Online Appointment Scheduling: Perfect for Business and Organizations of All Sizes

Online scheduling software from Appointment-Plus is perfect for businesses and organizations of all sizes, regardless of the services they provide.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) - Jan. 23, 2013 - Online scheduling software from Appointment-Plus is perfect for businesses and organizations of all sizes, regardless of the services they provide.

Small and Medium Business. Appointment-Plus is perfect for small and medium-sized businesses needing an efficient and dependable online scheduling solution to their processes. Businesses that currently rely on our online scheduler include:
• Acupuncturists
• Chiropractors
• Coaches
• Counselors
• Education
• Finance and Tax Services
• Home and auto services
• Interpreters and translators
• Pet groomers
• Photographers and photography studios
• Doctors and Physicians
• Tutors
• Wellness Providers

Educational Institutions. Appointment-Plus is the preferred system at colleges, universities, community colleges, technical schools and K-12 facilities, who use it to schedule and manage such tasks as:
• Academic advising.
• Testing.
• Counseling.
• Tutoring.
• Parent-teacher conferences.
• Room scheduling.

Government and Military. Agencies, departments and other government facilities use Appointment-Plus online scheduling to schedule such services as:
• Flu shot vaccinations.
• Passport renewals.
• Athletic fields and facilities.
• Citizen appointments.

Large Businesses and Organizations. These operations turn to Appointment-Plus scheduler for its robust functionality and feature-rich platform. Whether it's a single operating site or multiple locations, Appointment-Plus appointment scheduler is the preferred online appointment scheduling for large businesses in 11 countries worldwide. In addition to businesses listed above that have large-scale operations, other large businesses that rely on Appointment-Plus online scheduling include:
• Distributors, manufacturers, warehouses and other inbound facilities who use the online scheduling software for dock- and delivery scheduling.
• Fitness centers and health clubs.
• Hospitals and healthcare facilities.
• Resorts and country clubs.

Enterprise. Larger companies and corporations turn to Appointment-Plus to meet their enterprise-level scheduling needs. Our flexibility allows us to deliver solutions to most enterprise requests, including:
• Companywide solutions for all departments and employees.
• Online scheduling software for individual divisions, departments or groups of employees.
• Scheduling options for multiple or specific platforms.

About Appointment-Plus
We're the worldwide leader in online scheduling solutions that helps thousands upon thousands of businesses in 16 countries operate more efficiently and effectively. In short, we completely automate the scheduling process for businesses and organizations that depend on accurate appointment scheduling by letting their customers book appointments and reservations online.

Our Commitment
Our team members strive to help clients optimize their businesses through the Appointment-Plus system and work with them to customize a scheduling solution that best fits their specific needs. The ultimate goal of our committed team members is to help clients increase business and gain more customers, while saving money at the same time!

Launched in 2001, Appointment-Plus was the industry pioneer in online scheduling software, utilizing the software-as-a-service (SaaS) business model since its inception. Today, Appointment-Plus is the worldwide leader in mobile and online appointment scheduling software with three million appointments booked every month and nearly a billion dollars in commerce conducted annually through its system. Its Scheduling Cloud API also enables larger organizations to build custom applications on the powerful Appointment-Plus engine, while its integrated Marketplace allows businesses to easily interface with Microsoft Outlook Calendar, Google Calendar, Constant Contact, QuickBooks and other popular business tools to help businesses and organizations manage their operations more effectively, productively and successfully.

Read more about Appointment-Plus' online appointment scheduling software (http://www.appointment-plus.com) today.
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Rivet Wars: Eastern Front Becomes One of the Highest Funded Board Games in Kickstarter’s History

 

 

Ted Terranova’s RTS inspired miniatures game is the latest success story for CoolMiniorNot

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

PRLog (Press Release) - Jan. 23, 2013 - Rivet Wars: Eastern Front, a WWI era, real-time strategy board game from publisher CoolMiniorNot, (CMON) has earned a spot in the top ten highest funded board games in Kickstarter’s history.  Shattering its $25,000 goal in just two hours, Rivet Wars’ backers have pledged over $280,000 with eleven days remaining in the campaign.

Creator Ted Terranova, a veteran video game artist, called upon his experience working on RTS games such as Rise of Nations when designing both the style and game play for Rivet Wars.  Produced with 3D printing, the intricately detailed miniatures combine elements of Steampunk, over-the-top technologies and deceptively cute Chibi heroes.    Just as exciting as the visuals is the real time strategy style of play.

