Tips for Buying Business-To-Consumer or Business-To-Business Data

If part of your marketing efforts includes direct mail, here are some tips when shopping for the right data. First, I recommend that you contact a list broker. Just as you would use a realtor to help you find the home, a list broker is equipped to help you find the right data for your direct marketing campaign.

Even with a broker, it helps to have an idea of the type of data you should be looking for.

On the consumer side, there are two types of data: compiled and subscription data. Compiled data is from surveys, self reported, catalog and retail shopping information, internet activity, public record data, etc. They multi verify each record, which means at least three of their sources match up to the person's interest or buying habits. Ask the source of a specific segment or list how the data is compiled for that particular segment. It is VERY important that you understand how the data is compiled and/or the source of the data itself.

Subscriber data are people that subscribe to magazines. That data works GREAT, but it is from one source only. Example: you have a client that is trying to reach golfers. Subscribers to Golf Digest will be a much better file than compiled data because we know 100% they are interested in golf. Business magazines are really good because they are reaching the exact contact title at their place of business.

Expect to pay a minimum cost, or be required to order a minimum number of records necessary to place an order. A processing fee is always added to the cost of the file as well. Your list could take up to 48 to hours to process so please allow enough time while you schedule the mail date.

For business-to-business data, trade publications are great if you need to find a particular title (CEO, HR, etc), and really want to hone in on that industry. Other business data comes from D&B as well as public records. Both sources can identify employee size, yearly revenue, etc., as it is SIC code based.

Communication is key. Tell your list broker everything about your business, what are the attributes of your best client, what type of marketing you are doing now, what's working and what's not working. The more you communicate, the better idea your broker will have when looking for the best data. There are lists for just about everything and not all lists are created equal.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anita_Knight

Ten Mistakes That Can Affect Your Business Success

So often people talk about the things that you need to do in order to achieve business success but very few ever mention the things and choices that a person allows to interfere with their progress and business. This article will focus on issues that business owners tend to ignore or continue doing without realizing that their success will be limited or destroyed over time.

1. Financial problems - If you have not set up your business with the proper procedures and backing, you will soon find that you are out of business. You need to have a Business Plan and the financial support that will allow your business time to grow in the start-up phase.

2. Relational - Many people surround themselves with people who drain their time and energy. If you have a business partner who is not working on the same goals as you are, it won't be long until the business will suffer.

3. Personal - Dishonesty, old negative patterns, untreated mental or physical ailments, family demands or hidden "secrets" can all interfere with your business success.

4. Addictions - When people have an addiction, it take priority over everything. In fact, alcohol or drugs can become a "first love" that steals reasoning and resources not only at a personal level but also from a business endeavor.

5. Incompetence/Inexperience - When you do not know what you are doing, mistakes can occur frequently. Your time and reputation will likely suffer as you try to clean up the mess!

6. Poor self-care - People who are tired, under nourished or ill are not able to reach their potential. As a result, everyone, including that person, the rest of the staff and the client suffer.

7. Lack of Focus - Many businesses fail because time and energy are invested in the wrong things. You need to know where to invest your attention so that you have good revenue and an acceptable bottom line.

8. Poor Service - Clients come to you in order to have their needs met. If this doesn't happen, they will not only look elsewhere for services but also spread the word that your business is not very helpful.

9. Inflexibility - You need to be able to adjust your ideas in order to improve the business. Stubbornness without consideration of options will kill a business in a world that welcomes change and new ways of doing things.

10. Other Psychological Factors - World trends and economic times can have a strong impact on how a business will do. If you are not motivated or able to handle stress, you will likely soon find that running a business can be an overwhelming adventure.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Hancock

The 7 Sections of a Business Plan

If you really want to improve your business, the best way to do it is to write a Business Plan. It is not the plan itself that is so important, although it is a valuable asset but the process as it makes you really think about the business and focus on the way that you will operate and grow the business in the future.

There are seven key topic areas in a good business plan as follows:

1. The Executive summary

Although this is at the beginning of the plan, you will write it last as it is an overview of the entire plan. Most banks will read it first or use it when considering future funding so ensure that you have the most important points of the plan written well. Include rationale for needed financing and how this will be used, the growth you will expect as well as the products and services that you provide and staffing required. Remember, you are writing this for someone who may not be familiar with the details of your business so be clear and and comprehensive but also keep it brief so the reader is not bored.

2. Mission statement

This is an enthusiastic statement or two that condense your motivation for doing the business and how others including clients, employees, staff and investors benefit.

3. Company description and history

This is a section where you will talk about when the business started and how it has progressed since then. Include past, present and future products and services that have been sold, and why you have a competitive advantage over similar businesses. Also include the type of business you have under the law (incorporation, sole proprietorship etc.) the physical location and number of staff you employ.

4. Market analysis

In this section you will be talking about your "ideal client" and how far your business reach has extended to this point. You will also outline the potential market you will reach with expansion and the trends that might affect greater demand for your goods and services. Describe the delivery methods you will use (in person, through physical products, internet etc.) as well as the reasons why people will make purchasing decisions (price, quality, trust etc.). Finally, describe the competition and how they attract the same buyers that you want..

5. Marketing plan

This section describes how you will advertise or promote your business in order to increase revenue. Include a budget to cover the costs of preparing materials and having them delivered as well as the pricing strategy that you have developed for the market.

6. Management summary and personnel plan

Here you will lay out the organizational structure of the company and job descriptions of each person. Talk about how each position is important to the business and how they will be reimbursed (salary, hourly wage, benefits etc.).. This will likely be the biggest expense for your business so calculate a figure for the entire year of staffing or contracting. If you are a solo professional, describe how you will get all the various aspects of the work done.

