6 Ways to Lower Your FedEx and UPS Shipping Charges
by Paul Diamond Friday Mar 12, 2010In January UPS raised rates by an average of 4.9% and FedEx raised its rates by an average of 5.9%. Not included in the rate increases are new and increased surcharges and add-on charges. UPS has raised it “address correction” surcharge on air shipment from $10.00 to $11.00, and ground increased from $8.00 to $10.00. “There’s a big penalty to pay for getting an address wrong,” says Mark Taylor, retired CEO with more than 30 years of experience in the shipping industry and author of the blog Shipping Coach.
Quotes to Inspire (or Humor) Management
by Paul Diamond Tuesday Mar 9, 2010Looking for a good management quote? Here's a small collection of thoughts on the inexact science of trying get things done efficiently and effectively by using other people to do the work. “Management's challenge is to sell more with fewer people, to customers who demand more service and attention for less money.” Jim Cecil, Vistage speaker “Lots of folks confuse bad management with destiny.” Kin Hubbard, humorist
How 'Cause Marketing' Can Help Your Business
by Paul Diamond Monday Mar 8, 2010How can companies get something substantial in return for donating to social or environmental causes? The answer is cause marketing — the collaboration of a "for profit" business and a non-profit organization for mutual benefit. Cause marketing is a powerful tool for building brand awareness, loyalty and sales while helping a non-profit cause. Benefits of cause-marketing
Leadership and the Top 10 Boat Names of 2009
by Paul Diamond Friday Mar 5, 2010What’s the connection between the top 10 boat names, popular sentiment and leadership? First, let’s look at the top 10 boat names of 2009, compiled by BoatUS.com (The Boat Owners Association of the United States). 1. Second Wind 2. Seas the Day 3. Lazy Daze 4. Jolly Roger 5. Bail Out 6. On the Rocks 7. Pegasus 8. Serenity Now 9. Namaste 10. Comfortably Numb
What You Say vs. What People Hear
by Anne Salta Wednesday Mar 3, 2010If you find that your powers of persuasion fall short on results, it may be the way you’re perceived by customers and employees. And that perception may come from your choice of words.
6 Post-Recession Growth Opportunities for Small Businesses
by Morris Segall Monday Mar 1, 2010While the economy is recovering from the worst recession in 70 years, my firm, SPG Trend Advisors, is forecasting dramatic changes in the U.S. economy going forward. These developments will entail equally dramatic changes in the structure and practices of business in the future.
The 10 Best Posts for Business Blogs
by Paul Diamond Friday Feb 26, 2010Is it really worth your time to start a blog for your business? Many CEOs and business leaders think so. They know that blogs increase online visibility, establish expertise and credibility, foster brand loyalty, boost top-of-mind awareness and influence the public conversation about their company. So what should you write about in your company blog? Here are 10 types of posts that work well for business blogs.
4 Common Website Mistakes That Alienate Customers
by Thomas Young Thursday Feb 25, 2010Many websites struggle to communicate value and engage visitors. These sites lose sales and the potential to establish brand recognition. Here are five common website mistakes that turn customers away, along with solutions. 1. Missing a clear and direct tagline
Survey: The Best Social Media Sites for Salespeople
by Paul Diamond Tuesday Feb 23, 2010In the first two weeks of February, I polled CEOs and business owners about social media sites their salespeople use. The specific question I asked was, “Which social network sites do your salespeople use most?” (I conducted the poll among members of Vistage, an executive coaching organization.) More than 420 business leaders responded. Here are the results: 47% use Linkedin 20% use Facebook 5% use Twitter 1% use another social media site 27% don't use any social media sites
New CEO Trend: The Apology Video
by Paul Diamond Monday Feb 22, 2010The new trend in public apologies for CEOs is via YouTube video. The blog AttentionDigital has complied six such videos, which includes these apology hits:
