Remember, irrespective of who is going to hear about your money pitch, prior to lending you a cent they would demand to see your business plan.

So, what is a business plan? It is a document that contains answers to all the questions that anybody interested in lending your company money would have and also contains your business goals and what you plan to do. It should say-”I’m done gauging the pitfalls and obstacles this plan may face, I have seen it from all possible perspectives, and this is what I think…”

The very first question that your plan must answer is: what is the product or the service my company is providing? The answer to this you know and you must explain it in very clear terms so that it is easy for the readers to understand. Also include why you choose this service or product.

The step following this is to identify your customers and consumers also why you choose them. Include details like country, state, sex, age, language etc. Also include what makes you different and stand out. How and in what areas can you beat your competitors. The plan must also contain all the expenses, equipments and staff costs.

You can also put in a few graphs and charts explaining your profits or losses also a detailed market analysis. Your business plan must exhibit that you are capable of earning enough profits each month. In case it is the first time you are doing this, you can hire a business plan consultant to help you out.

Finally the best thing that you could do is to go through a real business plan that has been a success and study what all it includes and how it has been written. This way you can gauge the dos and the don’ts yourself and be a better judge of what all to include in your business plan.

You may wish to read more at: Free Examples Business Plans and Free Business Plan Templates.

Dixita is an article writer for various organizations across the globe. This is the first time I am trying out article writing for myself.

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Tags: businnes, ethics, investor, investment, company

It’s all about a stock company where pump and dump and take no prisoners is the way to the ten thousand square foot Hamptons house and everything else. It’s just about the worst example of business ethics run amok that Hollywood has ever captured. It makes “Wall Street” look like “”Breakfast At Tiffany’s.”

The thing the movie did well to point out is the time frame that comes with a lack of business ethics. It’s beyond short. And for good reason.

You go to the video store with a crisp twenty dollar bill and rent a video for the kids. As you pay for the rental (which by the way has gotten outrageous in price) you get your change back and all you see in your hand are three dollars and eighty-one cents. You politely tell the manager that there must have been a mistake, as you handed him a twenty, and he tells you that you only gave him ten.

Oh, boy.

You saw the twenty move into his till. You only had a twenty and there he is telling you that it was a ten. And his inflexibility is astounding. Quick inquiry here…no matter how close in proximity this video place is to your house, are you headed back there any time soon? More than that, will your friends and neighbors hear of your little encounter?

You’d better believe it.

Business ethics is a MUST. An absolute have to have to survive element.

And while it is easier to lose sight of that while operating online, no where else is it more important. Talk about irony.

When I write my autoresponders for my clients, I have one goal in mind…theirs. Period. And if possible, over-delivering is a smart way of operating. Writing emails campaigns affords a lot of people shelter from the ethics that they should be putting into everything they do. From experience, I can assure you that I’d be holding a tin cup filled with pencils feigning blindness for cash if I wasn’t being ethical as I craft my campaigns.

Do the right thing.

Kevin Browne is a former Creative Director and Senior Copywriter at agencies including J Walter Thompson, McCann Erickson and Young and Rubicam. Kevin now runs this site where he shows web owners how to FINALLY best way to make my site profitable.

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Tags: business, ethics, survive, ethical, company

Defined as “”beliefs about the characteristics, attributes, and behaviours of members of certain groups”", stereotyping is a process that we engage in at one time or other towards a group of people who do not conform to our way of life. We hold their “”weird”" practices and wholly different ideals, for instance, as reasons to justify our ugly and intolerant attitudes.

There are some people who stereotype a person by virtue of his physical attributes, or dress sense. And then proceed to over-generalize the entire community that said person belongs to – which is often negative to say the least.

Regardless, such behaviour – if left unchecked – inevitably becomes prejudice; and subsequently selective discrimination and xenophobia. Not only productivity and work relations in the workplace are adversely affected, but so is the organization’s reputation and credibility. Furthermore, its Competitive Advantage and Market Leadership are harmed as well.

Thus, as a Culturally Intelligent individual, we are able to adapt ourselves to a completely new cultural work environment and ethics quickly and easily. We also become tolerant of people who never, or refuse to adjust themselves accordingly. In other words, Culture Shock is not an issue that we have to cope with; as no effort is spared to facilitate a smooth transition to our new environment.

We do not expect people with prejudicial mindsets to reciprocate our actions. But we are clearly at an advantage as – besides learning each new experience encountered – we embrace it readily. That makes us the more flexible in our future dealings with more varied groups of people, as globalisation is here to stay.

Thus, it is crucial that we check ourselves when we are caught in situations that lead us to stereotype new people we meet – due to first impressions. It is inevitable, but keep in mind that we are in turn “”tarred with the same brush”" by these same people, if not broadly.

Ange Teo is the Founder of e2m expat etiquette mentoring, a Singapore-based Cross-Cultural Communications Solutions Provider.

She has worked with some of the world’s leading multinational companies and Singapore-based small medium enterprises for over 20 years. Thus, Ange Teo has a good understanding on the intricacies of Intercultural work relations. Besides her intense belief in the importance of Cross-Cultural competency – a critical aspect of an organization’s global competitive advantage.

For more information about e2m Cultural Intelligence [CQ]-focused Communications Solutions, please visit e2m expat etiquette mentoring. An Interculturalist’s perspective on Life, the Cosmoverse and Everything: the blue marble we live in

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Tags: ethical, company, organisation, training, code

In home improvement, scams do happen. Homeowners may not want to believe it, but scams are not limited to Internet get rich quick schemes or pyramid schemes. They are a very real part of the home improvement and home contracting game.

A painting scam can cost a homeowner a great deal of money, time and headaches. Trying to avoid these untrustworthy contractors should be at the top of every homeowner’s list when they are looking to get professional work done. When painters flake out in the middle of a job, it will not only leave the homeowner frustrated, but will become a sore spot for the whole neighborhood. Having a house in the middle of the neighborhood that sits for days or weeks with a poor, unfinished paint job can aggravate even the neighbors. Some contractors may run their own painting scam by making a good first impression only to flake out the day after. After dazzling their potential clients with extreme promises, they may show up for work the next day promptly at 8am and work through until 4 or 5pm. The homeowner may come home from work to see a terrific job, although not finished, and may feel satisfied with their hire. Their lawn may be clean and not littered with burger wrappers and soda cans that is common with so many construction or job sites. However, the next day the contractors may not show up. The homeowner may leave for work thinking the crew is just running late, but upon coming home from work will discover that their trustworthy and friendly painting contractor has not shown up at all. The following day they may not show up again either.

