Casual Articles - Business

Casual Articles - Self-Promotion on a Zero Budget

VoIP for Small Businesses
VoIP is more cost effective than legacy networks, which is one reason that people use it on a regular basis. VoIP consists of innovative telecom solutions to individual consumers, small businesses, multinational corporations, and even governments. Increasingly, small business owners around the globe are turning to VoIP for their telecommunication needs. VoIP, is a powerful technology that allows companies to streamline their communications systems while enjoying lower costs and increased capabilities. Using IP networks to handle voice traffic enables businesses to save large amounts of money on international calls. Digital networks also provide productivity-boosting features that traditional networks are unable to offer.These include click to call which connects online customers to your sales or customer service staff with the click of a button. Web-based voice mail also includes checks and manages voice messages online. Integrated Conferencing uses real-time communication to collaborate with long-distance business partners as well. Call Routing reduces call center staffing. Lastly, auto-attendant covers larger areas with a smaller workforce by redirecting calls from unattended sites to attended sites.Every IP network is capable of supporting VoIP, however, best results come from T1 lines or other high speed networks. Cable and DSL, while suitable for consumer use, may not give the voice quality and reliability required by businesses. However, there are several options available to businesses that migrate to VoIP. Hosted solutions are easier to implement and do not involve a large up front investment. Equipment-based p

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Digital Printing vs. Press Printing - A Comparison Guide

Marketing and Advertising Techniques of Super Bowl Advertisers

The 7 Commandments of Marketing

Successful Marketing for Introverts

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Customer Lifetime Value - The Key To Maximizing Your Profits!

5 Steps for Developing a Marketing Tag Line for Your Product, Business, or Website

This article has been viewed 767 time(s).
Article Submitted On: August 29, 2004

Entrepreneurs Pay Themselves What They are Worth
When you are the owner of your own business, one of the most difficult decisions you will make is how to pay yourself and how much to pay yourself. First, there is the issue of adequate cash. If you are doing things on a shoestring, you may not have enough money to pay yourself. Suppose that you do, but it will be a struggle. You might opt to pay yourself but to not run the pay through all of the deductions. In other words, you treat yourself as an independent contractor -- or maybe you just borrow enough money to meet your monthly needs.On the other hand suppose you properly capitalized the business -- either with your own money, investor money or bank loans. In this case you can pay yourself and pay all of the associated payroll expenses. But how much do you pay yourself?In either situation, I suggest that you go back to the projections you made when you first started looking at the business. In those projections, you included expenses for salaries and you had a number in those projections for yourself. Or, you should have.What was it? How did you arrive at that number?One way would have been to consider how much you wanted, how much you needed to live on. A second way would have been to come up with a figure based on what you were worth. If your last position was President of a multi-national corporation, and you were paid a million dollars a year -- then that's what you are worth. Right? A third way would have been to establish a salary based on what the going rate is for a person to do the job in a business similar to the one you now own. Industry statistics are available and this amount should be fairlyRecently, I’ve received a few e-mails from people asking me for advice on how to get started in the writing biz. When I stop to think about it, maybe I’ve been lucky to accomplish this much writing in a short time. I have accidentally discovered a way to self-promote my work. It starts with an interest in Web design and a friend who needs a Web site for her professional organization. I volunteer to do it to get Web design experience.

Do you hear an “Ah-ha!” coming? Before I take you there, let’s talk about catch-22. Most people just entering Web design or freelance get the old “Get experience before we can hire you.” OK, how am I supposed to get experience if no one will hire me?

Back to the “eureka.” What kind of business typically has little or no money to invest in a Web site? Let’s say it together, “non-profit organizations.” That was lesson number one. Build a portfolio by offering your services to charitable organizations. It’s win-win because you get the opportunity to add to your portfolio as well as make a contribution to a good cause. The only drawback is finding the time to do it outside of your “pays the bills” job.

Oh, you’re not a Web designer, programmer, or code-head? No problem! Get out pen and paper or load up your favorite word processor. Start writing about a topic you know well. You’ve come up with another excuse saying you are not an expert in anything? It’s time for my rebuttal and a confession. I’m only doing this for you to boost your confidence and to show you it can be done. The old, “if I can do it, you can, too!”

Here goes: I am a Jane of all trades. I kid you not. It’s not a bad thing and I’ve managed to continuously add to my writing portfolio. Guess what? I am promoting myself with this article. Whenever I publish an article with a popular online Web site, my own Web site, http://www.meryl.net, experiences a traffic boost. I’ll bet you that you’ll go to my Web site when you finish this one. No, I am not high on myself. Whenever I read a story or discussion list, I often click on the author’s link to learn more and see if there is anything else I’d like to check out. If you don’t find this article worthy, then how did you get this far?

