Month: May 2023

Preparing a Business Plan – Components of a Business Strategy

Who do you want to help or serve with your business? What issue or problem does your product or service solve? What is the composite of the profile of the members of your target audience? What do these questions have to do with business planning?

In Starting to Plan

All of the above questions need to be answered directly or indirectly in some part of the plan that identifies your business strategy. At some point, the plan needs to be as detailed as possible and written even if it is not written initially. A record needs to be made of ideas that are attempted that were unsuccessful because of market timing or lack of resources.

Start a checklist that is expanded from the executive summary draft. On the checklist, make sure that you include information that is needed for funding sources. Information needed for making decisions for starting, developing and growing the business should also be included. “As texts that represent a given organization’s strat­egy, strategic plans are of course specific to that organization, and yet the notion has a generic quality that draws on shared institutional understandings of what such a text should include (its substance), how it should be structured (its form) and what it is intended to achieve (its communicative purposes)” (Cornut, Giroux & Langley, 2012, 22). Keep in mind that time spent in business planning could make the difference between a successful business venture and one the struggles and eventually fails. Be prepared to do research to find needed information. Remember if all you do is copy what everyone else is doing you may risk ending up with only the level of success of everyone else.

Identify the personal brand of the CEO in order to insure that it is in line with the business brand. The vision and mission should show its relationship to the target market in the marketing message that is cohesive on the web and in printed materials like mailing pieces, letterhead and business cards.

Plan Inclusions

The master copy of the business plan will include information and sections that may not be contain in other versions for some audiences. The purpose of having a plan that includes everything is to create a resource to be shared with specific audiences for specific purposes at the appropriate time. There may be a risk in sharing the entire plan to the wrong audience. Therefore, it will be necessary to cut some of the information out of the plan according to the audience for which it is intended.

Work in process

The business plan of a thriving business is expected to be forever changing to reflect the current operating activities of the business based on what ideas have been tried and adjusted to best serve the stakeholders of the firm. When the business plan stops being a changeable document, the business is endanger of stopping its growth and development processes.

References

Cornut, F., Giroux, H. & Langley, A. (2012).The strategic plan as a genre. Discourse & Communication, 6, 1, 21-54.

Branding And Image: Are You Just Another Amateur?

With the popularity and ease of use of desktop publishing, every employee can and usually creates and designs his/her own letters, presentations and virtually every document he o she needs to pass to a coworker, customer, etc. But the question is: Is everybody trained and capable of doing it in a manner that is aligned with the company’s image and goal? Is your business being consistent? or are you just another amateur?

Coherency and harmony should always be present in all the information conveyed about your business. People learn by repetition. They have done so since they were born and they will continue the same way forever. Once they learn, they don’t have to “think” about it (a new skill, a telephone number, a brand, etc.) anymore. It is imprinted in their mind, available at any time and with little or no effort. Whether you want to learn something new or make other people remember your company, repetition is one of the golden keys. But not just blunt repetition; believe it or not, there are some rules!

Hocus Focus: dispersion of your energy is not the way to go. Every company has a limited amount of resources that must be used in an efficient way. The communication of your message must be focused in those channels that reach the customer in a subtle -yet powerful- way. A professional business card is more effective than just blurting out the name of your business at every person you meet or at the beginning of every paragraph you write with an advertising purpose.

Coherency…again: : It is useless to spend hundreds of dollars in a great logo, if you are not going to use it properly. All your stationery must be designed as an organic marketing tool. Every employee must have the same tools when handing out a document, sales letter, business card, etc. Your company is not a democracy where everyone can design their own personal image of it. Everyone must know which letterhead to use in each case, which personalized and designed mail must be sent within and out of your company.

Message behind the scenes: Although most people are not aware of it, they can instantly recognize the quality of the message and subconsciously make a decision of accepting or discarding it along with thousands more. You must be aware of the message you are conveying. People (aren’t they the ones who will buy our product or service?) don’t like to be reminded of qualities like weakness, insecurity or mediocrity. There is plenty already to go around. Your message must be about strength, uniqueness and excellence. But you have to believe it. Otherwise, they will notice it right away and turn to the next message.

Professionalism: If you want to save a couple of hundreds and ask your “artist” friend to design your company’s image, it is your choice. But remember that it is only professionals who deliver professional work. They are up to speed on what the latest trend is, which colors go with which product and -as a result- how to make your company look bigger, more professional and more competitive. If you are afraid of going professional, your customers will be afraid of following you.

