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Added for You - Overhauling Your Website to Refine Your Public Image
Careers - Objectives and the Curriculum Vitae newspaper to a resource that could contribute to increased readership and revenue growth – the Pocono Record decided to make a substantial investment in the website. Despite the fact the Pocono Record had a competent internal technical staff, the newspaper simply did not have the resources to dedicate to a complete website overhaul. Consequently, the Pocono Record elected to make a large investment in its website, which entailed engaging outside help.Arras People receives hundreds of CV's every month from people all across the project management spectrum - from people applying directly for advertised posts or through our registration process. Hundreds of CV's using different styles - layouts sourced from books, friends, the company standard or specialist CV service providers.What do you think is the most underused and undervalued space on your CV? In a poll of 100 CV's we currently hold on record only 5% use the CV to show a prospective employer what it is they're looking for. The objective also often gets confused with the personal profile so what exactly is it?The objective is "a statement of what you want to do for an employer", for example:"Objective: To obtain a challenging project co-ordination position within a publ To complete the website overhaul quickly and without too large a price tag, the Pocono Record needed a plan. Pocono record developed a comprehensive blueprint for a fundamentally new website. The logo changed, the color palette and design theme were altered ra What Color Is Power? IntroductionIf you’re struggling to make your web business thrive, there could be many factors holding you back. It could even be the colors you wear. Do you know the color of power?Every day, we are bombarded with opportunities and links to “secrets” that are supposed to open the floodgates to success.This constant flow of offers usually looks like this: “read this”; “find out how the gurus do it”; “this is guaranteed to work”; and “if you haven’t tried this, it’s time you did.” In the end, are they truly helpful resources or just distractions?Like many of you, I constantly get drawn in by those promises that turn out to be empty repeats of information I already know. The problem is, I often think I don’t know enough until I see their tips. Then, it comes clear that I truly am already in The Pocono Record is a small community newspaper with a website to match. For years, the newspaper focused entirely on operations – getting news stories onto the website as quickly as possible. As a result, the stories on the site were the same as those found in the newspaper, and there was little additional content to make the website unique. The website’s design and layout were, quite simply, awful, and the site did little to extend the newspaper’s brand. PoconoRecord.com needed a complete overhaul. Unfortunately, this is not unusual. As companies focus on keeping their websites – and the rest of the business – running, the website’s design can become dated. Something else is always more important.When this happens, the website’s neglect becomes more and more evident. Over time, the need for a redesign, even a complete change, becomes more important and more complicated. In these cases, though, small businesses are forced to invest more time and money in the website than they realized would be necessary. PoconoRecord.com, even though it is a small daily newspaper, has many of the same problems as small business websites.Like the Pocono Record, you have to work hard to keep your website current and operational; it is easy to neglect the strategic changes to your website that will yield substantial online growth. After a while, your current website, with a dated design, no longer serves your business. It may even detract from your image. When this happens, an overhaul is in order. The Problem PoconoRecord.com’s website design themes were neglected for years. From the website’s inception, more effort went into ensuring that content got onto the website than into improving the design, layout, and navigation. Operations were cumbersome and fraught with manual processes. With the emphasis on operations, continual improvement was not possible. As a result of the bias toward operation instead of growth, PoconoRecord.com did little to extend the newspaper’s brand. The website did not drive significant new subscriptions, and it did not generate a meaningful revenue stream. The Pocono Record recognized the limitations of its website and decided that a substantial commitment was necessary to turn this ancillary cost into a revenue center for the newspaper. The website needed fresh content and a new layout. The latter, especially, was a salient problem. PoconoRecord.com was characterized by clumsy graphics and technology that had become obsolete at the turn of the century. PoconoRecord.com needed new graphics, increased functionality, and a more efficient layout. Ultimately, the newspaper decided that PoconoRecord.com needed to be enhanced to the point where it could make a sufficient contribution to the business. Given the new role of PoconoRecord.com – from being a web version of the newspaper to a resource that could contribute to increased readership and revenue growth – the Pocono Record decided to make a substantial investment in the website. Despite the fact the Pocono Record had a competent internal technical staff, the newspaper simply did not have the resources to dedicate to a complete website overhaul. Consequently, the Pocono Record elected to make a large investment in its website, which entailed engaging outside help. To complete the website overhaul quickly and without too large a price tag, the Pocono Record needed a plan. Pocono record developed a comprehensive blueprint for a fundamentally new website. The logo changed, the color palette and design theme were altered rad Career Advice: Share Power To Get Power ys more important.When this happens, the website’s neglect becomes more and more evident. Over time, the need for a redesign, even a complete change, becomes more important and more complicated. In these cases, though, small businesses are forced to invest more time and money in the website than they realized would be necessary.The way to get more power (a.k.a. responsibility) in