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Article Check - What Does Your Business Do?
Where Have All The Honest Managers Gone?
I well remember as a young bank clerk many years ago, sitting at my desk one morning. Around me were the sounds of hustle and bustle of a busy office – people were sipping their coffee (in those days it was instant!) opening the mail (ah, for the days before email!) and telling of the events of last evening or their trip to work that morning. As a morning person, it was my best time of the day when I was at my most positive, creative and effective best, so I had my head down and bum up. Time later for relaxing. Suddenly, the air was split with an earth shattering
of doing business with you. Don’t confuse benefits with features. What’s the difference? A feature is a “what” (a bell or whistle). A benefit is a “so what”, (what customers get from doing business with you). Be brazen! Hey, if you’re not your business’s loudest advocate, who will be?I well remember as a young bank clerk many years ago, sitting at my desk one morning. Around me were the sounds of hustle and bustle of a busy office – people were sipping their coffee (in those days it was instant!) opening the mail (ah, for the days before email!) and telling of the events of last evening or their trip to work that morning. As a morning person, it was my best time of the day when I was at my most positive, creative and effective best, so I had my head down and bum up. Time later for relaxing. Suddenly, the air was split with an earth shattering
Second, examine the competition. If you’re opening a traditional “brick and mortar” business (storefront or office), then take a good look at your local
High Risk Merchant Processing
Merchant accounts are bank accounts specifically designed to accept credit card payments. Such payments can be made by customers at either the store itself through a credit card terminal or online through a shopping cart made in the web page of the company.To accept a credit card payment, a merchant first requires an Internet merchant account in a bank or financial institution.Merchants who have a high-risk business such as adult services providers, online gaming business, casinos, find it hard to obtain a merchant account. This is because of the risks
At this point in the business startup (or reinvention) process, you should be clear about your life’s mission. Your next step is to determine what goods and/or services your business should offer that will best contribute to that mission. Never forget that your business must exist to serve your needs, never the other way around. Far too many entrepreneurs trade the “oppression” of the 9-5 workday for the “freedom” of the 6-midnight at a job they can’t simply walk away from. You don’t want to be in that position.Merchant accounts are bank accounts specifically designed to accept credit card payments. Such payments can be made by customers at either the store itself through a credit card terminal or online through a shopping cart made in the web page of the company.To accept a credit card payment, a merchant first requires an Internet merchant account in a bank or financial institution.Merchants who have a high-risk business such as adult services providers, online gaming business, casinos, find it hard to obtain a merchant account. This is because of the risks
Resist the temptation to offer too broad a spectrum, especially in the early stages. Focus on doing one thing extremely well instead of many mediocre things. I’m not saying you must only offer one product or service. You should, however, make sure that everything you offer falls into the same narrow range that will greatly simplify your marketing and management. Keep in mind that the actual things your business offers are almost afterthoughts compared to the many things that must occur for the business to remain open. For example, if you are opening a bakery, then the actual baking will be a very small part of keeping your doors open every day. Every variable you add to your offering mix ha s an exponential impact on management.
So you’ve determined that your business is the right one for you to be in and have settled on a suitably focused range of offerings. Now it’s time to look at the other businesses in your area that offer similar things to determine how your business will stand out from the competition. This process involves the following three steps:
First, get out a blank sheet of paper and a pen (I strongly recommend doing this by hand instead of on a word processor). On this sheet, list every conceivable benefit to customers of doing business with you. Don’t confuse benefits with features. What’s the difference? A feature is a “what” (a bell or whistle). A benefit is a “so what”, (what customers get from doing business with you). Be brazen! Hey, if you’re not your business’s loudest advocate, who will be?
