wordophile

Do you run a Conviction Kitchen?

2011-03-26T19:09:00.000-07:00

Sound byte:
She stares into the camera and asks, "Would you eat in a restaurant run by people with criminal records. Would you want someone like me to serve you?" (Paraphrased).

Her appearance:
Hair tied back. Facial piercing.
Otherwise - physiologically normal features.
No excessive make-up, no scars, no gauntly shape.

The significance?

Conviction Kitchen is an Aussie program about a Pommie guy who did time, turned his life around and became a chef. He took it upon himself to offer kitchen - and life - skills to a group of convicted and imprisoned men and women.
They learn most of these skills within a commercial kitchen setting - and soon after learn how to run a restaurant.

Hence the sound byte:

When it came to marketing - letting the public know the kitchen was in operation and ready for customers - the "grab" was to put this plain speaking average young woman, with a criminal past, on screen to test the collective consumer conscience.

Would the public eat in a kitchen staffed by criminals?

Here's the rub:
No matter where you go, who you work with, where you dine, how you shop, why you buy... there is a STRONG chance that someone you just interacted with had a criminal record.

So, the only conscience "pricking" the show producers are edging for is whether by KNOWING, you'd change your spending/consumer shopping habits.

Would you?

Funny thing is, when you think about it, the word "conviction" has a few meanings:

An unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence
The judgement of a jury or judge that a person is guilty of a crime as charged
The state of being found or proved guilty
Strong persuasion or belief
Condemnation

How can one word have both powerfully detrimental meaning, and yet also mean something profoundly valuable?

Strong persuasion - if someone believes something, it often makes the person passionate about the subject. This is a vital human essence.

Yet, the negative implication is that when OTHERS believe that a person is guilty of something or has done wrong, then the collective CONVICTION is a crime or a penalty imposed on the alleged offender.

Being CONVINCED of something leaves you in no doubt about the existence of that thing.
Perhaps people of criminal persuasion believe in a particular thing, unshakably - no matter what social right or wrong is attached to that belief.

If you're convinced you are the best salesperson, then the outcome ought to be that you have unshakable faith in your own abilities.
If others are convinced you are the best salesperson, they are reinforcing your belief, and probably buying more from you than other colleagues in the same sales setting.

Here's a question:

Can you take your own inner "conviction" and become the best at what you do?
Are you a business owner with total passion for and belief in what you sell?

Do you find your experience, knowledge, history, and drive underpin why you do what you do?

If you're a business owner, there's a fair chance when you want to "convince" others to do business with you, you tell them how long you've been in business, mentioning the quality of the products and perhaps even spin the wheels on how your pricing and service is unbeatable.

Hardly unique.

What if you could instead capture the essence of your conviction and let it sell for you?

A conviction is a good thing - and when you're in business, you better be running your own "Conviction Kitchen"... with the passion, fortitude and faith that is unique to every action and word within your business.

If this has hit your heart and head and you want to talk more about developing your Conviction into your USP, contact me - the Profit Frog - ph 1300 98 36 41.

Taking Charge of 2011 - all 365 days of it...

2010-12-30T16:59:00.000-08:00

You and hundreds of thousands like you and I have made New Year's Resolutions in the past only to find we've fizzled out less than a month in.

Today I am holding myself accountable for achieving several meaningful, and worthwhile, outcomes and goals across 2011 and I would like you to join me in making massive commitments.

I have less than 12hrs now to determine a list of outcomes and goals that would really make 2011 shine for me, and then I aim to narrow that list down - with either a list of only those I know I will commit to, OR to strategizing somehow to make the entire list DOABLE for the year... after all, there ARE 365 days and 24 hours in each and every one of them.

That's 8760 hours across the entire year...

Let's reasonably allow 7hrs from each day OUT for sleeping... some people prefer 6, others need 8. I'll average it to 7 which is how much I usually have.
At risk of mathematical embarrassment, I have determined that it is 525600 minutes across the year... and on average 153300 minutes are spend sleeping.

These facts may help with defining 2011 resolutions. In the meantime...

Here is a timely fact:

We can survive - generally:
3 weeks without food
3 days without water
3 minutes without AIR

Which proves that YOU and I CAN EASILY cut back on our kilojoule intake and lose weight.
We MUST increase how much water we drink... water is the essential cleanser for our bodies.
Dare yourself to drink NO water for 2 days, NO fluid at all... and see how SICK you feel... don't substitute it with fizzy pop, or coffee or some other liquid. Go 48hrs without water and see just how desperately you NEED to drink the stuff.