As in an RTS video game, Rivet Wars’ players generate resources each turn which they spend on new soldiers and tanks.  In this way, the players are constantly reinforcing their battle with varying units rather than being locked into a set army or strategy at the beginning of the game. Hero units are also employed to enhance or buff the attributes of other nearby soldiers.  

Additional figures, upgrades, and original artwork are continually being added to the core game as the Kickstarter campaign continues, up to the February 4 deadline.

Rivet Wars: Eastern Front is scheduled for a September 2013 release date.   Get in the fight at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/coolminiornot/rivet-w...

About Ted Terranova

Ted has spent the past fifteen years creating art for videogames like Settlers of Catan, Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties, Rise of Nations and Thrones and Patriots. His artwork has also appeared in Spectrum, 3D World Magazine, Fantastyka, Elemental and Expose.

About CoolMiniorNot

CoolMiniOrNot is both a studio and publisher of great miniature games like Sedition Wars, Super Dungeon Explore, Zombicide, Dark Age, Wrath of Kings, Guilds of Cadwallon, Confrontation Phoenix and more!

Further information on Rivet Wars: Eastern Front can be found on its Kickstarter page:  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/coolminiornot/rivet-w...

Contact:

Ted Terranova
info@rivetwars.com
www.rivetwars.com
www.facebook.com/rivetwars

CoolMiniorNot
www.coolminiornot.com
www.facebook.com/coolminiornot

Photos:
http://www.prlog.org/12065336/2
http://www.prlog.org/12065336/3
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Zen Mobile Launches Ultraphone U4

As a part of the initial phase, Homeshop18 - India’s first comprehensive virtual retail business will introduce the product in the market at a special price.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) - Jan. 10, 2013 - Zen Mobile Launches Ultraphone U4

The Ultra Affordable Smartphone after U1

New Delhi: Zen Mobile (Teleecare Group), one of the top five mobile brand in India, today announced the launch of Zen MobileultraphoneU4, continuing its mission to deliver high quality, stylish devices that provide best access to social networking, Internet and information and best overall experience at an ultra-affordable price.

This is the second device under the Ultraphone category from Zen Mobile focusing on the smart and tech savvy youth of the country.These consumers want easy access to innovations such as easy-to-use dual-SIM, local services and content and popular apps, all with a superior user experience at an affordable price.

Powered by a 1 GHz processor, the new U4 is built for a fast web browsing, checking mails, blogs, sharing photographs, and updating status on social networking sites. Combined with the Android 2.3 gingerbread operating system, it gives unmatched CPU and graphics performance- best in its class features, keeping in mind the requirements of its consumers. 

The new ultraphone U4 is bigger and better with 4.3 inch WVGA capacitive touchscreen, 3.2MP camera with flash, 1.3MP front camera, GPRS/EDGE, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth with A2DP etc.

As a part of the initial phase, Homeshop18 - India’s first comprehensive virtual retail business will introduce the product in the market at a special price.

U4 will offer the power and reliability that customers have come to expect from Zen Mobiles. It is a beautifully designed phone,built with strong, top-of-the-line materials and long-lasting battery life, equipped to meet the needs of young, urban consumers who want to constantly stay in touch. U4 will give customers speed, power and revolutionary technology. The device offers powerful Web browsing capabilities and long-lasting battery life (Li-lon 1500mAh)allowing customers to browse the Web and watch videos without worrying about draining their device’s battery.

Entertainment and applications are also a core part of the U4.  It comes pre-loaded with a complete set of applications for one go access. A plethora of utility and entertainment applications on Google play, loads of applications like-Facebook, twitter and opera mini come pre-loaded with the phone.

WVGA capacitive display blended with a 1.3MP front camera delivers an awe-inspiring video call experiencewith skype. Zen Mobile U4 Ultraphone makes it possible to carry thousands of songs with support for 32 GB memory cards for the music lovers

Announcing the launch, Mr. Deepesh Gupta, Managing Director Zen Mobile, said, “We at Zen Mobiles aim to deliver consumer friendly products, at affordable prices with latest innovations in place. With our Zen Ultraphone U4, we continue our mission to bring something new to the rapidly evolving smartphone market of the country. Zen Ultraphone U4is the next from the innovative stable ofZen Mobiles. We promise to bringpioneering technologiesto the mobile users of today at ultra-affordable prices, in line with transformingconstantly evolving Android mobile experience of our consumers.”

