adictoaloshombres: MARKET

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Full text article on business services franchises and the B2B market

The advantages of having a business service franchise over another franchise systems.

Keywords:

business services franchise, b2b franchise, business services franchise opportunity

Article Body:

When business owners are looking for a one-stop solution for their daily business needs, they have to look no further than the services provided by a business service franchise. Business services franchises make life more convenient for small business owners by serving many of their needs; and the they have a chance to work and grow with those businesses in the community. Business services franchises are ideal for people who've been involved with other business services careers but now want a chance to start their own business. Because business services franchises are structured to adapt to changing market trends, they're increasingly sought after by entrepreneurs who desire a small business that is able to stay on the cutting edge of today's rapidly changing economic times.

Business services franchises emerged to meet the demands of businesses that depend on outsourcing to correct their company's bottom line. Becuase these small businesses are presented with a new supply of honest service providers, they are able to cut down on low-end overheads and can effectively meet their financial obligations. The money saved because of outsourcing can be effectively utilized on other business functions. Business services franchises not only market and sell financial services, but just about any type of service that small businesses depend upon. The wide range of services provided by these franchises include cleaning, expense reduction, direct mail, shipping and receiving, brokerage services, consulting, and advertising.

Don't overlook the importance of finding a well known franchise company or a franchise company with a good reputation when you invest your dollars. With franchising systems "you get what you pay for," as the old saying goes-this can't be further from the truth. Low-end franchisors will have you believe that they offer the best system available. Regardless of how extraordinary they make this deal sound, you have to take caution when dealing with low-end franchise companies. Many of these franchisors are interested in selling only a training manual and authorization to use their company name-rarely do they care about seeing their franchisees’ succeed. Established franchisors have very high standards and will not award a franchise to just anybody who can afford a franchise fee. They profile every potential franchisee to weed out the ones who don't make a good match for their company. These highly-developed franchises will typically be more expensive than a lower-end franchise, but also go to great lengths to ensure the success of their franchisees.

Every business in America has very specific needs that must be met in order for their doors to remain open and so they can provide their services and products to consumers. To meet the different needs of these businesses, business services franchises offer a wide range of products and services. You have countless job options in the business services industry to say the least. There are many different businesses with different needs in your community. Assess what services these businesses require by asking around. Then you will be able to settle on a specific franchise based on your research.

Computer Consulting: Don’t Market the 90’s Way

Computer consulting businesses shouldn't tout their certifications as their main marketing messages. Focus on building your own brand identity in computer consulting.

Keywords:

computer consulting, small business computer consulting, IT consulting

Article Body:

The 90’s was a time of certification for computer consulting businesses. Everyone touted what formal partnerships they had with what major corporations. “Hire us because we’re a Novell certified shop” or “Hire us because we’re an IBM business partner.”

Most consultants aren’t leading with that anymore because they don’t want to be perceived as an extension of that company sales force. They want to be perceived as their own brand of computer consulting.

The Benefits of Partner Programs Have Disappeared

In the old days, you used to get big MDS and co-op advertising when you were in a partner program. Those days are rapidly ending, so there’s really no financial reason for sticking their logo all over the place anymore. Spend more time branding yourself as opposed to just focusing on the solutions that you represent.

Stick To The Products You Know

Naturally when you get new computer consulting prospects and you’re taking them through the qualification stages and sales calls, you’re going to tend to recommend the solutions that you’re most comfortable with.

If you’re authorized to belong to a program, you’re going to recommend that particular solution. That’s fine, but don't make your marketing message focus on just that particular product or that particular platform.

Don't Become a Commodity

If you do, you open yourself up to commodity priced competition. Your prospects will ask why they should buy their NetWare license from you if they can get it cheaper on the Web or through mail order. Don’t open yourself to a bidding war.

That way of marketing is dated. It’s passé. You are much better off if you market what your computer consulting business can do for your client!

Copyright MMI-MMVI, Computer Consulting Blog. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}

Do I Have To Be A Good Writer to Market My Own Business?

