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Customer Rewards Program
Department stores had the right idea when they started using in store credit cards as their customer reward program.. They built a database. Without knowing about their customers lives they wouldn’t know how to get that customer into the store. This is one of the places where the credit card perfect. In order to get a store credit card the customer must fill out an application. Using this application the store is able to enter the customer’s information into their computer. It is also the perfect time to enter the clients name and address onto the company mailing list. A really smart manager makes sure that the person handling the application process is a warm cheerful person. Normally the application process takes about fifteen minutes. That’s about twelve more minutes then the average customer is going to spend with most cashiers. In the customer’s mind this person who is currently recording all their financial history will become the face of the company. When the customer thinks about the store she will be thinking about this person. It is important that the employee projects a pleasantly competent image.A store has a computer system all set up and ready to go. They are ready to start handing out cards in order to get customers entered into their data banks. All they have to do is convince the customers that they need the card.Most people who shop at department stores normally already have at least one credit card, most of them have several. The last thing any of these shoppers needs or wants is another credit card filling up the spaces in their wallet. They certainly don’t want another monthly bill stacking up inside their mailbox. So the store sweetens the pot. The store spreads a rumor that something very nice will happen if the customer applies for a card. They might take an extra twenty percent off some of their purchases. Maybe they will be mailing coupons to cardholders. In store raffles are brilliant ideas. Not only do they get the customers name into the database but it also gets the customer into the store on a given day. With a little luck they will by something as they wait for a name to be drawn.It isn’t enough that a customers name is in the database. Now the store has to come up with a way to get them back to store again, and again, and again. Th

">4. Use plain English, avoid jargon and acronyms, maintain consistency and don’t ask questions that may result in ambiguous answers

Care must be taken in wording a question. If a question is not clear then there is every chance that respondents may interpret the question differently to that intended by the publisher making any analysis of the data meaningless or at the very least misleading.

Business Architecture And... Profit Centers
Business Architecture is about using architectural concepts in organizations. It is not only about design, but also about filling the organizational space with constructions; the various forms that you have chosen to implement a functional need in order to serve a certain purpose.There are many functions in a company. A general function that is not specific to a certain purpose is the organizing activity itself. So besides having the function of Sales, Production, ICT and administration, there is also the function of organizing general activities. This could apply for any type of organizational unit within the company. Competition is a characteristic you could use to design an organization.Before you design a new organizational structure (the construction to fit the characteristics) you also need to think about the main purpose. For (business) units the purpose is to serve a group of different clients. Profitability measures are needed to analyze the performance of each group. If the market circumstances change, the unit could shift its focus or increase incentives. Increase the competitiveness.So far so good. The profit center issue is concentrated around other “units” like ICT, finance, Human Resources, etc. In literature you will find objections to convert these organizational parts to profit centers because the profits (more than the costs) can not easily be measured.Another aspect why profit centers do not fit for these TYPE of (inter) organizations is often less attended. A profit center, like a business unit, requires a competitive organization. And supportive types of organizations like ICT, administration and Human resources are not competitive (that's why they are called supportive). The rule for a competitive organization is that more resources should help to produce more output. For the same reason, incentives are possible for such kind of organization, where they are not driving the supportive organization.To give an example: if you would ask four people to lift a car, and they manage, it is of no use to ask another four people to help them. The car is lifted (supporting) and that’s it. More support is of no use.Implementing a profit center requires a previous analysis. An Architectural view on your business might help solving bottleneck

Writing surveys is easy; or is it? The truth is that writing surveys is easy but writing effective surveys is more difficult. The following are twenty tips that if followed will help you write more effective surveys.

Surveys are conducted for many reasons. By phrasing the questions and structuring the answers surveys can be used in a multitude of ways and for a variety of reasons. When compiling a survey don’t loose sight of its purpose.

The survey title is a golden opportunity to instantly summarise a survey's objective and grab the attention of invited respondents. Respondents are going to invest time in completing the survey so make them feel that their investment is worthwhile.

Every question that is asked should be asked for a reason. Focus on ‘need to know’ questions and minimise ‘nice to know’ information.

