Read vs Unread

Read vs. unread bookshelf idea is not new, but Australian designer Robert Stadler executed it so beautifully, it made me look. The Origami-like object is made of aluminum composite and folded into a clever W-shaped structure…

Continued in BIZNESS! Newsletter Issue 133 >>>

- Moss Table
- Offices Created with Ultra Board
- Handsfree Solar-charged Speakerphone
- Make Dreams App
- Compare Cost of Living Worldwide with Eardex

Continue reading these top stories in the BIZNESS! Newsletter >>>

- Why Specialists Are Happier
- 5 Questions Customers Just Love to Hear From You
- 5 Time Saving Systems Must Haves For the Small Business Owners
- Planning the Perfect Small Business Fund Raising Event

Continue reading these top stories in the BIZNESS! Newsletter >>>

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Article contributed by Danielle

Starting a small business is immensely challenging, and growing your start-up into a successful, profitable business is even more difficult. Statistics from the Small Business Association Office of Advocacy show that 50% of small businesses fail within the first five years. Although these numbers may seem daunting, having a sound business plan and using strong marketing strategies will help you grow your business.

Challenges Facing Small Business Owners

1. Location, location, location. When operating a small business, location is key. Having an accessible location draws in customers and generates repeat business. Although prime locations sometimes translate into expensive rent, this isn’t always the case. Perhaps you own a small Christian store that sells baptism gifts, books, and music. Finding a storefront near several churches may be more advantageous than shelling out cash for a shop in the glitzy downtown shopping area. If you’re opening a trendy boutique, however, you want to be in a fashionable shopping area. Think strategically about your business plan, customer demographics, and products before choosing a location.

2. Getting and retaining new customers. Repeat customers are the lifeblood of a small business. Without a loyal customer base, it’ll be difficult to generate profits and grow your business. A strong advertising campaign can get customers in the door, but it’s the overall experience they have that will keep them coming back. Cultivate a welcoming environment by hiring pleasant staff members, instituting customer satisfaction policies, and offering promotions for loyal customers. Maintaining core values of honesty, respect, and trustworthiness earn your customer’s repeat business.

3. Marketing the business online. Traditional forms of advertising such as billboards and print ads still draw customers, but social media is a potent force for small businesses. Generate a social media presence by using Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Pinterest, and LinkedIn to connect with your customers. Offering discounts or announcing promotions over Twitter or Facebook is a great way to draw new customers. Giving a small reward to customers who “check in” on Foursquare also creates buzz about your business.

Using a Cash Mob to Grow Your Business

A relatively new phenomenon utilizes the power of social media to promote local businesses. Blogger Chris Smith from Buffalo, N.Y., came up with the idea of a cash mob after observing flash mobs, large groups of people who congregate at a particular location to perform an entertaining act before swiftly dispersing. Smith thought that cash mobs could be a great way to inject money into the local economy.

Cash mobs have sprouted up around the world, with over 200 cash mobs in the United States alone. The rules are simple: customers must show up at a local business at a predetermined time, spend approximately $20 and socialize with fellow cash mobbers. Cash mobs are organized via social media sites such as Twitter or Facebook. Organizers target small businesses that are independently owned to promote the local economy.

Getting involved with a cash mob can cause dramatic small business growth. In addition to a one-time injection of money on the day of the cash mob, these groups often return to the business as repeat customers. Cash mobs are sometimes featured in local news media, giving your small business further publicity.

Blogger Andrew Samtoy keeps track of cash mob activity on his Cash Mob blog. To encourage a cash mob to target your small business, reach out to organizers like Samtoy via Facebook or Twitter to make your case. Cash mobs look for businesses deeply tied to the local economy that give back to the community and depend on local customers for business. Contacting a cash mob organizer is the most efficient way to bring this type of activity to your business.

About the Author

Danielle recently participated in a small, local cash mob and is now the proud owner of a shiny new bible cover and cross necklace. Read her business musings on suitsandladders.co.uk where she blogs on behalf of Sears and other brands she uses.

Human beings have a difficult time with the idea of limitations. We don’t want to be told there are things we cannot do, which is why we hold stubbornly to the idea that “if we really put our minds to it,” there’s nothing we can’t accomplish.

Over my years as a psychologist and coach, I have witnessed, firsthand, the frustration, disappointment, depression, and stress of those who cling to this belief. And honestly, there’s nothing more difficult than watching someone trying and failing, over and over again, to fulfill a dream or desire they have no real aptitude for.

The fact is, certain people are better at certain things than others. By embracing these “limitations” and focusing on our gifts, we actually free ourselves up to be happier and more successful.

