There is all kind of business related information readily available in various websites. Everyday millions of web pages are updated in internet related to small scale businesses. Entrepreneurs seems to search all kind of information through yahoo or Google and solve their problem in minutes.A few years ago, businessmen have to depend on books and from the teachings that they have learned from their business degrees to learn of business resources that they can use to manage and boost the growth of their businesses. Liquidating the profits of the business, for example, needs some knowledge in accounting. With the introduction of the computers and related technologies, however, business resources for entrepreneurs become more readily available. A number of online business resources and tools, for example, are now available for any businessman who wishes to take advantage of business resources to improve the sales and profits of his business.

Important functions in a business organization such as preparing the payroll and accounting items for sale also becomes much easier given the number of business resources and tools that can be downloaded or used through the world wide web. You will therefore find the internet a very useful source of different business resources and tools if you are looking for business resources for your company. Never underestimate the importance of learning from your business colleagues though and the value of reading materials such as books and magazines that can provide you with business resources information that you can use. Many businessmen also learn of better business resources by enrolling in business degrees.

I really dislike ads where businesses tout their honesty and integrity. These businesses may be the most honest establishments around, but it seems blatantly self-serving when they say, “Integrity is our core value” or “We’re the ones you can trust.”

My reaction when I hear that is, “If they have to talk about being honest, then something must be wrong.” I also wonder if they’re calling their competitors liars.

Advertising is hard because you have to brag about your business without sounding like you’re bragging. And talking about your honesty and integrity is one of those areas where you can easily step over the line.

So how does an advertiser get across to his market that he runs a good, ethical business?

Generally, that’s done by simply being great at your business and doing what you say you’re going to do, when you say you’re going to do it. That gets around pretty quickly even without advertising. It’s also a good idea to be involved with your community. Let folks know who you are and that you care about where you live. If you’re an upright person helping out the community, people will give your business a try.

But if you really want to get a message across regarding your high standards for honesty, then you need to let someone else say it. You do this by getting testimonials from several of your customers. Of course, you can’t approach them and say, “Please would you say something about how ethical we are.” You need to be subtle. Some of them may talk about your great product or service and may never mention your honesty. Don’t worry; just hang on to that great testimonial for a later ad. If you get enough testimonials, some of them will touch on your honesty and then you can use those.

It’s best to approach customers either in person or by telephone and ask them a few questions about how they felt when doing business with you. Emails are okay, too, but they often go unanswered. You can also ask your sales personnel to write down responses they get from satisfied customers.

Sometimes it’s better to have a third party do this. I have found when doing this sort of work for clients that often I have to just keep someone on the phone. At first, people will just say something generic like so-and-so was great to work with. If I can just keep them talking a bit longer, then their memories click in and I get a great quote.

If you can line up people who have purchased from others who weren’t so honest, and they switched to you, that’s all the better. There’s no need for them to say the name of the competitor; just expressing their experiences will suffice.

With written quotes, you can build various ads, brochures, billboards, and other collateral that tout your honesty and integrity. If you are fortunate enough to capture these testimonials on video, you can build broadcast spots with them.

Of course, there are always exceptions to any rule, and that includes my distaste for businesses directly promoting their honesty in advertising. Locally, we have the “No suits, no ties, and no lies,” slogan from Westside Ford in Firebaugh. Their Web site says they’ve been using that slogan for ten years. It’s catchy, down-home, and it stands out on radio and television. Of course, I don’t know if anyone really believes it, but one can appreciate the fun of it. It certainly makes the dealership stand out from the pack. I think the fun of the rhyme and the country twang it’s delivered with make it work. It’s a clever way of saying we’re not fancied up to try and impress you. The slogan would have sounded blatantly self-serving if it had been written, “We don’t wear suits or ties. We’re down to earth and honest.”

Integrity is perhaps the most important thing in business, besides having a product or service that people want. If people don’t trust you, then they are not likely to buy from you if they can at all avoid it. But it’s important to have integrity, not just because your customers desire it, but because it’s the right thing. If you have integrity in your personal life, it will be easier and natural to have integrity in your business life.

And that’s no lie!

Are you ready to move on to the next level? Do you know why they did not consider you for that last promotion? Have you given in to disappointments and frustrations about upward mobility in your career? Do you truly understand what the power of networking is all about?

It’s time to look in the mirror and take a reality check to determine how others may be viewing you, and learn what may be holding you back from career advancement.

Once you do this, you then need to decide what (if anything) you need to focus on to move your career to the NEXT LEVEL.

There are many reasons you may not be advancing in your career. Some things you may be capable of changing, and some things may be out of your control.

Take a look at all of these road blocks to career advancements and decide for yourself what you need to work on. Remember, you are the only person who has the power to make positive changes in your life.

