First Impressions

Hold Off On Twitter - Fix Your Website First

from Mich Joel's "Six pixels of separation" from the Vancouver Sun

All of the attention you think you should be spending on online marketing in the many digital channels and platforms will bring your company zero return if you don't have a website that is not only nice and easy-to-use, but findable through all of the search engines (yes, that includes Google, Microsoft and Yahoo!).

It's time to get back to basics. It's almost laughable to think that some companies don't have a serious, robust and up-to-date website in 2009. No matter what you do - and this include business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) - everyone, at every level of any organization, always goes online to see just who they are doing business with. This could be potential customers, clients, vendors, consultants and more. As each day passes, we're seeing just how significant a website is to the overall business strategy of all companies.

Here's a scenario: you're having lunch with a business colleague who recommends a new laptop for you to check out. Do you run down to Best Buy? Do you call your IT department and have them fax you over a spec sheet? No and no.

You check it out online.

(anyone see the episode of Touchwood - Owen was undercover - the first thing they did was check out his story by looking up his company website!)

Your website is becoming the primary and first connection that most people have with your company and brand.

Remember the old saying "You never get a second chance to make a first impression?" Every day, hundreds (maybe thousands) of people are thinking about your company, researching it online and checking out your website. What does your website really say to that person if it is the first impression?

Thanks Mitch for the advice!

And they're off ! Fortune Global 500 2009

Top industries: Most profitable

Return on Revenues %

1 Mining, Crude-Oil Production 19.8

2 Pharmaceuticals 19.1

3 Tobacco 12.3

4 Food Consumer Products 11.9

5 Household and Personal Products 9.9

6 Telecommunications 7.5

7 Industrial Machinery 7.1

8 Building Materials, Glass 6.5

9 Aerospace and Defense 6.2

10 Shipping 6.1

11 Network and Other Communications Equipment 5.4

12 Banks: Commercial and Savings 5.2

13 Beverages 4.2

14 Health Care: Insurance and Managed Care 3.7

15 Metals 3.7

16 Energy 3.5

17 Chemicals 3.2

18 Specialty Retailers 3.1

19 Trading 2.8

20 Mail, Package, and Freight Delivery 2.8

21 Computers, Office Equipment 2.5

22 Food Production 2.3

23 Food and Drug Stores 2.3

24 Insurance: Property and Casualty (Stock) 2.0

25 Engineering, Construction 1.9

26 Petroleum Refining 1.9

27 General Merchandisers 1.7

28 Insurance: Life, Health (stock) 1.1

29 Utilities 1.1

30 Entertainment 1.0

31 Electronics, Electrical Equip. 0.9

32 Motor Vehicles and Parts 0.7

33 Wholesalers: Health Care 0.4

34 Diversified Financials -1.1

35 Airlines -6.1


Return on Assets %

1 Food Consumer Products 14.3

2 Mining, Crude-Oil Production 14.1

3 Pharmaceuticals 11.5

4 Household and Personal Products 8.7

5 Tobacco 7.3

6 Entertainment 7.1

7 Computers, Office Equipment 6.8

8 Aerospace and Defense 6.1

9 Industrial Machinery 5.8

10 Specialty Retailers 5.8

11 Petroleum Refining 5.4

12 Shipping 5.2

13 Food Production 5.1

14 Health Care: Insurance and Managed Care 5.0

15 Network and Other Communications Equipment 4.7

16 Telecommunications 4.5

17 Metals 4.4

18 Food and Drug Stores 4.1

19 Building Materials, Glass 4.0

20 Trading 3.0

21 Energy 2.8

22 Chemicals 2.5

23 General Merchandisers 1.9

24 Beverages 1.7

25 Wholesalers: Health Care 1.6

26 Engineering, Construction 1.5

27 Electronics, Electrical Equip. 1.3

28 Utilities 0.9

29 Mail, Package, and Freight Delivery 0.8

30 Motor Vehicles and Parts 0.7

31 Insurance: Property and Casualty (Stock) 0.4

32 Banks: Commercial and Savings 0.3

33 Insurance: Life, Health (stock) 0.2

34 Diversified Financials -1.2

35 Airlines -5.9

From the July 20, 2009 issue

JE NE REGRETTE RIEN

Work hard and smart!

Work Smart I Don't Think So!

If I hear one more success story spout the advice – “work smart, not hard” to a
wanna-be entrepreneur I might scream. To everyone out there reading this: if you
want to start your own business, in my opinion this is the WORST advice you can
take.

Starting a small business in Australia, the odds are against you. If you start out with
the plan to “work smart, not hard” I believe those odds will skyrocket in a not so
positive direction.

When you start your own business it will be fuelled by your passion, your sweat, your
desire, your hard work. Am I saying “don’t work smart”? Of course not! I’m speaking
from experience and saying that if you think you can ONLY work smart at the
beginning I think you’ll be in for a rude shock.

To me the path to success for a new entrepreneur goes like this:

Start: Work hard, hard, hard

Next: Keep working hard, hard, hard and once you have somewhat of a clue, start to
incorporate the “smart”

Later: This is when you can look to eliminate as much of the hard as you can by being
the smartest cookie in the packet – but it doesn’t come immediately.

Please don’t start a business unless you’re prepared for the “hard” – but always be on
the lookout to incorporate the “smart” as you go along.

Reproduced with permission from the Kirsty Dunphey blog and weekly
newsletter: www.kirstydunphey.com

Protection

Business name protection:
Registering your business or company name as a trademark gives you legal rights to your name within Australia, and prevents others from trading under the same name.

A trademark can be a letter, word, phrase, number, sound, smell, shape, logo, picture, aspect of packaging or a combination of these. It can be used as a marketing tool to distinguish your goods and services from those of your competitors.

Tip: It is cheaper to apply for a trademark online.

Warning: It takes at least 6 months to register a trademark.

For more information on registering a trademark, visit the IP Australia website.

On with the job

Once you have made the decision to start your own business, the real work begins. Well before the first product is sold or the first client is won comes the vital planning and preparation that will ensure the business starts off on a sound footing.

Here is a vital checklist that every new business owner should read.

Is there a market for your idea?
A business starts with an idea, but make sure it is feasible. Before you invest any money, take steps to understand your intended market. What is the state of the market or industry you are planning to enter?

Your preparation should include speaking to

• potential customers,
  
• suppliers and
  
• trade and industry associations.

Be informed
Setting up a business involves many options and variables, each with its own distinct requirements, responsibilities and legal obligations. There are many sources of information that explain what they are.

State government websites carry extensive information
and in many cases free advisory services.

