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StrandRidge.com Business Updates
Friday, December 02, 2011
Biz Strategy
Today's Global Marketing Opportunity
Profiting From The Information Overload
Globalization is operating in tandem with the rise of a worldwide consumer network receiving and sending out information through the worldwide web at greater and greater volumes and speed. This has resulted in an ever widening gap between the evolving market demands and an ability of businesses to respond to these demands.
Ever increasing information about consumer taste and expectations is finding its way around the world and businesses are not processing available information about market demands fast enough to take advantage of the opportunities created through freer information flow.
Today’s consumer is ever more socially networked. Even those who are not linked up by computers are kept in the loop at social gatherings about opinions articulated over the internet regarding products and services on offer.
With courier companies able to deliver practically anywhere in the world and payment modes ranging from the internet to mobile phones and the more traditional banks and post offices, consumers can now shop for products from anywhere in the world. This means being the only store in town may not guarantee an exclusive local market share.
The good news is both local and global businesses can tap into this information overload with the help of business consultants who can provide services in data analysis, marketing and business planning that help increase sales to a more targeted market segment.
The challenge is to successfully build a community of consumers who can provide feedback and act as advocates of your products or services to a wider web of consumers.
Businesses need to develop the ability to use the data available to define their brand image in the minds of consumers. The alternative would be that consumers may end up defining the brand and image of businesses. Once a negative image becomes linked to a particular business it could be transmitted virally throughout the internet and into the real world where consumers experience a product, service or brand.
A healthy food cafe believed that they were in business to serve a health conscious segment of a local community. They did not realise that if they were to shift their marketing focus to emphasising that “healthy ingredients means tasty treats” they would find the long lines of customers that frequent the many local outlets of a global speciality cafe chain willing to switch to their delicious healthy offerings. This information could be gleaned from feedback available through social media discussions.
Too many businesses feel overwhelmed by the countless channels of information flow. They often wonder which medium for marketing would be best. Local consumers are just as much influenced by what they read from global electronic sources as they are from local newspapers.
Technology is not the problem. Rather, it is the solution. What today’s businesses need are partner consultants who can help them identify the information that they need to shape their marketing strategy in order that they may plan for success.
Siddha Param
International Business Consultant
www.worldwidebusinessconnection.com
Your connection to global markets!
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, North America
The geographical center of the world’s largest market.
Profiting From The Information Overload
Globalization is operating in tandem with the rise of a worldwide consumer network receiving and sending out information through the worldwide web at greater and greater volumes and speed. This has resulted in an ever widening gap between the evolving market demands and an ability of businesses to respond to these demands.
Ever increasing information about consumer taste and expectations is finding its way around the world and businesses are not processing available information about market demands fast enough to take advantage of the opportunities created through freer information flow.
Today’s consumer is ever more socially networked. Even those who are not linked up by computers are kept in the loop at social gatherings about opinions articulated over the internet regarding products and services on offer.
With courier companies able to deliver practically anywhere in the world and payment modes ranging from the internet to mobile phones and the more traditional banks and post offices, consumers can now shop for products from anywhere in the world. This means being the only store in town may not guarantee an exclusive local market share.
The good news is both local and global businesses can tap into this information overload with the help of business consultants who can provide services in data analysis, marketing and business planning that help increase sales to a more targeted market segment.
The challenge is to successfully build a community of consumers who can provide feedback and act as advocates of your products or services to a wider web of consumers.
Businesses need to develop the ability to use the data available to define their brand image in the minds of consumers. The alternative would be that consumers may end up defining the brand and image of businesses. Once a negative image becomes linked to a particular business it could be transmitted virally throughout the internet and into the real world where consumers experience a product, service or brand.
A healthy food cafe believed that they were in business to serve a health conscious segment of a local community. They did not realise that if they were to shift their marketing focus to emphasising that “healthy ingredients means tasty treats” they would find the long lines of customers that frequent the many local outlets of a global speciality cafe chain willing to switch to their delicious healthy offerings. This information could be gleaned from feedback available through social media discussions.
Too many businesses feel overwhelmed by the countless channels of information flow. They often wonder which medium for marketing would be best. Local consumers are just as much influenced by what they read from global electronic sources as they are from local newspapers.
Technology is not the problem. Rather, it is the solution. What today’s businesses need are partner consultants who can help them identify the information that they need to shape their marketing strategy in order that they may plan for success.
Siddha Param
International Business Consultant
www.worldwidebusinessconnection.com
Your connection to global markets!
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, North America
The geographical center of the world’s largest market.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Biz Strategy
Succeed by delivering with passion
Create happy customer experiences
Succeeding in business requires commitment and consistent delivery of a positive experience for your customers. With so many smart phones in the market how do customers choose the right one? If price is not the object they tend to pick the one that delights in look, feel and ease of use. The smart phone that stands out from the rest is often the one that adds a positive experience to the customers life. The secret ingredient that would have gone into the making of such a phone would have been passion.
It is passion that drives us to attain excellence in what we create and deliver.
Do what you love and the passion to achieve excellence will come across and touch the heart of your customers. Such customers will very gladly pay you a compliment and the price you ask. Business succeeds best with satisfied paying customers. These are the type of customers who will become advocates of your product or service.
I still do tell people about the delicious clam chowder I had at a little café on Granville Island in Vancouver, British Columbia 5 years ago! That is the kind of free advertising you want to have spreading around. Every satisfied customer is a promoter of your business.
Remember to sell an experience. People will always remember how you made them feel. Strive to always make them feel good. They will come back for more of that positive experience.
Many a café succeeds by giving regular customers a daily experience of a moment in paradise! Yes! It may be the fancy cappuccino that first draws them in. But on most mornings rushing to work all they may have is 30 seconds to pick up a cup of regular coffee before continuing on to work.
As the coffee is being filled, for a brief moment they may close their eyes and inhale the aroma of the coffee being served up. At that moment the aroma may transport them to the top of a mountain with a panoramic view of the ocean. Ah! Yes! A moment in paradise. That experience of a moment in paradise may be what really draws the customer back to the café day after day.
A passionate café owner will strive to serve that perfect cup of coffee every time. My daily morning cup of paradise comes from freshly ground fair trade organic coffee roasted just right.
