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Helping Americans Do a Better Job of Saving for Retirement
Over the past 20 years, the 401(k) plan has gradually replaced the traditional pension plan as a primary source of retirement income for many American workers. This trend has shifted the responsibility for accumulating a source of retirement income from the employer to the employee....
Explore Sustainability Implementation for your Organization on August 21st in Cleveland
Identify innovative ways to reduce costs, discover new revenue streams, and promote collaboration within your organization by engaging in a Sustainability Implementation course offered by Entrepreneurs for Sustainability (E4S). Experience the power of a peer to peer learning environment by...
Bottled Water and Convenience - Is It Worth the Energy?
Beyond heating, lighting, and air conditioning, most workplaces have one amenity in common, a tap that is connected to the public water supply. Likewise, many if not most workplaces also share another modern convenience; stacks of bottled water by the case for employee and guest refreshment....
Finding Leads for Your Cold Calling Campaign by Wendy Weiss
Leads are everywhere. No one should ever put off a cold calling campaign with the excuse of having no one to call. There are many excellent sources to find lists of potential prospects for your market. Many of them are online, some well-known ones are: Hoovers.com, SalesGenie.com and...
READY, AIM ... NOW WHAT?
Strategic planning - everyone needs it, but few seem to have time for it ... or make time for it. Businesses either don't do it at all and for various reasons ("It takes too long," "It's too high level," "It doesn't help me today," "It's too...
ANOTHER POTENTIAL STRIKE AGAINST OHIO - COSE On Guard for Small Business
This may not seem to concern your business right now, but it could in the future. Legislation that impacts small businesses impacts all of us. The following information will explain. Another Potential Strike Against Ohio Small Business for a Better Ohio Tucker Ellis & West LLP NEW...
Determine Your Personal Sustainability Profile
Curious about your sustainability impact as a consumer? YouSustain.com is an online tool that will help you determine your baseline sustainability factor (how sustainable am I compared to the average average person?). Once your baseline is established through a short survey that profiles your...
The value of "Free meta tags" is just about dead!
Did you know that the value (search impacting) of your FREE meta tags has dropped by 90% over the years? Worse yet...the remaining 10% will be further reduced...eventually to "0"? Recently a SEO (Search Engine Optimization) expert/author stated " Let's just put it to rest...
Execution - the art of getting it done!
Formulating a solid business strategy, one that provides your organization with true competitive advantage, is a real challenge. However, when I polled some area business leaders, I found that they viewed strategy building as the easy part. A strategic plan is usually defined by a small group of...
Is Twitter a Verb? Why an Interesting New Social Networking Tool May Just Be Worth Exploring
Actually, "tweet" is the verb; it's what people who belong to the Twitter network do. Based on recent stats, I am guessing that 50% of the people reading this don't know what I am talking about, 40% of you have heard of Twitter, another 8% know all about it, and perhaps about...
Overloaded? Who Isn't?
Each of us faces some kind of overload every day. As I completed my daily ‘To Do’ list, I once again wondered ‘How I could get it all done?’ Well, I can’t! What will get done are those items that are most important to me, or interesting. Arguably some items will...
Stressed Out? Consider These Tension-Taming Tips
If you're a small business owner who's stressed out, you're certainly not alone. As a wellness coach, I work with plenty of business owners and busy professionals who say they're stressed to the limit. The truth is that stress, itself, isn't the bad guy. In small...
Websites that Rock
The other night, my 20-year-old daughter and I went to see the new Rolling Stones movie "Shine a Light," directed by Martin Scorsese. I was expecting a documentary that would take me on a journey down memory lane to some good music. I think my daughter was looking for a glance into my...
IRS Reduces Extension Period for Certain Business Taxpayer Filings
The Internal Revenue Service has issued temporary and proposed regulations that will reduce the allowed extension period from the current six months to five months. These changes affect those business taxpayers who file form 1065 - U.S. Return of Partnership Income, form 1041 - U.S. Income Tax...
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IT Performance Reported Strong for 4th Quarter 2007
The economic news has not been very good lately. It seems that the sub-prime mortgage mess has spilled over into a general economic slowdown. Unfortunately, the dreaded "R" word is now rearing its ugly head more and more. But the tech sector appears to be weathering the storm....
IT Workforce Study - presented by NorTech
We've reported here for the last few months that the tech sector continues to perform well. However, an ongoing challenge for the industry is the availability of talent in the region, both from the existing labor pool and students entering the workforce. NorTech commissioned a study on...
NEOSA Best of Tech Winners - an impressive group!
There are many challenges that come with running a tech company, like keeping current on new technologies, finding new clients, and being a leader. You know that just managing your business isn't enough. You've got to lead your team, create innovative products, and work to reach the...
IT Workforce and National College Trends
A pair of articles this week in Time and Business Week point out an interesting and challenging trend facing the Tech industry nationwide. At a time when demand for talent is strong and expected to increase, enrollment and graduation rates continue to decline. In fact, more than 850,000 jobs...
When and How to Create a Social Media Campaign
Before creating a social media campaign, consider your objectives. Do you want to improve brand recognition by engaging your target market? Are you launching a new product and want to use the Internet as an awareness-building channel? Do you want your employees to interact with one another or...
Rated 5 of 5
You Don't Hear How You Sound
When I was growing up my mother used to say ‘You don't hear how you sound.' And she was right. She said it so often, that I absorbed that statement and now try to monitor my communications. While I may not always be successful, I am a much better communicator than I used to be....
Power Is Asking The Right Question
People are always looking for answers. They want to know how to improve their business or their life. They want to know how to fix various problems in their business and in their life. They want to know how to get more clients or customers or how to increase their revenue. They want to...