Local governments are keen to attract small and micro businesses to their area -
speak to local economic development officers to see what assistance and incentives are available.

Business structure
Once you are satisfied that your idea has legs, decide on the most appropriate business structure.

Business owners can start out as

• sole traders or
• enter into partnerships (in this case use a solicitor to draft the partnership agreement to avoid any unpleasantness later on)
• or opt for a company structure.

Alternatively, becoming a franchisee will enable you to have your own business while being part of a larger organisation with existing infrastructure, marketing resources and expertise on tap.

By now you should have chosen and registered a business name.
Be sure it's a name that will stand the test of time.

Location and premises
Depending on the type of business and structure you opt for it may be smart to run your business from home - even if only at first - but check with your local council for any special requirements such as permits and zoning restrictions.

Startup ventures should also consider incubator parks, industry-specific precincts and serviced offices. Also consider sharing premises with other businesses in allied services.

This is the time to consider IT and telecommunications requirements, office furniture and equipment.

External expertise

Planning for your new business should involve the expertise and assistance of

• your accountant
• and solicitor.

If you do not already have these, choose with a view to forming a long-term relationship.

Also ask your bank what advisory support it can offer your business; if you are not satisfied, shop around.

Trade, industry and professional bodies are a valuable source of expertise, much of which can be accessed by members free of charge.

Peer support
No one need feel alone when setting up a business.

Consider asking someone you trust and respect to be your mentor during the formative stages of your business.

Develop an informal support network of trusted friends, peers and former colleagues and

join formal peer networks and entrepreneur clubs.

Courses in small business and entrepreneurship will provide you with the knowledge to set up your business and also provide a valuable support network.

Business planning
Even the best ideas require a structure to guide the business in those critical early stages.

• Your accountant should help in setting financial forecasts and determining what capital and cashflow you will need to establish and operate your new business.

• A business consultant may also prove a valuable resource in helping to create the most appropriate organisational structure to help your business on its way - particularly in areas such as staffing, pricing your products ar services and setting overheads.

Branding and corporate identity
Ensure your business has consistent branding and corporate identity.

Once you have registered your business name, have your logo and visual identity (such as stationery and business cards) designed by a graphic designer.

Your website should be professionally designed to ensure it is functional, informative and visually consistent with the values and objectives of your business, is possible to do your own branding, but usually you get what you pay for.

Organisational capacity
Determine how many employees your new business needs.

Your business plan should include

• the recruiting
• and training costs
• and staff wages.

In the early days, you will take on many tasks associated with running a business -

• administration,
• selling,
• marketing,
• business development

- but be prepared to shed some of these responsibilities as the business grows.

End game
Have an end game in mind when establishing your business.

What are the aims of the business?

Are you ...

1. buying a job for yourself,
2. are you creating an asset to build and sell within a defined period,
3. or are you building a long-term business to remain in the family after you retire?

Each is a reasonable option, but knowing your destination will ensure you are better able to plan the journey ahead

BRW 2009

Vic Gov's Business Mentoring

This mentoring program aims to provide experienced strategic advice to a firm's board and/or CEO, although it may also provide assistance to a small business operating on a sole trader basis.
Nature of assistance:


A specialist consultant or appropriately qualified professional can act as mentor to a firm. The mentor will provide advice and guidance to assist the business to focus on strategic and management transition issues, including:

• developing and implementing business goals
• broadening the firm's network
• improving management skills and expertise at the board and/or management level


The mentoring process could require the mentor to be involved with the firm over a period of up to 12 months.

Group mentoring is aimed at encouraging and developing the management skills and competencies required to support long term growth of a business and involves groups of participating firms.


The Website SBMS - has a list of mentors and you can chose from what skills you need expertise in. http://www.sbms.org.au/AboutourMentors/SearchforaMentor.aspx


A list just of mentors' names is available:
http://www.sbms.org.au/AboutourMentors/BrowseallourMentors.aspx

SHOW ME THE MONEY !

Only One BILLION dollars !

Investors in Venture Capital and Later Stage Private Equity (VC&LSPE) are generally sophisticated individual investors or organisations such as pension (superannuation) funds. Investors invest in VC&LSPE vehicles which are mainly organised in the form of either trust funds or corporations. There are two types of vehicles: those that generally invest directly in investee companies, and those who pool funds and generally invest through the direct investment vehicles. The latter are called fund of funds.

The investment decisions of the vehicles are made by a VC&LSPE manager, who is generally a skilled business person and financial analyst. The VC&LSPE manager provides assistance and advice to the investee companies.

The usual relationship between the investors, managers, vehicles and investee companies is shown below. While this represents the usual relationship, variation can occur e.g. some fund of funds may co-invest with another fund manager.

Diagram 1


OVERVIEW

The value in funds committed to VC&LSPE investment vehicles increased during 2007-08.

As at 30 June 2008, investors had $17.1b committed to investment vehicles, an increase of 13% on the revised $15.1b committed as at 30 June 2007.

Most of the committed funds were sourced domestically, with 89% of commitments from Australian investors (down slightly on June 2007). Resident pension funds continue to increase their contribution to total commitment, with $9.4b of committed capital (55% of total funds committed). Investors had $10.6b of committed funds drawn down at 30 June 2008, an increase of 16% on the previous year end (a revised $9.2b at June 2007).

As at 30 June 2008, there was $6.5b of committed funds yet to be called on, up 9% on the revised $6.0b of unused (undrawn) commitments as at June 2007.
The $6.5b of undrawn commitments can be classified by preferred stage of investment, with only $1.2b undrawn by funds which prefer to invest at the early stage.

The value of investments by VC&LSPE investment vehicles ($7.9b in 1,135 investee companies) increased by 14% on the revised $6.9b reported at the end of June 2007. Investments in these 1,135 investee companies were reported by 286 vehicles.

During 2007-08, the net value of all exits through trade sales, IPOs and buybacks amounted to $843m.

The selection of investee companies (into which capital is invested) was an intensive process for the VC&LSPE managers. The total of 183 venture capital managers reviewed 8,497 potential new investments during 2007-08 and conducted further analysis on 963 of those, with 250 being sponsored for VC&LSPE.

The following diagram summarises key findings for VC&LSPE at June 2008.

http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/5678.0Main%20Features32007-08?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=5678.0&issue=2007-08&num=&view=

Joint Press Release
with
The Hon Dr Craig Emerson MP
Minister for Small Business Independent Contractors and the Service Economy

Small Business Tax Break Boost

The Rudd Government will provide another major boost to its highly successful Small Business and General Business Tax Break, providing vital stimulus to support jobs and help small businesses doing it tough in the global recession.

