business: 7 Ways to Increase Readability
- 11/25/13 09:41 PM
As technology has advantaged over the years, more has become the buzz word in business – more time, more productivity, more features, more money, more efficiency, more content, more, more, more……
Everyone wants more. Including you advertising, but more what???
More content? More reach?
Possibly, but that is not quite what your advertising really needs more of.
Your advertising needs more readability. Improved readability translates to a higher response rate. Higher response rate translates to more sales. More sales translate to more profits.
Consumers are constantly inundated with advertising content, and they must quickly sort through all of … (2 comments)
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business: Stress the P.S.!!!
- 11/14/13 08:02 AM
You are thinking it, but that is P.S. as in Post Script.
Do you know 90% of people read the P.S. first?
Let’s break that into two parts: why and what does it mean?
The Why
Pretty simple, it stands apart from the body of your marketing letter making it easy to read. Plus, the P.S. is a succinct statement that usually carries weight in letter writing. The average person has been trained through years and years of reading letters that something important in the P.S., so the average person jumps to the P.S. to read that vital piece of information.
… (0 comments)
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business: Words Have Meanings
- 05/30/13 10:37 AM
Hey Captain Obvious, I know that. Ok ok, yes, the title might enter me in the running for the Captain Obvious or Things I Already Knew award, but give me a few minutes to permit me to make my point.
When I say words have meanings, I am going beyond dictionary definitions. The definition of a word is usually pretty simple and easily found in a dictionary, but the meaning of a word is often more important than the definition.
A quick note about word definition, every word has a definition. Period. In business, use the word as its definition … (1 comments)
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business: Invite all Facebook Friends to a Fan Page
- 05/30/13 09:06 AM
If you have a Facebook Fan Page for your business, you have probably experienced the pain of clicking the box of each and every Facebook Friend you have in order to invite them to your page. Not only it is tedious and a waste of time, it is unnecessary.
Below are steps to drastically reduce the time it will take you to invite all of your Facebook Friends to your Facebook Fan Page.
Before we detail those steps, I know what a few of you are thinking. Do I need a Facebook Fan Page? It really depends on your … (0 comments)
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business: Your Goals are Pointless
- 03/05/12 12:18 AM
I have never been a fan of goals and objectives; I find them pie in the sky, arbitrarily selected, feel good, bullet point pipe dreams that have little to do with actual improvement. Finally, a book that agrees with me, and in Good Strategy Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters, Richard Rumelt discusses why goals and objectives are insufficient when improvement is desired and how to properly implement change. Ok, goals and objectives do have some value, but they cannot stand alone. Goals and objectives by themselves are nothing more than unobtainable milestones along an unbuilt road. I might … (5 comments)
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business: Buy Local Month kicks off today
- 11/16/10 12:11 AM
Buy Local Month kicks off today
http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/news/36855-buy-local-month-kicks-off-today
This is a local event to promote local businesses. I think it is a great idea to support the local business community. Money spent on local business will be returned to the local community when local business owners spend their money back in the community.
Aaron
… (1 comments)
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business: What You Meant is Irrelevant
- 08/16/10 08:20 AM
This is the fifth article in the series Every Realtor is a Small Business. You can read the Introduction to the series at http://activerain.com/blogsview/1680357/every-realtor-is-a-small-business-introduction.
The topics for this series are not set in stone, and I was stumped for a topic until I found inspiration.
I read a blog on ActiveRain that thoroughly and completely insulted an entire segment of real estate agents - part timers. I commented on the article to inform the author although the article raised some valid concerns, the subject could have been tackled from a more professional viewpoint and used as a teaching tool to build … (5 comments)
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business: To Hire or Not To Hire - 8 Questions to Answer
- 08/03/10 02:54 AM
This is the fourth article in the series Every Realtor is a Small Business. You can read the Introduction to the series at http://activerain.com/blogsview/1680357/every-realtor-is-a-small-business-introduction.
