Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Marketers, Go Back to Basics


Marketing is changing so fast, it's easy to get our heads turned by new, high-tech developments. Doesn't my company need a smartphone app? How should we leverage augmented reality? What about gamification? But, as a marketing consultant who is putting my own theories to the test as I work to drive sales of my first book, it's become clear to me that many companies have needlessly forsaken some marketing strategies that still have life in them.
I recently chatted with Tim Hayden, the SVP of Mobile Strategy at Edelman Digital, a conference where we were both speakers. He's obviously a believer in the future of mobile — and so am I — but he agreed that high tech isn't always the right choice. "There's so much that's sexy in social media and in mobile right now," he said. "Anyone who's bought a smartphone in the last 18 months is doing some things they hadn't imagined yet." When they read about a big company launching a cutting-edge initiative, they want in — but the economics usually only make sense for large companies that have experimental budgets. Instead, he says it often pays to focus on bread-and-butter marketing (like direct mail) or even on technical innovations of the past few years that are effective, but less novel (like mobile websites).
Some of the best marketing I've seen in the past year has come from an unlikely source: Kochi, India. A year ago, I traveled to Tissa's Inn, a small, charming hotel in that seaside community. Like all hotels are required to do, they photocopied our passports and took down our contact information. But they've made better use of it than anywhere else I've stayed. Having your passport means they have your birth date — so they make it a point to send an effusive, personalized birthday email. "We fondly remember your stay with us and your birthday today. All my staff joins me to wish you A HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" They've also emailed us on Valentine's Day, Easter, and Christmas, which means that I hear from them more frequently than anyone besides my mother. And the close of each email is a link to TripAdvisor and a request to write a review, if we haven't already done so. It's zero-cost marketing, but it's friendly, personalized, and keeps them top of mind better than most multimillion-dollar companies.
In some cases, even email is overdone. Matt, a former student of mine from Suffolk University, now works in sales — and finds email totally ineffective for his purposes. "Honestly, I get more meetings with the C-suite with a handwritten letter," he told me. The secret that both Matt and Tissa's Inn have discovered is that successful marketers need to go where the competition isn't.
To improve your marketing, and perhaps even save some money, it's important to first determine if you've fully extracted the value from existing ideas, existing product lines, and existing marketing channels. Innovation is great — but not before you've leveraged what you've already got. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
What is everyone else doing — and how can I do the opposite? Other hotels blast out e-newsletters to their entire database; Tissa's Inn sends simple, personalized notes. Other salesmen wantonly barrage top executives and hope to score a hit; Matt crafts handwritten letters that break through the clutter.
What worked in the past that's been abandoned — and why? Sometimes, marketing strategies are dropped for good reason: the smart money got out of telemarketing a long time ago, because no sane person would talk to a salesman after the advent of caller ID. Other times, it's simply laziness: it takes longer to write a handwritten note, so people switched to email. That can become your competitive advantage.
What circumstances have changed that might allow for new opportunities? When you're examining your product mix, recognize that the past may hold untapped resources. It looked like solar panels were dead after the oil crisis abated and President Reagan unceremoniously ripped them off the White House roof. But when climate change became a pressing concern, the industry once again had popular appeal (and President Obama even put them back on).
What untapped markets might exist? The wave of history passed from vinyl records to 8-tracks to cassettes to CDs to digital downloads. But that doesn't mean vinyl is dead. On the contrary, it still has a competitive advantage — its superior sound quality, compared to digital. Not everyone cares — honestly, I don't — but a small, high-end market is most certainly willing to pay for that difference in quality. It occasionally makes sense to write something off for the masses, but resurrect it for a niche audience.
Sometimes — depending on your industry and target audience — the new, shiny tool or technique is the right way to go. But often, you can get a better result by drawing from your existing resources and simply being strategic about how to communicate in a more memorable way than your competitors.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Stop regretting your Career Decisions

"I should have never chosen this field." "I should have left my job long ago." It's no fun to lament over decisions you've made in your career. Instead of letting remorse suffocate you, face it head on:
  • Get input. Ask some trusted friends to brainstorm ways to think differently about your regrets. Choose confidants who are imaginative and positive — not cynical and snarky.
  • Ask "what if" questions. Using the input you got, formulate questions that help you view your career from a fresh angle. For example, if you regret going into PR, you might ask yourself: What if I did PR for a cause I believed in?
  • Explore ideas to act on. Look deeper into a few of your "what ifs." If you find yourself getting excited about one possibility, keep working on it until it pays off.