Keywords:

marketing, low cost marketing, writing, communications, ezine, newsletter, special report

Article Body:

Many of the most effective low-cost marketing strategies require writing. What can a small business owner do if they're not much of a writer? Can they still market their business themselves on a shoestring budget?

Marketing is a form of communication. And you do need to be able to write well to communicate effectively.

So what do you do if you don't write very well? You have two choices. You can hire someone else to write for you. Or you can learn how to write.

My suggestion is that you learn how to write. Writing is a skill that can be learned. And if you are writing about an area that you have expertise in, YOU are the best person to share that information with your prospects and customers.

Take a writing class at your local community college or adult school. Learn the basics of good grammar and then write, write, and write some more. Practice, practice, and practice some more. The more you write, the better you will become.

Register for and read free newsletters, ezines and special reports so you can get a feel for how they are written. There is so much information available via the web; take advantage of it.

Until you perfect your writing skills, always have someone else proofread and edit what you have written. They will catch things that you miss. They will tell you if something is unclear or confusing.

It's even a good idea to keep this up once you get good. Proofreading and editing your own work is difficult. And typos and mistakes don't reflect well on you or your business.

So if necessary, hire someone to do your writing until you learn or improve your skills. But do acquire the skills. Strong writing and communication skills will always benefit you in business and in life, so it will definitely be time well spent.

(C) 2005 Debbie LaChusa

Ensuring Success Through Market Research

Keywords:

Marketing Research

Article Body:

Finding business ideas is easy enough. There are endless possibilities that range from products to services which are in need of improvement or modifications. Producing new, improved products or services than those existing is an advantage over the competition. However, prospective entrepreneurs often forget an essential component of their future businesses. They neglect checking if their ideas are feasible to attract a large and sustainable market by conducting marketing research. As a result, promising businesses often crash due to the entrepreneurs' lack of business panache.

Marketing research for start-up companies and businesses are usually done in two ways: primary research and secondary research. Primary research entails the use of first-hand data in determining the existence of a market. Conducting surveys, focus groups, and interviews are popular methods of primary research. This means that personal contact between prospective consumers and the companies is necessary. Secondary research is a means to recycle and reuse filed data as a reference for improvements of the service or product.

Primary research is time-consuming but preferable for starting companies who intend to produce a new product or provide a new service. There are certain advantages in doing this type of marketing research. First, the feasibility of the product idea is tested. The appeal of the company's idea is tested on an extensive or particular market. For example, a start-up homemade ice cream business needs to test a homemade ice cream's appeal to an extensive or particular market. The survey is able to indicate preference for the product by different market groups: health-conscious gym buffs for its low-fat content, or homemakers for its freshness. This way, the company is able to identify what market to target or what marketing strategy to employ in order to attract the least responsive market. Second, the questions and research materials are modifiable to suit the companies' needs. To illustrate, if the company needs to determine what flavors of homemade ice cream to produce most, a taste testing and preference rating survey is best. This way, the company is able to determine the flavor that "sells" best and the one that ranks least. This method protects the company's capital by helping the company decide what flavors to produce or discontinue. Third, suggestions for improvement, competition advantages, and other factors are also available through primary research. Focus groups are usually preferred for this kind of study where consumers voice out opinions on the product's strengths and weaknesses.

Secondary research reuses filed data for other purposes. This is comparable to doing a library research where researchers sift through files and records to find the answers and solutions. This is advisable for established companies who have enough files in their data banks to supply subsequent marketing research. Otherwise, these companies pay researching firms for old surveys and data sheets for their research. This method consumes less time and is more cost-efficient. Old surveys about competitors are often used to improve the company's own products and marketing strategy. They usually target the competition's flaws and manifest their strength in that particular aspect.

If these sound daunting for starting businesses, there is no need to worry. The internet is a veritable tool for conducting marketing research. There are sites that provide detailed information how to conduct researches and even offer research software. Books and business journals are also worth checking out. Local business groups and organizations also offer seminars, talks, and workshops for future entrepreneurs. Always remember that there is no easy way to success, and that effort is necessary to see something to fruition.

