“As soon as the schools return this serious matter of bullying quickly returns to take up our attention. It is like a virulent virus in these present days.

It is epidemic in proportion in some places, and not only epidemic, but also demonic. A spirit of bullying can infect a school or business. O yes, this is not limited and restricted to young people. Adults can be adept at bullying. How many bosses are regarded as bullies and that ought not to be. Know that it can be dealt with and stopped. More than one method may be needed to produce the desired result.

Twice during his lifetime and ministry, Jesus Christ cleansed The Temple in Jerusalem of all unscrupulous trading.

He stopped the opportunistic bartering, and within the week God closed down the Temple, opening up a better way.

This greatly upset the religious authorities, and they began to put pressure on Jesus.

They started bullying Jesus.

Bullying can arise when people get away from God. They forget that God sees their every action and hears each word.

Rebels are slippery cunning characters and they will do anything to avoid being discovered. When rebels resort to bullying it is serious and sore. Have you found that where you work? Most large establishments have someone who for some peculiar reason likes to through his or her weight around. Yes, it can be a woman too. Women are not exempt from such activities.

Satan is a bully. He will go for those who are weak. He always does. He looks for those who know they are vulnerable and he attacks suddenly and surprisingly. His shock tactics can throw a person if he does not know is happening.

Might this be why we are currently hearing so much about bullying? As people move further away from the Word of God, something or someone else takes over.

Before Jesus began preaching and teaching, God raised up John, who exercised a brief, but powerful, ministry beside the Jordan River. All kinds of needy people came to him and he dealt with various problems and issues. Crowds clamoured to hear John speak and preach, but John was not an open air entertainer.

He was a man of God, and when people wanted to do something about the way they had been living John took them into the waters of the Jordan and baptised them. It was like a bath for those who were morally and spiritually dirty. God was getting people to clean up their act.

Some Roman soldiers, who realised they were behaving badly, asked John, “”What should we do?”"

John replied, “”Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely.”"

In other words, “”Don’t bully.”"

Having a bully around at school, or work, or in the home, is horrendous. A bully is a horrid person.

These soldiers knew what they were like and so did God’s man, John.

People who are aware that they are bullies do not like themselves, and they do not like what they are doing. Something or someone else takes over!

It can be sorted out. Most do not want to continue living that nasty way, and there is no need to.

There is an effective cure.

Sandy Shaw

Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children’s Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at this site, entitled “”Word from Scotland”" on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.

His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.

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Tags: ethical, issues, contemporary, business, companies

In today’s society everything from grocery shopping to ordering pizza can be done online? Lets face it, everyone wants convenience. Today’s society is fast paced. It is no surprise that most business owners have taken their products and services and placed it online. In the present day and age it is almost impossible to have a successful business unassociated with the Internet.

The Internet opens new opportunities for any sort of business. Such as: low overheads, convenience for customers and clients, and presents various methods to display important and relevant information about your business to your clients and so that they remain up to date and well informed.

As a new business owner, starting an online business may be your first alternative. The question that arises is how to go about starting an online business? You may have heard of many who have tried and failed or may have succeeded but are not as successful. This may be due to lack of tools and research.

Research is very vital to the success of any business. Once you have decided what type of online business you would like to develop, then research the topic. The first step is to research your competitors. Research the products or services they offer. Find out as much information as you can. What makes their business successful? Who are their target audience? Where do they advertise? What products or services sell most?

Now that you have educated yourself and you feel comfortable with the knowledge you have gained it is time to research and develop your business plan and expense report. It is always recommended to prepare these documents especially, if you are planning to apply for a business loan or working with investors. Once these steps are taken care of it is time to focus on other key objectives.

The main focus of an online business is the website. Your website will act as the middle-man when it comes to selling and buying. The domain name you select is very important and should be chosen wisely. You may have already chosen your business name; but is it catchy enough to be used for your domain name? Your domain name should be catchy, easy to remember and unique.
After deciding an appropriate domain name, it is required to select a good web hosting company. When searching for a web hosting company there are some basic points you need to consider:

1. Reliability:
It is very important to find a web hosting company that is reliable and have a low percentage of downtime. As a new online business owner, your business needs to be up and operating at all times. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Research the web hosting company of your choice and it may be a good idea to find a web hosting company that offers a money back guarantee.

2. Server Hard Drive Space:
Keep in mind that most web pages average 10-50 kilobytes in size. It is important to cover all of your web pages. It is recommended that you select a package which offers web space more than your requirements to be on the safe side.

3. Customer Care or Technical Support:
We have all been in a situation as a customer where you order something online and have question but there are no answers. In most cases, technical support is offered in the Web Hosting package. However, double check before purchasing. See how quickly the technical support center responds to your questions.

4. Secure Server:
Ordering products or service from an online business can have its consequences. Especially identify any theft and possible security issues. It is important to your customers that their information is protected and safe. Most online businesses offer this protection by having secure servers. It may be an additional cost; but it is one that is worth it.

5. POP Accounts:
Allows you access to emails sent through your website. Each account is password protected. In most cases, you will receive 5, 10, 100 or more POP Accounts. You can assign an account to all your employees.

6. Other Tools Such as FTP and Website Wizards:
If you are like most online business owners, you do not have the skill to create a website from scratch nor do you have the money to pay some expensive web site designer. In this case, a web host company that offers a web site design wizard and other tools will be of great convenience.

7. Price:
It is not impossible to find a web hosting company that offers you quality and quantity at a great price. Make sure to bargain with the company you are purchasing from as most hosting companies are willing to offer further discounts to acquire new customers.

Now it is time to create your website. Here are a few tips:

The content on your web site should be informative, interesting and well written. It should catch the attention of the reader and keep them interested. Each page should sell your product or service. Include a mailing list and maybe a referral program. Newsletters are great as well.