So, why do you need professional designed stationery for your firm? Your business card, brochure, letterhead, email, etc. are the most common devices that come into contact with your customers. Use them! Seize every opportunity to deliver a professional and reliable look of your company.

by Mark Gries

Essential Types Of Office Stationery Products And Its Uses

Apart from elegant and stylish furniture, office stationery is another important category that completes the establishment of an office. Although most of these supplies are inexpensive, it is quite important for the effective functioning of a company. Each business requires specific types of items; however, there are items which are universal.

Some Essential Items:

Paper: There are various types of business papers which are used in work places for the purpose of printing. A4 sized papers are among the most widely used products. It can be bought in bulk amount from most of the online stores at affordable price rates. There are different brands of business papers made available these days.

Folders and Documents: Folders and documents are quite essential for an organized environment. There are different types of folders made available on most of the online stores. There are stick files, plain files and so forth which can be bought from online stores.

Business Card: Another essential item required in a workplace is a business card. These cards are relatively small in size with the company logo, contact information, email ID, name and so forth. It is easy for prospective clients to search and order for products with the use of these cards.

Envelopes: Different types of envelopes are also used in an office to send documents, letters, invoices and so forth. Today it is easy to find a huge variety of envelopes listed on many of the online stores at affordable price rates. There are stores which offer bulk products too at discounted prices.

Letterhead Papers: It is quite essential to have letterhead papers to type official letters. Any business letter should be typed on a letterhead for a professional appearance. Letterheads include the name and the logo of the company.

Apart from these essential items, there are various other products which are quite pertinent for the smooth functioning of a business place. Items such as staplers and pins, pens, marker pens, glue stick and cello tapes are also required in a work place. Erasers, correction fluid, highlighter and correction tape are also essential for smooth functioning.

Several other small devices are also used in a workplace. Protractors, letter openers, scissors and compasses are available on many of the online and offline stores at affordable price rates.

In addition to these items, some of the most reputed online stores showcase a huge variety of products such as pen holders, document holders, calendars, paper diaries and so forth. There are various types of pen stands which can be made available at different price rates.

Some of the stores also showcase a variety of notebooks and diaries which can be used as business organizers too. It is possible to custom order these products with the name and the logo of the company from many of the online stores.

Business firms can buy or custom order from online stores at various price rates too. Bulk purchases can be made at discounted price rates from reputed online stores.

The Power of Testimony

One of the key elements of Social Media Marketing (SMM) is Trust. A good way to get trust is via testimonials. Testimonials are where someone; a colleague, someone you have worked on a joint venture with, a supplier or a customer is prepared to write a short piece on why they think you are a good person to do business with.

Two social networks; LinkedIn and ecademy have a very well structured and good way of exchanging online testimonials. I would advise anyone using SMM to join both as they both have free and paid options. LinkedIn allows you to ask your contacts to give you a testimonial. I found this to be good and bad. It was an easy way to ask but I got some hostile replies and some very nice surprises. On ecademy you actually visit a person’s profile and if you decide to give them a testimonial you can do it there an then quite easily. Another good source would be clients or people you have recruited to your network marketing team. Ask if they would be prepared to write a short testimonial if they enjoyed your work.

Many people are not sure what to say, so you could have one or two ready and just ask them if they could write something similar. Written on company letterhead is great if you can get it.

Here is what you can do to make most effective use of the testimonials:

  • On your Blog create a Page called Testimonials. ‘cut and paste’ any online testimonials into a Notepad file. Then enter each testimonial by editing the Page as opposed to creating Posts. Posts will appear on your Home Page and you want these to appear just on the Testimonial Page
  • Use the following format for each testimonial;
    [Name of person], [Company], [Position in Company]
    [The text of the testimonial i.e what they said about you]
    [The social network it is on], [The date it was written]
  • This means people can go and check the testimonials if they wish
  • For written testimonials use the same format, but for source put [Letter of endorsement] instead of [The social network it was on]
  • Create an offline file of these testimonials. You can use your creativity here. This can then be used if you meet clients face-to-face
  • One last form of testimonial is very powerful (I suggest on 1 or 2 of these) is a video testimonial of no longer than 3 minutes. Upload the video to YouTube then embed the video code on the Testimonial Page

Testimonials provide social proof you are someone to be trusted. So what’s the best way to get an online testimonial? Start by giving them to people whose work you really like. You will soon find people will reciprocate if you provide genuine value added content to that network.

