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Latest Discussions in the Community

TOPIC: Do I need a logo?

NAME: cathyknits2 Nov 20, 08:50 PM GMT 2009
Barbara Findlay Schenck opened my eyes in her article: " Top-to-Bottom Branding". Did you know that logos and brands are not the same thing? I guess I accepted that they were. She says: "Your logo is a symbol that helps people identify your brand. Along with the name, advertising, packaging and other visual representations of your business, your logo is the face of your brand." She goes on to discuss brands and much much more. Don't miss this information! She has a lot to say in not too many words .....but very good reading - thanks once again, Barbara. http://businessonmain.msn.com/knowledgeexchange/articles/expert.aspx?cp-documentid=22600818
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TOPIC: Employees come FIRST??????

NAME: cathyknits2 Nov 13, 08:18 PM GMT 2009
Well Dixon Schwabl thinks so. Lauren Dixon, firm CEO says: "We don't make our clients No. 1, we make our employees No. 1". Shocking? Maybe not. Happy and content employees exude that feeling and clients feel it. Ice cream Thursdays? Loaded squirt guns? An air hockey room? Room for primal screaming? AND BEST OF ALL - total work-from-home flexibility??? Now I realize that all companies are not able to offer these perks, but when was the last time management asked their employees what might make their workday easier? And better still, what would you answer if you were asked the same question? Read Toddi Gutner's article: "Best Companies to Work for in 2009" http://businessonmain.msn.com/knowledgeexchange/articles/expert.aspx?cp-documentid=22462433 and if you are management, consider a poll (devised by yourself, if you are afraid your employees will come up with something that wouldn't work for your company). Share it with your employees and see what they have to say. Perhaps, they will opt for something very workable for you and your business. Then implement their top poll request and step back and watch their productivity increase! Whatdoyouthink...........do you see this happening in your company? Why or why not?
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TOPIC: Speed dating for hiring?

NAME: EXPERT: Eve Tahmincioglu Nov 19, 08:05 PM GMT 2009
Did you all see the story in the Small Business section of the WSJ earlier this week on companies using the "speed dating" concept to get through the many job applicants they have today? (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704538404574539971535489470.html) Basically, one company decided to move job applicants through the interview process quickly and in a huge group instead of setting up individual interviews. So, potential hires got a few minutes with hiring managers. That just doesn't seem like enough time to figure out if someone is cut out to do a job or not. What's your take?
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TOPIC: Pet Peeve? Automated Phones!

NAME: DGCDesign Nov 20, 04:40 PM GMT 2009
One of my pet peeves is automated phones, press 1 for English, or speak and say 1. Then the computerized voice does not recognize what you said and is asking all these questions. By the time you are done you are arguing with the computer saying “ NO, I Said this”. This kind of frustration just makes me hang up, or I keep repeating Tech support until they produce a human voice. If I did not have an extended warranty I would have just hung up and gone with someone else that was easier to get through to speak to a human, about my problem! I really miss the personal touch many companies use to have. Are we too automated, with computers?
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TOPIC: Holiday Sales and Marketing

NAME: Barbara Schenck Nov 16, 07:11 PM GMT 2009
According to Deloitte's 24th Annual Survey of retail spending and trends, American consumers are more enthusiastic as this holiday season kicks off. The report (summarized at http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_US/us/Industries/Retail-Consumer-Business/press-release/0fc066ff1a894210VgnVCM200000bb42f00aRCRD.htm) says, "More than half of those surveyed (54%) say they expect the economy will improve in 2010, compared with 28 percent responding favorably last year. The optimism is also starting to show in Americans’ shopping plans. More than half of consumers (51 percent) hope to spend more or the same on the holidays, an improvement from last year’s 41 percent response." That said, the report also says consumers indicate they'll spend less on gifts but more on non-gift holiday items (socializing, entertaining, etc.). Most interesting, and a tip for retailers, gift cards hold the first-place position for gift choice. What are you forecasting for holiday sales? What early indications are you seeing when it comes to consumer behavior and action? I'll look forward to your input.
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TOPIC: Search Engine Marketing Demystified

NAME: Higher Aug 28, 07:51 PM GMT 2009
Right now in this economic downturn there are a lot of snake oil salespeople when it comes to internet marketing. With this group and discussion I hope to give practical advice and information on these topics to those who need it.
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TOPIC: Mobile Office Productivity

NAME: EXPERT: Mark Mitchell Nov 16, 05:27 PM GMT 2009
I was talking to a neighbor this morning who recently started working from home, and one of the things he comments on was how much more productive he is, now that he's a mobile worker. That's certainly been my experience. While, yes, you lack the comeraderie of an office when working in the mobile/virtual mode, you can also lack the interruptions. That makes it much easier to use your time to get your work done. What's been your experience? Do you find you're more productive? Or, have you found the opposite?
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TOPIC: Managing Morale

NAME: Vesper Nov 19, 08:04 PM GMT 2009
It's not necessarily the managers main objective, but morale does fall into the managerial realm and realistically, has an impact on end business. Management needs tools to motivate people. The ultimate goal should be the quality of the product along with the experience of the employee because they are mutually exclusive. How do you reward your employees or subordinates? How do you make them feel special enough to give it their all?
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TOPIC: Forcing workers to change their names

NAME: EXPERT: Eve Tahmincioglu Oct 28, 07:32 PM GMT 2009
I've heard of lots of tactics entrepreneurs use to turn around failing businesses, but forcing workers to make their names sound more Anglo seems to be out there. A hotel owner decided to ask his Hispanic employees to anglicize their names, and that, of course, caused an uproar. Here's a link to the latest on this story: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iTg48jHVK4WilpXtidPMTChzpByAD9BIKP282 What's your take on this? Do businesses run better if everyone is named Dick and Jane? Did this entrepreneur cross the line?
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TOPIC: Best types of evaluation systems?

NAME: Merlin Nov 16, 02:47 AM GMT 2009
Does anyone have any experience with various types of employee evaluation systems? Did your organization ever begin with one type and switch due to implementation issues?
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