A question small business owners constantly ask themselves is To Hire or Not To Hire (aka do it themselves). It is a constant struggle between money and time. Both are limited, and both need to be used to their fullest extent.
Unfortunately there is not a clear cut answer due to the fact there are several factors to consider. To compound the complexity of answering the question, the answer can vary from situation to situation. Even if … (5 comments)
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business: Foreclosures and Sales up across South Carolina
- 07/31/10 07:09 AM
Midyear foreclosures up across state's MSAs
http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/news/35295-midyear-foreclosures-up-across-state-rsquo-s-msas
June home sales up 25% across South Carolina
http://www.scbizmag.com/content/view/137781/1/
Yes, home sales are up year-to-date over last year for the same time period and month; however, I am concerned for two reasons.
1 - Foreclosures are still on the rise. This will not improve until the homeowners see a financial way out. Unfortunately that will not happen until jobs are created and unemployment starts to drop.
2 - The home sales' numbers are inflated due to the expiring tax credit. What will the second half of 2010 hold for the real estate market?
Without … (1 comments)
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business: Seeking Donations for Special Olympics Gala
- 07/31/10 06:52 AM
I am helping a friend find donations from businesses and individuals for the Eleventh Annual Charleston Battery "A Special Night for Special Olympics." The event is on Sept 23 in Charleston, SC; however, donations are due Sept 1.
Donations may be tax deducted, so consult your CPA about charitable tax deductions. Product donations will be sold via a silent auction at the event. Businesses and sponsors will be listed in the event program. For businesses, this is great advertisement.
"A Special Night for Special Olympics" benefits the Special Olympics South Carolina and their athletes. If you would like more information, please … (0 comments)
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business: Greenville ranks as 3rd-strongest job market
- 07/31/10 06:43 AM
Greenville ranks as 3rd-strongest job market
http://www.scbizmag.com/content/view/137743/1/
Greenville ranked as the 3rd strongest job market in the country. This announcement highlights the great economic activity in the Greenville metropolitan area.
Jobs, and more specifically job creation, are the key to any local economy. Greenville's strong economic outlook means jobs are being created.
As the economy improves and consumers in the area gain confidence in the economy, the real estate market will start to improve. Another plus for the Greenville MSA is the area did not experience drastic drop in real estate value or sales.
The article provides very good stats about … (2 comments)
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business: Are you willing to pay the cost?
- 07/20/10 03:48 AM
This is the third article in the series Every Realtor is a Small Business. You can read the Introduction to the series at http://activerain.com/blogsview/1680357/every-realtor-is-a-small-business-introduction.
I am a day late publishing this article, but late is better than never. Pressing business required my attention over the last week. I know some people will say "blogging is business and it must have a rigid schedule."
My rebuttal is my theme from the last article which was "everything has a cost." Every action you take in life has a cost, and the question is always the same - Are you willing to pay the … (6 comments)
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business: The Costs of Social Networking
- 07/05/10 02:26 AM
This is the second article in the series Every Realtor is a Small Business. You can read the Introduction to the series at http://activerain.com/blogsview/1680357/every-realtor-is-a-small-business-introduction.
Social networking has exploded over the last few years, and it has become an integral part of many companies' marketing plans. This article is strictly about The Cost of Social Networking. The pro's and con's of social networking are not discussed.
Without diving too far into this topic, social networking is not free. Anyone who says it is either does not understand business or is blatantly lying.
There are two types of costs: direct and indirect.
… (5 comments)
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business: More jobs to South Carolina Upstate
- 07/02/10 07:13 PM
Electric car maker to locate in Spartanburg http://www.scbizmag.com/content/view/137617/1/
BMW ramping up production staff http://www.scbizmag.com/content/view/137636/1/
I guess the Upstate has felt a little left out with the majority of the economy news coming out of the Lowcountry, so they created a bunch of jobs. Of course, I say this in jest. This is great news for the Upstate.