Small businesses will now be able to claim a bonus tax deduction of 50 per cent – up from 30 per cent previously ­ of the cost of eligible assets acquired between 13 December 2008 and 31 December 2009, and installed by 31 December 2010.

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, employing millions of Australians, but many have faced some tough times during this global recession.

That's why the Rudd Government has been so determined to help small businesses invest with confidence and take advantage of the opportunities that will come with economic recovery.

The increased Tax Break provides small businesses with an even greater incentive to invest in new capital items, such as computer hardware and business vehicles, and to make capital improvements to existing machinery and equipment.

This major boost will support jobs and businesses all over the country. It accompanies the powerful steps taken by the Rudd Government to stimulate the economy so that small businesses have customers walking through their doors.

The expanded Tax Break will be available to small businesses with a turnover of less than $2 million.

All other businesses can continue to access the Tax Break at 30 per cent for eligible assets contracted for prior to 30 June 2009 and 10 per cent for eligible assets that they commit to investing in between 1 July 2009 and 31 December 2009.

Small businesses only need to invest a minimum of $1,000 per asset in order to qualify for the Tax Break.Under enhancements to the Tax Break announced in March 2009, they can also amalgamate their expenditure on batches and sets of assets in order to meet this threshold.

More detailed information about the Tax Break and the expansion for small business is attached.

The Government will move amendments to the legislation currently before the Parliament to implement the expansion for small business. The Government welcomes statements by the Opposition that it will not frustrate the passage of the legislation so that Australian businesses can invest with certainty.

The expansion will have an estimated cost to revenue of $141 million, bringing the total cost to revenue of the Tax Break to $3.7 billion over the forward estimates period.

CANBERRA
12 May 2009

---

Small Business And General Business Tax Break — Detailed Information

Small business entities will be able to claim a bonus tax deduction of 50 per cent for eligible assets costing $1,000 or more (exclusive of GST) that they:

• commit to investing in between 12:01am AEDT 13 December 2008 and 31 December 2009; and
• start to use or have installed ready for use by 31 December 2010.

To qualify for the 50 per cent rate you need to meet the definition of a small business entity in section 328-110 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997). This generally means that the taxpayer is carrying on a business and has an annual turnover of $2 million or less.

Other businesses will be able to claim a bonus deduction of 30 per cent for eligible assets costing $10,000 or more (exclusive of GST) that they:

• commit to investing in between 12:01am AEDT 13 December 2008 and 30 June 2009; and
• start to use or have installed ready for use by 30 June 2010.

Other businesses will be able to claim a bonus deduction of 10 per cent for eligible assets costing $10,000 or more (exclusive of GST) that they:

• commit to investing in between 1 July 2009 31 December 2009; and
• start to use or have installed ready for use by 31 December 2010.

Businesses can commit to investing in an asset by:

• entering into a contract under which they will hold the asset; or
• starting to construct the asset.

All businesses can aggregate their investment in batches of assets that are identical, or substantially identical, and in sets of assets for the purposes of meeting the relevant new investment threshold ($1,000 or $10,000).

Eligible assets

The Tax Break is available for new tangible, depreciating assets for which a deduction is available under Subdivision 40‑B of the ITAA 1997 and new investment in existing eligible assets.

Intangibles, such as software, and rights, for which a deduction is available under subsections 40‑30(2), (5) and (6) of the ITAA 1997, are not eligible for the Tax Break.

Cars can qualify for the Tax Break, except where the taxpayer uses the cents per kilometre method to determine their car expense deductions.

Land and trading stock are excluded from the definition of depreciating assets, and will not qualify for the Tax Break.

Capital works expenditure for which a deduction is available under Division 43 of the ITAA 1997 is also not eligible for the Tax Break.

Expenditure on an existing tangible, depreciating asset that is capitalised into the asset as a second element of cost can also qualify for the deduction. However, this expenditure needs to meet the relevant new investment threshold.

When a taxpayer first starts to use an eligible asset it must be reasonable to conclude that the asset will be used principally in Australia for the principal purpose of carrying on a business.

Claiming the Tax Break

The deduction will be claimed by the taxpayer who holds the asset for the purposes of Division 40 of the ITAA 1997; that is, the same person who claims capital allowance deductions in relation to the asset is entitled to the Tax Break.

The bonus deduction provided by the Tax Break is on top of the usual capital allowance deduction claimable for the asset as part of the taxpayer's income tax return. The Tax Break has no impact on deductions for an asset’s decline in value claimed under Division 40 of the ITAA 1997.

The amount of the Tax Break will be calculated using the applicable rate (50 per cent, 30 per cent or 10 per cent) and the asset's first and/or second elements of cost in terms of Subdivision 40-C of the ITAA 1997.

The deduction is claimable as part of the taxpayer’s income tax return for the income year in which the asset is installed ready for use.

• If a taxpayer commits to investing in an asset in the 2008-09 income year but does not take delivery of the asset until the 2009‑10 income year, the Tax Break will be claimable as part of the taxpayer’s 2009‑10 tax return (provided all of the eligibility criteria are satisfied).

Worked examples

Maria runs a retail clothing store and meets the definition of a small business entity. On 7 June 2009 she purchases and installs six new mirrors for her fitting rooms. The mirrors cost $200 each and are substantially identical, so the cost of each mirror can be amalgamated for the purposes of meeting the $1,000 threshold. Maria’s total investment is $1,200 and she will be eligible to claim a $600 bonus deduction (being 50 per cent of $1,200) in her 2008‑09 income tax return.

Ben operates a courier service. He also meets the definition of a small business entity. He orders and takes delivery of a new, more fuel-efficient delivery van in June 2009 at a cost of $30,000. Ben will be eligible to claim a bonus tax deduction of $15,000 in his 2008-09 tax return.

The Sunshine Bakery is a small business. On 12 October 2009, the company purchases and installs a new oven at a cost of $5,000. It will be eligible for a bonus deduction of $2,500 which it can claims in its 2009‑10 tax return.

I Grant you 3 wishes...

Grants and other funding programs are available from the federal, state and territory governments and in some cases from local councils.

Generally there are no grants available for starting a business.