“We have collaborated with HomeShop18.com – India’s leading virtual shopping destination with the most robust logistics footprint so that customers in smaller cities can also purchase this powerful device from the convenience of their homes.”

About Zen Mobiles

Founded in the year 2009, Zen Mobile are the pioneers in bringing the affordable mobile handsetsto the Indian shores equipped with the advanced technology. Zen Mobile is a brand of TeleecareGroup which has expertise in managing and distributing the best mobile brands in India for over 15years now. In a short span of 3 years, Zen Mobile has attained and build a distinct identity amongthe consumers and is the only brand in the handset industry to have shown a rapid growth of 100percent year on year.

Zen Mobile commitment to serve the masses comes with a vision to provide them with the best and most advanced technology in mobile handsets at an affordable price range. We at Zen Mobile hasalways endeavored in bringing the quality product with innovation and radical features, encashedwith style and finesse, catering to a common man who cannot own high-end handsets. Our handsetsare equipped with technology and features like Dual SIM, LED Torch, Long battery backup, 3Dscreen, and multimedia functions. Our technological innovation can be focused upon the fact thatZen Mobile is the first mobile handset company in India to have introduced Mobile 3DEntertainment in the market and have brought ‘the first 3D phone’ with preloaded content – S30,in the mobile handset market in India. We have almost inherent every feature for respectivecategory that completes a handset and shown remarkable growth in technology wise new launchesof the phones from time to time.

We as ZEN are firm believer of “Best Quality At Best Price” and always work on this mantra to makelatest technology available in the market. We conduct thorough research on technology beforeabsorbing it in our product. Our in-house team works round the clock to optimize and improve thetechnology for cost optimization thus transferring the benefits to our customers. Not only this, wefocus on our customer’s expectations so much that it reflects in the designing of each product.

With a turnover of Rs. 350 Crores which is expected to reach 550 Crores by end of fiscal year 2012-2013. Our consumer oriented technology advancement has always been the driving force forthe business & product strategies in Indian market. Zen is a firm believer in giving personal care toindividual customer. It believes, “A single well-handled complaint is the key to strengthen ourrelationship with customers”. ZEN mobile firmly values its goodwill and relationship with thecustomers hence tries to stay connected with them through their massive spread out service centres.

More than 550 service centres across India give us enough strength to meet upcoming servicedemands of the customers. We ensure our presence in every 2-5 kms of circumference where ourdistribution channel is operating.“The opening of these centres stems from their concern to provide the customers with best servicesand address each and every concern”.

For Further information please contact:

Atul Malikram

9827092823

Photo:

http://www.prlog.org/12056586/1

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EXITPLANNING-EDU Survey Results Announced- Key Employee engagement begins with a successful plan

WWW.ExitPlanning-Edu.com, an educational website for business owners today announced the results of its survey of 300 Business Owners. Conducted recently, Who is the Key Employee reveals the non-technical factors of Key Employee Incentive Plans.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) - Jan. 10, 2013 - Key Employee Incentive Plans are successful not because they provide just additional financial incentives, but because the business owners are combining financial rewards & a personal touch that make the Key Employees feel they are a part of a unique & special group that is linked to the future success of the company.  

According to the survey, 54.4% of respondents reported they have an incentive plan for their key employees and take measures to assure their key employees feel different because they are participants in such a plan. Of those with incentive plans, 87.5% share additional company info with their key employees and 50% of the same number conduct special meetings to disseminate material among employees. While the survey shows a positive upswing towards incentive planning, a troubling fact is close to 50% of respondents do not have an incentive plan for their key employees.

It is imperative to note, respondents with Key Employee Incentive Plans have seen their business improve—margins are up, more positive participation, ownership of responsibilities, better quality and improved customer satisfaction.

Communication and interesting planning techniques associated with Key Employee Incentive Planning, focusing on phantom equity techniques, straight incentive compensation based on profit, as well as additional “non-technical” add-ons owners can offer will keep these employees engaged, inspire others to grow, build business value, and secure a strong future for the business, its employees and ownership.

Responding to the lack of Key Employee Incentive Plans and the need for Business Owners to begin to identify the need for creating a business plan with a successful exit plan component, Bob O’Hara (CPA/PFS, CExP™ owner of O’Hara & Company, PC in Chelmsford, MA) and ExitPlanning-Edu will be launching a National Campaign, scheduled to hit the mainstream the first quarter of 2013.

According to O’Hara, “Key employee engagement and successful Exit Planning creation, in conjunction with one another, proves to build strong and sustainable businesses.”

