What Marketing Do You REALLY Need Right Now?

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2010 Judy Murdoch


Many small business owners I talk to always seem to be playing catch up when it comes to their marketing.

Last week when I told a small business owner that she was doing a good job with her marketing, she replied "Oh, but I have so much to do!" in an apologetic tone.

So I asked her, "What is it that you have to do?"

"Well," she said, "I need to redo my website, write a new brochure, update my Facebook page, and call clients whom I haven't seen for a while.

"I'm also wondering, do I need to get a Twitter account and do I need to have a blog AND a website?"

Listening to her I felt sad. I mean who the heck laid down these requirements that a small business has to have so much in place so fast?

=== It Wasn't Always This Way

100 years ago: before there were computers or radio or TV or desktop publishing, the requirements for being ready for business were simple and concrete.

For example, let's say you're newly arrived in Denver, CO around 1890. At this time, the American West is still pretty wild and there are thousands of people traveling west who need to supplies and gear for their trek through the mountains

You decide you're going to open a dry goods store and sell supplies to all these aspiring miners and ranchers.

To have your business up and running you need:

land for your shop and a place to store supplies (and city permits which were required by this time)

lumber, equipment, and labor to build your store

a source of fresh water

fuel to keep the place warm when it gets cold out

a dependable source of goods to sell to customers

customers (of course!)

Assuming you had the above along with a strong work ethic, some organization skills, and a grasp of accounting and inventory management, you had a good chance of succeeding.

I'm not saying this was easy. However the steps and the order in which you took the steps was clear cut and definite.

=== Nowadays

In our brave new world of the Internet and the ability to connect with buyers around the world, it has become possible to start a business with little more than a good idea, a computer, and an Internet connection.

The promise is that anyone can set up everything they need for a successful business in a matter of weeks.

And that's the problem.

Because on the one hand, it's true: within a week you could have your

website

social network accounts (like Twitter and Facebook)

blog

and online store

set up and ready for business.

And this is what is so horribly overwhelming for small business owners. It seems like you should have all these things set up and if you don't, you're somehow doing it wrong.

=== The Answer: Four Foundational Marketing Elements

This brings us back to the original topic: what marketing tools and structures do you really need in place so that your business grows at a healthy pace?

Here are four foundational marketing elements that every business needs to have in place:

1. You need a clear definition of who you're serving and the problem you're helping them with.

2. You need a way for strangers to find out who you are and how you help.

For example, attending networking events, publishing articles, blogging and contributing to discussion forums are all ways to introduce yourself

3. You need a way to stay in touch with people who are interested but not ready to buy.

For example, postcard mailings, newsletters, and ezines are all ways to keep in touch.

4. You need at least one offer so that when people are ready to buy, you'll know what customer problems your offer addresses, what questions to ask to find out if your offer is right for a prospect, and how to answer prospect questions.

Once you have a good definition of who your ideal customer is, you choose one, maybe two (at the most) activities for each element.

=== Example: Applying the Four Marketing Elements

Marianne is a nutritionist who, until recently, worked for a large university hospital. She's now in the process of setting up a private practice with the intention to split her time between seeing private patients and teaching classes.

Here is what Marianne has in place for her marketing:

1. Marianne has defined her ideal client as "adults who were recently diagnosed with Type II diabetes and want to find ways to control their blood sugar without using insulin injections."

Marianne specializes in helping her patients plan and carry out diet and exercise programs that make them less insulin dependent.

2. To meet people who might need her help, Marianne, keeps in contact with local doctors who are likely to make the initial diagnosis.

She also writes tips and how-to articles that she publishes on online article submission sites like Associated Content and Bukisa.

Marianne makes sure that when someone she meets wants to know more, they have the URL to a page on her website so they can subscribe to her newsletter.

3. To keep in touch with people who are interested in what she does but are not yet ready to make an appointment, Marianne writes a bi-monthly newsletter she emails to prospects.

In each newsletter she has a useful tip or how to.

She often uses what she's written in a newsletter as an submission to article publishing sites.

In this way she gets the most from the articles she writes.

