Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! Evan Signature
Evan Carmichael Top Header about About Home Profiles articles Tools forums inspirational quotes About facebook Twitter YouTube Blog

recent article Tagged Articles



Social Media Is Only Customer Relations
Part 7 in a social media overview
Hard Times Give Birth to Healthy Entrepreneurs
Your entrepreneurial dream can become a reality during hard times. Is unemployment the foundation for being healthy, wealthy and wise?
Remedy #1 for product launches/start ups: Part 2
Beware of these 3 serious errors: 1. Incorrectly identifying your prospects' real & recognized needs 2. Failure to properly & precisely position your product 3. Overestimating/Underestimating the size of the market -- both in units & dollars
Taking Advantage of Public WiFi Hotspots
“Before you ride merrily off to the next burg you need to know if your hardware will support WiFi. A wireless network uses radio waves just like cell phones, televisions and radios do.”

Selling Benefits
Selling benefits is something most salespeople neglect. Learn why in this article.
Avoid Mistakes, Take Action, Overcome Resistance
Works great in sales too. Your salespeople would have more success changing the minds of their prospects if they weren't so busy denying them of their opinions, trying to push facts and features, benefits and value propositions, and proof and examples down their throats.
Stop Blaming Marketing
Sales and Marketing need to learn to work together and stop pointing fingers.

The 7-11 Franchise Program
The 7-11 Franchise Program may not be the best model for new franchise plans.
The Difference Between Provocative Selling and Baseline Selling
In the wake of a recent article by the authors of Provocative Selling in the Harvard Business Review an attendee challenged me to defend Baseline Selling. Since it was in the HBR, this attendee believed it had to be the better way to sell...
Artist Jeffrey Lipsky finds real-world success in the virtual world of Second Life
Painter uses virtual world to promote his works
I Can't Get No . . . Satisfaction
The ways that women and men choose to deal with the midlife transition are diametrically opposed: one approach works; the other one doesn't. Which is which?
Trouble with Personality Tests
Personality tests are commonly used for hiring in organisations. Personality tests attempt to measure a broad range of basic traits, such as the Big Five Personality traits or Emotional Intelligence. Although these may provide useful information on how to describe a person, research has repeatedly shown that they do little to predict how well a person will perform in a given job. Academic researchers are re-emphasizing what Chally reported over 30 years ago -personality tests are simply too broad to predict on-the-job performance. Chally, on behalf of the US Justice Department, found it necessary to research solutions well beyond the accuracy of this type of assessment; to identify and measure very precise, job-specific competencies, behaviours, and skills that have been scientifically shown to predict on-the-job sucess.

Using FREE to Build Your Small Business Brand
I ended a recent article with the suggestion that all of your website content should be offered for free. I thought it would be a good idea to follow that statement up with some ideas and rationale on why free content helps create awareness and build brand equity.
How can I turn my company's operations into a competitive advantage?
Network Member Question How can I turn my company's operations into a competitive advantage? and What are the best ways to run my supply chains? Ramesh Malani L'Entrepreneur En Residence at Foundation Washington D.C.
Choose Your R-Word
An economic downturn doesn't mean you have an excuse for missing your sales goals. Make a committment to not just survive these times-- but thrive-- turn your R word from Recession to Resiliency!

Focus On Results Not Personalities
An article of 1053 words focusing on how to get people to work together and be productive, to respect one another regardless of whether they like one another, and to communicate in a supportive and positive manner.
Questions About Personality Profiling
Do you have a trait, an addiction, or a disorder that causes you suffering? If you were offered an instant, painless way to stop the OCD, ADD, depression, panic attacks, addiction, angry outbursts, impatience, or shyness, would you want it? What if this treatment could wipe out a particularly traumatic memory for you?

Look out for the new shiny object
As entrepreneurs, we sometimes are too quick to follow the new shiny object.

Have you read Forrest Breyfogle’s new book on Integrated Enterprise Excellence? Thoughts/comments?
Member Question: I recently read one of Forrest Breyfogle’s new books in his 4 book-volume series on the Integrated Enterprise Excellence (IEE) System; i.e., "The Integrated Enterprise Excellence System: An Enhanced, Unified Approach to Balanced Scorecards, Strategic Planning, and Business Improvement." The subtitle to this book describes what is covered in varying details in the other three volumes. My sense is that Breyfogle has pushed his (and our) thinking to the next level and addressed issues that many of us struggle with regarding Continuous Improvement efforts. His “Integrated Enterprise” thinking makes sense to me, what are your thoughts or feedback?
Number of SKUs and Business Complexity
Member Question: I am sure you all agree that more SKUs (finished goods) the company has in its portfolio the more complex (and more expensive) its business becomes. However I wonder how this relationship works exactly? Can anyone recommend formula (or link) that explains (shows impact of) number of SKUs on logistics / supply chain costs (handling, warehousing, transportation), forecast accuracy, level of stocks, etc?