About Bob O’Hara and ExitPlanning-Edu

www.ExitPlanning-Edu.com, founded by Bob O’Hara, CPA/PFS, CExP™, is a website devoted to educating business owners and their advisors on the exit planning process.  O’Hara is President of O’Hara & Company, located at One Olde North Road, Ste. 101 in Chelmsford MA. For more information you may visit the website or call 978-244-9860.

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Leased Line - Why the high costs?

A leased line may seem a lot more expensive than your average business broadband but it’s worth every penny. The true value of a leased line is the dedicated speeds you’ll receive as well as the guaranteed performance.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) - Jan. 11, 2013 - A leased line refers to a dedicated connection that allows organisations to have a dedicated download/upload speed with no slow down. With a leased line you don’t get the notorious busy period, that annoying few hours that make your downloads take hours not minutes and your web browsing slow and sluggish.

Lease line connectivity will improve the way you work and make your organization much more efficient. Especially if you have multiple offices, leased line connections allow you to benefit from having a centralising service.

A great example of how a leased line can really benefit your multiple office environment is by centralising your organisations connectivity. Being able to share documents and view the same data no matter what office you’re located in will benefit productivity and allow colleagues to freely work from any office.

Dedicated fast speeds will allow for cloud backup and disaster recovery plans that will get you up and running faster.

Having a leaseline will allow you to benefit from cloud computing. Centralisng all your servers off site at our data center will cut the need for high IT costs, save room and money on running servers and air-conditioning systems.

Everything backed up as you work and no more purchasing of servers, no more inconsistency and no more backing up. Allowing you more time to concentrate on what’s important knowing that your data is in safe hands.

A majority of lease line suppliers will do exactly that - provide you with a leaseline.

At e-solutions we do a lot more. Not only do we provide you with an affordable lease line, we offer the flexibility to change your speeds through out the contract. We also offer you the option at any time to have your data hosted at our data centers, have VOIP telephones across your fast connection, and the option to have disaster recovery and a suite of other IT services.

For more information visit: www.e-sol.co.uk

Document created by e-solutions©

Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/12057565/1

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Free Ideas to help you Get More Business in 2013

The New Year is always an important time in the marketing of your business.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) - Jan. 11, 2013 - Free Ideas to help you Get More Business in 2013

The New Year is always an important time in the marketing of your business.  

It’s a great opportunity to take stock of the year that’s just passed and think about your goals and objectives for the year to come. In many B2B and consumer sectors the New Year can also see an increase in activity, sales and opportunities that you need to be quick to exploit.

For the best results from your marketing, you need to go direct. At Selectabase we are experts in helping small businesses use targeted direct marketing to get more enquiries and increase sales. 

For example, here are 10 ways in which you can improve your marketing campaigns and use direct marketing to help you gain more business in 2013… 

1. Know your best customers 

Take a look at your existing customer database to identify who your best customers are. See if your customer base adheres to the general principle of 20% of your customers generating 80% of your sales or profits. Find out why your top 20% buy and what they have in common then use this intelligence to profile your ideal type of customer. This will help you identify which potential new customers to target.

2. Communicate with contacts 

Speak to your existing customers, leads and contacts more often this year. Write and send a regular monthly mailing, newsletter or email update with news about how well your business is doing, ideas for using your products and your latest special offers. Let everyone know you are still there and ready to help. Before you embark on this, make sure your customer database is up to date using our list cleaning services.

3. Communicate more than once 

Sometimes it can take several different attempts to convert a customer. Your initial promotional messages may have come at the wrong time, or it may simply take some prospects longer to decide to buy from you, especially if you are selling a higher value or complex product or service. But don’t overdo it - no one likes to get constantly bombarded with marketing messages.

4. Communicate in different ways 

There are so many different ways to communicate with your target market, and you sometimes need to use as many as possible to get a result. A prospect may not be reassured enough to buy from the first mailing they receive until they’ve read an article about you in their trade press, visited your website, requested a brochure, and then received a follow up email from you. 

5. Follow up again and again 

Make sure you follow up on everything and everyone! When someone leaves your ecommerce shopping basket, follow them up. When they request a brochure or sample, follow them up. If they visit your exhibition stand or sign up for your email newsletter, follow them up. To help, make sure you have an efficient marketing system in place internally to identify leads and track all their follow ups.

