June 30th, 2010
Let’s face it – everyone is in sales. From the neighborhood babysitter who wants to pack her weekend sitting schedule to the CPA who wants more clients, even non-sales positions require plenty of sales savvy in this economy. Here are some tips for simple ways to win clients and influence prospects.
Professionalism
While it’s true that our culture seems to lean more towards the casual aspect of life, business, and social interactions, that doesn’t mean professionalism should be tossed out the window. Even if your business has adopted a more casual culture in terms of dress, marketing materials, and conversation, professionalism remains an essential component of effective sales. Simple details such as promptness, courtesy, appropriate language, and a can-do attitude can go a long way towards signing your next deal.
Authenticity
Everyone likes to buy, but nobody likes to be sold. This is where authenticity can become your greatest asset. In our society, there is often a distinct lack of authenticity (this is what makes your skin crawl when talking to a smarmy salesman). People appreciate honesty, candor, and a true sense of self. False bravado, empty compliments, and a fake smile are not the tools to close more deals.
Integrity
Put simply, integrity means doing what you say you will do, when you say you will do it. And yet, it’s shocking how few people in the business realm can truly be accountable to their promises. Don’t make promises you can’t keep, and be sure to keep the promises you make. This simple yet profound practice will surely set you apart from your competition.
Helpfulness
The greatest salespeople in the world know that the easiest way to close more sales is to solve people’s problems. This requires getting to know your prospects first, talking to them, doing some research, and finding out what make them tick and what kind of problems they need to have solved. Solve a person’s problems and you’ve got a client for life.
You can use a rental projector to exhibit professionalism and display authenticity and integrity about your products and services. To rent a projector for your next sales meeting or presentation, click here to get started.
June 28th, 2010
We recently ran across this article with lots of links to other articles and useful information to help you keep your kids safe this summer. This article is courtesy of About.com: Pediatrics. Remember, plenty of fun and safe summer activities are at your fingertips with an affordable rental projector from Projector123.com.
Keep your kids safe and healthy this summer season by learning about sun safety, fireworks, water safety, and avoiding insect bites.
Since bites are itchy, even without any worries about health problems, like West Nile Virus, it is a good idea to try to protect your kids from insect bites by learning how to apply an insect repellent properly.
Many parents overlook the fact that kids can get sick from the germs in the water of pools, lakes, and water parks, etc. In addition to basic swimming safety, learn how taking some simple steps can help to keep your kids and everyone else safe and healthy while swimming.
Review when you can start using an insect repellent on your kids and get help choosing an insect repellent that is safe and provides good protection against mosquito bites and other bugs.
Although you should make every effort to keep your kids safe year-round, it is especially important in the summer when most kids are out of school. Review these summer safety tips to help keep your kids safe this summer.
Are you keeping your kids safe from the sun? Take our Sun Safety Parenting Quiz to see if you know everything you should to keep your kids safe from the harmful effects of the sun.
Review the hidden dangers of kids being left or getting trapped in hot cars, which can lead to heat stroke and death.
Learn how to prevent and treat children with Swimmer’s Ear.
Mosquitos and Mosquitoe are common misspellings for mosquitoes and mosquito.
Although fireworks are a summer tradition for many families, injuries from fireworks don’t have to be if you follow these fireworks safety tips.
Kids often get afraid when a thunderstorm rolls in. Because of the damage that severe thunderstorms and tornadoes can cause, many adults have a healthy fear of them too.
Take our Summertime Safety Quiz to test your knowledge of summer safety, including water and fireworks safety and using sunscreen and insect repellents safely.
A primer to help you keep your kids safe this summer, including helping you learn about avoiding sunburn, insect bites and stings, treating poison ivy, heat illness, and poisonings.
Learn what you can do to avoid and treat sunburns in your children, including limiting sun exposure and using sunscreen.
Learn to avoid accidental poisonings this summer, including those caused by kids who accidentally ingest sunscreens, berries, cleaning solvents, insect repellents, pesticides, plants and mushrooms, and hydrocarbons in the form of gasoline, kerosene, and charcoal fluid.
Review how to avoid chiggers and treat chigger bites, which are common in late spring, summer, and early fall.
Learn what you can do to prevent and treat rashes caused by exposure to poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac.