So serve up passion and let your business succeed with happy customers.
International Business Consultant
Your connection to global markets!
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, North America
The geographical centre of the world’s largest market!
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Biz Strategy
Competitive Advantage In Customer Service
Learning winning lessons from your customers
You may not be able to compete with global supermarket chains on pricing and range of products but you can compete on the quality of personal service. This advice holds true for all businesses ranging from a local retail store to a chain of stores worldwide.
The big stores tend to focus on business efficiency in order to deliver based on a template for response to generalized customer demographics. This allows smaller businesses focusing on delivering to individual customer needs to have an edge that allows them to turn a profit.
Learn from feed back given free by unhappy customers. These customers provide a real-life case study that allows you to learn and improve service. Very often the customer who is complaining will also provide the solution.
Recently I drove into a tropical beachfront resort in South East Asia. It was part of a chain of hotels worldwide. The beautifully landscaped garden leading to the sandy beach was so inviting. A walk on the beach rewarded me with one of natures’ wonders. Hundreds of tiny crabs appeared from little holes in the sand by the waters’ edge where waves gently lapped onto the beach. The sudden click of my camera scared these little creatures that at the blink of an eye disappeared into the little holes on the beach in unison.
A couple of drinks at the beach front bar and we were ready to head up to the hotel room for a shower before dinner. The room was well designed and pleasant. After the shower the spell of a relaxing evening in our tropical paradise retreat ended when upon pulling off the covers on the bed I discovered the bed sheet was stained and had strangers hair all over. It was obvious that the sheets were old and unclean. Housekeeping had to go through about six sheets to find one that was clean enough to sleep on. The next morning as a customer I complained that if only they had provided fresh clean bed sheets I would have ranked this hotel as having world class service.
Unfortunately several hours after checking out all I got was a call from a manager saying they would upgrade me to a bigger room next time. The point had been missed. The hotel management had failed to learn from this experience. All they had to do was to focus on cleanliness and hygiene immediately providing clean new bed sheets. Now all that a small bed and breakfast nearby has to do is to provide rooms that are spotless with clean bed sheets and they would succeed in gaining customers at the expense of this beachfront resort.
It is not the size of your store but the quality of service that gives an edge to the small and medium sized businesses worldwide. With the advice of a business consultant you can prepare a business plan and a marketing strategy that carves out a profitable niche for your business within the community you serve.
A little boutique Inn in Winnipeg comes to mind where the restaurant has a chef who takes it as a challenge to use only fresh ingredients to satisfy the needs of customers with allergies to artificial colorings, flavorings and preservatives in foods. He succeeds every time in creating a delicious gourmet experience that makes this Inn an attractive place to stay on your travel across the North American prairies.
Business success always comes from satisfying your customers needs. These are the people who pay your bills and make your business profitable. Treat them well always.
Siddha Param
International Business Consultant
www.worldwidebusinessconnection.com
Your connection to global markets!
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, North America
The geographical centre of the world’s largest market.
Learning winning lessons from your customers
You may not be able to compete with global supermarket chains on pricing and range of products but you can compete on the quality of personal service. This advice holds true for all businesses ranging from a local retail store to a chain of stores worldwide.
The big stores tend to focus on business efficiency in order to deliver based on a template for response to generalized customer demographics. This allows smaller businesses focusing on delivering to individual customer needs to have an edge that allows them to turn a profit.
Learn from feed back given free by unhappy customers. These customers provide a real-life case study that allows you to learn and improve service. Very often the customer who is complaining will also provide the solution.
Recently I drove into a tropical beachfront resort in South East Asia. It was part of a chain of hotels worldwide. The beautifully landscaped garden leading to the sandy beach was so inviting. A walk on the beach rewarded me with one of natures’ wonders. Hundreds of tiny crabs appeared from little holes in the sand by the waters’ edge where waves gently lapped onto the beach. The sudden click of my camera scared these little creatures that at the blink of an eye disappeared into the little holes on the beach in unison.
A couple of drinks at the beach front bar and we were ready to head up to the hotel room for a shower before dinner. The room was well designed and pleasant. After the shower the spell of a relaxing evening in our tropical paradise retreat ended when upon pulling off the covers on the bed I discovered the bed sheet was stained and had strangers hair all over. It was obvious that the sheets were old and unclean. Housekeeping had to go through about six sheets to find one that was clean enough to sleep on. The next morning as a customer I complained that if only they had provided fresh clean bed sheets I would have ranked this hotel as having world class service.
Unfortunately several hours after checking out all I got was a call from a manager saying they would upgrade me to a bigger room next time. The point had been missed. The hotel management had failed to learn from this experience. All they had to do was to focus on cleanliness and hygiene immediately providing clean new bed sheets. Now all that a small bed and breakfast nearby has to do is to provide rooms that are spotless with clean bed sheets and they would succeed in gaining customers at the expense of this beachfront resort.
It is not the size of your store but the quality of service that gives an edge to the small and medium sized businesses worldwide. With the advice of a business consultant you can prepare a business plan and a marketing strategy that carves out a profitable niche for your business within the community you serve.
A little boutique Inn in Winnipeg comes to mind where the restaurant has a chef who takes it as a challenge to use only fresh ingredients to satisfy the needs of customers with allergies to artificial colorings, flavorings and preservatives in foods. He succeeds every time in creating a delicious gourmet experience that makes this Inn an attractive place to stay on your travel across the North American prairies.
Business success always comes from satisfying your customers needs. These are the people who pay your bills and make your business profitable. Treat them well always.
Siddha Param
International Business Consultant
www.worldwidebusinessconnection.com
Your connection to global markets!
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, North America
The geographical centre of the world’s largest market.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Biz Strategy
Cultivating An Attitude For Business Success
Positive motivators are the key to staying focused
To succeed in business you need a Business Plan and an Action Agenda that takes you towards your business goals. Staying focused on the Action Agenda is the key to success.
F O C U S is said to stand for “Follow One Course Until Successful”
Sounds simple! Yet too many business individuals get distracted by flavors of the moment put before them by others having a different agenda. It is a good idea to seize an opportunity that arises unexpectedly provided it fits into your business plan.