Ask for feedback before taking the job

It's tempting to start fresh with a new company in the hopes of advancing your career. But finding great success by jumping ship may be more myth than reality. Managers often sign on to a new job out of frustration, only to run into the same problems they faced in their prior organization. If you're getting ready to take a shiny new job because you're not moving forward in your current company, don't act until you get honest feedback. Find out how you are perceived by those who make promotional decisions in your company. What skills have you demonstrated? Which do you need to develop? Is there anything holding you back? This input may help you uncover some of the leadership challenges you face, which will likely follow you to any new job. Before you make that move, find out what you're up against.

Stand Out in your Interview

You get one chance to impress in a job interview. Perform well and the job may well be yours. Fail and you're back to sending out resumes. Here are three tips for getting it right:
  • Prepare, prepare, prepare. Find out as much as possible about the company, how it's organized, its culture, relevant industry trends, and some information about the interviewer.
  • Ace the first 30 seconds. First impressions matter. Start off by speaking clearly but slowly, walk with confidence, and think through what "props" you will carry so you don't appear over-cluttered.
  • Tell stories. In interviews, people respond to narratives far more than they do data. Prepare concise stories that demonstrate your ability to do the job. Make sure they have a good opening line, such as, "I'm going to tell you about a time that I rescued the organization."

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

MOST TEAMS UNDERPERFORM. YOURS CAN BEAT THE ODDS.

Assemble and steer teams that get results. 

Motivate large, diverse groups to tackle
complex projects
Increase groups' emotional intelligence
Reverse the fortunes of a struggling team
Prevent decision deadlock
Extract results from a bunch of touchy superstars
Fight constructively with top-management colleagues
Ensure productivity in far-flung teams

Saturday, December 1, 2012

What You Can Do To Prevent Layoffs

Are layoffs just a fact of life? Or are they avoidable? Sure, few managers have a say in whether their company will lay off employees, but there are some things you can do to reduce the likelihood:
  • Watch out for complexity. Organizations have a tendency to grow, adding unnecessary layers, positions, and locations. Whenever possible, advocate for keeping things structurally simple.
  • Phase out products and services. Outdated products and services can eat up costs and require expensive infrastructure. Eliminate the ones that have outlived their value.
  • Concentrate on the future. Focusing on short-term revenues can build up costs (and people) that provide results today but cannot be sustained in the long-term. Don't just invest in current operations.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Position Your Start-Up for the Long Term

When starting a new business, there’s a strong temptation to make decisions for the short term. But you need to anticipate the long-term challenges. There are three things it’s critical to get right: 
  • Co-founders. The natural inclination is to co-found with family or friends. But these relationships can be fraught. Plus you’re more likely to have similar perspectives. Look for partners who bring complementary skills and assets.
  • Roles. Most founders want a C-level title. After all, they were there from the start. But choose roles that reflect the actual work each founder will do, not the fancy title he wants to show off.
  • Rewards. One of the biggest questions for start-ups is how to split equity ownership. A handshake on 50/50 will not do, because almost all new companies will have a major change in strategy or founder involvement. Negotiate an arrangement that can change when circumstances do.

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What to Expect If You Take a Bad Job

In this economy, many believe you'd be insane to turn down a job. Certainly, if you're unemployed, you might need to take any position offered to you. But if you're considering a job offer that you know isn't right for you, think about the risks:
  • Getting stuck. Once you're in a certain job, organization, or field, it might be hard for employers to imagine you in a different role.
  • Poor performance. If you aren't committed to a job, you're unlikely to take it seriously. This will further your dissatisfaction and may make it difficult to get good references in the future.
  • Opportunity costs. You'll probably still pursue other jobs. If you take the bad offer, you may miss out on future options that come along. Instead, you might decide to stay in the job market and do all you can to make other more promising offers happen.


