Casual Articles - Business

Business Boosting Fundraising Events - How to Make the Most of Them!
So, you’ve booked your space at the fundraising event - now what? Here are some basic tips to get the most out of the opportunity:- Whatever your business you’ll need to have some kind of a display – don’t just turn up on the day without thinking about this! Your table at the fundraising event will be your shop window. Make sure you have a bright, eye-catching display – and that’s not just for products, it could simply be a display of leaflets about your business.- Always have a cloth to cover the table provided and make sure it’s long enough to cover the table legs (to hide boxes underneath).- Have height on your display – don’t just have products or leaflets laid out flatly on the table. Work your

t certificates from your computer The most affordable way is to use a program like Microsoft Word or Publisher. If you aren't sure how to start from scratch, there are free templates you can download and customize at the Microsoft Template Gallery.

Alternatively, most office supply stores have pre-printed gift certificate stationery for sale. You can format them with your computer, or even hand write them if you've got nice writing.

Pre-printed gift certificates

Just like ordering pre-printed checks, you can order pre-printed gift certificates. These cost a little more, but they can look really nice with your logo or embossing done on nice paper. This company even sells tracking forms you need, if you're not sure how to do it yourself: www.giftcentral.com

Credit-card style gift certificates

If you've got a bigger business with a POS checkout system, these are pretty cool. It used to be that only huge retail stores had this type of certificat

The Changing Face Of Direct Mail Recruitment
DIRECT MAIL RECRUITING TECHNIQUESThe process of direct mail recruiting has changed dramatically over the past years. The days when you could recruit medical clinicians by simply sending one or two direct mail pieces is not working anymore.The medical staffing recruiting community has changed and evolved to the point htat the stakes have been raised and continue to be raised. Candidates have more choices than ever before (no only with agencies but medical facilities), and their access to information is greater than it's ever been.All of this put together, pushes the envelope to the point that it has created an environment that is increasingly more difficult for medical staffing agencies to attract and retain qualified m

It's that time again - you’re starting off a new year and thinking about your business goals for the year. One of those goals will most likely include an intention to bump up your business a little and bring in some more revenue. One promotional idea worth exploring is a gift certificate program. Retailers almost always have a gift certificate system in place, but a lot of service businesses don't.

Why not? The answer I hear most often is "I haven't got around to it yet!" So I'm going to share a couple tips to get you started.

What kind of gift certificates do you want?

There are 2 basic types. It's really nice to have both:

The paid-for kind of gift certificate is purchased by one of your customers for another person. Not only is it a way to serve new customers, it's a way to serve your current ones. People love sharing experiences, and when you create a really positive one for the recipient, the gift giver will feel great about it!

Another type is the free gift certificate. That might be a gift from you to a current customer, a promotion to attract new ones, or a thank you gift for the people that help you throughout the year.

Tracking your gift certificates

The simplest way is to create a paper log-book or Excel spreadsheet. Besides recording the purchase date, amount, recipient's name, and redemption date, also include the purchaser's name & contact information in case you are must issue a refund as per some state laws.

Showing the dollar value

If you're in a service business, most people buying gift certificates are paying for a particular service they want their friend to have. In this case, it's really nice to write that on the certificate itself, for example, "Good for a 60-minute Reiki session." But what if you raise your prices later or the recipient wants something different? It's smart to put the dollar value on the certificate, in a very small discreet way.

On free certificates, you might want to show the dollar value so people understand its worth, but write "no cash value" very small so that there's no confusion about it being refundable for money.

To present or not to present?

Businesses often stipulate that the certificate "must be presented at time of service." That policy does help prevent fraud, but you can't enforce it without getting the customer really upset. This is where your tracking system is truly necessary. Don't be surprised when 98% of gift certificate holders come in without the paperwork. Trust me on this one. It's better to be elegantly prepared.

Expiration dates

In most states, it is illegal to put an expiration date on gift certificates that were sold for money. If you feel anxious having unused certificates floating around without expiry, you may put a "must be redeemed by" date on them, but here's the rule: when the expiry date passes, you must refund the purchaser in full. Only after you're refunded the purchaser in full can you void the certificate.

The no-expiration rule does NOT apply to free certificates. Since no money has changed hands, the expiration date is up to you.

