From lab to marketplaceMalcolm McCulloch is one of a growing number of UK academics who are using the services of a technology transfer company to get their inventions off the drawing board and into our homesBefore you quit the day jobMoonlighting is a sensible way to set up a business during a recession, according to the founder of Notonthehighstreet.com, Holly Tucker, who for more than a year ran a company while working for someone elseBosses are a bad ideaThere are no managers or employees at the high-tech materials company WL Gore ? only "associates". "It's a very chaotic environment," says Terri Kelly, chief executive officer, with prideWork worth waking up forTired of the daily grind? Rhymer Rigby hears from people who have turned their hobbies, pastimes and passions into full-time careersA woman of two stylesThe head of GE in northern Europe mixes French idealism and US-style managementFrom the dump to the pumpA UK company is using landfill waste to run trucks for less than the price of dieselWorst times can be the bestA crisis creates an external rationale to make unpopular but necessary changes. In a downturn, investors and boards are more forgiving of short-term earnings dips that might result from actions to improve the organisation in the long term, writes Donald SullPlay the home advantageFrom shoes to scientific instruments, smart companies are using their local strengths to compete against formidable global rivalsView from the Top
Allan Cook, chief executive of Cobham, the UK aerospace and defence company, on the impact of government budgetary pressures and why the financial crisis may help solve a skills shortageFlexible working saves jobs and trims fatThe final part of a series on managing in a downturn looks at new work practicesSalesmen sitting prettyAfter selling their first venture, two friends are putting the 'up' into upholstery onlineDirect line to Japanese growthAfter four years, Acrodea's software runs on almost every new mobile in the countryIdentity revealed in the palm of one handBiometric systems are preventing both accidents and impostersOn the playing fields of BangkokMany British private schools are opening overseas offshootsLunches that make for better afternoonsFrom photography to sheep shearing, using meal breaks well can bring benefits
you. That's the power of a blog.
Conferencing Tools: Don't miss this important, and very effective
tool that many coaches use on a regular basis. Teleseminar calls
are a low cost way to get your message to a larger group of
people at one time. You can also host online seminars in an online
conference room where you have voice as well as chat and web
surfing functions; this creates a fully interactive environment. VOIP
or Voice Over IP and web conferencing services are what we're
talking about here.
Without getting too technical, VOIP allows anyone to make and
receive phone calls over the Internet. Many times, the caller who
uses it either pays a very low price or nothing at all. Web
conferencing achieves the same thing with extra features such as
desktop sharing, virtual white board and co-web browsing.
When you need to illustrate a specific point that can't be done over
the phone or email, these are great features to have. Together, a
teleconference call and web conferencing is a powerful combination
to use for seminars to generate leads or sales. It's also very
affordable for both you and your seminar participants.
Third tool is a sequential email automatic responder that can follow
up with your prospects at preset intervals. Why do this?
I'm sure you know how important it is to make multiple contacts
with your potential clients so before they are ready to purchase
from you. It can get to be a massive job if you have hundreds of
contacts and you are trying to follow up with each one of them
manually. You don't have to do this! Get an automatic responder
system and allow it to do the follow ups for you. All you do is write
your email series and plug it into the system, then the
autoresponder sends out your messages and does all the follow
up for you.
The use of these tools itself will not guarantee an avalanche of
sales. However, with proper application, they can certainly help
you take your business further.
Lynette Chandler helps small business owners apply technology in their marketing. To receive more ideas like this one and get a list of recommended services, download the “Coach's Online Toolkit” at www.TechBasedMarketing.com/coachtools.pdf
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