Member since: Aug 13, 2008
Last activity: 7 days ago
Kiwanis is running Bingo this week at the NW Washington Fair in Lynden.
Does your company have vendor tents or tables at fairs and Expo's?? Is it worth the time and dollars?
We love the free stuff, the networking, and the on line presence but have a hard time putting a lot of dollars into promo and expo type marketing. What is your take on the value of visibility thru business expo and fairs?
I was at a networking group meeting where only 6 people showed up. They said success in their group is not measured by attendance! What does make a group successful and how do you measure that against whether it is helpful for you? Is it the number of referrals? Or the number of dollars generated as a result of being there? Or tips? Or relationships that will do what?
Seems like we need some of all of that and we need advocates or people excited to talk us up to the world out there. What is success in a group to you?
So are you a discount person or a negotiator or a bargain hunter?
Here is what we were asking: "Which sounds better to you: 1.) July is Free 2.) No rent till August 3.) 13 months for the price of 12 4. ) 5% Discount for 6 months"
All are about the same price and I guess some options appeal better to some markets than others. What are your thoughts on driving business to you through promotions and discounts???
How do you retain the "good" employee. I am told the stats are about 80% related to Praise/feedback/importance/job satisfaction and only about 20% to do with the money. Most managers fail to provide employees with the basics of meaningful jobs. Part of our almost daily focus should be to eliminate anonymity,irrelevance, and immeasurement.
What do you do. Reviews? Staff mtgs? Notes? Complain?
We Asked this question: Which sounds better a. July is Free b. No rent till August c. 13 months for the price of 12
And then sent it to all our former inquiries... And we got some positive responses.
Do you offer incentives? How about coupons? Do you target select potential customers or just hand them out to whoever?
Are we giving too much up to gain some more customers... or is this a great marketing expense? Your thoughts... Thanks,
Our new website launched a month ago. We then added a blog... so now there is the "is this blogworthy" question going about the office. And do we notify others of our blog or our website or both. I am sure when this wears out it is on to twitter. Can you find our blog?
Here is a plan that could be a good one that was circulating the net this weekend:
SURE SOUNDS LIKE A WINNER TO ME…
This was an article from the St. Petersburg Times Newspaper on Sunday. The Business Section asked readers for ideas on "How Would You Fix the Economy?" I thought this was the BEST idea.... I think this guy nailed it!
Patriotic retirement:
There's about 40 million people over 50 in the work force (in the USA) . Pay them $1million apiece severance with stipulations.
1) They leave their jobs. Forty million job openings - Unemployment fixed.
2) They buy NEW American cars. Forty million cars ordered - Auto Industry fixed.
3) They either buy a house or pay off their mortgage - Housing Crisis fixed
What is your plan? Whether it is wishful or practical... we can help each other contribute to a recovery.
April 2, 2009 In BELLINGHAM, WA at the SPORTSPLEX 1225 Civic Field Way. 4 pm to 9 pm
Put on by the chamber of commerce this may be one of the biggest business showcases this year. Chamber website is the link to check out or go to bellingham.com for more info!
Your event can be hosted at Gateway Centre Executive Suites. Currently your first event is free and all future events are at 80% Off!!!
Questions... should we provide totally free all the time or should there be some cost involved for beverages (included in the rent is Coffee, tea, hot choc. etc.) and maintainance and clean up?
Knowing there is some costs should the "hosts" pass the hat to pick up that residual cost or should the host charge a minimum fee thru biznik always?
Gateway Centre located in Bellingham, WA @ 1313 E. Maple St. see web site for map. Gateway Centre
Your event can be hosted at Gateway Centre Executive Suites. Currently your first event is free and all future events are at 80% Off!!!
Questions... should we provide totally free all the time or should there be some cost involved for beverages (included in the rent is Coffee, tea, hot choc. etc.) and maintainance and clean up?
Knowing there is some costs should the "hosts" pass the hat to pick up that residual cost or should the host charge a minimum fee thru biznik always?
Gateway Centre located in Bellingham, WA @ 1313 E. Maple St. see web site for map. Gateway Centre
What is your way to grow your on line presence? And how do you "keep in touch with your network" on Biznik and others like linkedin and facebook.
Do you only deal with your "team" or "go to" people? Are they bookmarked? In your speed dial? Instant message? Faves? Do you write posts and articles "hoping" someone will comment on them?
Last question: If you want to "communicate" with your contacts do they see it as such or as "spam" and being bothered?
We have found the personal invite or personal touch to be most effective. Meaning when we ask directly for help or send a personal note or invitation we get a far better response when we are specific vs when we are general. "I hope to see you at the chamber event" vs "would you like to join me this Friday at the chamber event?"...
Your thoughts? Got a great tip for us? Thanks, Jim
Our office got rid of Verizon, cut way back on Dex, and did not renew any other yellow page ads. Yet here was the pitch at a chamber of commerce meeting recently. You might love this idea for some future event.