However, there are grants and other assistance available for business activities such as expanding your business, research and development, innovation and exporting.

http://www.business.gov.au/bep2005/grantfinder/grantfinder.aspx

http://business.gov.au/Business+Entry+Point/Business+Topics/Grants+assistance/

http://business.gov.au/Business+Entry+Point/Business+Topics/Environmental+management/Environment+grants+and+assistance/Federal+government+environment+grants+and+funding.htm




One more wish granted - Start up grants for Melbourne city:

Small Business Start-Up

Project aim

The Small Business Start-up grant is part of the City of Melbourne's Small Business Grants program. To be eligible to apply, the applicant must be located or intending to locate within the City of Melbourne municipality boundary. Please refer to boundary map in related content.

In addition to the general eligibility criteria, applicants in this category must also:

• be able to demonstrate 'business readiness' (ie the product/service is financially viable and supported by a sound and comprehensive
  business plan); and
• be able to commence the proposed business promptly following the approval of the grant.

Grants of up to $30,000 are available. Only one grant will be made to an eligible business.

Nature of assistance

The Start-up and Business Expansion grants support the following categories of expenditure directly related to establishing a business or as part of a business expansion process.

Capital improvement

• the costs associated with improving the façade and fit-out of a business premise

Website development

• the costs associated with the development or enhancement of a business website

IT equipment

• the costs associated with purchasing IT equipment for the operation of the new business or as part of the business expansion activity

Specialised equipment and software

• the costs associated with purchasing specialised equipment and software that is directly related to the operation of the new business or as part of the business expansion activity

Other

• expenditure items which are not listed above but can be demonstrated as significantly crucial for the start-up or expansion of a specialised business

General operational expenses including rent, utilities, training, marketing, networking and staff remuneration will not be considered.

Eligibility criteria

Small businesses are eligible to apply for a grant that will make a measurable contribution to the Small Business Grant objectives.

An applicant must:

• have a registered Australian Business Number;
• be located or commit to locate within the City of Melbourne municipality; and
• be a sole trader, an Australian registered company, business co-operative or partnership and have documentary evidence of an appropriate legal structure.

Business support groups, such as member-based organisations, are eligible to apply for a grant under the Business Support Services category.

Government departments or agencies, unincorporated associations, franchisees and subsidiaries of larger companies are not eligible to apply.

Branches of foreign companies and individuals/organisations providing trade facilitation services to businesses are not eligible to apply under the Export Entry grants category.

Beware of the TIGER !

What do you do when money and sympathy are in short supply?

You increase the tear-jerking
or the celebrity factor
or, better,
both.

Tiger Woods is the perfect bait for the fund-raising heartland - wealthy men of a certain age
(as well as a high-profile allergy sufferer who could help raise awareness.)

In March, it was revealed that Woods would be coming to Australia in November to play at the Masters at Kingston Heath
(in a $3 million deal, half sponsored by the Victorian government).

"No Problemo"

No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.

Albert Einstein

Ehh, whats up Doc?

Complementary medicine has come a long way.


There were 69.2 million visits to complementary practitioners in 2007 - just below the 69.3 million visits to medical practitioners, Roy Morgan research shows.

It is now accepted that the complementary medicine industry, worth $1 billion annually, has a substantial role to play in the health-care choices of contemporary Australians.

The mainstay of complementary medicine is vitamin supplements - 70 per cent of Australia's population have taken a vitamin, mineral, herbal or nutritional supplement in the past year.

"People look for quick fixes," she says. "
They are keen to buy something in a box to make them feel good.

We feel guilty when we don't lead healthy lifestyles,
and this industry preys on our human vulnerabilities."
~president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Rosanna Capolingua,

Yet these arguments are falling on deaf ears - particularly with the younger generation.


University student Chanel Smythe incorporates supplements into her daily routine. "I take supplements religiously every morning," she says. Her regime includes fish oil to support healing and peak brain function, vitamin B for stress relief and mood lifting, calcium, magnesium and multi-vitamins. "I'm not diligent with a specific diet, [or] with having fruit and vegetables with every meal," Smythe says.


"The supplements are about "maintaining my health - it's what they do behind the scenes."
~ University student Chanel Smythe

MOST POPULAR SUPPLEMENTS:
MINERALS
Calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium
VITAMINS
Vitamin C, multi-vitamins, vitamin B, B complex
NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
Fish oil, glucosamine
REQUIRED DAILY DIETARY INTAKE FOR ADULTS
(Number of servings)
Grains: Women 4-9, men 6-12
Vegetables: 5 Fruit: 2
Milk, yoghurt, cheese: 2
Lean meat, fish, poultry, nuts, legumes: 1

BRW May 7-13 2009

Value comes from GROWTH

The most interesting and valuable part of business, is not the maintenance of existing operations; doing efficiently today what we did yesterday- and how we did it yesterday.

Organizations are great at creating status quo.

However, if this was all we did, the economy would never grow.

Growth is more important!
Growth means creating something

NEW
and
VALUABLE

Become a 80/20 individual

"Take away our 20 most important people, and i tell you;
we would become an unimportant company !"
Bill Gates Chairman Microsoft
(and world's most richest businessman)


Focus on the essential few, rather than on the important many.

Speak Like A CEO

The LEADER's job is not so much to actually DO;

it is to COMMUNICATE

what needs to be DONE.

No business can actually last forever.

Businesses are built to take advantage of an opportunity or need
at a particular time and place in society's evolution.

Potential Leads

http://anthillonline.com/would-you-like-a-business-brand-or-personal-makeover/

comments on this site, I thought worthwhile investigating include:

Mark Demicoli says:

October 9, 2008 at 8:09 am

Our site http://www.ClickBook.net is easily the world’s free-est and coolest (!) online booking system for small business. We’re one of these cocky startups who think they can just give it away for free! We think we can pull this off and make it real popular cos it’s actually a great product and the laws of attraction will ‘make it so’. Are we completely stupid? We’re all ears!

__________________________________________

I guarantee you will be hard pressed to find a company that will have a better return on this service than ours.

We have recently merged two organizations, a business systems software house, and a labor hire firm.

Both businesses are in startup mode, combined revenues are around $500,000, Gross margin around 60%, both principles own equal share and are passionate about the business.

The skill mix is right, one partner is a successful sales manager, the other a business system expert.

We have employed a sales person, and the resource base in place that allows us to start marketing and selling effectively, and we are starting to pick up the phone and call prospective clients.

We are also in the process of setting up a JV with an overseas interest to market our products into APAC.

We really need to get our marketing message, our look, and our feel right.

Should we get that right, I have no doubt we will be one of the fastest growing companies in the Anthill space.

Furthermore that growth will uncover more opportunities we wish to develop, and we don’t forget those that have helped us get to where we are.

Bruce Lock
MD Automate Solutions.