your career is to hand off those tasks that others can perform as effectively as you can, so you will gain the time and energy to concentrate on the more demanding and visible tasks that will enhance your career.If you want more power take five steps as quickly as possible:1.Take a hard look at your responsibilities; rank them according to their importance to the goals of your employer.2. Eliminate tasks that are no longer required. (You'll be surprised at how many are on your to-do list just because "that's the way we have always done it".)3. Pass off the less critical tasks at the bottom of your list of priorities to others.4.Concentrate on improving your performance in carrying out the most important assignm PoconoRecord.com, even though it is a small daily newspaper, has many of the same problems as small business websites.Like the Pocono Record, you have to work hard to keep your website current and operational; it is easy to neglect the strategic changes to your website that will yield substantial online growth. After a while, your current website, with a dated design, no longer serves your business. It may even detract from your image. When this happens, an overhaul is in order. The Problem PoconoRecord.com’s website design themes were neglected for years. From the website’s inception, more effort went into ensuring that content got onto the website than into improving the design, layout, and navigation. Operations were cumbersome and fraught with manual processes. With the emphasis on operations, continual improvement was not possible. As a result of the bias toward operation instead of growth, PoconoRecord.com did little to extend the newspaper’s brand. The website did not drive significant new subscriptions, and it did not generate a meaningful revenue stream. The Pocono Record recognized the limitations of its website and decided that a substantial commitment was necessary to turn this ancillary cost into a revenue center for the newspaper. The website needed fresh content and a new layout. The latter, especially, was a salient problem. PoconoRecord.com was characterized by clumsy graphics and technology that had become obsolete at the turn of the century. PoconoRecord.com needed new graphics, increased functionality, and a more efficient layout. Ultimately, the newspaper decided that PoconoRecord.com needed to be enhanced to the point where it could make a sufficient contribution to the business. Given the new role of PoconoRecord.com – from being a web version of the newspaper to a resource that could contribute to increased readership and revenue growth – the Pocono Record decided to make a substantial investment in the website. Despite the fact the Pocono Record had a competent internal technical staff, the newspaper simply did not have the resources to dedicate to a complete website overhaul. Consequently, the Pocono Record elected to make a large investment in its website, which entailed engaging outside help. To complete the website overhaul quickly and without too large a price tag, the Pocono Record needed a plan. Pocono record developed a comprehensive blueprint for a fundamentally new website. The logo changed, the color palette and design theme were altered ra Make More Sales with Relationship-Building Listening Skills your business. It may even detract from your image. When this happens, an overhaul is in order.When I started in sales, I was focused on one goal, closing the deal. On my quest to make a sales call that would put me over the top of my annual budget, I made a huge mistake and learned a valuable lesson from my client. I came to the appointment with the goal of asking for the order. I left with nothing, followed by an angry phone call to my sales manager asking for a new salesperson. You see, I did not show a genuine interest in the relationship or my customers business. This selfish plan backfired, big time.Great Selling starts with listening. You will improve your client relationships and create more sales revenue by tuning in to every client you communicate with.The majority of sales people I train and work with love to socialize and be the center of attention. While an ou The Problem PoconoRecord.com’s website design themes were neglected for years. From the website’s inception, more effort went into ensuring that content got onto the website than into improving the design, layout, and navigation. Operations were cumbersome and fraught with manual processes. With the emphasis on operations, continual improvement was not possible. As a result of the bias toward operation instead of growth, PoconoRecord.com did little to extend the newspaper’s brand. The website did not drive significant new subscriptions, and it did not generate a meaningful revenue stream. The Pocono Record recognized the limitations of its website and decided that a substantial commitment was necessary to turn this ancillary cost into a revenue center for the newspaper. The website needed fresh content and a new layout. The latter, especially, was a salient problem. PoconoRecord.com was characterized by clumsy graphics and technology that had become obsolete at the turn of the century. PoconoRecord.com needed new graphics, increased functionality, and a more efficient layout. Ultimately, the newspaper decided that PoconoRecord.com needed to be enhanced to the point where it could make a sufficient contribution to the business. Given the new role of PoconoRecord.com – from being a web version of the newspaper to a resource that could contribute to increased readership and revenue growth – the Pocono Record decided to make a substantial investment in the website. Despite the fact the Pocono Record had a competent internal technical staff, the newspaper simply did not have the resources to dedicate to a complete website overhaul. Consequently, the Pocono Record elected to make a large investment in its website, which entailed engaging outside help. To complete the website overhaul quickly and without too large a price tag, the Pocono Record needed a plan. Pocono record developed a comprehensive blueprint for a fundamentally new website. The logo changed, the color palette and design theme were altered ra Franchising Looks Like Easy Money:Want the Truth? ocono Record recognized the limitations of its website and decided that a substantial commitment was necessary to turn this ancillary cost into a revenue center