If this article has intrigued you we encourage you to look at the various “games” that you are “playing” and with whom. Who are your “teammates” and what kind of game are you playing? With increased awareness of our behavior, and the behavior of others, we are able to create a “win as much as WE can” mentality. Continue reading Games are a Reflection of Behavior as Told by John Satta
A brief look at the e-commerce industry and the need for live operator customer service support.
There is an epidemic in the United States. An epidemic that is so overlooked, if gone unchecked any longer, could cripple the economic strata of the U.S. An epidemic that could be responsible for the genocide of millions of businesses. Curious what it is? I am referring to the gross mismanagement of e-commerce businesses. Okay, perhaps the phrases “cripple the economic strata” and “genocide of millions of businesses” was stretching a bit too far, however, it is a fact that the bulk of e-commerce businesses are not built on an infrastructure that embodies stability. I am referring to a lack of customer service support in the umbrella of businesses designating themselves “e-commerce” or “virtual businesses”.
It is true that the lure of starting the e-commerce business is powerful. An endeavor as such usually requires little or no capital investment, a credit card processing account, and rudimentary knowledge of HTML coding. These three elements compose the basic formula for starting an e-commerce business. There is a marked difference in the formula for starting a business and the formula for maintaining a business. To expound on the latter, what truly makes a business thrive is proper customer relationship management and immediate telephone / live voice account support. This is the key component that is missing from most on-line or “virtual” businesses.
Continue reading “E-Commerce Business – Proceed With Caution”
You’ve just reviewed the final results of your last pro-active media campaign to launch that new product or service. The numbers look pretty good: media impressions were in the millions; coverage was evenly split between broadcast and print; and a leading national paper ran three stories on the launch-pretty impressive. But could it have been better?
You’ve just reviewed the final results of your last pro-active media campaign to launch that new product or service. The numbers look pretty good: media impressions were in the millions; coverage was evenly split between broadcast and print; and a leading national paper ran three stories on the launch-pretty impressive. But could it have been better?
Analyze this
Analyzing issues or campaigns is the first big step in truly understanding any communications success or failure. With busy schedules and/or tight client budgets, more often than not, media analysis isn’t always carried out. A big investment is being made on gathering the media content, but not on measuring and analyzing the trends, successes, and areas for improvement. Stories are often filed away immediately or distributed to a limited group, never to be looked at again or analyzed at all.
If you’re already conducting ongoing media analysis half the battle is won. But if not, you can bet your client or director will demand it soon. New analysis technologies combined with increased expectations to determine communications ROI (Return on Investment) are making analysis a must, not a should.
Once you’ve determined the need or importance of analysis, what’s next? This is where the confusion can set in. As can be expected, everyone has their own definition of how media content should be analyzed based on their own experiences. And usually the issue of PR standards and formulas arise…and that is when things often can come to a stand-still.
Continue reading “Communications Analysis: Real-Time”
Established in 2008, Live and Invest Overseas is the vision of Publisher Kathleen Peddicord. I am proud to be among the contributors to her online venture just before the launch in 2008 and you can see the full list of experts and contributors here. I am inspired by the international real estate and Live and Invest Overseas was one of the reasons why I invested recently in developing my real estate agency as aRE/MAX franchise.
Kathleen Peddicord has covered the live and invest overseas beat for more than 25 years and is considered the world’s foremost authority on overseas retirement. She has traveled to more than 50 countries, invested in real estate in 17, established businesses in 7, renovated historic properties in 6, and educated her children in 4.
Kathleen has moved children, staff, enterprises, household goods, and pets across three continents, from the East Coast of the United States to Waterford, Ireland…then to Paris, France…and, most recently, to Panama City, where she, her husband Lief Simon, and their young son currently make their home and base their Live and Invest Overseas business.
Kathleen writes a weekly retire-overseas blog for U.S. News & World Reports and is regularly quoted by The New York Times, Money magazine, the AARP, and beyond. She has written innumerable books (including a new one for Penguin Books released in March 2010), reports, and essays on where and how you can escape the retirement-tromping economy at home and live like royalty on a modest budget…invest for profits overseas ahead of the crowds…and secure your dream retirement in the world’s best destinations.
Continue reading “Which are the Top Retirement Havens for 2011?”
The world of PR is benefiting from dramatic changes in the way media coverage is being delivered electronically to your computer desktop or PDA of choice. Perhaps the nuisance of ink on your fingers is being replaced by a bad case of “BlackBerry thumb” — but nevertheless getting your media coverage electronically has never been easier or more mobile.
The world of PR is benefiting from dramatic changes in the way media coverage is being delivered electronically to your computer desktop or PDA of choice. Perhaps the nuisance of ink on your fingers is being replaced by a bad case of “BlackBerry thumb” — but nevertheless getting your media coverage electronically has never been easier or more mobile.
These changes now drive the development of new tools from content providers, and new software programs to help better manage and analyze media coverage. The automation occurring at the database level and through the real-time delivery of organizational news, to internal and external stakeholders, is now almost taken for granted. And the holy grail of PR — to automate media analysis and measurement — is already under way; but where should software stop to make way for human analysis?.
Media analysis programs can save countless hours quantifying and sorting media coverage in an unlimited number of ways, including by circulation, region, ad equivalency, company programs and services, and competitive brands. However, do you really want a computer program qualifying how each story affects your organization? It’s a gamble with little upside.