4. Marianne's practice is relatively new and she has only one offer: individual counseling sessions with patients to help them create and follow diet/exercise plans.

She has one page on her website that covers the main points of her offer and suggest clients either send in a form or call her to set up some time to talk by phone.

Because many of her clients are 65+ Marianne has a printed one-page flyer that has the same information as her website page in case a prospective client is uncomfortable with using the Internet.

To summarize, Marianne has set up the following elements to market her practice:

simple website

a bi-monthly newsletter

scheduled calls to primary care physicians

articles (which come mostly from her newsletter) submitted to online publication sites

Marianne does not have a Twitter account or a Facebook page or a shopping cart or a blog. She doesn't do podcasts or make videos to show on YouTube. She could have these things but right now *she doesn't need to*.

=== Bottom Line

There is a perception among small business owners that they have to set up and implement hundreds of available marketing activities in order to be "doing it right."

This is because

there are so many different technologies that allow business owners to connect with prospective customers

business owners are always hearing buzz about these technologies

the technologies are often free and easy to implement.

The key is to know what you and your business need to connect effectively with perspective customers.

Generally you need to set up only one or two activities to get in touch, keep in touch, and sell in order to keep a healthy stream of new customers and revenue coming into your small business.


About the Author:
Judy Murdoch helps small business owners create low-cost, effective marketing campaigns using word-of-mouth referrals, guerrilla marketing activities, and selected strategic alliances. To download a free copy of the workbook, "Where Does it Hurt? Marketing Solutions to the problems that Drive Your Customers Crazy!" go to http://www.judymurdoch.com/workbook.htm
You can contact Judy at 303-475-2015 or judy@judymurdoch.com


Follow Judy Murdoch on Twitter.

VoIP Phone Systems - The Future Is in Your Hands

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2010 Steve Dublim


Year by year, a new gadget or gizmo is introduced in telephone technology. From mobile phones, to text messaging, to smart phones and beyond, telephones have evolved into a brilliant means of multi-faceted communication. VoIP phone systems (stands for Voice over Internet Protocol) have changed the way businesses - both large and small - communicate. Affordable, portable and easy to use, VoIP technology is the phone of the future.

Starting a small business is a challenge in and of itself - from office supplies and overhead, to staff salaries, to everyday operations, there's a lot a business owner must juggle in order to successfully manage a small business. 'Hiccups' often come with maintaining a business; therefore, it's important to find providers that offer VoIP phone systems strictly to smaller companies. You deserve undivided attention from VoIP specialists without having to compete with larger corporations. In other words, the VoIP company you use should level the playing field for your small business.

Owning a small business isn't easy, especially in today's economy. Companies are folding left and right, and staying afloat - let alone being profitable - is rather grueling. VoIP phone systems are practical for businesses looking to cut cost wherever possible. For a low monthly fee, you'll enjoy all the features of a traditional land line, as well as long distance calling, without paying extra. Enjoy call waiting, call holding, conference calling, caller identification, call forwarding and much more for a flat rate each month. VoIP technology makes everyday relations affordable and easy.

Another benefit of VoIP phone systems that small businesses appreciate is portability. Oftentimes, travel is an important part of owning a business, and to maintain professionalism, you need a reliable and clear means of communication when you're away from the office. Mobile phones are advantageous but not always dependable. With IP phones, you can plug your phone into your computer and instantly receive/make phone calls - all you need is a broadband connection. VoIP technology allows you to take the office with you wherever you travel - and that is important for small business owners trying to sustain client relations.

When it comes to communications - whether amongst colleagues or customers - you need a phone system that is easy to use. VoIP technology takes the guesswork out of a business phone system. Gone are the days of blankly staring at your office phone without a clue as to how to operate it; VoIP phones are user-friendly and include all sorts of business features. When looking for a provider of VoIP phone systems, make sure the company customizes your plan according to your business's needs.

Stop paying too much for your office phone system; instead, enjoy all the features of a traditional land line at a fraction of the cost. VoIP technology puts the future in your hands - literally.