This type of painting scam can be very frustrating. The homeowner does not know when to expect the contractor or what to expect if they ever come back. Most will eventually come back and finish the job, but it may take a week or possibly longer. Being left in limbo is never a pleasant experience. Not knowing what to expect can drive a homeowner crazy. So it is important to recognize certain clues when hiring a home painting contractor. A homeowner may avoid being victim of a painting scam by knowing just who they are hiring. Do some research on the company first. Most will have a website with testimonials from past clients, while others may be blasted on scam blogs. Neighbors and the Internet may be the best sources of information when it comes to getting the inside scoop on house painting contractors.

Look for contractors who are genuine when they speak to you. Some contractors may appear very friendly and may talk a big game, but these less genuine individuals are usually pretty easy to spot. Most contractors looking to scam their clients will throw all kinds of bells and whistles at their clients. They may have colorful brochures and presentation packets and may even go so far as to lie about their previous jobs to make themselves appear credible. Recognizing who is being genuine and who is not may be the best way to avoid being scammed by certain house painting contractors.

Justin recommends reading up on Painting Scams to avoid them altogether. And to look for professional and trained companies not associated with any kind of painting scam just hard working and respectful.

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Tags: ethical, research, personal, identity, company

There is an old saying that goes like this. “You get what you pay for.” In the wholesale business this is way too true. We’re going to take a look at some of the wholesale scams that go on constantly and how to avoid them. It’s not as easy as it sounds.

Let’s face it. We all want to pay as little for something as possible. It costs so much to live as it is and the last thing we want is to overpay for something. So it is very tempting to try to get things wholesale to save a few dollars. The problem is this. When you’re dealing with wholesale items you’re paying a much lower price than you would for the same item retail, but how much less should you pay? This becomes a problem on two levels.

The less serious level is actually paying too much for the item. In many cases what the wholesaler will do is display a retail price for the item that is actually inflated by as much as 100% over the actual retail price. For example, a Sony DVD that normally goes for $150 they may have listed for $300. Then they give you a wholesale price of say, $175. It sounds like a good deal but in actuality you’re paying $25 over retail and you’re not even aware of it. Scams like these go on all the time, not only with wholesalers but with retailers passing things off as being on sale. They jack up the price and then lower it to make it look like you’re getting a bargain.

The more serious level of wholesale fraud is when you’re confronted with a price that just seems too good to be true. In many cases, it is. Let’s take that same Sony DVD that goes for $150 retail. A good wholesale price for it may be something around $75 to $100. But then you’ll see somebody is offering the item for a ridiculously low price of $39. You know in your heart that there is no way they can offer a $150 DVD for $39. Something has to be up with this unit but the deal is too good to pass up and you go for it. One month later the DVD completely stops working.

So what happened? Something else that is just way too common. The make and model of the DVD is misrepresented. Maybe it’s a Sony. But the model is not the $150 model that is of better quality. The model is one of their cheaper models that normally goes for $50. You get it for $39 which isn’t even much of a bargain at retail let alone at wholesale. This is one of the worst abuses of wholesale fraud that you will find and it goes on all the time.

So what does somebody do? How can you tell if something is too good to be true or should be cheaper than what you’re paying? Simple. You have to be educated. Whatever it is you’re thinking of buying, go directly to the company manufacturer for details on the item. Find out the retail price. If the Sony DVD that they say they are selling to you is $150 and you find the model is actually one of the cheaper brands then stay away. If they’ve jacked up the price then confront them. Tell them you know this is a $50 unit and you’ll give them $25 for it and no more. In other words, don’t let yourself become a victim.

It may seem like a lot of work to have to do all this research for each item, but if you want to keep yourself from getting ripped off that is exactly what you’re going to have to do.

——————————————————-
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Wholesale
——————————————————-

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Tags:ethical, business, practice, organizations, company

He was brilliant. Polished. An asset for the company he represented. In less than an hour, he worked up the crowd to fever pitch. Hundreds of people lined up to sign up for the next step—which involved a no-cost, eight-hour financial investment training day.

He was also an author. He told his story of how he met a man who invited him to several investment meetings. And those meetings changed his life forever.

He became wealthy from practicing those investment strategies. He turned from amateur to pro. He had finally arrived. And now he wanted to teach those same strategies to investors.

He made the audience laugh, repeat “yes” for the umpteenth time, and put everyone at ease with his low-pressure persuasion techniques. He was even crawling on the floor to illustrate a point. There’s no doubt he graduated Sales Mastery with honors.

But the crowning moment was when he invited four investment newbies to take the stage. He showed them how easy it was to make money whether the market was going up or down. He had them bobbing their heads the entire time. This provided the social proof people needed to participate in the next step.

But many knew better…

I spoke with Ashley, a graphic designer who signed up because Carmen, her realtor mom, wanted to check out the training. Ashley was suspicious of the sales pitch and she wanted to protect her mom from these cleverly disguised sales wolves. I hope Ashley doesn’t lower her guard either.

Because once they get you into their training room, they will hit you with a variety of persuasion techniques to scramble your radar. They will make you feel like you have an IQ of a slug for not investing in their program. Don’t forget to take prescription strength “stubborn” pills with you on that day.

And my colleague, Dana, didn’t approve of the fact that she was being sold. She was skeptical from the start of the presentation. She never cracked a smile during the entire talk. She may have been half-fuming. (Or half-envious.)

But let’s be real…

Salespeople have to make a living. Selling is their job. The economy becomes stagnant when nothing gets sold. I hope you agree that selling is a good thing.

Yet people don’t like to be sold. They like to buy, but not be sold. Buying puts us in control. We own that power. We lose that power position when we’re being sold.

So the speaker did a great job. He racked up hundreds of people into the next phase. He’ll receive a nice bonus for his persuasive presentation.

Yet the question remains: If you could—should you?

If you could bottle fountain water to sell to unsuspecting supermarkets: should you?

If you could pay off the FDA to market your medicine: should you?

If you could pressure people with their last dollar to invest into your program: should you?

If you could sell company secrets to competitors: should you?

If your boss commanded you to lie to consumers: should you?

If you answered “yes” and can sleep well at night, then you are lower than the slime on the bottom of my shoe. You may dress in business attire on the outside, but the inner person is polluted with soot. Despite the media coverage that white collar criminals get incarcerated to Club Fed: You should hold yourself to a higher standard.