We CANNOT risk having NO air - we hardly breathe properly as it is... many of us use our diaphragms badly and breathe shallowly.

So:
Here is at least a basic profile for the initial new year resolution:
Breathe - deeply, fully and slowly for 10 breathes, EVERY HOUR on the HOUR.
DRINK - one glass of pure water (200ml) EVERY HOUR on the HOUR.
EAT - LESS - simple. Make sure what you do eat NOURISHES the health of your body.

That's easy.

As for the BIGGER "purpose" goals and achievements... stay tuned, I am off to find out what mine are and what matters to me and how I intend to take 2011 in both hands...

When Sex Sells | Socyberty

2010-12-27T14:43:00.000-08:00

When Sex Sells | Socyberty

Kilojoule Counting to Lose Weight | Healthmad

2010-12-27T14:38:00.000-08:00

Kilojoule Counting to Lose Weight | Healthmad

Fair Weather Friends: How to Spot Them and Why You Don’t Need Them | BeyondJane

2010-12-27T14:33:00.000-08:00

Fair Weather Friends: How to Spot Them and Why You Don’t Need Them | BeyondJane

Does poor customer service really cause loss of business?

2010-12-11T21:21:00.000-08:00

I've just come from a large hardware outlet and went there with a few products in mind for a project that is long overdue for me.

I found 3 of the items simply because I knew where to look.
The other? I asked staff members and 2 of the instances of asking resulted in being told that what I was looking for would be in particular aisles. When I said that there were no products of that nature in the said aisles, all I received as a response was, "Oh, sorry..."

NOT ONCE did the customer service representative ask me what the product was for, or use any stretch of imagination to come up with other suggestions for other products that might serve the similar purpose (resulting in my purchase of more products from the store.)

Is this how your business functions?
Do you know if your staff actually care about what products your customers buy?

Seriously, I spend around $150 in the transaction this time and could have been swayed to spend more if the service staff had taken time to find out what my needs were and then helped me solve my problem.

IF these were my customer service staff, I would be deeply concerned that they were underperforming and I would be questioning what I, as a business owner, could do to improve the skills or find better staff.

There is one thing you can do.
Personality profiling.

Contact me - asktoday@theprofitfrog.com - for your mini-personality profile to find out more about what makes you and your staff tick, and gain a far better understanding of the customers who come to your store.

With 10 simple questions you'll know more about yourself and suddenly realise that you know more about other people than you would dare to admit.

ASK for your mini-profile now.

Alma Salsera - Amazing! - ORIGINAL

2010-12-11T00:09:00.000-08:00

One leg man and one arm woman dance

2010-12-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

Creativity Australia's With One Voice program proudly presents the Melbo...

2010-12-09T19:00:00.000-08:00

RSA Animate - Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us

2010-12-09T17:51:00.000-08:00

Your Business Better Be More Than Ten...

2010-03-10T01:23:00.000-08:00

If not, the risk of closure is much higher.

More than ten?
Risk of business failure is higher in businesses operating less than ten years.

Smart marketing strategies ensure your business not only doesn't fail, but thrives even in the current economic challenges.

Commonly, Small Business Owners view marketing as a costly necessity. As a result, the approach to marketing is often Hit and Miss. Business Owners do what they think they have to, to market the business; never actually questioning what approach is best for their specific business.

Without a smart marketing strategy, your budget could blow out and you'll have no way of knowing what worked, if it worked at all.

To celebrate your business's longevity, and to ensure you have a succession plan, make a decision today.

Here are some tips for your business marketing review:
1.Look at the costs of your recent marketing
2.If you use radio, TV, newspaper, catalogue or envelope insert mailings, work out the cost of the advertising and the business sales generated. Did the resulting business pay for the cost of the advertising?
3. Work out how much money you'd like your business to generate. Then work out how many sales you need to make to earn that income. Break it down into monthly, weekly and daily amounts you need to generate.
4. Contact The Profit Frog to ask about how you could be implementing some very smart marketing strategies to boost profits in your business.