6. Get more targeted 

Try and avoid a blanket approach to your marketing. Instead of wasting resources promoting to the masses, target your marketing to those types of prospect which have the best chance of converting. It’s about working smarter not harder, like subscribing to New B2B - leads of new business starting up in your area, so you can contact them just when they need to buy a range of goods and services, and before your competitors get their foot in the door www.selectabase.co.uk/newb2b 

7. Try new markets 

Investigate potential new markets for your existing products or services. These new opportunities could include selling direct to end users instead of via resellers, launching budget or premium variations of your standard offer, or repacking your service for different markets such as export. Test new ideas first on a smaller sample before committing to wider scale campaigns – you can source and download lists with no minimum order at Prospect Download http://www.selectabase.co.uk/buy-a-list/  

8. Innovate new ideas 

New products and services can help open up new markets, and get more repeat business from existing or lapsed customers. If you are in a fast-paced or technology based industry you need a constant pipeline of new products and ideas in development to keep growing your business. Invite new ideas from your team, customers and even suppliers then test them to see which have potential. For example, send a trial mailing to a sample list to see what response you get before rolling out a new product to the rest of the market.

9. Measure everything 

Make sure you measure the effectiveness of all your marketing activities this year. For example, you can measure responses then compare the cost of acquiring a new customer, gaining a new enquiry or reaching a wider audience through different marketing channels. Make sure the source of new enquiries is always properly identified and recorded.

10. Reduce wastage 

Look within your marketing campaigns and budgets to try and identify wastage, so that you can concentrate on the activities which generate the most results. Don’t assume that just because a form of marketing has always worked in the past it will continue to do so forever, and constantly question where your resources will be best spent.

Selectabase, ready to help 

If you need more help with your marketing plans, we also offer a range of free tools and guides; learn how to write a direct mail letter, better identify your target postcode areas and read useful sales and marketing advice guides.

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10 Top Tips For Success by Citybuzz Marketing

Citybuzz Marketing share a list of their top tips for success in business and life.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) - Jan. 11, 2013 - Citybuzz Marketing

contact@citybuzzmarketing.co.uk (mailto:contact@citybuzzmarketing.co.uk)

10 Top Tips For Success by Citybuzz Marketing

1. Take Risks - “‘The brave may not live forever—but the cautious do not live at all!’” – Richard Branson.

2. Take 100% Responsibility – The truth is that there is only one person responsible for the quality of the life you live. That person is YOU.

3. Have a Clear Plan - Always have a plan so you stay on track with your goals.

4. Stay Motivated – Preserve energy, don’t get tired and lose the desire to go on. Remind yourself with the reasons you are working hard.

5. Be Patient - Hitting goals always takes time. Be kind to yourself and the people around you because everything is a process and you are working your way up the ladder each day.

6. Believe in Yourself - You have to believe that you are capable of making things happen. Self-esteem/ self-confidence/ self-assurance - you have what it takes--the abilities, inner resources, talents, and skills to create your desired results.

7. Be resourceful - Being able to find constructive solutions when faced with challenges, be a problem solver.

8. Be resilient - Resilience is a great skill. It’s important to be open to growing and learning from the experiences that you have. Everybody fails, not everybody gets back up.

9. Raise your Standards - Always learn to step it up, increase your standards and strive for more.

10. Be Thankful - Not only with your accomplishments but also with your trials and your failures. It will keep you humble, which in turn, will help you continue striving for success.

For additional information, contact a member of the Citybuzz administration team at contact@citybuzzmarketing.co.uk

Citybuzz Marketing: providing companies with the ability to reach more people than ever before through interactive marketing solutions.

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Going Green And Saving Money with Re-manufactured Office Workstations

Total Office Interiors, a Phoenix office furniture retailer, offers re-manufactured workstations that help companies go green while saving money.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) - Jan. 3, 2013 - Whether you’re furnishing your very first office space or are renovating an already fully functioning work area, you might find yourself pondering such details as the layout of the office and furniture material types. With so many options to choose from, however, it can be tricky to narrow down the look that suits your company’s image and budget. A lot of businesses these days are looking for re-manufactured Phoenix office furniture sources as an economical way to revamp their office, while doing a little good for the environment along the way. Total Office Interiors, a Phoenix office furniture retailer, offers re-manufactured workstations that help companies go green while saving money.

What to Look for in Your Next Workstation

A truly functional workspace serves several purposes. Among other things, it should optimize organization, productivity, and teamwork between coworkers. These goals can be achieved in part by simply designing an office area that is both inviting and easy to navigate. By factoring in such characteristics as ample filing and shelving spaces, and comfortable desk areas, you can help to ensure your employees use their work areas efficiently.

