Deborah A. Geiger reports:
"Visibility can often mean the difference between failure and success for small businesses, corporations and entrepreneurs...Any entrepreneur or business owner can use PR to their advantage if they know how to create winning pitches that result in meaningful coverage. Here are three simple steps to make it happen...Reporters want to know that you’re truly an expert, so create foundational materials that outline your background and capabilities. Start with your executive bio. Include your name, professional background and experience, education and personal details that bring your story to life...Writing a winning PR pitch means placing your news in geographical, historical and industry context to make your business and work stand out...What makes your story truly unique and newsworthy? This might mean being the first, largest or most sustainable in your field. Perhaps you have a new restaurant reservation app. Would it be fair to call it the biggest tech advancement in the culinary space in 50 years? Do a competitive analysis and highlight the key features and benefits that make you one-of-a-kind...Knowing when to pitch a reporter is just as important as the idea itself. The good news is that so much about the news cycle is predictable. Think of holidays, evergreen stories and typical human-interest topics. If you’re a marketing expert, could you offer insights on merchandising trends around Black Friday or the holiday season? Is there a news story that's very popular right now that you could serve as an expert source for? Start with a current event, and reach out to reporters who have covered, or are likely to cover, that event. Always keep your communications helpful and positive, and offer to be an expert source for future stories. The best PR pitches are super clear; when there is no confusion about who you are, what you do and how you can help, you will no doubt make a positive impression. For those who want the benefits of PR but lack the time to work on pitching and media relations, enlist the help of a qualified professional. This is often the fastest way to getting results that increase brand exposure and support marketing and sales objectives. Using these guidelines might well result in your own 'aha' moment." Lanee' Blunt reports:
"A proposal for building a factory is used when you are being considered along with other potential contractors. When you write your proposal, carefully plan and prepare an outline. Address every term and requirement in the RFP [request for proposal] when writing the outline. The proposal should address the RFP line for line. Identify the resources that you will need to provide the technical descriptions and compliance matrices. Set deadlines for each section so that when the proposal deadline approaches, you will have the proposal on time. You must have a clear understanding of your objectives when preparing the proposal...Write section 1. Start with the description in which you will provide the reader with a snapshot of what you plan to build. Address in this section how people will benefit from the factory and where it will be located. Write your mission statement. Tell them in your mission statement that you are committed and what you plan for the community. For example, give a description of a similar factory that you have built...Write section 2. This stresses the benefits of building the factory. What is the direct benefit to the city? Inform the reader of how many jobs the factory might bring to the city. Inform the reader of the sales tax benefits. Give an explanation of the benefits of hiring your company; for example, the experience and capabilities that your company has in similar projects...Write the development part in section 3 of the proposal. State what the building's features will be by giving the square footage and the maximum height of the building. Write about the features of the office space, restrooms and the restaurant giving a detailed description of each item...Write the fourth section. Write the time of completion. Set deadline dates and include dates by which you propose to complete the job. Write the cost information section and provide the proposed price...Write the fifth section. Provide a list of qualifications, a list of resumes and the responsibilities of the key personnel named in the proposal. Include information on engineers, architects and your project team and provide references. What experience do the founders of the company have? List the company goals and objectives." Steve Milano reports:
"A simple advertising contract, also known as a media buy, that doesn’t include specific details about how an ad can run may lead to miscommunication, poor ad placement, incorrect run dates and a host of other problems that might decrease or negate the effectiveness of your ad. An effective ad contract includes a variety of if-then parameters that help you get the best placement and results possible...A basic advertising contract should include the following: name of publication, station, website or advertising vehicle; your business name; price for the ad or ad schedule; date, issues or shows in which the ad is to run; placement in a print publication or time the ad is to run; payment due date; number of insertions; and run time of the ad schedule, including the start and stop date...If your campaign is time-sensitive, include a start and end date for your ad to appear. This prevents ads from running too early or continuing to run after your event is over. If you [are running] a radio or TV ad or campaign, include the time of day or specific show during which your ad or ads should run. The term 'run of schedule' means that the station will not place your ad in a specific show but will run them throughout the day at their discretion. You may need to pay a higher price to have your ad placed within specific shows or during certain hours, such as drive time...Include where you want your ad placed if buying space in a newspaper, magazine or website. Most advertisers prefer ads to appear in the first half of the magazine and on the right-hand page in print publication. Use the phrase 'right-reading' in your contract to signify that your ad must appear on a right-hand page...You may need to pay extra for specific placement. 