Besides it’s hard to become stealth with unethical conduct. Your inner circle of friends and closest allies notice what you do. Especially in a hi-tech society where everything is traceable.

But if you decide to burn people anyway—the Universe always has a way of settling these accounts. Eastern philosophers call it karma. Western ministers label it “reaping what you sow.” And enlightened people name it the Law of Cause and Effect.

So why would anyone corrupt themselves for a buck?

Avoid the scandals, fines and embarrassment. Do the right thing always. And leave a legacy of integrity, accountability and upstanding character for generations to admire and model.

Tommy Yan helps business owners and entrepreneurs make more money through direct response marketing. He publishes Tommy’s Tease weekly e-zine to inspire people to succeed in business and personal growth. Get your free subscription today at here.

Get a FREE 5-week Secrets to Web Mastery e-course. If your websites aren’t making sales or capturing leads, you can’t afford to let it idle in Cyberspace. Read more..

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Tags: ethical, salesperson, product, career, company

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

Tell most people that you are in sales and watch their reaction. Their experiences with high pressure, poor service and poor quality have conditioned them to believe the worst when they hear this word – salesman.

This visceral reaction might be why many involved in sales now call themselves business development representatives. Yet, after talking to them, you know that what is, is. They are in sales.

So why this extreme negative reaction? If we look to the past, we may remember the used car salesman or the high-pressure salesperson that we encountered during our work experience. Our negative reaction has more to do with their ethics and values than their selling skills.

What most of these salespeople have in common is a lack of ethics. Without clearly communicated ethics and core values, theses salespersons will do almost anything to secure the order. Their beliefs and attitudes were once the sales were made, go on to the next sale or sucker.

Today’s marketplace is different. Buyers are far more intelligent and have easier access to researching potential products and services. To differentiate yourself demands that you construct your own values statement or business ethics statement. These values or ethics are non-negotiable behaviors that you will consistently demonstrate in all interactions.

Maybe, it is time to use a core values statements to disqualify potential clients so that you can secure clients who will truly benefit from your products or services. When we as sales people take any order just to make a sale, we may be compromising our own core values and ultimately end up with a dissatisfied client. Remember, that dissatisfied clients share their unhappiness with more people than satisfied clients do.

If you are a salesperson and do not have a written values statement for yourself, take the time right now to construct one right now. For you and more importantly your demonstrated ethics are the change in the world.

Do you want to increase your sales? Then, you might be interested “Simply Speaking, Increase Sales by…” a truly quality e-book combination workbook that focuses on helping you within the 3 key areas of Marketing, Selling and Planning. Learn more at here.

Leanne Hoagland-Smith, M.S. is a speaker and national business coach who has written hundreds of articles with a focus on leveraging human capital for transformational change by developing results driven leadership in people, teams and organizations.

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Tags: ethical, salesperson, product, career, company

As an old pro wordsmith I take great pride in my voracious spelling attributes, yet now I believe that I can’t spell at all! It was my great fortune to be in attendance at an illuminating seminar, hosted by Gair Maxwell and The Fundy Group, entitled “”The Experiential Business”" and I’m almost positive I was hallucinating when the surprise guest of the day started off by saying he uses the letter “”D”" in his business formula.

I thought (silently, thank goodness!), to myself, “”There’s no ‘D’ in the word business! Has this guy lost his mind?”"

Bruce McNaughton, the kilt-clad, proud and at times hilarious story raconteur, also happens to be the owner of Prince Edward Island Preserves, one of PEI’s most marketable and well-known business success stories. Bear in mind that Bruce is not a towering giant of a man nor does he show any outward signs of success. Dressed simply in black well-worn jeans, white shirt and his signature black knitted sweater vest, he stands a mere 5’7″” tall. (This was before he shed his jeans in favor of his kilt in the corner of the room to stress his business savvy). His slightly salted black hair hangs an unfashionably 2″” below the collar of his shirt and he wears no flashy diamond encrusted rings, nor is there a Rolex watch to be seen on either of his wrists. Yet from this tightly packaged man comes one powerful whomp of a message that every budding entrepreneur should hear.

He went on to explain to us how he uses the “”D”" letter principles to systemize any business venture he undertakes. “”It all starts with a Dream”" he said. “”I always had a dream of being a business owner – I just wasn’t sure what business I wanted to own!”" which is true of all entrepreneurs the world over. “”Determination and drive are two other elements that I have to have in order to make things happen and carry that dream into reality. Without these two factors, nothing will ever get done.”"

He went on to impart several other “”D”" principles that have to be taken into consideration if one is to see the overall picture and be realistic in achieving their goals. “”Debt is another word that has to definitely be taken into consideration. By the word debt, I mean our debt to the world as a whole. Whether it be our responsibility in the raising of our family, the respect we give to seniors, especially veterans, and to others that can benefit from what you can offer. It is our ‘debt’ to society to perform at our highest levels, with dedication and determination.”"

Perhaps the most powerful “”D”" principle he mentioned that resonated with me was his explanation of how to overcome the “”discouragement”" that all of us sometimes experience from our family, loved ones and friends. “”When you first explain your dream to you family and friends, a lot of the time you’re going to be faced with hearing their disappointment in your decisions”" he commented. “”You’ll most likely hear things like “”Are you nuts?”" “”Have you totally lost your mind?”" “”Why in the world do you want to do THAT?”" “”These words”", he went on to explain, “”can undermine your confidence and eat away at your self-esteem. If you feel in your gut that you’re taking the right path, don’t listen to them!”"

I could go on and on here about the many other “”D”" principles that he expounded on but I don’t want to rob him (or you!) of the pleasure of hearing Bruce speak directly to you, and what a pleasure it is! I can guarantee you that you will come away with a feeling of having just taken the shortest yet most educational course in “”How to start a business and not fall flat on your ass in less than 30 days”" that you will ever get.

So, while the letter “”D”" might not be contained in the spelling of the actual word ‘business’, it can definitely be utilized into nurturing the most delightfully determined, doing well, and deliberate company you’ve ever dreamed about.

Marlene Oulton, president of Write Choice Virtual Assistants, derives great satisfaction from assisting authors, writers, coaches and SOHO entrepreneurs produce clean, crisp and concisely written articles, newsletters, website copy or other literary works. She produces a quarterly Newsletter entitled “News and Views – From My Desk to Yours” which contains practical and often humorous articles on issues facing the small business owner. To receive her newsletter, click here.