I didn’t always feel this way. In fact, when I was still an idealistic senior in college I wrote a paper that embraced the viewpoint of Dr. Fritz Perls, the father of Gestalt Therapy, who
described diagnoses as labels that put people into pigeonholes and prevent us from having a genuine experience with others. Dr. Perls embraced the idea that our freedom lay in having no preconceived notions about different “types” of people (or, in the context of my training, their psychological differences).

In this paper, I argued for an approach to human interaction without preconceived labels or categories of any kind. This, I maintained, was the only way to have true, honest, and genuine encounters with our fellow human beings.

My professor for the class helped me to understand that what I advocated in my thesis was impossible. He patiently and kindly pointed out that labels and categories were the basis of
human learning and that, without them, every moment of every day would be unique and overwhelming. We would be like newborns, encountering everything for the first time, with no
history and no context within which to understand anything beyond the immediate sensation it created. Not a desirable way to live!

I point this out because I am often challenged by people who take umbrage with the categories that form the core of Perceptual Style Theory, which I helped to develop. These are people who resent the “limitations” of the six innate Perceptual Styles, who believe these labels can only be treated mechanically, rather than as a means to experience the unique human being beneath them.

Labels, whether they are Perceptual Styles or diagnoses, have always been, for me, a tool that provides important insights about the inner experience of another person, providing a place to start in helping clients discover themselves. Rather than limiting our freedom, they can provide the focus that helps us to discover who we are – a roadmap that can guide us in developing our gifts and talents and prevent us from wandering aimlessly in life.

Research shows that those who become specialists are happier, more successful, and have more meaningful lives than those who remain generalists. And yet, so many people spend the majority of their time and energy trying to get better at the things they have no real aptitude for, rather than polishing their own natural skills and abilities.

When used properly, as keys rather than as locks, labels give us a starting point to discover and explore the behaviors that can set free our most amazing gifts and talents – those lying dormant within us, just waiting to be discovered and developed.

So don’t try to do it all, and don’t be a Jack-(or Jill)-of-all-trades – embrace your limitations and fully explore your natural gifts and talents. Find those things you do really well and do more of them, more often. You will be pleasantly surprised to find that it will allow you to focus on what is truly meaningful and important in your life.

About the Author:

Gary Jordan, Ph.D., has over 27 years of experience in clinical psychology, behavioral assessment, individual development, and coaching. He earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology – Berkeley.  He is co-creator of Perceptual Style Theory, a revolutionary psychological assessment system that teaches people how to unleash their deepest potentials for success. He’s a partner at Vega Behavioral Consulting, Ltd., a consulting firm that specializes in helping people discover their true skills and talents.  For free information on how to succeed as an entrepreneur or coach, create a thriving business and build your bottom line doing more of what you love, visit www.YourTalentAdvantage.com

Article Presented by Ace-Envelopes

Direct mail can be used for everything from selling, raising funds, to generating more foot and web traffic to your store, restaurant, trade show or office. Besides just routing through the post, direct mail envelopes can be used for a variety of purposes. Below are some reasons to consider using printed envelopes for direct mail.

1. Establish company identity: Just as any other entity announces itself on printed material, so should businesses when it comes to their direct mail. Custom envelopes serve to let a potential customer know who you are, while also helping to cement your identity.

2. Professional impression: Before a piece of direct mail is opened, the envelope is the most important aspect of your communication. It is more professional at all times to use an envelope that represents your business.

3. Build Familiarity: A custom envelope, over time, allows customers to get to know who you are. On that basis alone, many will open your mail. This can only be accomplished with a custom direct mail envelope.

4. Special deal announcements: Everyone loves a sale or a special deal. Use the outside of the envelope to entice potential customers. Direct mail writers have always understood that the writing on the outside of an envelope can increase response.

5. Use colour to entice customers: A custom designed printed envelope can make a statement worth looking into. That’s the goal: to get the recipient to look inside of the envelope.

Vibrant colours go a long way toward achieving that goal. Use vibrant colours if you can, to make your mail stand out. You may find that various colours evoke certain responses, so don’t be afraid to change the colours frequently. One idea is to colour code according to holidays and societal events.

6. Change up the sizes: By changing the average size of the envelope somewhat, to set your direct mail apart from others. Try using both smaller and larger envelopes and note the responses you receive.

7. Graphics, illustration and design: Only a custom envelope can include the kinds of illustration, graphics and photography that include action and movement. Today’s audience expects to see graphics. The visual aspects of advertising are very powerful. Use them to convey your message and to effectively promote your products and services.

