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Add You - Intelligent Business Makes Sense
What Most Employers Don't Want You to Know When They Talk Salary
When hiring managers describe a salary and benefits package to you, they have one main objective in mind: To get the best possible talent for the least possible expense. They're not going to volunteer the fact that they can go higher in salary or negotiate concessions in your benefits package. So, if you're in the midst of a job change and salary negotiation, here are some important things to keep in mind: Know How Much You're Worth: Well-managed companies conduct regular labor market assessments to determine if their salaries are competitive. They use this information to adjust their established pay ranges for each position. Because payroll is one of the biggest expenses of running a business, they often offer you the lowest salary possible and hope to keep you satisfied.What they want you to know: That their philosophy is to pay competitively. They want you to feel that your skills and abilities are valued so you will stay and produce good work.What they don't want you to know: How
believe that we provide better customer service by thinking that the customer is not always right and he is not king! When hiring managers describe a salary and benefits package to you, they have one main objective in mind: To get the best possible talent for the least possible expense. They're not going to volunteer the fact that they can go higher in salary or negotiate concessions in your benefits package. So, if you're in the midst of a job change and salary negotiation, here are some important things to keep in mind: Know How Much You're Worth: Well-managed companies conduct regular labor market assessments to determine if their salaries are competitive. They use this information to adjust their established pay ranges for each position. Because payroll is one of the biggest expenses of running a business, they often offer you the lowest salary possible and hope to keep you satisfied.What they want you to know: That their philosophy is to pay competitively. They want you to feel that your skills and abilities are valued so you will stay and produce good work.What they don't want you to know: How
Let’s take web design for example or even newspaper and magazine publishing these are highly skilled, specialized services we offer to our customers and, in exchange, we ask for their money. As in every barter system (even a monetized one) a certain amount of haggling takes place. We explain in detail what we do, why and how much we charge, the customer cherry-picks some servi
What Ad Agency Media Buyers Won't Tell You
Those of you familiar with my personal history know that I have a strong background in, and affinity for, digital marketing. Now that my bias is fully disclosed, I’m going to tell you what most traditional ad agencies will not…that the digital medium is far and away the most powerful, cost effective and measurable form of media available today. Advertising and MarComm budgets can no longer focus solely on traditional communications mediums; rather budgets must be spread across a broader spectrum inclusive of digital mediums.Digital content is diverse. Like print advertising and direct mail, the content of the Internet is largely based on the written word. As with printed media, much of Internet related media relies on graphic images to support marketing messages. However, unlike print and direct mail, the Web enables moving graphics and sound to be conveyed to the prospect or customer. In that respect, it is more like radio or television and like the telephone, the Web can enable one-to-one, interac
We’re so used to thinking that business is all about margins and bottom line ink that we sometimes accept dictums without thinking about their content and implications. Those of you familiar with my personal history know that I have a strong background in, and affinity for, digital marketing. Now that my bias is fully disclosed, I’m going to tell you what most traditional ad agencies will not…that the digital medium is far and away the most powerful, cost effective and measurable form of media available today. Advertising and MarComm budgets can no longer focus solely on traditional communications mediums; rather budgets must be spread across a broader spectrum inclusive of digital mediums.Digital content is diverse. Like print advertising and direct mail, the content of the Internet is largely based on the written word. As with printed media, much of Internet related media relies on graphic images to support marketing messages. However, unlike print and direct mail, the Web enables moving graphics and sound to be conveyed to the prospect or customer. In that respect, it is more like radio or television and like the telephone, the Web can enable one-to-one, interac
Take customer service for instance. Each transaction is an implicit contract between two suppliers each offering a very specific item (and I’m using the term item generically here to include both services/products and currency). The customer comes offering currency and asking to exchange it for a service or a product.
Under the very sound criteria of the old medieval village marketplace barter system the customer is prepared to haggle and expects to get the best value possible for what he is offering. In this case it’s money so the quality of the customer’s offering is determined by the size of the price he is being asked to pay.
At this point the customer will want, like his medieval counterpart, to make sure he is not sold a sub-standard service or product. Some sort of exchange will take place explaining what he will get for his money and what guarantee comes with it.