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Tags: business, ethics, dream, company, principle

A few days ago I had one of those “random” conversations that sets the brain blazing down a hundred different paths almost immediately. The topic was DDT, and how that chemical was bought and sold with impunity in Latin America years after it had been banned in the United States for causing serious health and environmental problems.

In the beginning it was the wonder chemical of yore. From getting rid of vermin, to use as an agricultural pesticide, to eliminating malaria, the new potion apparently knew no bounds. Soon however, nasty little pieces of evidence – cancer, birth defects, and environmental hazards – started to spring up against the wonder chemical. Consequently, during the 1970s and 1980s, agricultural use of DDT was banned in the US and most developed countries.

However, it would seem this urgent health and environmental update somehow bypassed Latin America and some other parts of the world. In countries like Ecuador and Colombia, DDT and similar derivatives remain in active use especially for agricultural purposes. All this despite the 2001 Stockholm Convention calling for the elimination of such “persistent organic pollutants” in agribusiness.

DDT and other such persistent pollutants are just that – persistent. In human and other animal life, they cluster in fatty areas and proceed, nonstop, to erode the system from within. And this is just the proverbial tip.

Marketing and selling chemicals in developing countries, where public awareness of negative effects may be lower, is irresponsible, to say the least. And obviously certain businesses thrive by courting governments that are either more susceptible to manipulation or prone to allowing the unchecked commercialization of such hazardous products.

The ongoing side effects from the continued use of such chemicals in Colombian and Ecuadorian floral workers – headaches, nausea, impaired vision, asthma, stillbirths, congenital malformations, miscarriages – are graphic and constant reminders of the blatant sociopolitical and economic double standards at play in our current global dynamic.

Sneaky history. It’s almost impressive the way it keeps recycling itself. Well, at least we can’t call it unsustainable.

Columbia is the second largest flower producer in the world. Two-thirds of all fresh cut flowers sold in the United States come from Columbia. Dole, the leading producer of fresh fruit and vegetables, is also one of the largest flower producers in Latin America.

Dole’s official CSR report reads like a dream. That is, until you consider the fact that Columbian and Ecuadorian floral workers, many of them women, are exposed daily, to some of the most toxic chemicals available. Or unavailable – about a fifth of these chemicals used in the greenhouses are either banned, or not registered for use in the US or Canada for various health reasons. Dole has agreed to participate in an environmental standards program, but the question is whether the affected governments have any real monitoring systems in place.

The promotion of agribusiness should not come at the cost of human health, environment, or wildlife survival. This should be the business bottom line. However, looking at the plight of flower workers in Columbia and Ecuador, this common sense goal starts to look more like a foolish dream.

Is a rose just a rose anymore? I would argue with the bard. It would seem that its thorns are more the norm in certain parts of our world.

Jane Esi Hagan is the Corporate Engagement Liaison for First Peoples Worldwide, where she works to facilitate equitable and sustainable development initiatives for Indigenous Peoples. She holds an MA in International Affairs, with a specialization in Spanish/Latin American Studies from American University in Washington, DC.

Ms. Hagan is a passionate advocate for socioeconomic justice and equity. She has a varied and diverse interest in various international affairs issues including corporate social responsibility and international human rights.

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There are many factors within general business practices that are altering to ensure that every person benefits from the continued functioning of the company. Previously many businesses have subscribed to practices that may have had negative effects on their stakeholders. This is now changing as the realisation sets in of the true importance of the different stakeholders in any particular business. There are many different manners in which a company can implement corporate social responsibility measures for the benefit of all concerned. The manner in which each different company implements the changes will be dependant on what aspects of the company could be considered as having produced negative effects.

Corporate Social responsibility can often be confused with corporate charity, but it is a very different thing. Corporate charity can involve the donation of money and the provision of opportunities to members of the community and stakeholders. This is very different to the considerations that a company must abide by to ensure that their actions fall with the acceptable corporate social responsibility guidelines that have been established. These can include guidelines that relate to the environmental impact that a particular action can have or they can relate to the impact that an action can have on the local community. The guidelines are intended to ensure that any negative effects that an action could possibly have are eliminated or reduced as far as possible.

The concept of corporate social responsibility is intended to provide each business with a far greater ability to create sustainable development. This can help to provide ongoing benefits for the business and its stakeholders, regardless of the size of the business. The business can become more competitive once it begins to create and follow guidelines to enforce the concept of corporate social responsibility within the company and its surrounding community. The greater the sustainability of a business’s developments, the more successful it can become. The attraction of corporate social responsibility for many businesses is that it can help to increase sustainability without creating negative effects.

The type of business that implements changes to come in line with accepted corporate social responsibility guidelines will also determine what sort of changes will need to be made. The size of the investment that will be required to ensure that the business conforms to acceptable guidelines will also be affected by the type of business it is. The resources that are expended for this purpose do need to be viewed as an investment rather than an unnecessary expense since the positive results can more than repay the investment.

The term corporate social responsibility may seem to be one of the current buzz words in business, but the concept is one that has been formulated by many people over many years. The concept is one that is seen as being important for the continued well-being of the vast majority of companies and essential for the community that surrounds them. The importance that is placed on business actions conforming to acceptable corporate social responsibility standards can ensure that these guidelines are treated with the respect that they merit.

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Have you ever met a fairly smart person and then watch their activities in business and just wanted to puke? It certainly gives entrepreneurship a bad name. Indeed, it makes me sick to my stomach. Why do they stoop so low? Well it appears that they do it because it works and that there is a sucker born every minute and rather than having a little integrity and ethics they simply get down to the lowest common denominator and take people’s money.

But why do they do it; that is to say; Why Do Intelligent Internet Entrepreneurs Get Involved in Such Sleazy Stuff? I know for a fact that they do not have too, they are smart enough to figure out a better way and yet will not? It is such a shame to see bright people do this and it makes all business people look bad. It puts a tarnished image on the business community and makes an already skeptical public even more weary. And some of the hype marketing out there is utterly ridiculous.

My theory is that folks are just lazy, both rich and poor, smart or foolish; humans are just trying to get by with minimal effort. It is amazing anyone would want to have a human as an associate or friend. I certainly hope this article is of interest and that is has propelled thought. The goal is simple; to help you in your quest to be the best in 2007. I thank you for reading my many articles on diverse subjects, which interest you.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank 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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In the last few years, business ethics and company core values are among the most critical discussions I facilitate during strategic planning and business coaching endeavors. This is partly due to he tremendous negative reaction to corporate ethics scandals. My encouragement to clients is to go “public” with their core values and ethical standards so it becomes known what the company stands for and how the leaders will conduct business.

