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    Business & Profits: The Importance of Clarity
    Fancy words are what some clients expect writers have stocked in their mental inventory, and in some cases they are the reason writers are hired. However, above anything else, you should be clear in your brochures, on your websites and any other medium you use to communicate to prospective customers or clients.Fancy words are best kept for literary works, or can be sparingly used in some types of commercial work. Instead, strive to be clear about your services, your goals, your mission and also your pricing structure. Keep in mind; clarity does not mean “unprofessional” or “poor wording”, it means your prospective clients understand what you are trying to tell them. This sounds like an excessively simple thing, but you would be surprised how many companies confuse the heck out of you! There are two possible scenarios if you fail in the clarity department:a) The prospective client leaves, desists, does not contact you and is never heard from… the marketing dollars you
    re you ask, "Is it legitimate or easy to do?" I can assure you that what I show you will prove to not only be legitimate and easy to do, but can be implemented before your next business day.

    Will you need some help getting started? As a matter of fact the very people you employ will be the ones that will assist you and will be the driving force in securing more business.

    1. You will begin having 3 staff meetings a week with your employees. You must rouse the men and women of your employ to strive for perfection in their work and tell them they will be compensated for their achievements.

    2. You must set daily, weekly and monthly goals for them to achieve. A simple daily goal is to make contact with 5 different customers you have not served. This can be done by phone or in person. By doing this the public is beginning to learn of your company in a personal way but the competition has no idea what you are doing.

    3. You want to institute some good healthy in-house competition between the employees. It's great for moral, builds a

    Financial Services Giant Grabs Northeast Naming Rights
    Financial services giant Citibank North America has stepped up the ante for market share, name and brand recognition along the USA's eastern seaboard. As the country’s largest financial institution these announcements have industry implications and strengthen the trend of corporate involvement in high profile naming opportunities in the non-profit sector.In what should be seen as one of the boldest moves of acquiring naming rights, Citibank just announced two blockbuster agreements on November 9th and 10th.The first deal involves the Wang Center for the Performing Arts in Boston for about $36 million. The fifteen year agreement should be seen as more than just a giant load of cash landing on the doorsteps of the non-profit arts group.The next day on November 10th, the multi-national banker / financial services giant, closed a deal to re-name Shea Stadium in New York, home of the baseball playing New York Mets. An official announcement pegged that deal to be cl
    Does the competition drive you crazy?

    Are they relentless about taking your clients away?

    Are customer loyalties becoming a thing of the past?

    In our ever changing world, it seems securing business these days comes down to, who will provide the most service at the lowest possible price.

    To add insult to injury your previous customers have taken on a new militant attitude about obtaining your services.

    They now believe they have a license to set the pricing, dangle it over your head and threaten to call someone cheaper if you will not meet their demands.

    It seems the rules have changed and if we are not willing to make the adjustment our businesses will continue to feel the impact from the competition. So today's article is:

    How to snuff out the competition without leaving a mark.

    If the title to this article seems a bit brutal, harsh or to blunt for your taste buds, then take a moment and reflect how your business has been affected by your competition. How that before they came along your were not being hounded about your prices.

    Think about how every year several more new businesses come from out of nowhere. They don't advertise, won't get the proper licensing, refuse to be properly insured and have shamelessly solicited your customers. I can assure you that the competition, given half a chance, would not think twice about putting you out of business if they knew how.

    A burr in your britches? I'm thinking, "OH YEAH!"

    So how can you snuff out your competition without leaving a mark?

    To begin you must first realize that all successful businesses have always played by a set of unchanging rules.

    1. Be #1.
    2. Never reveal your business strategies or tactics.
    3. Look for business that no one is doing or is willing to do.
    4. Give more than what the customer is expecting.
    5. Follow-up

    1. Be #1.
    So what do I mean by being #1? It means you never rest on your laurels. Remember you are only as good as your last transaction. You must always excel at honing your skills, always increasing your knowledge base and developing long term customer relationships. This attitude sets you head and shoulders above the competition.

    2. Never reveal your business strategies or tactics.
    I don't care how well you know a fellow business person or how long you have known them. Always remember what P.T. Barnum said,

    "Some men have a foolish habit of telling their business secrets. If they make money they like to tell their neighbors how it was done. Nothing is gained by this, and oftentimes much is lost. Say nothing about your profits, your hopes, your expectations, your intentions. And this should apply to letters as well as to conversations. Goethe makes Mephistopheles say: "Never write a letter nor destroy one." Business men must write letters, but they should be careful what they put in them. If you are losing money, be specially cautious and not tell of it, or you will lose your reputation." - P.T. Barnum

    3. Look for business that no one is doing or is willing to do.
    Here is where your competition will strike out. They are always looking for what everyone else is doing so they can copy it and make a fast buck. If it is too detailed or involved there is a greater chance of you securing that niche market and exploiting it for greater profits.

    4. Give more than what the customer is expecting.
    Most of the competition will only do just enough to get the job. The smart business person goes beyond what was stated to do. You are looking out for your client's best interest. This initiative builds additional value into your service. It also shows your customer that you value them as a client and not just a transaction.

    5. Follow-up
    This area is where all businesses fail the most. Simple gratitude goes a long way. When someone took the time to call you or send you a "thank you" note for doing business with them, you appreciated the extra effort. So why not do the same for your clients.

    Now that you have a clearer understanding of the business rules let's focus on:

    How to snuff out the competition without leaving a mark.

    Now before you ask, "Is it legitimate or easy to do?" I can assure you that what I show you will prove to not only be legitimate and easy to do, but can be implemented before your next business day.

    Will you need some help getting started? As a matter of fact the very people you employ will be the ones that will assist you and will be the driving force in securing more business.

    1. You will begin having 3 staff meetings a week with your employees. You must rouse the men and women of your employ to strive for perfection in their work and tell them they will be compensated for their achievements.

    2. You must set daily, weekly and monthly goals for them to achieve. A simple daily goal is to make contact with 5 different customers you have not served. This can be done by phone or in person. By doing this the public is beginning to learn of your company in a personal way but the competition has no idea what you are doing.

    3. You want to institute some good healthy in-house competition between the employees. It's great for moral, builds a

    How To Enjoy Your Work And Your Life
    Imagine what your life would be like if you had the flexibility to work when you wanted to, rather than being stuck in a 9-5 business environment. How would it feel to get out of the rat race and have more time to enjoy more free time?I've been coaching a lady for the past year who originally was the manager in a financial services practice. Mary had been with this business for several years and found that over time her energy and vitality had been drained out of her.She would leave work at the end of each day, sometimes at 5.00 p.m., other days at 7.00 p.m. She was often exhausted from all the pressure of looking after a team of 15 people and also having to keep the owner of the business happy.Mary found that at the end of each day all she wanted to do was go home and relax. She had spent all her energy at work and there was nothing left over for her personal life. Her health suffered as well as her relationships, both with her husband and her friends. She us
    not being hounded about your prices.

    Think about how every year several more new businesses come from out of nowhere. They don't advertise, won't get the proper licensing, refuse to be properly insured and have shamelessly solicited your customers. I can assure you that the competition, given half a chance, would not think twice about putting you out of business if they knew how.

    A burr in your britches? I'm thinking, "OH YEAH!"

    So how can you snuff out your competition without leaving a mark?

    To begin you must first realize that all successful businesses have always played by a set of unchanging rules.

    1. Be #1.
    2. Never reveal your business strategies or tactics.
    3. Look for business that no one is doing or is willing to do.
    4. Give more than what the customer is expecting.
    5. Follow-up

    1. Be #1.
    So what do I mean by being #1? It means you never rest on your laurels. Remember you are only as good as your last transaction. You must always excel at honing your skills, always increasing your knowledge base and developing long term customer relationships. This attitude sets you head and shoulders above the competition.

    2. Never reveal your business strategies or tactics.
    I don't care how well you know a fellow business person or how long you have known them. Always remember what P.T. Barnum said,

    "Some men have a foolish habit of telling their business secrets. If they make money they like to tell their neighbors how it was done. Nothing is gained by this, and oftentimes much is lost. Say nothing about your profits, your hopes, your expectations, your intentions. And this should apply to letters as well as to conversations. Goethe makes Mephistopheles say: "Never write a letter nor destroy one." Business men must write letters, but they should be careful what they put in them. If you are losing money, be specially cautious and not tell of it, or you will lose your reputation." - P.T. Barnum

    3. Look for business that no one is doing or is willing to do.
    Here is where your competition will strike out. They are always looking for what everyone else is doing so they can copy it and make a fast buck. If it is too detailed or involved there is a greater chance of you securing that niche market and exploiting it for greater profits.

    4. Give more than what the customer is expecting.
    Most of the competition will only do just enough to get the job. The smart business person goes beyond what was stated to do. You are looking out for your client's best interest. This initiative builds additional value into your service. It also shows your customer that you value them as a client and not just a transaction.

    5. Follow-up
    This area is where all businesses fail the most. Simple gratitude goes a long way. When someone took the time to call you or send you a "thank you" note for doing business with them, you appreciated the extra effort. So why not do the same for your clients.

    Now that you have a clearer understanding of the business rules let's focus on:

    How to snuff out the competition without leaving a mark.

    Now before you ask, "Is it legitimate or easy to do?" I can assure you that what I show you will prove to not only be legitimate and easy to do, but can be implemented before your next business day.

    Will you need some help getting started? As a matter of fact the very people you employ will be the ones that will assist you and will be the driving force in securing more business.

    1. You will begin having 3 staff meetings a week with your employees. You must rouse the men and women of your employ to strive for perfection in their work and tell them they will be compensated for their achievements.

    2. You must set daily, weekly and monthly goals for them to achieve. A simple daily goal is to make contact with 5 different customers you have not served. This can be done by phone or in person. By doing this the public is beginning to learn of your company in a personal way but the competition has no idea what you are doing.

    3. You want to institute some good healthy in-house competition between the employees. It's great for moral, builds a

    Small Business Computer Security, the Basics
    Anyone in business today realizes both the natural dependency on computers in the workplace, and also the potential dangers associated with storing important data on them. Today’s business owners are constantly being reminded that their company’s data is at risk by the daily reports on various news stations, or even their favorite business-related website.But what can a typical small business owner do to protect their network from these threats that are broadcasted in so many ways? Dangers lurk at every turn on the Internet. There are thousands of attacks or areas of security that could be discussed, but I am going to try and focus on three general nuisances associated with today’s computers: viruses, spy-ware, and traditional “hackers” that will intentionally try to exploit your computer systems for various reasons. All of these attacks, although different, serve a specific purpose for the attacker, yet basically translate into three things for a business: lost produc
    sing your knowledge base and developing long term customer relationships. This attitude sets you head and shoulders above the competition.

    2. Never reveal your business strategies or tactics.
    I don't care how well you know a fellow business person or how long you have known them. Always remember what P.T. Barnum said,

    "Some men have a foolish habit of telling their business secrets. If they make money they like to tell their neighbors how it was done. Nothing is gained by this, and oftentimes much is lost. Say nothing about your profits, your hopes, your expectations, your intentions. And this should apply to letters as well as to conversations. Goethe makes Mephistopheles say: "Never write a letter nor destroy one." Business men must write letters, but they should be careful what they put in them. If you are losing money, be specially cautious and not tell of it, or you will lose your reputation." - P.T. Barnum

    3. Look for business that no one is doing or is willing to do.
    Here is where your competition will strike out. They are always looking for what everyone else is doing so they can copy it and make a fast buck. If it is too detailed or involved there is a greater chance of you securing that niche market and exploiting it for greater profits.

    4. Give more than what the customer is expecting.
    Most of the competition will only do just enough to get the job. The smart business person goes beyond what was stated to do. You are looking out for your client's best interest. This initiative builds additional value into your service. It also shows your customer that you value them as a client and not just a transaction.

    5. Follow-up
    This area is where all businesses fail the most. Simple gratitude goes a long way. When someone took the time to call you or send you a "thank you" note for doing business with them, you appreciated the extra effort. So why not do the same for your clients.

    Now that you have a clearer understanding of the business rules let's focus on:

    How to snuff out the competition without leaving a mark.

    Now before you ask, "Is it legitimate or easy to do?" I can assure you that what I show you will prove to not only be legitimate and easy to do, but can be implemented before your next business day.

    Will you need some help getting started? As a matter of fact the very people you employ will be the ones that will assist you and will be the driving force in securing more business.

    1. You will begin having 3 staff meetings a week with your employees. You must rouse the men and women of your employ to strive for perfection in their work and tell them they will be compensated for their achievements.

    2. You must set daily, weekly and monthly goals for them to achieve. A simple daily goal is to make contact with 5 different customers you have not served. This can be done by phone or in person. By doing this the public is beginning to learn of your company in a personal way but the competition has no idea what you are doing.

    3. You want to institute some good healthy in-house competition between the employees. It's great for moral, builds a

    Building Support for Nonprofit Communications Among Your Colleagues and Leadership
    A panel of three communications pros at the recent Communications Network conference discussed how to build the support across your organization that is necessary for communications that really help to achieve your nonprofit's or foundation's goal (a.k.a. strategic communications). Here are key points from the discussion:Place a communications staffer or consultant in each program teamKaren Lake, Director of Marketing, W.K. Kellogg Foundation defines her charge as "putting communications to work to build and to expand on the work of our programs." One resounding success is the Foundation's placement of a communications manager in each program department to ensure that communications strategies are integrated into each program, from planning to execution.Cafeteria CommunicationsDevelop "cafeteria communications" so you can select from a comprehensive menu of communications products (newsletters, website, etc.) and activi
    They are always looking for what everyone else is doing so they can copy it and make a fast buck. If it is too detailed or involved there is a greater chance of you securing that niche market and exploiting it for greater profits.