The Profit Frog specialises in very smart marketing for Small Businesses in operation for less than 10 years.
www.theprofitfrog.com

Time for a change

2008-11-03T17:53:00.000-08:00

Two Hands Dancing has been around for almost 3 years.
A lot has happened in that time.

I reflect back on the beginnings as a complete novice in the world of small business operation. There are some things that I did well, which served me well at the time.
There are some big mistakes I made and thankfully have learned from.

As 2008 draws to a close and 2009 is set to roll on in, I have had to look more upon the mistakes of this past year and draw upon all my strengths to learn the lessons. Not only that, I have to look at how to implement the lessons.

It is one thing to think about all of the challenges from the past 12 months. It is a much bigger matter to TAKE ACTION upon the lessons learned.

ACTION is happening.
Two Hands Dancing will be no more in 2009.

It is time for a face lift, a new name and a new direction.

The lessons were harsh, and picking myself up from the dust left me with a few scars.
However, I am proud of what I have learned.
Sharper focus.
Wiser choices.
Much more deep-seated confidence
Gut instinct.

These are some of the lessons I learned.
The biggest change is in my confidence.
It took the HUGEST dive in the last 3 months.
A client let me down BIG time, and another ditched me unceremoniously from working with the company she represented. Not without making a harsh statement about my skill set.
I got the runaround from another client and in the end, the whole lot came crashing down on me. These three were major clients - and were responsible for significant cash flow into my business.

Lesson learned, indeed!

Of course, the wise will understand that it is never just one aspect of our lives that causes for us to be so vulnerable to breaking.
And so it was for me - it wasn't just my business situation that rocked my world.
There were other events taking place on a personal level that contributed to the downward spiral.
No one event was to blame.

Sure, I could have held a much more dynamic and optimistic view of the whole series of events.
Whether I did, and why I handled the events as I did, is a matter for me to consider.

Here I am, though, now on the other side of the experience, and much more wise.

Business will go on.
I am certain of that.
Two Hands Dancing is being renamed, and repositioned, and there will be a much more confident copywriter sitting at this PC as 2009 dawns.

What doesn't "kill" you makes you stronger!!!

Social Networking and Leveraging through the Internet

2008-03-22T11:37:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already, you need to take
a deep breath and dive in head-first to
explore the social networking platforms...

I am only just discovering the huge value of the powerful internet networking platforms. (Okay, so I may be a little slower than others to embrace everything that comes my way!)

If the thought of participating in that "F*** book" thing (sorry - the FACE book) erks you badly, maybe do what I did, and find a way to look at the concept of it differently, and also look for others to be part of.

Seriously, you may be very foolishly hurting your business if you don't participate in these sites.

I'm all for cost effective and efficient marketing and ways to reach out and let others know what you do, and how what you do is helpful to them.
It is absolutely hugely valuable to capitalise on these services...

Take a look at the list I've offered below - in some cases I have given you links to just the sites, and in other cases I have directed you to those with my profiles or profiles for business people I hold in high regard, and can honestly call 'friend'.

Not all of the following links are social networking.
I highly recommend those that are designed to put businesses in contact with other businesses.

http://www.linkedin.com/in/twohandsdancing

http://www.ojeez.com/profile.aspx?id=760

http://www.podclass.com/peoplesmart

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1137741524

http://www.myspace.com/

There are literally heaps of these sites, and I am on others... however these are amongst the best.

If you haven't been too sure about whether you ought to join or register for any of these, contact me and I may be able to help you with some great advice, directly or through those who are already good with these things.

Go take a look - you may want to set an hour or two aside over one go or across the week, so you can absorb the details.

I'm sure it will surprise you and shift your thinking.

When it comes to it, you may need a helping hand with the copy... let me know.

Aussie Writer in the States

2008-03-03T12:18:00.000-08:00

This is my first blog from the States. I'm in San Diego.
Not altogether different to Sydney, where I'd been for the last 11 yrs.

So, for me as a naive/inexperienced traveler, there was little culture shock to contend with. Just as well... the whole jet lag thing was definitely a weird sensation.
Knocked me about for a few days. Kind of crept up on me. I was a bit out of whack for the first day - not surprising after 13.5 hrs flying, sitting near the back of the 747 along with a screaming little child (poor thing must have been struggling with the pressurized cabin) and let's not forget the gang of 30-somethings who were determined to drink and talk for the majority of the trip, while leaning on the back of my seat...

