea for you to start collecting those things that touch your heart as well.

So pay attention and give attention to how you could uplift someone in your business today by putting something beautiful out into the world.

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

5 Ways to Work Closer (and More Productively) With Your Firm Marketing Director

Over the past decade the idea of a law firm marketing director, or even a Chief Marketing Officer, has become more and more popular with mid-size, and sometimes even small, firms. While the title may vary (communications director, marketing manager, etc...) the goal remains the same-to help attorneys further their marketing goals, both individually and firm wide. Though it may seem like one more person to work into an already busy day, developing a relationship with your marketing director may be one of the smartest things you can do on your business development journey. Not only are most marketing directors experienced in creating marketing strategy and copy, they often bring with them connections to organizations, writers, reporters and editors. Here we present five ways to further your relationship...

Let Them Get To Know You

Rather than treating a marketing director as just another firm member you pass in the hallway, find the time to sit down and develop a relationship. Don't just forward your resume via e-mail, schedule a meeting (or a lunch) where you can tell them about yourself and your background in your own words. Speaking with you and hearing about your goals and accomplishments can help spark ideas that a resume cannot.

Get To Know Them

It's a simple truth of all social interactions-you're more likely to go out of your way for someone you have a personal connection to. Nurture your relationship. Send them interesting articles you come across, stop by their office and say hello, and return their calls and emails in a prompt manner. In other words, treat them like a client-or better!

Ask For Help

Don't forget that a marketing director's job is to help you so don't be afraid to ask. Need help re-writing your biography? Ask. Need to polish up an article for publication? Ask. Wondering how your speech for next week's conference sounds? Ask. It's their job to help you present yourself and the firm in the best light possible, and having a non-lawyer critique your work can only benefit the final product.

Be clear about what you want.

Marketing directors aren't mind readers...they can't help you unless they know exactly what you want out of your marketing time. If you're not comfortable in front of a crowd they can brainstorm ideas on where to get you published. If you're looking for the spotlight, they can often submit your name for recognition in regional or national lists of top lawyers. And if there is a topic in the news that you can expertly comment on they can get in front of a camera...or reporter. The more specific you are about your goals, knowledge and strengths, the easier it will be for your marketing director to work on your behalf.

Let them do their job.
You would never send your marketing director into the courtroom, so don't tread in their territory either. Seeking their advice should be at the top of your mind when marketing opportunities arise. Most people in that position have a strong background of their own and can guide you in the right direction, or even take some of the work off your hands. If you don't want or need their help with a project, at least inform them of what you're working on, whether it be a meeting with a reporter or a local "SuperLawyers" list. A simple email mentioning the initiative can do wonders to nurture your relationship and build respect between you both.

Your relationship with your firm marketing director can be one of the most fruitful partnerships in business development. By working together you can maximize your time and energy while furthering both the firm's marketing agenda and your own.

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

Coach Your Sales Team to Success

Overview

Many companies suffer from inconsistent and below average sales figures, causing frustration and limiting growth. Recent industry studies have discovered that coaching techniques can help to turn average sales figures around, but many companies do not have the time to implement coaching.

This article will discuss the Development Coaching technique and is applicable for anyone managing or working in a sales team.

What is Development Coaching?

Development Coaching is all about providing your sales team with help, support and guidance to grow their skills and abilities, to enable them to increase their sales figures. Most companies have a Sales Management function which checks figures and sets targets, but usually does not have the time to coach the individual team members. Development Coaching is a long term undertaking to offer regular sessions with sales staff, guiding them through all aspects of the sales function and solving problems together to build confidence and skills.

The Problem - Maintaining the momentum of hitting targets

Many companies experience the problems of sales staff not consistently hitting their targets. Their skill sets seem high and they show glimpses of genius on occasions, but they do not deliver consistent figures. As time progresses their averages get worse and they fall into the comfort zone. Their ambition suffers and their confidence diminishes.

Development Coaching - A Solution to grow sales figures

The sales process is largely a pro-active role, relying on organizational skills, imagination and sound strategy. It is therefore one of the hardest roles to deliver consistently high performance.