So far, so good. Everything is cosher and everyone understands what they’re supposed to do. Then, spoiling things a little comes the blind dictum of customer service professionals who think that a kneejerk reaction is always the key to providing good customer service: “The Customer Is Always Right".
Admittedly there is good reason why this evolved in the first place. The medieval market place did have a certain notoriety for lack of customer complaint departments and a surfeit of edged weapons so something had to be done to avoid the cleaning up that had to be done after each time claret had been spilled.
So, “The Customer Is Always Right" and “The Customer Is King" were born. Like all good ideas these made sense (and they still do) up to a point. Like all good ideas they require a certain degree of common sense in their application.
We’re prepared to raise gasps and eyebrows because we really believe that we provide better customer service by thinking that the customer is not always right and he is not king!
Let’s take web design for example or even newspaper and magazine publishing these are highly skilled, specialized services we offer to our customers and, in exchange, we ask for their money. As in every barter system (even a monetized one) a certain amount of haggling takes place. We explain in detail what we do, why and how much we charge, the customer cherry-picks some servic
Is It Time to Legally Register Your Trade/Service Mark?
It’s very upsetting to find someone using your business name, or one that is “confusingly similar.” If you’ve taken legal steps to protect your name, you are in a much better position to protect your interests.* If you are successful, you will be copied.I learned this lesson the hard way. When my business partner and I started Tables to Teapots (a retail store in Acton, MA), we had no idea how successful we would be. After several years of hard work, a TV feature on Chronicle and a story in Inc. Magazine, our business was booming. Then one day, a customer came in and said, “I didn’t know you’d opened up in New Hampshire.” Well, we hadn’t opened up in NH. But, an enterprising copycat had opened a store and called it NH-Tables to Teapots.We were lucky. While we had the rights clearly established in Massachusetts, we had not filed a federal Trademark protecting the name in other states. By taking an aggressive position, I was able to convince the NH copycat to change the name of his busin
Under the very sound criteria of the old medieval village marketplace barter system the customer is prepared to haggle and expects to get the best value possible for what he is offering. In this case it’s money so the quality of the customer’s offering is determined by the size of the price he is being asked to pay. It’s very upsetting to find someone using your business name, or one that is “confusingly similar.” If you’ve taken legal steps to protect your name, you are in a much better position to protect your interests.* If you are successful, you will be copied.I learned this lesson the hard way. When my business partner and I started Tables to Teapots (a retail store in Acton, MA), we had no idea how successful we would be. After several years of hard work, a TV feature on Chronicle and a story in Inc. Magazine, our business was booming. Then one day, a customer came in and said, “I didn’t know you’d opened up in New Hampshire.” Well, we hadn’t opened up in NH. But, an enterprising copycat had opened a store and called it NH-Tables to Teapots.We were lucky. While we had the rights clearly established in Massachusetts, we had not filed a federal Trademark protecting the name in other states. By taking an aggressive position, I was able to convince the NH copycat to change the name of his busin
At this point the customer will want, like his medieval counterpart, to make sure he is not sold a sub-standard service or product. Some sort of exchange will take place explaining what he will get for his money and what guarantee comes with it.
So far, so good. Everything is cosher and everyone understands what they’re supposed to do. Then, spoiling things a little comes the blind dictum of customer service professionals who think that a kneejerk reaction is always the key to providing good customer service: “The Customer Is Always Right".
Admittedly there is good reason why this evolved in the first place. The medieval market place did have a certain notoriety for lack of customer complaint departments and a surfeit of edged weapons so something had to be done to avoid the cleaning up that had to be done after each time claret had been spilled.
So, “The Customer Is Always Right" and “The Customer Is King" were born. Like all good ideas these made sense (and they still do) up to a point. Like all good ideas they require a certain degree of common sense in their application.
We’re prepared to raise gasps and eyebrows because we really believe that we provide better customer service by thinking that the customer is not always right and he is not king!
