ThinkTank

Cold calling has been a sales tool for more than a century, either in person or on a telephone.  People are more sophisticated and on guard for this type of marketing . . . and they are far less receptive.  When was the last time you listened to a telemarketer call from a company of which you never heard?  Yep, that’s what I thought.

So now what?  Well, if I told you that there are marketing opportunities out there that are free, would you believe me?  The truth is, there are.  If you get your business functioning properly on social media sites, you can increase your sales.  The thing that is blocking you right now is called denial.  You can rationalize all you want about time, technology, it’s just for younger folks, blah, blah, blah.  All feeble excuses.

If you could increase your sales by 10%, 20%, 30 % or even 100% wouldn’t you want to?  Of course you would.  But sadly, you don’t.  And it’s probably because you’re not sure how to effectively do it.

 I’ve partnered with a local technology company to offer small and medium-sized companies “business social media”.  We’ve created a menu of  various levels of our involvement in your social media campaign from very little, to a complete turnkey package.

As small business owners, we realize that often times, the issues of cash flow can prevent using outside resources, but wanted to give owners a range of choices. 

The most important things you can do in business today to become more successful is identify the things you are good at doing and outsource the rest.  Understand this one postulate . . . you can’t do it all. 

So what’s stopping you from developing utilizing state-of-the-art business social media?  Call me (770-922-6007) or go to my contact page and fill out an inquiry form, and we can discuss ramping up your strategy and plan of action.

There are a few proactive measures you can take to keep recruiters, human resource porfessionals, and hiring managers from throwing out your resume.  These are all pretty much common sense, but often overlooked in an attempt, however desparate, to get a job.

1.  Tell the truth.  Resume “puffery” automatically makes those reviewing your documents (which are really sales materials) skeptical on why they should waste another second.  If you really did increase sales by $1 million, that’s fine.  It may be difficult for someone else to believe, if they are knowledgeable about your industry.  But, if you did it as part of a team, say that.  Companies are looking for team players!

2.  Clearly explain employment gaps.  You should be up front and honest about this in your cover letter, whether you were a stay-at-home mom for twelve years or you were downsized and haven’t found a job in two years.

3.  List GPA and/or Photo?:  Only if:  You graduated less than two years ago AND, your GPA was 3.5 or better!  And no photo!  No gimmicks needed.

4.  Consistent Information.  Make certain that the information on your resume, cover letter, and job application are all matching.  And the best way to do that is tell the truth (please see #1 in this list).

5.  Job/Career Objective.  This is something that limits you and is a long gone practice no longer needed, unless specifically asked for by the hiring organization.  If they do, that may signal to you that they are not up to speed with current business processes and may not be a progressive company for which to work.

6.  Career Switching.  If you are switching careers, or even industries, you need to specifically demostrate who your skills and experience can directly and positively translate to, and impact a prospective employer.  Otherwise, it’s likely a no.

7.  Follow directions clearly.  It’s a sign if you can’t follow the steps that have been laid out for you — and it’s a surefire deal killer!  Often, employers create directions for submitting applications that help screen out candiates.  It’s another way for them to understand who you are.

8.  To tailor, or not to tailor your resume.  Absolutely tailor!  If you have a good job description and specific information about the company from their website and other materials, it makes perfect sense, and is a common practice, to tailor.  Just don’t plagerize or regurgitate what they’ve written about themselves.  That would be a turnoff, just as it would be to a high school teacher or college professor.  Understand the culture of the organization and its people.  If you are a fit, your tailoring should be easy.

Business quotes can be found all over the Internet.  I’ve added a few new ones.  Some of these have no attribution.

“You can either meet or work.  You can’t do both.”  – Warren Buffett

“Don’t expect any magical cures for your company’s problems . . .  there aren’t any”.

“Those who cut prices in an attempt to gather market share deserve the Chinese Water Torture.”  (and often get it, too)

“The proper way to increase market share is to produce a superior product.”

“No incentive is better than an red-hot poker directed towards the rear end.”

” . . . if your product doesn’t run as fast, or glue as well, or hold the dye as good as your competitor’s, there will be no repeat orders.”

“Never tell me the odds!”  – Han Solo (from the movie Star Wars)

“Try not!  Do or do not . . . there is no try.”  – Yoda (from the movie Star Wars)

“The line between cutting costs and cutting quality can be as thin as a razor’s edge.  If you are not careful, some of the cost cutting measures may reduce the quality attributes of the product and adversely affect sales.”

“There are four factors in sales support: inside sales, quality of product, on-time delivery and after-sale service . . . you can increase sales at least 5% – 10% if you are known in the industry as an on-time supplier, even in emergencies.”

“Every penny you save by not doing something over again, falls directly to the bottom line.”     – Phil Crosby, quality guru

“Owning your own business is as highly overrated as natural childbirth.”  – Bill Cosby

“The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it’s the same problem you had last year.”  – John Foster Dulles

“Recently, I was asked if I was going to fire an employee who made a mistake that cost the company $600,000.  No, I replied, I just spent $600,000 training him.  Why would I want somebody to hire his experience?”  – Thomas J. Watson

“When you own your own business, you only have to work half a day. You can do anything you want with the other twelve hours.”

“Lead, follow or get out of the way” – Ted Turner

“Fine – a tax for doing wrong.  Tax – a fine for doing fine.”

“We as consumers will not tolerate a poor product or service.  Then why do we allow and in fact manage and lead a business that allows less then tolerable product or service to exist?” – Jonathan J. Salomon

“Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”  – Warren Buffet

“If men can run the world, why can’t they stop wearing neckties? How intelligent is it to start the day by tying a little noose around your neck?”  – Linda Ellerbee

“Hire teenagers . . . while they still know everything.”

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”    – Thomas Edison

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”  – John Lennon

“Destiny is not a matter of chance; it’s a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved.”  – William Jennings Bryan

“If you think your boss is stupid remember; you wouldn’t have a job if he was smarter.”
- Albert Grant.

“The person who knows HOW will always have a job. The person who knows WHY will always be his boss.”  – Diane Ravitch

“If we keep doing what we’re doing, we’re going to keep getting what we’re getting.”  – Stephen R. Covey

“Don’t sweat the small stuff…and it’s all small stuff.”  – Dr. Richard Carlson

“The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything.”   – Theodore Roosevelt

“Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it.”  – Henry Ford