What is the quickest way to get up to speed on supply chain management?
Member Question: What books or other resources can you recommend to a project and product manager who suddenly wants/needs to learn as much as possible about managing supply chains of diverse products? In the past, my role has involved only product development and marketing, not managing the flow of of raw materials from suppliers, managing inventory, delivery and so forth. I'd be grateful for any resource recommendations.
Is is SPAM or Your Direct Marketing Approach?
This article gets to the heart of how to not be seen as a "Spammer." If you conduct e-marketing campaigns, sometimes it's tough to get your message read. Here are some interesting statistics why this is the case -- and some helpful pointers to utilize e-marketing EFFECTIVELY in your direct marketing plan.
Is having a website a requirement in the RFQ RFP process today
Member Question: I have a question, for those actively participating in the RFQ & RFP process today. We had a client request we put up one page of his newly developed site, even though it was in the production phase and not close to finalization. He requested we upload one page, disconnect the links, and post. In further discussion he explained, having a website was part of a RFQ submission requirement. Both concerned are privately held corporations and both in the US. Has this become a standard requirement in the RFQ/RFPprocess? If so, in what cases and industries is it required? My Response: The statement that “having a website was part of RFQ submission requirement,” demonstrates that the “myths” surrounding discredited supply chain practices continue to persist.

Part IV: Can LinkedIn Increase Your Sales?
Check out these resources to learn more about how you can leverage LinkedIn to build your business and increase your sales results
The Importance of Master Data Management (MDM)
This article takes CRM a step further and focuses totally on managing your data. MDM is a new acronym out there -- and much of it correlates closely to the same problems . . . or opportunities . . . around CRM. It's an interesting topic, and definitely one to keep in mind as you're thinking about effectively managing your customer relationships.
Baby Boomers are Technologically Savvy!
This article discusses how to better market to Baby Boomers (the largest generation). It also talks about the importance of marketing effectively to the (unprecedented) six generations that are alive today.
Supernatural Promotions
If you want to create buzz, you have to know your customer and how you are reaching them. It is easier to create buzz than you may think. Good buzz begins with a positive customer experience. There is no substitute for exceptional performance.

Becoming the Master of Customer Data
This article will give you an overview on how to truly master your customer data. This is important as you plan you direct marketing efforts because your loyal customers expect you to recognize them as such -- and you need to market to them in a way that shows them that you value them.

Other recent article Related Articles

But Where Were the Hippos!?
A recent article in the Economist about there not being enough hippos at TED Global is pretty interesting. Actually, scratch that, it’s not very interesting at all, in fact it’s disappointing that this is the best article about the recent conference in Tanzania to come out of a magazine like the Economist.
Corporate Blogging: Peupe ushers in a new era for Africa
Corporate Blogging, that was the title of a recent article published in the July issue of Business in Africa. Here are few excerpts:
Do You Have What it Takes
This is a follow up to a previous article “Starting your online business” (SYOB) and in this article I would like to expand on your “WHY” the reason that has all of a sudden due to a particular circumstance or recent event in your life, turned your thinking towards a different approach or trend.
Do you know what your Junk Mail is Doing?
My recent poll results were very similar to the recent surveys on the topic “what people do with the promotional inserts which accompany your bills and statements in the mail”. Do you know what your junk mail is doing?
Protect your Workplace from the Violence and Murder of Annie Le at Yale University
Employers need to protect their workplaces from instances of workplace violence. The recent murder of Annie Le at Yale University is just the most recent in a rash of incidents of workplace violence that occur daily across the country. This article helps employers learn important steps to protect against violence in their workplace. It also provides information on the warning signs of workplace violence and resources for employees that may be prone to workplace violence. Despite statistics showing huge increases in incidents of workplace violence, most employers fail to take the basic necessary steps to prevent workplace violence including having a workplace violence seminar and providing workplace violence prevention training. This article provides employers with the basic steps they can take to prevent workplace violence today.
Home Staging Your Bedroom
This is a recent article I had published in a local real estate magazine with some suggestions how to stage a bedroom.
Article Marketing and How to Always Have Ideas
One very recent question I got from someone that was considering article marketing had the fear of running out of ideas. While I have been doing article marketing for some time now, it is very rarely I get stumped on ideas. I have had a few conversations with other article marketers and they seem to get stuck once in awhile also.
Harvard Business Review Hit and Then Missed the Mark on Sales
An analysis of Harvard Business Review's recent article regarding observations about sales skills and salespeople.

What Prospective Franchisees Are Looking For
This article gives an overview of a recent FRANdata survey about what potential franchisees are looking for in a franchise.
Best and Worst Questions for Salespeople to Ask
A recent HBR article contended that the very worst question a salesperson could as was, "What keeps you up at night?" I however, can think of much worse...
Featured Article

Bottom Footer



Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Popular Articles

Top 5 Tips for Better Online Ads

Five Ways to Show Honest Appreciation

Join Conversations Politely, Part 1
Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.