2008 Federal Standard Mileage Rate Revision
With IR-2008-82 the Internal Revenue Service has announced an increase to the standard mileage rates for second half of 2008. The standard mileage rate for cars, vans, pickup trucks or panel trucks will be increasing to 58.5 cents per mile starting July 1, 2008 . The standard mileage rate for...
Rated 5 of 5
Lou's Law - How a Little Creativity Can Bring Big Rewards in Recruiting
The time has come for your organization to add staff and you want to post a job on- line. Reactions to doing this can range from "No problem. I see dozens of job postings that even "I could write" to "Holy cow, how do I do this?" Job boards are the rage today to attract...
Rated 4 of 5
What to Do When the Bank Says NO -- An Overview of Alternative Sources of Capital
Here's a familiar story. A small, growing business needs working capital to expand or cover operating expenses but gets turned down repeatedly by banks and investors. Does this business owner have any other options? In a word, YES! This article will present and briefly describe some...
Getting Out Of Your Franchise
Is your franchise being affected by the US economic downturn? {It's a recession, folks.} Are you considering your "options?" Can you hang in there until business is back to normal? If your small business/franchise is not being impacted by this ugly economy, please let me...
Rated 5 of 5
Change is inevitable; failure is optional - Part II
In part 1 of this column, I highlighted one of the CEO's biggest challenges: the inevitability of change. This challenge has many layers and levels, and since it involves many individuals and teams, it's much more complex than it appears. The Complexity of Change Change is pervasive...
A Referral Doesn't Mean Closed Sales
You shouldn't skip steps in the sales process, even with a recommendation. Here's how you can make the most of your leads. By Ivan Misner | May 28, 2008 When one of your business relationships passes you a referral, don't assume that the prospect is ready to hear a...
Failure is NOT an Option by Cheryl Clausen
Small business owners, all commission-only sales people who do very well recognize they are small business owners, are special people. You are special because of your commitment, your persistence, and your determination. You have a tremendous work ethic. If all it takes is hard work you...
IRS Reduces Businesses Tax Package Mailings
IRS Reduces Businesses Tax Package Mailings In a cost cutting move the IRS has been reducing the number of tax form packages being mailed to businesses. In the past those businesses who filed electronically or used a paid preparer were the most likely candidates not to receive a tax package the...
Rated 5 of 5
PRACTICAL-y Paperless
In the beginning there was a vision... Thirty three years ago, Business Week magazine alluded to the notion of the Paperless Office . Most likely introduced as the focal point of marketing genius; the image of the Paperless Office is often met with skepticism. Let us step back....
Rated 5 of 5
What Google Says About Your Business
Do you know what kind of results come back when someone searches for your company on the Web? Or one of your employees? Modern social networking websites make it easy for anyone to post content on the Web and as it becomes a more prominent part of everyday life, you need to be increasingly aware...
Rated 5 of 5
How do you make a 60-second sales pitch?
(While this isn't a networking topic as such, networking usually leads to marketing or sales for our small businesses. And my responses do connect with networking-related strategies and techniques. This text was part of a MindSpring discussion item and was featured on the...
Rated 4 of 5
Cat fight on aisle 6: court leaves open the possibility that a handbook can create a contract
In White v. Fabiniak , Wal-Mart fired Carla White for threatening to "slap the piss" out of a co-worker, Stephanie Jeppe. Prior to the termination, White had used Wal-Mart's Open Door Policy to complain to her supervisor that Jeppe had been threatening her. White was an at-will...
In responding to harassment complaint, prompt means prompt
In Bailey v. USF Holland , the 6th Circuit had occasion to examine whether the employer's response to two African-American employees' claims of racial harassment was sufficiently prompt to defeat liability. This case provides a good case study from which companies can learn how, and how...
IRA Rollovers: Stashing Your Retirement Nest Egg
Whether you are a boomer saying goodbye to the daily grind or a Gen-Xer moving on to the next level of your career, retirement or a job change can create an ideal time to ask yourself what you want to do with your accumulated retirement funds. Unfortunately, there is no cookie-cutter answer to...
Bridging the Gap
Competition necessitates seamless operations and proficiency with changing technologies. Adopting a document management strategy into your business process is one solution for improving efficiency. However, before you look into investing in document management software it is imperative to...
Rated 5 of 5
So...What IS a Franchise?
Here is what a franchise really is.... The franchise business is a licensing system by which the owner {franchisor} of a product or a service licenses others {franchisees} to market and sell the product or service within a defined territory, following the guidelines established by the...
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Change Is Inevitable, Failure is Optional - PART I
As the old saying goes: " If nothing changes, nothing changes." Last week I was visiting with the CEO of a landmark area company. The CEO was lamenting the challenges of moving away from the "status quo." He said, "I know we need to change, but I'm scared to...
Rated 4 of 5
Who Are Your People? Management Magic 6
Whenever I visit relatives in the south, a frequent question of a new acquaintance is “Who’re his people?” This shortcut is a guide to this person, his history, status in the community, etc. In the workplace “Who’re your people?’ is all about who you keep...
Rated 5 of 5
Before Posting an Open Job
Without a good map, set of directions or GPS coordinates, how can we navigate ourselves in unfamiliar territory? Most small business owners are very good at what they do (that's why they're in business), yet making good hires may not be their core competency. A map to help making...
Finally, Simple Sales Secret to Fight and Beat Your Competition by Cheryl Clausen
Why are you fighting in the jungle when you could be playing on the green? Is it because you approach sales just like your competition? When our fore fathers fought the revolutionary war they didn't win by fighting according to the King's rules. It's time for you to write your...
14 Tips to make sure that your advertising copy works! Steps 4-6
Here are the next three...