About the Author:
Steve Dublim has a passion for technology, and for business communication. He gladly recommends Voip Phone Systems, and prefers systems that use hosted PBX. Learn more at: http://www.vocalocity.com/


Visit Steve Dublim's website.

Send Fax Online - Just How Is It Done?

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2010 Titus Hoskins


For those who are used to the old traditional fax machine, sending a fax online may seem somewhat puzzling. Just how is it done? What equipment do you need? More importantly, why should I or my company switch over to online faxing?

All these questions are frequently asked by those considering this new way of faxing. Perhaps the best way to answer these questions is to fully explain what Internet fax is and how it is done.

First, you must realize online faxing is simply bringing all your faxing chores into the modern business workplace, one that is directly wired to computers and the Internet. Online fax is simply using your email system and your web connection to send and receive all your faxes. It is as simple and as easy as sending an email.

We won't bore you with all the technical details of exactly how it works, but we will give you the basics of how you go about setting up an online fax account or number. In order to use online faxing, you have to first sign-up to an online fax service provider who will give you your own Toll-free or Local fax number. Some companies will let you "port" your current fax number into their system, but you should check with the company first to see if they do this and how much it will cost you?

Once you have signed up to a fax provider, they will usually give you an online fax account or interface, where you can logon and send/receive all your faxes. Or many services have a desktop application you can download to your desktop and use this to send/receive your faxes. Still another way is to use your current Windows Outlook Express, as many providers have this as another way to send your faxes. Your faxes are sent as email attachments, usually as a Tiff or Pdf file, although there are many other different formats you can use, so check with your service provider first to see which ones.

What you have to understand, online faxing is a form of "cloud computing" where your faxing services are outsourced to a third-party. They act as your intermediary to handle all your faxes. There are some great advantages to doing this: you don't need an extra fax phone line and you don't need an actual fax machine. Plus, set-up is free and very immediate, within minutes you can have your own fax number. For a company or business just starting up your costs will be very minimum. And these fax services are completely scalable for businesses; so you can easily increase or decrease your number of fax numbers without the expense of buying extra hardware (fax machines and fax phone lines).

Another great benefit of using online fax - it is much more cheaper than using a fax machine. On average your monthly charges will run around $10, but there are cheaper services out there, so it pays to shop around. Also remember, since everything is done online, you don't have the cost of an extra fax phone line, nor do you have the cost of buying a fax machine. In addition, since it is paperless faxing, you obviously don't have the costs of papers, inks, toners or fax machine maintenance... all these expenses do add up over time.

Some of the more popular Internet fax service providers are: eFax®, RingCentral, MyFax, Faxage, RapidFax, Metrofax, Trustfax, Send2Fax, Nextiva, GoFaxer, Popfax... and many more. Since this is usually a long term business expense, you should shop around and find the service that perfectly matches your needs. Thankfully, many of these major providers have 30 Day Free Trials so you can check out a service before you buy.

If your faxing is very minimum, then you can get a service for as little as $20 a month. If your company or business relies heavily upon faxing to bring in sales or for contacting clients, keep in mind, most of these services are completely scalable for businesses, so you can set up special arrangements with many of these providers to suit your own company's faxing needs.

One last word, the reasons why online faxing have become so popular is mainly because it is easy to do, completely mobile, more convenient and much more cheaper than the regular fax machine. Moreover, it brings all your faxing into the modern world and the modern work environment. In no time at all, if anyone should ask you: Send fax online, how is that done? You will know the answer.


About the Author:
For more information on Internet Fax Services use this handy online Comparison Guide to: send fax online. Or if you want more detailed information on Internet Faxing try here: internet fax services.
Copyright (c) 2010 Titus Hoskins. http://www.bizwaremagic.com This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.


Read more Articles written by Titus Hoskins.

Social Media Marketing Agencies

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2010 Enzo F. Cesario


Experts exist for a reason. For example, there are many tasks the average car owner can perform on their own with a little practice; they maybe can change the oil, replace brake pads, tune a few elements. But in many cases it's far more efficient and effective to let an expert dig into the heart of the machine to make it really purr.