Business Groups - Market For Maximum Effectiveness

Business groups like the Chamber of Commerce provide many excellent marketing opportunities. By being an involved and active member you will maximize your membership in a business group.

Keywords:

Business group, Business-group

Article Body:

Business groups like the Chamber of Commerce provide many excellent marketing opportunities. The members of these types of business groups are all business owners and many of them will fit into your sweet-spot profile. What better way to get to know the decision makers in these businesses?

Maximize Your Exposure in Business Groups

Don't simply join a business group and remain a passive bystander. To get the most out of your business group experience you need to get involved. Here are some tips:

When you join one of these business groups immediately make yourself known to the Executive Director, the office staff and the officers, as well as the people on the board.

Volunteer for a committee. This is an excellent way to meet and really get to know some of the local small business owners.

Speak at the meetings and events.

Exhibit and take out a little table at the next expo or event held by the business group. These are usually inexpensive and are a low risk proposition.

Send a direct mail to the business group members on the master list introducing them to your company and your services.

Invite the whole business group membership to seminars or events you are holding.

Attend and network at the business group meetings regularly; 8 or 10 a year is a good number.

There are no sure things but the active members of a business group, the board, and the committee chairs tend to be loyal to the inner circle of their fellow business group supporters. It’s almost like a fraternity or sorority.

The Bottom Line on Business Groups

The key to getting the most out of a business group is to be an active member. Keep your name in front of the membership. Remember to do your follow up. You want the business group members to know your name and think of you first when they have a computer issue. If you are patient and persistent your business group membership will pay off.

Copyright MMI-MMVI, Small Business Computer Consulting .com. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}

Focus On A Well-Defined Niche Market For Greater Success

Keywords:

home business,home based business,starting a business,entrepreneurs

Article Body:

Let me ask you this... "What do most people go online for?"

If you said "INFORMATION" - then you are absolutely right.

And besides, that IS and always will be the Internet's primary purpose and will always be one of the main reasons why people come online to search for.

So, with that said, you should now have a good idea as to why Niche Content Sites are the way to go if you are looking to build a network of sites that will produce a nice residual income for years to come and will steadily grow over time on there own all by using other peoples content and products.

Now that you have the idea, for the rest of this article we'd like to share with you 5 TOP reasons you should seriously think about building your own network of Niche Content Sites of your own, and then at the end will reveal to you a few examples of what kinds of Niche Content Sites you can build.

*Search Engines absolutely love them.

If you don't know by now Search Engines love content and what do Niche Content Sites contain? That's right...Content.

The more content you have to offer, the more pages you'll get listed within the search engines, which then gives you more exposure to your target audience from within the search engines and more chances for you to profit, which we'll explain in more detail in a few minutes.

Point being, this is a great way to grow your business and give your audience what they're looking for all at the same time, Plus... to get the Search Engine spiders to return for regular indexing.

*Your Niche Content Sites will grow effortlessly.

Content is literally the FUEL that powers the net and even more so is one of the most effective ways to grow your own business online.

What we mean by that is there are literally thousands of content publishers out there on the web looking for places to submit their content for publication. So depending your niche, you will always

have an abundance of content to continually grow your network of Niche Content Sites no matter who your target audience is.

We will also be giving you some examples of some Niche Content Sites towards the end of this article to give you some idea of what to expect.

*The information is targeted towards your Niche.

Niche Content Sites are just as the name depicts and even more so the information in which they contain primarily target your target audience and feed their hunger for information.

Remember what we mentioned earlier about why people come online in the first place.

Your simply giving them what they really want and making a profit from it at the same time which we'll explain in more detail in the last two segments of this article.

*Get paid for other peoples work.

With the rising popularity of Google's Adsense program and the profits that can be made from other peoples content using Google Adsense, this gives people all the more reason to build a network of Niche Content Sites because of the residual income you can make through Google's Adsense program.

The trick is this... the more pages you have listed, the more opportunity you have to generate BIG

Google Adsense cheques, all from someone else's work.

*Get paid through targeted affiliate programs.