Continue reading “Change Your Tone – Media Coverage Shouldn’t Be Toned By Software”
Acum doua saptamani am demarat pregatirea gradinii de acasa. Taiat crengi, varuit copaci, sapat, buruieni, plante noi, vopsit, etc. De ce nu am angajat pe cineva specializat? Fiindca imi place sa fac asta, este relaxant si pana la urma si gradina este o investitie deoarece iti poate oferi numeroase momente de destindere.
In plus, bebele nostru a inceput deja sa exploreze acest nou teritoriu si vreau sa il foloseasca la maxim daca se poate. Broasca testoasa care hiberneaza toata iarna sub biroul meu de acasa asteapta cuminte sa fie mutata in micutul iaz de gradina si cred ca mai are rabdare sa primeasca “perechea” masculina pe care i-am promis-o.
Recunosc ca sunt foarte receptiv la ideile si proiectele care contribuie la imbunatatirea mediului in care traim si de aceea m-am implicat in editia a II-a a campaniei “Un arbore te asteapta sa-l plantezi” care se va desfasura sambata viitoare, pe 30 aprilie incepand cu ora 10.30.
Continue reading “Un arbore te asteapta sa-l plantezi – editia a II-a”
Online press kits are becoming more and more popular as a way to promote your business, however just having one doesn’t mean it will be effective. Here are some do’s and don’ts to building a better online press kit.
Some recent surveys of journalists and reporters indicate that most prefer to use online media rooms/press kits as opposed to the old-fashioned hard copy press kits. Why? The Internet is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A busy reporter on deadline can log on and cruise from one online press kit to the next without having to wait for an overnight package or fax.
Many businesses and publicists are embracing this new technology in media relations and are in a mad dash to develop online press kits of their own or for their clients. Like a Web site, an online press kit should contain certain elements, should make some features more prominent than others, and be simple to navigate. Here are some “do’s and don’ts” to consider before you dive in and begin creating an online press kit.
Continue reading “Build a Better Online Press Kit”
If you really listen to your customers they will tell you exactly what products they want. They will also tell you what backend product they want to buy from you. Here’s an example of how my customers told me what they wanted in one of my million dollar niches.
Many Internet marketing experts will tell you that the best way to find out what your customers want from you is to ask them. While that may be true, I believe that an even more accurate way is to just listen to what they’re telling you, and to what they’re asking you for.
To illustrate my point, I’ll use a couple of examples from one of my own niches… the recipe and cookbook niche. If you already have even a minor foothold in any niche, my experience should be somewhat instructive.
In-case you’re unfamiliar with my background, I earn six-figures from a soul food cookbook that I wrote and self-published. I wrote that cookbook because my site visitors asked for it.
Continue reading “Are You Ignoring Your Customers’ Requests?”
News releases are not the best way to get major media coverage, but they can be used to increase the frequency with which your company name appears in the press.
Press releases will get you coverage in set features like business notes, and new personnel columns. They also provide a good way to let allies, employees and customers know what you are doing. For these purposes, post releases on the company website, send out by e-mail, or distribute by one of the services like PR Newswire or PR Web.
News releases are not the best way to get major media coverage, but they can be used to increase the frequency with which your company name appears in the press.
Press releases will get you coverage in set features like business notes, and new personnel columns. They also provide a good way to let allies, employees and customers know what you are doing. For these purposes, post releases on the company website, send out by e-mail, or distribute by one of the services like PR Newswire or PR Web.
Continue reading “33 Reasons To Do A News Release”
PR plays a key function in a successful business. And for PR to be productive you will need to trust more than friendship or basic instincts in choosing an “ideal” PR company. Since public relations are about communication and steering the company towards realistic targets, you must consider a number or crucial and tangible issues.
PR plays a key function in a successful business. And for PR to be productive you will need to trust more than friendship or basic instincts in choosing an “ideal” PR company. Since public relations are about communication and steering the company towards realistic targets, you must consider a number or crucial and tangible issues.
Be clear that PR cannot be handled just by the firm it is a partnership between you and the PR experts. It is your inputs that will provide the PR firm with direction. You must on your side provide complete and updated information, be available to advice on or check material put together by the firm and spend time with the PR team on ideation. Only when the grounding is laid clearly will PR be successful.
Continue reading “10 ways to identify if your public relations company is right for you”
Cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Robert Kotler’s New York based publicist, made contact with the Paula Zahn Now program on CNN to schedule an appearance. Here’s what happened next. 1. Map out the segment with the producer *I was referred to one of the *bookers* who did a quick screening and then put me in contact with an associate producer. How one expert made a splash on CNN’S Paula Zahn Now, and how you can, too Cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Robert Kotler’s New York based publicist, made contact with the Paula Zahn Now program on CNN to schedule an appearance. Here’s what happened … Continue reading 7 Tips To Become A Star Tv Guest
Bimboism is rampant in today’s media climate where those who do get their fifteen minutes of fame squander it with empty words and idiotic antics. Think about how much of YOUR time is wasted when you watch TV, listen to the radio or read newspapers or magazines. How long do you stay with a story if it’s not pertinent to your interests or if the interviewee is dull? With so much competition for your attention it’s easy to move on to the next best thing.
Bimboism is rampant in today’s media climate where those who do get their fifteen minutes of fame squander it with empty words and idiotic antics. Think about how much of YOUR time is wasted when you watch TV, listen to the radio or read newspapers or magazines. How long do you stay with a story if it’s not pertinent to your interests or if the interviewee is dull? With so much competition for your attention it’s easy to move on to the next best thing.
Continue reading “3 Ways To Become A Media Bimbo”
pushing the humanity forward through my craft as an entrepreneur 