Building a web site is usually fun and inventive. However, marketing your website will prove to be a little more difficult. Nevertheless, some web hosting companies offer great information and additional marketing tools for an added fee.

This information should assist you in starting an online business and help you towards developing a new website for your company.

William King is the director of UK Wholesale Suppliers Directory, Wholesale Trade Supplies, Dropshipping Directory, and Pakistan Property Portal . He has 18 years of experience in the marketing and trading industries and has been helping retailers and startups with their product sourcing, promotion, marketing and supply chain requirements.

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Tags: business, ethics, corporate, management, companies

We hear a lot about business ethics issues in the United States and yet our businessmen and women are some of the most ethical business practitioners anywhere in the world. The transparency, integrity and accountability in American business is not found anywhere else in the world. With all the disclosure, over regulation, lawsuits and government forms it would be difficult to call any American businessperson unethical. Yet, we find that the mass media hysteria, incited by folks who do not understand commerce has cheated the positive American opinion about business ethics.

The truth of the matter is that ethics in business, the military, sports, government or even the nonprofit sector in the United States is a reflection of the overall ethics of the average human in our civilization. For someone to say that people are less ethical in business than let’s say it law-enforcement; this would be a failure to adequately observe the reality of the situation.

Many people believe that our court systems and lawyers are of the highest ethical standards, but it simply is not so. Even the fine folks in government who are regulating the business community have to draw from this same population base. This is why the ethics in Government are no better than those in business; perhaps Government ethics are worse because there is less oversight. Is this good or bad? It is neither, it just is.

For us to discuss business ethics properly we must be honest with ourselves, we cannot simply label all business people as crooks, shysters or con men. Unfortunately it seems that many people in our society are pointing fingers at the business community, when in actuality they should be looking in their mirrors. In this book we will discuss and contemplate the reality of human psychology and ethics and look into the abuses of power in government, government regulators and how over regulation to prevent criminality in business is a self-fulfilling prophecy and how we are making criminals out of hard-working men and women and our brightest entrepreneurs.

As a businessperson and a Franchisor, I have been critical of over regulation at every level; Associations, City, County, State, Federal and International and more often than not government agencies, Trade Organizations and Associations are used by companies to attack their competitors. In fact, that in itself is unethical and once again proves that you cannot regulate morality and if you allow those who will point fingers to assist in the abusing of power you will undermine the inherent integrity of free-markets between buyers and sellers. I hope you will enjoy this discussion and the thoughts on business ethics and I thank you for reading this article, as it is one of my first on this subject. Perhaps this topic is of interest to propel thought in 2007?

Workplace harassment affects Americans on a daily basis. Sexual harassment often receives the most attention, but there are other forms of harassment that can cause equal offense in the workplace. These other forms include harassment based upon: ethnic or racial, age, disability, or religious affiliation. Harassment does damage to both employees and the company. When an employee is uncomfortable or suffering hardship, production can decrease, and the company suffers overall. Harassment also builds up resentment and bitterness between employees. With the rise of workplace violence, management should be eager to prevent any ill will between workers.

This can include jokes against a fellow employee for being “young and stupid.” Or for older employees, teasing about being “as old as dirt” can be hurtful. Jokes of Catholic priests or Rabbis can be offensive to those practicing the respective faiths. Jokes that play upon stereotypes are forms of harassment. Harassment is not your supervisor being tough on you for failing to meet expressed expectations unless he or she is treating you differently than others who have also failed to meet expectations.

These other forms of harassment are often more difficult to prove. If a person feels harassed and confides in a supervisor, they may ultimately be placed in a “he said/she said” situation where there may be no return. If the harassing individual is a particular favorite of management it can cost the accusing employee their position or job.

For this reason, an employee facing this form of confrontation should consider finding proof before going to any higher-up. There are a variety of tools and methods available to catch the harasser in the act. Voice recorders can be carried in pockets or purses. Hidden cameras can be held on ties or worn in jackets.

Another reason these forms of harassment are as common as they are may be simple ignorance. Perhaps the employee or employees in the workplace aren’t aware that they are truly offensive. Oftentimes they may believe they’re just joking and genuinely don’t know how hurtful they are.

There are a variety of training programs available that teach sensitivity to ethnic, cultural, and religious differences if management wishes to begin an awareness program. This can eliminate many future claims of workplace harassment.

A calm workplace environment can be a beneficial addition to any company. If your HR department or supervisor does not deal with the issue head on especially if you have evidence consult an attorney who specializes in workplace harassment.

Mike rao writes on Crime Prevention. Visit his websites and sign up for his free crime prevention newsletter visit this site or this site

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Background check has become too accessible today that one can simply check on another’s pasts by just drooling on Google or any internet search engine. All the more that background checking’s prominence is pushed to surface into the limelight many people have constantly opposing its accessibility though few uphold democracy on background check issues. However, background checks done over search engines are predominantly not to be trusted all the more that there are no factors or instruments to verify any result that search engine can give. Well for the part of the person being checked, Google or Yahoo in any case can only give the primary information of the said person which will not exceed to names and addresses.

The main problem here is not the accessibility if the process but the irresponsible usage of such process. The only thing that bothers people or anyone being checked is the publication of their names and other personal information that might lead to problems such as identity theft and other similar crimes. One concrete example of the irresponsible usage of background checking is the one done on Joe the Plumber. Joe the Plumber was a character that was animated during the height of the presidential campaigns this year. His real name is Joe Wurzelbacher. Joe was an average man and a plumber in profession. He was the one who questioned the then Senator Barrack Obama about certain economic policies. The noise that Joe has done has become a ray of hope for the Republicans to spill out the Democrats’ weaknesses. Joe later appeared in many of Sen. John McCain’s campaign appearances and has his own brand in the website of the GOP Presidential candidate.