We may join networking groups and trade organisations and get involved in projects of the group. This is a good thing provided that these projects support your business plan or acts to motivate you to work harder at your business.
Working with a Business Consultant can improve your results. Two heads are better than one. Having a sounding board that allows you to get alternative views and a better perspective is an excellent idea.
To motivate and keep you on target with schedules it is good to have a consultant who encourages you to stick to your timetable. The best leaders are those who have consultants who keep them motivated and who themselves keep the team motivated to stick to the Action Agenda.
Delegating administrative and management functions allows business leaders to spend more time on strategy development and leadership action. Work with specialist to develop your marketing strategy and brand value. This can transform just another player in the market into a business that leads, dominates or even creates a market.
Intelligent phones did not only capture market share of the mobile phone market but did also create two new markets. Intelligent phones are reshaping how consumers buy music and access the internet. Now we have one device that can act as our mobile phone, music player and personal computer.
Allow your successes to motivate you. Make a list of all your achievements. Analyse how you succeeded in the past. List down the facts that support your belief as to why you will succeed on your present venture. Remember, knowledge is power and the more information you have of the market and the global realities that impact on your target market the greater your possibility of success.
Seeking information is critical to success. Information well analysed can help you gain insights that could excite you to act promptly in order to succeed. Timing is everything when it comes to seizing business opportunities.
Seize the day!
International Business Consultant
Your connection to global markets!
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, North America
The geographical centre of the world’s largest market!
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Biz Strategy
Questions To Ask For Business Growth
Getting better market knowledge
Getting better market knowledge
Is your business operating at optimum potential?
Is your business worth the time you are investing in it?
A fantastic business should be one that excites both you and your customers. It should add a sparkle to your eyes and create a sense of satisfaction in your customers. If yours is a high end luxury product or service the customer should feel it is worth every dollar paid. If it is a budget product or service the customers feeling has to be good value for money. Either way the base customer emotion should be, “what a bargain”. Equally important is your genuine appreciation of having delivered on your promise to the customer.
A happy customer can very quickly become your client and advocate who promotes’ your product or service through social endorsement and recommendations to family, friends and the wider community. There is no better advertisement that that of a genuinely satisfied customer. Money cannot buy you that. You will have to earn the support of your customer advocate not through marketing campaigns but through actually delivery on the promised quality and experience. It is critical that you ask the question, “Am I succeeding on this front?”
So, how do you find such customers? To avoid trial and error of feedback after sales, conduct market research and surveys as to the potential market that exists for your offerings. Do people want what you are offering? Do you need to modify your offering? Get feedback from both the physical and virtual market. Either way you will need to get feedback from authoritative sources and potential customers. With this preliminary data you may want to test market your product or services and obtain the subsequent feedback.
Giving free samples or demonstrations in return for feedback is another way to obtain information that can help you plan your marketing and pricing strategy.
The biggest fear in doing preliminary surveys is the concern that somebody else may steal your idea. You can utilize intellectual property protection to a certain extent. However, it is more important to identify a market rather than to allow the fear of losing the possible market to some other business to prevent you from conducting such a survey.
At the stage of conducting a preliminary survey there is no real market to lose. A potential competitor may not necessarily have the same quality of skills, knowledge, commitment and resources that you and your team may have.
A survey might help you understand why others may have failed previously. It is cheaper to learn from the mistakes of others. In many areas of business we find competitors vying for what appears to be the same market. But very often we also find one business that appears to have a commanding share of the market way ahead of the other businesses in the market place. This very often is because such market leaders tend to be responsive to the evolving market demands. Hence we see fast food chains adding fresh fruits and salads to the menu alongside processed foods. This reflects the growing consciousness amongst the wider population of the link between nutrition and health.
Very often success comes not just from having a good product or superior service but additionally from having the right vision and drive to succeed combined with facts regarding market realities as the foundation of your business strategy and plan of action.
International Business Consultant
Your connection to global markets!
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, North America
The geographical centre of the world’s largest market!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Biz Strategy
Make Change Your Business Asset
The only thing permanent is change
We are constantly reminded that the world is changing. It is now a global economy and what worked before under a system of international trade may not work today. Free trade is lowering barriers between countries. The internet is allowing both big and small businesses in countries across the globe to compete for your local market.
The solution is to embrace change. No point resisting the reality of technology and ideas influencing taste and expectations. With a mobile phone you now have a computer in your hand allowing you to access information on the best ideas and tips to improve your business.
Embracing change requires a learning mindset that is excited with new ideas and avenues to greater opportunities. Imagine a flower shop in Winnipeg connecting with an orchid grower in tropical Malaysia through a web link. This link could mean a business opportunity for the Malaysian to export and for the Winnipeg flower shop to be a distributor reaching out to shops across Canada and the United States. Accepting change encourages you to seek information that allows you to calculate the risk and balance it with the rewards of taking such a risk.
Information removes uncertainty and fear. It is said that “F E A R” stands for “False Evidence Appearing Real”. Information understood leads to knowledge that guides us towards making wise decisions.
Be alert to change by getting updates on developments worldwide. Todays’ innovative idea will be overtaken by new innovation. The question is whether you remain the innovator that leads the market and maintains market share or will some other business replace your business in the market.
We have seen how a cell phone innovator in Canada could lose market share to innovation from a United States competitor. Unless fresh ideas are injected a onetime leader in innovation may find it forgotten by the market.
The advice from leaders of successful companies is to never stop learning. Never stop trying to understand new ideas and innovations in the market place. In today’s world all businesses are global. As we know, the local diner down the road has to compete with a multinational corporate food chain possibly very nearby. Fortunately the internet now allows the local diner to operate with the same advantages as a multinational. The local diner can incorporate new management ideas normally available only to big corporations by accessing information available through the internet and utilizing the advice of a business consultant to work out an effective marketing strategy.
Just hoping that things will get better is no substitute for developing an effective business plan based on market knowledge and facts.
Adapting to change may not be easy. We all tend to get comfortable with things we are familiar with. However, while it is important to conserve what is good we do also need to keep pace with change and keep moving forward with fresh ideas and new knowledge. The law of nature demands that we understand the changes in our environment and to adapt in order to survive and to thrive.