The joy of flying in public transport.
Where was my private jet, I wonder?

After forcing myself to stay awake, from 6am on the day I was due to fly out, through until 10pm-ish on the day I landed in San Diego, I was disintegrating.
A night's sleep seem to put all things back in order.

Just when I felt a little aclimatized, I was off to a seminar for 3.5 days.
LONG days... 14hrs, late nights, early mornings, disrupted sleep patterns.

YEK!
When the seminar was over, the hype was over too. My body and my brain craved sleep.
I went to bed at a normal hour, got up next day in a semblance of normalcy.
Then got slammed by a sensation even more disintegrating than Jet Lag.
I slept 6 hrs during the day, and 10 hrs during the night and slept on and off, over the next 3 days.

Today, I've been in the States for 2 weeks.
I feel kinda normal.
Not too fussed on the water from the tap. It doesn't like me too much either :->

So, the main challenge is dehydration. Boiled, filtered water or bought-in water seem my only chance for hydration.

Met some great people.
A couple of ex-pats.
Sooo good to hear some good ol' Aussie vernacular...

"You beaut."
"Mate!"
"Gobsmacked!"
"Strewth!"
"True Blue!"
"Dinki-di."

Getting homesick.

Have the option to be here up to 90 days without a visa on holidays.
Not sure I could last that long.

I've been asked if I plan to get to Disneyland/world... so far, my answer is "not really"...
Maybe not this time around.

Still, this has been an experience so far.
The whole trip has taught me to be much more appreciative of the amazing life we live in Australia. We have some lessons to learn, as so many of us do, yet our culture is unique and refreshing.
My observations are that we could ditch that Tall Poppy Syndrome thing... what an attitude crisis it gives us. Rally in support of those who stand tall with integrity.
We would become a stronger country for it.
We could also do well to lose that 'Stiff Upper Lip - English coolness' that leads us to be less direct, overly reserved and stand-offish. Perhaps not 'lose', but certainly open our awareness to the times when it hurts us... when it causes us to shut people out, and put on a false facade of camaraderie.
As a writer, I would feel blessed if I could help generate small changes within the Australian Culture that created a warmer more open environment of love and acceptance.

I'm proud to be Aussie.
We are blessed. Undoubtedly.

(Yes even our weather is amazing. I do understand about that clarity and brilliance that is our weather-atmosphere. Here in San Diego, while it is great - though cool as we come out of winter time - the atmosphere seems somewhat washed out. Hazy without the haze. I just want to celebrate our weather. )

Terri
An Aussie Writer in the States.

Make this one personal DISCovery.

2008-02-05T23:38:00.000-08:00

Like with most things, the more familiar we become with a topic or subject, the more it begins to register with little 'aha!' moments.

I had one of those moments recently, when involved in a conversation with a friend of mine.

He was telling me about a co-worker who is the least popular in the kitchen environment. My friend is a chef, and the co-worker is a kitchen staff member. There was conflict between them and as I listened to his story, I felt the "aha" moment hit me.

The "aha" was the recognition I had for the personality types, or styles, engaged in the conflict my friend was telling me about.

In the last couple of years, I have been becoming familiar with the concept of Personality styles.
I was generally familiar with Personality assessments through recruitment testing for employment. Psychology tests too, such as the Myer Briggs, the results of which indicate a person's personality type and cognitive style (way of thinking).
As a psychiatric nurse, I saw a lot of these in application.

I had yet to learn of the Marston model (DISC) for personality profiling.
In fact, I had not even considering profiling. Detective shows may have used Profilers to characterise killers, but that was television. In my non-celluloid world, I was not familiar with Profiling.

Then I met Carol Dysart, and my world slowly and steadily began changing.
I was learning a new language, the language of DISC - the Marston model, as I mentioned earlier.

DISC - the 4-quadrant personality model - is Carol's specialty. As a DISC Master Profiler, with over 25 years experience and thousands of profiles behind her, Carol is an expert in her field, with a gift for helping people find the key to self-awareness. Her technique is effective for showing you how you are as a personality style in given situations.

That's the best thing about the DISC model and about Carol's application of it. Carol is very aware that we are not one rigid personality style at all times. We fluctuate depending on the day, the events and people in our lives. DISC allows for this and provides a really powerful insight into who we are as people over time.

Through the power of DISC, you can learn what your weaknesses are, and make an interesting DISCovery about under- and over-using your strengths.

Go DISCover something potent and vital about yourself and your personality style.
Take a free DISC mini-profile by visting Carol's website at http://www.caroldysart.com/whatisdisc.html#free

The rewards will be amazing.

Discovering the way you think.

2007-12-25T14:13:00.000-08:00

The festive season is quickly drawing to a close.
Yesterday was spent with family, and the gift giving was delayed till after lunch. We were so caught up in conversation and catching up that we had not even thought of the gifts under the tree.
It was our first Christmas with all the family living in the one state, rather than across the country.
Lots to catch up on.

As for the gifts, my brother had received a word card game.
Participants must guess a mystery word, based only on descriptions given by the card holder who knows the word, but cannot use typical or familiar phrases or other words to describe it.
A bit like Pictionary, without the pictures - verbal descriptions are used instead.

Well, we all discovered just how different our way of thinking was. We all struggled, and realised how much we took some of these words for granted. That is, we simply used them in conversation as though everyone understood the given word in any context.
Imagine describing 'Crystal' without being able to say "clear", Chandelier, Cut, Glass, or sand.
My first thought when I learned what the word was salt or sugar (crystals). All very well in hindsight!

When it came my sister-in-law's turn, she was far more articulate and we eventually claimed the answer within the time limit of the game.

Me?
Hmmm.
I made an interesting rediscovery.
Not a new realisation. Just a reaffirming of something I had long known.
I cannot seem to think in words.
Weird, huh!
A writer who does not think in words.
I had my card in front of me, and had the target word I had to describe, and the 5 key words I was not allowed to use in my description to assist in the clues.
For the life of me, all I could do was see this picture, bright, bold and colourful.
No words came to me, to describe the one word I hoped my family would guess.
Struggled.

I later learned when having a conversation with my brother, that I could not recall the name of the Television program I wanted to talk about with him. I knew the key word "Sea..." and I could very plainly see in my mind's eye the actors, the scenery of the introduction to the program. Could not even recall the name of the actors. Could only recall one of the other programs the female lead had previously been in.

I think in pictures.
Elaborate and very emotionally colourful pictures.

It's fascinating, when we think, how we think, to realise that we use this skill of recall to conduct conversation, business and social interactions.
Perhaps there is some scientific explanation for the differences in the way the brain selects the information it draws upon when we ask ourselves to sift through and find the right words.

For me, I simply rejoice in the fact that when a client asks me to produce copy, the gift I have been given lets me capture the essence of those wonderful mind pictures I see, and turn it into powerful copy.

Enjoy the way you think.
It is a gift.

When your success takes more than just you...

2007-12-17T14:02:00.000-08:00

A team spirit makes the difference to your dynamic success.

I'd not long come from a business network meeting.
Business people were formally gathering to share about their business, to increase referrals and business leads.

I was surprised by the number of participants uncomfortable telling others about their business.
These people represented various business sectors:
Solicitors and conveyencers, electricians, deportment coaches, financial advisors, mortgage specialists, plumbers, website developers... many and varied.

If you were to ask them how important their business was to them, I am sure they would say "vital".

Being in business for yourself can result in financial freedom, time freedom, independence, personal wellbeing, family closeness... and so many wonderful other experiences.

To achieve these results, you must offer needed or desired goods or services.
You must also tell the world what you do!
How else will people know about you?

Sometimes, though, we may not feel comfortable talking about what we do.
In Australia, we have that dogged fear of Tall Poppy Syndrome - anyone who reaches success may be seen as "too big for their boots" or "bragging of their success" and we tend to like to level the social playing field.

The downsides of this attitude are many - and felt intensely by those who go into business for themselves.
How do they tell others how good they are at what they do, or how good their products are, without risk of being cut down to size?

There is one analogy that comes to mind.
I think it offers a solution to those who struggle to stand tall, and talk confidently and assertively of their goods/service and their business.

Something like; one arrow will break, yet bind ten together and the arrows are unbreakable.

If you don't feel strong enough to stand before your peers and market your goods or services, and do so with conviction, then find more "arrows".

Get together with some supportive peers and work together.
Find the one among you who has the voice and can speak on your behalf.
Select the one who has the ideas, the one who is analytical, the one who is the leader.
Each person will have their gifts to share and can help you build your own success.