_______________________________________________________

Cindy Lenferna says:

October 9, 2008 at 8:06 am

We have recently launched a Fashion site http://www.fashioncollaborative.com. Our goal is to unite the Fashion Industry getting them to share ideas and experience to innovate and collaborate to remain competitive in the global market place. Our industry is notorious for being technology luddites and we aim to educate and inspire all to stay in touch with the brilliant technology that is available to help our members develop their personal skills and grow their businesses. We also have a strong desire to coach and mentor young talent by exposing them to existing stars in all areas of the industry - creating career opportunities and exposure.

We would value the opportunity to work with Business/Marketing and PR experts to assist us to improve our web and public brand profile . We are passionate about what we do and want to provide the most professional innovative and dynamic Web 2.0 Fashion site available - the concept of being coached in Personal Branding is very exciting and we are all putting our hands up to be considered.

______________________________________

Denise Hall says:

October 9, 2008 at 8:19 am

http://www.theentrepreneurialmother.com.au

Every entrepreneurial mother needs a little help from time to time, and I’m no different! With the blog and accompanying website, I share my story of how I design and make Life! work for me. The next phase, which is where I am looking for guidance and assistance, is how I work with you/others to design and plan how you/they want to make Life! work for you.

By way of background, I am a businesswoman who has built a successful business, and just as importantly, the life around it. I am a director of aCE talentNET http://www.acetalentnet.com.au; which focuses on performance improvement in a corporate context. As the company is run almost entirely by entrepreneurial mothers, I have collected a host of tried and tested strategies designed to help “working” women maximise their productivity in all aspects of their lives, while at the same time designing and creating a quality life.

“the entrepreneurial mother” is also a registered trademark in Australia.
The scope of what can be done with this brand, if nothing else, has the potential to open up all sorts of opportunities. Again, guidance and assistance with this will also be greatly appreciated.

_________________________________________

VisitVineyards.com is an online publisher in the niche area of wine and food travel, Australia-wide. We have recently launched a consumer benefits package in Victoria; the main challenge seems to be breaking through the clutter and reaching people when and where they are making their travel decisions.

The Wotif brand has clearly captured consumers’ headspace for ‘last minute cheap accommodation’ - we want to capture it in wine and food travel, but we don’t have their budget! So innovative ways of brand building are paramount. Live the brand is my motto, and to a large extent I do, but another challenge is to ensure the brand flows right through the team and across all aspects of our business.

A brand is so much more than a logo - see our website http://www.VisitVineyards.com - and we want to make ours sing and be remembered.

______________________________________

Dear Anthill

My friend’s problem is that he just does not know what to wear!

He is a CEO of a company Magic Memories employing 60+ people and has arrived in December 2006 owning one suit, two ties (as yet worn once to a black tie do) and three business shirts.

The potential clients are seeing the entire wardrobe within weeks but with a company mantra of Amplifying Visitor Experiences he is torn between Corporate, Casual Friday but not quite Bula Fijian (yet).Although he has turned up to a pitch wearing a personalized Tee Shirt of the clients company- the burning question is what first impression should he take?

He needs direction and grooming into the worlds of Australian Business Fashion to enable him to live the brand – don’t just read this as a midlife crisis wanting free stuff - he needs to become Brand Ambassador of http://www.magicmemoriesgroup.com.

_____________________________________________

he Physio Co is a young, dynamic & growing group of physiotherapists. Together we are striving to be the leaders in healthcare for the booming numbers of senior and elderly people - or the ‘likeable oldies’ as we know them!

The Physio Co is growing at a rapid rate. From one person with a vision in 2004 to today’s team of professionals visting 1000’s of clients every week.

The vision for The Physio Co is to be the most recognised, trusted and innovative brand for all senior and elderly Australians - and have a lot of fun along the way!

We know we have the goods to continue our growth as the population rapidly ages and our target market grows. What we need is to establish oursleves as the ‘go to’ brand in our market. A PR and branding makeover will help position The Physio Co for much greater exposure and successes.

There are hundreds of thousands of baby boomer retirees and The Physio Co will help them live life as actively as possible. Who wouldn’t want a young, enthusiastic team of physios helping their Mum, Dad, Grandparents, Aunty or Uncle to stay mobile and get on with having an active life?

http://www.thephysioco.com.au

________________________________

We are a Digital Media Company, specializing in custom made Live Video Applications:
All the Live Flash Media Servers and Applications are ready, what we need now is PR and a makeover of the info, so everybody understand the services, without being to technical, as they are simple to use and have major key points over other services.
The services are:
Video Broadcast Live (Webcast) for 1 to 1000 Viewers.
Video Upresent Live (Webinar) for 1 to 1000 Viewers.
Video Conference for 2 to 5 Participants (unlimited seats)
Video Meeting for 2 to 15 Participants (unlimited seats)

GizmoVideo’s customers span a variety of industries, but share a common need: to communicate and collaborate more effectively across multiple locations. We address this need by offering: easy, simple and fast live video solutions along with an unmatched commitment to customer service.

GizmoVideo makes it easier for customers to view products and for potential clients and investors to view your company. With full access to the latest in web technologies, GizmoVideo is all your company will need for online video broadcasting. But we need to do some PR.

_________________________________

My website, http://www.celebrante.com.au, is approaching its third birthday and is a leader in its field which is providing a searchable database for those seeking a celebrant. With nearly 500 profiles, we’re one of the largest such sites in the world let alone just here in Australia.

Since we started, competitors have popped up and the competition for keywords is getting fierce with average click costs almost trebling over the last 18 months.

I desperately need help with PR, Hosting, Web Redesign, Overseas Expansion and much, much more.

But most importantly, I need to find a way to free me from the tyranny of AdWords!

____________________________

Hi Anthill! We’re a start up on a mission to free up Australia’s time. Our business, ‘Sauce it’ finds, compares and delivers goods and services from the ever expanding consumer market that all too often seems to have forgotten the words ‘customer service’ these days.

From rental property, furniture, personal trainers or even vacuum cleaners we hunt down the best options available based on your needs so you have more spare time to do the things you’d rather be doing, whether it’s running your business more effectively, going zorbing or perhaps even giving salsa dancing a try… mmm Sizzle.

___________________________________________________

Using the Media

The Seven Step Seeking Media PR Workout

The media receive story approaches all the time, so before you take any action it’s important to have all your bases covered. Below is a check list for any business planning to target the media. If you can confidently tick all the boxes, you have a better chance of getting media attention.

1. Do you have something that’s newsworthy? The media are always interested in a good story with a ‘newsy’ angle. They are not interested in blatant advertising pitches.