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Monday, September 24, 2012

Muslims in Pain

I am in pain for the humility Muslims are facing today. Islam the religion for the whole humanity is being forbidden and humiliated in ways that are unbearable by its followers. Then the world say Muslims as warriors. What do they do when their Prophet P.B.U.H. is targeted by the ignorant?
Today their is war against Muslims in different regions of the world in the name of making PEACE for humanity. Every day the Ummah of 1200 million Muslims is being slaughtered in Palestine, Iraq, Western Sudan, Somalia, Kashmir, Philippines, Chechnya, Bosnia, and Assam. West has confirmed the phrase quoted by Osama Bin Laden; The West is incapable of recognizing the rights of others. It will not be able to respect others' beliefs or feelings. The West still believes in ethnic supremacy and looks down on other nations. They categorize human beings into white masters and coloured slaves. West is the sole creator of PAIN and BLOOD SHED in the world today.When would it be the time to stop? US has taken the charge of all humanity and people are asking who are they - the GOD? World today seeks freedom from the US who themselves is the biggest slogan maker for FREEDOM. Where is freedom? Freedom of thought, idea, speech, and ink. Going Global and the invasion of technology doesn't make them the supreme power. The supreme power remains the same for the eternity; that is, Allah. US shouldn't take the whole world as fool. Everyone is looking at the unlawful acts done by them every day in the name of making peace and showcasing Muslims as slaughters when they themselves are killing thousands of innocents at different regions of the world making the biggest bloodshed in history.
Please, take pity and charge of your own actions in spite of blaming the world of decent people who want to live in peace and freedom.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Recipes for bread maker

By: Phil y
Bread machine recipes
Bread machine is a great way to bake your own bread. All you have to do is put the ingredients in the container, and switch on. My advice is to buy quality, then you will become quality products. With a good machine you should receive a non-stick container, measuring utensils, instruction booklet, and most important a recipe booklet.
You can find practically many hundreds of recipes on the market, for instance white and brown loaf, onion and also cheese loaf or maybe cake recipes, indeed you are able to bake a cake in the bead machine.
Here I have included 2 recipes for you to try, to just get your tastes buds working.
It's an awesome aroma whenever you bake your own at home, and eating fresh, well that's an extravagance in it's self. Homemade is obviously much better than bought products, for example, you will know where it stems from therefore you know what is in it.
Black Pepper Onion
Ingredient
1cup Water
1tbsp Butter or margarine
1tsp Salt
3cups Strong flour
3tbsp Non fat dry milk powder
1tbsp Sugar
11/2tsp Dry minced onions
3/4tsp Fresh ground black pepper -- medium coarse ground
1/4tsp Garlic powder
2tsp Dried yeast
Add ingredients so as provided by producer. Basic/white bread
setting.
Medium/normal colour setting.
NOTE: If using finer grind of pepper, bring down amount to 1/4 tsp for
either size
loaf.
Carrot and Thyme
Component
1 1/2 lbs loaf:
2 1/2tsp Active dried yeast
two 1/4cups strong flour
1 cup Rye flour
1/2cup Yellowish cornmeal
one 1/2 tablespoons Sugar
1 1/2tsp Salt
1 1/2tbsp Dried thyme
2 cups Carrots; freshly grated -- or
finely chopped
1cup Water or more as needed
This moist multi-grain loaf is excellent.
It will be packed with vitamins as well as fibre and will taste good with fruit or
vegetable salad or lentil or bean soup.
Add all ingredients in the order suggested by your bread machine manual
and process on the basic loaf cycle according to the manufacturer's