On November 20, 2008, a report from The Star online version exposed a move to discredit Joe by means of conducting background check on him. According to the news report, the one who conducted a a background check and personally search government records and archives is a director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The findings of the investigative body headed by Insp. General Tom Charles, the culling out of Joe’s records from government archives is illegitimate and that it was conducted with no clear purpose whatsoever. The issue has become more intense when it is the department that conducted the search and that it was done amidst the national presidential campaign.

Said investigation fortunately explained that the search conducted and the information about Joe was not released to support or to mock any political activity. The only seen angle here is that there was no clear intention on the part of the Ohio Department on why it had made such check.

The head of the department was Helen Jones-Kelley. She was put into suspension for a month over diverse allegations including the use of government emails and other state own properties to advance her personal interests.

There were 18 background checks that were done to Joe and 8 of the reports are found to have no legal basis or purpose. The remaining 10 searches are done for job purposes and employment. According to Jones-Kelly in a letter to Senate President Bill Harris, her department did the checking on the hope to be sure that Joe has the capacity to buy a business despite the reported evaded taxes. But Charles disproves this explanation by saying that all Jones-Kelley’s statements were ambiguous, contradictory, and inconsistent.

Lissane Villadsen is a property manager in Orlando, where she currently manages two motels and two mobile home parks. She resides with her husband and three children. Lissane is a Fact Editor specializing background check, Columnist, and Boid Expert for Reptile Care Magazine. She is also the founder and managing editor of Literary Mind Journal – a print magazine of fine literature and art. Lissane is an accomplished writer with many publishing credits and awards.

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Tags: ethical, issues, contemporary, business, companies

Why Invent When You Can Reverse (Engineer That Is…)?

In an age when new technology erupts into the marketplace daily, finding a niche in business has never been easier. Looking back now, you could have been the first surgeon to broadcast a complex procedure. Maybe you could have been the first college professor to podcast lectures to students. Or maybe you could have been the first artist to set up a personal blog to sell artwork. Many people think of these “could have’s” and chalk them up as missed opportunities. But this is just a defeatist attitude.

Sure, people always say a first-mover advantage gives you a great lead time and you can price your product or service any way you want. But what if you’re a second-mover? Think of all of the “me too” businesses that have spawned into global successes. Big guys such as Microsoft, Apple, and Dell were not the originators of the products they sold. They capitalized on the mistakes of others, learned from them, and created a bigger and better product. Sometimes that’s all you need to do.

Apple’s iPod is one of the best examples in my mind. They looked at Compaq’s first hard-drive-based MP3 player in 1998, and saw how they could improve upon it. After three years of thinking about what Apple could bring to the table, the company spawned its own MP3 player. Apple’s name was already synonymous with user-friendly technology so they simply applied what they did best to Compaq’s design. The interface on the iPod and the free software, iTunes, which was released with the product, were raved about because of their ease-of-use and compatibility. And now they’ve sold almost 30 million iPods based on an idea that wasn’t even theirs to begin with! Crazy, right?

Crazy Like a Fox!

The lesson you can learn from these big companies is that anybody can steal a good idea. Especially if it’s a good idea that’s not protected by intellectual property laws! It gets a little sticky when you’re actually taking a product idea and trying to re-sell it. But if it’s a marketing idea or a sales technique that you’re oh-so-envious of, then it’s a whole new ballgame.

For example, one of the latest things in advertising for the service industry is blogging. Professionals have capitalized on the blog movement to establish expertise in their fields. Business coaches, lawyers, and consultants who write articles for newsletters and online publications are starting to post in blogs as well. This is a great marketing tool for professionals to stand out as they are giving their businesses a personal touch instead of trying to sell the benefits of their service through traditional media.

Don’t Steal, Improve!

Businesses really need to be on the lookout for things like the blog example. It’s simple to do and can really benefit your company. Keep on top of technology news and constantly challenge your business model for ways to improve. It takes a dozen of the greatest business minds to find new ways of producing and selling products, but it only takes one to steal it and adapt it.

And “steal” is the wrong word for this type of practice. It’s more of a modification or an adaptation. Every business has something that it’s particularly good at. Apple had its user-friendly differentiator that it applied to MP3 players. Find a product or strategy that you think can genuinely help your business and identify what you do best as a company. Combine the two into something new and beneficial.

One person can’t think of everything – which essentially means that everything can be improved upon. Take what you know well and what you do best as a business and apply it to the non-traditional. You might be surprised what happens.

Marketing Tips Provided to You by: Heather Loftiss, President of Water Design Studio (see this site), Author of the Customer Connection

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Tags: ethical, issues, business, companies, cases

In business the need for exceptional and affordable gifts is a must. Corporate gift baskets are a great way to maintain existing relationships and welcome new business clients. Corporate gifts also make a great motivator for increasing sales and motivating employees to exceed the standard.

Some occasions that warrant a business gift:

Corporate Gifts for a new clients – Send thanks to new and important clients with a unique gift basket.

Corporate gift baskets for major Holidays – Send an exceptional gift to employee and clients for Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, Easter, Fourth of July and Thanksgiving to name a few.

Corporate gifts for welcoming a new baby – Send a beautifully arranged gift to a new mother or father.

Corporate Gift Baskets for Client or Employees birthdays – Send an impressive birthday gift basket to recognize an individual’s special day.

Corporate gifts for retirement –Show your gratitude to an employee for their dedication and long service to your business.

Some other great occasions for corporate gift giving are completion of major products, weddings or just to say thank you for a great job.

When choosing a corporate gift, the gift must be sophisticated and in the company’s budget; For an elegant and impressive gift choose a wine or champagne gift. Wine gift baskets are designed to please and impress any wine lover. Fruit baskets are a healthy and delicious way to give thanks or congratulate and can also make an office gift since it can be enjoyed by the whole office. Gourmet gift baskets are always an appropriate choice for corporate gifts. Go a little further and show your appreciation with a thank you themed gourmet gift basket.