for the newspaper. The website needed fresh content and a new layout. The latter, especially, was a salient problem. PoconoRecord.com was characterized by clumsy graphics and technology that had become obsolete at the turn of the century. PoconoRecord.com needed new graphics, increased functionality, and a more efficient layout. Ultimately, the newspaper decided that PoconoRecord.com needed to be enhanced to the point where it could make a sufficient contribution to the business.So often I read in business journals some business consultant telling folks that they should franchise their businesses. Well sure franchising looks like easy money but it isn’t at all. Would you like to talk about the truth? Now then it is so unbelievably irresponsible for these media business consultants to advise folks to franchise their businesses when the truth is that the failure rate of those who franchise their businesses and become franchisors is 5:1. I therefore condemn those who recommend this.Now those consultants who do not like this condemnation, I say to you; “Without a little sound and fury out there, no one would ever understand your point and therefore I must speak out in these harsh terms and condemnations.” Now then without some drama my comments would be drowned out the Given the new role of PoconoRecord.com – from being a web version of the newspaper to a resource that could contribute to increased readership and revenue growth – the Pocono Record decided to make a substantial investment in the website. Despite the fact the Pocono Record had a competent internal technical staff, the newspaper simply did not have the resources to dedicate to a complete website overhaul. Consequently, the Pocono Record elected to make a large investment in its website, which entailed engaging outside help. To complete the website overhaul quickly and without too large a price tag, the Pocono Record needed a plan. Pocono record developed a comprehensive blueprint for a fundamentally new website. The logo changed, the color palette and design theme were altered ra How To Become a Better Salesperson newspaper to a resource that could contribute to increased readership and revenue growth – the Pocono Record decided to make a substantial investment in the website. Despite the fact the Pocono Record had a competent internal technical staff, the newspaper simply did not have the resources to dedicate to a complete website overhaul. Consequently, the Pocono Record elected to make a large investment in its website, which entailed engaging outside help.Most novice or untrained salespeople make the same three mistakes. In brief, they are;1. They don't identify their target market and end up trying to sell to anyone and everyone2. They are in too much of a hurry to show off their product3. They try to "close" the sale without establishing if the prospect is even interestedNow we know the common mistakes, here are three quick tips anyone can use to improve their sales performance...1. Make sure that the person you're selling to has some interest in what you offer.The easiest way to do that is to ask "What problem does what I offer solve, and who has both the problem and the willingness to pay me to solve it for them?"Once you've answered that question, approach people you suspect have that problem an To complete the website overhaul quickly and without too large a price tag, the Pocono Record needed a plan. Pocono record developed a comprehensive blueprint for a fundamentally new website. The logo changed, the color palette and design theme were altered radically, and the functionality offered by the website changed. Instead of merely offering the stories that had appeared in the newspaper, the new PoconoRecord.com was designed and implemented to foster a sense of community with its readers. Visitors to the website now could comment on a story, leave feedback, and communicate with the newspaper and with other readers directly. The newly redesigned PoconoRecord.com fundamentally changes the Pocono Record’s presence on the web. Instead of being a clumsy extension of the newspaper, PoconoRecord.com has positioned the newspaper company for growth. The newspaper can extend its current print readers into online consumers, and the company also can cultivate a new generation of news readers on the web. Further, as the newspaper industry continues its decline in the United States, PoconoRecord.com provides a strategic direction for the newspaper company, facilitating alternative growth. Key Lessons for Small Businesses Newspapers may not seem like a likely source of lessons for small businesses. They tend to be old-fashioned and resistant to change. New ideas are eschewed in favor of a zeal for tradition. Despite these industry tendencies, though, the website overhaul executed by the Pocono Record provides some substantial lessons for small businesses in any industry who have neglected the design and layout of their respective websites. While newspapers traditionally have offered little for small businesses to emulate, PoconoRecord.com is a refreshing exception. Consider your website an extension of your company’s physical presence. If you meet with customers or clients in an office or store, you ensure that the appearance of your facility is aligned with the image of your business. You keep a clean waiting room or office, a well-organized store, and sufficient inventory. Further, you encourage your employees to dress appropriately. If you run a financial office, for example, you wear a suit. If you sell building maintenance services, on the other hand, your staff will dress differently – in a manner appropriate the operations of your company. The Pocono Record had a substantial need for a new design – a fundamentally reconstructed website. The project required extensive work, as the Pocono Record had not invested significantly in its web presence for five years. Instead of continuing to invest as little as possible, the Pocono Record elected to invest heavily and make PoconoRecord.com an important part of the newspaper’s growth strategy. This is a model for other small businesses. Sometimes a large investment in web capabilities is necessary, especially if your website is important to your business. The cost of the project may seem overwhelming, but ultimately, the investment will pay off. Copyright 2006 Daniel Scheff
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