2. Is your media story ready? Once you’ve determined you have a good story, you need to be able to tell it in a way that grabs attention. A professionally written press release is essential.

3. Are all the other pieces in place? You’ve written your press release, including a hard-hitting headline and attention-grabbing lead. But do you have high-resolution images available, or are product review samples available if required? These will help sell your story.

4. Do you know your specific media targets? The more targeted you are with media the better, so you need to have a detailed list of the media you will be sending your story to prepared beforehand. A pet hate of all media is receiving approaches and material on subjects that have no relevance to their publication, show format or area.

5. Are you prepared to comment? Having gone to the trouble of preparing and sending out a press release, you need to be available in case the media want to contact you for more information. Don’t keep them waiting, and have your key messages at your fingertips.

6. Do you have a follow-up plan? Sending a press release and other relevant material is one thing, but you need to spend time following up to get the best results. Unless your story is breaking news, don’t expect the media to come chasing you. You need to chase them.

7. Do you want a one-night stand or long-term relationship? Getting a press release out there and hitting the phones is great, but having a strategic PR plan is important to maximise your media potential. Think about developing regular media stories to build momentum, so you are not seen as just another business trying to grab the spotlight.

Bar Cards - someone's success story

Distribution is the key. If you can sort that out, then everything else should fall into place. The American market, for example, you don’t want to get wrong. It’s very much about finding the right distributor before getting the market going. In the first half of 2007 we are launching six American cities – L.A., San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Washington DC and another to be decided.

All of the deals to date have been deals. I have not gone into business with anyone else. Over time I certainly want to change that and develop some kind of incentive-based partnership scheme. There’s a lot of trial and error. You might succeed in one market, but another market will be completely different.

Having a suite of different streams to choose from is crucial. When I approach different cities, one of the strategies is to try and secure sponsorship from the various tourism bodies. Some cities are big on bars, but others might be more into culture, or something else.

Every title is intended to go on indefinitely. And therefore every title requires updating and additional marketing support to reinvigorate it. Seventeen titles are a lot of work, especially when they involve different countries and different topics.”

To date there are Bar Secrets decks for Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, London, Hong Kong, Edinburgh, Dublin, Barcelona, Ibiza, with launches in China and US scheduled for 2007. Other decks include brunch secrets, daytrip secrets and spa secrets, with more in the works.

from: http://anthillonline.com/start-the-press/

Want to be popular? Get your product banned!

The T-shirts that make you think are the standouts for me. I love the ‘Shoplifter’ T-shirt that howies produced. It was plain white, had a barcode at the top, and all it said was "shoplifter". Every time a kid went into a retail outlet, a mechanism inserted into the sleeve set the alarm off. How much fun would that be, as a kid, rocking in there and causing a bit of havoc? Unfortunately, the ‘Shoplifter’ T was only a limited run and was eventually banned in the UK.

I think one definite advantage of building a business from your passion is gaining access to circles that are normally closed. Being a publisher opens many doors.

If you don’t love what you are doing, that’s very hard to hide. There’s a real battle for a lot of T-shirt labels to be either cool or commercial. I really respect the labels that find a balance. It’s that cool/commercial balance that T is aspiring to attain.

The one thing that I don’t want T to be is cliquey. To like T, you don’t have to be a T-shirt connoisseur. You just have to like T-shirts. Everyone wears T-shirts. There are labels being created every day. And the stories are great. A lot of businesses begin through T-shirt design and then expand.


from : http://anthillonline.com/start-the-press/

Advice for Publishing

ABC television business reporter and Fairfax newspaper columnist Alan Kohler knows a thing or two about business media. His independent publishing joint venture, Eureka Report, is a rich online resource for self-managing superannuation investors. With a crack team of financial commentators and a subscriber base of 4,000 and growing, Kohler reflects on the past year’s wild ride.

"If I was to offer advice to someone looking to launch an independent media venture, I’d say: don’t print it. You don’t need to. There are print media business models that work very well, but the costs are still high. My advice would be to structure it online from the beginning, with multimedia. Use the full potential of the internet.”

from: Start the Press - http://anthillonline.com/start-the-press/

Think Success!

To attain the kind of success that you want, you need to dream big. Every success story starts with big dreams. You need to have big dreams for yourself - which you want to be somebody rich, famous or fulfilled. You need to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve. But it doesn't stop in dreaming alone. You should actively visualize success in your mind that you can almost feel it, touch it or it is within your reach. Play this image back at every opportunity. What does it feel to triple your current income? How will your life change? What will your business look like if you achieved the million-dollar mark.


Successful entrepreneurs possess an attitude of openness and faith that you can have what you want if you can simply envision it as the first step on the path of action to acquiring it. Management gurus have taught us the power of visualization - seeing yourself in your mind as having accomplished your dreams. If you want to be a successful writer, envision yourself signing books for a throng of people who have lined up to have your autograph. If you want to be rich, picture yourself in luxurious surroundings holding a fat bank account. And the process of envisioning success for you should be a constant activity! You need to think that you are successful (or will be one) every single waking hour. A personal development coach shared me her secret to help her continuously visualize her goals for the moment: when climbing stairs, recite your goal with every step you take. So if you want more money, say "I will have money" in every step of the stairs. This technique will reinforce your goal and keep it fresh in your consciousness.

What is an authentic entrepreneur?

