Effective Visuals For Business Analysis

Outside Noise

The Importance of Spell Check

Dew knot deepen dawn ‘spell check’ two ketchup awe thee airs. (Do not depend on Spell Check to catch all the errors.)

Spell Check is a great tool to have as assistance when writing any type of document (resume, interoffice memo, etc), but relying on it too much can result in a disaster. It is very important that as a business professional you possess your own grammar skills in order to keep yourself from looking like a fool. Although Spell Check does a decent job of catching errors, it is you that is responsible for your work, and you can’t blame mistakes on the computer. The following poem is a prime example of how Spell Check doesn’t help in some cases. Each of the words is properly spelled, so Spell Check doesn’t recognize them as errors, but I guarantee that you will have trouble reading this poem. (This poem was taken from webenglishteacher.com)


Ode to a Spell Checker

Eye halve a spelling checker
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marks four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its rare lea ever wrong.

Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect awl the weigh
My checker tolled me sew.

Unprofessional Termination

Letter of Recommendation

When an employee asks you to write them a letter of recommendation it can either be an honor or a task you’re not looking forward to. Whatever you do, don’t agree to write a letter of recommendation unless you really have to time to do it. Writing a good recommendation letter takes a lot of thought and time to write, so since you agreed to do this favor make sure you set enough time aside to make it a great one!

The letter of recommendation should give the reader a good idea of your feelings towards the employee in a couple paragraphs. It should analyze the employee’s abilities in a personalized way. The more personal the letter the better. To make the letter look more credible, write the letter on your company’s letterhead. Also, use your title with your signature.

The first paragraph should include your opening statement. It should talk about how long you’ve known the employee and your relationship to them. Make sure to make your opinion of the employee known in this paragraph.

The second and third paragraphs (should you choose to make a third paragraph) should be the body of the letter. This should include specific traits and examples about the employee. Try to make the examples relevant to the position they are pursuing. Tell about their qualities that make them shine as an employee.

The fourth paragraph should begin with the closing statement. Your closing statement should identify your specific recommendation for the individual. State any final points and show your confidence for the employee.

Important Details Comic Strip

Let Carnegie Guide You

The highly competitive nature of business these days requires every business owner to be on their game and to know how to effectively approach potential customers and clients. Dale Carnegie's bestselling book, How To Win Friends & Influence People, is somewhat of a social bible in learning to interpret your life to feel important and appreciated. Some of the key elements to be learned from his book include:

Fundamental Techniques in Handling People:

• Don't criticize, condemn, or complain
• Give honest and sincere appreciation
• Arouse in the other person an eager want

Be A Leader: How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment

• Begin with praise and honest appreciation
• Call attention to people's mistakes indirectly
• Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing others
• Ask questions instead of giving direct orders
• Let the other person save face
• Use encouragement

These are only a few highlights from Mr. Carnegie's timeless book. I promise you that if you take the time to sit down and read through it that this book can help to change your personal and professional life in dealing with people all around you.

The Open Door Policy

The Open Door Policy is when all upper management (CEO, supervisors, managers, presidents, vice presidents, etc.) leave their office doors open in order for all other employees to enter whenever necessary. Every employee should have access to every branch of management. Allowing for face-to-face discussion rather than the e-mail/phone call runaround, this type of policy encourages open communication between employees and management.

If you have a concern at work, it is your job to inform your supervisor of this problem, so that it can be dealt with accordingly. You may also approach the management with complaints, observations and criticism without fear of backlash because in the end, all areas of discussion should lead to improvement.

This policy is also helpful when your problem deals directly with your supervisor. Addressing them may not be appropriate if they are the one you are filing the complaint against. The Open Door Policy allows you to discuss your issues with members higher on the ladder than your supervisor in order to get your situation rectified. The first step should be to resolve issues with the lowest level of management necessary though.

Use the 5W's to Communicate

Ask yourself-

WHO: Who are you? Who are you talking to? How well do you know this person? This will help you determine the tone of your voice when speaking to them.

WHAT: What needs to be accomplished? What do I want this person to do? What do I need to do in order to get everything accomplished? This clarifies what needs to happen and who needs to do it.

WHERE: Where does this need to be done? Where does the person I'm communicating with need to go? If you don't say where something needs to go, it won't get there.

WHEN: When do you want it done? Be specific. If you want it done by 6pm tonight, say it!

WHY: Why am I communicating with this person? Why does this need to be done? Communicate why you need this done, give the person a reason. They will do it with more enthusiasm if they know why.

HOW: Does the person your communicating know how you want it done? Ask the person for feedback about what you just asked him/her to do. To make sure they understand and heard you.

You may also want to let the person know to keep you informed about the process.

Using the 5W's will help you communicate effectively and will ensure that you get all your points across. Also, the person you are communicating with will understand what needs to be accomplished and how.

Advertising On The Web Using Google AdWords

If your business has a website, Google AdWords is a great way to advertise it. Google AdWords allows you to easily make and run ads for your business through Google and their advertising network.

Every time someone uses the Google search engine and types in one of your keywords, your business' ads can be displayed with the results of that search. This is very effective as your targeted audience is not random and already has some interest in your business already. Another option is to display your ads on content websites. You can chose the content placements of where you would like your ad to appear too.

AdWords also offers a wide variety of ad formats that include text, images, audio, and video. On top of all this, your ad statistics and performance can be tracked to see how well they are doing.

To learn more about Google AdWords you can visit their website at:
https://adwords.google.com/select/

Tips to Attract the Public's Attention

A major hurdle for all small businesses, especially newer ones is getting name recognition and finding ways to attract new customers. Whether your budget is large or small, here are a few easy tips to get your business noticed:

1. Coupon Books - you can sell coupon books as a cost effective means of advertising
2. Trade advertisement space with other companies in exchange for products/services from your company
3. Phone Book - usually, you can get your business listed in a phone book for free if you have a business phone line = free advertising
4. Donations - small donations, whether it be cash or merchandise is a great way to get people to remember your business' name
5. Trade Shows - small giveaways at trade shows is another cost effective way of advertising your name & attracting attention
6. Newspapers - some newspapers with free space will do write-ups (at little to no charge) about companies who they feel the public would be interested in
7. Networking - work with other businesses to refer customers to your store & do the same with them in exchange. Word-of-mouth advertising is an easy way to grab some attention
8. Radio - cut a deal with a local radio station to advertise your business on air or make an appearance at your establishment

Each of these forms of advertising are relatively inexpensive ways of communicating to the public that you are in town and open for business!

How to Get Your Business Attention Through Search Engines

Matt Cutts, head of web spam at Google, offered some helpful tips to small business owners about how to improve thier website and get attention from search engines by using Google Applications.

When making your website, write it for the people that you do business with and not for the top search engine result. Your website should also be very informative.

Here are a few free Google applications that will help your website and help small business owners keep track of visitors.

• Google Analytics - Helps you learn about your visitors and how they interact with your site. It will help improve communication with visitors and help you offer what the customers want.
• Google maps/Local Business Center- Your business will come up in local search engines when someone is searching for the product or service your business offers.
• Google Base - A place where you can put content to make it searchable on Google. It also enables you to add attributes, therefore searchers can easily find it.
• Google Website Optimizer - Allows you to test various amounts of content on your web page. It will increase value to your web page, as well as traffic.

Here is Matt Cutt's full interview.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gscFgaMTm48

Listening Skills Comic Strip