The Up-side of Recycling

A lot of quality Phoenix office furniture companies offer the option to refurbish your current office furniture to create the style of workstation you hope to achieve. Fully customized work areas can be constructed from a combination of new and recycled materials to fit your needs and budget. By utilizing resources like recycled fabrics and updated fixtures, it is possible to achieve a functional, attractive, and environmentally-responsible look at a fraction of the price.

Get the most out of your workspace by filling your office space with refurbished furniture that reflects the dynamics of your company and your commitment to the environment, and enjoy the added bonus of saving money as you do it. To learn more about re-manufactured workstations, visit http://toiaz.com.

About Total Office Interiors

Total Office Interiors (TOI) is a Scottsdale office furniture company that has been providing high quality office products and distinguished customer service since 1993. TOI assists businesses in establishing office environments that enhance the productivity of employees. TOI offers office furniture, such as workstations, office desks, computer desks, conference room tables, and office chairs from over 40 top manufacturers in the office interiors industry. Nobody understands the importance of achieving a comfortable and operational workspace like Total Office Interiors. Visit http://toiaz.com/ to learn more about the company.

Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/12052787/1
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VP Marketing On Demand Announces The Demand Creation Planning Template to Drive Revenue

Build a cohesive, integrated and sustained demand creation plan that will generate the appropriate pipeline for Sales to meet or exceed revenue targets.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) - Jan. 3, 2013 - VP Marketing On Demand, the premiere marketing resource to create or update integrated and effective go-to-market plans, announced it’s latest marketing resource for marketer’s to build integrated lead generation pans that generate qualified opportunities.  The Demand Creation Planning Template has been built in PowerPoint and spans strategy formulation that is synchronized with Sales to tactical execution and comprehensive follow-up to maximize the return on investment.  Download the Demand Creation Planning Template now.

Driving revenue is best done with a comprehensive and sustained customer acquisition and retention blueprint as opposed to a “one and done” lead generation plan that is comprised of ad hoc activities.  A strategic marketing template will provide a process for the development of a marketing plan that will align with corporate objectives and dovetail with financial goals.  Specifically, geographical, product and distribution requirements need to drive the demand creation plan.  This is accomplished by reverse engineering revenue targets for each into qualified opportunities and then to qualified leads and responses.  In addition, the demand creation plan should be created within the framework of a market sizing to ensure that the plan is grounded in reality.

When organizations fall behind the revenue curve they tend to race to accelerate the development and execution of go-to-market plans, especially demand creation efforts.  In this type of environment, it is difficult to develop a cohesive demand creation strategy to guide tactical execution and the corresponding campaign results may be lackluster and expensive.  Formulating the appropriate marketing strategy is an absolute necessity to efficiently and effectively produce the results an organization requires and demands.  It’s imperative to ask the right questions when building go-to-market plans so that the approach is ready, aim, fire and not fire, ready, aim.

Elements of the demand creation plan should address whether the focus is to chase suspects, prospects and customers, catch them in the act, encourage them to come to engage through compelling content and community, or to pursue them through a co-create approach with partners, influencers and thought leaders.

A solid marketing plan template will include documented assumptions, defined roles and responsibilities, key messages, compelling offers, an itemized budget and a detailed follow-up plan, along with a defined timeline.  Elements in the demand creation PowerPoint template should include a detailed target account profile, buyer personas and a buyer behavior model.  Before launching into the development of a demand creation plan, it is a best practice to conduct a marketing assessment to understand current capabilities, what is needed to succeed, the gap between the two and what resources and actions it will take to close the gap.  The best laid plan will falter unless the appropriate infrastructure (people, process and systems) is in place to facilitate flawless execution.

Peter Buscemi stated that “the Demand Creation Planning Template includes all of the knowledge and best practices that he has accumulated over the past thirty years while running all or part of marketing at F1000 companies and start-ups.”  Buscemi continued by saying that “There are so many moving parts to assemble an integrated lead generation plan that it is extremely difficult to try and anticipate and think through all of the issues that the go-to-market planning template covers in detail.  Many organizations are behind the revenue curve and too anxious to get something going immediately and that is a breeding ground for mistakes to be made in the design, development and execution of the strategic marketing plan.”  Working from a proven marketing PowerPoint template will accommodate an organizations need for speed, within the constraints of leveraging best practices, to deliver the required results in a timely and cost effective manner.