How Branding Benefits a Business

A brand is the unique identity that a company creates for its business. This brand identity plays a vital role in earning the trustworthiness among the clients to purchase the company’s product or service. Branding is an efficient and easy way to approach the client’s in a market place. It connects to your target audience and strengthens the customer loyalty.

Building a corporate brand identity is not an easy task. It happens only after years of consistent business, customer credibility and maintaining persistent marketing strategies. A formation of a brand foundation layer happens when the customers benefit from innovative products or services, engaging content, creating a unique business model and delivering high quality services.

A brand is defined by its name, colour combination, design, slogans, symbol and lot more combinations. A corporate branding company will focus on developing integrated branding features to enhance their public contact. Corporate branding incorporates features such as logo, brochure, catalog, flier, business card, letterhead, colour palette and tagline.

Take a look at the different ways of branding a business.

Remarkable Logo:

A logo is a visual symbolization of your company that should create an everlasting impression on the client’s memory. People should target on creating a unique logo design that creates yourself as an established enterprise and maintain a reputable position for your company that attracts more clients. A tremendous logo will strike the customers’ memory when they think of a product or service.

Well-designed Brochure:

A well-designed brochure is the foundation of setting up an effective business strategy. A brochure gives the complete description of a company’s product or service. A brochure design and quality acts, as a promotional tool that creates a quest amidst your target audience. It is easily portable and efficient marketing tool to withstand the cut-throat competition in the relevant field.

Single page Ad-flyer:

The flyer is a cheap and efficient promotional tool. Most of the branding companies opt flyer as their marketing tool because it requires very less cost and it’s easy to produce. The flyer embraces attractive offers provided by the company that hooks the customers to purchase their product or service. Some special festival offer flyers may result in an unexpected hike in product sales.

Professional Business card:

If you’re a job-seeker, entrepreneur or representative of any organization, then a business card is the most significant spectrum in your career which makes you professional among the plenty of other competitors. A business card portrays yourself and leaves an impression on your clients that reflects your business motive. There are several branding companies that give you the perfect business card that look and feel great.

Stylish Letterhead:

A professional letter-head style sets you apart from the large pool of competitors. It represents your corporate image among your potential customers. If you have an extra-ordinary letter, then certainly people will consider your product as a quality product. A branding company can boost your corporate image among the clients.

Informative Catalog:

A catalog is used by several industries because of the extensive advantage it provides. An informative catalog benefits the customers with detailed description of the product, including product photographs, services and price details effectively. The catalog will be kept safe if it’s informative and printed with high quality. The catalog is a simple and effective marketing tool.

Conclusion:

A brand interacts with the customers in all aspects, whether a logo or brochure, it delivers the motive of a business. People get attracted by these brand images or messages and emotionally get in touch with a product or service. A company’s image is highlighted by its stationary designs which include logo, brochure, business card, letterhead, etc that creates a space for your company and identify your efforts in developing quality products. This corporate identity creates a revolution in your business by increasing the number of sales.

Letterhead Design and Desktop Publishing

If you are starting up a business, or trying to upgrade your look and feel, one of the things you have probably considered, or should have considered, is business stationary. There comes a point where sending out letters, bills, and advertisements on blank paper out of your fancy printer just doesn’t cut the cake.

One easy solution is to go to a professional. There, for just an arm and a leg, you can, if you’re lucky, get something really fine. If you’re lucky, and get a pro who also knows how to listen, you’ll actually get something that fits you, and not just their idea of what looks hot or in fashion. But in the computer-heavy world, there is another option.

Desktop publishing is a fancy phrase meaning, You Have The Power. No matter what computer you work with, you can find an easy-to-learn, easy-to-use program that will enable you to design your own headings, stationary, invitations, and general design.

When you start out, you’ll find yourself pushing every button, adding every frill, and generally making some of the ugliest things you can imagine. Calm down. It goes away. Once you have learned what you CAN do, you can start working towards what you can do. Remember that once you’ve bought the software, it’s free, not $500-a-shot, so you can really, and usually quickly, make something that suits your needs and maintains the character of your business.

A couple of tips will, if not make you a professional, at least put you out of the rank amateur category, and feel competent at what you’re doing.

You’re trying to create a feel. Take an idea, and repeat it. The consistency of any one idea will bring everything together. Figure out what is the main idea, and make sure that this remains the focus. Either it should be bigger, or central, or in some way clearly the dominant idea on the page. Other wording should NOT be similar. Your design takes shape by having contrast. Think of how many ways you can contrast the different items on the page. Use size, color, and style of font to focus where you want the focus, and keep the minor information as background.