There are plenty of places that want your articles (Hint: notice this Web site?). Not everyone pays, but it’s a good way to put you out there. One way I've gotten started was submitting an article to an email newsletter's open publishing initiative. It accepts articles in exchange for software and free publicity for you. You can write your own bio and add links to your Web site. Thanks to the newsletter, my portfolio grows and I gain new and paying clients.

If you want something bigger than a bio and you’re brave enough, then offer yourself up for interviews or presentations. If you’re involved with a new product or service, then you can suggest an article on that topic and be interviewed as a subject matter expert. For instance, in writing an article on Flash, I interview several experts and return the favor by including links to their Web sites. Again, it’s win-win. Remember to promote a topic of interest to readers instead of focusing on your company or its products.

Is there a conference coming to town? They’re always looking for proposals. Also, try checking around for user groups and offer up your services to speak about a relevant topic. I've given a presentation to a computer users group and my URL was in the footer of every page of the presentation. More free promotion.

There’s something for everyone. In summary, this is the advice I give to people on how to market their way to a new career:

Offering your services to nonprofit organizations
Publishing an article
Getting interviewed or doing a presentation

Give it a shot. One more note, I’m terrible at sales. These steps have helped me move forward without feeling like giving a sales pitch. Now, finish this off by reading the bio and clicking on the link.

Meryl K. Evans, Content Maven, is Editor-in-Chief of eNewsletter Journal and The Remediator Security Digest. She's a slave to a MarketingProfs weekly column and a Web design reference guide at InformIT. She is the author of the popular e-report, How to Start a Business Blog and Build Traffic. Visit her site at http://www.meryl.net/blog/ for free newsletters, articles, and tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Meryl_K._Evans

Meryl K. Evans - EzineArticles Expert Author

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This article has been viewed 767 time(s).
Article Submitted On: August 29, 2004

Management Of Change - Keep Things As They Are
What would be more difficult: to stop smoking in a smoker’s environment or to quit when everybody around you continues with their same habits? Is it more difficult to change (your behaviour) in a new situation or in the old one? And why should you care?Most of the time the structure of an organization is changed prior to the introduction of new working methods. The idea is to do things differently ‘from now on’. The alteration of the structure is an important event that inducts new behaviour. The new structure should support that activities will be organized in another way and that your behaviour is moved into a new direction. You are at a new desk, you have new people around you and your computer system is changed; so what keeps you from falling back in old habits? Perhaps nothing for the moment, but the chance is that is will happen shortly.The more difficult the change is, the longer it will last. This is not a scientific hypothesis but just common sense. If you know that you want to quit smoking, the easiest reaction would be to move to an area where others also abstain from cigarettes. The example of the rest of the group will facilitate you to follow them. Yet, there is always that moment when you find another smoker and you remember how nice it was. And then the question is whether you will withstand the temptation.Easier on the long term, but more difficult on the short is that you try to change in the old environment. Try to stop smoking with all the smokers around you. Once you can bear that, other challenges are easy victories. This is only possible if your motivation is profound.t this far?

There’s something for everyone. In summary, this is the advice I give to people on how to market their way to a new career:

Offering your services to nonprofit organizations
Publishing an article
Getting interviewed or doing a presentation

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Meryl_K._Evans

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This article has been viewed 767 time(s).
Article Submitted On: August 29, 2004

An Employer's Guide to the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP)
Why should I be interested in finding out about HSMP? What is in it for me as an employer?HSMP is a specific type of permit issued by the Home Office, which allows the individual to be employed without the need for a separate work permit.Management consultants, IT Software Houses, Healthcare professionals and Engineers often apply for HSMP on the basis that many UK employers do not apply for work permits, or if the post requires the individual to be contracted out regularly.The advantage to employing an individual on HSMP is that the onus has shifted from the responsibility of the employer, to the responsibility of the individual. These are highly skilled and experienced professionals that have demonstrated to the Home Office their employability within the UK labour market.How do we know if we can employ this individual? What do we need to be made aware of?As a UK employer you have a legal obligation to make sure that you make the appropriate checks to ensure that you only employ those who have permission to work in the UK.You should request clear photocopies of the individual's passport pages which show their personal details and their current visa, together with copies of any Home Office letters.The rules can be difficult to understand, even for an experienced HR team. Home Office policies change on a regular basis and can significantly affect the way in which an application is handled and the advice that is given. For example, the Home Office has recently changed the initial period granted for HSMP from 1 year to 2 years.It is best practice to ssite at http://www.meryl.net/blog/ for free newsletters, articles, and tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Meryl_K._Evans

The forklift is one of the most powerful pieces of business equipment, and this article focuses on the versatility of this machine.

Facilitation is a complex activity. Thus, you want to make sure that you engage someone who knows how to help you get results. Here's what to look for.

How many times has your competitor gotten one over on you? The feeling of being left behind just eats away, until you do something about. The problem is that we often feel that we've got to come up with some grand plan in order to get our business skyrocketing again. Don't be fooled! Getting back on top of the market isn't as tough as it seems with these high-impact, easy-to-use fixes...

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