For those occasions when you want something a little more unique choose a unique gift such as a gourmet dinner or delicious dessert such as tortes or cheesecakes all delivered right to your recipient’s door. For a more personal approach send a gift basket tailored to their hobby golf, fishing and gardening are some great examples.

Whatever you decide to choose you should always abide by the gift giving etiquette guidelines and always check company policies regarding gift giving both yours and the recipients.

From The Heart Gift Baskets – Gifts for all occasions and holidays.

You can check her site here.

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Tags: ethical, companies, company, organisation, corporate

It’s never a good idea to speak evil of anyone, you end up sounding like a gossip, or what’s worse you sound like someone with an axe to grind, prejudiced and out to do harm, so that you gain greater stature. This is not a good policy. You should generally follow the golden rule, “If you have nothing good to say about someone, say nothing.”

However, I’d like to tell you about an incident from several years back.

I was sitting in my office talking to three prospective clients. They were all members of the same lounge band. They were playing locally for a short time and they wanted to record a demo. There were to be about half a dozen songs video taped with each one lasting no longer than a minute or two.

We were talking about coming at closing time and shooting until dawn. I was explaining what techniques I would use and what scenes I would be looking for, when an associate came into my office. She smiled at my guests and then walked over to my desk and put down an article face down, turned around and walked away. At the door she looked back at me. I peaked at the article, nodded and smiled. I turned back to my clients and said, “It’s a news story about a competitor, they haven’t paid their taxes.”

The discussion went on. It soon sounded like their decisions came down to two video production companies, of which we were one. They wanted to know what kind of clients we had and how secure their stock footage would be. I assured them we had long-standing, important clients and pointed to the shelves of client tapes on the wall.

I asked the name of their other choice and they mentioned “ABC Video Productions.” I said, “Oh, yes. They do really good stuff. I used to work with them a couple of years ago.”

The direction of the meeting took a short-cut with the following action, however. With two fingers I moved the article on my desk a few inches closer to them and said, “Would you like to read about them?”

The jaws of my clients nearly reached the floor in disbelief, and then they all laughed. They passed the article back and forth among them. The implication being the production company’s assets could be seized, and among those assets would be client stock footage. I never said a word.

We signed a contract and my clients had a wonderful demo. My competitor eventually went out of business.

I said nothing harmful about my competitor, but had only made certain information available to my clients. All I really did was flick my fingers. They made their decision and actually felt relieved. I’ve never felt bad about what I did. Would you?

Author Don Doman: Don is a published author of books for small business, corporate video producer, and owner of Ideas and Training, which provides business training products. Don also owns Human Resources Radio, which provides business training programs and previews 24-hours a day.

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Workplace harassment affects Americans on a daily basis. Sexual harassment often receives the most attention, but there are other forms of harassment that can cause equal offense in the workplace. These other forms include harassment based upon: ethnic or racial, age, disability, or religious affiliation. Harassment does damage to both employees and the company. When an employee is uncomfortable or suffering hardship, production can decrease, and the company suffers overall. Harassment also builds up resentment and bitterness between employees. With the rise of workplace violence, management should be eager to prevent any ill will between workers.

This can include jokes against a fellow employee for being “young and stupid.” Or for older employees, teasing about being “as old as dirt” can be hurtful. Jokes of Catholic priests or Rabbis can be offensive to those practicing the respective faiths. Jokes that play upon stereotypes are forms of harassment. Harassment is not your supervisor being tough on you for failing to meet expressed expectations unless he or she is treating you differently than others who have also failed to meet expectations.

These other forms of harassment are often more difficult to prove. If a person feels harassed and confides in a supervisor, they may ultimately be placed in a “he said/she said” situation where there may be no return. If the harassing individual is a particular favorite of management it can cost the accusing employee their position or job.

For this reason, an employee facing this form of confrontation should consider finding proof before going to any higher-up. There are a variety of tools and methods available to catch the harasser in the act. Voice recorders can be carried in pockets or purses. Hidden cameras can be held on ties or worn in jackets.

Another reason these forms of harassment are as common as they are may be simple ignorance. Perhaps the employee or employees in the workplace aren’t aware that they are truly offensive. Oftentimes they may believe they’re just joking and genuinely don’t know how hurtful they are.

There are a variety of training programs available that teach sensitivity to ethnic, cultural, and religious differences if management wishes to begin an awareness program. This can eliminate many future claims of workplace harassment.

A calm workplace environment can be a beneficial addition to any company. If your HR department or supervisor does not deal with the issue head on especially if you have evidence consult an attorney who specializes in workplace harassment.

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Tags:ethical, business, issues, workplace, companies

You can write a perfect press release in 4 simple steps:

1. The TITLE

2. The CONTACT INFO block

3. The BODY

4. The “ABOUT” footer

NOTE 1: The old stalwart LEAD-IN “FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE” is falling out of favor rapidly. Some Internet press release sites specifically prohibit using the phrase. When in doubt, omit it.

NOTE 2: Similarly, the concluding hash marks “# # #” or “30-30-30″ that once upon a time used to denote the end of a press release have also become passé. I’d recommend not to use them at all at the end of your PR.

STEP 1. TITLE

A perfect title consists of 3 parts:

1) The SUBJECT, followed by

2) a VERB, concluded with

3) the OBJECT.

SUBJECT is the name of the business or organization which is trying to get its newsworthy message across.

VERB is the newsworthy action. It is the reason why the PR is written.

OBJECT is the main thing that has been accomplished by the SUBJECT through the VERB.

