Archive for August, 2011
Inc.com: Internal Communications to Employees – How Much Is Enough?
I have a new article up on Inc.com for my column Girl Power: Female CEOs. It’s called, Internal Communications to Employees – How Much Is Enough?
Here’s an excerpt: When you get to a certain size of company, controlling communications can be tough. Even if you’ve got 20 people, they’re probably broken up in different departments and focusing on their own job at hand. But, they probably want to know what’s going on in the company and what other departments are doing. And you shouldn’t assume that everyone talks to each other. Keeping the message of what’s going on in the company should be under your control so you know exactly how it’s translated.
Read More on Inc.com.
Tags: Enough, Internal Communications
Power returns to some areas after Irene passes
Power is returning for hundreds of thousands of people after Hurricane Irene passed through coastal states in the South.
Repair crews rushed out in Virginia, the Carolinas and Maryland Sunday after Irene turned north. An enormous job lies ahead. Irene flooded power stations, toppled trees and tore down electrical wires. More than four million homes and businesses are still without power.
In Manhattan, Consolidated Edison said it was optimistic that it wouldn’t need to cut power to the financial district. So far, sensitive underground power lines haven’t been flooded, the company says.
Tags: Irene, Irene Passes
Small Biz Tip: Rebranding: Get Involved
The Small Business tips today discuss how to get involved to promote your rebranding campaign.
- Local events are a great place to showcase your rebranded company. Chamber of Commerce meetings, small business associations, and town functions are great ways to get involved and display your rebranding campaign.
- Host a “preview” party for your loyal customers. Allow them to check out your rebranded image and store before anyone else with the VIP treatment!
- Sponsor a local sports organization. Many youth leagues are always looking for team sponsors. It’s a great way to get your name out there, and to help the little ones in your community!
- Be prepared. Have your elevator pitch, explanation for the rebrand, and some samples ready for anyone who asks. Be proud!
Tags: Get Involved, Involved
Many overpay for health insurance
A new study published in American Economic Review finds that 29 percent of small businesses overpay for health insurance. A major factor in overpayment is that companies change plans frequently because they cant easily comparison shop. When they comparison shop, insurers focus more on marketing and less on value, the researchers said.
Because health insurance is a complicated market with numerous plans to choose from, insurers spend more on marketing, transferring that cost to small businesses plans. Insurers also know that small businesses are less likely to stay with a plan for the long term, resulting in lower quality of care. For instance, some providers are reluctant to offer programs like wellness and disease management, which tend to only yield a return on investment in the long run.
“High turnover rates undermine the quality of health plans by reducing insurers’ incentive to finance care that makes their policyholders healthier in the future,” said study co-author Dr. R
Tags: Health Insurance, Insurance
We First: How Brands and Consumers Use Social Media to Build a Better World
I’m really loving the transformation in our view of social media. Not long ago we were still trying to figure out what to do with social media tools with books like New Community Rules. And then we learned enough about how to target and measure social media to take it beyond the consumer markets and into the B2B world with Social Marketing for Business.
Today’s featured book is called We First: How Brands and Consumers Use Social Media to Build a Better World. It’s a book about using social media to create a better world. Reading the cover, I was immediately reminded of the beginning of The Facebook Effect, where people used Facebook to organize government protests in South America.
I’m thinking about how timely We First is. As I write this, I’m reflecting on the role that Twitter and social media played in organizing demonstrations in Iran and in Egypt. So far, the biggest role social media has played has been in getting the word out and organizing people. But to what degree is social media making the world a better place?
About the Author
Simon Mainwaring () is the founder and CEO of We First, a brand consulting firm that helps companies use social media to build communities, profits and positive impact. As I perused the cover of the book, I asked myself, What does a branding company have to do with making a “better world?” I got my answer in the introduction.
Simon Mainwaring was at the World Economic Forum in January of 2008 when he heard Bill Gates speak. As soon as Mainwaring
Tags: Media, Social Media
Types of promotional products: Bags
Bags can be one of the most powerful promotional tools since they are hip, trendy and come in a number of different and interesting designs. It helps bring more customers in when they see bags imprinted with a company logo on them. The most exploitable things about using bags is that they are not just handy but are also greatly useful in making a fashion statement which adds to their appeal.
There is no dearth of attractive designs when it comes to bags. Always try to make it suitable to your product so that people can associate more with it while making it look catchy at the same time.
Levi’s once designed bags shaped like a large jeans pockets. Similarly a tyre manufacturing company once released bags with the handles shaped such that it appeared that one was carrying a tyre on their arm. Such innovative designs hold people’s attention and help convey the promotional message effectively.
Also make bags practical and efficient in use. Mak
Tags: promotional products
The necessary and appropriate help of business loans for women
Business loans for women are particularly helpful to women who aspire to be self-starting own business. These loans meet their financial needs to meet the diverse needs of a business. However, under certain conditions must first be met by the borrowers before the loan is approved for them.
First, candidates must demonstrate their ability to repay. You should be armed with all the relevant documents of your company before approaching a lender. Make sure you have a concrete plan of expenditure prepared to convince the lender that you are a serious business woman. The investment plan of the loan in your business should also be in place for starting a greenfield project.
Tags: business for women
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