Let’s take web design for example or even newspaper and magazine publishing these are highly skilled, specialized services we offer to our customers and, in exchange, we ask for their money. As in every barter system (even a monetized one) a certain amount of haggling takes place. We explain in detail what we do, why and how much we charge, the customer cherry-picks some servi
Computer Consulting: A Business of Time and Sweat Equity
Building a computer consulting business requires a lot of time. It involves going out to meetings and it's shaking a lot of hands. You'll need to make a lot of follow-up phone calls. Display ads and direct mail drops and similar marketing efforts do not replace calling up a potential client to try to establish a person-to-person connection. Because of the required hands-on time, you should be realistic about what it takes to get your computer consulting business going.Franchises Don't Serve Silver PlattersEven with a franchise operation, the franchiser is not handing you a client list on a silver platter. If you want to be handed a client list on one, don't buy a franchise: you need to buy a current business. And of course, buying a current business is even more capital intensive than a franchise. To buy even a small, thriving IT consulting firm could cost anywhere from a few hundred thousand dollars to a few million dollars… pretty much some multiple of its annual sales.What Are Your
ing what he will get for his money and what guarantee comes with it. Building a computer consulting business requires a lot of time. It involves going out to meetings and it's shaking a lot of hands. You'll need to make a lot of follow-up phone calls. Display ads and direct mail drops and similar marketing efforts do not replace calling up a potential client to try to establish a person-to-person connection. Because of the required hands-on time, you should be realistic about what it takes to get your computer consulting business going.Franchises Don't Serve Silver PlattersEven with a franchise operation, the franchiser is not handing you a client list on a silver platter. If you want to be handed a client list on one, don't buy a franchise: you need to buy a current business. And of course, buying a current business is even more capital intensive than a franchise. To buy even a small, thriving IT consulting firm could cost anywhere from a few hundred thousand dollars to a few million dollars… pretty much some multiple of its annual sales.What Are Your
So far, so good. Everything is cosher and everyone understands what they’re supposed to do. Then, spoiling things a little comes the blind dictum of customer service professionals who think that a kneejerk reaction is always the key to providing good customer service: “The Customer Is Always Right".
Admittedly there is good reason why this evolved in the first place. The medieval market place did have a certain notoriety for lack of customer complaint departments and a surfeit of edged weapons so something had to be done to avoid the cleaning up that had to be done after each time claret had been spilled.
So, “The Customer Is Always Right" and “The Customer Is King" were born. Like all good ideas these made sense (and they still do) up to a point. Like all good ideas they require a certain degree of common sense in their application.
We’re prepared to raise gasps and eyebrows because we really believe that we provide better customer service by thinking that the customer is not always right and he is not king!
Let’s take web design for example or even newspaper and magazine publishing these are highly skilled, specialized services we offer to our customers and, in exchange, we ask for their money. As in every barter system (even a monetized one) a certain amount of haggling takes place. We explain in detail what we do, why and how much we charge, the customer cherry-picks some servi
How Can I Find Work In Music When There Are Only 25 Music Careers?
Many pass over the thought of themselves actually working in the industry due to the common mindset... "if one has talent they have a chance in music." If one wants weekly (or bi-weekly) pay with benefits one seeks a normal job in the 9-5 workforce. This is simply false. Most people love music to some extent. Those that are paying attention to their future and careers know or at least wish they can be involved with something they love.Many will admit they believe they don’t have what it takes to make it in the music industry and some will admit they don’t have a desire to be a musical artist. But many will also admit they need a job, and for longevity’s sake will admit they need a career they love. They love music and need career involvement in something they love.Well... it just so happens that the music industry employs millions all around the world in positions that are not directly artist related or even behind the scenes artist related. The fact is there are over 120 different careers w
riety for lack of customer complaint departments and a surfeit of edged weapons so something had to be done to avoid the cleaning up that had to be done after each time claret had been spilled.Many pass over the thought of themselves actually working in the industry due to the common mindset... "if one has talent they have a chance in music." If one wants weekly (or bi-weekly) pay with benefits one seeks a normal job in the 9-5 workforce. This is simply false. Most people love music to some extent. Those that are paying attention to their future and careers know or at least wish they can be involved with something they love.Many will admit they believe they don’t have what it takes to make it in the music industry and some will admit they don’t have a desire to be a musical artist. But many will also admit they need a job, and for longevity’s sake will admit they need a career they love. They love music and need career involvement in something they love.Well... it just so happens that the music industry employs millions all around the world in positions that are not directly artist related or even behind the scenes artist related. The fact is there are over 120 different careers w
So, “The Customer Is Always Right" and “The Customer Is King" were born. Like all good ideas these made sense (and they still do) up to a point. Like all good ideas they require a certain degree of common sense in their application.