14 Tips to make sure that your advertising copy works! Steps 1-3
Here are the first three Number one; Translate features into benefits. Don't just...
How To Stimulate Word of Mouth Advertising
A great way to stimulate business is by using word of mouth strategies. Far better though is real word of mouth advertising and there is a single, basic secret to stimulating a high rate of word-of-mouth advertising. I first discovered the secret from studying the Disney Companies. Word-of-mouth...
Mistakes People Make When They Set Goals
Goals are a dream, wish, an aim, purpose, a desire, focus, an objective. It is planning and taking action to accomplish something - but you have a 50/50 chance of succeeding or failing! As an optimist, I want to lean on the side of success, and at the same time understanding if I take a wrong...
Take Out The Trash by Kelley Robertson
Is your head trash piling up? The term "head trash" came up during a conversation with a colleague and he used the phrase to describe the mental garbage that affects the performance of most sales people. Head trash is a collection of limiting thoughts or ideas that prevent you from...
Roth 401(k) Plans Are Gaining Traction
It looks as though more and more people will have the option of using a Roth 401(k) to save for retirement. Of 429 U.S. companies included in a recent survey, 22% gave employees the choice of a Roth 401(k). Of the companies that did not offer a Roth, 61% plan to add this option.[1] What does the...
Rated 4.5 of 5
Custom Software vs. Buying Off-the-Shelf
Recently I was approached by a client who wanted to develop a Web site with very specific functionality. We talked for a brief period of time to understand the requirements. At the end of this discussion the client looked at me and asked, "Which off-the-shelf application would meet our...
Snag Talent with Your Website
Do you have job openings? If so, do your job descriptions sell the position? Does it include indicators of your company's vision, mission, values and culture? Is there a contact person for applications? And does it state the location of the position? The bottom line--your Web site is...
Web Site/Email hosting - You may be overpaying!
We will drive for miles to find gasoline for our cars that is $.10 cheaper but to often I find that business owners do very little or no due diligence when it comes to comparing costs for their web site hosting and email. The savings can range anywhere from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars a...
Shopping for E-mails
E-marketing is fast becoming one of the most effective, low-cost marketing vehicles of choice. But how do you find those e-mail addresses to expand your efforts? The answer is tricky. More and more list vendors are working to add e-mail lists to their service offerings. Vendors like infoUSA.com,...
Growth: How to Get to Your Destination with Six Disciplines
Do you fear that if you don't make changes to your business now, you wonder what will you will have in five years? You think to yourself, "things are pretty good today, but if I don't look to where I want to take this business, we may never again enjoy the same growth, revenue,...
Rated 3 of 5
Hosted or Premise-Based VoIP System?
Between Vonage ads for residential Voice Over IP (VoIP) service and the "VoIP" buzz word all over the commercial world, the marketplace has been very confused by the two different types of VoIP phone system implementations- hosted or premise-based. Both use VoIP and each has its place...
Why Review an Applicant's Driving Record?
Just because your applicant provides a driver's license does not mean they are a legally licensed driver. A license revocation or suspension may only show up on a motor vehicle report. A driving record or motor vehicle report (MVR) can be an insightful initial snapshot of an...
Rated 5 of 5
Shut Up And Sell!
Contrary to popular belief, to be a successful salesperson, it doesn't matter how much you know about your product or service. It also doesn't matter how much of an industry expert you are. It doesn't even matter how great your mother thinks you are. The only thing that really...
Use the News As a Marketing Tool
When you write your marketing plan, include the news. Find a good story about your company and tell it to the media. If you get them interested, they do the rest, and you have instant attention and credibility. The news can be something as simple as new employees or as in-depth as new...
Telecommuting!
Virtual offices or Telecommuting employees can be great cost savings for a company. Fortune 500 companies have been doing it for years and now with the advancement in software, hardware and High-Speed Internet access it is affordable and practical for the small-medium size companies as well....
Get your Strategic Plan to Jump off the Shelf
I was speaking to a group of CEOs recently at CEO Forum and told them I wanted to perform a "mind-reading exercise." I asked them to close their eyes and think about their most recent strategy planning session. Placing my hand on one of the more seasoned CEO's shoulders, I began...
"Click to Call": Integrate Your Website and Phone System
Whether you have an old or new phone system, you probably have a website. Wouldn't it be great to transform a website visitor into a telephone caller who can be instantly transferred to a "live" salesperson so you can capture that lead real time? In the telecom industry, we...
Direct Mail Campaigns
So, you're deciding on whether or not to employ a direct-mail campaign as part of your marketing plan? There are several things you will need to consider to make the direct mail campaign as effective as it can be. Although a direct-mail campaign is best used as a supplement to another...
Make Upgrading Easier!
Software: make sure your current hardware meets all the necessary requirements to run the new/more-advanced software products. New versions of software and different software brands can have specific computer hardware requirements. When choosing your new or updated software, make sure you...
It's Out There Somewhere
Too many people blame the economy for a downturn in sales. In reality, they just aren't adjusting to the circumstances around them. In a good economy prospects for your products/services abound. The process you employ to find them and sell to them should reflect the makeup of those many...
How to Set Yourself Up For Failure
1. Choose a franchise for yourself in which you have industry experience. Example: Early on in Sylvan Learning Center ’s growth, a large number of teachers invested in this franchise. Certainly made sense...familiar business, love of teaching, love of children etc. The...
Rated 4 of 5
Social Networking Sites, by David Hunt
(Editor's note - this article first appeared in the Cleveland Society of HR Management newsletter and is rerun with permission) So you received an email from an old friend you haven’t talked to in ages inviting you to join his network on LinkedIn. Worse yet, this is the fifth...
Retirement Plan Options for Small Businesses
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the U.S. Department of Labor have teamed together to produce an online video that helps small business owners understand the differences in the variety of retirement plans available. The video is titled "Choosing a Retirement...
Rated 4.90909 of 5
SEO and Multiple Domain Names
Great article on Search Engine Guide today on how to manage multiple domain names. http://www.searchengineguide.com/stoney-degeyter/redirecting-alternate-domains-to-prevent.php Hidden nugget of info in the article. Be sure to register as many iterations of your domain name as possible....
Tried & True or Latest & Greatest?
My husband recently bought a smart cell phone to keep his calendar, contacts and email while on the go. It's a very "cool" phone! However, because so much battery power goes into the "smartness" of the phone, little power is left for the antennae so cell signal is low and...
What Kind of Estate Plan Makes the Most Sense for You?
An estate plan consists of a series of legal documents and legal and financial arrangements that are assembled in a particular way. This arrangement is designed to accomplish your objectives with regard to the use and distribution of your assets, including your business, for yourself, in the...
Beyond Value: How to Become Invaluable to Your Clients
As sellers, we're continually told to sell value and to let our prospects know about all of our value-added services. After all, that's how we're going to win the sales. Right? Not necessarily. Value is relative. It's in the eye of the beholder. So much depends on how the...
Seven Test Questions for Setting Goals
Setting goals is a nice objective but if we are setting goals that are misdirected, it can set us up for failure. This will then keep us from taking the steps or having the confidence to move forward in our purpose. Perhaps you may have set some goals in your life wishing you had never done...
Rated 5 of 5
How to Get a Prospect Part 2
One excellent method is the use of anonymous surveys . Information gathered with anonymous surveys is most likely to be accurate. On the other hand many customers won't respond to such surveys. For that reason at another time you may need to survey your customers with identity attached by...
Franchise Basics. 5 Basic Types Of Franchises
There are well over 3,000 different choices in the world of franchise ownership. Where does one even begin??? A good place to start is learning about the 5 basic categories in franchising today. There are certainly subcategories galore, and some evolving franchise models, but this is a good...
Rated 5 of 5
Management Magic: Chronic Complainers
Dealing With Chronic Complainers: Management Magic 5 Your employee frequently and openly complains and criticizes most management actions. Criticisms are generally expressed as an opinion that “It won’t work! A waste of time! ” When this is a long term...
Rated 5 of 5
Virtual Assistants...Help is in the Air!
You know you need help but you either don't want to hire an employee or don't know if you have quite enough work for a fulltime person. The solution may be a Virtual Assistant (VA). With this concept, you can buy blocks of time -some as low as 10 hours per month and instantly have an...
Practice Makes Perfect Networking - By Ivan Misner, 4/16/08
Implement these 2 simple strategies and watch the referrals pour in. These are the two things you should know about networking: 1. "Practice makes perfect" is not enough. Practice alone is not enough. It must be "effective" practice. In martial arts, the...
Passion as a Sales Tool
We all know that Sales is really all about "closing the sale". There is not a salesperson alive who does not use a variety of techniques to help them be successful with customers. However, I believe passion is the most underrated and underutilized sales tool in our arsenal because...
How to Get a Prospect's Information --- Part 1 of 2
In this Marketing Strategy I want to discuss the importance of being able to properly define and target your ideal prospect by using readily available demographic information. If you have that information you have the power to very efficiently selecting new groups of targeted prospects. For...
IRS Stakeholder Liaison Assistance for Schedule C Filers
Help for Schedule C Filers On May 21, 2008 the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Stakeholder Liaison section is offering a free National Phone Forum for schedule C filers titled "Calling All First Time Schedule C Filers." The seminar is designed for individuals, small business owners,...
Rated 5 of 5
Mining Your Inbound Links
Once you've established a relevant keyword set for your website, a great place to start putting it use is in your site's inbound links. Inbound links are an important element of achieving high search engine rankings. Search engines take into account both the quality and quantity of...
Technology and Communicating with The Generation Y
More than likely you will be hiring a "Y" generation person (if not already) that is in their 20 somethings. They have grown up with multi-media and multi-communcating. They would rather text than talk at times and tend to prefer interacting electronically than one-one. At times the...
Translating Technology into English!
One of the greatest challenges small businesses face is separating the wheat from the chaff especially when it comes to making a decision about which technologies are best for the business & the best ROI. The problem becomes even more compounded when the best solution requires the...
Wake up the Sleep Walkers: Management Magic 4
In 2006 the Gallup Company surveyed one thousand employees across the nation regarding their ‘level of engagement’ in their work/company. The results were shocking. The Gallup Company found that only 27% of all workers are actively engaged in their work’. 59% are...
Rated 5 of 5
7 Tips for Building Relationships & Guaranteeing Repeat Business
1. Make sure that you ask all of the right questions so that you truly understand your prospect's needs. Don't assume that you know what your customer wants or that they have the same needs as all of your other customers. Ask. This way you'll be sure. 2. Give your...
Rated 5 of 5
A Criminal Records Primer for the Employer
There are many free public records resources available to an employer who conducts pre-employment criminal records searches in-house. A complete listing of free available online public records, by state, is available at http://www.crimcheck.com/freerecords.htm . Below is a description of the...
Rated 5 of 5
Finding a Reputable Pre-employment Screening Provider
Consider the following points: - The Society for Human Resource Management states that 45% of all resumes contain at least one major fabrication - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that 33% of all bankruptcies are due to employee theft - Identity theft for employment purposes has risen...
Rated 5 of 5
A Clear Strategy for the Future
Many companies spend a good deal of their time "fighting fires" in the workplace. - That is, their time is spent realizing and reacting to situations, rather than planning ahead. It can be very difficult to stand back and see through all of the smoke: WHAT it is the company needs to...