The addition of a development coaching function to your company can help to turn this situation around. The coach's role is to provide each sales person with the option of regular weekly or bi-weekly sessions, to work together on jointly identified areas of weakness. The result should be a fully rounded, motivated and capable sales person.

To be effective it is vital that the coach is viewed as an equal, not a boss. It is also vital that the coach and the sales person jointly identify areas of weakness and plan ways to strengthen these areas. Along with regular coaching sessions the coach should also assist each sales person with specific tasks such as meetings or proposals to get a more accurate view of their skill sets.

The results from development coaching can pay huge dividends and help to turn an underperforming, mediocre team into a team of sales champions.

Conclusion
Development coaching is a long term investment in sales staff to provide them with a support framework, enabling them to reach their maximum potential. Sales coaching skills can be taught to sales managers or outsourced to enable a specific consultant to work directly with your team.

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

The Perils of Online Posting

I was captivated by a CNN interview with an unemployed father named Eric Bell. Mr. Bell was laid off last spring and immediately took the shotgun approach to job hunting that I passionately argue against. As a mid-level manager with a solid employment history, Eric figured he'd simply post his resume online, send out a few hard copies, and wait for the job offers to come rolling in.

They never did (and I'm here to tell you that they rarely do).

What Eric Bell found out the hard way is what Nick Corcodilos (AsktheHeadhunter.com) has been telling us for years: only about 3-4% of jobs are filled by the big online engines like Monster, The Ladders, Career Builder, and others. True, posting your resume online is an essential tool in your job search toolbox; unfortunately, most of us believe that job searching begins and ends in cyberspace.

Oh, if it were only that simple. Many of my clients wait weeks and months for that job offer to materialize, and then they come to me. I'm usually the first person to point out to them the realities of job searching in today's complex and extremely competitive job market and that a comprehensive job search strategy is the fastest and most effective route to job search success.

In Eric Bell's case, I was impressed that he recognized the need to change his job search strategy and hit upon the optimal approach on his own; as Eric put it in his CNN interview, he stopped taking the shotgun approach and began an active (or targeted) job search campaign.

The Active Job Search
Posting your resume online is today's equivalent of pulling out the phone book and mailing your resume to every company in town. It's like shooting a shotgun into the air and hoping that one of the pellets lands on your target. It is far more effective to target and research companies, understand their needs and challenges, recognize the value you offer those companies, and target your sales pitch to their exact needs.

Sure, starting up a targeted job search is more time consuming than uploading your resume, clicking a button, and instantly distributing your resume to 1000 companies. But factor in the fact that less than 5 in 100 jobs will be filled this way, and that those 5 jobs will have hundreds -if not thousands- of applicants vying for the same position, and it's obvious which approach renders better results.

By targeting your sales pitch to select companies (preferably, companies whose views and culture you share), you will distinguish yourself among the thousands of other qualified candidates, you'll offer value that is directly aligned with your target company's needs, and you'll be able to express the immediate impact that you and only can deliver. In the end, your targeted job search will net you better and faster results and land you the right job with the right company.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_R._Morris

Corporate Taxation - Singapore Vs Hong Kong

A key determinant for setting up a business in a given jurisdiction is the tax regime in force. In this regard, both Hong Kong and Singapore boast of being one of the lowest tax jurisdictions in the world. Detailed below is a comparative overview of the tax system in Singapore Vs HK.

Tax jurisdiction

Singapore

• Taxes are levied on a territorial principle i.e. companies and individuals are taxed on Singapore sourced income.
• Foreign sourced income (branch profits, dividends, service income, etc.) will be taxed when it is remitted or deemed remitted into Singapore unless the income was already subjected to taxes in a jurisdiction with headline tax rates of at least 15%.

Hong Kong

• Taxes are levied on the territorial principle i.e. only on income "derived from or arising in" HK and not on income sourced outside the SAR.
• No tax is levied on profits arising abroad, even if they are remitted to Hong Kong.