Second, examine the competition. If you’re opening a traditional “brick and mortar” business (storefront or office), then take a good look at your local
Influence Management - Your Fast Track to Greater Impact - Part 3
In Parts 1 and 2 of this article series, we examined four points of influence, including the word w“Because,” Reciprocity, Contrast, and Pointing out the Negatives, and what you can do as a business leader to use them to your advantage. The points of influence outlined in this conclusion to the series are Consistency and Association.ConsistencyWhen an individual takes a position, he or she will defend their belief whether it is right or wrong. Have you ever been in an argument with somebody here after a while it just matters that you win the argument n
can’t simply walk away from. You don’t want to be in that position.In Parts 1 and 2 of this article series, we examined four points of influence, including the word w“Because,” Reciprocity, Contrast, and Pointing out the Negatives, and what you can do as a business leader to use them to your advantage. The points of influence outlined in this conclusion to the series are Consistency and Association.ConsistencyWhen an individual takes a position, he or she will defend their belief whether it is right or wrong. Have you ever been in an argument with somebody here after a while it just matters that you win the argument n
Resist the temptation to offer too broad a spectrum, especially in the early stages. Focus on doing one thing extremely well instead of many mediocre things. I’m not saying you must only offer one product or service. You should, however, make sure that everything you offer falls into the same narrow range that will greatly simplify your marketing and management. Keep in mind that the actual things your business offers are almost afterthoughts compared to the many things that must occur for the business to remain open. For example, if you are opening a bakery, then the actual baking will be a very small part of keeping your doors open every day. Every variable you add to your offering mix ha s an exponential impact on management.
So you’ve determined that your business is the right one for you to be in and have settled on a suitably focused range of offerings. Now it’s time to look at the other businesses in your area that offer similar things to determine how your business will stand out from the competition. This process involves the following three steps:
First, get out a blank sheet of paper and a pen (I strongly recommend doing this by hand instead of on a word processor). On this sheet, list every conceivable benefit to customers of doing business with you. Don’t confuse benefits with features. What’s the difference? A feature is a “what” (a bell or whistle). A benefit is a “so what”, (what customers get from doing business with you). Be brazen! Hey, if you’re not your business’s loudest advocate, who will be?
Second, examine the competition. If you’re opening a traditional “brick and mortar” business (storefront or office), then take a good look at your local
Website Localization Service
The Internet is a rapidly expanding phenomenon, with hundreds of websites being put up every day. It seldom knows any physical or political barriers. Due to the presence of the Internet becoming a common feature in most homes, constant efforts are made to improve website access and navigation.Large websites, such as those of multi-national companies, often face the need to present their websites to a diverse group of people. The first hindrance is the language barrier. Since websites of multi-national companies, news portals, online auction sites, encyclopedias
in mind that the actual things your business offers are almost afterthoughts compared to the many things that must occur for the business to remain open. For example, if you are opening a bakery, then the actual baking will be a very small part of keeping your doors open every day. Every variable you add to your offering mix ha s an exponential impact on management.The Internet is a rapidly expanding phenomenon, with hundreds of websites being put up every day. It seldom knows any physical or political barriers. Due to the presence of the Internet becoming a common feature in most homes, constant efforts are made to improve website access and navigation.Large websites, such as those of multi-national companies, often face the need to present their websites to a diverse group of people. The first hindrance is the language barrier. Since websites of multi-national companies, news portals, online auction sites, encyclopedias
So you’ve determined that your business is the right one for you to be in and have settled on a suitably focused range of offerings. Now it’s time to look at the other businesses in your area that offer similar things to determine how your business will stand out from the competition. This process involves the following three steps:
First, get out a blank sheet of paper and a pen (I strongly recommend doing this by hand instead of on a word processor). On this sheet, list every conceivable benefit to customers of doing business with you. Don’t confuse benefits with features. What’s the difference? A feature is a “what” (a bell or whistle). A benefit is a “so what”, (what customers get from doing business with you). Be brazen! Hey, if you’re not your business’s loudest advocate, who will be?
