business consulting: 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 consulting: 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 consulting: 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 consulting: Increase Referrals from Clients by Keeping a Presence in Their Home
- 03/01/13 03:22 AM
Do you give anything to your clients as a thank you after closing? If so, is it something they will actually keep and think of you when the look at it?
I am not referring to a refrigerator magnet or calendar. If kept, they are discarded when a newer and more fun magnet finds it was to the fridge.
What about a useful or fun wooden sign your client hangs in the house? Every time they look at the sign, they will think of you. Signs at www.mycustomizedsign.com range from $15.00 to $90.00. Use code "10poffA1" to receive 10% off your … (0 comments)
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business consulting: 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 consulting: Business Toolkit Tool - Dropbox
- 11/08/11 04:06 AM
Dropbox is the latest tool (and one of the greatest) I incorporated into my Business Toolkit. With Dropbox, I no longer need to carry a thumb drive, external hard drive or memory stick to manually transfer documents from one computer to another. I am typing this blog article on my Galaxy Tab and when I return to the office and turn on my computer, this blog article will magically be there. Ok, it is not magic - it is Dropbox and their brilliant technology. Anytime I place or update a file in the Dropbox folder on one of my computers (computer, … (9 comments)
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business consulting: 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 consulting: 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 consulting: 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 consulting: 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 consulting: 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 consulting: Free PDF Converter - help protect your documents
- 05/31/10 05:27 AM
I use a PDF converter called CutePDF to create PDF files. You can download the program at www.cutepdf.com. It is a free download.
Once the program is installed, you simply print any document, picture, webpage, etc to your CutePDF printer. Their instructions are very easy to follow.
The program does have limitations. It will only enable you to convert files to PDF. The company offers other products to manipulate PDF files; however, I have never used them and do not know the quality of them.
CutePDF is a quick and easy method to convert files to PDF if you do not want to purchase Adobe Acrobat.
You … (6 comments)
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business consulting: Short Sale Negotiators work for the Bank not You or Your Client
- 05/29/10 05:28 AM
I have read numerous comments and blogs expressing frustration towards short sale negotiators.
"They work too slow."
"They do not care about my client's situation."
"They do not want to close the deal."
"They do not return my calls quickly."
This may be shocking news to some in the Real Estate world, but short sale negotiators work for their bank not you or your client.
I understand your client may have hit a hard spot in life, and I feel bad for them. I have worked with and closed several short sales as an investor, so I have heard the stories.
… (8 comments)
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business consulting: May 20 - Gov't contracting tips given at seminar
- 05/19/10 08:23 AM
Government contracting tips offered at small-business seminar
http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/news/34128-government-contracting-tips-offered-at-small-business-seminar
This is a meeting in North Charleston on May 20, 2010 at 8:30. Information will be given on how to become a contractor for consideration on government projects.
There are a lot of government contract jobs out there. I highly recommend this to all contractors.
There is a $25 fee to register. See the above link for more details.
… (0 comments)
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business consulting: What value signals do you send in your selling?
- 05/16/10 05:02 PM
What value signals do you send in your selling?
http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/news/33959-column-what-value-signals-do-you-send-in-your-selling?rss=0
This article is very well written and provides valuable insight into competing in todays business environment.
I will not butcher his words by attempting to summarize the article. It should only take 5 minutes to read.
The article is writting by John Earl Carrool. He is president of Unlimited Performance Inc, in Mt. Pleasant, SC.
… (0 comments)
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business consulting: What I learned from the Tiger Woods’ situation.
- 02/24/10 11:20 PM
Maybe I am a little too business oriented in my approach these days; however, I analyze most situations from a business perspective. When I do relax, I play sports, I watch sports and I listen to sports radio. The radio in my vehicle rarely leaves the ESPN Radio station.
Last Friday, Tiger Woods gave his televised apology. Numerous programs on ESPN Radio discussed it in detail that week and talked about nothing else on Friday. This blog is not about what he did or even his apology. I am more interested in the discussions on the radio programs before his speech.
A … (7 comments)
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business consulting: Piggly Wiggly sells Jedburg facility in leaseback deal
- 01/30/10 01:07 PM
http://www.scbizmag.com/content/view/136527/1/
"This agreement leverages an asset in the most effective and beneficial way for our company and its employee-owners," David Schools, president and CEO of Piggly Wiggly Carolina Co., said in a statement. "The opportunity focuses resources on what we do best - providing a great grocery shopping experience - while continuing to grow our distribution business in Berkeley County."
Small business owners should take heed to what the David said "focus resources on what we do best." He understands Piggly Wiggly is a grocery store, and their strength is providing groceries not real estate ownership or management.
For example, a Realtor … (0 comments)
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business consulting: S.C. regions among lowest for foreclosures
- 01/30/10 12:09 PM
http://www.scbizmag.com/content/view/136558/1/
Although South Carolina's major metro areas rank lower end of the country, we should still be concerned. South Carolina's Real Estate market seems to trail other parts of the country. The Charleston area has the highest default rate in the state.
As unemployment rises and ARMs start to readjust, we will continue to see an increase in foreclosures and default notices.
The positive economic news announced in the 4th quarter of 2009 give a lot of hope for the future of our great state and the Charleston area. Unfortunately it will take time for these projects to get in full … (0 comments)
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business consulting: Presentation is Everything
- 01/30/10 06:36 AM
Regardless of the business you are in, you need clients or customers.
The key question is how and where do you find customers? The answer largely depends on your business as it varies drastically from one business to the next. That being said there is one important factor in attracting customers that is consistent throughout every type of business: presentation is everything.
The appearance of your entire business is vital to the success of your business. And I mean everything from the marketing to product packaging to voicemail/answering machine recordings to the appearance of your employees and everything in between.
Before someone writes … (2 comments)
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business consulting: How High does the Hurdle need to be? - Part II
- 01/29/10 09:09 AM
This blog is one I wrote a while ago. It is geared towards Real Estate Investors; however, it applies to anyone that wants to take a chance in any type of business. How High does the Hurdle need to be? - Part II
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The first part of this series discussed the first and greatest obstacle of starting a business (actually of obtaining any goal in life) and that is to start. Yep, the act of starting, the act of moving forward towards your goal, the act of putting yourself out there is the toughest and most difficult obstacle in your … (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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