The Presenter asked for a volunteer from the audience who might have some one dollar bills. Someone stood up and just dealing with him he said "I will give you a 10.00 bill for your 1.00 bill. After that he asked if he had another 1.00. And proceeded to trade a 10 for a 1. Same guy... a third and fourth time. So after the guy ran out of 1.00 bills the presenter says "I have another 10 if you have a one?" He did not. "Can you get one?" So quickly 4 near by volunteers offered him a one and he took it and traded it for a 10.00 bill.
Now that was a strong visual example of what advertising could do in this economy. Yet his implication was we should advertise in his yellow pages to get those 10.00 bills that are out there.
What do you think? Is Yellow pages advertising dead or is there still solid value?
And also: What would you do to make a point. That one cost them 63.00 to illustrate a point to 150 people. Have you done anything like that? Would you if you had the chance?
What is some fun you are having these days? We have not been to the seminar but love the title HAMFLAP which stands for Have As Much Fun and Laughter As Possible. So I started to watch today who and how business people were having fun. I saw the President of the Kiwanis club sharing puns and jokes at the last several meetings right before Happy Dollars time. And our staff going nuts over baking cookies for the tenants... in the shapes of something that marks their businesses... gavel for the lawyer, house for the mortgage company, Eyes for eyeRemember.com, duck for Aflac, etc.
Maybe it is a biznik event you went to and had fun. Or a community event. Or something you do often at work...
Share one of your favorite fun times in the last week :)
List your top 3 Mistakes on your profile in your early days on Biznik! What were they? And how did you discover them? At a recent event Dan and Lara pointed a couple of common mistakes out to the members. Not having a picture on your profile is a big one for example. Can you name some?
One of the questions I get from inquiries about our conferece rooms is "do you have video Conferencing?" We have fiber optics and super high speed internet (100Mbbs) and all. Just assumed that most would use a computer web cam or hook up to their computer and project via led projector.
So What more should we have available... and if we did have it would you use it? Would you pay to use it? Thanks
Buy local, Eat local, Shop local. Go Green. Move toward zero waste. How much is good for your particular business? When do dollars make sense in this economy?
We have a business that supports the small business person. We have recycling and secure shredding on site. Is it enough? Are you posting notices by website and email and eliminating paper copies. Scanning to email rather than faxing? Downloading invoices rather then having them mailed to you? Just a few of the many things we are trying to do.
So what are the eco friendly ideas out there for us small business folks? How far do we go to shop?
And do we do it to show support, friendship, build each others business? Or are we ordering on line from the cheapest companies out there?
Where to go from here. We put in the recycle barrels and that has spread throughout the building. What more can we do to educate and yet save dollars? Your thoughts?
I have seen this on the net before... my favorite... the superman costume!
LAUGHTER:
The tendency to blame and sue others in our culture results in some very absurd, and sad, humor on the tags accompanying products:
"For external use only." — On a curling iron. "Do not use in shower." — On a hair dryer.
"Do not drive with sunshield in place." — On a windshield-covering dashboard sunshield.
"Do not eat toner." — On a toner cartridge for a laser printer. "May irritate eyes." — On a can of self-defense pepper spray.
"Eating rocks may lead to broken teeth." — On a novelty rock garden set.
"Do not use orally." — On a toilet bowl cleaning brush.
"Do not use for drying pets." — In the manual for a microwave oven.
"Caution: Remove infant before folding for storage." — On a portable stroller.
"Do not iron clothes on body." — On packaging for an iron.
"Wearing this garment does not enable you to fly." — On a kid-sized Superman costume.
"May be harmful if swallowed." — On a hammer.
"Do not attempt to stop the blade with your hand." — In the manual for a chainsaw.
"Do not use orally after using rectally." — In the instructions for an electric thermometer.
"Not to be used as a personal flotation device." — On a 6" x 10" inflatable picture frame.
"Do not put in mouth." — On a box of bottle rockets.
"Do not use as an ice cream topping." — On a bottle of hair coloring agent.
LAUGHTER:
Political Definitions:
DEMOCRAT You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. You feel guilty for being successful. You push for higher taxes so the government can provide cows for everyone.
REPUBLICAN You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. So?
SOCIALIST You have two cows The government takes one and gives it to your neighbor. You form a cooperative to tell him how to manage his cow.
BUREAUCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE You have two cows. Under the new farm program the government pays you to shoot one, milk the other, and then pours the milk down the drain.
AMERICAN CORPORATION You have two cows. You sell one, lease it back to yourself and do an IPO on the 2nd one You force the two cows to produce the milk of four cows. You are surprised when one cow drops dead. You spin an announcement to the analysts stating you have downsized and are reducing expenses. Your stock goes up.
Scenario: Ready to call it a day but just have to check the computer one more time! For some who are Biznik members we call this Nik at Night. Along with checking messages, posts, and ratings on articles some also see who is on line or who hasn't been on line in quite a while.
What do you find yourself doing on Biznik? Are you checking what is up or are just after the next sale or referral?
And are you a night owl or a morning Biz wiz?
I go to Articles find a topic on the right side that has say 97 articles, click on page 2 and get:
Business Networking Articles
Find: spinner
Sort by
No articles found. Please try again.
Sometimes happens on page 2 sometimes on page 3 sometimes when I click on the next key too! And if I hit the back button I often end up in a different section of articles too.
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