So embrace change and enjoy the learning process.
International Business Consultant
Your connection to global markets!
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, North America
The geographical centre of the world’s largest market!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Biz Strategy
Effective Leadership Requires A Team
Stimulating success with knowledge
Stimulating success with knowledge
The old adage, “many hands make light work” remains true. While we may all have knowledge and skills in multiple fields we can only be real experts within a core area of specialization. Hence, to be effective in performing well in your area of specialization you need a team. Equally important is leadership skill to organize and get the best performance from your team.
No matter how talented you are it remains critical that you attract the right people into your team who complement your skills. Once assembled the team needs a leader who acts as the “first amongst equals” which in Sanskrit is called the “Pradhan Mantri” or in the English cabinet system of governance the Prime Minister who leads a team of Ministers.
Mantri in Sanskrit means Sage a person who understands knowledge or the mantra. The world mantri traveled via South East Asia to China where it evolved into the word Mandarin describing the system of administrators selected through a public examination system. Therefore, to be a good leader you must first assemble a team of individuals who are qualified and competent. This is a universal principal that has been well established over the centuries in Asia and Europe.Once you have assembled your team the next challenge of leadership kicks in. This is the ability to get the team working on your agenda for action and to deliver results. To achieve this you have to be able to hold the attention of your team members as you explain your agenda. You will then have to motivate, inspire and excite your team so that they are all fired up to act on your agenda.
Capturing the attention of your team requires self-confidence, a clear vision and deep knowledge of the subject matter of your agenda. Understand the matters that are related to your agenda making sure you have deep knowledge of the core issues relating to the subject matter before the team.The more you motivate your team members with your knowledge of the subject matter of your agenda the greater will be the enthusiasm of your team members.
We should always remember that T-E-A-M stands for “Together Each Achieves Magic”.The members of your team must feel a sense of ownership of the agenda and be allowed to celebrate the achievements in contributing to the success of the agenda.
To motivate, inspire and excite your team into action do the following:1. Challenge limitations – Define the most difficult factors that need to be overcome to succeed. Explain to your team why others may have failed to overcome these factors. Tell them there are no easy answers but simultaneously stimulate their natural human curiosity and excite them into taking the challenge to succeed. Remember that the more difficult the challenge the sweeter will be the victory.
2. Focus analysis – Instead of suggesting possible answers, define interesting questions. After all, life is a puzzle waiting to be solved. Encourage your team to come up with scenarios that could lead to the solution or goal of the agenda by posing questions that stimulate questions from the team members. This process encourages a sense of ownership of your agenda by your team members who will get increasingly excited and stimulated to work on solutions. 3. Stimulate the mind – Turn on the creative juices with brain storming where everyone is encouraged to give their view from their specialist perspective. Hence, a person with an operations background may give insight as to the logistics involved in production. A legally trained person may point out the legal and ethical issues while a financial consultant may look at the economics of the venture. Putting all these together the public relations specialist could suggest the best way to sell the results of the agenda to the public.
Look at how Bill Gates identified the fact that there is more money in software development as opposed to hardware creation in the Information Technology industry. He focused on assembling a team of creative engineers led by an equally savvy business team that created a brand which opened windows to the information age.
Yes! We now live in a knowledge society. The next challenge is for a leader to emerge who can create a wisdom team of technology sages to move society into an even higher level of success, prosperity and happiness.
May your mind be stimulated to lead your team to greater success.
Your connection to global markets!
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, North America
The geographical centre of the world’s largest market!
Thursday, September 08, 2011
Biz Strategy
The Importance of Market Research
Information shaping intuition
There are business leaders who rely very heavily on
intuition and past experience over the years in making decisions when it comes
to planning the marketing for the business.
However, experience is just one of the many factors that go
into a successful marketing plan.
The key to success in marketing is knowledge. Understanding
the facts about a target market is essential to creating a successful marketing
plan.
The target market can be very dynamic. Many factors
influence the buyers who have to decide on whether to buy from you.
Economic conditions, demographics, government regulations
and technological innovations can affect the buying decision. This is
especially true in Canada.
Market research helps
you:
•Identify who your customers are
•Determine your customers’ preferences
•Create the profile of your customers
•Plan effective marketing strategies
•Establish optimal geographic business locations
In today's global economy all businesses are global. Even the local diner has to compete with global fast food chains operating just down the road. Market knowledge allows businesses of all sizes to compete effectively.
With the assistance of a consultant advising on the information available through the Internet small businesses can transform into micro-multinational corporations operating with deep knowledge of niche markets worldwide.
A business consultant can assist you in
obtaining and interpreting information to drive your business decisions.
Siddha Param
Your connection to global markets!
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, North America
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Biz Strategy
Better To Be Productive Then Busy
The 80/20 rule of success in sales.
www.worldwidebusinessconnection.com
Your connection to global markets!
The 80/20 rule of success in sales.
This is true in most types of sales. The top 20% of sales people are able to close more sales then the other 80% doing the same job.
How do they achieve this without working longer hours than others? The simple answer is productivity. Their priority is to do what is necessary to close the sale. This very often means making the cold calls to a target list of prospects. Accepting no and moving on to the next prospect. When it is necessary to return to a difficult prospect or one who requires more diplomacy, information or time they accommodate to the individual needs to the extent of sticking to the primary objective of closing the maximum number of sales closest to the target number forecasted.
Focus on generating leads, cultivating prospects and staying on message on benefits that trigger the buy decision.
There are many work place distractions such as office politics, meetings that take longer than necessary, and non-productive activity often called administrative matters.
When it comes to that morning coffee break, it should be drink and go. After work hours you can switch to tea which is sip and slow.
Remember that business is not about being busy. Business is about making the sales that brings in the money. If you must be as busy, be busy like a bee that spends the whole day focused on gathering honey. In our case it has to be about being focused on bringing in the money.
If you don’t make 100% of the calls you may not be able to reach the 20% who become your customers giving you 80% of your business earnings.
International Business Consultantwww.worldwidebusinessconnection.com
Your connection to global markets!