4. Use plain English, avoid jargon and acronyms, maintain consistency and don’t ask questions that may result in ambiguous answers

When to Network? When You Don't Need To!
Wait a minutes, you may be thinking. Why should I network when I don’t need to? Think about it this way. When do you NEED to network? Often it’s when you’re out of a job or when you’re looking for business. But if you wait till then, it may be too late.Why? Because the most effective networks are those where the people who know you have a high level of trust in you and understand your needs. You can’t get this level of interconnection through a brief connection at a meeting, conference, etc. You get this kind of connection through on-going, mutually reinforcing contacts between you and others.Let me bring this down to an experiential level. I regularly attend a local meeting of people in my profession. I have built up a long list of contacts, most of which are not related to my business. But if I ever need to call on these folks, they know me and what I do.We recently had folks show up from a company that had never had attendees there before. I hoped that it was the sign of enlightenment by the company that they were now supporting our profession. Instead, they soon announced they were shutting down their local facility. So when their employees found out they were about to be unemployed, they decided to start attending meetings.Now I’m not saying that attending now is a bad idea, but think about how much more responsive others in the group would likely be if they had known these new attendees for a while.If your own company needed to hire someone, would you be willing to recommend/refer someone you just met, and who has not been attending meetings of your profession? Or would you be more likely to recommend/refer someone who you’d come to know over a few months or years?I know … the soccer games … the ballet lessons … etc. Everyone has excuses. But keep in mind that all of these are choices, just as is whether or not to network. A short-term view says “forget it … it takes time and I won’t get much out of it.” The long-term view realizes that our connections with others are one of the most effective ways to maintain a healthy life, and career. If the only people you’re networking are in your own company and/or industry, you’re severely limiting your future choices. So get out now and meet someone!© Duke Okes 0pt">

Every question that is asked should be asked for a reason. Focus on ‘need to know’ questions and minimise ‘nice to know’ information.

4. Use plain English, avoid jargon and acronyms, maintain consistency and don’t ask questions that may result in ambiguous answers

Empowering Customer Service Vital
It never fails to amaze me how many companies have employees who are empowered to offer former customers wonderful incentives to lure them back, yet their customer service representatives have the ability to offer virtually nothing to convince an unhappy customer to stay.Powerless, these CSRs often actually ignore customers’ requests and declarations of their intent to leave, even encouraging them to seek out another company!They often repeat the few phrases they’re allowed to say over and over again, further infuriating the customers.I recently interviewed the CEO of a mattress company who told me that customer complaints never reach him because his employees are empowered to, within reason, give the customer what will keep him happy. His employees are happier too because they believe the company trusts them to make sound decision.Sadly, that company is one-in-a-million today. If others would follow his example, there would a lot less need for those employees who call former customers because there would be far fewer former customers to begin with.When I worked in fast food as a teenager, giving an unhappy customer a free apple turnover and having her leave happy was common place. Today, fast food employees, like others in customer service, are allowed to honor only coupons and deals for which there are pre-programmed keys on their registers.It seems that companies today would rather lose loyal customers for life than allow their foot soldiers in customer service to toss them an apple pie.Recently, we had just such as experience with our satellite dish company. After more than four years as a loyal, paying customer, we noticed a problem with our reception. We asked to have someone come take a look at it, and we were told it would be $100. That is the only option customer service was empowered to offer. We announced that we could get brand new satellite equipment for free from the company’s competitor, and we were told to go ahead and switch, which we did.After we switched, the first company called to ask why we left, and we told our story. The employee agreed that "after four years, we should have fixed it for free." Too late. We’ve signed a new one-year agreement and we

Every question that is asked should be asked for a reason. Focus on ‘need to know’ questions and minimise ‘nice to know’ information.