About VP Marketing On Demand
VP Marketing on Demand was founded by Peter Buscemi, a CMO with 30 years experience that spans start-ups and Fortune 500 companies.  The sole purpose of VP Marketing On Demand is to provide marketing insights and a huge head start to those tacking key marketing projects, through managed, repeatable processes.  Over decades, in working with various boards and executive management teams (CEO's, COO's, VP's Sales and Development) patterns developed in terms of what the key marketing challenges were, how to address them and how to communicate about them.  As a direct result of those experiences, all of that knowledge has been packaged into marketing templates that provide a solid foundation for a projects success, while saving time and money. Read Peter’s blog>>

Photos:
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http://www.prlog.org/12050893/3
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The Value of Free Mapping Tools for Business Analysis

 

 

 

 

Most businesses rely on software tools used for data analysis. Without these, companies can lose opportunities to grow or reduce costs. Business analysts depend on only one tool that is simple to use, efficient and provides results right away.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

PRLog (Press Release) - Jan. 3, 2013 - Business analysis is a serious discipline. It involves clearly identifying business needs and setting the course to succeed. Business analysts usually use data analysis tools to help them identify the problems and determine the solutions. The quicker they resolve a problem, the better. Thus, in the search of a valuable tool for data analysis, a growing number of business analysts have come to appreciate the value of Topo.ly Mapping.

Topo.ly is dedicated to help many small, medium, and large businesses identify opportunities for growth or cost reduction. Data visualization brought by mapping easily helps these companies to create step-by-step solutions to specific problems. What’s even better is that the leading mapping solution allows the users to create maps using Excel spreadsheet data in an instant.

Mapping - An Invaluable Data Analytics Tool

Topo.ly as a data analytics tool has been used by hundreds of businesses, not only in the USA but also around Europe. It helps them identify opportunities to mitigate risks from competition maintain growth. There are many areas where Topo.ly is an invaluable data analytics tool:

Mitigating Risks

When a user plots a competitor’s locations on a map, he or she can clearly see how the data is connected with their internal business model. By heat mapping, users can visualize sales or customer density. A quick glance can immediately identify the risks and use the same information to formulate business plans to mitigate and manage these risks.

Easy to Use

Who needs complicated and expensive computer software for data analysis? Topo.ly is free to use. What’s even better is that it is simple. “Make Mapping Simple” is the caption of Topo.ly and as always, it stands by the same rule. As Tom Haydon, a successful business owner and satisfied user of Topo.ly said, “You folks have a great piece of software here. I was able to create a useful map within a few minutes of opening an account.”

Identify Business Growth

Topo.ly users can add different data sets to help them identify business growth. They can also add territories to identify the future for possible expansion. Topo.ly lets the users use their creative juices to plan effective business steps for huge growth opportunities.

Those three areas and so many more makes Topo.ly Mapping an invaluable tool for business analysis!
Photo:http://www.prlog.org/12052920/1
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How to Protect Your Intellectual Property in Global Business – and in the Cloud

Cloud computing is fast becoming the norm in a wide range of industries. With the growing demand for data storage.

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PRLog (Press Release) - Jan. 3, 2013 - Cloud computing is fast becoming the norm in a wide range of industries. With the growing demand for data storage, this technology that allows businesses of all sizes to store and exchange intellectual property (IP) (http://www.merrillbrink.com/intellectual-property-translation.htm) and other data in the ‘cloud’ is becoming essential for many organizations. The advantages of using cloud services are undeniable for many businesses, as there is usually no initial outlay for the hardware, minimal IT support and staffing costs. Now, cloud technologies such as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) (http://www.merrillbrink.com/software-translation.htm), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), and cloud service brokers (CSBs), are enabling firms to much more affordably automate certain functions and adopt new technologies. Gartner estimates that by outsourcing to a CSB, small and midsize businesses can save 20 to 30 percent over what it would cost to do the integration work internally.1

Cloud technologies also make it easy for organizations to streamline data sharing, both domestically and abroad. However, experts note, security can present an issue. Not surprisingly, private businesses, courts and governments all over the world are becoming more active in protecting confidential information in cloud computing. In today’s rapidly world of business IT, security measures need to be constantly reevaluated to eliminate risks where current technologies and business trends converge (http://www.merrillbrink.com/business-translation.htm).