Refunds

You can pretty much create whatever policy you want, as long as you have one. You can offer cash refunds, "store credit only" refunds, or a combination. For example, if you sold an hour massage certificate for $100, but the redeemer only wants a $65 pedicure, your policy will determine whether they get cash back, credit towards future services, or if they can use the difference to buy products or put it towards the tip.

Do keep in mind that if you should happen to go out of business, you are required by law to issue cash refunds to the purchasers of all unused gift certificates. That's why you need to keep records.

You will need to check with your particular state for any area specific laws that may govern your area. A good place to begin this search is with your state’s Department of Consumer Affairs.

How to design your gift certificates

There are 3 basic ways you can create your certificates. I'll start with the least expensive ones first.

Do-it-yourself gift certificates from your computer The most affordable way is to use a program like Microsoft Word or Publisher. If you aren't sure how to start from scratch, there are free templates you can download and customize at the Microsoft Template Gallery.

Alternatively, most office supply stores have pre-printed gift certificate stationery for sale. You can format them with your computer, or even hand write them if you've got nice writing.

Pre-printed gift certificates

Credit-card style gift certificates

If you've got a bigger business with a POS checkout system, these are pretty cool. It used to be that only huge retail stores had this type of certificat

Advertising Tips-Stop Wasting Your Advertising Dollars
I am not a fan of junk mail. However, there is a HUGE difference between junk mail and direct mail. Direct mail brings in sales, junk mail gets tossed in the garbage. I want you to learn the difference and how direct mail can be created and used to bring you new sales opportunities from a narrowly focused target market that it up to 15 times more likely to buy your product or service than if you were using the shotgun approach.One of the most common sales tactics that any media representative will use when trying to sell you advertising is the number of people who read their publication, hear their radio station, watch their shows, etc. What they don't tell you is how many of these people have no interest in what you are selling.

you to a current customer, a promotion to attract new ones, or a thank you gift for the people that help you throughout the year.

Tracking your gift certificates

Showing the dollar value

On free certificates, you might want to show the dollar value so people understand its worth, but write "no cash value" very small so that there's no confusion about it being refundable for money.

To present or not to present?

Expiration dates

The no-expiration rule does NOT apply to free certificates. Since no money has changed hands, the expiration date is up to you.

Refunds

Do keep in mind that if you should happen to go out of business, you are required by law to issue cash refunds to the purchasers of all unused gift certificates. That's why you need to keep records.

You will need to check with your particular state for any area specific laws that may govern your area. A good place to begin this search is with your state’s Department of Consumer Affairs.

How to design your gift certificates

There are 3 basic ways you can create your certificates. I'll start with the least expensive ones first.

Alternatively, most office supply stores have pre-printed gift certificate stationery for sale. You can format them with your computer, or even hand write them if you've got nice writing.

Pre-printed gift certificates

Credit-card style gift certificates

If you've got a bigger business with a POS checkout system, these are pretty cool. It used to be that only huge retail stores had this type of certificat

Job Interview Tips You Can Use to Ace the Interview and Land the Job
A job interview is not the most harrowing thing you will go through in your life, but that can be very hard to believe as you walk into the office of your prospective employer! Unless you're very lucky, at one point or another, you will be going through this ordeal. Though it might be nerve-wracking, there is no reason you cannot come through it with flying colors by keeping in mind these job interview tips. The job interview tips below have been gathered from managers and interviewers and they definitely bear keeping in mindBefore you even walk into the building for the first time, there are things you can do to control the situation. The first, most obviously, is to be well-dressed and well-groomed. You have the o

so that there's no confusion about it being refundable for money.

To present or not to present?

Expiration dates

The no-expiration rule does NOT apply to free certificates. Since no money has changed hands, the expiration date is up to you.

Refunds

Do keep in mind that if you should happen to go out of business, you are required by law to issue cash refunds to the purchasers of all unused gift certificates. That's why you need to keep records.

You will need to check with your particular state for any area specific laws that may govern your area. A good place to begin this search is with your state’s Department of Consumer Affairs.

How to design your gift certificates

There are 3 basic ways you can create your certificates. I'll start with the least expensive ones first.