Many businesses also will use the core values and ethical standards for guidance in making critical decisions, to create an ethical corporate culture, to attract high quality employees and to differentiate themselves from competitors. I applaud those businesses that establish and declare their core values and ethical standards in some written form and/or posting them on their web site and other company materials.

So, you may ask how would a business go about establishing and emphasizing a set of core values and ethical standards? Based upon my personal and professional experiences and research, I would recommend making the following nine commitments:

Commitment #1: Verify a strong commitment from company management to establish core values for the business.

Commitment #2: Develop a forum to gather information from employees and company stakeholders.

Commitment #3: Use an experienced professional outside facilitator to conduct the developed forum and facilitate the discussion to gather input.

Commitment #4: Obtain and verify management and employee commitment to the selected company core values and their consideration in everyday decision making.

Commitment #5: Establish a set of ethical standards as an integral part of the company core values and make them “public.”

Commitment #6: Keep the ethical standards and company core values current. Amend them as warranted to reflect reality.

Commitment #7: Monitor the company’s commitment and performance regarding its ethical standards and core values. Survey employees and stakeholders to find out how they feel about the company living up to its own standards and values.

Commitment #8: Develop a process and/or procedure to deal with violations of ethical standards and company core values.

Commitment #9: Recognize and reward ethical behavior.

If you would like to discuss the value of business core values and ethics and learn more about fostering that type of ethical environment within your organization, please contact Glenn Ebersole today through his website.

Nine Commitments That Emphasize Business Ethics & Company Core Values Are Extremely Crucial By: J. Glenn Ebersole, Jr., Chief Executive of J. G. Ebersole Associates and The Renaissance Group ™

Glenn Ebersole, Jr. is a multi-faceted professional, who is recognized as a visionary, guide and facilitator in the fields of business coaching, marketing, public relations, management, strategic planning and engineering. Glenn is the Founder and Chief Executive of two Lancaster, PA based consulting practices: The Renaissance Group, a creative marketing, public relations, strategic planning and business development consulting firm and J. G. Ebersole Associates, an independent professional engineering, marketing, and management consulting firm. He is a Certified Facilitator and serves as a business coach and a strategic planning facilitator and consultant to a diverse list of clients. Glenn is also the author of a monthly newsletter, “Glenn’s Guiding Lines – Thoughts From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” and has published more than 225 articles on business.

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Tags: business, ethics, company, work, value

Everyone in business will eventually face a real crisis of conscience at some point or points in his or her career. Before you face that critical choice, I believe most people would say it is easy to think that they will act ethically, no matter what the personal cost. However, what will you really do when you are faced with the personal cost of losing the job you love (or desperately need) and placing your family’s welfare and your own self worth in jeopardy?

How confident are you that you will act ethically? How valuable are your ethics to you? Does your salary buy blind loyalty? What is your price to keep quiet or look the other way? These are all questions you must ask yourself when faced with an ethical dilemma in your business.

Is your personal respect and integrity negotiable? It is probably safe to say that all or certainly most of us have encountered situations where there was a bending of the rules; the special person, client or coworker who gets special consideration; the dishonest deal; the telling of a blatant untruth; and so on. Do you have an ethical compass in good working order to guide you in resolving these ethical dilemmas?

There are numerous examples I could give to illustrate an ethical dilemma. I chose one that occurred in my local community where a magazine publisher skipped town without publishing a promised issue of her magazine, but had her staff out selling advertisement with the staff’s knowledge that the issue they were selling advertising for would not be published. What would you do if, as an employee, you were asked to sell advertising for a publication that you knew would never be published? Would you still sell the advertising? If yes, that says something about the value of ethics to you. What would you do if you, as someone else inside or outside the organization, knew that someone was doing just that? If you do not speak up and tell someone, this says something about your price to keep quiet.

What will you do the next time you are faced with an ethical dilemma? Perhaps the following selected quotations about ethics in business and society can provide some guidance or at least some food for thought.

+ “We will not lie, steal or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does.”" (from the U.S. Air Force Academy code of conduct)

+ Honor is better than honors.”" (President Abraham Lincoln)

+ “”A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.”" (Max Lucado)

+ “”It has become dramatically clear that the foundation of corporate integrity is personal integrity.”" (DiPiazza, Sam, CEO of PriceWaterhouseCoopers)

+ “”A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.”" (Dwight D. Eisenhower)

+ “”To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.”"

(Abraham Lincoln)
+ “To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.” (Confucius)

+ If ethics are poor at the top, that behavior is copied down through the organization.” (Robert Noyce, inventor of the silicon chip)

In my opinion, American businesses and business people are at a crossroads in their governance and risk management processes. I also believe that the best of the best, the truly world class companies of the future will have business ethics and personal integrity as their top goal. I believe this because if ethics and integrity are second, then ethics and integrity will be subject to compromise and sacrifice where and when a choice must be made. My challenge to every business person, and especially business owners and leaders, is to ask yourself – How valuable are your ethics or what is your price to compromise your ethics?

If you are interested in learning more about the importance of addressing ethical dilemmas with a solid proactive ethical approach, please contact Glenn Ebersole through his website at http://www.businesscoach4u.com or email Glenn at jgecoach@aol.com

“How Valuable Are Your Ethics or What is Your Price to Compromise Your Ethics?” By: J. Glenn Ebersole, Jr., Chief Executive of J. G. Ebersole Associates and The Renaissance Group ™

Glenn Ebersole, Jr. is a multi-faceted professional, who is recognized as a visionary, guide and facilitator in the fields of business coaching, marketing, public relations, management, strategic planning and engineering. Glenn is the Founder and Chief Executive of two Lancaster, PA based consulting practices: The Renaissance Group, a creative marketing, public relations, strategic planning and business development consulting firm and J. G. Ebersole Associates, an independent professional engineering, marketing, and management consulting firm. He is a Certified Facilitator and serves as a business coach and a strategic planning facilitator and consultant to a diverse list of clients. Glenn is also the author of a monthly newsletter, “Glenn’s Guiding Lines – Thoughts From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” and has published more than 225 articles on business.

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RFID stands for Radio Frequency IDentification.

Its supporters tout its amazing power to streamline it supply chain. I am in agreement with those supporters. RFID will significantly increase the efficiency of supply chains. The problem with RFID is that the RFID tags will be released into the world and become a privacy and security nightmare.