You must take one action.
You must at least decide that you will find these people to help you promote your business.
Join groups, forums, your regional business committees, online newsletter services that offer great supportive information.

Sometimes your success will take more than you.
That's fine.
If your business means anything to you, do what it takes to find that success.
You won't regret it.
The lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
You will grow and be stronger and have richer experiences.

When you have a committed and focused team devoted to one cause, the flow on effects are astounding.

You deserve it.

Are we still in the "Information Era"?

2007-11-24T17:01:00.000-08:00

We've been educated about the Eras of our times.
The Industrial Era
The Technological Era
The Information Era

In the 1800's Europe and the USA experienced major developments in methods of production, changing the face of industry forever.
Technology advances in the C20th influenced every human activity, and changed the pace of the world.
When the Internet became a public domain in the 1980's, communications were permanently affected. No more were we dependent upon the Postal services to deliver our hand written or type written messages. No more did we need to use the telephone to talk long distance. The Information Age was upon us, and we could transmit information via email, across the network at a pace never known before.
It has been said that those with power today are those who have access to information, and know how to manage it, manipulate it, disseminate it...

But, are we still in the Information Era?

It's more than 10 years since the Internet and the Personal Computer changed the way we communicate.

Of interest to me, and why I raised the question, is the view of Generation Y toward our current communications environment.

This group of young people - born between 1978-1994 - have never known life without computers, the internet, and all the technological advances of our time.
I was excited by being able to use the office's NT mainframe for my emails in 1996-97.
In 2006-2007, this young population use handhelds, and PC-telephones to send text messages, video images, photos, and other instant communications from almost anywhere, to almost anywhere else.

I read recently that GenY think that emails are passe, out of date, old-fashioned, BORING!!!!

If you've ever read a communication from a GenY, you're probably wondering what new kind of language these kids are speaking.
Phonetics are common and using numbers to replace word sounds helps abbreviate the words, and thus eliminate the need for spelling.
The general reason for this that most kids are sending text messages via mobile phones.
Mobile carriers offer a limited text field per screen. Longer messages going over the character limit of 145 characters will be sent in a second message.

Generation Y is impatient, focused on instant fix, and getting immediate answers.
Most have mobile phones or other devices that allow them portable access to the Internet.

They are the upcoming generation that will influence and shape the future of our lives.
I wonder if we are passing from the Information Era to a new Era - The Era of CerebroTech - where focus seems to be on creating faster technologies, providing immediate fixes, removing the need to have to think when technology can do the thinking for you...

A scary thought.
Very Real.
After all, who doesn't use a calculator to add, subtract, multiply, divide...
Why?
They're quicker and save us having to think.
Today's technology is just a rapid advance on that.

GenY rely on PCs, the Internet and a burgeoning techology, including the likes of Asimo (the Humanoid created by Honda), for their communications, information, and entertainment.

Will we - of generations past - be able to keep pace?

** Update: Why your business MUST have a website.

2007-09-06T16:46:00.000-07:00

In my earlier blog, I detailed why your business needs to have a website.

I gave an over-simplified example on widgets:

Let's say you sell these Widgets.
For every 100 customers looking for widgets:

70 people will use the Internet to search for them.
30 will rely on traditional advertisement methods.

This means that if you only use traditional methods of advertising - Yellow Pages, media ads etc - you are only reaching 30% of your potential customer base.

You cannot afford to ignore the most effective marketing tool there is today - the internet.

So should you have a website?

Or, can you depend on directory sites to promote your business?

As a simple point, I have my own business advertised on several directories.

In the last 18 months, I have secured 4 clients (major clients with big contracts) - and each one of them found my WEBSITE... NOT the ads on the directories...

My website is currently Search Engine friendly and not fully optimized.

Four companies came to the Internet, keyed in a few search terms (looking for answers to their problems) and "voila"...

Up came my website... NOT the directory advertisement.

They clicked the link on the search engine result, and were taken to my website.
They liked what they read, contacted me and I'm now happily doing business with them.

Three of these companies have offered me long term contracts.

The earnings from these contracts presented me with a very strong Return On Investment, (ROI) - meaning that, for the money I spent to have my website, I have earned at least 400% return.

That is just through 4 customers.