Marketing has its own experts, for every conceivable aspect. Entire businesses are founded on the effort to market a product to a client, and there are people who are very, very good at what they do. Almost as soon as there was radio, there were commercials. Television followed suit, and advertising on the Web has begun to follow the same trend.

Fairly new to the field of brand marketing, but establishing a firm foothold all the same, is the social media marketing agency. In many ways similar to the traditional marketing agency, they still stand apart as experts in a particular field, one that is coming to dominate the way net surfers communicate. They offer specific advantages in their expertise that a more general agency might not fully grasp, and are worth a look for anyone serious about developing their brand into an online powerhouse.

A Specific Focus

There are two broad types of marketing agencies, generalists and specialists. General agencies frequently have several departments covering various angles, and definitely have a place in a modern advertising campaign. However, they lack the purity of focus that can come from a specialized approach, and may not be as committed to the realm of ideas the latter can provide.

A social media-specific advertising agency doesn't have the clutter of distraction a more generalized body would. They train specifically in the tasks that gain ground for a brand through social media, including SEO, visual presentation, and linkback techniques. Since they focus on one specific element, there isn't a temptation for them to 'suggest' broadening the horizon by including a television campaign in a social-media effort.

Engage, Engage

The modern brand relationship is no longer the example of the producer making proclamations and staging showings. Instead it is a conversation, an exchange back and forth between the audience and the speaker. Comments can be left, videos and podcasts can go viral and spread word lightning fast, and genuine up-to-date feedback can pour in as fast as an article goes up.

A social media marketing agency will understand these needs, and have the tools to facilitate the conversation. They know how to pick out the groups that are likely to be interested in a product, or the kind of article that will see more attention on Digg. They are practiced in developing the conversations between you and your client, and their services in this field are easy to appreciate.

Making it Stick

The net offers a new power to people looking to make their brand stick in people's minds that has never been consistently available before - the power of persistence.

Previously, a commercial would come up when it came up. The advertiser had limited control over when a commercial might air, and the viewer had no serious way of knowing what commercials would show when. The Internet has changed this significantly. Websites catering to a user's interests are only seconds away at any given time, and can be visited any time the user has a computer and a connection.

This creates the persistence that drives a good brand. When someone is coming to your blog day after day, week after week, your brand becomes part of their life Social media is a great way to make this happen, as it is easier than ever to integrate a blog, Twitter, and Facebook into a sort of press service for your product, be it physical or philosophical. A good social media agency can show you how to bring these ideas together, how to make them work in concert so that thoughts of your brand become as automatic as reading the paper to your audience.

A Clean Fit

There is a lot of talk on the Web about 'organic' results. This doesn't have anything to do with ethically sourced food, but rather with making things fit together seamlessly. An organic effort 'works' together, and doesn't seem forced or choppy. Instead of statements that cram in the same keyword phrase regardless of grammar, it focuses on content that fits into existing topics, that looks genuine because it is genuine.

For example, organic promotion can include work that doesn't mention your brand directly at all. In some cases you might register a forum account on a discussion board that includes topics related to your blog, and provide content of your own to the discussions at hand. You never once mention your website, but instead focus on joining the discussions and making friends, and the entire time your site is linked in your signature. Eventually someone will click it, and start talking about it.

Getting people talking is part of organic promotion as well. When others are sending your link forward and sharing it with people of common interest, you'll see the value of having relied on social media. That's the real power behind it, the power to send out the ripples that get people to notice you. It starts slowly, but builds up irrevocably. So consider looking into an agency that specializes in maximizing social media, as there may be a lesson they can share that gets you the edge you need.


About the Author:
Enzo F. Cesario is an online branding specialist and co-founder of Brandsplat, a digital content agency. Brandsplat creates blogs, articles, videos and social media in the "voice" of our client's brand. It makes sites more findable and brands more recognizable. For the free Brandcasting Report go to http://www.BrandSplat.com/ or visit our blog at http://www.iBrandCasting.com/


Read more of Enzo F. Cesario's articles.