Here are some real titles from real PRs:

TITLE: “Evatone Adds Fulfillment Center in Mocksville, NC”

SUBJECT: Evatone

VERB: Adds

OBJECT: Fulfillment Center in Mocksville, NC

Another real-life example:

TITLE: “American Physicians Capital, Inc. Responds to SCPIE Holdings Press Release”

SUBJECT: American Physicians Capital, Inc.

VERB: Responds

OBJECT: SCPIE Holdings Press Release

NOTE: It’s important that you use your Search Engine KEYWORDS in the Title.

STEP 2. CONTACT INFO block

A perfect Contact Info block comes right after the TITLE and consists of 8 parts:

The HEADER “For More Information Contact:” or anything to that effect.

NAME of the contact person.

TITLE of the contact person.

NAME of the Organization the contact person represents.

BUSINESS ADDRESS of the organization.

PHONE NUMBER [and optional, FAX NUMBER] of the contact person.

E-MAIL of the contact person.

WEB SITE URL of the contact person.

Here is an example:

For More Information Contact:

Dr. Ugur Akinci

Senior Web Content Consultant

Akinci Associates, LLC

4938 Hampden Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814

(240) 460-9384

site

STEP 3. BODY

Start the body of your press release with the DATELINE.

Dateline summarizes the PLACE from where the PR is originated. It gives a quick geographic for the organization releasing the PR. It also has the DATE of the release.

Here are some real-life examples:

CARLSBAD, Calif. – May 29, 2007 – (Microsoft PR)

RALEIGH, NC – April 10, 2006 – (RedHat PR)

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb 01, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) – (Yahoo! PR which includes the name of the PR services that distributed it as well.)

Washington, D.C., March 8, 2007 – (Securities and Exchange Commission PR)

NOTE: There are a number of Internet PR sites that discourage using DATE in the dateline since they determine when the PR is actually distributed.

The BODY consists of the expanded version of the TITLE. Go ahead and deliver the great news about your new product, goods, services, organizational changes, web site, profits, staff changes, office moving, and anything else that is newsworthy.

The BODY should be 3 or 4 paragraph maximum, each paragraph having 3 or 4 sentences. Longer than that, and you’ll put your readers to sleep.

NOTE: It’s important that you use your Search Engine KEYWORDS in the Body, especially in the First Paragraph.

STEP 4. The “ABOUT” footer

This is the section where you introduce your business or organization to your readers in a few paragraphs.

It consists of 3 brief parts:

1.Short summary of what you do, what you produce, which services you deliver, or whom you represent.

2.Short history; establishment date, changes through time, names of important staffers, partners, allies.

3.Way to contact, including perhaps a map link or travel and driving directions.

Follow these 4 basic steps and you’ll have a perfect press release every time.

Best regards and good luck!

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Tags: media, relations, strategy, plan, companies

A client of mine told me about a PR firm that offered to do his advertising creative. It turned out to be ineffective work because, in the end, it didn’t address his marketing objectives, nor did it communicate to his target audiences. He was surprised because this firm did such a bang-up job at PR. His disappointment led to a complete dissolution of his company’s relationship with the PR firm.

Why the failure? In this case, the PR firm did not recognize its limitations, and therefore did not recognize the opportunity to come through for their client by bringing in qualified, experienced creative professionals. The assumption that because a person can write a press release means they can come up with creative concepts, or even write effective ad copy, is a bold one and, more often than not, a mistaken one.

I relayed this story to a friend of mine who has been a successful freelance copywriter for more than 15 years. She rolled her eyes and said, “Been there. Done that.” In her experiences, she has worked with consultants who insisted on acting as “account executives,” but lacked advertising and marketing expertise. Still, they would not bring her into the room to meet with their clients. As a result, they couldn’t help their clients determine their objectives, and were therefore unable to communicate those objectives to the creative team. As a successful creative professional, my friend possesses a great deal of marketing savvy, or else she would not have been able to do successful work for so many clients over the years. “My work is only as good as the input I get,” she told me, adding that she can spend an hour with a client and usually glean more than she needs to know because she knows what questions to ask. She felt that the consultants with whom she worked in some instances were well aware that they were not needed in the creative process, and feared that their clients would realize the same thing if they were to meet the creative team face-to-face. So they tried to fake their way through client meetings alone and then expected the creatives to perform miracles with inadequate input.

Risking your reputation and your client relationship for the sake of making a mark-up is short-sighted. Imagine if my client had been told by his PR firm that the work he needed done was out of their depth. My client would have found someone else to do the work and would have respected the firm’s honesty. If the PR firm had told him they couldn’t do the work, but referred him to a top-notch creative who could, they would have been heroes and shown their commitment to helping their client succeed. In doing so, they would have retained the account.

I’m glad to be guided by the experiences of other professionals. I find that I learn something in virtually every conversation I have that’s related to business. Of the things I’ve learned, some of the most important are: 1) How to recognize talent; 2) How to recognize an organization’s needs; and 3) When to get out of the middle in order to let talent and organizations make magic together. And I’m proud to make such referrals.

The lesson? There are truly remarkable, highly talented PR firms out there. They’re top shelf in every respect. The principals of these types of firms and their top administrators don’t misrepresent their reach, their in-house talent or the clout they will bring to your team. But if you’re in the market for PR, do your homework at the outset before signing on — especially with smaller firms. Ask the tough questions. A firm that delivered supernatural performances for one business may not offer the in-house talent that your business needs. Ask them who on their team delivers the goods you need. Be smart — meet them!

Don’t let consultants misrepresent themselves — those who do are the ones that give all of us with such hung shingles a bad name. The bottom line is that some projects are out of a firm’s comfort zones. The unprincipled ones will be very hesitant to declare that with consulting ducats on the line. The rock-solid ones are generally quick to size up your wishes and requirements, and to point you in another direction if someone amongst their stable of professional connections can better serve you.