Want to get paid between 30 - 70% again by offering targeted affiliate programs about the content within your Niche Content Sites?

That's right, get paid for referring other peoples products that directly reflect the content in which your Niche Content site offers and what your target audience is looking for.

By having a Niche Content Site with targeted content, this gives you a great opportunity to help Pre-Sell your target audience to want to get more information, Information in which they have to

'Pay For' which is where the targeted affiliate program you choose comes into play.

Now... are those 5 reasons enough for you to get started with your own network of Niche Content Sites?

Only you can answer that question.

It's reason enough for us, and the real cool thing is you don't have to produce any of the content yourself and you can use other peoples products to make a profit, Plus... Google Adsense.

Just imagine what a network of 30 to 50 of these sites would bring in.

We could ramble on but we think you get the picture.

Before we go, we'd like to refer you to this site for more free information on how to focus on a well-defined niche market: http://homebusiness.kim-lar.com/1.html

Four “Must Use” Secrets to Dominate the Market

Keywords:

marketing, marketplace domination, email, mail

Article Body:

Every business man and woman has a company in mind that symbolizes successful business to them. For me, it’s Microsoft and Bill Gates. I know that not everyone likes Microsoft, but hey… I remember the virtual Stone Age that ruled in the world before Windows!

Microsoft has literally impacted the entire world’s lifestyles and economies. That spells S-U-C-C-E-S-S to me. Maybe that’s why I was so shocked to find out that this “Super Company” was losing money on one of its newest and high-demand products.

The very idea had me scratching my head. Microsoft and profit losses go together about like boxing gloves and fine china. When I think of the computer giant, I automatically associate it with big bucks and success. It caught me by surprise to find out that the Xbox 360 has cost Microsoft millions of dollars!

Why would this globally recognized business be willing to lose millions of dollars on just one product? It’s a simple idea known as market dominance, and they’re interested in being king in a brand new market of video game consoles.

Market dominance works like a word association game. For example, I say department store. What pops into your mind? There’s a pretty good chance it was Wal Mart. If I say computer, you’re likely to think Microsoft - unless you’re a hard-core Macintosh or Linux fan.

The goal to market dominance is to have your business name pop into the minds of your potential customers in direct association with the product or service that you offer. Now, don’t sweat it. You don’t have to sink millions of dollars into a profit losing product to do it.

It really can be as simples as these four easy steps…

1. NEVER allow a customer to leave without getting contact information.
Capturing contact information is crucial whether your business is online or offline. It can be as simples as a questionnaire on your counter or a pop-up box on your web page. Do whatever it takes to get the information you need to stay in contact with them.
2. Use Direct Mail
I’d suggest using flyers and post cards about 18 times each year to keep your potential customers linked. After a while, they’ll become familiar with your business and know your logo and message by heart. After all, the kids don’t even write home from college that often!
3. Use the Telephone
As the popularity of telemarketers hits an all-time low, businesses tend to shy away from using it. Don’t forget that it is still a valuable tool that can keep you hooked up with potential consumers.
4. Email
If you haven’t invested in an email campaign this would be a good time to start. Email is a great way to effectively build a solid bond with your audience. Ezines, or online newsletters, are perfect for setting yourself up as the expert in the field. If you feed your consumers a weekly tidbit of valuable information, they’ll soon come expect excellence in association with your business.

Gaining market dominance can be as simple as keeping in constant touch in a variety of ways with potential consumers, but one of the most profitable investments you’ll ever make.

Declaring an Authentic Niche Market

Find out why choosing your niche market will free you to be the biggest, most authentic, and most complete offer possible.

Keywords:

niche marketing, market niche, niche market, small business, self promotion, marketing, offer

Article Body:

niche … 1. A recess in a wall, as for holding a statue. 2. A cranny, hollow, or crevice, as in a rock. 3. A situation or activity specially suited to a person’s abilities or character. 4. Ecol. a. The set of functional relationships of an organism or population to the environment it occupies. b. The area within a habitat occupied by an organism.
The American Heritage Dictionary, Second College Edition

For years I struggled with the concept of niche. I knew that choosing the right niche market was considered essential to business success, yet for me, as for many professionals, choosing a niche felt like the kiss of death.