I think that the true potential of this technology is as big as the internet. That is a bold statement, but think about it. The internet is electronic content in small pieces linked together. RFID taken to its logical limits becomes the internet of things. Imagine if every thing made in the world could shout out its existence. If you have enough RFID scanners and internet capacity you could place every man made object in its GPS location. Get your mind around that for a second. Every manmade object with real-time global placement.

This ends many things: cash, theft, and privacy.

Why would world wide RFID end cash? There would be no need to exchange currency because all of everybody’s possessions would be tagged. You go to a store you pick up what you want and then you leave. No stopping at the cash register (the cash register will be a relic like the slide rule) the RFID readers at the door know who you are and what you came in with and what you are leaving with and will debit you cash at the bank or put it on your credit card.

Why would word wide RFID end theft? Why steal anything the police will just pull out their PDA and find the item and arrest you. Also don’t try to cheat on your taxes the government all ready knows what items you posses.

The end of cash and theft sound like a wonderful ideas, but remember someone knows all that you have purchased where from and how much you paid. Do you want your child or boss to know every purchase you have ever made. Better not pick up that resume book at Barnes and Nobles because you boss who subscribes to a futuristic RFID listing service will be able to know you are looking for a job. I hope you never have an ex boy or girl friend track you down with the serial number from that pair of jeans they bought you. True world wide RFID is the “Internet of Things” (term taken from the book SPY CHIPS and website www.spychips.com) will end privacy.

Now governments are putting these RFID Chips into Passports and Drivers license. Public schools are tagging your children so they will be able to know who sneaks away for an unauthorized bathroom break. They use the same technology on your kids as ranchers use on their livestock. A government agent will be able to follow you around town from the comfort of a Fort Meade computer center. The potential for abuse is staggering. I feel that this issue is as significant as Cloning but it is not getting the press in the mainstream media. This is because the mainstream media is bought and paid for by corporations pushing RFID.

I am a Conservative Christian Business man. I believe in the right of business to make a profit if they work hard enough. On this issue I find my self allied with the far left fringe. This is because business is looking at the short term bottom line and not the long term effects on the world we share. Who wants to live in a world without privacy?

I call on businesses to think about your RFID strategy and its effects on the world we live in.

Brian Davis – Privacy Expert

Consumer advocate DSBSecurity

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Tags: ethical, company, business, corporate, issues

Don’t get me wrong. Having a Values Statement is a very good thing. It is a starting point to building a respected, ethical company; a company that treats its’ customers, staff, and vendors with respect but it can be much more than that. It can be the basis for selecting new staff when adding to the workforce. It can make the training period easier and less stressful because, if new hires understand the core values, they will understand that those values are the basis for policy. It can make relationships with customers and vendors more cordial and less adversarial. It can even be used as a marketing message if the company actually follows (and can show they follow) their Values Statement – giving foundational depth to the whole Customer Service issue.

Few companies have a written Values Statement and many of those that do have one, never use it so see if your company actually has one. If you do then ask yourself whether it is a living document – one the company and the people within the company adhere to. If you find you don’t have one, start the process of crafting one by asking, “what core values should be the foundation for this company and how should we implement them?”

Larry Galler coaches and consults with high-performance executives, professionals, and small businesses since 1993. He is the writer of the long-running (every Sunday since November 2001) business column, “Front Lines with Larry Galler” Sign up for his free newsletter at this site.

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Tags: ethics, code, policy, corporate, company

More than 25 years ago, Tylenol changed the “crisis management” business forever by taking decisive action to compromise profitability based on something that was not its fault.

In the fall of 1982, seven people in Chicago died after taking Extra Strength Tylenol capsules laced with potassium cyanide. A 12-year old girl was reportedly the first to die. Panic ensued. Police cars roved the streets in and around the Chicago area blasting warnings from PA systems. When it was determined that the poisoned bottles had come from different factories, the possibility that Johnson & Johnson (Tylenol’s ultimate parent) was somehow to blame was decisively ruled out. Officials came to believe that one or multiple criminals had instead removed bottles from stores, tampered with the contents and then surreptitiously returned the bottles to store shelves.

And yet, responsibility never entered into the decision-making process underway at J&J: only public safety did. The company stopped all Tylenol production and promotion. It issued a national recall not after the episode was over, but while it was still very much underway. The bottles returned to J&J as a result of the recall had a retail value of more than $100 million. I shouldn’t say that J&J stopped all Tylenol promotion: it paid for and issued new national advertising instructing individuals to avoid taking any products that contained Tylenol, and offering to reimburse anyone who sent in an existing bottle of Tylenol capsules.

Once both the crisis and J&J’s action plan were in full force, Tylenol’s market share dropped like a rock from 35% to 8%. To be expected. What was not expected was that share rebounded in less than one year: a return widely credited to J&J’s immediate and decisive action to sacrifice its own well being for the health of – really – the entire country. Since then, J&J’s response is widely considered to be the gold standard in crisis management. Act now. Ask later.

I cannot overemphasize how I feel today about J&J’s behavior that long-ago autumn when I was still a kid. It made an impression that has lasted my entire career: one that influences how I measure companies and my own conduct as a business executive to this very day.

So when I see a company disregard such a lesson for no other reason than financial gain, I am not just nonplussed – I’m disgusted.

SFCA Inc. purchased the assets of Simplicity Inc., a baby bassinet manufacturer, earlier this year after Simplicity went out of business. SFCA is an affiliate of the private equity firm, Blackstreet Capital. Two weeks ago, fifteen retailers – including Target, Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, Amazon and Kmart – halted the sale of certain Simplicity bassinets that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said could be hazardous to babies after two baby girls died (from strangulation in their bassinets). The Wall Street Journal reported that Toys R Us were selling eight of the 66 models affected by the warning; the chain pulled the products anyway. And all the retailers affected agreed to permit consumers to return the bassinets for a refund or store credit, regardless of how long ago the product had been purchased. These retailers heeded the lessons learned from the shining example set by Johnson & Johnson. Act now.

SFCA, on the other hand, is doing nothing, holding fast to its claim that it bears no legal responsibility for the hazardous bassinets. The USCPC couldn’t even issue a product recall, because SFCA would not cooperate. Rick Locker, a lawyer representing SFCA has declared the company unwilling to recall “a product that it did not make and sell.” The blog Daddy Types reports that – while SFCA may have hired Locker to assist with this matter – Locker is also paid as counsel for the Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association: the lobbying organization that helps protect the makers of children’s products.