Roles and Responsibilities of a SAP MM Consultant

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2010 Varsha Vilankar


Here is a guide on how to start a career in SAP Materials Management (MM) Module. Learn how and where to get the training. SAP software in a nutshell is composed of three main functional areas, Financials, Logistics, and Human Capital Management. Under each one of these functional areas there are several sub-modules, which record and compute the day-to-day transactions of an enterprise.  The data entered in the system is immediately available to all relevant modules for reporting or for further processing. This level of integration is possible because all modules use the same RDBMS, an ingenious database design known as Relational Database Management System.  You might never hear the end of why SAP is so popular, but in my opinion it is because decision makers have the most current reports to take effective decisions for strategic steering of the enterprise. After all it is this value that makes companies invests millions of dollars to use SAP as their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.

My name is Varsha Vilankar and I am writing this article on the request of LearnSAP.com ( a leading and respected SAP training school ) to help individuals understand the roles and responsibilities of a SAP MM configuration consultant. Having worked on several end-to-end projects in a variety of industries I have compiled a checklist, which I believe will be useful to ensure a successful launch of a career in SAP Materials Management module.  

SAP Materials Management covers all tasks within the supply chain; including consumption based planning, purchasing, vendor evaluation and invoice verification. It also includes inventory, production planning, and warehouse management.  

On job as a configuration consultant you will be expected to perform configuration work as per the blue print document. Usually there are several small and large configuration teams working on different parts of the business process. Everyone on the implementation project is supposed to complete his or her work on a very closely watched timeline. Its very much like a production line, the crew down the line cannot hang the door on the car frame until you put the door together and hand it to them.

I was an ABAPer before I became an SAP MM consultant. ABAP is the proprietary computer programming language, which SAP has developed to write all of its applications in. As a programmer I worked with functional consultants from all modules, but Materials Management always fascinated me the most. So I decided that as a natural progression of my career when it is time, I would work in MM as a techno-functional consultant.

Configuration is fun, all of the nuts and bolts come together in this stage of implementation and things begin to take shape. Stress is in the air and everyone seems to be in hurry and as the launch date draws closer things only get more exciting and challenging.

In an Organizational hierarchy of SAP Implementation, Material management organizational structure includes Plant, Storage location and Purchasing Organization which are created under a Company Code. The organizational level Plant, being the key factor in all of the logistics area. The module has two important master data - material and vendor.

When I can manage some time away from the stress of a project I help LearnSAP.com organize and deliver SAP courses for individuals seeking a career in SAP. I sometimes teach the course as well but most of the time I train the trainers.  I helped put together the curriculum and every now and then I keep adding or removing stuff from it to match industry trends. A copy of the curriculum which I believe is a good balance of what you are expected to know, is given here for your reference.

1. Basics

SAP Overview

SAP R/3 Basics

Business Framework Architecture

MM Overview

Organization Structure of an Enterprise

Procurement Process

Purchase Requisition

Purchase Order

Goods Receipt

Invoice Verification

2. MM Procurement Process

Master Data

o Material Master

o Vendor Master

o Purchase info Record

Purchasing

o Purchase Order (PO)

o Purchase Requisition (PR)

o Request for Quotations (RFQ)

Special Stocks and Special Procurement Types

o Stock Items

o Non-Stock/Consumable Items

o One Time Material

o Service Orders, Service Entry Sheet

o Subcontracting

o Stock Transport Order

Source Determination

o Source List

o Source Determination

Release Procedures for Purchasing Documents (with and without classification)

o Creation of Characteristics

o Creation of Class

o Release Groups, Code, Indicator, Pre-requisites

o Release Strategies

3. Inventory Management

Goods Receipt

Goods Issue

Transfer Posting

Reservation

Physical Inventory

4. Invoicing

Invoice Posting

Variances and Blocking Reasons

Release Blocked Invoices

Automatic Settlements - Evaluated Receipt Settlement (ERS)