When we dig in our heels against choosing a niche, we are probably responding to the first two definitions above. After all, who wants to do business in a hole in a wall or in a tiny, rocky place? If you believe that defining your niche market means choosing a hard, cramped, and confining space, no wonder you resist.

People who bring their heart and soul to their work will resist niche marketing that tells them they must restrict the ways in which they offer value to the world. The good news is that choosing your niche market will do exactly the opposite: it will free you to be the biggest, most authentic, and most complete offer possible.

Consider the third and fourth definitions of niche. When you look at niche in this light, you will see that your perfect niche market is that location or domain in which you are most readily accessible to the people who are most likely to benefit from (and thus value) the offer that you are and in which you are simultaneously most free to exercise your brilliance.

Your niche market is the place in which you have a natural competitive advantage because you occupy the right place in the right ecosystem.

A good niche market is one in which:

-- You are highly visible and easily accessible to the people who are most likely to benefit from your work, including prospective clients and customers, prospective collaborators and partners, and others with whom value-adding activities are most likely to be mutually beneficial.
-- You can employ the widest range of your talents, skills, and training (your offer.)

There's a paradox in naming your niche market. When you give people a category to put your products or services in, it is easier for them to get a handle on what you do and to remember it. It's also much easier for them to appreciate how you differ from other professionals in that category. In other words, by putting yourself in a category, you can also make yourself stand out because you distinguish yourself from others in that category.

* * *

Conducting A Market Analysis On Your Business

Keywords:

market analysis,USP,unique selling proposition

Article Body:

The term "market analysis" is often confusing to entrepreneurs, especially for people who focus on a specific niche or market segment.

In fact, many small business owners don't understand the process or complain that conducting a market analysis is too complicated or too expensive and wonder why or if it is necessary.

What is market analysis?

In the most basic terms, a market analysis is an assessment of:

- A particular problem or opportunity in a market.
- The needs of the target market relating to the problem or opportunity.
- Ideas for marketing a particular product or service that fills the needs of the target market.

When should you conduct a market analysis?

- When you are starting a business.
- When you are entering a new market.
- When you are considering a new product or service.

Why should you conduct a market analysis?

- To minimize business risks.
- To understand the problems and opportunities.
- To identify sales opportunities.
- To plan your marketing/sales approach.

The process of conducting a market analysis can be divided into
three parts:

Part 1 - Understanding Market Conditions

This gives you basic information about your entire market -- the size, the competition, the customers.

Part 2 - Identifying Market Opportunities

This gives you more targeted information about potential problems or opportunities in the potential market, and includes information about growth, current and future trends, outside factors and more information about specific competitors.

Part 3 - Developing Market-Driven Strategies

Here is where we get into what market research does for you. It helps you to pinpoint opportunities to grow your business. By understanding the market and knowing what opportunities are available you can create a marketing strategy that leaves your competitors in the dust!

Here are 10 questions that can help you get started:

1. What is the market I want to reach?

- Who are they? (Basic Demographics)
- What is their biggest problem in relation to this market?
- Are their needs being met by the products or services provided in this market?

2. Who is my competition in this market?

- Are they successful in this market?
- Are they marketing a similar product or service?
- What is the market share of the three biggest competitors in this market?

3. Is there room for growth in this market?

4. What is the size of this market?

- Is there room for growth?
- Is the industry growing? Stable? Saturated? Volatile? Declining?

5. How is my product or service different from the competition?

6. How can I reach this market?

- How is my competition currently reaching this market?
- Is it the most effective way?
- What are the alternative ways of reaching this market?

7. What are the business models of my competition in this market?

- Are they effective?
- Is there a way to do it differently or better?

8. What do customers expect from this type of product or service?

- What are the core competencies of this product or service?
- What would make the product "new" "different" or "better" for the customer?