Rated 3 of 5
The New Technology Driven Etiquette - Part One
We are all aware of the fact that more & more of our communications are digital (text) and that has created a number of challenges. Little did I know that missing those English writing classes would come back to haunt me. In the following series of articles I will cover various aspects of...
The Dangers of the Comfort Zone
Sales is a tricky business. You have to consistently pursue new opportunities while maintaining the relationships you already have. The greater the emphasis is on ‘new' the less attention is paid to ‘old.' It becomes easy to convince yourself that your current clients are...
Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
Respecting the phases in the life-cycle of a document, information must be captured before it can be managed. During the capture phase, a document and its information are acquired and then converted into a format that is compatible with your ECM solution. The force driving this process is...
Rated 5 of 5
Social Networking Sites Provide a New Way to Connect
Social networking sites are providing an affordable option to reach customers and niche groups without having a large advertising budget. Social networking encompasses Web sites that have gotten plenty of attention in the last year, including the popular MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn networks....
Rated 4.33333 of 5
6th Circuit Recognizes Claim for Associational Retaliation
The 6th Circuit continues to broaden the scope of retaliation claims, and in the process make it more and more difficult for employers in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee to manage against these claims. In Hawkins v. Anheuser-Busch , for example, the 6th Circuit recently recognized a...
The Need to Set Goals
I am asked sometimes "Why do I need to set goals?" or "Why is goal setting so important?" The best answer to these questions is - a person who does not have a goal will be used by someone who does. By writing them down we can then focus on our goals and purpose. We are...
Rated 5 of 5
Special Needs Trust: A Unique Solution to Address Unique Needs
Special situations deserve special trust solutions A Special Needs Trust can help you put the financial pieces of your loved one's future together. With a Special Needs Trust, you can provide for the lifetime needs of a disabled family member without jeopardizing his or her eligibility...
Management Magic 3: Creating the Super Manager
Why is it that the most effective supervisors are working the night shift? Well, would you like to be awakened at three am with a question you would expect the supervisor to be able to answer? You might be a bit short tempered. But why do you answer those same questions at three pm?...
Rated 5 of 5
Continuing With 8 steps to Balancing Words and Behavior.
Step 1: B elieve in you Step 2: E xpand your horizons Step 3: H old yourself accountable...
Using VM Software is an Option to Consider in an Upgrade
With many companies upgrading their proprietary business software today, they are finding that the norm requirements for the hardware network includes a 3 server environment....this can be costly both upfront and for ongoing maintanence. I recently helped a local distributer select, purchase and...
Five Worthwhile Applications to Track Your Website Activity
There are literally hundreds of applications and third-party services on the Internet that a business can use to track and analyze their website traffic. However many of them suffer from one of the following problems: offers too little or too much information overly complex statistics...
Rated 5 of 5
Outsourcing; Cost Savings or Risky Business
RPOs, HROs and BPOs all have one thing in common, cost savings. Utilizing economies of scale and by leveraging business potentials and synergies from within your organization these services can dramatically increase productivity and efficiency. The risk, and there is always risk, is loss of...
Rated 4.5 of 5
The 60-Second Pitch
(Editor's note - this article appeared on Businessweek.com June 2007. While the content focuses on business pitches, the concepts relate well to 30-second commercials and elevator speeches.) At a contest to teach budding entrepreneurs how to sell their business ideas in a minute,...
Networking With Best Practices
Borrowing loosely from an old Sicilian proverb, 'A dumb guy can learn from his or her own mistakes. A smart guy learns from the mistakes of other people. But a wise guy learns from the successes of others.' So, here is a collection of Networking Best Practices shared by networking...
Rated 3 of 5
Linux is still alive and well
For those of you that like to cut your own technology paths, LINUX has been a good avenue to consider. Having its origin of being designed and developed by numerous contributors across the globe, it was designed to be a FREE alternative to the norm with a very open architecture. With all the...
Rated 1 of 5
The Life Cycle of a Document: Retrieval
The main objective for adopting a document management solution into your business process is to enable efficient retrieval of business critical information. Retrieval , the final phase in the life cycle of a document, is the actual finding of a document for quick and easy viewing ....
Rated 5 of 5
What's In a Name? Legal Considerations in Branding a Company or Product
Corporate branding is a crucial component of the advertising, marketing, and public relations functions that build recognition and sell your products or services. The process of choosing a company or product name is an expensive and sometimes lengthy one, but can prove even more costly if done...
Rated 4 of 5
Recession? How can technology help?
**ANNOUNCEMENT** Postage will increase AGAIN in May 08'! It appears that we are heading for some form of economic downturn and one of the best strategies is to reduce operating costs and improve your bottom line - e-Business Methods can really help. Probably the #1 area of low hanging...
Sharepoint - what the heck is it?
In simple English, Sharepoint is a software product that allows you a tremendous expansion of ways to share information, especially with your staff. For example: We recently helped a company set up Sharepoint on their Intranet site. One of the objectives was to use this to centralize the...
Does International Competition Hurt or Help US Manufacturing Small Biz?
Many have being asking this question. While most all accept the notion that we are in a global market place, and to play, we must think and act globally, trying to understand what the impact of international competition for small biz has been somewhat challenging to understand as it relates...
Rated 4 of 5
Are You REALLY Listening To The Client?
Did you know that 85% of a person's success is depended upon how well they do in relationships? To create a long-lasting business relationship with your client your primary focus should be to develop trust. One of the key factors in gaining trust and credibility with the client is by...
BEWARE OF PIRATES: Software Piracy is Easier and More Expensive Than You Think!