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, North America
The geographical centre of the world’s largest market!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Biz Strategy
Writing A Business Plan
Succeeding more efficiently.Here are some tips to get you started on writing your Business Plan:
1. Write down your business idea in a style as if you are explaining it to a person in front of you.
2. Explain the business idea using the journalistic headings of Why, When, Where, What, Who and How.
3. Use a simple writing style listing out major points. Remember to focus on Expressing not Impressing.
4. Keep your sentences and paragraphs short. Use bullet points.
5. Give your readers direction. Write logically so your description flows in a clear direction.
6. Avoid using technical words, jargon and ambiguous words. Be concise and precise.
7. Read what you have written out load. Make sure your writing sounds positive with a focus on what you can do.
8. Express yourself clearly by visualizing what you want to write on and write freely. You can always edit to shorten sentences later.
Get a good idea of how to start writing your Business Plan by seeking Consulting advise on samples and guidelines that help you avoid re-inventing the wheel.
Always remember that each Business Plan is unique since each business is unique.
Be inspired by the success of others but remember to innovate so your idea is fresh, new and "hot" creating consumer excitement and demand.
Check out:
http://www.worldwidebusinessconnection.com/events.htm
Siddha Param
International Business Consultant
www.worldwidebusinessconnection.com
Your connection to global markets!
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, North American
The geographical centre of the world's largest market.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Biz Strategy
Asia Pacific Trade Opportunities
All businesses are truly global
Globalization and free trade have now come to dominate and define business opportunity worldwide. No matter the size of your business you will find that it is now practically impossible to conduct your business without some equipment or raw materials from overseas sources.
Global trade makes it almost impossible to brew a cup of coffee without some implement or ingredient being imported. Perhaps it is the coffee beans, or the brewing machine or the mugs you use to make and serve the coffee in. Some or all of these components would have been imported which means someone exported and made a profit from what you use to run a café serving rich aromatic coffee.
Sitting in a café by the riverside where the mighty Red meets the Assinaboine River at Forks of Winnipeg this global reality is easily accessed through the internet with a website offering Canadian grown products. A customer across the Pacific Ocean in tropical Malaysia can place an order and make payment with just a few clicks of a mouse. From Manitoba organic flax oil rich in omega 3 can then be shipped out to the customer.
Even small retail stores can tap into the export market by creating a website with a payment gateway.
A Canadian business can now continue to sell in the local and United States markets while tapping into the rapidly growing markets of India, China and South East Asia. Healthy Canadian prairie grains and oils definitely have a market amongst the health conscious global middleclass.
There are clear advantages for including an export strategy in your business plan. You can enjoy increased sales in a bigger market beyond North America. A larger market allows businesses to operate at an optimum capacity allowing for maximum profits from multiple sources.
By doing businesses globally you learn from new experiences with distributors and customers in overseas markets. These experiences can stimulate new ideas that lead to product innovation. This can keep you ahead of the competition in a global market that pays a premium for novel solutions and experiences.
Selling in multiple markets reduces your vulnerabilities so that you are not totally dependent on just one market. This reduces your risk exposure to market vulnerabilities.
Exporting globally tends to encourage you to develop globally competitive quality products that sell well domestically too. Additionally quality products can better withstand local competition from global multinational corporations.
Using a website you can target and capture new markets globally. To be effective the following strategic assessments needs to be done:
1. Identify the demographics of your customers locally and in the other markets.
2. Evaluate the need for modifications to your product to appeal to local taste.
3. Find out the best way to deliver your product to the various identified markets.
4. Establish any necessary local representation to promote your product overseas.
5. Ensure that your product quality is acceptable to customers in other countries.
6. Make sure your operation has the capacity to fulfill any increase in demand.
7. Determine your costing strategy and the currency exchange requirements.
With the right marketing plan based on reliable market figures you can succeed in exporting to increase profits and reduce risk in the event of a downturn in the local market.
All businesses are truly global
Globalization and free trade have now come to dominate and define business opportunity worldwide. No matter the size of your business you will find that it is now practically impossible to conduct your business without some equipment or raw materials from overseas sources.
Global trade makes it almost impossible to brew a cup of coffee without some implement or ingredient being imported. Perhaps it is the coffee beans, or the brewing machine or the mugs you use to make and serve the coffee in. Some or all of these components would have been imported which means someone exported and made a profit from what you use to run a café serving rich aromatic coffee.
Sitting in a café by the riverside where the mighty Red meets the Assinaboine River at Forks of Winnipeg this global reality is easily accessed through the internet with a website offering Canadian grown products. A customer across the Pacific Ocean in tropical Malaysia can place an order and make payment with just a few clicks of a mouse. From Manitoba organic flax oil rich in omega 3 can then be shipped out to the customer.
Even small retail stores can tap into the export market by creating a website with a payment gateway.
A Canadian business can now continue to sell in the local and United States markets while tapping into the rapidly growing markets of India, China and South East Asia. Healthy Canadian prairie grains and oils definitely have a market amongst the health conscious global middleclass.
There are clear advantages for including an export strategy in your business plan. You can enjoy increased sales in a bigger market beyond North America. A larger market allows businesses to operate at an optimum capacity allowing for maximum profits from multiple sources.
By doing businesses globally you learn from new experiences with distributors and customers in overseas markets. These experiences can stimulate new ideas that lead to product innovation. This can keep you ahead of the competition in a global market that pays a premium for novel solutions and experiences.
Selling in multiple markets reduces your vulnerabilities so that you are not totally dependent on just one market. This reduces your risk exposure to market vulnerabilities.
Exporting globally tends to encourage you to develop globally competitive quality products that sell well domestically too. Additionally quality products can better withstand local competition from global multinational corporations.
Using a website you can target and capture new markets globally. To be effective the following strategic assessments needs to be done:
1. Identify the demographics of your customers locally and in the other markets.
2. Evaluate the need for modifications to your product to appeal to local taste.
3. Find out the best way to deliver your product to the various identified markets.
4. Establish any necessary local representation to promote your product overseas.
5. Ensure that your product quality is acceptable to customers in other countries.
6. Make sure your operation has the capacity to fulfill any increase in demand.
7. Determine your costing strategy and the currency exchange requirements.
With the right marketing plan based on reliable market figures you can succeed in exporting to increase profits and reduce risk in the event of a downturn in the local market.