International Patent Activity and the Cloud

The rise in patent application activity represents a good example of this convergence. In recent years, as businesses increasingly seek out international business opportunities to spur revenue growth, the number of patents being submitted via the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the European and US Patent Offices has risen notably. Since 2010, Asia has taken over from the U.S. and Europe as the most active region of activity, with China and India leading the way. While the overall number of patents submitted under the international Patent Co-Operation Treaty rose by 5.7 percent in 2010, submissions from China and India increased by 55.6 percent and 36.6 percent, respectively.2

However, patent filing is not a standardized process worldwide. Companies must navigate multiple filing procedures, jurisdictional differences and a multitude of foreign languages to protect their patents in the international arena. Recognizing the need for improvement, the U.S. and European patent offices and WIPO are all working to simplify the process and harmonize their electronic filing processes. Cloud computing will likely play a leading role in this effort.

Steps to Protect International IP

So what steps can organizations take to protect their IP internationally – and in the cloud?

1.       Employ thorough reference checks on outsourced legal services (http://www.merrillbrink.com/legal-translations.htm), domestically and abroad. Refer to the American Bar Association’s opinion article noted below for more guidance.3 This should include personnel as well as systems.

2.       Eliminate public data sharing practices. Limit the informal exchange of confidential property via unsecured tools such as e-mail or other public online file sharing applications.

3.       Leverage CSB services to control data security. This has worked well for companies like Mohawk Fine Papers. According to Paul Stamas, Mohawk’s Vice President of IT, “Using a CSB has improved security because everything flows through a single point by way of a VPN connection. Inside the cloud, they have all of the data security precautions you’d expect from a PCI standards-compliant data center.”4

4.       Don’t minimize the role of language translation (http://www.merrillbrink.com/language-services.htm). For international IP activities, work with an expert IP translation services provider with subject matter expertise.

As business becomes more global, the volume and sophistication of international business transactions such as patent prosecutions and patent litigation will continue to grow. Cloud computing tools offer an efficient means to manage such communications, provided they are subject to the same security standards an organization applies to its internal systems.

References:

1 Robert Mitchell, “Integration in the Cloud,” Computerworld, March 12, 2012.

2 Clive Cookson, “Patent Proof of Rising Innovation,” Financial Times, May 20, 2011.

3 Victoria Prussen Spears. “Globalization’s Impact On Legal Services: The American Bar Association Weighs In,” Intellectual Property & Technology Law Journal, August 2012.

4 Mitchell, “Integration in the Cloud.”

Read the full article here: http://www.merrillbrink.com/how-to-protect-your-IP-in-global-business-and-in-the-cloud-12312012.htm

About Merrill Brink International

Merrill Brink International (www.merrillbrink.com) is a leading provider of complete translation and language solutions for global companies and law firms, with special expertise in serving the legal, financial, life sciences, software, heavy machinery and corporate markets. A proven leader with more than 30 years of experience, Merrill Brink offers a wide range of language solutions including translation, localization, desktop publishing and globalization services.

Merrill Brink is recognized in the industry for its commitment to quality and its pioneering approach of leveraging technology to reduce costs, eliminate redundant processes and accelerate translation life cycles. Merrill Brink is certified to ISO 9001:2008; ISO 27001:2005 and ISO 13485:2003, and registered to EN 15038:2006 and ISO 14971:2007. Together, these standards provide assurance that the most stringent process and quality standards for translation are followed. Merrill Brink International is a wholly owned subsidiary of Merrill Corporation.
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Mystic Waters Media | Small Business Marketing

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marketing firm Mystic Waters Media launches to bring the mechanisms of large scale campaigns to small businesses, regardless of budget.

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PRLog (Press Release) - Jan. 3, 2013 - Marketing firm Mystic Waters Media launches to bring the mechanisms of large  scale campaigns to small businesses, regardless of budget.

Branding and advertising are key factors in moving towards finding that new relationship. The social media landscape is large and growing with new medium introducing unique features. Once cultivated an audience requires interaction to maintain a buzz about a brand. Mobile technologies are integral to put the message in the hands of the gadget savvy community that makes up your customer base. Watching the emerging trends and maintaining current research keeps an eye on what’s around the corner.

http://www.mysticwatersmedia.net

Click the link above to follow the conversation on our social media network. Look for a full website launch soon from Mystic Waters Media.

Consultation, Development, Production, Training. Consider every step for a thorough result. Marketing, Talent Networking, Special Projects. A directives driven partner. Please contact us to inquire about the services we would use in a marketing plan for your small business.

Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/12039414/1
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