5. Valuation and Account Assignment

Material Price Change

Material Valuation Type

Configure Automatic Account Determination

6. Material Requirements Planning (MRP)

Planning Requirements

Over All Procedures

Planning Run

7. Reporting in SAP MM

Reporting at Document Level

Reporting with the Logistics Information System

8. Integration with other modules

Overview of integration of MM with other modules FICO, SD and PP

It is very important that you practice each procedure several times.  For this reason the classes are held once a week. The extra time between classes will give you an opportunity to spend some quality time working hands-on with the system. At first you will practice the steps precisely as they are explained to you, while gradually you would try different variations and make a detail note of errors when you encounter them. The objective is that you should be able to recall the solution when you face the same problem on the job. Seniority in a work environment is seldom the person's physical age instead it is how many problems he or she can solve swiftly.  In between classes I am available via emails, which I check several times a day. However, before you ask a question make sure it hasn't already been addressed and resolved over the LearnSAP.com discussion forums.

Should you decide to go to another school, you must demand these standards. Keep in mind that the tuition is directly related to the number of students and cost of the instructor. A cheap tuition could be an indication of low quality, either there are too many students or the instructor is in-experienced. Experienced instructors don't come cheap.

Assuming you got quality training the next step will be to make the resume.  I got my resume done by a professional writer. Remember resume is a marketing tool and just as you would not risk marketing your awesome invention don't risk your career either. If you cannot afford to hire a professional then browse the software aisle of your local software store for a good resume building software that would guide you through the process.

Last but not least, you should practice the interview process with a professional recruiter who can point out flaws (if any) and suggest remedies. The interview is a carefully engineered process, which is designed to extract an assortment of answers for the employer. Usually each question is designed to gather the breath and depth of your knowledge and experience. Basically, how much you know and how well you know it. There are points for each question and the candidate who gets the most points gets the job.

I haven't forgotten the days when I was searching for a school to help me reach my targets and I can appreciate your anxiety as well. After all changing careers is not an easy task by any standards.  If you have any questions for me, please feel free to send them to my attention at info@LearnSAP.com


About the Author:
With a Masters Degree in Computers Varsha Vilankar has been associated with SAP right from the onset of her career in I.T. in 1992. She has worked on several SAP implementation projects and area of expertise lies in manufacturing and utility industry. She is a logistics and ABAP expert who knows the ins and outs of training with both her company and other trainers worldwide. She has authored several course-ware for http://www.LearnSAP.com/

Delivering Effective Performance Feedback - Simple Steps for Success

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2010 Andria L. Corso


Does anyone really like giving or receiving feedback? Probably not; especially if it is considered constructive feedback. Yet, providing feedback is an essential part of managing performance. You cannot do one without the other so making feedback simple and direct might be one way to ease some of that dislike or discomfort we all feel when participating in feedback discussions. Having a straightforward process to do this is a key to successfully managing your team and your workforce.

The first step to simplify any feedback session is to prepare for the conversation as you would prepare for any meeting. You want allow enough time for the discussion so it is not rushed. Try to conduct the meeting in person if possible; remove distractions and make time to get input from the employee. There are a few other key points to remember as you enter into the meeting with the employee. First, address the behavior, not the person. For example, instead of telling the employee that he/she is unreliable, state that he/she has been late to the last three staff meetings. Next, remember to present facts and examples, such as: "When we compiled our budget numbers for this year, the numbers you gave were unsubstantiated. We agreed that backup data was necessary for all inputs." Also, describe the both the positive and negative impact of the behavior. For example, say something such as: "By not letting us know you have to leave early some times, other people had to stay late and finish," or, "by you stepping in and helping in a jam, you continue to demonstrate great team effort. Several members of the team have expressed their appreciation."

Another key factor to keep in mind is regarding when to give feedback and when not to give it. You want to provide feedback on the accomplishment of a goal, when you notice that performance or behavior is impeding a goal or objective, when actions or behaviors begin impacting work relationships and/or actions or behaviors are impeding an individual's success. Do not give feedback when you or the individual are too emotional or if you are not the most appropriate person to give the feedback (for example, if you notice inappropriate behavior from an employee who reports to someone else, that feedback might have more impact coming from that person's manager).

Now that you have all these tidbits in mind, and are prepared for the feedback discussion, below is model to follow when actually having the conversation.