7. Financial statements.

You might it easiest to have software that will help you to create Balance Sheets, Profit and Loss statements and other reports that show the past years as well as projections for your business.

If you are confused or don't know what to include, there are many resources available in organizations, books and internet sites to help you with this.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Hancock

Need A Worldwide Courier? 10 Tips For Getting It Right

used a courier before, then you may already know what you need to think about, and what you need to do. If not, then here's what you need to think about.

1. You'll need to know what you are sending. A small birthday present parcel will be less expensive to send that a pallet full of machine parts.

2. Couriers work on size and weight, so you'll need to know the size of your parcel, and its weight. Remember that you'll need to make sure to get the dimensions in the right order. Check the website to ensure that it's length x breadth x height. Getting it wrong can mean that your parcel is not the size you stated, which means you're likely to be charged extra for it.

3. When your parcel needs to arrive can help you to determine how best to send it. If you need your package to arrive as soon as possible, it will probably cost a bit more, than if your parcel doesn't need to arrive for a few days.

4. Where you're sending your parcel to makes a difference too. The time it takes and the cost are dependent on the destination of your package. Sending a parcel to France or a parcel to Germany is likely to be quicker and cheaper than sending a parcel to Australia.

5. Why you need to send something will also help you to decide which worldwide courier service to use. If you need to send important work documents then you'll want them insured and on a priority service, whereas you might want to send Christmas presents to friends and family abroad well in advance, so that it arrives in plenty of time.

6. No matter what you're sending, or where it's going to, you'll need to ensure that it's appropriately packaged. As well as to prevent getting damaged in transit, you won't want to be responsible for damaging other parcels.

7. Business users can save a fortune if they need to send brochures, parts, products or samples to customers and suppliers around the world. It's a good idea to check the various couriers' websites to see if there's a big difference in price and expected delivery time.

8. If you're selling products online, then you'll want to make sure that you're getting the best deal, in order to keep your costs down and pass the savings on to your customers.

9. Having a wide choice of worldwide couriers will help you to choose the best one for your needs. You might need to choose the cheapest or the most efficient.

10. Value for money is essential, but the cheapest might not be the best for you. Perhaps you'll need something to arrive tomorrow, and so the costs will be less important.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Berry-Smith

Staff Rewards and Incentives - 10 Traps To Avoid

Do you have a staff rewards and incentives scheme in your business? If you don't, you should have. Rewards and incentives work well to improve staff performance. But there are some major traps. Make sure you avoid these.

1. Lack Of A Clear Business Connection

Rewards and incentives have two purposes - to reward staff and to enhance your business. You need to make the connection absolutely clear. And ensure that your employees understand that connection.

2. Rewarding Behaviour

This is a common error. Your scheme must reward performance: what staff achieve on the job. Rewarding behaviour: what staff do that may or may not achieve results debases the incentives. In other words, rewards sales closed, not calls made. Reward orders processed and delivered, not paperwork completed.

3. Rewarding What Staff Are Already Paid For

You pay your employees a basic salary. In return, you expect a certain level of performance. When an employee meets your performance expectations, he or she has satisfied the "basic contract". Do not pay incentives for performance that you could reasonably expect in return for basic salary.

4. Absence Of An Incentive Scheme

Rewards and incentives should be contained within a system. The system or scheme should have specific goals. The value or nature of the reward should be clearly related to the goals. One off "slings" of cash or time off or gifts may be a minor part of the system. But they are not a system.

5. Lack Of Transparency

Your scheme should be open and available to all involved. No secret entries: no "little black books": no "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" tricks known only to a few favoured employees. Every employee involved should know the rules. Records of rewards, who received them, why and their value should be easily available to all. This means that you must establish accurate and reliable records of achievement.

6. Ignoring The Team

Many otherwise sound staff rewards and incentive schemes focus entirely on individual performance. They ignore contribution to team effectiveness. This allows individuals to manipulate the scheme to their own advantage. It may damage the business too. An outstanding salesperson may earn massive incentives while the sales team fails as a whole. That's not good for your business. Include team goals when assessing reward entitlements.

7. Lack Of Performance Standards

It's so simple. If you lack clear, demonstrable, measurable staff performance standards, you can't have a totally successful rewards and incentives scheme. Both you and your staff must know the standards. They must also know "how they're going" in meeting them. And they must be perfectly clear about the relationship between standards and rewards. A scheme without performance standards is about as useful as a clock without hands.

8. Absence of Self Assessment Measures

Every employee should know how they're progressing towards earning incentives. Make this information available weekly and, if possible, daily. It's in your interests to enable employees to "self assess". They need to adjust and improve their performance without your intervention.

9. Using Only Monetary Rewards

Money is only one form of reward. Depending on the personal income tax system in your state or country, large monetary rewards may even be a disincentive. The following cases may help.

Case 1. In a "production line" type repair business, overall performance goals are set each month. These are related to inventory levels. When the prescribed inventory levels are attained before month end, all staff earn a day off on full pay. This is additional to specific performance based monthly rewards.

Case 2. In a home maintenance business, tradesperson receive rewards for customer commendations, upsells, referrals and various specific examples of superior performance. Recalls, where a customer requires the tradesperson to return to adjust something they should have fixed on the original call, cost the company dearly. When a tradesperson completes a month with no recalls he or she receives a half day off on full pay.

10. Limiting The Range Of Rewards

You can reward virtually anything you like. But it must be clearly business enhancing and performance based. Don't limit yourself to only one performance measure. If the performance saves or makes extra money or adds value to the business, consider it as part of your scheme.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leon_Noone