Second, examine the competition. If you’re opening a traditional “brick and mortar” business (storefront or office), then take a good look at your local
Brainstorming Do's and Don'ts
We tend to put brainstorming in a box and assume that it is a no-holds barred, free form meeting with no structure or focus. But quite the opposite is the case. In fact there are lots of things that can derail a brainstorming meeting and put the meeting into a permanent tailspin.Perhaps the most important don't for brainstorming is don't be critical or judgmental of ideas presented during brainstorming. Successful brainstorming generates massive quantities of diverse and sometimes fantastical ideas. Fantastical ideas are good during brainstorming, not bad.
have settled on a suitably focused range of offerings. Now it’s time to look at the other businesses in your area that offer similar things to determine how your business will stand out from the competition. This process involves the following three steps:We tend to put brainstorming in a box and assume that it is a no-holds barred, free form meeting with no structure or focus. But quite the opposite is the case. In fact there are lots of things that can derail a brainstorming meeting and put the meeting into a permanent tailspin.Perhaps the most important don't for brainstorming is don't be critical or judgmental of ideas presented during brainstorming. Successful brainstorming generates massive quantities of diverse and sometimes fantastical ideas. Fantastical ideas are good during brainstorming, not bad.
First, get out a blank sheet of paper and a pen (I strongly recommend doing this by hand instead of on a word processor). On this sheet, list every conceivable benefit to customers of doing business with you. Don’t confuse benefits with features. What’s the difference? A feature is a “what” (a bell or whistle). A benefit is a “so what”, (what customers get from doing business with you). Be brazen! Hey, if you’re not your business’s loudest advocate, who will be?
Second, examine the competition. If you’re opening a traditional “brick and mortar” business (storefront or office), then take a good look at your local
How To Get The Best Out Of Your Phone
When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, little did he realise the positive effect it would have on customer service – or the negative effect it could also have!Yes, the telephone can be a great tool in helping to provide exceptional customer service but it can also quickly destroy a customer’s perception of your service. What steps can you take to ensure that, whenever you or your staff use the phone, it adds something positive to the customer experience?Here are some ideas.Answer PromptlyIt’s an old tip but one usually ig
of doing business with you. Don’t confuse benefits with features. What’s the difference? A feature is a “what” (a bell or whistle). A benefit is a “so what”, (what customers get from doing business with you). Be brazen! Hey, if you’re not your business’s loudest advocate, who will be?When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, little did he realise the positive effect it would have on customer service – or the negative effect it could also have!Yes, the telephone can be a great tool in helping to provide exceptional customer service but it can also quickly destroy a customer’s perception of your service. What steps can you take to ensure that, whenever you or your staff use the phone, it adds something positive to the customer experience?Here are some ideas.Answer PromptlyIt’s an old tip but one usually ig
Second, examine the competition. If you’re opening a traditional “brick and mortar” business (storefront or office), then take a good look at your local area. If you’re opening a virtual (online) business, then your search must be much wider (nationwide or even worldwide). Each of these businesses offers benefits, many of which duplicate yours. Find and eliminate these duplicates from your list, which will soon bear an almost painful number of scribbles and deletions. Fear not, because this is a good thing. In fact, it’s a very good thing.
Third, look at the remains of your once-proud list. If you did your job correctly, then most of your work will be obliterated. How can this be a good thing? Take a closer look and you’ll see a few things that you haven’t deleted. This is what sets your business apart. This is where you are going to hang your management, marketing, and planning hats. This is the foundation upon which your business will be built or rebuilt.
What about you? Now that you have the raw blueprint for your business in hand, you need to start thinking about your ideal life (the life you’d live if freed from all constraints) and life’s mission and start figuring out what your role in this business is going to be. How will you balance the three competing forces of forward-looking visionary and dreamer, present-day technician who actually does the work, and backward-looking manager who constantly tries to apply some logic and order to the whole endeavor? Chances are very strong that you are a technician, a very grounded live-for-the-moment person who loves doing whatever your business does (such as baking). I’ve lost count of the number of people who tell me “I’m a _______, not a businessperson!” The time to start defining your role in this business is right now. If you are in business or are thinking of starting a business and you have not read Michael Gerber’s The Emyth Revisited, then I urge you to ru
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