1. Open

It is best to open a feedback discussion by identifying the purpose of the discussion and what you hope to accomplish. When opening, be prepared with what you want to say that will specifically address the purpose and importance of the situation. In addition, think about what you are hoping to accomplish (for example, are you looking for improvement, change in behavior or is it simply a discussion to provide positive feedback). It is also helpful to consider what the impact of this situation and the discussion will have on the person or team. This may help frame your tone and demeanor. Clearly, if it is a serious situation that has had serious consequences, the tone and demeanor will vary than if it is a situation that has been positive.

2. Discover

The next step in this model is to Discover. This is when you will share information and seek to understand the situation from the employee's perspective. Think of this step as the "question" step. Ask questions about the particular situation and find out exactly what the employee did and why he/she made the decisions that he/she did. Again, you want to be thinking about what outcome you are trying to achieve and also put yourself in the employee's shoes and consider what he/she might be concerned about.

3. Develop and Plan

The next step in this model is to develop and plan.

First you want to develop ideas for improvement with the employee. Seek out ideas from the employee and ask what he/she thinks is needed to be successful. Then share your own ideas. Ask what support the employee needs and ask yourself what support you can provide. You will then want to plan for action. This is when you discuss the specific steps and actions that will be taken to improve and reach the desired state. What steps need to be taken? Be sure they are realistic and challenging but not unattainable. Ask what support the employee needs and be open to providing that support. Remember, you ultimately want improvement so getting the employee on board with the plan for improvement is a vital step towards success.

4. Remove Barriers

The next step is to remove barriers. As you discuss the plan for action and what resources are needed, obstacles to success may come up. If they do not, then you need to seek this out and find out from the employee what he or she believes will prevent improvement or success. Ask questions such as "what roadblocks might you encounter?" and "how can I help support you in removing them or getting around them?"

5. Recap

The final step is to recap the discussion to ensure buy-in and that the employee understands the expectations. You want to be sure the employee leaves the meeting feeling confident and believing in his or her ability to be successful. Ask the employee what he or she is taking away from the discussion and what the first step in the action plan will be. Set up a follow up meeting and make yourself available for continued support.

Following this feedback delivery model as well as ensuring you are prepared for the discussion and providing the feedback at the appropriate time can and will make the process more simple. Having a more simple feedback delivery process and model will most certainly assist in your ability to successfully manage your team and your workforce.


About the Author:
Andria Corso is an Executive Coach and Human Resources leader who works with clients to develop leadership skills and talent strategies that align with business strategy and drive results. She is the principal owner of C3-Corso Coaching and Consulting, a premier executive coaching and strategic HR consulting firm specializing in the design of customized coaching and performance excellence programs for companies looking to increase employee engagement and deliver outstanding results. For a free report on the Top 3 HR Programs Every Growing Business Must Have to Succeed, click HERE or visit http://www.andriacorso.com for more information on how C3 can help you or your company.


Read more of Andria L. Corso's articles.

Increasing ROI by Improving Business Sustainability in a Cash-Strapped Economy

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2010 Thayne Carper


During times of economic uncertainty and staggering consumer confidence levels, companies seek alternative measures to increase business sustainability. Businesses incur additional costs to cover operational expenses; however, companies unintentionally waste their revenue on excess supplies and inefficient policies. Sustainable businesses generate additional revenue through targeting environmentally conscious customers, and reducing consumption, reusing materials, and disposing of waste responsibly.

The State of Garbage

Business sustainability counteracts the materialistic nature of modern societies that creates an addiction to garbage and waste. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States department dedicated to municipal waste (MSW) management, businesses generate 45 percent of the total waste in the country. According to data taken from the "State of Garbage in America" survey in 2006, the country generates 413,014,732 tons of garbage per year; however, only 35.5 percent (146,601,768 tons) of the waste is recycled or reused. The remaining 64.5 percent (146, 601,768 tons) can be found in one of 1,800 landfills nationwide, which defeats business sustainability efforts.