It doesn’t really matter whether you are trying for a classic look or a creative feel. These principles cross all boundaries. Balance them on one hand, with the image you’re trying to convey on the other, and you can design yourself right onto the map.

For more information on this subject and many others, please visit Stationary Place.

Sam Jordan

Implementing VoIP Services Into a Business

Enhancing profitability and growing the business are key facets to any company’s success. Achieving both of those goals is typically influenced by a wide assortment of factors including telecommunications. Now that technology has given the world VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol capability, it is important for forward-thinking businesses to implement VoIP services into their infrastructure as part of their continuing efforts to achieve success and push ahead of the competition. While it is true that land lines offer reliable communication systems, VoIP capability is faster and just as reliable. Plus, it also features a few additional benefits.

What is Voice over Internet Protocol?

Voice over Internet Protocol transmits calls via high speed Internet connections rather than using traditional methods. Fees are applied for both local and long distance services. However, the fees are generally the same for both local and long distance. This fact alone effectively reduces the cost of telecommunications for many businesses once they switch over. While additional fees typically apply for international calling, monetary savings of some type over traditional calling services generally come into play.

What About Voice over Internet Protocol and Existing Phone Numbers?

In most cases, businesses that make the transformation from land lines to VoIP can retain their existing phone numbers. Not only does this simplify the transaction, but it also assists in maintaining a positive flow in business activities. First and foremost, the company letterhead, stationery, business cards, etc will not have to undergo any changes. Therefore, no additional expense for those types of supplies will be incurred.

What Are the Features of Voice over Internet Protocol?

The quality of service with VoIP telecommunications is generally exceptional. Seamless calls with a high quality of service are the norm. The standard features of VoIP services are the same as those found with traditional land lines. Subscribers can have access to call forwarding, call waiting, voice mail, 3-way calling, and so much more. One of the perks of installing VoIP calling for your company is the one-click feature that allows your employees to click to call through the Internet. However, it is important to do your research since not all VoIP providers offer the same exact features with their stand plans.

What Is Needed to Utilize Voice over Internet Protocol Services?

Two basic choices exist when it comes to Voice over Internet Protocol set ups. Users have the option to purchase a special adapter that can be used with an existing phone. They can also opt to set up their VoIP service through the computer using a microphone and special software. The choice is a personal one that will vary from one company to the next. If the second option is chosen, the specific VoIP service provider that is selected to provide the service provides the software. One of the benefits of setting VoIP up to function through the computer is that this scenario frees up the caller’s hands, especially if the microphone is attached to a headset.

What Are the Primary Benefits of Implementing Voice over Internet Protocol Services?

Three main benefits exist when implementing Voice over Internet Protocol services into the workplace: a streamlined work environment, less expensive telecommunication costs, and a manageable contact list.

A streamlined work environment automatically occurs when VoIP is implemented into the workplace. VoIP connectivity often reduces the pile of items that typically sits on worker’s desks. In particular, land-line phones are replaced with slender hands-free microphones, freeing up desk space as well as the hands of the individuals placing the calls.

Less expensive telecommunication costs are one of the monetary benefits that result from a transfer from traditional calling to VoIP calling services. Since many VoIP providers offer less expensive rates for local, long distance, and international calling, the company can save quite a bit on their daily telecommunication costs. Think about how many different entities receive a phone call from your company on a regular basis- customers, potential customers, suppliers, service providers, and more. That is a lot of calling, so there is quite a potential for huge savings to result from switching over to VoIP. As the company’s cost goes down, their profits will go up.

A manageable contact list might appear to be a simple benefit at first glance, but it is not. How many wasted hours are involved over the course of a year when workers have to hunt for contact information? With VoIP, the contact list is simplified and constantly accessible. Not only that, but all of the pertinent information relating to any individual contact can be stored right along with the contact information on the computer, simplifying the work process for the employees.

As a result of the primary benefits of switching over to VoIP connectivity, productivity also increases, generating new growth and greater profits. Multi-tasking is much simpler when two hands are involved so your employees will be able to increase their output easier and with less physical stress. How many times have you seen your employees trying to juggle the phone between their neck and shoulder just so they could have both hands free for the keyboard or to hunt through important papers? With the hands-free head sets used with VoIP connectivity, your employees will be able to use both hands readily without straining their necks.