Authentic Entrepreneurs are...
1. Visionary – The old entrepreneurial model was usually a rebel. These people wanted their freedom, wanted to do "it" their way, and believed they could do "it" better than anyone else. By that definition the Authentic Entrepreneur certainly is a rebel to some degree. However, Authentic Entrepreneurs are more visionary. They see the big picture, are prophetic, and have a broad view of the life and business they’re creating.
2. Creator of Destiny – Traditional entrepreneurs are creating businesses, which is a great motivator. But once the business is created, where do you go? What’s next? The Authentic Entrepreneur is moving toward a destiny. They’re inspired by something more expansive than they could possibly create on their own. They tap into their inner power and step confidently forward. They are able to keep going in spite of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The right people, places and opportunities appear out of nowhere to help the Authentic Entrepreneur achieve their destiny.
3. Attractor – All entrepreneurs have a dream. Some have the desire to reach a clearly defined goal, while others simply want to be an entrepreneur first and foremost. They’re forcing the growth of their idea or business, orchestrating every event and creating more action steps than humanly possible to accomplish. They’re driven. On the other hand, Authentic Entrepreneurs are Attractors. They are magnetized by their strong focus toward their destiny. The right people, places and opportunities appear out of nowhere to help. When they take action, it’s inspired and efficient.
4. Fulfilled – Many traditional entrepreneurs aggressively achieve their dreams and grow very successful businesses, yet they never feel complete. Why? Because they haven’t taken the time to truly know what’s important to them and as a result, they’ve sacrificed their health, relationships, or personal needs to grow their business. The Authentic Entrepreneur creates their business from the inside out as self-aware individuals. They understand the importance of aligning core values with their beliefs and dreams to fulfill their destiny and themselves.
5. Inspirational – Many entrepreneurs choose not to have employees or associates on their payroll, working as Lone Rangers instead. Those who do usually aren’t good supervisors. They’d rather control every event and micromanage or not manage at all. The Authentic Entrepreneur knows the importance of team spirit and how to inspire people to blossom into their most creative and meaningful life expression. If the Authentic Entrepreneur isn’t adept at managing people, they know when to let go of that area of responsibility and bring in someone who has outstanding people skills. They understand that fulfilled people are more accommodating to clients and prospects, and happier in general. As a result, business blossoms.
Whether you currently are an entrepreneur or dream of becoming one, embracing the Authentic Entrepreneur traits has many advantages. You remove the traditional entrepreneurial stigmas and allow yourself more room for growth. So if you’re ready to step forward and declare that you desire to live a meaningful and wealthy life, then it’s time to make your move. Shift your perspective and become an Authentic Entrepreneur today.

© 2000 by Aleta Pippin, founder The Authentic Entrepreneur, Front Office Business Centers, author of "Sit Still and Succeed", "7 Habits of a Centered Person", and "Yikes!! My Butt’s Falling". She can be reached at 1-800-686-0923 or http://www.aentrepreneur.com. Front Office Business Centers has been on the list of Top 50 Women-Owned Businesses in Houston. Aleta received the Working Woman Regional Entrepreneurial Excellence Award for Overcoming Obstacles and she has been listed in the International Who’s Who of Entrepreneurs.

Tools - Google Print

Google is once again proving itself an innovator as a provider of online search services. This time they have extended their reach off-line into the card catalogues and stacks of libraries and the inventories of publishers all over the world. The creation of Google Print will allow for the quick retrieval of all information pertinent to almost any publication in the world.
Once you open the Google Print search page, you are given access to two programs. Google Print Publisher Program allows publishers and authors to submit publications for listing. If the title you are searching for is in that database you will be directed to a page containing its submitted information. You will be given the choice of either examining a couple of pages from the text and availability information, or short excerpts plus information.
If the book your searching for is in a library, the Google Print Library Project will provide your results. If the book is no longer copyrighted, you will be free to browse through the complete text at your leisure. Otherwise, only information similar to the publishing program will be available. The only difference being that instead of the option to buy, you will be able to enter your zip code to ascertain the location of a library near by where you can obtain a copy.
Of course, as this is Google, you will also be offered a number of related search options: find reviews, other web sites related to the book, information about the publisher, or even refine your original search to find passages that link to other pages in the book.
As a research tool, this will prove invaluable for people developing a bibliographic database prior to beginning a project. Simply enter your topic keywords and any book whose content matches that subject will be called up from either program. Imagine how quickly you will be able to develop a listing of books most appropriate for your work.
It seems that some people aren’t happy about this program. According to this article in Publishers Weekly publishers have got their knickers in a twist over the copyright implications and the manner in which Google is creating its data base for Google Print Library Program

Good Customer Service

Good Customer service means a whole lot more than displaying your products. It means being sensitive to the customer - of his/her customs, background, religion, sex. It means recognising the customers for the individuals that they are.

I once had the opportunity to quote on the upholstering of a fleet of fishing boats. I was the fourth person - the first female. Instead of jumping aboard the mothership brashly, I asked for permission to board (as per maritime custom). I took time to drink tea with the customer (as per Chinese custom) before allowing them to bring up the business. Even though my quote was a few hundred dollars more expensive than the competitors, it was our business that won the tender. We recognised the customer.

There are two paths you can go by ...

The brain is split into two hemispheres - each side roughly controlling one of two related yet separate processes in the interpretation of information the brain receives from the world around it.

The right side (know as the creative/visual side ) controls/creates the persons emotions.

The left side (the thinking/reasoning/auditory side) know as the logical side, determines the sensible actions a person should take.

During a typical sales transaction, the salesperson should always first address a persons emotional side (right brain).

Once that has been achieve, the potential buyer then only needs some reasonable logical excuses(left brain) to support their emotional response( right brain), in order to allow them to proceed with their impulse purchase.

If a sales person only appeals to a persons logical mind( RB); as in when a technician does the sales pitch; then, often even if the prospect is convinced that the purchase makes sense, they will still not buy - as they don't feel like it at that moment.

This often make leaves the technical sales person scratching their head ... 'that customer must be an idiot!'

Entering the next retailer, that sells the same item, a smart sales man sees the prospect admiring the product... and says- "isn't a beaut? I love them, their so cool...i can see you know what you like" waiting for the conformational response of - 'yeah - they are, and- yes i do!" the salesman closes the deal with," oh, and its so efficient, and whats more, its on sale atm !

sold!

The buyer got their emotional side affirmed , and then was given the 'logical' justification/excuse they needed to complete the deal.


ALWAYS APPEAL TO THEIR EMOTIONS FIRST;
then later, the logical reason to remove any doubt about the correctness of their emotional response

The Ultimate Business Intelligence Check List

This post is a ongoing blog that will keep adding important questions to ask of a idea before a business plan can (and should) be developed.
The idea is that; of the hundreds of exciting and potentially lucrative ideas we have whilst brainstorming; we then need a list of considerations to help us to sort out the best ones; those that will have the most chance of succeeding...

• Does the product or service have a "Hungry Crowd" looking for it ? (If not, how can i create a hungry crowd for it?)

• Is the market a new market product/service, or an existing one with unique improvements? (The products or services being sold are unique and have a large enough population to create a successful business.)

• Can a new industry be built around this improved or new product/service ? ( think Gates/Jobs looking at the cover of Popular Electronics inaugural edition and sensing the arrival of home and business PC revolution )

• Is the prospective /existing market, for the product/service, ubiquitous or niche ? (The companies that focus on a particular group that isn't being overserved have a terrific opportunity. eg current information: professional peer reviews, consumer reports)
  

• If the business of sales is about making people happy, is this a product/service that makes people happy, or is about survival and necessity?

• Can you differentiate between your business and others like it?
  
• Does it have a better product, better customer service?
  