In short, your business - no matter how small - MUST HAVE a website.
A webpage with strong content about your business goods or services and your contact details is enough.
You need a proper DOMAIN name, not an add-on to a directory page. (Unless that directory is one of the most searched directories for your industry).
You also need EXCELLENT copy.

Your website content MUST convince your web visitor that YOU have the answers to their PROBLEMS...

Don't hesitate a moment longer.
Do these three things now - TODAY:
1. Register your business domain name - get a http://www.yourbusinessname.com/ (or the appropriate country extension if applicable ie .co.uk; .com.au; .co.nz; etc)
2. Go to http://www.mymallglobal1.com/ or others like this for excellent website template creation.
3. Contact me thewriter@twohandsdancing.com and we'll talk web content.

Get your business on the net and start connecting with that other 70% of business that is slipping right by you now.

Ca-ching!
Ca-ching...
(hear that cash register ring!)

Should your business have a website?

2007-08-16T22:57:00.000-07:00

This question has fascinated me over the last 2-3 years. Especially when I was still employed in telemarketing. My role was telephoning the target market within a huge global industry.

I began by making a list of all the businesses I would call, for whom the product was ideally suited. As I did my research, I made an astounding discovery:
Around 25-30% of these businesses did not have a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) address, a web address, on the internet.

This may sound like a small number, given it represents just one specific industry.
Especially since we are about 10 years into the Internet era (give or take!)

After 10 years, you may think it's okay that only 1/4 of businesses are lacking a web presence.

What I found made me think differently.
Of the 25+% who do not have their own specific web address, about 10% of this number have NO address, no website, no link, no portal directory page... NOT one place of representation.

This becomes significant when you consider this:
Some internet experts suggest that you should be conducting at least 30% of your business on the internet.
That's because around 70% of your prospects/customers search the internet for answers to problems BEFORE buying.

Let me emphasise that:
People have adapted very well to using the internet.
They hit the search engines expecting an answer at the touch of a few keystrokes.

Without a website for your business, then the boatloads of customers searching for answers RIGHT NOW on the internet WON'T find YOU!!

Let's say you sell Widgets.
For every 100 people that need a widget to solve their problems:

70 of them will go to the internet looking for answers.
30 will depend upon traditional methods - the Yellow Pages, TV and radio ads, newspaper and other paper media

If you don't have a website, you are only reaching 30% of your potential customer base.

In short - YOU NEED a website for your business... and you need it NOW!

The internet is not called WWW for nothing - the World Wide Web is exactly that.

You can reach a world wide customer base and it doesn't have to cost you the earth.

The demand for website design means the cost of a website has REDUCED significantly.

It no longer has to cost $15 000.00 to have a basic webpage with a few buttons and some flashy images, a shopping cart and mail address.

Smart entrepreneurs have created brilliant software programs using excellent templated designs to create high quality, high functioning websites that pass the toughest consumer scrutiny.

An example is http://www.mymallglobal1.com/
Excellent.
Cost effective.
Very simple to use.

So, you can have an excellent website that is very cost-affordable and also exceptionally professional by appearance and operation.

Your own website is your Silent Salesperson...
24/7/365
Always there, always promoting, telling, selling and offering your wares every day...
Without you so much as lifting a finger.

Now, tell me which of your employees does that for you?

There's one more significant point:

Beware the pretty website, that looks great and fluffs the ego of the web designer.
If your copywritten content is not professional, with accurate spelling, good grammar, and total relevance to your product or service, you are wasting a precious resource.

Your website must immediately capture the visitor's attention - and convince them you have the answer to their problem.

A great headline or a strong graphic presence will tell the visitor of the goods and/or services available.
The website copy then tells how the product or service solves the visitor's most pressing problem.

It entices him or her to keep reading, to sign-up, to BUY NOW, or take some other vital step in connecting with your business.

The copywritten content may cost more than the design of your new website.
However, an extra 70% of visitors to your business website could mean serious money ringing through on your cash registers.
Hiring a great copywriter could be one of your best investments.

So, go get your website set up - http://www.mymallglobal1.com/
Then come back to me - http://www.twohandsdancing.com/ and arrange to have your copy written.

Spelling, Grammar and well, Words “That Sound Better”…

2007-06-16T19:04:00.000-07:00

Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic - these three elements of good education were abbreviated to the “three R’s” - reading, 'riting and ‘rithmetic - and are said to be attributed to a toast given by Sir William Curtis, a one-time Lord Mayor of London during the 1700’s.

Even as far back at the 18th century, it seems that use of language was an indicator of class, of peerage, of social status, of blue-blood or royal ancestry - or lack thereof. Those of educated standing enunciated their consonants and minimized their vowels, whilst those of the lower classes and of lesser education dropped their consonants and abbreviated almost every word spoken.

With the advent of computers and hi-tech communications, the years have seen the language skills of society en masse deteriorate, to the point where some governments are introducing literacy tests into schools - the very place where literacy would presumably be taught.

The impact today on the upcoming generations is seen in a general lack of spelling and grammatical accuracy in the use of the written word, and evidence of spelling ‘how it sounds’, no matter if the word is spelled incorrectly.

In the world of copywriting and its use of the written word to sell, tell, and inform, it has become increasingly popular for copy-written projects to use Spoken English, conversational-style writing that ‘speaks’ the language of the prospect. Use of grammar is not shunned so much as comfortably overlooked, and if it ‘sounds’ better to say something in a more conversational tone, then that is how it is written because of the appeal to the general population.

Ironically, lessons in grammar often included the explanation that ‘it sounds better’ to say XYZ - the grammatically correct way - than to use the sloppy ‘spoken language’ style. Perhaps it is contentious to say that something must be written in Queen’s English, which all good educational institutions aim to teach, when the vast majority of their students are not of peerage, and tend to write as they speak.

Many of the highest paid copywriters of the 20th century grasped the importance of Spoken English, and although, granted, they did spell correctly, their grammatical style reflected the conversational language of the prospects they were writing to.

So, when you need to produce written material, you need to consider for whom it is written, and determine whether good Queen’s English or Spoken English will best serve your purpose. Writing in good conversational English is now more widely accepted, provided there is attention to correct spelling. There is a fine line in some cases, and in our Information Age, you do need to be sure that your written product walks the right side of that line.

How to make your Resume into your Best First Impression

2007-06-16T16:02:00.000-07:00

Changing economies, rapid developments in technology and sheer desire will see many of us have several career changes in life. Whether you are forced to look for work, or choose a new job, you’ll often need to apply for positions you see advertised which will include submitting a Resume. A winning Resume is the most important self-selling tool you must have, yet so many of us have no idea how to write one. To create the very best impression about you, to secure you an interview, your resume needs to include brief and to-the-point information about your skills, qualifications and even your personality. So how do you achieve all of this in three-plus pages? Like any good story, a Resume needs an introduction, a middle body, and the conclusion. But, rather than tell your ‘story’ in paragraph-like chunks, your resume must be brief.

Your introduction contains the details of who you are, yet there is a limit to how much you must reveal about your personal information. Too much and the employer may be prejudiced about selecting you. Too little and there is the risk of raising suspicion or doubt about why there is lack of detail. Getting the balance depends upon the position you are applying for, which may be influenced by a selection criteria or a specific requirement that is part of the job.

The middle section of the resume is perhaps the most vital of all. It is also the most painstaking and challenging. Telling your story in the body of the resume must sell you, and it is more than the language you use, it is also the way it is set out on the page.
In this section you must draw upon your skills, work history, training and qualifications, education, community involvement, volunteer experiences, and even your sporting prowess to convince an employer why it is that he or she must place you on the “in” pile and not just toss your resume on the ‘out’ heap. In fact, you must not only draw upon these many and varied aspects of your work and skill development, but professionally and accurately convey what these skills and experience do to make you the perfect person for the position. Again, too much information written the wrong way will be an instant turn-off for the boss, and it’s not something you can afford. Yet, too little, and you don’t stand a chance of even having your resume read.

The same stands true for the conclusion of your resume. It needs to convincingly conclude what you have already declared, and convey credibility and fact. The references you use could make or break you. Too many people fall for the trick of using personal referees to vouch for them, be it uncle, minister, school teacher, sports coach. Whilst using one or two of these, additionally, is okay, the mistake is to rely upon these. Absence of employer reference may cause the potential new employer to suspect that your past work record may be blemished, tainted, and not all you’ve painted it to be.

Overall, the difference between success and loss of opportunity in the working world can often be linked to a poorly presented resume. Whilst there are no ‘standard’ resume templates where ‘one size fits all’, there are some very specific ways to present you at your best in a good resume, that makes all the difference on your pathway to career success.