Siddha Param
International Business Consultant
www.worldwidebusinessconnection.com
Your connection to global markets!
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Biz Strategy
Convincing Through Conviction Marketing
The importance of speaking the truth.
Believe in what you are saying and chances are others will believe in you and what you say. To make a successful sales pitch, first try to sell the service or product to yourself. If you will not buy based on your sales pitch then can you expect others to buy what you are selling?
Too often it is not what is outside of us that prevent us from closing a sale. Rather, it is what we believe and how we act as a result of our belief that leads to failure or success.
Learning about sales techniques and knowledge of what we are promoting is necessary but is not sufficient to create interest in what we are promoting and to conclude a sale.
Training is important to improve skills and knowledge but this has to be done with the right attitude that comes with an open mind. An open mind readily accepts facts that change our beliefs hence positively modifying our behavior.
Believe in yourself and what you are promoting and allow this belief to impact on your behavior. Allow your words to reflect this behavior and you will come across as a person who speaks with conviction. This builds trust in you that will go a long way in convincing individuals in the market to buy what you are selling.
Business consulting and training works like a coach in a game rather then like a teacher in a classroom.
It is not just about learning lessons but additionally is about understanding and accepting information that improves your skill and performance through a change of behavior that make succeeding a natural goal for you.
The best sports individuals train not just to learn techniques but to make winning a natural behavior for them.
Practice does not make you perfect but it can make a particular winning behavior automatic and natural for you.
The right belief system leads to the right attitude that in turn leads to the right behavior and action that increases the probability of success.
Once a particular belief and winning behavior becomes a natural part of you, your behavior will automatically be one that leads towards success. When belief coincides with behavior the message is transmitted with conviction and this tends to convince the audience because it comes across as authentic.
A sales pitch is really an assertion to the audience to trust in you. We tend to buy from a sales person we feel comfortable with when we trust in what they say. This is why in the selling of the same type of product some sales individuals are better then others.
So don’t try to be perfect. Become familiar and comfortable with what you are promoting instead.
Make it a natural part of your behavior to talk about why you believe in what you are promoting. This makes your message believable. The audience will realize that you are speaking with conviction and it is this conviction that convinces consumers in the genuineness of a product or service.
It is conviction that builds trust and leads to consumers making the buying decision.
So convince yourself that your product or service is good for you and you will be on your way to convincing others around you to buy what is on offer.
Your first customer is inside you. Close that sale and you will begin the change in behavior that leads you to succeed in the global marketplace.
Siddha Param
International Business Consultant
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
www.worldwidebusinessconnection.com
Your connection to global markets!
The importance of speaking the truth.
Believe in what you are saying and chances are others will believe in you and what you say. To make a successful sales pitch, first try to sell the service or product to yourself. If you will not buy based on your sales pitch then can you expect others to buy what you are selling?
Too often it is not what is outside of us that prevent us from closing a sale. Rather, it is what we believe and how we act as a result of our belief that leads to failure or success.
Learning about sales techniques and knowledge of what we are promoting is necessary but is not sufficient to create interest in what we are promoting and to conclude a sale.
Training is important to improve skills and knowledge but this has to be done with the right attitude that comes with an open mind. An open mind readily accepts facts that change our beliefs hence positively modifying our behavior.
Believe in yourself and what you are promoting and allow this belief to impact on your behavior. Allow your words to reflect this behavior and you will come across as a person who speaks with conviction. This builds trust in you that will go a long way in convincing individuals in the market to buy what you are selling.
Business consulting and training works like a coach in a game rather then like a teacher in a classroom.
It is not just about learning lessons but additionally is about understanding and accepting information that improves your skill and performance through a change of behavior that make succeeding a natural goal for you.
The best sports individuals train not just to learn techniques but to make winning a natural behavior for them.
Practice does not make you perfect but it can make a particular winning behavior automatic and natural for you.
The right belief system leads to the right attitude that in turn leads to the right behavior and action that increases the probability of success.
Once a particular belief and winning behavior becomes a natural part of you, your behavior will automatically be one that leads towards success. When belief coincides with behavior the message is transmitted with conviction and this tends to convince the audience because it comes across as authentic.
A sales pitch is really an assertion to the audience to trust in you. We tend to buy from a sales person we feel comfortable with when we trust in what they say. This is why in the selling of the same type of product some sales individuals are better then others.
So don’t try to be perfect. Become familiar and comfortable with what you are promoting instead.
Make it a natural part of your behavior to talk about why you believe in what you are promoting. This makes your message believable. The audience will realize that you are speaking with conviction and it is this conviction that convinces consumers in the genuineness of a product or service.
It is conviction that builds trust and leads to consumers making the buying decision.
So convince yourself that your product or service is good for you and you will be on your way to convincing others around you to buy what is on offer.
Your first customer is inside you. Close that sale and you will begin the change in behavior that leads you to succeed in the global marketplace.
Siddha Param
International Business Consultant
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
www.worldwidebusinessconnection.com
Your connection to global markets!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Biz Strategy
The Secret of Success in Business and Life
Drop by drop you can create a mighty ocean.
So you have a Business Plan and an Action Plan. The secret now is in the implementation one day at a time. Daily monitoring of your team's actions is the key to success.
Have a daily, "to do" list and tick off as you go through the day. Should you miss any items on the list make notes as to why you miss completing those task. Review weekly. Have further monthly in-dept discussions and analysis with your team members as whether the time frame set for completion of tasks are practical. Review and improve as you go along.
Sir William Osler realized this as a medical student at the Montreal General Hospital. He went on to help establish the internationally well known Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
He had this poem on his desk which is worth reading daily:
SALUTATION TO THE DAWN
Look to this day!
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course
Lie all the varieties and realities of your existence:
The bliss of growth
The glory of action
The splendor of beauty
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course
Lie all the varieties and realities of your existence:
The bliss of growth
The glory of action
The splendor of beauty
For yesterday is but a dream
And tomorrow only a vision
But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
And tomorrow only a vision
But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore to this day!
Such is the salutation to the dawn.
Such is the salutation to the dawn.