8. Personalize the message: Only a custom envelope may be used to personalize the company message. Use your company message on the outside of the envelope to draw attention. The more that people see your message, the sooner they will remember your company. The more familiar people become with your mailings, the better the chance that they will respond.

9. Try different ways of printing on the envelope: Use a flap side envelope. Use plastic or try a continuous form. Anything that is different will set your direct mail out from the pack, which means it could entice more interest. Try more bold colours; change the size, typeface and other adjustments.

10. Use the front and back of printed envelopes: Make every piece of “real estate” count. Figure out creative ways to say some of the same things or expound upon what was said on the back. This can be a very attention getting tactic and an opportunity to get the most out of your direct mail efforts, with custom envelopes.

Article Presented by Ace-Envelopes

Ace-Envelopes is one of UK’s leading suppliers of over 700 types of plain envelopes, bespoke custom made envelopes, business envelopes and printed envelopes fornext day delivery service to meet your business needs. For more information about envelopes from Ace-Envelopes please visit – http://www.ace-envelopes.co.uk/

Article Contributed by Laura Moisei

We all like to be prompted with the right questions. Showed that our opinion matters. Involved in other people’s lives.

Questions are effective means to find valuable insights and to engage people by your side. As Dorothy Leeds points out, knowing how to ask helps you mend things even before they are broken. The right question at the right time may boost your carrier as an entrepreneur and transform your business for the very best.

In your early years of childhood, this is what you did: ask questions all the time and evolve by doing this. It’s exactly the same for a first time entrepreneur. You are in a special stage of your business life, when you should try to deeply understand your existing customers and start a long term commitment to show courtesy towards everyone.

So what questions do people like to hear?

“How satisfied are you with our service?”

There are countless variations for this one, as well as an infinite number of possible answers. A well-known retailer in my area has its checkout employees ask every customer “Was everything ok in the store?” when handing them the receipt. They seize an opportunity of obtaining feedback that would otherwise slip away as each customer passes by.

Think of the all times customer question: “What am I getting from this?” A wise business representative would reframe it into something like: “Look, this is what’s in there for you. Did you actually get what you wanted?” This means you are presenting your offer and the Unique Selling Proposition in a comprehensive manner while asking the customer for feedback.

“What can I do to make you happy?”

Of course, a more common alternative is the typical support question “How may I help you?”. This is more than just etiquette. It should reflect openness and real concern to fulfilling people’s needs. It’s very important to use “what” or “how” instead of “Is there anything I can do for you?”. The last one is already a closed question, with yes/no type of answer and you risk to get a direct “no” with no further nuances. Generally speaking, it’s best to ask precise questions that prompt for direct answers, but not closed ones.

“What can we bring around that wasn’t possible before?”

This means asking for people’s suggestion on new areas of improvement for your business. Customers will really appreciate your proactive attitude and your willing to involve them in important changes.

You may argue that research and planning are already part of your core missions as a manager. Indeed it is your part, but haven’t you ever experienced a gap of inspiration? There are moments when you get such gaps out of too much involvement. This is when you can very much use some ideas from outside, so ask for them!

“Do my actions show respect for you and your time?”

With so many things to do in one day’s time, it’s actually a little miracle when someone stops to talk to you, so be thankful for that. Check whether you didn’t exceed the unspoken limits. Of course, this may depend on people’s momentarily mood, but it’s always good to ask.

This kind of question is particularly useful in customer surveys. Place it as a self-evaluating question at the end of the questionnaire. It can be something like “How much time did this take you to fill in?” and a likert scale asking “How comfortable this was to you?”. It tells people that you value their effort and consequently allows you to tweak your communication strategy.

What are the best questions I’m not even considering?

We are only humans and we sometimes skip the essence while trying to stick to a plan. As you exchange viewpoints with your customers, show openness towards unplanned topics too. People like to speak their minds without having the feeling they are undergoing a fixed interview. It’s always instructive to hear their own points of interest around your business.

Go ahead and use variations of these questions in your customer surveys to make them yield on useful data. Have those questions as part of your face to face interaction with customers. Post them on your Facebook wall as polls. Asking these proves you are a social wise entrepreneur with respect for your customer experience.

As for any business process, timing is crucial. Lose no time in asking the right questions. Typically, it’s good to ask for feedback in a reasonable time span from the relevant experience, when the impression is still strong, so that answers won’t be biased by the pressure of the moment but neither diluted by oblivion.

Ask the proper questions and people will love to interact with you. It even happens for the question itself to be the answer. You can win people over just by daring to ask. Go on!

About the Author

Laura Moisei writes for 123ContactForm online survey builder that helps small businesses get in touch with their customers. Laura is a dedicated blogger and small business consultant with a drive for technology.