'Run of book' means the advertiser can place the ad anywhere in the publication. To prevent your banner ad from appearing too low on a website, specify that it is to appear 'above the fold' so visitors to the site won’t have to scroll down to see the ad. You also may request that your ads appear near or away from certain types of editorial or content...Delineate how advertising materials must be delivered, where they need to arrive and by what date. Include specific digital formats, such as GIF, JPG or PDF files. Include what is to be done with hard copy materials, such as artwork used to create print ads or film...When purchasing website banner ads, specify the size in pixels, even if the site offers a variety of banner ads by specific name. Include whether the banner must link to a particular URL, and include that URL. If you are buying billboard advertising, include provisions that cover damage to the sign, including how quickly it will be repaired and if you will receive compensation for days the sign is damaged. If you have purchased a schedule of ads in a print publication, include an option that lets you move your ads to different areas of the publication after an initial test run, at no extra cost...Many businesses offer a 15 percent agency discount to advertisers who use an agency or design firm to place their ads and buy media. If pressed, many medium-size and smaller publications and websites offer the 15 percent discount directly to an advertiser. Include this discount in your contract. If the publication, station or website is providing any ad creation or production services, specify whether you will pay for them or if they are included in the cost of purchasing the advertising. Specify when payment is due, especially if your ad will not be running for some time after you sign your contract or if you will be running ongoing ads for weeks or months. Delineate acceptable payment methods, such as check, PayPal or credit card. Include the total number of insertions of ads and the total cost of the ad buy to prevent miscommunication. Request that print publications include 'tear sheets' -- pages of a publication with your ad on them cut out of the publication as proof that your ad ran -- with invoices." M.T. Wroblewski reports:
"The most compelling market research reports pivot on a story – about why that new product or service line holds such promise, why that group of untapped consumers could benefit from your offerings or why that merger would be a wise investment. Like all good stories, this one might start with an anecdote or focus on one person – the 'main character' – who could serve as your ideal customer. Telling the story of your research through his or her eyes, and with plenty of dynamic quotes, should flow directly into how pursuing this new opportunity would advance your business objectives. This is a crucial part of the story, too, since the opportunity wouldn't even be worth considering if it didn't conform with your business plan. At this point, you might wish to share with your staff the experience of a well-known manufacturer of a men's fragrance that was ready to embark on a marketing campaign – targeted to men. Then the market research revealed that women, not men, make most of these purchases, and the finding transformed the campaign. Now there was an entirely different story to tell because the main characters shifted to women – who they are, what they do for a living, when they purchase men's fragrances and how they persuade the men in their lives to acquiesce to wearing a fragrance in the first place...As much of the quantitative data as possible should be consigned to charts and graphs...Numbers are easier to read, and evaluate, when they're displayed in a graph rather than tucked into a dense paragraph, where the reader may struggle to interpret their meaning. This point underscores another reality about market research reports: [Y]ou may think it's being written for your benefit and that of your staff. And for now, it may be. Your audience may also include your business attorney and accountant. But [someday], if it's appropriate, new stakeholders may read the report, too, and charts and graphs will make it easier for them to digest. Of course, you can always overdo a good thing. Only relevant charts and graphs – or those that advance the fundamental story – should be included in the body of the market research report. Ancillary information should be relegated to the appendix – that document repository that comes at the end of a report...By focusing on a compelling story and relying on visuals, your staff should find it easier to address your third cardinal rule. They should know that you will judge the value of their effort on its quality, not the number of pages. (It's up to you if you wish to tell them that many market research reports run from between 10 and 50 pages.) It will also help if they:
Ruth Altman reports:
"Resumes are a must-have when it comes to the advancement of your career -- even if you’re a diplomat of the United States. There are many kinds of U.S. diplomats, including ambassadors, economists, administrative assistants and translators. Format and action-oriented detail are each important factors to consider when developing your political resume. When it comes to phrasing, clean, tight language conveys the ideal professional tone. Although it is important to stay within professional lines, resumes remain more of a marketing tool than a job application, so you can still maintain stylistic creativity...Start by headlining your resume with your name followed by a title. For example, 'Jenny Smith' should be followed by the title 'Diplomatic Administrator,' centered underneath. Font size should be no larger than 18 point for your name or title and no less than 11 point for the body of the document. Next, cover your political work experience, including any internships or volunteer positions, and follow it with your education. Add bullet points to create visual interest and increase your resume’s readability. End your resume with skills and professional associations or activities related to your position as a diplomat. Be sure to proofread your final document for spelling and grammar...For diplomats with less than 10 years of experience, keep the resume to one page. Additional pages are acceptable when career experience exceeds 10 years. Most employers prefer a chronological resume -- that is, a resume that lists job experience from most recent to past. On the other hand, a functional resume that highlights your skill set is acceptable when applying to jobs that require any expertise learned in a former position. An objective is considered outdated; omit it from your resume entirely. Also, adding a few elements of style to your resume can effectively set it apart. For example, navy blue accents are an acceptable way to add pizazz to your resume while staying within professional lines. When finalizing the look of your resume, check your page margins to be sure they aren’t any less than a half inch in case a recruiter prints your document...Highlight your skills prominently and avoid burying acquired expertise in the body of a large paragraph. Instead, create a section for your skill set and include tangible assets, such as LexisNexis expertise and knowledge of other political tools such as Catalist, Blue State Digital and Aristotle. Listing tangible skills also provides an opportunity to use keywords, increasing the chances that your resume gets noticed. Avoid listing any soft skills such as 'strong team leader' in your skills section. Use soft skills to build the body of a paragraph in your job experience instead...For the most effective resume, highlight your successes. Avoid listing tasks and focus instead on articulating how tasks have led to achievements." Suzie Wilson reports:
"Starting a new business and relocating your home at the same time is an ambitious endeavor. Combining these two massive transitions can be overwhelming, but with careful planning and strategic execution, it can be achieved smoothly. This guide, shared below by Mister Line Editor, offers a comprehensive roadmap to help you manage both your business launch and your move, ensuring success in both arenas. Determine How Much Space You Need Evaluating your living and workspace needs is essential to ensure a smooth transition. This way, you’ll know just how much space you should purchase. Consider the space required for office equipment, storage, and meeting clients. Understanding these needs will help you avoid unnecessary clutter and create an efficient working environment. Home Selection Criteria When searching for a new home, it's vital to identify key features such as a dedicated office space, proximity to suppliers or clients, and an environment conducive to work. These factors will greatly influence your productivity and satisfaction with your new location. While searching for a new home, take crucial steps like determining your budget, getting loan pre-approval, collaborating with a real estate agent, and utilizing online resources for property hunting. These actions will make the process smoother and less stressful. Financial Planning Setting a clear and realistic budget for your new home is vital, taking into account both business-related costs and personal expenses. By comprehending the financial aspects of moving and establishing a home office, you can navigate the expenses involved more effectively. This understanding enables you to make decisions that suit your financial situation, ensuring that your choices align with your monetary capabilities. Organized Relocation Organization plays a vital role in achieving a successful move. Establishing a moving timeline, getting rid of unnecessary items, and efficiently labeling boxes will create an orderly process. If required, hiring professional movers and clearly communicating your plans with them can further streamline the relocation, making the entire transition smooth and stress-free. Launching Your Business Solid Business Plan with Simple Marketing Strategy Crafting a comprehensive business plan is vital for success. Outline your goals, target market, financial projections, and growth strategies. This plan will serve as your roadmap, guiding you through the launch and growth of your business. A clear and focused marketing approach is essential to attracting customers. Highlight your unique value proposition, understand your target audience, and choose the right marketing channels to communicate your message. Invest in Technology Choosing the right tools and software is essential for streamlining your [business'] operations, communication, and engagement with customers. By investing in technology that fits your specific needs, you can significantly reduce time spent on routine tasks. This strategic investment not only makes your processes more efficient but also improves the overall functionality and responsiveness of your business. Time Management Techniques Juggling the responsibilities of business operations and relocating demands adept time management. Adopt strategies like prioritizing tasks, creating a strict schedule, and setting firm deadlines. This approach ensures you effectively address both your business obligations and moving needs. Remember to consider EIN Application Applying for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a crucial step in establishing your [business'] legal identity. This unique number serves a dual purpose: [I]t's necessary for handling your [business'] tax obligations, and it also acts as a formal recognition of your business by the government. By obtaining an EIN, you demonstrate compliance with legal requirements, ensuring that your business is regarded as legitimate and lawful. Launching a business and moving simultaneously is a complex but achievable task. By meticulously planning, understanding your needs, and implementing strategic practices, you can ensure a smooth transition. Following this succinct guide will assist you in seamlessly launching your business and relocating your living space, providing you with a solid foundation to build upon. The alignment of your home and business life will foster growth, efficiency, and satisfaction, turning a potentially stressful situation into a rewarding new chapter in your life." Diane Dilov-Schultheis reports:
"Whether you’re a sole proprietor running your company from a home office or a small business owner renting office space, a flourishing business needs well-organized office management. Office management includes maintaining all needed office supplies that are vital for your business’ day-to-day operations. You certainly don’t want to run out of paper when printing an important document, but you also don’t want to waste valuable money keeping unneeded office supplies around. Track these items with an office supply list...Walk around your company and note the various office supplies on hand. Start in one location, such as your office[,] and then check all other areas including supply closets, break areas and bathrooms...Write down how many of each item you have. Note whether any additional types of office supplies are needed as you’re taking the inventory...Open a word processing or spreadsheet program, such as Microsoft Word or Excel. Use an available inventory list template or create one from scratch...Create a category list separating the supplies into groups. Use category titles, such as paper products, printer supplies, filing supplies, cleaning supplies, mailing items, writing instruments, break room items, desktop items and miscellaneous...Fill in the details for each category using the information you wrote down during your office walkthrough. Name, save and print the completed supply list...Keep this list at your desk for easy access. Continuously make note of how often you use the various supplies and how long it takes to replace the item, such as whether you can buy the item locally the same day or whether you have to order the item a week ahead of time...Order or purchase your office supplies as required to maintain your essential inventory. Review and update the office supply list every six months or so." Kristin Swain reports:
"A letter concerning an accident at work provides written documentation of the incident. This type of documentation may be necessary for your Human Resources file, management review of the accident or your union representative, if applicable. Being able to write a letter about the accident allows you to give an accurate, detailed description of the events without influence from outside sources, such as other coworkers or management...Any letter that you write needs to be composed and submitted as soon as possible after the accident occurs. This allows you to address the issue in a timely manner while also recounting [the] event while the details are fresh in your mind and can be easily remembered accurately. A copy of the letter should be submitted to all applicable people including members of management, HR, your supervisor and your union. Make sure to sign all copies and keep a copy for yourself. You can also submit the letter via email, using your email address and the time stamp in lieu of your signature...Correctly documenting the accident is extremely important to any investigation into the incident or worker's compensation claims that are opened as a result of the incident. When you begin to structure your letter, create a short introduction that tells who you are and how you relate to the incident. Also give the date and time that the accident occurred. Use the body of the letter to recount the events leading up to the accident in as much detail as possible, starting at the beginning. Only include relevant information, such as the location of the accident, what caused [it and] if there was any company property involved, such as machinery or office equipment...Make note of anyone who was in the immediate vicinity when the accident occurred. Document their full names, locations, what department they work with and what they were doing at the time. Write down anyone who was also involved in the accident and what their role in the events was. By doing this, management can contact any witnesses to the incident if they need a statement, or to ask questions, as a part of the investigation into the accident...Note any injuries that you personally sustained as a result of the accident. You can name others that you believe were injured, but leave it up to them to report the nature of their injuries to management, unless you are writing the letter as a witness...List any remedies that you are considering for help with damages, such as an intention to file for worker's compensation or if you are considering a lawsuit to cover the cost of resulting medical bills. Do not admit fault. Simply state the events of the incident as they occurred from your point of view. If necessary the company may launch an investigation to determine fault." Kim Borwick reports:
"Teaching kids about money when they’re young lays the foundation for responsible money management later in life. Children whose parents emphasize the importance of financial literacy and encourage them to spend and save thoughtfully develop a healthy perspective on money. It’s never too early to begin teaching your kids about money. But doing so is not as straightforward as you might assume. Some parents don’t feel confident enough in their own knowledge of financial matters to be comfortable teaching their kids about money. Others believe it’s inappropriate to burden young children with conversations about money or think, mistakenly, that children are too young to understand financial concepts...Children as young as 3 years old understand basic economic concepts, and by age 7, kids have developed permanent financial habits. This is a good time to start explaining that material goods cost money. Give them a piggy bank, or better yet, help them establish spending and sharing jars, which will allow them to see what happens to their balance depending on the decisions they make. Talk to your preschooler or kindergartener about sharing with others. Show them how to set financial goals and how to meet those goals. And remember, parents have the greatest influence over children’s money habits, and at this age, your kids are looking to you to set an example and guide them...At this age [6 to 14], you can let your child help with the grocery shopping, walking them through your decisions to shop at certain stores, seek coupons and sales, and select certain brands according to pricing and your budget. You should also begin discussing big-ticket items with them. Koblinger included an example of how a friend of hers used car shopping as an opportunity to teach his 10-year-old 'smart ways to save, how to see through clever marketing, how to negotiate prices, and how to avoid the pitfalls of loans.' You can even teach children this age about compound interest, using real data as opposed to trying to explain the concept in the abstract...By the time your child reaches high school, he or she should be capable of understanding more sophisticated money management concepts and have a level of financial literacy that includes knowledge of earning, saving, spending and sharing at the very least. Credit card companies target college students, so you’ll also want your child to be aware of the dangers of maxing out credit cards, how interest works, credit limits and the importance of building credit responsibly. Talk to your teen about the value of money. This includes emphasizing the difference between wants and needs and making sure they know your values when it comes to money. These conversations won’t be easy, especially when they see their friends wearing designer clothes and whipping out their parents’ credit cards when they go out. Just remember, you’re not alone. Every parent who cares about their child’s financial well-being and wants to instill positive values must say no to their kids at some point. And, just as your parents told you long ago, it’s for their own good...There’s a fine line between preparing children to be financially responsible and tarnishing their relationship to money. Miata Edoga, president of financial education company Abundance Bound, told Parentology, 'We don’t want our kids to be afraid of spending, be afraid of managing credit. We want them to feel confident in their ability to negotiate successful financial lives, to come at money from a place of power, rather than fear.' The information age ushered in new media teaching platforms and introduced the world to the 'digital native.' New educational apps for kids are launched regularly. These technological tools use interactivity and gamification to make financial concepts fun for children and teens. In addition to educating kids about core personal finance topics, these apps simulate the digital-era experience of using credit and debit cards, mobile payment methods, digital wallets, online banking and one-click shopping...While it can be a bit intimidating to teach kids about money, the rewards for both you and your child will far outweigh any frustrations the lessons may cause. And, fortunately, now more than ever, parents have a host of resources at their disposal, from apps and simulations to good old-fashioned discussions and real-life scenarios. The most important thing is to convey the need for smart money management and allow your kids the chance to practice these skills in their daily lives." Mary Dowd reports:
"Internship openings, including application directions, are typically posted online to attract qualified students from around the count[r]y. Generally, you will be asked to mail or upload a letter of intent that explains your interest in the internship position. In addition to a letter of intent, you will likely need to provide a resume and letters of recommendation...Follow the standard business format to write your letter of intent. A professional image is important. The top of the page should include your name and contact information. You may center the text to make it stand out or type it flush left. Consider adding your email. Skip two lines and note the date of your letter...A letter of intent focuses on what you intend to learn and how it will help you achieve your long-term career goals. Start by expressing enthusiasm for the internship position. Mention your relevant academic achievements, pertinent coursework and reasons why you are eager to apply...Write two or three paragraphs diving into the details of what makes you uniquely qualified for the internship. Describe any related jobs, leadership roles, volunteer work, skills and research projects. Don’t worry if you don’t have a lot of directly related experience – that is what internships are for. The letter of intent is your chance to shine a light on your drive, passion, enthusiasm and limitless potential just waiting to be tapped. Briefly discuss how the internship will help you succeed in your field of study...Recap your reason for seeking the internship. Express appreciation for the opportunity to have your materials reviewed. Mention the best times of reaching you, preferably during normal business hours...Ask a friend with an eye for detail to proofread your letter. Fix any errors, sign the letter and submit." |
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March 2024
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