4. Use plain English, avoid jargon and acronyms, maintain consistency and don’t ask questions that may result in ambiguous answers

Jingle Bell Walk Fundraiser
A fun fundraiser for the holiday season is doing a Jingle Bell Walk for your favorite cause. It can be a great fundraising event for a school, church group, medical research, or any other nonprofit group.The basic premise is very simple. You gather a group of people who will walk a certain distance or route and you raise funds for charity through sponsorship donations.The fun thing about this event is it's holiday theme and festive air. Every walker ties jingle bells to their shoelaces and as they walk, the happy noise brings smiles to the faces of everyone involved, event spectators, and even passerby.Raising funds You raise funds with your Jingle Bell Walk for a chartable cause by seeking both corporate and individual sponsorship donations. Companies like being involved with a family-oriented event with a festive air, a holiday theme, and a good cause.Contact companies well ahead of time with a fundraising donation request letter. Explain why you are raising funds, ask for their help, offer different levels of sponsorship, and highlight your fundraising walkathon's holiday theme. Be sure to include a donation form with suggested amounts and a pre-addressed envelope.Individual sponsorship donations are another excellent way to raise funds. Each walker in your Jingle Bell Walk should help raise funds by getting their friends and family to sponsor their participation.Popular approaches are donations by set amount ($5 or $10 is common) or by distance ($5 per mile, etc.). Ask each participating walker to raise at least $50 in individual donations.Getting publicity Increase participation with news coverage by local newspapers, radio, and television stations. Follow the standard press release format of a summary paragraph followed by specific details.Your press release should highlight why you are raising funds and provide event specifics such as date, time, and contact information. To maximize your chances of getting good press, be sure to include a unique newsworthy angle such as pictures of previous events or of the good work being done by your cause.You can even include a pair of jingle bells to attach to their own shoelaces along with an invitation to participate in the event.Summary This is a fun fundraising event that>3. Do not make the survey any longer than it needs to be

Every question that is asked should be asked for a reason. Focus on ‘need to know’ questions and minimise ‘nice to know’ information.

4. Use plain English, avoid jargon and acronyms, maintain consistency and don’t ask questions that may result in ambiguous answers

What is Network Marketing?
If you Google search the definition of network marketing here is what comes up in the number one spot.Network marketing, or multi level marketing, or mlm as it is known, is a business in which a distributor network is used to build the business. Usually such businesses are also MLM in nature in that payouts also occur at more than one level.Network Marketing is sometimes also used incorrectly to indicate that the business uses a network of product suppliers in order to offer a broader selection of products. It is usually used this way to differentiate themselves as a way to suggest that their program is superior to other such programs.Now if you have a network marketing business of your own or you are researching this industry it is most important to understand that network marketing offers several advantages to the average person that they could not get if they tried to start a business of their own and do it all by themselves.Here are a few of the advantages of starting a network marketing business of your own.1. Low start up cost. If you were to go out and start a franchise you could expect to spend thousands or maybe even millions of dollars to start. You can join most network marketing companies for under $100.2. Real products. This means that you can make money selling products which is known as retailing. This allows you to put your business in an immediate profit mode.3. Duplication. This is a very powerful concept that allows you to build a downline of distributors from whom you can make money on their sales as well. Unlike affiliate marketing which can be 2 tier in nature, network marketing pays you on the efforts of distributors several levels deep.4. No territories. One of the best thing about network marketing is you can build a business virtually anywhere in the world that your company is open for business. The internet has made that even easier to do.5. Training and support materials. You will have everything you need to be successful. Training brochures, conference calls for training and business meetings, websites, and other advertising materials.This is a quick overview of network marketing as a business. This is a way to start a business of your own and make a lot of money someday if you build it up large">4. Use plain English, avoid jargon and acronyms, maintain consistency and don’t ask questions that may result in ambiguous answers

Try to use short sentences wherever possible. Long questions tend to cause respondents discomfort and can lead to a higher level of incidents where respondents abandon a survey.

Avoid confusing the respondent with a question like ‘Do you like football and tennis?’

It is important not to load the question. ‘Should irresponsible shop keepers who sell tobacco to children be prosecuted?’ is unlikely to have any value.

8. Ensure that the answer format used allows the respondent to answer the question being asked

Allow the respondent to answer how they really feel or they may be less inclined to complete the survey. As a last resort consider the benefit of including a “Don’t know”, “Can’t say” or similar response option.

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Digg it UP - 20 Top Tips To Writing Effective Surveys

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