My passion is words and their power to inspire and bring about action, leading recently to fulfillment of a life-long dream — launch of my own consulting gig. As an editor, I’m even more persnickety than I am as an administrator. I have run point on monthly and quarterly magazines, website launches, flier and brochure development, advertising “creative,” and marketing initiatives, as well as the more mundane writing of HR- and admin-related manuscripts, handbooks, annual reports, etc. I have also written a great many speeches that have been extremely well received. My background includes a journalism degree and a career principally in the nonprofit community. And all of that has added up to some “thoughts” on words, writing and business. Lee Cooke.

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Tags: advertising, pr, firms, companies, marketing

Public relations companies work closely with their clients to help them create a positive public image, manage public opinion and generate non-paid media and internet-based publicity.

When you hire a public relations company, it’s important to share information with your account services team about your company’s mission, business practices and marketing goals. The team of professionals assigned to work on your account will utilize this information to create a communications plan and strategy that is customized for your business.

Client Contact

Typically, an agency will assign an account executive to each client. This person serves as the liaison between the team at the PR firm assigned to work on your account and your company. Your account executive will work with the firm’s team to create and implement a public relations plan that is aligned with your company’s strategic objectives.

The plan will be submitted to you for approval and you will be able to ask questions, request additional information, and suggest revisions. Depending on your contract and your public relations needs, you may receive a new plan each month, quarter or year.

Account Services Team

In addition to the account executive, the account services team assigned to work on your behalf will generally include a copywriter, a publicist and a graphic artist. The copywriter will handle writing news releases, creating copy for your brochures, writing inquiry letters to media contacts and other writing tasks.

Publicists specialize in communicating with media representatives to help generate publicity for your company. The services of a good publicist who has strong professional contacts with reporters, talk show producers, and high-profile bloggers are invaluable. Publicists constantly seek new venues in which your company’s products or services can be promoted and they pitch relevant information to gatekeepers of media coverage.

The graphic artist assigned to your account will be responsible for creating and sustaining the visual aspects of your corporate image. This individual will handle layout and design for all printed public relations materials including letterhead, press kit folders, product packaging and more. The graphic artist can also design a new logo for your company if needed.

Selecting a Public Relations Agency

When shopping for a PR firm, it is in your best interest to seek a company with experience in your industry. For example, if you are the marketing director for a publishing company, you will want to hire a public relations company with expertise in promoting books and authors. If you are looking for a public relations agency to help launch a new software application, it is in your best interest to select a company with technology and software experience, as well as new product launches.

Compensation for Public Relations Agencies

Some PR companies enter into retainer relationships with their clients. The terms of the retainer agreement will specify the types of actions that are covered for a pre-determined monthly fee. Retainers usually cover all ongoing public relations needs, such as writing and submitting news releases, communicating with the media, designing brochures or other marketing materials and other tasks based on client needs.

Alternatively, many clients and PR companies enter into a work-for-hire agreement, which involves paying an hourly or pre-determined fee for specific actions. Companies who handle many of their own communications needs internally often utilize work-for-hire relationships with public relations firms to handle specific events or new product launches.

Public Relations is the key to facilitating quality communication between companies and the public. Keeping your public informed is the best way to foster long-lasting, trusting relationships.

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Tags: pr, companies, media, marketing, event

Construction Companies are always active members in the community and they can often build club houses, help out with habitat for humanity or upgrade a church for community good will, of course it often costs them lots of money to do this. But indeed there are other things that such companies can do which do not cost out of pocket for supplies, materials or labor?

Like what you ask? Well how about a neighborhood mobile business watch patrol? Now then lets consider why this makes sense by briefly looking at this business model for a moment shall we?

CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES: The owners of construction companies will be tough to get to a meeting, but are more than willing to join the team and help with a look out. Construction people are also worried about crime due to materials leaving the job sites, vandalism of job sites and loss of tools out of their trucks. They understand the problems and are more than willing to get in and help anyway they can. They are a great resource. They tend to be on the streets early in the mornings and can help you with area coverage in early hours. They are always on their way to the coffee shops, materials pick up or picking up workers. They have always been an asset to Watch Teams.

Now do you see why it makes sense for Construction Companies to join in with a neighborhood mobile business watch patrol? Perhaps you will consider all this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; WorldThinkTank. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

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Tags: pr, construction, companies, public relations, community

Have you ever considered how to launch a public relations campaign in a community when your company profession or industry is not so glamorous? Consider if you will a Air Conditioning and Heating Company. What sorts of community spirited public relations campaigns can you do with such things?

Well how about setting up or participating in a Neighborhood Mobile Business Watch Program, sponsored in part by the Chamber of Commerce and the local police department? Consider if you will the following observations;

AIR CONDITIONING COMPANIES: Heating and Air Conditioning Companies often work for commercial properties on roofs, a great vantage point and totally unexpected. They usually have many vehicles. They have constant communication. Their owners are usually very involved in city and civic affairs.

They also work in apartment complexes and low income housing areas where a higher percentage of crimes are committed due to density. They work in commercial malls and centers. More cars are stolen at regional malls than any other location and there is lots of shoplifting. They are also in residential neighborhoods of middle and upper middle class where people are at work and not around to protect their properties.

You see for all these reasons it makes sense to enjoy the benefits of helping the community, which supports your business by keeping an eye out for their well being. Such a public relations program costs next to nothing and the community goodwill generated is truly fruitful. So consider all this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; WorldThinkTank. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

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Tags: pr, companies, marketing, firms, public relations

Many people when they sign up for a maid service are worried about things being stolen out of their home. Yet if you stop to think about it that scenario is highly unlikely because if this happened then the company could not survive and they would be run out of business due to negative word-of-mouth you see?