    4. Give more than what the customer is expecting.
    Most of the competition will only do just enough to get the job. The smart business person goes beyond what was stated to do. You are looking out for your client's best interest. This initiative builds additional value into your service. It also shows your customer that you value them as a client and not just a transaction.

    5. Follow-up
    This area is where all businesses fail the most. Simple gratitude goes a long way. When someone took the time to call you or send you a "thank you" note for doing business with them, you appreciated the extra effort. So why not do the same for your clients.

    Now that you have a clearer understanding of the business rules let's focus on:

    How to snuff out the competition without leaving a mark.

    Now before you ask, "Is it legitimate or easy to do?" I can assure you that what I show you will prove to not only be legitimate and easy to do, but can be implemented before your next business day.

    Will you need some help getting started? As a matter of fact the very people you employ will be the ones that will assist you and will be the driving force in securing more business.

    1. You will begin having 3 staff meetings a week with your employees. You must rouse the men and women of your employ to strive for perfection in their work and tell them they will be compensated for their achievements.

    2. You must set daily, weekly and monthly goals for them to achieve. A simple daily goal is to make contact with 5 different customers you have not served. This can be done by phone or in person. By doing this the public is beginning to learn of your company in a personal way but the competition has no idea what you are doing.

    3. You want to institute some good healthy in-house competition between the employees. It's great for moral, builds a

    How To Write a Company Profile: 3 Keys to Succeed
    A great company profile can engage and attract the right customers or supporters for a business, or it can bore them to sleep driving them to your competitors which are easily googled in seconds.For media attention, a business needs an intriguing profile to entice editors or reporters to gain an understanding of the company's mission, products, services, personnel and uniqueness.To acquire financing, a comprehensive company profile should be submitted with a business plan to feature unique qualifications of the company or personnel, that aren't generally outlined in a business plan.Without a well-crafted company profile, a company may not be attracting the best candidates when posting job descriptions,or even suppliers and vendors to help them grow.These 3 steps will help any company craft a commendable company profile that is true to your vision, perception and even beliefs.1. Provide useful information in lay person's terminology.A profi
    re you ask, "Is it legitimate or easy to do?" I can assure you that what I show you will prove to not only be legitimate and easy to do, but can be implemented before your next business day.

    Will you need some help getting started? As a matter of fact the very people you employ will be the ones that will assist you and will be the driving force in securing more business.

    1. You will begin having 3 staff meetings a week with your employees. You must rouse the men and women of your employ to strive for perfection in their work and tell them they will be compensated for their achievements.

    2. You must set daily, weekly and monthly goals for them to achieve. A simple daily goal is to make contact with 5 different customers you have not served. This can be done by phone or in person. By doing this the public is beginning to learn of your company in a personal way but the competition has no idea what you are doing.

    3. You want to institute some good healthy in-house competition between the employees. It's great for moral, builds a bond of loyalty to your company and keeps those in your ranks striving to out do each other by meeting your goals.

    4. Encourage your employees to speak up and let you know what's bugging them. Their opinions are usually valid and you should take note of what is being said. Do this in your staff meetings. Then invite others to respond. It is better to get a problem out in the open to prevent harbored and hurt feelings.

    5. Let's also not forget to reward them for their efforts. No matter the progress they make, you want your employees to be glad they work for you. The best way to reward an employee is with a monetary bonus. People appreciate getting extra money for doing a good job.

    6. You must give your top producers special recognition, because they are the ones setting the standard. They are building your company and assisting you to become more of an anchor in your community.

    I'm sure that right about now you are wondering what happened to:

    How to snuff out the competition without leaving a mark.

    You might even be thinking, "Why are we talking about employees and not concentrating on who is hurting my business?"

    Before you setout to undermine your competition's efforts, you must have firsthand knowledge of what your employees know and correct it or improve on it. Building them up to be stronger becomes another asset to your company. Their state of mind and how they view your company could also benefit your business or cost you business.

    A well oiled machine runs more efficiently when all of it's internal parts are constantly checked to determine if they are working properly. When a company wants to be a better producer of goods and services and snuff out the competition without leaving a mark, it is imperative that all who are involved in the process are at the top of their game.

    For this to happen it is up to the owner or manager of that business to motivate their staff to become a team. A company that has a staff working as a team will become stronger, vibrant and harder to defeat. In turn the staff will come up with new and fresh ideas that can produce more revenue and bring in more clients.

    While your competition is trying to make a fast buck you will be busy building your army that will snuff out the competition without leaving a mark. Your competition will simply not know what hit them.

    Copyright 2005 Woody Qui?ones & www.Impactyourarea.com

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