Review what you can do to avoid bites from mosquitoes and ticks and avoid illnesses like Lyme disease and the West Nile Virus.
Learn to avoid and treat heat illness and heat exhaustion.
Review the basics of preventing food poisoning during the summer at picnics parties and family cookouts.
Learn to avoid burns from fireworks and barbecue grills.
Learn what you can do to avoid and treat bee stings, including how to get the stinger out.
Summertime hazards can pose risks to your children’s health and safety. Learn to take precautions to protect your kids and promote water, sun and fireworks safety.
For many people, summer means fun in the sun. The kids are out of school, adults are on vacation and it’s time for outdoor activities like riding bikes and hosting barbecues. However, summer also is the time of year kids are most likely to be injured
Fireworks safety is important because fireworks can be dangerous, causing serious burn and eye injuries, even blindness. Learn to prevent fireworks related injuries by leaving fireworks to professionals and learn state regulations concerning the use of fireworks.
When can I start using sunscreen on my baby to protect her from the sun?
Pool Safety tips to prevent drownings in your children and promote water safety when swimming around pools and spas, plus info on diving safety.
Answers to your questions about the use of insect repellents with DEET on your kids to protect them from mosquitoes and other insects.
Foodborne illness and food poisoning do increase in the summer months, when the weather is warmer, allowing bacteria to grow faster, and more people are having picnics, barbecues and camping trips. Learn food safety tips to keep your children safe this summer.
Tips for treating and avoiding insect bites.
We are planning a missionary trip to Guatemala this summer. Do my kids need any special shots or medications before we leave?
Summertime infections can be caused by viruses, food poisoning, mosquito and tick borne illnesses. Learn simple precautions that can help your children to have a safe, fun and infection free summer.
Should your continue your child’s ADHD medicine during the summer when he is out of school?
This is a guide to some of the directories and listings of summer camps available for children with disabilities.
My 8 year old has ADHD, inattentive type and she is doing very well on Concerta. Does she need to continue taking her ADHD medicine all summer when she is out of school, or can I give her a break from it?
The West Nile virus has been spreading westward across the United States, causing infections in some people who are bitten by infected mosquitoes. Are your children at risk?
Sunburns are a little different than other types of burns, but the treatment is very similar. Learn how to treat a sunburn before you need to.
Summer is near, and there are lots of fun baby products in stores that will make your trip to the pool or beach safe and exciting for baby. Take a look at the top baby products for the pool or beach, chosen by your Baby Products Guide.
June 25th, 2010
Are you wondering how you can find more local leads for your business? There are many free ways to do this, and you can easily tap into your local market with these easy tips.
1 – Free local advertising.
Most businesses are so focused on their paid advertising, they may forget to utilize local free and almost-free advertising. Craigslist.org is easy to use and can bring in a lot of local leads, depending on what kind of business you have. Additionally, your town may have a presence on sites such as backpages.com, cityslick.net, hubspot.com, etc. Just do an internet search on “local free advertising” for more ideas. Additionally, your local town or community may have free publications where you can list your business without paying a fee (as opposed to the bigger, flashier paid ads). Take advantage of this local free advertising to get more local leads.
2 – Start a blog.
Blogs are useful for gaining organic ranking (which refers to which sites shows up first in an online search) and a lot of blog owners are missing out on local search traffic because they are not using local tags or keywords. For example, if you are a CPA in Charlotte, it pays to incorporate keywords like “Charlotte CPA” and “Charlotte accountant” into your blog and your website. Starting a blog is free and easy, and you can get started at WordPress.com.
3 – Ask for referrals.
One of the easiest ways to grow your business locally is to ask your existing clients and customers for referrals. This can be as simple as posting a sign in your place of business (“A referral is the greatest compliment you can give us.”) or sending out an email to your client base, or calling some of your key clients to ask for referrals. Whether or not you incentivize your clients (offer a gift or payment or finder’s fee) for their referrals is entirely up to you.
4 – Host a workshop.
In most communities (even the tiny ones!) there are a variety of ways to reach potential clients by offering free workshops, lectures or information. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce, library, community center, colleges, and Small Business Administration (SBA) to see what kinds of classes or free information is offered, and find out how you can participate. For example, a CPA can host a free 1-hour class on how to save money on your taxes, how to apply for an extension on your taxes, etc. That attracts the perfect target market, and gives an opportunity to collect information from these leads. Additionally, you can monetize these free workshops by giving people a reason to buy today – create a special offer or a discount to invite them to sign up on the spot.