Ironically, the JPMA’s website is currently heralding September as “Baby Safety Month.” In July, the association tooted its own horn for “reaffirm[ing] its commitment of safety.” The communications contact on the July press release isn’t someone at a real PR or crisis management firm: it’s a woman at Association Headquarters, Inc., an organization whose lone means of support is selling services to organizations such as… JPMA. You can’t make this stuff up.

Henceforth, SFCA has taken a “Who, me?” approach to its products killing children. The company claims that it might go out of business if it took all the offending bassinets back. I find this particularly ironic and outdated in our Web 2.o world. If SFCA came out on the Web and announced a recall (even though they were not legally responsible), the company’s future would be far more secure. The company would be a hero. Parents would rave and remember the company when they went shopping the next time. They would tell one another, at a time in history when spreading the word is easier than ever. Their marketing folks would get college and business school cases written.

Isn’t this exactly what Tylenol did and exactly what happened as a result (in a decidedly Web 0.0 world)? But then again, it’s not hard to imagine those meetings in 1982 where well-meaning lawyers warned that a recall could take down the company and J&J’s top management said, So be it. We’re not going to stand by and let people die. Short-sighted greed and bad lawyering are in full control at SFCA. The drawbridge is up. SFCA is not legally required to take back the affected bassinets, there are no mandatory standards for safety in the category and the USCPSC cannot bring legal charges against SFCA.

No matter. There is a higher standard for working and living on this planet that J&J set and by which all corporations should live. As an aside, I’ll say once again that it’s just good business: (a) the positive halo effect for J&J post-crisis was and still is phenomenal, and (b) not doing the right thing will get you in the end. You can expect boycotts and bad press at minimum: perhaps a crazed parent manufacturing a terrible happening to take you down if you’re really unlucky. Permanently disastrous online search results. But aside from it being good business, it’s about acting human, like someone whose own child or grandchild was killed by your product.

There is no exception – and if there is, I haven’t heard about it and SFCA most definitely does not qualify. This is capitalism run right into the ground, taking humanity and business ethics down with it.

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Stephanie Fierman – EzineArticles Expert Author

Tags: responsibility, ethics, corporate, company, business

“Working within the business to business sales and account development sector an underlying message that has frequently brought me success is to think and operate like a business owner…

By this I don’t mean in the traditional sense but place yourself in the mind of the decision maker, what they want to hear or more importantly what they need to believe you understand not only about them but their key businesses goals and objectives before they are willing and ready to commit. I learnt this from a respected and very successful sales and business coach many years ago and have followed these fundamental principles but adapted the in to my personal area of business.

One of the first and most simple criteria is absolute honesty, without this you are on the back foot from the start, business owners and decision makers may not see through you on day one but be sure that on subsequent visits, sales and account development opportunities you’ll soon be seen as untrustworthy and as an inferior rather than a dependable business adviser or equal. I can guarantee that being 100% honest from your first meeting, managing the client’s expectations in a realistic manner, reporting both good and bad news instantly will develop your status with the client or prospect.

An interesting trait I have identified in recent years is that whilst we should all aim to provide clients with positive news, the reality is that throughout a supplier contract term or business relationship there will be occasions when negative information needs conveying. I now see this not as something to fear or be concerned with, but something to turn into a positive, my reason for this is simple, a client would much rather hear the news upfront, quickly and honestly. They would like to hear what you as the supplier or account manager is going to do about it and for example what assurances you will be installing to limit risks in the future. This builds respect and integrity and a refreshing change from people that hide away when all is not as well as planned.

Linking on from honesty are false promises and unsubstantiated quotes, for example calling a prospect and stating that you’ll be able to help their business. As a business owner the first question in my mind would be, thanks but how. Therefore without backing up such claims through understanding the client business goals and objectives I believe, through experience, you immediately place the client on the defensive. Other such claims may be, “”we can save you money”" or “”with our products you can become more efficient”". These may well and in most instances will be truthful but unproven, therefore I believe that you need to genuinely understand the client’s business, how it operates and what its business objectives are before making such statements. Whilst I appreciate this may be difficult in a first phone conversation or meeting and I will go into more detail regarding this area in other articles it is a rule I have consistently adhered to.

To therefore summarise this article, you must at all times be unquestionably honest, communicate good and bad news immediately and aim to only state realistic and substantiated statements to clients.

I am now in my 10th year working within the mobile voice and data communications industry. Having successfully worked with and advised local, SME, key corporate and government sector organisations around the UK and Europe.

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Tags: ethics, training, manager, training, company

Many larger corporations, which have bottomless marketing budgets, incorporate massive public and media relations campaigns around new product launches, trends in the industry, and key story ideas. They “work the media,” feeding them a plate full of facts, figures, soundbites, and information in hopes of garnering the holy grail of the public relations world: the above-the-fold, front page story about their company.

Some companies use inside PR teams with directors, managers, coordinators, and interns. Others engage outside PR firms in order to craft the perfect press release, the pitch letter that an editor will drool over, or to wine and dine a group of reporters at the hippest restaurant and bar in SoHo or Chelsea. Working the media takes time and effort. It involves building tailored media lists, distributing press materials, and yes, meeting with the media and even taking them to lunch (a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it). It’s about nurturing one-on-one relationships that can sometimes take years – and money – to bear fruit.

I know, I know. You have no budget, time, or manpower for a massive PR campaign. I wouldn’t approach this topic if I didn’t have a solution here. The good news is that in today’s New Media world, the art of traditional public and media relations is changing. And it’s changing fast and for the better for small, but successful VARs like you. So I’m offering up a few tips on how to get your PR effort going without taking the traditional route.

Social media is quickly becoming a core element of communications and PR plans, which is great for you – simply because these new media tools are easy to use, don’t demand a lot of manpower, and are economical. How great is that? Blogging, social networks, and podcasts reach more customers and influencers of your product than traditional media might and require almost no out-of-pocket investment. Plus, once you take a little time to get familiar with these channels, it’s so easy to utilize them to your advantage!

According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, “When it comes to generating goodwill between a company, its customers, and prospects – the very essence of public relations – it’s a buyer’s market for small businesses.” For instance, one small business cut loose their PR firm which had been receiving a $6,500 monthly retainer, and replaced them with a $700-a-month line item in their budget for website maintenance. Using their up-to-date database, they began sending weekly email blasts to VIP customers and friends – again, at no cost. The results? The small company’s best PR efforts came from communicating directly with their existing customers and friends, who then forwarded those email blasts on to their friends. Special email newsletters included targeted information geared toward hitting those touchpoints that the company knew would grab the attention of its customers. They gave their customers what they wanted through links to the website and easy access to valuable information.