Nevertheless this is one of those things that Maid Service Franchises have to deal with and unfortunately it is a false public perception that must be over come. This is why it makes sense for a public relations campaign, which includes joining the other side of the crime game and promoting participation in a Neighborhood Mobile Watch Program. Why? Well because it really will not cost them anything and consider the following reasons if you will;

MERRY MAIDS FRANCHISEES: This maid service franchise is part of Service Master and also part of Tru-Green Chemlawn, American Home Inspections, and other residential and commercial service franchises. The Service Master Franchise system’s original Founder, Marion Wade, was quite a great community spirited leader. Although the corporate culture has changed significantly, you find Merry Maids and Service Master franchisees as cooperative, helpful and committed. We have had success with them in the past and they tend to have many crews of cleaners throughout the town.

Why not capitalize by riding on the other side of public perception, it will set the mind of the consumer and potential customer at ease and increase goodwill for the franchisees in their local communities. Innovation in public relations is paramount for a smart PR Campaign so consider all this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; WorldThinkTank. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

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Tags: pr, companies, marketing, firms, public relations

If you own a Taxi Cab or transportation company then you know it is important to keep your vehicles clean, drivers looking good and always be thinking of public relations. Public Relations for transportation or Taxi Cab Companies is not difficult, but you have to remember the costs of fuel these days at over $3.00 per gallon.

You simply cannot give everyone a free ride, you are in business to make money of course and you must concentrate on that. Remember that old saying; Gas, grass or ass, no one rides for free?

Indeed Taxi Cab companies can do many things to promote good will and a positive public relations campaign and plan can strengthen your company’s brand name in the market place making your company the company of choice when choosing a cab.

One interesting public relations plan that I designed about 15 years ago makes an interesting case study in innovative type public relations techniques. We put together a city-wide Neighborhood Mobile Watch Program, where all the companies involved were already driving around all day and would report suspicious behavior to the local police department.

The taxi-cab company signed up and made a few newspaper front pages for their participation and it did not cost them anything. In fact all they did was put a couple of magnetic signs on the rear of all their taxi-cabs and captured more than their fair share of community goodwill. Consider all this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; WorldThinkTank. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

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Tags: pr, companies, taxi cab, public relations, firms

If you own a health care or health equipment rental business there are some very neat community based public relations projects you can be involved with which will cost you little or no money. Many small and medium sized businesses do not realize all the things they can do to generate the goodwill and Public Relations they need. However if one is creative they maybe shocked as to how well they can do in the local community if they put their minds to it and think outside the box.

Let me give you an example of a project that we did in the early 90s with a group of citizens to promote handicap access ramps. We rounded up some community leaders and we took them to business districts and asked them to get around the town and navigate while in wheel chairs. The wheel chairs were rentals and donated for the day by the Health Care Equipment Company who ended up having their company name mentioned with three front-page articles in the three-newspapers the next day.

When we asked to borrow the wheelchairs we did not even consider the Public Relations value to that company. But when each of the various newspaper reporters asked us where did we get all the wheel chairs and so we told them and therefore their name got mentioned in all. Perhaps you will consider all this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” – Online ThinkTank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

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Tags: health, media relations, media, companies, pr

If you own a health care or health equipment rental business there are some very neat community based public relations projects you can be involved with which will cost you little or no money. Many small and medium sized businesses do not realize all the things they can do to generate the goodwill and Public Relations they need. However if one is creative they maybe shocked as to how well they can do in the local community if they put their minds to it and think outside the box.

Let me give you an example of a project that we did in the early 90s with a group of citizens to promote handicap access ramps. We rounded up some community leaders and we took them to business districts and asked them to get around the town and navigate while in wheel chairs. The wheel chairs were rentals and donated for the day by the Health Care Equipment Company who ended up having their company name mentioned with three front-page articles in the three-newspapers the next day.

When we asked to borrow the wheelchairs we did not even consider the Public Relations value to that company. But when each of the various newspaper reporters asked us where did we get all the wheel chairs and so we told them and therefore their name got mentioned in all. Perhaps you will consider all this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” – Online ThinkTank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

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Tags: health, media relations, media, companies, pr

Ambulance Companies need Public Relations so that folks will remember this and get the heck out of the way when they see the lights and hear those sirens. And yet Ambulance Companies often do not go out of their way to do proper public relations in their communities.

Often we see first responders as State Fairs, Events and community involvement days, but really it is going to take more than this to insure that ambulances are respected on the road and those in the ambulance are looked at as authority figures in chaotic crisis. Businesses which are under contract with government agencies to help the common good need to be aware of public relations and this is why it is so important for ambulance companies to consider this.

It makes sense for an ambulance company to start a public relations program which will include sending first responders staff and ambulances to Boy Scout meetings, schools and other community events. Often ambulance companies will use a grid defense pattern to reduce the travel time in traffic in case of an emergency.

When these first responders and ambulance technicians are in parking lots they should do what many community-policing officers do and that is to talk to the citizens around the area and explain how the ambulance works and all the various important components that go into their job. By doing this they will earn the trust of the community and this will make their job a lot easier in the future. Please consider this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” – Online ThinkTank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

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Tags: health, care, public relations, ambulance, companies

Public Relations is a lot about creativity and notability. Yet many industries have a tough time figuring out ways to promote and position their companies thru smart public relations programs. Let me tell you about a case study I worked on with an Independent Oil Change Chain.

They had contracted with me to do some co-branding with out mobile oil change company and wanted us to go out and do some fleet business that they could not due because they were stuck in a location without mobile equipment. We split the contract monies and everyone won and then we got to talking about public relations.

They had always admired our ability to stay in the news and maintain our position as a community based friendly business. We thanked them for the compliment and they asked they wished they could do the same thing, but did not have the opportunities that we did. I politely disagreed and we got to talking about what they could do.