• Is it unique in some way?
• Can you differentiate between the business and others like it? Does it have a better product, better customer service? Is it unique in some way? TJ

• Are your profit margins enough to not just keep you afloat, but also to be worthwhile for all your time and energy? High Margins? (the best businesses to get into are high-margin businesses, which allow management to make mistakes and take risks.)
  
• or will the business require High Volume ? (If you don't have high margins, then you better do a volume business.)

• A companies greatest product is itself; so will the business itself be attractive to many business buyers in the future?

• Can it be run without developed expertise ? ( businesses that are turn key solutions are more attractive to untrained business investors/buyers)

• Is the product a 'once only' purchased item, or a consumable item that will encourage repeat business? ( Because customer acquisition costs is one of the most expensive parts of running any business and especially an online business, businesses that attract repeat buyers lower their customer acquisition cost and build a profitable business overtime....eg online gaming)

• If and when the idea finally becomes capitalized ( and profitable) will it also inspire you to do more of it because you will love doing it all the more?

• Is the marketing cost of the business a Low Customer Acquisition Cost? (The largest cost for any business,regardless of whether it's online or offline, is customer acquisition.) Companies that can privately label their services and leverage other people's contacts and members are going to be winners.)

• Does the team have Good Money Management skills ?
  
• Does the business require high profile= high cost premises? (You have to respect money and believe that whatever money you raise needs to be marshaled out smartly. The good managers don't put their companies in Class"A" office facilities; they look for the cheapest space. They buy everything at a discount and they don't add people until absolutely necessary.)

• Is the business one with Low-Maintenance Cost? (Leasing ? ... annual rebuilding or updating a site will require a team of people to be on payroll to maintain a site.)

• Will the business require extensive customer support?
  
  

Richest in Australia

Ten Richest People in Australia in 2006 according to the BRW business magazine.
(All figures in Australian Dollars)

1. James Packer,$7.1 billion, PBL, Publishing and Broadcasting Limited
2. Frank Lowy, $5.4 billion, Westfield Shopping Centers
3. Richard Pratt, $5.2 billion, Visy Industries
4. Zhengrong Shi, $3 billion, Suntech Power Holdings
5. Harry Triguboff, $2.5 billion, Meriton Apartments
6. David Hains and Family, $2.3 billion, Portland House Group
7. Len Ainsworth and sons, $1.9 billion, Ainsworth Game Technology
8. John Gandel, $1.8 billion, CFS Gandel Retail Trust
9. Gina Rinehart, $1.8 billion, Hancock Prospecting
10. Kerry Stokes, $1.8 billion, Seven Network (television station)

Quotes from Janet Holmes a Court - who is worth $180 million:

We have to shift our emphasis from economic efficiency and materialism towards a sustainable quality of life and to healing of our society, of our people and our ecological systems.
Janet Holmes a Court - Economy - Environmental - Life

I do believe that it is extremely important that each one of us is a participant in life and what's going on around us rather than being a spectator to it and if you do that, if you participate in the world, in your community, your school, your company, or your country, whatever.. they you will be useful and hopefully leave the planet a little better.
Janet Holmes a Court - Environmental - Life - Encouragement

Now we've got around seven thousand people working, and that to me is fantastically satisfying.. more than dollars and cents, because I just believe that the greatest thing you can give someone is a job.
Janet Holmes a Court - Jobs - Money

The company was quite hierarchical. I often think it was like a pyramid with Robert (husband Robert Holmes à Court) at the top and lots of us paying homage to him. I try to turn the pyramid upside down so that I'm at the bottom and bubbling away and encouraging people and energising them so that they are all empowered so that they can do what they need to do, now that's the dream.
Janet Holmes a Court - Encouragement - Leadership - Employees

I think this feeling that I have for people and the importance of behaving in a way which is respectful to people of all colours, shapes, sizes and religions goes back a very long way.. possibly to my mother and father in very early stages of childhood.
Janet Holmes a Court - People

Power of Brainstorm

If we knew how many creative thoughts and ideas we really had, we would be simply amazed. Brainstorming is a fabulous tool that is used by businesses to bring out ideas and bring all the minds together bringing on new paradigm shift in thinking.

There is something about being able to bounce your thoughts and ideas off another person and then they have an idea which sparks the ideas of another person. It is like a virus but in a good way….everyone becomes infected and part of the process of thought innovation.

Some of the benefits of brainstorming are:

• It encourages creativity, expanding thinking to see all perspectives of a problem, providing a wide range of options
• Everyone equally involved, no one judging another persons ideas, every idea is recorded as worthy
• Ideas grow quickly, by allowing everyone to offer any ideas that come to mind
• Sense of ownership. With the entire team actively participating in the brainstorming session, this creates a sense of ownership in the topic that is being discussed.
• Environment free of criticism
• No discussions going on, no story telling
• Everyone paying attention and really focusing on the question
• Improvements in productivity

These are just a few of the benefits of brainstorming.

Maybe you are a manager of a business, and you are responsible for taking care of some problems within the staff, but you don’t want to point fingers because this problem really affects everyone. What if you had a brainstorming session with the questions posed on making the business more effective? What if you brought everyone together, placed the problem at hand before your staff, let them solve their own problem and also be the owner of the solution. Everyone has the dignity still in tact and your problem is solved.

There are benefits of brainstorming that reach beyond just problem solving, this is a chance to help your employees realize that they are able to really contribute to the success of the company, they feel more a part of the team, a place to feel like they really matter.

In order to be successful, you need to constantly educate your market.

In marketing a new product you need to select it carefully.

Although a product may be new and exciting to you,
this does not automatically make it a winner.
The risks are high.
With new concept launches,
it sometimes take years and millions of dollars to educate the market!

It is usually better to market a product that is well known to consumers
yet is new and improved by you.

This is a safer route for you,
especially if you do not have an unlimited budget for marketing and promotion.

Launching a new or improved version of an existing product
requires far less customer education
than if you are offering a new product concept.

Note that inventors are not usually the ones who end up rich.

It is almost always the entrepreneur who picks up the concept
when the timing is right and makes the product successful.

In order to be successful, you need to constantly educate your market.

There is a big cost difference

between educating your market about a new concept

and

educating your customers about what is unique about you,
and why they should buy from you as opposed to someone else.

However, the cost can't be too high, because if it is,
something must be wrong with your product or service,
your message,
or your market timing.

If you are offering a product or service that is already understood, or not difficult to understand,
then your goal must be to educate your customers about why they should buy from you.

This means giving them solid and plausible reasons why they should select you or your company to do business with.

This important educational tool is called a

Unique Selling Proposition (USP).