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By: Jim Ford
When men and women think "survival preparations" they have a tendency to neglect one of the most basic things a person can do to get ready for any crisis. That one thing is to sustain a solid level of health and fitness.
The year 2012; Impending disaster or just some other 12 months knocked off of your life span? Maybe there is something to be said about the predictions for a planet altering cataclysmic situation, but possibly not.
Even if the world isn't going to meet its near doom in December of 2012, a number of of us will need to deal with our own struggles or disasters somewhere within our lifetimes. Knowing this, shouldn't you be at least somewhat prepared?
You can store supplies, read books, and even watch the survivor shows on the television, but will you be physically capable of responding to a disaster when you are needed the most? Have you given much consideration to how your health and fitness level can relate to your ability to survive?
A strong level of fitness can mean the difference between getting out of that collapsed building, or having the ability to dig out your loved ones after the Tornado tears through your local community. Rescue workers will be stretched thin and your family and friends may have only you to rely on in the immediate moments following a disaster. Are you capable of prolonged assistance? Are you physically capable of helping? Even if you are the one stuck inside the rubble, your chances of survival are often increased when you are physically healthy and fit.
Are you living on medications simply because you are overweight? Do you know that losing weight and getting your body into condition can help, but you still don't seem to care enough to do anything about it? Your health not only affects you, but it also affects people around you, and in an emergency situation this can be amplified considerably.
A steady program of exercise can help you deal with stress better too. It is proven that regular exercise can minimize stress and fight depression. If your doctor has advised you of how you can improve your health through diet and exercise and you still haven't started, or it seems that what you are doing isn't working for you, it may be time to take a look at what Team Beachbody has to offer.
Some of the programs you will see are being used by celebrities and professional athletes, and most importantly, they are being used successfully by others who are just like you! A Beachbody Coach will help you select a program based on your objectives and current fitness level.
You don't have to buy a program today. You can find a FREE beginner program on the same site where you can find Insanity® that runs about 25 minutes long. The free program was put out by Tony Horton, the creator of P90X®, Power 90®, 10-Minute Trainer®, and now the long awaited P90X2®. Please be sure you check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program!
Not only do you have access to this FREE workout, you also have access to a FREE online gym that gives you the ability to not only monitor your progress and your workouts, but also meet new people and get ideas on fitness and diet through the FREE message boards.
On this site you will find a number of videos on different pages that offer information on fitness programs, success stories, and even the opportunity for folks just like you to become an Independent Team Beachbody Coach.

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By: Erica Kindler
If you crave cakes, specially bundt cakes, FantasiCakes has all you will ever need. A great bundt cake shop that has many flavors to choose from for mail order shipping nationwide. Our customers want the best gourmet bundt cakes and will settle for nothing less. We have answered that call with our new line of bundt cakes available for mail order delivery when you order online. This new line of bundt cakes can only be found at FantasiCakes.com
FantasiCakes Online Bakery Shop has allot of different bakery goods, including bundt cakes. They have many pastry shop goods to fufill any list of dessert happy mothers like me. You'll be surprised to find many coffee cakes, layer cakes, pastries, and tarts, that you really can't find anywhere in the country. It's convenient for me to order bundt cakes online such as the Red Velvet Bundt Cake which a sugary glaze. FantasiCakes offers your money back if you are not satisfied with your purchase. They stand behind all there bakery goods and the Bundt Cakes are no different.
A bundt cake is considered to be the quintessential coffee cake. The bundt cake is a cake that is obviously baked in a bundt pan, shaping it into a distinctive ridged ring. With an ever-expanding line of products, FantasiCakes strives to provide excellence in quality and taste in all there bakery goods. More times then not, a bundt cakes can be boring , but FantasiCakes bundt cakes have amazing flavor and impress even the pickiest foodie.
A must try is the Rum Chocolate Bundt Cake which is really a Caribbean flavor that was new to me. A very moist and rich chocolate bundt cake with rum notes and a rum flavored glaze. The velvety chocolate ads allot of depth to the cake along with the rum after tones. Thats sure to make anyone go crazy for this cake I promise! The Rum Chocolate Bundt Cake is a new flavor but sure to be a hit with all who taste it. I had the pleasure of having the Everyone loves bundt cakes What can possibly be better then a bundt cake for a gift.

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Healthy Coffee WOW what a great idea.

