|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Your Internet Information Source... Technical Made Practical" |
|
 |
|
|
• Alternatives in the Workplace? If Laid Off - What Choices Do You Have? • How Do I Market My Home Based Business? The Most Cost Effective Advertising
|
|
|
Alternatives in the Workplace If Laid Off - What Are My Choices?
World stock markets suffering from continuous heart attacks since 9-11. CD rates are lower than Grandpa's were, a flood of corporate greed and fraud of the 1990's is being exposed daily (costing investors billions of dollars). Retail sales are flat and possibly headed for decline, and the Federal Government and most state and local governments are facing unprecedented tax base shortages (which are predicted to result in profound layoffs next year). Each of us must consider work alternatives -- should a pink slip be in our future.
Work alternatives are not new; In fact this generation has seen many changes. Home based businesses are much the norm while the internet has reduced our 25,000 mile (circumference) planet to a live video conference with a 1 second delay! Since 9-11 most companies have exchanged a portion of air travel for video conferencing. If you consider working from home, you're not alone. Statistics show that alternative work plans often include home-based solutions. Observe: • Almost half of small businesses are home-based. •
More than 15 million small businesses operate in the U.S. • Corporations are placing workers in home-bases to save millions of dollars in office overhead.
Rob Spiegel of "Business Know-How" reports; "As predicted, the home business movement has received a hefty boost from the recession-that-wasn't-a-recession, but-now-turns-out-to-be-a-serious-recession - downturn." He also states "In this recent downturn, the laid-off workers have different skills than workers booted in past recessions. The bulk of the layoffs are not coming from the blue-collar workers" but rather "the millions of newly laid off workers tend to have titles like Vice President of Business Development or Director of Ecommerce, even the previously prized engineers are getting tossed." Since the job market has changed, I believe permanently, it's time we all consider some alternatives.
What can I do? Here's Some ideas:
Data Entry • Data Processing • Transcription • Desktop Publishers • Bookkeepers • Billing Clerks • Clerical Workers • Sales • Secretarial • Copy Editors • Sales/Marketing • Collections • Web Design • Architects • Artists • Financial Analysts • Personal Shoppers • Typists • Temp office workers • Software Development • Claims Processors • Graphic Artists • Calligraphers • Graphic Illustrators • Systems Analyst • Editors • GUI Designer • Icon Artists • Systems Engineers • Art Designers • Technical Trainers • Cartoonists • Illustrators • Technical Writers • Programmers • Internet Research • Telemarketers • Engineers • Photographers • Advertising Sales • Customer Support • Poets • Translators (language) • Database Management • Programmer/Analysts • Typesetters • Reporters • Project Managers • Appraisers • Database Admin. • Proofreaders • Field Engineers • Database Analysts • Publishers • Word Processing • Database Designers • Recruiters • Writers • House Sitters • Pet Sitters • Child Minders • Home School Assistants • Computer Repair • Network Repair • Network Design • Software Engineer • Software Training • Plant Tending & Leasing • Landscape Engineer • Neighborhood Handy Person • Lawn Maintenance • Tree Maintenance • Traveling Auto Maintenance • Delivery Service. This is only the tip of the iceberg!
Final Point: Always select a field that you enjoy and are considered skilled in. Suggested research and methods regarding selecting a suitable "work alternative" could fill a book. This column is merely designed to "break you out of the box" to think this topic through with a new perspective. In our unstable society, we must begin to consider an alternative work plan. Proverbs 12:26 states "The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor." I remind people who are worried about these changes of this important fact; During The Great Depression, the wealth of the wicked was transferred to the righteous. I believe that is happening again!
Blessed Work Alternatives, Greg Schipper
Have a topic? Email me, let me know your interest.
|
Marketing Your Business Cost Effective Advertising
Once you've completed the process of researching and selecting a "work alternative" or home-based business, it's time to build your marketing plan. This is where my skill and talents are found. The following ideas are "generic" and can be tailored to your specific field.
1. Develop a website that presents your products or services as your "online brochure". Use many illustrations, awesome product photos and lots of Flash movement. Here are some examples:
2. Consider an online order form that can take sales orders after your normal business hours. Your customers are already "searching the web" for your products or services. Will you be there for them?
3. Market your products or services using a USP. A USP is a "Unique Selling Position". To be successful in small business you don't have to be the best, but you should offer a unique position. Identifying, developing, and incorporating your USP into everything you do is challenging. But the reward is worth every effort. It will differentiate you, distinguish you, and give you advantage over everyone in your marketplace. "Me too" businesses rarely survive. They usually end up in price wars because they don't have anything unique about them to establish value in the minds of their prospects. Here are some examples that work: • Avis Rent a Car "We Try Harder." • Coke "The Real Thing" • Dominos Pizza "Pizza in 30min"
4. Build Trust and Credibility Through Customer Referrals. Get referrals and photos from every customer you can. Here's a super example. Your new potential customers don't have to take your word for it, just check out your referrals.
5. Develop an Email Newsletter and Email Database. This is actually two related projects in one. Collect business cards and email addresses wherever you go. Plan to stay in constant touch with every potential client through email. It's free, fast and can be persuasive. Most sincere business people "study to show themselves approved". That is, they grow in knowledge of the profession they are in. In fact, after 10 years, you become an expert in your field. It is just like having a PHD in your profession. What you know is valuable to your customers. If fact, much of the online business purchases involve selling the information people have accumulated. Solomon wrote; "Though good advice lies deep within a counselor's heart, the wise man will draw it out." Proverbs 20:5. The wise person desires to learn from a successful person's understanding, and take direction from the man or woman who knows the solution from time-tested experience! Your newsletter should offer this important information to your client base and also direct readers to your website.
6. Maximize Traffic
to Your Website Through Search
Engine Placement Strategy. This is a project for a marketing
and computer expert. Search engine
promotion is probably one of the most well known and practiced ways of being
able to "target" your market. Most people start here when they begin
promoting a website, and they know that a search engine can bring in as
much as 80% of their website's traffic. The best thing about search engine
placement is that it is a very cost-effective and productive way to
advertise their website. 7. Remember and practice the "Tip of the Iceberg" rule. Creating and publishing your website is just the "Tip of the Iceberg". The remaining 90% is unseen below the surface. These unseen features are important to the success of your website.
1) Business Cards, show web address With a modest investment, you can have a market presence, credibility and a powerful impact in your field! My first website cost a little over $7,000 to build, but it added $195,000 in new business that year. The next year was surprising, with almost double that in new revenue. That is all good news, but since that time the investment cost for a strong web presence has dropped in half. I don't want to minimize the main ingredients of faith, honesty, integrity, excellence and a love for people. Because without these, any company will burn out and fade away. I believe in these ingredients as "the only way to go". However, we are living during a time of rich opportunity, where a first year startup organization can wisely invest frugal dollars and manifest a market presence that is compelling, informative, useful and inviting. To state it simply, the internet provides the best return on investment of any promotional activity I know of. Period.
8. Call Someone Successful In Marketing. I have a personal invitation from Bart Dailey, CEO of American Marketing, to give you his phone number and the open door to contact him. Bart has a successful marketing background and really has the wisdom in this area! Bart takes all his new prospects through an interview online, applications online, all products are online, all documentation is online, his video is online, and much, much more. But here is the most important point; In this market, his company is experiencing a 41% gain over last year! Plus, they have increased their national staff by 70%! Call Bart Dailey at 210-820-3322. (I suggest you do this while he is still willing to give free marketing guidance).
|
|
To Subscribe to this newsletter, click here. If you have questions or features you would like to see covered, please send an email with your request |
|
|
|
|