Time for a pop quiz. Do you know: How many PC's and laptop computers your company owns? How many and what types of software are used at your company? How many software licenses your company owns for the software it uses? How's your score? If it's not one hundred...
Rated 3 of 5
Trademarks v. Copyrights: What's the Difference?
Business professionals come in contact every day with dozens, if not hundreds, of names, images and other pieces of creative material that are the subject of either trademark or copyright law protection. How can you tell the difference between a trademark and something protectable under...
Rated 3 of 5
The Power of Connection
Highly successful Sales Professionals and Business Leaders in today's world are connecting with each other at a frantic pace. Web 2.0 and the technological advances that have followed have made connecting in the 21st century a global affair. To coin a phrase, 'the world is flat';. We...
Does a Website's Visual Design REALLY Matter
The entire world can learn about you through your website, but they can learn about your competitors that way, as well. Do you know if they're all stopping to look at your site, or are they simply skipping by to instead study your competitor? When a visitor can move on to a competing site...
Rated 3 of 5
Move your Office Online
By Varju Luceno, Global Office Partners Many of us dream of a paperless office, where everything is organized, clutter is gone, and it takes only seconds to find the right file. Several companies are making efforts to step closer to fulfilling this dream. Striving for a paperless office will...
Trademark Infringement and Your Domain Name
So you've thought of a catchy name for your new company. You'll need a web site, of course, so you do some internet research, and, luckily, the domain name you want is available. You register the domain name and put up your site. Three months later a serious-looking letter arrives...
Negligent Hiring - What Every Employer Needs to Know
In nearly every U.S. state, courts have ruled that employers owe a special duty to their employees and clients to protect them from the harmful or criminal acts of other employees. Financial awards and public fallout from instances where a company's employee has caused harm to another...
Rated 5 of 5
BRINGING THE CUSTOMER BACK starts with an honest assesment of your BEHAVIOR! What does your behavior say to others? BEHAVIOR NEVER LIES
BEHAVIOR NEVER LIES .... Is that simply a statement or is it the truth? Is truth the WORDS a person speaks or the BEHAVIOR they act out? Behavior Never Lies is more than a statement, it is a truth that when understood and accepted, will reshape one's understanding of the people who are...
Technology That Can Ease Staffing Issues
Let's pretend that a key member of your team just resigned, you've had two positions opened for months without any serious candidates and your phone is ringing off the hook with new work. You wonder - is there technology out there that could help in times like this. When you are working...
Management Magic 2: Creating Self-Managed Employees
What could be more helpful than having all your employees doing exactly what is needed for success without having to worry about who is doing what, when and how? The most successful organizations are able to create a strong cadre of self managed employees who serve as role models for others...
Rated 4.75 of 5
How To Create A Network Map
There is ultimately no better way to start networking than to try it for real. The easiest way to do this to commence with the people you already know, rather than to find new ones. One highly beneficial task you can undertake at the outset is to map or chart your contacts. This mapping can...
Marketing is an Art Choose your Brush Strokes Wisely.Stay tuned for:The Art of Bringing The Customer Back
Back in the late 80's, I was very involved in the Cleveland Area Board of Realtors and Women's Council of Realtors. I was priviledged to hear a fascinating speaker who made a whole lot of good new fashioned common sense and he really made me think. His name is Richard Flint. About ten...
Rated 1 of 5
Gross Margin - The Potential for Profit
The next line on a P&L is gross profit. Subtract COGS from net sales and you have gross profit. This number is frequently referred to as gross margin and is expressed as a percentage. This is the profit you made from doing what you do. If you manufacture, this is what you made...
Just Be
Once in a while I am asked the question, "How does someone sell themselves?" The simple answer is - Just be. Too many people get caught up in the idea of sales and forget the basics. It's not their job to convince anyone of anything. It's simply good enough to be out there, be...
Going Up? Make Sure Your Elevator Pitch Doesn't Let You Down
An "elevator pitch" is a concise, exciting snapshot of your business that leaves potential clients with a good understanding of your products and services and a desire to learn more. It should take just 30 seconds and be crafted to address the unique needs of prospects. Creating and...
Surviving Recessionary Blues In A Shakey Economy
With last weekend's news on the Bear Stearn's meltdown, many small businesses are rightly concerned about how to best protect their business and personal assets. Added to this, elections, other market corrections, the US dollar getting beat up by the Euro and you may be reaching for an...
Rated 5 of 5
Management Magic
Increase the possibility for achieving desired results by ensuring a few basics are working for you everyday . We get caught up in day-to-day operations and frequently lose sight of management basics. And the basics are key to reaching your goals. The basics in three easy steps: 1. Set...
Rated 5 of 5
Unclaimed Research & Development Tax Credits
The following article was written by Chuck Bennett who is a Director with Tax Projects Group, LLP, a national tax consulting firm that specializes in performing R&D Tax Credit Studies. Unclaimed Research & Development Tax Credits Manufacturing companies often qualify, but don't...
Rated 5 of 5
The Life Cycle of a Document: Archive
Easy tasks often couple with awkward explanations. I would contend that this follows because certain activities tend to define themselves as ‘routine', and thus, as something that we do not think about, but naturally do . For instance, if you were to consider the multiplicity of...
Rated 5 of 5
Get Connected On-Line: A Guide to Understanding Social Media Outlets
If you have watched a video on YouTube, used a social network to catch up with old friends, followed a blog or used a wiki, you have used social media. Social media involves one central theme–user-generated content. As opposed to traditional media such as television or radio, anyone...
Rated 4 of 5
CyrberCrime: Part Two -The effects of CyberCrime on your busines
Whether your business is manufacturing, retail, wholesale, service, hospitality or high tech, it is probably experiencing some degree of employee & criminal theft via the Internet. The list of items stolen from employers is endless. In fact, it is estimated that 95 percent of all businesses...