By: James
Healthy coffee and ancient herbs are making a big ripple in the news recently as scientist have discovered it has a lot of powerful bio-active ingredients such as polysaccharides, that have noticeable anti cancer benefits. Ganoderma is a very powerful mushroom! Even more so it has cholesterol lowering properties, anti bacterial and anti viral benefits and can help with viral infections with the liver. It is also used in treating flu, avian swine and influenza. Healthy coffee, yes it's in there. It is helpful with viral infections such as aids! It is also very helpful in treating stomach ulcers, altitude sickness, chronic fatigue, an in the treatment of prostate cancer. Other tests done involving ganoderma and breast cancer, found when combining it with green tea heightened the ganodermas ability to slow cell growth. I'll take a daily dose of that in my healthy coffee!
Healthy Coffee, Mushrooms and Modern Research. We may take ancient medicine as an unreal source. It is very interesting although to discover that modern science and research has proved some very interesting things about ganoderma. As the research started Chinese researchers began discovering the chemical make up and medicinal effects of ganoderma back in the 50s. Researchers supported their findings with clinical studies. Researchers and scientist from the United states, Japan, China and Korea came together forming a global platform to collaborate research. Healthy coffee is the way to go!
Healthy Coffee and more benefits to Ganoderma. Scientists have researched the unique healing effects of the mushroom on the circulatory system, immune system and nervous system also its anti cancer properties. Studies have shown it can significantly improve your, immune system, blood circulation, improve cancer healing chances, and calm your nerves. Our bodies operate on these major systems. If we don't properly regulate them, we can become sick. The herb ganoderma helps to keep our body systems regulated, maintaining stability and ensuring a balance internally and externally maintaining healthy conditions. Sometimes when I get busy I forget to take my vitamins, but rarely do we forget our coffee. I drink my healthy coffee and I feel great. Ganoderma also has other important functions in our bodies….
Healthy Coffee, Energize and detoxify your body. Ganoderma can also get rid of bad toxins accumulated in our bodies through the consumption of western medications, pain killers, antibiotics, and anti inflammatories. It produces a boastful detoxifying effect maintaining your bodies balance. In this fast paced life we are subjected to a much more intense world resulting in, insomnia, tension, giddiness, loss of appetite and fatigue. With your life in high speed how many times have you missed your morning coffee? Healthy coffee is the way to go! The organic Germanium in ganoderma promotes enhancement of your blood streams ability to take in oxygen by more than 1.5 times. It also speeds up your metabolism helping maintain healthy weight and slowing down the aging process. Research done by a Japanese doctor found the concentration of Germanium in ganoderma is about 4 to 6 times much higher than ginseng. healthy coffee is wonderful!

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Simple Home Security Tips For Better Safety

By: Wilson George

Home is a great place and there is no doubt that it cannot be compared with anything else. The warmth and love which one feels is surely unique. Even if you find world class facilities but home is home and certainly the best place too. No home owner wants to have even a slightest scratch on their homes as it is the safest place for them. But there are so many robberies taking place that you need a home alarm to enhance the protection of the homes.
In order to find home alarm systems, you will have to look for a company that deals with home security. Though you will come across many choices but one cannot rely on any option but take their time in choose a good home security company. The company should be well known so that you can take its review from people. Mere relying on professionals is not a safe thought as it is the question of securing your homes. One cannot be lenient while taking any decision for their homes.
While searching for home alarm companies, you need to understand their services and see what kind of options they have for you. Customized solutions are better than any other option so go for Walker home which is a superb choice for the home owners. It is associated with several other alarm companies that cater to the desires of the customer and ensure that best device goes to your home.
It is not a single company but connected to other home alarm companies that will prove the perfect solution. They have services meant for all users hence you can have a look at different services and then decide an ideal option for you. You can talk to the experts of various companies as they can help you in choosing a good company along with the efficient services.