Waste in Relation to Business Sustainability

In order to build business sustainability one must plan and allocate resources according to current needs. The type of waste businesses produce depends upon the industry; however, common categories include paper products, electronics and machinery, hazardous waste, non-renewable energy, as well as expired products. According to the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory, office workers use 10,000 sheets of paper per year; however, only 66 percent of office paper is recycled and reused. It is pertinent to utilize recycled products within the business to increase resource efficiency.

While recycling rates remain steady for paper products, business sustainability struggles to control electronic waste (otherwise known as eWaste). With the rapid development and innovation of computers, printers, and other office machinery, businesses are constantly replacing outdated, slow, or broken equipment. Due to the chemical composition of the equipment, the items cannot be placed into landfills and require special handling to correctly dispose of the parts. Electronics are by nature nonrenewable investments; however, there are methods by which companies can recycle them.

Managing Business Waste

In an effort to increase business sustainability, businesses utilize a variety of techniques, including source reduction, recycling, composting, waste to energy incineration, and landfills. Most businesses attempt to recycle their materials; however, it requires internal and municipal coordination, which adds administrative costs, and diminishes savings. Businesses can offset the cost and improve sustainability efforts by using recycled products within their organization, such as printer paper.

Internal sustainability efforts are complemented by municipal services, who compost or incinerate materials to offset the expanding landfills. Current business sustainability efforts are band-aids to larger problems. Source reduction prevents waste from entering the ecosystem by reducing the number of resources businesses utilize. Source reduction enables businesses to increase sustainability by changing internal manufacturing and purchasing policies.

Increasing ROI Through Source Reduction

The costs to administer aggressive source reduction campaigns are offset by the long-term savings on operational expenses. Source reduction is based on the principle of a zero-waste ecosystem in which businesses use every resource that is purchased. Companies spend billions of dollars each year on products that are not used, expired, diminished, stolen, or liquidated. Every manufactured good has a set shelf life, including ink cartridges, pens, and paper. Additionally, discarding empty printer cartridges and broken electronics creates unnecessary hazardous waste. Cost reduction and business sustainability initiatives counteract these issues by obtaining extended warranties for electronics and utilizing printer cartridge refill services.

Reducing Waste in the Workplace

Cost reduction indicates most businesses spend large sums of money to buy office supplies in bulk. It is estimated that businesses waste one-third of these goods due to expiration or loss, which defeats any bulk discounts one would receive from vendors. Additionally, the supplies take up valuable warehouse space that could otherwise be reallocated. To effectively reduce waste, analyze company purchasing policies and contracts, noting areas of concern. Exceptions apply to these policies, as vendor agreements vary depending on their business sustainability practices.

Review company financial records, inventory databases, and purchase orders to determine the amount and rate of materials consumption. Monitor print and copy logs to verify the average number of pages printed per month and adjust toner and paper orders to reflect usage. Toner cartridges provide an estimated number of copies it can produce. When developing waste reduction plans, inventory the warehouse and sort them based on expiration date, using the oldest supplies first.

Implement Waste Reduction Programs

Cost reduction programs are key to increasing ROI and business sustainability. While every employee will not "go green" willingly, everyone is motivated by "the other" green - revenue. Form a committee at the corporate level and develop a sustainability plan, outlining goals and objectives of the operation while creating deadlines for major milestones. Once a basic plan is established, create a task force at the employee level, appointing two executives as the project managers.

The executive committee oversees the task force and communicates with the project managers, who work directly with business sustainability strategists. The task force will develop a mission statement that is aligned with corporate figures and creates a program outline that addresses the various goals and objectives. Task force members actively survey all of the waste generated by the company. By highlighting the problem employees realize the economic and environmental impact of the waste.

Through aggressive internal ad campaigns and memoranda the entire company will become aware of these issues. Business sustainability and cost reduction efforts increase profitability while positioning the organization as environmentally friendly.


About the Author:
Download your free report "The Definitive Guide to Doubling Your Profits in less than 6 Months" which reveals simple methods and techniques that can lower supply and service costs up to 27% without paying tens of thousands of dollars or hiring a consultant. Learn how to lower supply costs up to 30% at Thayne Carper's website: http://www.ThayneCarper.com/


Read more of Thayne Carper's articles.