9. How much are customers willing to pay for this product or service?

10. What is our competitive advantage in this market?

Knowing the answers to these questions will not only help you figure out if there is a need for your product or service, it will help you figure out the best ways to reach your customers, price your products or service and ultimately make more sales!

Estimating The Market For Construction Equipment Sales

Keywords:

construction equipment,used construction equipment,heavy equipment,used heavy equipment

Article Body:

Heavy construction equipments are required in all parts of the world. Their demand has increased all the more after the growing economy in the Indian sub-continent, Middle East, Far East and Oriental nations as well.

Countries like China, Singapore, etc. are developing at an exponential rate in the area of infrastructure development. Chinese infrastructure has become so strong in the recent past that even the interior cities and remote areas are also well laid with clean broad roads, buildings, shopping malls, bridges, etc. All this growth has let to increase in the construction equipment sales.

Construction equipment sales had been most in the western regions in the decades of sixties to mid-eighties. But in past twenty years the economical growth in the eastern part of the globe had been exponential. The rise in the middle class and better earning resources has led to the growth of the economy. This growth has called for more development of residential and commercial outlets, etc. The increase in the development of such outlets has led to increase in the construction job works. These job works have adapted to the changing developmental pattern thus construction equipment sales have gathered pace equivocally.

More and more builders and architects have come together and large construction companies have built boulders all along the economical growth. Huge towers, shopping malls, big broad roads, expressways, highways, bridges, flyovers, etc. have led to the increase in construction equipment sales. Since all this development work calls for larger companies to shoulder all kinds of job works, many companies have made strategic partnerships, joint ventures, governmental bodings and alliances with the domestic counterpart for better growth. All these large companies have built up their own construction fleet along with the construction specific manpower.

These construction equipment sales are usually related to the iron and steel prices. Since there have been more excavations for the iron ores and new outlets, iron and steel market has grown at a healthy pace in these developmental decades. The large projects require heavy capital investments. In developing countries the cyclic rotation of capital is more regulated and strategic. Thus the investors are able to opt for large borrowings and generate their own capital for purchase of heavy construction equipments. Thus the heavy equipment sales in these countries are more properly funded and less prone to financial risks.

In case of construction equipment sales pricing is also an important factor. It determines the extent of sales or whether the constructor would prefer to go in for rental equipment. Pricing also acts as a determinant of demand in the market. Demand is led as per the specific country, availability of these equipments in the region, prices of iron and steel, etc. moreover, for the construction equipment sales financing of the purchase of the construction equipment acts as an added advantage and gives a competitive edge in selling the equipments. Financing the purchase leads to increase in the construction equipment sales of the manufacturers.

Thus construction equipment sales are more or less directly dependent on the pricing structure and financing available, as it gets included in the project cost. These sales are more prevalent in the growing economies where more infrastructure developments regularly take place.

Choosing Your Niche Market - Developing Laser Focus

As the old joke goes, the best thing about the Web is that you can do virtually anything, the worst thing about the Web is that you can do virtually anything.

Keywords:

entrepreneurship, start up, online business, e-business

Article Body:

One of the keys to being a successful Internet Entrepreneur is choosing a niche. One of the challenges of the World Wide Web is its expansive reach and versatile nature. As the old joke goes, the best thing about the Web is that you can do virtually anything, the worst thing about the Web is that you can do virtually anything.

Pick a starting point that you're interested in and stick with it until you are successful or you have established that you idea is not as profitable as you originally thought.

Okay, when you begin to market, where do you start? You know you don't want to compete with some of the large companies on the Net. However there are great opportunities for small and nimble operators.

Analyze what you are selling or what you want to sell. It should be in an area that you know a lot about or want of learn about. It may have wide appeal, but think of those it appeals to most. For example, does your product appeal to musicians? That's a pretty wide market. Narrow it down. Who is most likely to be interested, singers or instrumentalists? From there you might want or need to narrow it even further. For example, your product might appeal to musicians of a certain age, or musicians who favor a certain kind of music or even a particular singer.