Here are the Top 25 Reasons why people lack career advancements:

1. Not enough experience / lacking diversity
2. Bad attitude on the job. Managers dislike you
3. They know you are looking for another job
4. You gossip / talk too much
5. Lack of education or unrelated degree
6. You are a minority / you are not like “them”
7. Gender differences
8. You plan on having a family (or you already have children)
9. You won’t put in the overtime they desire
10. You don’t socialize / hang out with key members after hours
11. They don’t trust you or your intentions
12. You intimidate others- maybe even your supervisor
13. They know you won’t stay for too long
14. You lack the image they are seeking (body size, ethnicity, etc.)
15. You are not willing to relocate if needed
16. They show favoritism to relatives or friends
17. You lack the social status they desire
18. Poor work performance / not completing tasks in a timely manner
19. You have poor management skills
20. You have bad written/verbal communication skills
21. Your appearance (heavy make up, dress inappropriately, etc.)
22. You are above the current salary range
23. Age discrimination
24. They want to fire you!
25. You didn’t network with the right people
For those of you who are not self-employed, take a step back and be willing to evaluate yourself in terms of your job performance, project management skills, etc., and decide to work on the areas you can improve. You never want to be passed up for a job opportunity because you were too arrogant to improve in some areas.

As we all know, sometimes you can do just about everything right and still be “held back” for reasons out of your control (e.g., appearance, gender, age). This is why the power of networking is so critical for us all.

Some people have a bad concept of what networking is all about. It does not mean that you give someone an opportunity (or a lead) that they are not qualified to handle, it simply means that you help each other by “exposing” those opportunities and sharing your resources to service each other, make referrals or introductions so that everyone may benefit and have the opportunity to explore those options.

Networking also involves developing relationships and associating yourself with people in key positions who can help you achieve your career goals. The concept of networking does not imply that you should ever place yourself in a position in which you are uncomfortable, forced to do things against your will, or involve yourself in any illegal activities.

You must be careful when deciding how, when, where and who you will network with, especially when it comes to developing business relationships with executives, hiring managers, peers, etc. Not all networking contacts are great contacts!

In conclusion, do you want to take your career to the next level? Aside from making self-improvements, we must also begin by networking, being considerate of each other, and developing targeted relationships with those who can help us. When we look out for one another, we look out for ourselves as well.

Unlocking Greatness…

�??This offer is good but can you guarantee it.�?�

Why write a guarantee for your product or service? It reduces the risk in the eyes of your customers, enough to turn a cynical customer into a convinced customer.

So, what makes a good guarantee? Besides the obvious, �??I guarantee it,�?� strong guarantees include elements that not only ease the customers�?? fears but also reinforce your offer. Before you put your guarantee in writing, here are some tips to keep in mind.

* Emphasize the benefit in each guarantee. Say you�??re selling an energy supplement. Write a statement saying, �??If you�??re not drinking less coffee, skipping down the street, or simply more energetic after thirty days, just ask for your money back.�?�

* Offer objects other than money. If you simply can�??t afford to return your customers�?? money or hesitant to offer that type of guarantee, offer to correct the problem at no additional charge. Send them another product. Contribute to the charity of their choice, in their name of course. Use your imagination and think of ways you can ease your customer�??s fears.

* I�??m sure you�??ve heard of the 30-day guarantee. Have you ever considered giving a 60-day, 90-day, or even a 1-year guarantee? When you offer longer terms, you take on more risk. When you take on more risk, your guarantee becomes stronger. A strong guarantee = Confident buyers.

* After you�??ve finished laying out your guarantee, don�??t forget to restate your main offer. This is also a great place to include write another call-to-action phase. Ask for their business right after you�??ve dissolved their reluctance.

Now, let�??s think about what type of guarantee should you have. Before you decide which guarantee is right for you, think like your customer. Why aren�??t they buying? Are they worried about price? Afraid the product isn�??t exactly what they�??re looking for? Afraid the project won�??t be completed on time?

Guarantees fall into five very overlapping categories:

1. The Money-back guarantee �?? This ensures that you customers won�??t waste their time or money. It also protects customers if the product breaks or fails. You can also offer a prorated money back guarantee after the originally guarantee�??s terms have lapsed.

2. The Satisfaction guarantee �?? This ensures that your customer will be and remain happy with your service or product. This promises your customer happiness with the benefits your services.

3. Price protection guarantee �?? This can either lock in the price, ensuring the price and payment terms won�??t change or increase — think life insurance. Alternatively, ensure that they won�??t find a lower price �?? think office supply superstores.

4. On-time guarantee �?? This helps subdue the fears in time-crunched patrons. Businesses like printers, car repair shops, and cable companies could benefit from this type of guarantee.

5. Absolutely No Question Asked guarantee �?? This can be applied towards anything. A major problem: You�??ll probably never learn your weak spots, if you never have the opportunity to ask questions.

Include a guarantee in your next copywriting project. Whether you�??re writing web copy, a brochure, or a sales letter, a strong guarantee will dissolve your customers�?? reluctance and help spur sales. I guarantee it.

« Previous Page — Next Page »