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If you are interested in collecting more information on our services, you are most welcome to visit us or even contact us for any help.
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Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Nature And The Children of Illinois

By: Lonnie J. Lorenz
Children in Illinois these days are spending little time outdoors. Parents need to step up and git their kids outdoors. This outdoor experience may have a long lasting impact on your child. For many this may be your child's first experience to Illinois natural world. By planning ahead you may tie your outdoor trip to their latest class teachings or just go for a fun play date outside. For all you know you might awaken a passion for the outdoors that will stay with your kid throughout their lifetime. An outdoor field trip is a great educational experience for all involved so go outside and have fun.
The state parks, natural areas, conservation areas, recreation areas, and fish and wildlife areas of Illinois has information on camping, hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, state park lodges and resorts, interpretive programs and many great ideas for places to visit and things to do in Illinois. I visited www.dnr.state.il.us
For instance, did you know that Illinois has adopted may natural elements here a few:
Illinois State Mineral - fluorite
Illinois State Bird - cardinal
Illinois State Fish - bluegill
Illinois State Reptile - painted turtle
Illinois State Fruit - goldrush apple
Going outside in In Illinois is easy, here are some places to go someday:
1)Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve
DuPage County
To reach it from Roosevelt Road (Route 38), turn north on Kress Road, then east on Downs Drive, then north on Industruial Drive.
Truitt-Hoff Nature Preserve is located in the Morainal Section of the Northeastern Illinois Morainal Natural Division. 120.3 acres in size, the preserve encompasses high-quality mesic prairie, wet-mesic prairie, freshwater marsh, mesic silt loam savanna, and wet prairie natural communities.
2)Kemper Park Nature Preserve
Location and Access:
From the jct of Rt. 64 and Rt. 31 in the center of downtown St. Charles, head north on Rt. 31 for 0.75 mile. The preserve is on the east side of Rt. 31 on the banks of the Fox River.
Rt. 68 and 25 in Carpentersville, head north on Rt. 25 for 1.2 miles to Hazard Rd. East (Right) on Hazard until it ends. Kemper Park is a thirteen acre nature preserve is an addition to Helm Woods Nature Preserve, a larger forested tract of dry-mesic upland and northern flatwood forests. Kemper Park Nature Preserve is contiguous to Helm Woods and is comprised of similar plant communities. The dry-mesic upland forest is dominated by white, red and black oaks while the flatwoods are dominated by swamp white oaks, ashes and elms with swamp sedge and fowl manna grass occurring frequently in the understory. Many forbs, especially spring ephemerals, sedges, grasses and shrubs can be found throughout the entire woodland complex. Garlic mustard is a major problem in this preserve. Prescribed burns have been implemented to control this invasive species.
Hwy. 14 southeast about 1 mile. The nature preserve is south of Hillside Avenue and southwest of Hwy. 14.
Baker's Lake Nature Preserve is a 209 acre area containing a 112 acre lake with an island and a stand of mature open-grown oaks. The area provides visitors with an example of a nature preserve which was dedicated primarily to protect a breeding area for rare and endangered birds rather than for its plant communities. The preserve protects a rookery for 4 species of colonial nesting birds; black-crowned night heron, great egret, double crested cormorant and great blue heron. The area also supports common moorhen, yellow-headed blackbird, and black tern. Other species, especially waterfowl, are present during migration.
Location and Access: Lemont Road north across the Des Plaines River, continue on Lemont Road to 111th Street (Bluff Road), then west and southwest 1 mi.
Cap Sauers Holdings Nature Preserve, at 1520 acres, is the largest nature preserve in northeastern Illinois. Dominant geological features include the rolling topography typical of the Valparaiso Moraine of the Morainal Division of northeastern Illinois and an esker. The Visitation Esker is one of the best defined examples of this glacial feature in the state. Most of the site is composed of young upland forests, and disturbed prairie and oak savanna communities. Much of the former prairie and oak savanna communities are now threatened by brushy native and non-native species that have advanced because fire has been suppressed. The Forest Preserve District of Cook County and The Nature Conservancy have embarked upon an ambitious project to restore much of this site to its presettlement condition.
OK, you're not an outdoorsy folk but you know you children need to get outside. No problem their are many outdoor programs, classes and Illinois Summer Camps available in and around your home.

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Find out more about Swift Nature Camp at a Overnight Summer Camps, See why we are one of the best  Science Summer Camp for your child.
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