Great Sales Start With Listening
When I first started in sales, I was focused on one goal, closing the deal. On my quest to make a sales call that would put me over the top of my annual budget, I made a huge mistake and learned a valuable lesson from my client. I came to the appointment with the goal of asking for the order. I...
Defamation liability in internal investigations?
Jackson v. City of Columbus , decided today by the Ohio Supreme Court, illustrates the importance of being thorough in all internal investigations of employee misconduct, and only disclosing the results of such investigations on a need to know basis. The Mayor of Columbus asked his...
5 Tips for Looking Big with Virtual Meetings
As gas prices continue to stay high and we all continue to be squeezed for time, I encourage you to think about alternative ways to attend meetings. The web has leveled the playing field for small businesses. It has positively impacted everything from company image to perception of company...
Keep More of Your Profits -- Tax Tips for Home Businesses
If you are a home-based business, there are many tax deductions available to you. If you are a sole proprietor, meaning you have no employees and your business is not incorporated, the IRS offers you even more tax deductions. Knowing what these tax deductions are and claiming these deductions...
Why We Spoil Our Customers
Picture this. . . You are about to buy a new home or refinance your mortgage. You and your spouse, maybe with kids in tow, have an appointment to sign real estate papers. You are tired, stressed out and nervous about your closing. When you called to confirm your appointment, you actually spoke...
Rated 3 of 5
CyberCrime: Part One - What is it?
Cybercrime is a term used broadly to describe criminal activity in which computers or networks are used to enable unlawful activity. Some examples: Hacking, child pornography, hate crimes, telemarketing/Internet fraud Employee Theft Spamming and copyright infringement Unauthorized...
Grow Your Business Sincerely
Have you ever heard the saying "I don't care how much you know until I know how much you care"? The key to growing your business is genuinely caring about others. People see through someone who's transparent. Think about it - haven't you met people who acted like they...
The Darker Side of Goal Setting: Why Goal Setting Fails ...
Beware the Misuse of Goal Setting Why don't most people set and achieve personal goals, career goals and business goals? Goal setting is a positive, powerful practice when it ignites enthusiasm and provides clear direction. For more, please visit...
Always Get a Ticket Number!
With any technology or business process, problems can arise. When it comes to dealing with phone companies (ANY of THEM) --either for voice lines or data connections -- here are some hard and fast guidelines to make sure you get resolution in a timely manner: 1) HAVE ALL YOUR ACCOUNT...
Open Source Alternatives to Mainstream Software
Not every proprietary program can drive a person crazy, right? Some, like Norton Ghost, are superb tools for anyone to use. But, the fact that these tools are proprietary can drive open source fanatics up a wall. It's not the price of the software that makes the real difference (although...
Tips to Make Your Small Business Appear Larger
Being a small business owner is a challenge in many instances - you are forced to wear many hats in order to manage and run your business efficiently and profitably. As a small business owner, you should challenge yourself to think big like larger corporations. Even though your budget...
Cost of Goods Sold - What does it cost to do what you do?
What does your company do? Some companies manufacture, some provide a service, others distribute. The second line on a P&L is entitled Cost of Goods Sold (COGS). It tells you how much money you spent doing whatever it is you do. If you manufacture, it includes your labor and material...
The Foundation Of A Salesperson
My father was the quintessential salesperson. He believed completely in his product. He was confident but not arrogant. He truly cared about the well-being of his prospects and clients. And they knew it. It was a pleasure to watch him interact with his customers. Needless to say, he was very...
Losing Rights to Business Assets Through the use of Online Services
The growth of the Internet and its uses has enabled business to operate in new and profound ways. Businesses can now use online services that allow them to sit across the conference table from people around the world ( Skype ) or have multiple people work on a spreadsheet at the same time (...
Rated 4.83333 of 5
Vista Users: Is your anti-virus package compatible with SP1?
With Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) soon to be available to all consumers and businesses, you'll want to make sure that your system is ready for the upgrade before you take the plunge. One of the main concerns with the new service pack is incompatibility with current software that you...
Rated 3 of 5
Join the Home Based Business Network
COSE's done it again. Just when it seemed there was nothing more COSE could do for small business owners, we were surprised by yet another offering which adds value to our membership -- the Home-based Business Network. I have been home-based for six of my 22 years in business and before...
Mapping Your Sustainability Journey as a Group
Achieving a sustainable workplace that is productive, efficient, and a fun place to work is best represented through the metaphor of a group on a journey. As with any trip or excursion, planning is essential. Whether you feel that you already have achieved a workplace that is completely...
Business Benefits of the 2008 Economic Stimulus Act
On February 21, 2008 the Internal Revenue Service released IR-2008-22 which details the benefits for businesses included in the 2008 Economic Stimulus Act. The two main provisions included in the stimulus package for businesses are fifty percent special depreciation allowance and an increase in...
Rated 5 of 5
When Your Image is On the Line
You may not think of your phone system as an advertising machine, but it can be a very powerful one if used correctly. There's two primary ways to immediately use get some marketing ROI out of your phone system: Promotion on Hold and Information-Only Mailboxes. Promotion on Hold If...
The Top Line - It All Starts Here
One of the three reports found in a standard set of financial statements is a profit and loss statement (P&L). This statement is also known as an income statement or statement of income. It tells you what the sales and expenses of the business were in a particular time period, usually a...
Building a winning team for your business.
A team's potential for success is only as strong as its players. Business owners should realize the importance of picking good prospects to work for their business team, too. For instance, sometimes a basketball team may promote from "within" and move a second string player up...