I assisted them in creating a plan to accept oil from Do-It-Yourselfers who changed their own oil and discard it in an environmentally friendly way. The program over a six month period nearly doubled their customer base, because it was then learned that even the DIY crowd did not really wish to change their own oil or transport the used oil to them. Instead they brought their cars into their business for oil changes. Consider all this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” – Online ThinkTank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

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Tags: case, study, relations, companies, pr

I have spent over 20 years in the marketing industry, but most of that time my focus was in the area of paid marketing avenues like advertising and direct marketing. When I opened my own small business marketing consulting firm eight years ago, I realized that while all those paid marketing tactics were great – meaning they worked – I also realized my ability to utilize them was limited.

Why? Because like most new small business owners, I didn’t have the money.

I was just getting my business off the ground and I needed ways to get the word out that didn’t involve a lot of cash.

That’s when I turned to Public Relations.

What is Public Relations? It’s the act of sending out information to the news media about your business in the hope they will write about your business in their publication. This gives you free exposure and very often it has a lot more credibility than advertising.

Here are 10 steps to help you use PR to market your small business:

(1) Identify who you are trying to reach – who do you want to be reading about your business so they will contact you for more information about your business?

(2) Look for media (newspapers, magazines, radio stations, television programs, and websites) that these people are reading and using.

(3) Make a list of all these publications/media.

(4) Research every publication/medium on your list. Become familiar with them. What news do they cover? What is their writing style? Do they have a regular column or section that covers your industry?

(5) Find out if there is a writer or reporter at each publication that covers your industry.

(6) Contact that writer or reporter and introduce yourself. Let them know who you are, what your area of expertise is, and offer yourself as a resource for stories or if they have questions or need information.

(7) Learn the accepted press release format and writing style and start writing releases about newsworthy events in your business.

(8) Create a plan to issue press releases on a regular basis to your media list. Just make sure the information you are sending is indeed newsworthy.

(9) If you do business on the Internet, considering using a service called PR Web (http://www.prweb.com) This will get your release out quickly to many sources on the web and can start to generate awareness of your business to a broader scope of media.

(10) Look for opportunities to use your expertise to write columns, or special features for the publications on your media list.

Public relations is a great marketing tool for small business owners and independent professionals. If you are committed to learning how to use it properly, and you use it consistently, it can get you and your business incredible exposure at little or no cost.

(C) Copyright 2006 Debbie LaChusa, 10stepmarketing

Debbie LaChusa is the founder and president of DLC Marketing, Inc. and The National Association of Home-Based Business Moms. She is also the author of The Career-at-Home Mom: Secrets for Earning a Six-Figure Income While Having Time for Your Family. She’s a marketing and home-based business coach and international speaker who has shared the stage with celebrity teachers from “The Secret.” You can register for Debbie’s free special report, “Why Marketing Isn’t Enough” and get a complimentary subscription to her ezine, Stepping Up! here

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Tags: marketing, pr, agencies, companies, manager

Sometimes restaurateurs are convinced they should be in the kitchen or the dining room and they are so wrong. A number of years ago a friend and I had dinner one evening at a restaurant he had heard about on Long Island. It was an Italian restaurant that had received great reviews. We walked into the crowded dining room on a Saturday night with a reservation and were immediately greeted by Tony (not his real name). Tony seated us and took our drink orders. I ordered a rather unusual aperatif and Tony commented on it and asked if I had ever had another drink which he liked even better. I said no but was willing to try it. I enjoyed it and he stopped back at our table to talk with us. Even though the restaurant was full and Tony was everywhere at once, he made you feel he had all the time in the world to speak with you. He told us the restaurant was family owned and his father was the chef. Tony, himself, was a graduate of culinary school but was working as maitre d’.

The food was sensational and we returned about six weeks later. As soon as we walked into the dining room, Tony greeted us with “I remember you.” I thought to myself, yeah, right, when to my astonishment he told us exactly where we had sat the last time and asked if I wanted to have the same drink!

Anyone in the restaurant business knows that a memory like this is phenomenal and invaluable. We returned many times and each time Tony remembered what we had ordered, where we sat and even what we had talked about!

Finally, we came in one evening and there was another maitre d’. He was perfectly pleasant but he wasn’t Tony. We naturally inquired and was told Tony was now in the kitchen but would try to come out and speak with us sometime during the evening.

The food was very good, the place was crowded, but people didn’t seem to be enjoying themselves as much as they had. The maitre d’ was not very accommodating or perhaps the problem was he just wasn’t Tony. Later in the evening Tony came out in his chef’s whites to speak with us and explained that his father had retired and he,Tony, was now the chef.
He said he actually preferred being in the kitchen because he’d rather work with food than people.

After awhile, we found another place we liked as well which was closer and without Tony there didn’t seem to be any sense going back. Towards the end there were always less people in the dining room so others seemed to feel the same as we did.

Shortly after, the place closed. It may have been for any number of reasons or, it may have been because Tony was no longer where he belonged.

Through the years I have seen this with my own clients. Owners and executive chefs who were happy in the kitchen and found all sorts of excuses to stay out of the dining room which was fine except they didn’t realize how great they were with people. Or owner/chefs who didn’t care about the food and loved being in the dining room, wearing a business suit and greeting people. Trouble was, the people doing the cooking didn’t care about the food, either.

What this comes down to is a good, successful restaurateur has to watch both the kitchen and the dining room which means he has to be in two places at once or find someone to cook or greet people who is wonderful at his job. It’s also necessary to be in the restaurant every minute it’s open and, of course, also choose the produce, fish, meat, flowers, yourself. Is it any wonder restaurants fail at such an astonishing rate?

Miriam Silverberg is the owner and founder of Miriam Silverberg Associates, a publicity firm in New York City with extensive experience working with restaurants.

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Tags: restaurant, public, relations, companies, firms