- by Kalidasa, Poet
By breaking down a task into bits that are manageable for the day we can complete even the most complex task. Remember, beyond the business is your life and happiness. Therefore, set a time when you will clock out and end your work day. This is to ensure you will have time for yourself, your family and your community. A fresh mind in the morning is more productive then a tired one struggling into the late evening.
We need to remember that quality of living is the ultimate measure of success.
The business must be rewarding both financially and emotionally. It is important to feel a sense of achievement when a target is reached. Your self-esteem should blossom, only then will the enterprise be a sustained one that revitalizes you enough to want to return day after day until you succeed.
Remember a business has the potential of immortality with the ability to thrive beyond the lifetime of its creators. Therefore leave a positive legacy behind when the time comes for you to move on to enjoy the fruits of your labour.
Success come to those who dare and act one day at a time.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, North America
The geographical centre of the world's largest market!
Your connection to global markets!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Biz Strategy
Business Action Plan Reboot
Why have a written plan of action
Do you have a Business Plan?
Why did you prepare a Business Plan?
When did you last reviewed your Business Plan?
Is your Business Plan the foundation of your Action Plan?
Does your Action Plan include a learning strategy to achieve goals more effectively?
You need a written plan that allows you to take action based an effective strategy that allows you to adapt quickly to new information and market feedback even as you implement your action plan.
Spend time with your team and consultants to prepare an Action Plan based on the key areas of your Business Plan.
The Action Plan should set out the strategy and steps to be taken in achieving the goals set under the Business Plan particularly in the areas of ; production, marketing and finance.
The Action Plan is the road-map that takes you towards set daily, weekly, quarterly and yearly goals.
The goals should be SMART; that is, specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound. These are the critical elements in preparing an Action Plan.
Navigating the business world without an Action Plan is like sailing the oceans with a rudderless ship. To prepare an Action Plan include the following 3 practical steps:
1. State your goals clearly;
2. Prioritize your goals in the right order;
3. Set a realistic timeline and completion period.
Make sure there is a set budget for the Action Plan that should include production cost, marketing expenses, equipment investment, salaries and profit forecast.
Prioritize your expenditure and workout the cost accounting so that you can evaluate the “return on investment” (ROI) for your plan of action.
The ROI should justify the risk involved in achieving the goals set in the Action Plan.
Make sure you get the right information to assess the risk involved. This will help you to decide on the right business modal that allows you to have a realistic risk management strategy to ensure a reasonable expectation of business success.
Make sure you review the results of your actions periodically so that you can make any necessary adjustments to keep you on track to achieving your goals.
The world is your oyster. We live in a era of global trade that allows all businesses no matter your size to reach markets worldwide.
Siddha Param
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, North America
The geographical centre of the world’s largest market!
Siddha Param is an International Business Consultant with www.worldwidebusinessconnection.com
Your connection to global markets!
Why have a written plan of action
Do you have a Business Plan?
Why did you prepare a Business Plan?
When did you last reviewed your Business Plan?
Is your Business Plan the foundation of your Action Plan?
Does your Action Plan include a learning strategy to achieve goals more effectively?
You need a written plan that allows you to take action based an effective strategy that allows you to adapt quickly to new information and market feedback even as you implement your action plan.
Spend time with your team and consultants to prepare an Action Plan based on the key areas of your Business Plan.
The Action Plan should set out the strategy and steps to be taken in achieving the goals set under the Business Plan particularly in the areas of ; production, marketing and finance.
The Action Plan is the road-map that takes you towards set daily, weekly, quarterly and yearly goals.
The goals should be SMART; that is, specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound. These are the critical elements in preparing an Action Plan.
Navigating the business world without an Action Plan is like sailing the oceans with a rudderless ship. To prepare an Action Plan include the following 3 practical steps:
1. State your goals clearly;
2. Prioritize your goals in the right order;
3. Set a realistic timeline and completion period.
Make sure there is a set budget for the Action Plan that should include production cost, marketing expenses, equipment investment, salaries and profit forecast.
Prioritize your expenditure and workout the cost accounting so that you can evaluate the “return on investment” (ROI) for your plan of action.
The ROI should justify the risk involved in achieving the goals set in the Action Plan.
Make sure you get the right information to assess the risk involved. This will help you to decide on the right business modal that allows you to have a realistic risk management strategy to ensure a reasonable expectation of business success.
Make sure you review the results of your actions periodically so that you can make any necessary adjustments to keep you on track to achieving your goals.
The world is your oyster. We live in a era of global trade that allows all businesses no matter your size to reach markets worldwide.
Siddha Param
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, North America
The geographical centre of the world’s largest market!
Siddha Param is an International Business Consultant with www.worldwidebusinessconnection.com
Your connection to global markets!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Healthy Livng
The Super Bowl of Beans, Lentils & Peas
A healthy hearty serving of goodness!
It is well below freezing outside but the sun is shining, the sky is blue and I’m into my lunch time bowl of comfort food. A mix of beans, lentils and peas (BLPs) cooked into a spicy stew. It is a mix of wild rice, vegetables and potatoes flavored with sea salt and a special tropical six-spice blend that includes nutmeg and the warmth of ginger. Tropical paradise in a bowl titillating the taste buds and taking me back to a tropical white sandy beach as I close my eyes for a moment to savour the taste.
So who says you can’t have fun eating healthy. This bowl of paradise is full of flavor and rich in health benefits. It is loaded with one of nature's greatest sources of fiber and protein. There is also the added benefit of being cholesterol free with a strong helping of essential vitamins and minerals such as folate, calcium, iron, zinc and potassium. That has to be good for hearth.
I am on a adventure to discover the varied ways these satisfying legumes or BLPs that can help reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes are prepared worldwide. They are a favorite across Asia from the Middle East to India, Central Asia, China and Japan. The wide varieties include black beans, soya, black-eyed peas, chickpeas, the various lentil dahls and peas. BLPs are used in dishes that include salsas, dips, spreads, salads, stir-fries, soups, chowders, stuffing, stews and cutlets.
I prefer to buy dried BLPs which I rinse, pre-soak for several hours and boil until cooked before using them in the many dishes from appetizers such as humus to a main course BLP burger patty served with a spicy chutney in a bun with salads. It is amazing to see how one cup of chickpeas for instance soaked in three cups of water can rehydrate and expand into a full bowl.