News “flashes” are also easy to incorporate into your PR program and search engines love them. When written thoughtfully, using keywords and phrases, and in paragraph format – one paragraph for content and one paragraph about your business -search engines will pick up on these flashes and reward you with a higher ranking in searches for your business or product. Create a “news” section on your website where these flashes can call home. Search engine crawlers visit sites that are constantly changed and that are dynamic. When crawlers see that you update your “news” section frequently, and you have carefully crafted your news to include your keywords, you quickly find that these pages will receive high rankings.

Of course, landing a feature story about your latest product in a Top 20 national newspaper (e.g., USA Today, Wall Street Journal, New York Times) or being included in a segment on Oprah or The Today Show is worth way more than its weight in gold, but so is going directly to the world – literally – and to the newswire yourself. The Web is allowing smart VARs like you to engage with the public without the mainstream press or the PR flak who court it. With new media resources, like YouTube and Flickr, you can now deliver unedited messages in your own voice and image instead of leaving it to the press to report the story they way they think it should be told. Or you can create short videos or podcasts for your own site for customers and potential leads to download and watch. Here, you can craft your own message and become “the expert” in your field. The same holds true for blogging. Start offering some of your insightful wisdom on new trends. Customers – and search engines – and sometimes even the traditional media will come to view you as the resource in your industry. The trick is to learn to use these tools without sounding too commercial in your pitches or offerings, and then enjoy the benefits of well-crafted viral marketing take hold.

A dedicated marketing professional, Michelle Kabele has been helping technology companies develop award-winning channel partner programs and marketing strategies for over 10 years. Michelle has worked extensively with small businesses throughout North America.

Michelle has an MBA from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management (Evanston, Ill.)

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Tags: media, pr, programs, marketing, company

When you think of public relations, do you think of a team of agency people, at their desks, strategizing and making calls on behalf of their clients with a well-thought out pitch and familiar media contacts? That picture is indeed true and plays out at agencies across the country every day. I am from that world and, in fact, still live in that world as the co-owner of a public relations agency.

Do I think that scenario is an effective one? Yes. Do I think it’s necessary for every company to have their own “agency” and “people?” No. For years Microsoft was my client and, certainly, they are an obvious example of a company that needs – and believes heavily – in PR. Microsoft’s work is complex, involves hundreds of departments and thousands of stakeholders.

But, the truth is, not every company needs an agency. What about for a small business, perhaps with no employees, to date, and only one offering or service? This business needs public relations AS MUCH as Microsoft, but for different reasons. For this business, PR can mean breaking out of the clutter of competitors, garnering essential new clients, building a brand and, possibly, even the difference between surviving the next year or not.

I realize, there’s a good chance this same company is not yet at a stage where they can hire an agency. So here’s the answer: do your own. Does this sound crazy? It shouldn’t. If you can talk about your company, you can do your own PR. It’s really that simple…or almost.

Before you can talk about your company to a reporter, you do need to do a few simple things. First, make a list of what makes your company or service special. Second, take that list and turn it into an “elevator pitch,” or something you can communicate to someone in the same time it takes to ride one to two floors with them in an elevator. By the time the doors open, whoever is “riding” with you should know what your company does, what makes it special and why they should care.

Last, pick up the phone and give your elevator pitch to a reporter. Or write it down and email a reporter. One thing to note is that for different reporters, the “why they should care” part may change. For example, if you have a cake decorating bakery, a food reporter may care because you are utilizing unique ingredients in your confections. However, the local news may care because they often look for humorous stories related to “hot news” they are covering and your bakery is offering donkey and elephant cakes in honor of the elections.

If you’re nervous, pitch your friends or colleagues first. And you might want to cut your teeth on smaller local publications to build your confidence before tackling a national outlet. But remember this, the media will be writing about companies – in your industry – probably doing what you’re doing. Hone your elevator pitch and there’s a good chance one of the companies they write about in the near future could be yours.

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Stacey Johnes – EzineArticles Expert Author

Tags: talk, company, pr, marketing, campaign

Effective public relations management depends upon developing and executing well structured plans and achieving specific goals. Plan your work then work your plan. Stay focused.

However, I’d bet most public relations professionals responsible for managing a department or just an individual program must constantly deflect requests to take on arbitrary projects that may be well intentioned but only drain staff time and deplete valuable resources.

In my experience, when managing organizations’ public relations activities, many random requests came shortly after various departmental or even board meetings where someone decided that a certain activity or project would generate “great publicity.”

I can recall numerous requests I received as a department head to publicize essentially “feel good” events that did nothing to advance the organization’s strategic business or public relations goals. Such requests frequently came when my department was managing a crisis communications situation or otherwise juggling numerous priority projects.

For a time, I did my best to satisfy such requests. But soon the effort took its toll. No matter how early I arrived in the morning or how late I stayed in the evening or how much extra work I tackled every weekend, I couldn’t stay ahead of the curve. I knew I was in trouble when my typical day started before the delicatessen on the corner opened and ended after it closed.

My solution: I learned to say “No.”

I stopped projecting the impression within the company that my department would take on any project or satisfy any request — especially last minute, ill conceived requests. I learned to explain politely to people that their request didn’t fit into the organization’s public relations plan or business plan and I couldn’t devote staff time, finances or other resources to take it on.

Sure, some projects were emergencies and had to get done. That’s why we call it “crisis communications.” But every unscheduled project didn’t require immediate action, and many weren’t worth doing at all.

Of course I ruffled lots of feathers, but soon my staff and I could focus more intently on key projects the department had on its plate. Maintaining schedules and hitting our deadlines became easier.

And, consider this: For a public relations manager, one of the most time consuming and distracting aspects of crisis communications is the need to deal with numerous unconnected requests for information and action. If dealing with such requests is a time consuming distraction during a crisis, why make it a significant departmental activity when no crisis exists?

Here are five criteria you can use to determine if a project gets your “no” vote. For me, any one of the five can stop a project before it starts:

* No significant publicity value
* No budget
* No staff
* No time
* No position in the organization’s public relations objectives

You can do more when you do less. Learn to say “no.”

Brian R. Salisbury, a writer and a public relations and communications consultant, combines a wealth of communications know-how with an engaging writing style to help his clients shape the most effective messages and deliver them with the greatest impact where they count most. Visit Brian’s Website and subscribe to his free public relations newsletter and receive his free report “Ten Key Components of a Successful Public Relations Program.”
Article Tags: communication, company, department, manage, Public Relations
Posted in Public Relations