We’re prepared to raise gasps and eyebrows because we really believe that we provide better customer service by thinking that the customer is not always right and he is not king!
Let’s take web design for example or even newspaper and magazine publishing these are highly skilled, specialized services we offer to our customers and, in exchange, we ask for their money. As in every barter system (even a monetized one) a certain amount of haggling takes place. We explain in detail what we do, why and how much we charge, the customer cherry-picks some servi
Make Money With Google - Build An Effective PPC campaign
Many people consider Google Adwords to be the simplest and fastest method to make money online. However, the fact is also that only 5 percent of people profit from this form of Pay Per Click advertising.It was relatively easy during 2003, 2004 and 2005 to venture into Adwords because of less competition. After that, with more and more people trying to make extra money, competition became much harder. Pay Per Click Programs became quite expensive and profits came down.One can have many objectives in using Google PPC advertising. But primarily it is designed to be used to divert traffic to a website for increasing sales.Anyone can use Google Adwords whether to boost one’s own sales or affiliate sales. One need not own even a website to profit from Google PPC. However, Google will not be displaying an ad pertaining to the same website twice within the same display. Therefore, it is preferable to have one’s own website in order to play with Google Adwords.It is easy to build a PPC a
believe that we provide better customer service by thinking that the customer is not always right and he is not king! Many people consider Google Adwords to be the simplest and fastest method to make money online. However, the fact is also that only 5 percent of people profit from this form of Pay Per Click advertising.It was relatively easy during 2003, 2004 and 2005 to venture into Adwords because of less competition. After that, with more and more people trying to make extra money, competition became much harder. Pay Per Click Programs became quite expensive and profits came down.One can have many objectives in using Google PPC advertising. But primarily it is designed to be used to divert traffic to a website for increasing sales.Anyone can use Google Adwords whether to boost one’s own sales or affiliate sales. One need not own even a website to profit from Google PPC. However, Google will not be displaying an ad pertaining to the same website twice within the same display. Therefore, it is preferable to have one’s own website in order to play with Google Adwords.It is easy to build a PPC a
Let’s take web design for example or even newspaper and magazine publishing these are highly skilled, specialized services we offer to our customers and, in exchange, we ask for their money. As in every barter system (even a monetized one) a certain amount of haggling takes place. We explain in detail what we do, why and how much we charge, the customer cherry-picks some services, discards others and, of the ones accepted, tries to squeeze as much added-value as possible. So far so good. We each know where we stand.
If things should go wrong (slippage in delivery schedule, a logo that the customer does not like, a website that needs some tweaking) we’re prepared to listen, explain and deliver.
And now it gets a little grey.
Because the customer is paying for a highly skilled, specialized service we make sure we listen carefully, ask the right questions and work hard to provide the right product. This is not unlike the medieval village swordsmith asking you what you will use your sword for. If all you want is a dress-piece, you need something lightweight and showy. If you’re going to do some pillaging on the other hand you really need a sturdy piece that will not let you down and the village swordsmith will explain this while he’s making it for you.
It’s the same with us. The customer may have an idea of what he wants it does not mean it’s exactly right for the job. Delivering a specialized product that will be the best possible in the field our customer is sallying forth in, is, really, our job.
While we’re prepared to listen to every customer complaint to blindly accept, without thinking, that the “Customer Is Always Right" and “The Customer Is King" is tantamount to committing professional suicide. Like the medieval swordsmith of our example, should he have given in to customer demand and produced a lightweight, showy piece for the battlefield and a heavy-duty, business-meaning broadsword for the drawing room dance floor, he’d find that not only would he be losing customers (quite literally) but would also be gaining a bad reputation for his services.
Customers come to us because we’re really good at what we do. We’re grateful for their custom and take care to treat each one the same way we’d like to be treated as customers ourselves. We listen, we think, we deliver beyond expectation.
We also pr
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