Put the Past in the Past
“Why are some people more successful than me?” “They had such a big failure, but now they are successful. Why?” There seem to be people who can find the road to success, happiness and fulfillment in their lives and others don’t. What is their secret? They...
Rated 5 of 5
Sales Do's and Don'ts
Sales Do's and Don'ts Do Not ask permission to ask a question - as in, "Can I ask you a question?" This introduction triggers a shut-down response from most prospects. Do Not start the conversation with a sales pitch. Do build trust by asking open-ended personal...
Rated 5 of 5
The Life Cycle of a Document: Manage
Like the individuals that fuel your business, documents are integral to performance. Documents contain imperative information and should be thought of as active resources. Instead of merely considering where you are going to put a document, begin to assess what you are going to do with...
Rated 5 of 5
How the web became Web 2.0
Marketers use the term "Web 2.0." to describe the Internet of today. Web 2.0 refers to interactive features of the Internet that connect people and allow them to share common interests and content. A major component of Web 2.0 is social media, which is the focus of my discussion....
Rated 3.71429 of 5
Conference Information
See the Resource tab and the file on the Conference Info for the Roadmap to ORSA for further information.
Networking With A Timely Follow up
You've just returned from networking at a COSE event. You met some people that could potentially help you accomplish your networking objectives and have several business cards. Good for you. Now what? Effective follow up will reinforce the positive first impression you made on those...
Profit - Cash - Wealth / Running Your Business by the Numbers
A great business makes a profit and generates cash from those profits. It accumulates cash over time and can do so without much in the way of debt. It makes regular investments in R&D. Such a business pays its expenses and taxes and perhaps makes distributions to stockholders along the...
2008 Economic Stimulus Plan Forces Seniors to File In Order to Receive Rebates
The late decision to include seniors as part of the 2008 Economic Stimulus Plan is causing many seniors to consider filing a 2007 return. That is because only those individuals who file a 2007 return will be eligible to receive the rebate checks from the government. It has been estimated that...
Rated 5 of 5
Disaster Recovery Planning
None of us wants to think of the worst, but in technology it's a necessary evil to have contingency management plans in place. Some of you may be thinking, "Hey I'm still trying to get my Plan A in place, much less Plan B!" Yet, there's no denying that business interruption...
Helpful Accounting Software Resources
When it comes to finding accounting software for your business, it often becomes a case of too much information and not enough time to review it all. The following list of sites can be very useful in helping you narrow your search to only the solutions that will be the best fit for you and your...
Newly Improved Publication 17
The Internal Revenue Service has now included over 800 hyperlinks within Publication 17. This allows users of Publication 17 to access information more quickly. The hyperlinks are in both the pdf and HTML version. The HTML version is also accessible to the visually impaired. You can find both...
Rated 5 of 5
How to Attain Your Goals by Creating Your Life's Opus
Most people want to live a fulfilling and rewarding life. That's why there's no shortage of self-help materials on how to set goals and design an ideal life. However, even with the plethora of information available on how to create the life of your dreams, many people still feel...
Rated 5 of 5
Proactive Monitoring; How you can prevent disasters from happening.
This video explains how proactive monitoring can prevent disasters by taking a proactive approach.
CyGem, ltd. Data Center Tour Video
If you've ever been curious as to what the inside of a modern data center is like here is your chance. Once you see some of the features you can understand why you might want to put your data in such a facility.
Disaster Recovery Basics RTO & RPO
This video explains the basic concepts of disaster recovery. Once you understand recovery time objective, recovery point objective and your organization's budget you can select a disaster recovery plan that is correct for you.
Top 3 Mistakes Small Businesses Make With Technology - Part 1 Backup
Backup For most organizations data is one of their most valuable assets. Unfortunately, data backup is something that is easily overlooked or gets pushed to the back when more important issues like servicing clients and paying bills come first. Oftentimes someone has heard enough foresight...
The Millennial Generation and the Web
Let's say you've just been challenged to communicate with an online audience between 16 and 25 years old. You know that this age group uses a number of social networking tools. What you don't know is if you should be using them, too, and if so, how? When designing for a web audience,...
Simple Tools to Rid SPAM From Your Inbox for Good
Unsolicited email has become well more than a casual nuisance - it has become a productivity and security threat over the years. In fact recent reports show that SPAM email now accounts for about 95% of all email traffic on the Internet today. However there is hope for your inbox. There are a...
Rated 4.5 of 5
10 Tools and Tips for Podcasting
So you want to start a podcast series. You have taken the time to develop a podcasting strategy. And now you've decided to use audio messages to reach out to clients, prospects and the public. But where do you begin? Luckily, today we have a ton of choices for creating, distributing...
Rated 4.8 of 5
Cyber Crime - Identity Theft Via Your E-mail
Everyone receives a ton of "spam" or soliticting emails these days and I for one have gotten pretty good at just deleting them without opening - until the other day. Being tax season, I received an email from what it appeared to be from the IRS stating I had a small refund due. The...
The Life Cycle of a Document: Capture
The article, Document Management: Not Just for Small Businesses , references the idea of a document as having a ‘life cycle'. In order to refine your understanding, it is important to turn this idea into information. Let us begin by identifying the individual phases in the life...
Rated 4.81818 of 5
Managing the software selection process
Selecting new business software for your company can at times seem like an overwhelming task. By approaching this task as a "project," you may be able to greatly reduce the stress to yourself and your company by approaching the project in phases. As a member of the Project Management...
Rated 5 of 5
Help in Choosing a Tax Preparer?
On February 20, 2008 the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Stakeholder Liaison section is offering a free National Phone Forum on "Choosing a Tax Preparer." The seminar is designed for individuals, small business owners, industry associations and tax professionals. The following topics...
Rated 4.75 of 5