The portability of VoIP is another of the great aspects of this type of connectivity. VoIP can be taken and used anywhere that has high-speed Internet access. Necessary travel no longer precludes the ability to continue to make work calls on the company’s dime. Instead, work goes on as usual. In fact, the portability of VoIP eases the transition of a temporary office set up that simply must take place. No interruption to service or productivity results due to the transfer of the work location thanks to the abilities of Voice over Internet Protocol Services.

Voice over Internet Protocol Services is inexpensive to implement into a businesses telecommunication infrastructure. It leads to greater profits, enhanced productivity, and renewed growth. Is there any reason why you shouldn’t switch over to VoIP now? None whatsoever. Take advantage of VoIP technology today and propel your business ahead for the next wave of the future.

Are There Advantages To My Business From Using Compliment Slips?

This article will look at the ways in which compliment slips can be beneficial to your business. It explores the advantages and disadvantages of using them and what the results can be from sending out professionally printed compliment slips.

When you work in business, communication is vitally important. You need to be able to pass information in an effective manner, not just internally but externally too including clients, potential clients and other various business associates. This is why compliment slips can be so useful. Compliment slips have a massive amount of potential to improve your business.

Compliment slips are rarely found on their own and are used together with invoices or bills. It contains all the usual information you would expect to find on a letterhead or business card but with an addition message offering thanks or compliments to the recipient. By handwriting a message you show that you have taken the time which will make the recipient feel more valued by your company.

The choice is vast when you are looking at designs of slips. However, you must choose right as you want to portray the right image for your business. If you want to get the best look for your compliment slips then choose wisely, you will need to get the paper, ink colour and font right if you want to make the best impression possible. The most used combination is a pale colour of paper or just plain white and usually a black or blue font as this is the most easily read however, you can choose anything you like. You can also choose the size of paper. Typically you will find that they have been printed on A6 paper but this is not always the case and you can choose a size that you think is the most appropriate.

Compliment slips are so useful because of their versatility. They can be used for almost any purpose with a whole range of messages written on them from; thanking someone, usually for a contribution or to show appreciation for a service provided. You should not use them as an alternative to other forms of correspondence however, they are intended as an additional footnote to add a personal touch to what could otherwise feel like a cold exchange.

Because compliment slips present your business in such a good light they are also a very good promotional tool. By being polite and cordial through them you are ensuring that people have a pleasant experience with your business which will prompt them to come back again.

How to Create a Good Letterhead Design?

A letterhead is a part of a very effective business package. You see the letterhead has a great influence on your image, specifically on how your company is viewed by your potential customers. It is your initial move to introduce your company to your prospects. For this reason, it is essential to design the letterhead with the right image of your company. It is the letterhead that conveys to your customers who you are and what products or services you have. You think that they only provide the address of your company. But it’s more than that. Letterheads have great marketing potential that business persons can take advantage to make it to the industry.

If you want to make an impression it’s the letterheads that you should capitalize on. What does a letterhead can do to your company? Well, the letterhead can enhance the credibility of your business. It implies your corporate identity, which means it’s the one responsible for convincing your prospects that you have a professional image.

To be able to have a good professional image for your business, your letterhead design should be good. You must know that there are several ways on how you can design a great-looking letterhead. What is important is that your letterhead should be able to increase your marketability. A letterhead is said to be well-designed when it effectively gets your word across your prospective clients.

One of the most important things that you should remember when designing a letterhead is to make a good first impression. It’s a must that you ensure to make use of a high quality printing method in producing your letterheads.

Another important thing to take into consideration is to match your letterhead with the envelope. This way you can make a more professional look and feel in your company letterheads. The paper of the letterhead should be compatible with the envelope paper. It leaves a clean and corporate look and your business package.

In addition, you should also need to make a well thought-out plan with regard to the design of the letterhead before you decide to produce it or submit to the printer. With careful planning on letterhead design, there’s a higher possibility that you’ll achieve a successful marketing campaign and corporate branding for your business. With the right layout of letterhead, you can prevent design and printing errors which sometimes ruin your overall marketing campaign.

There are lots of companies out there that offer letterhead printing and design services concerning the utmost creation of your letterheads and other marketing materials. These companies are the ones you can depend on when you don’t have any background yet on what design is good for your letterhead printing projects. Choose the right company that will provide you the best services that you need. Surely, there are no regrets in letterhead printing.

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