After narrowing it down as far as you can, think of appropriate keywords. Check with Google to see how many sites come up using these keywords. Next use a site that tracks keyword usage (such as Word Tracker or Overture) to see if there are plenty of users looking for that information. If there are enough potential customers and the competition is low, you may have found your niche.

After you have chosen your niche, try to use it in your Website title. This can help your Website ranking. Another tool for choosing a niche is to study the competition and find out how to make your site unique.

Choosing a niche will help your Website stand out. Find one with plenty of potential customers and little competition and you have a very good chance of watching your business grow.

Can You Market Effectively Without Purpose and Vision?

Clarifying your purpose and vision for your business can help you achieve a massive marketing breakthrough.

Keywords:

small business marketing, marketing tips, marketing ideas, marketing strategy

Article Body:

I went to lunch with a friend the other day to ask him about his company's marketing journey.

You see, I knew that he and his partner had hired a marketing coach a couple of years back. I wanted to find out what their experience was like and where they had challenges and successes along the way.

This particular company is very typical of the small, service-based businesses that I focus on in my own marketing practice. They would tell you that they're a couple of accountants who are really good at what they do and enjoy the clients they work with. They would also tell you that they weren't marketing people who knew how to attract a steady stream of new business.

I asked my friend if there was a particular point in time or event that finally triggered their marketing breakthrough. I wanted to understand what they learned through their own trial and error. I wanted to see if there was something specific that helped them finally crack the code on marketing.

At first he thought the answer was when they finally narrowed down their target market. They finally defined a niche that was a very good fit for them, made sense to them, and helped them stay laser beam focused. We agreed that this was a huge breakthrough. It's often easy to say, but usually very hard for small businesses to narrow their target market. This was a step that was clearly paying dividends for my friend's small business.

But, it wasn't really the answer for what helped them make their marketing breakthrough. After a little further discussion we discovered that the practice never made any marketing headway until they defined and clarified their Purpose and Vision.

Without a clearly defined Purpose and Vision, the business owners could never really articulate what they were and what they were trying to get done. A little more discussion with his partner confirmed it for us. Without clarifying their purpose and vision, the business was very reactive.

None of the marketing strategies or tactics that their marketing coach was helping them implement proved to be productive. The reality was they were reactively taking whatever business they could get through the door.

Clarifying their Purpose and Vision created the marketing breakthrough. Purpose and vision tell you and everyone else what it is you're out to cause and where you want to go and what impact you want to make with the business. Doing this gave my friend and his partner focus and direction that didn't exist before. It made narrowing their target market and all these other marketing strategies and tactics make sense.

I started to think about all of my own client relationships. Some time back I had decided to build articulating purpose and vision into my ABCD Growth Marketing Model. It was a piece that seemed to be missing from successful marketing relationships and now my lunch discussion appears to have confirmed it for me.

What do you think? Can you effectively market your business without Purpose and Vision?

Current Trend s in Computer Job Market

The computer career options have undergone some major dramatic changes in the past ten years. The author explains how one should be prepared to keep pace with the ever-growing field and meet the demands of the industry.

Keywords:

job, job search, job listings, job openings, job opportunities, part time job, job fair, job bank, online job, new job, resume writing, career, career search

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The computer career options have undergone some major dramatic changes in the past ten years. An extremely rapid growth was experienced prior to the dot com bust. Then it was followed by the leveling off period with respect to the computer jobs. There is a great demand for computer professionals even today. We can say that there is no field without the influence of information technology. Even, students who are graduating form the science and arts streams have to equip themselves with computer knowledge. For example, geological sciences make use of spatial technology for which computer skills and applications are very much needed. Like wise the global positioning system technology is used by law enforcement agencies. It can also be used to track movements of vehicles, locating earth’s resources, movement of flight across the nation etc. The same way, computer technology has also got into the jobs of accountants. Computer jobs are mainly used for reducing time spent on operations and hence such computer skills are very high in demand.