I have noticed a lot of smaller announcements for the Upstate; however, I do not post or comment on them, because I focus on the Charleston Area. Nothing against the Upstate. It is simply I live in Charleston, so I limit my focus.
Our state benefits anytime … (0 comments)
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business: Credit Reporting - How to do it?
- 06/27/10 05:31 PM
I recently sold a house to a tenant via owner financing. I would like to report the mortgage and timely payments to the credit bureaus to improve her credit score, so she can refinance into a conventional mortgage in the next year or so.
Does anyone know how to do this?
I also want to report judgments I have against former tenants. I want to report the bad and the good, and the only companies I have found so far will only report the bad.
Thanks,
Aaron
… (10 comments)
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business: South Carolina’s unemployment rate drops
- 06/25/10 04:37 PM
South Carolina's unemployment rate drops
http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/news/34723-south-carolina-rsquo-s-unemployment-rate-drops-to-11
Although South Carolina's unemployment rate dropped, the unemployment rate is still entirely too high. The state government passed a bill to make our state more business friendly this week which will help attract businesses to SC. This is a good step towards bringing more jobs to SC.
More initiatives need to be passed to help the current businesses in the state. It is easier to grow the already existing businesses than it is to bring in new businesses. Additionally, an existing business does not need start-up time. Existing businesses are in place and are ready … (2 comments)
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business: Mount Pleasant named a Top 10 All-America City
- 06/22/10 06:59 PM
Mount Pleasant named a Top 10 All-America City
http://www.scbizmag.com/content/view/137564/1/
Mt. Pleasant was named a Top 10 All-American City by the National Civic League. Although I do not know the significance of this award, it might carry some as the mayor and multiple businesses donated money to the campaign to receive the award.
I imagine this type of award and exposure can only be positive not only for Mt. Pleasant but the entire Lowcountry.
Great work to everyone who had a hand in bringing this award to Mt. Pleasant.
Aaron
… (4 comments)
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business: Are You Worth Your Commission?
- 06/17/10 02:36 AM
This is the first article in the series Every Realtor is a Small Business. You can read the Introduction to the series at http://activerain.com/blogsview/1680357/every-realtor-is-a-small-business-introduction.
Over the past several months, I have read numerous blogs on commission rates. Some Realtors will negotiate (discount) and some refuse to budge (side note - mechanic, baker, plumber, tutor, etc (pretty much any job) can be inserted in place of Realtor).
A few of the comments from Realtors who do not negotiate commission rates include:
1. The Realtor is worth the X% commission (aka payment).
2. The Realtor has overhead and costs associated with listing a … (11 comments)
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business: Every Realtor is a Small Business - Introduction
- 06/05/10 10:56 AM
As a Real Estate Investor, I had to adjust to the economy along with everyone else. My business partner and I spun off one of the real estate activities to its own business and have grown it into a profitable business.
In addition to that I created a business consulting company. To jump start the business, I purchased a business financing and consulting franchise. I was more of a service provider than a consultant, so I decided to part ways with the franchise and have since become an idea provider for small business owners.
My entire consulting focus is how a small business owner … (2 comments)
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business: South Carolina jobless rate drop largest in the country
- 05/21/10 07:57 AM
South Carolina's jobless rate down to 11.6% in April
http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/news/34326-south-carolina-rsquo-s-jobless-rate-down-to-11-6-in-april
South Carolina's jobless rate drop was the largest in the country. There are good and bad parts to that news.
The good news are jobs are not being lost and new jobs are being created.
The bad news is we had a large unemployment rate to improve from, and the unemployment rate is still entirely too high.
Overall, the outlook looks good. Let's look forward to a strong tourist season on the coast to help speed up the rate of improvement.
… (0 comments)
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As technology has advantaged over the years, more has become the buzz word in business – more time, more productivity, more features, more money, more efficiency, more content, more, more, more……
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