Alternatively, most office supply stores have pre-printed gift certificate stationery for sale. You can format them with your computer, or even hand write them if you've got nice writing.

Pre-printed gift certificates

Credit-card style gift certificates

If you've got a bigger business with a POS checkout system, these are pretty cool. It used to be that only huge retail stores had this type of certificat

Are You Sure Business Data Entry Work At Home Jobs Are Right For You?
Sure, you want that data entry work at home job that its simple, easy and fast to do. Yes, there are some legit companies that you can work for and get paid well for working it as a business data entry work at home job.However, you should not rely on just one work, take a look at the different possibilities online and what you can really do and take advantage of. The first mistake most people make is to just go for the well paid venture or work that will help them increase their income.Although you can do the job as data entry from home, if you are not passionate about what you do, you will get tired quickly and frustrated on working on something that you don't enjoy. That is the reason that there is so much people that have w

date is up to you.

Refunds

Do keep in mind that if you should happen to go out of business, you are required by law to issue cash refunds to the purchasers of all unused gift certificates. That's why you need to keep records.

You will need to check with your particular state for any area specific laws that may govern your area. A good place to begin this search is with your state’s Department of Consumer Affairs.

How to design your gift certificates

There are 3 basic ways you can create your certificates. I'll start with the least expensive ones first.

Alternatively, most office supply stores have pre-printed gift certificate stationery for sale. You can format them with your computer, or even hand write them if you've got nice writing.

Pre-printed gift certificates

Credit-card style gift certificates

If you've got a bigger business with a POS checkout system, these are pretty cool. It used to be that only huge retail stores had this type of certificat

Start a Business and Be Your Own Boss
Start a business of your own with an idea, and a bit of imagination. Starting a business can be a difficult decision that you are not sure if you have what it really takes to be an entrepreneur. Don’t worry; everyone starting out, in building any type of business has those same thoughts to some degree.How are you going to become self-employed and start a business of your own?First, you should think about how you can start a business. You can start a business from scratch, and this means without buying any type that is already established. This is one of the riskiest paths of self-employment but one that many have done successfully in the past. Every day new restaurants, retail outlets, stores, service centers and the like are b

Alternatively, most office supply stores have pre-printed gift certificate stationery for sale. You can format them with your computer, or even hand write them if you've got nice writing.

Pre-printed gift certificates

Credit-card style gift certificates

If you've got a bigger business with a POS checkout system, these are pretty cool. It used to be that only huge retail stores had this type of certificate, but now anyone can sell them. Because they look like a credit card, people understand that they must present the card to use it, and it makes "store credit only" refunds really easy to manage. If your bank doesn't offer them, here's another source: www.customgiftcard.com

Make it special

Whatever kind of certificate you use, make it look as attractive as you can. It should fit the style of your business, and its perceived value should match the gift. So if you've got a $200 gift certificate for example, it should be on nice paper, in a nice envelope, or maybe even a gift box.

Have fun creating your gift certificates!

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We hear how difficult it can be to be a single mother and hold a career. A few fathers may have this problem so it applies equally to all those single fathers out there as well. Few of us know really how many hurdles these woman (single parents) have to go through in order to advance in their careers. Hurdles often include skills, wages and competing interests.

While most corporations, big and small, profess to work in partnership with every element of their work force, they only pay it token regard. Yet working in partnership with all, helps all to realize their dreams, and when this happens an enormous amount of energy and intelligence is released. This, in turn, creates smoother, more productive processes and a spike in the bottom line.

Do you practice strategic thinking in your marketing efforts? Do you develop client-retention strategies, in addition to strategies to gain new clients? If you answered NO to these questions, you may want to rethink the way you are doing your marketing. My experience indicates that a strategic approach to client retention is underutilized and therefore a great deal of energy, time, talent and money is being wasted in marketing efforts seeking new clients and ignoring or giving “second rate” efforts to retaining existing clients. Do you practice strategic thinking in your marketing efforts? Do you develop client-retention strategies, in addition to strategies to gain new clients? If you answered NO to these questions, you may want to rethink the way you are doing your marketing. My experience indicates that a strategic approach to client retention is underutilized and therefore a great deal of energy, time, talent and money is being wasted in marketing efforts seeking new clients and ignoring or giving “second rate” efforts to retaining existing clients.

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