I’ll say yes to a BLP veggie burger for a lazy Sunday afternoon of movies or just planning my next wintertime tropical vacation to the Spice Islands of South East Asia. Paradise regained every weekend. Living well, living healthy and feeling good about it.
Siddha Param
Winner-peg Views
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, North America
The geographical centre of the world’s largest market.
Siddha Param is an International Business Consultant with www.worldwidebusinessconnection.com connecting businesses to global opportunities.
A healthy hearty serving of goodness!
It is well below freezing outside but the sun is shining, the sky is blue and I’m into my lunch time bowl of comfort food. A mix of beans, lentils and peas (BLPs) cooked into a spicy stew. It is a mix of wild rice, vegetables and potatoes flavored with sea salt and a special tropical six-spice blend that includes nutmeg and the warmth of ginger. Tropical paradise in a bowl titillating the taste buds and taking me back to a tropical white sandy beach as I close my eyes for a moment to savour the taste.
So who says you can’t have fun eating healthy. This bowl of paradise is full of flavor and rich in health benefits. It is loaded with one of nature's greatest sources of fiber and protein. There is also the added benefit of being cholesterol free with a strong helping of essential vitamins and minerals such as folate, calcium, iron, zinc and potassium. That has to be good for hearth.
I am on a adventure to discover the varied ways these satisfying legumes or BLPs that can help reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes are prepared worldwide. They are a favorite across Asia from the Middle East to India, Central Asia, China and Japan. The wide varieties include black beans, soya, black-eyed peas, chickpeas, the various lentil dahls and peas. BLPs are used in dishes that include salsas, dips, spreads, salads, stir-fries, soups, chowders, stuffing, stews and cutlets.
I prefer to buy dried BLPs which I rinse, pre-soak for several hours and boil until cooked before using them in the many dishes from appetizers such as humus to a main course BLP burger patty served with a spicy chutney in a bun with salads. It is amazing to see how one cup of chickpeas for instance soaked in three cups of water can rehydrate and expand into a full bowl.
I’ll say yes to a BLP veggie burger for a lazy Sunday afternoon of movies or just planning my next wintertime tropical vacation to the Spice Islands of South East Asia. Paradise regained every weekend. Living well, living healthy and feeling good about it.
Siddha Param
Winner-peg Views
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, North America
The geographical centre of the world’s largest market.
Siddha Param is an International Business Consultant with www.worldwidebusinessconnection.com connecting businesses to global opportunities.
Sunday, February 06, 2011
Biz Strategy
Relationship Marketing Psychology
Why trust is critical in marketing
The Purchasing Decision
Are consumers like Dr. Jackal making strategically planned purchasers or like Mr. Hyde indulging in buying binges to satisfy sudden impulses and cravings or a combination of Dr Jackal and Mr. Hyde?
Then there is also the dichotomy of whether there is a difference in buying patterns on-line through the Internet versus buying at a brick and mortar store to consider.
The word impulse suggest purchasing of “want items” to satisfy an immediate urge for satisfaction. Purchasing of “need items” on the other hand is to satisfy a future or long-term requirement.
On-line Shopping
On-line shopping is now estimated to have become a yearly US$100 billion industry. The interesting thing about internet sales is the fact that technology makes it easier to analyze online purchases more easily then purchases at physical stores.
I remember a Travel & Tour operator saying his was now an increasingly irrelevant industry as more and more individuals and corporations were making travel and tour bookings online where they could get better deals. Where the consumer had the online option to get the same service cheaper and from the convenience of an armchair the brick and mortar locations are beginning to lose out.
Purchasing Psychology
But can we say what about the purchasing of products? Will consumers opt for the internet or head out to the store. Would you trust the internet store to deliver quality? And what about that cup of coffee? Would you pop out to grab a cup or prefer to have it delivered. With impulse purchases for immediate satisfaction it appears that the speed of delivery of the product becomes a critical factor. But with planned purchases quality and pricing may be the factor.
This suggest that internet marketing can succeed in selling products and services that are either need items or items that do not require immediate delivery.
Marketing Trust
However, whether it is purchasing on line or at a brick and mortar shop the decision to purchase is very largely driven by consumer trust in the business. Trust comes from building a relationship within the market. It is therefore critical that all businesses incorporate relationship marketing into their business strategy.
Siddha Param
International Business Consultant
WorldwideBusinessConnection.com
Why trust is critical in marketing
The Purchasing Decision
Are consumers like Dr. Jackal making strategically planned purchasers or like Mr. Hyde indulging in buying binges to satisfy sudden impulses and cravings or a combination of Dr Jackal and Mr. Hyde?
Then there is also the dichotomy of whether there is a difference in buying patterns on-line through the Internet versus buying at a brick and mortar store to consider.
The word impulse suggest purchasing of “want items” to satisfy an immediate urge for satisfaction. Purchasing of “need items” on the other hand is to satisfy a future or long-term requirement.
On-line Shopping
On-line shopping is now estimated to have become a yearly US$100 billion industry. The interesting thing about internet sales is the fact that technology makes it easier to analyze online purchases more easily then purchases at physical stores.
I remember a Travel & Tour operator saying his was now an increasingly irrelevant industry as more and more individuals and corporations were making travel and tour bookings online where they could get better deals. Where the consumer had the online option to get the same service cheaper and from the convenience of an armchair the brick and mortar locations are beginning to lose out.
Purchasing Psychology
But can we say what about the purchasing of products? Will consumers opt for the internet or head out to the store. Would you trust the internet store to deliver quality? And what about that cup of coffee? Would you pop out to grab a cup or prefer to have it delivered. With impulse purchases for immediate satisfaction it appears that the speed of delivery of the product becomes a critical factor. But with planned purchases quality and pricing may be the factor.
This suggest that internet marketing can succeed in selling products and services that are either need items or items that do not require immediate delivery.
Marketing Trust
However, whether it is purchasing on line or at a brick and mortar shop the decision to purchase is very largely driven by consumer trust in the business. Trust comes from building a relationship within the market. It is therefore critical that all businesses incorporate relationship marketing into their business strategy.
Siddha Param
International Business Consultant
WorldwideBusinessConnection.com
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