Corporate Tax Rate

• Singapore: Current corporate income tax rate - 18%. However, corporate income tax rate effective 2010 - 17%. Note: The effective tax rate is much lower - below 9% for profits up to SGD 300,000 and capped at 18% for profits above SGD 300,000
• Hong Kong: Current corporate income tax rate - 16.5%

Goods and Services Tax (known as VAT/Sales tax in other countries)

• Singapore: 7%
• Hong Kong: Nil

Capital gains tax

• Singapore and Hong Kong: Nil (Capital loss expenses are correspondingly not allowed as deductions)

Group relief for losses

• Singapore: Allowed
• HK: Not allowed

Withholding tax

• Singapore: Interest, royalties, rentals from movable properties, management and technical fees, and director's fees paid to non-residents (individuals or companies) are subject to withholding tax. There is no withholding tax levied on dividends.
• Hong Kong: Royalties, rentals from movable properties, and fees paid to non-resident entertainers or sportsmen for their performances in Hong Kong are subject to withholding tax. There are no withholding taxes levied on dividends and interest.

Double Tax Agreements

• Singapore: More than 50 bilateral comprehensive tax treaties
• HK: DTA network of 37 treaties

Tax Year

• Singapore: 1 January - 31 December
• HK: 1 April - 31 March

Filing tax returns

Singapore:

• Tax returns along with audited accounts must be filed with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore by 31 October each year.
• Note: Dormant companies (i.e no accounting transactions for the financial year) and exempt private companies (not more than 20 shareholders and shares are not held by another company) with an annual turnover of less than SGD 5 million are exempt from audit requirements and can file unaudited accounts.

Hong Kong

• Tax returns along with audited accounts must be filed with the Inland Revenue Department by 31 April each year. The auditor must be a member of the HK Institute of Certified Public Accountants and must hold a practicing certificate.
• Note: Dormant companies (i.e no accounting transactions for the financial year) and small corporations (i.e total gross income does not exceed HKD 500,000) are exempt from audit requirements and can file unaudited accounts.

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

Comparison of Electro-Hydraulic Automation to Conventional Electric

Selection of appropriate electro-hydraulic valves and components depends upon the specific application and its system configuration. Type of fluid, force and pressure requirements, valve response, and other factors will affect system operation. For instance, seal compatibility must be considered with fluid type due to the temperature range of the operation and its subsequent viscosity effects. Additionally, lower lifecycle costs and higher output can be achieved with an understanding of the differences between electro-hydraulic power and traditional electromechanical devices. Precise control and smooth motion of large force applications call for fluid power, so the proper selection and sizing of hydraulic system components can lead to distinct advantages over traditional electric applications.

Electro-hydraulic Versus Electric Motors

Rotational motion can be handled adequately by electric motors. Cheaper and easier to control than hydraulics, conventional electric motors are suitable for linear force applications, quick direction changes, and light loads with few axes. Electro-hydraulic actuators, controls, and valves offer several advantages, however.

Electro-hydraulic controls are capable of moving and lifting heavy loads at slow speeds without the braking or gearing required in electric motors. They also produce less heat and consume less space than electric motors, in many cases. Concerning sizing, electro-hydraulics are sized by their average loads, whereas electrics must be sized by their maximum loads. For these reasons, electro-hydraulic pumps are of benefit with varying loads and directions, while the electric version make more sense in non-varying load situations with continuous motion, such as applications involving conveyor belts.

Electro-hydraulic controls may be located remotely, allowing weight and noise to be non-issues in applications which may concern them. The non-hydraulic motors, on the other hand, are typically located directly on the motion axis or in close proximity. The controls also have the advantage of holding constant pressure without the application of additional energy. Driving electric motors, in comparison, to apply constant torque can result in overheating. As in most things mechanical, understanding system requirements and limitations can be the key to unlocking many inherent benefits.

Electro-hydraulic Advantages

The choice of drive for power sources offers electro-hydraulic system designers many options. Key applications for industry can benefit from electro-hydraulic automation and control. Tuning tools and software are widely available to optimize throughput quickly and efficiently, in order to deliver increased production, longer machine life, and improved quality over many applications currently handled by electric motors.

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