Starting a career in computers can be difficult as many computer jobs call for experience. Hence when starting a career in computer jobs, less importance has to be given to the salary aspect. The more the hands on experience you gain the more the salary earned at a later stage. Sometimes such first time computer job can provide the individual with lot of exposure to the systems side, making him to work on different operating systems, different applications, etc. Qualifications and certifications can be very crucial in landing up on the computer jobs. Almost all the candidates, irrespective of their degrees go through a formal training in computers, making it very tough to have an edge over others. Certifications received from the developers of the computer applications will be considered as an edge over others when searching for a computer job.

While searching for computer jobs, it is good to study in a school or college, which offers job placement assistance. It does not stop with that. The student undergoing a computer course should excel in his studies to get noticed by their trainers, who might have known people in the computer industry and might recommend in getting the first computer job. Also the student should take initiative in asking for placement assistance by getting interviews in reputed companies for good computer jobs.

Going to Bookshops to Identify a Hot Market

The day may come when people do all of their researching and reading online but it isn't here yet. Fiction, of course, will always be in print... it would be hard to curl up with a good novel in front of the fireplace on a cold winter day with a computer. Research, however, may eventually all be done online. People buy 'how-to' books and books that are devoted to solving their problems and/or making their

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internet business plan, small business advertising, business newsletter, business location, business competitors, business website, search engine optimization, pay-per-click marketing, business marketing tips

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Go to the bookshops in your area and take note of the kinds of non-fiction books that are stocked. You should particularly note the ones that are self-help or how-to books. If you can create the opportunity, ask the stock boy which ones are selling the best. He's the one who knows what is being restocked most often. That failing, ask a floor salesperson the same question. Asking the bookstore owner or manager is the last option. They are more likely to be pushing the books that aren't selling well in order to make a sale. Learn by whatever means you can which self-help or how-to books are the hottest sellers.

Another option is the online bookstores. You can't, of course, ask for information from a person but you can research the site and determine which of the non-fiction self-help or how-to books are highest in sales.

Finding out what books people are most often buying can give you some insight into what the hot market subjects are. Armed with this information, you can go about creating a niche marketing website that will have a better chance of becoming successful.

Builders Cleans – A Lucrative Market For Commercial Cleaners

With office cleaning becoming an increasingly competitive market for contract cleaning companies they must diversify or move into a niche market if they wish to continue to grow. One niche market that is not so competitive is that of ‘builders clean’. The number of companies that offer a good, high quality service to the construction industry is relatively small. So for small to medium sized firms it is well worth considering entering this market.

In order to succeed the c...

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In order to succeed the company must be prepared to come out of the safe environment of office cleaning which provides a regular and consistent income but at relatively low profit margins and take a leap into the world of uncertainty. You can build up a group of builders that you clean for but the work can still be spasmodic and irregular. You could go for the large house building companies where a project might extend over two years and carry out three or sometimes four cleans on each dwelling. For these you do have to be prepared to reduce your profits for the security of constant work because they actually pay less than other types of construction but still require the same high standard of cleaning.

To gain credibility in the industry you have to be prepared to work with the builder and meet their requirements. Their requirements are under time constraints and the cleaners are generally the last contractors to be brought into a project. Very few projects run smoothly to the planned programme therefore quite often as a cleaning contractor you must be prepared to alter your schedules and react quickly to changes in the plan. Sometimes with only 24 hours notice. This can cause problems in staffing a particular clean. So you and the workforce must be prepared to be very flexible.

It is also not uncommon to turn up on a site to carry out a clean to find a whole variety of sub contractors still at work and nothing ready to clean. Although frustrating it is all part and parcel of getting into the world of builders cleans.

In order to succeed you must firstly maintain a high standard in your cleaning if you wish to be called back to do other cleans by the contracting company and secondly you must be prepared to be incredibly flexible and meet demands that come in at short notice. Once you have proved your worth to a building company they will call you in to complete all their cleans. Each clean is quite profitable so it is well worth the time and trouble put in to developing the right contacts and putting together a good team of cleaners who are prepared to be very flexible in when and where they work. If you do not have a pool of cleaners that you can call on easily and quickly then you will end up finding it difficult to cover builders cleans when they come in thick and fast!