If you plan to host a workshop or class, count on Projector123.com for all your rental projector needs. Click here to learn more about our affordable professional rental projector packages.
June 23rd, 2010
Looking for fun and innovative ways to spend Independence Day this year? Whether you’re on the road or planning a stay-cation at home, here are some tips that are sure to liven up this festive weekend celebration.
Liven up Your BBQ
Instead of just a tired old 4th of July BBQ, why not spice things up with an outdoor movie festival? Grab your favorite summer flicks and set up a rental projector to display films on a hung sheet or even on the side of the house. Neighbors from near and far are sure to stop by to join in the fun when they see classic films on display in larger-than-life format. Everyone loves dining al fresca, and the only thing that can top it is the picnic-and-a-movie combination. Remember to pop some popcorn for adults and kids alike.
Bring the Fun Indoors
While July 4th is traditionally an “outdoor” holiday, there’s no reason why the fun can’t travel indoors during the hottest part of the day (or once the sun goes down). With a rental projector, you can create your very own film festival, Wii competition, or trip down memory lane featuring your favorite home movies. Your guests will appreciate a chance to get out of the heat with a cool and fun indoor celebration.
Party into the Evening Hours
This year, July 4th falls on a Sunday, but with many folks off of work the following day, there’s no reason not to extend party time into the evening hours. Got a pool? You can easily set up your own swim-in theater with a blank wall or a big white sheet, a rental projector, and the family’s most cherished movies. If you’d prefer to wind things down in the evening, you can set up the kids and teens with an outdoor movie while the adults retire inside for some grown-up beverages and scintillating conversation.
Host a Block Party
Hosting a block party is easier than you may think – the main thing to remember is to apply for whatever permits are required by your local town, city or county government. Block party permits are typically free (or with just a nominal fee) and you might need a security officer. It’s that simple to coordinate a neighborhood party, block off the streets from motorized traffic, and start a celebration. A rental projector adds a nice touch, entertaining kiddies and adults alike.
No matter how you choose to celebrate Independence Day this year, you’ll certainly find countless uses for a rental projector from Projector123.com. Click here to rent a projector now and see how easy it is to bring an affordable, professional grade projector into your home or back yard today.
June 21st, 2010
If you earn your living by conducting product demonstrations and live presentations, you deserve to know how a rental projector can enhance your presentation and create more sales.
It’s cliché but it’s true – a picture really is worth 1,000 words. And video is worth exponentially more – that’s why it just makes sense to use an LCD rental projector if you’re hosting a live presentation or product demo. When your group size exceeds about a half-dozen observers, you don’t want people jostling for room just so they can see what you’re demonstrating.
With nothing more than a laptop or video camera and a rental projector, you can transmit larger-than-life images of your live demo so that everything can see what you’re doing. From cooking demonstrations to network marketing presentations to gadget demos, there are countless industries and sales reps who can benefit from adding a rental projector to their live demo.
If you’re just starting out, it helps to video your presentation and review the video to find ways to improve it. Video has an uncanny way of capturing those things that we tend to tune out, such as stammers, verbal irritations (um, like, you know), physical irritations (fidgeting, hands in pockets, fussing with hair or clothing), and swaying, to name a few.
Plus, using an LCD rental projector tends to attract more folks who are curious and can spot you from across the store, the festival, or the trade show floor. More viewers ultimately means more sales, and more money in your pocket.
And with weekend rental rates starting as low as just $99, can you really afford not to use a rental projector?
 Now it’s true that you might not be demonstrating the latest Microsoft creation, but you can still generate sales and work the room like a pro with a rental projector from Projector123.com. Click here to get started.
June 18th, 2010
This bit of wisdom was borrowed from http://halfthedeck.com — We thought you would enjoy some Father’s Day humor. Have a happy one!
Top Ten Things You’ll Never Hear a Dad Say
10. Well, how ’bout that?… I’m lost! Looks like we’ll have to stop and ask for directions.
9. You know Pumpkin, now that you’re thirteen, you’ll be ready for unchaperoned car dates. Won’t that be fun?
8. I noticed that all your friends have a certain “up yours” attitude . . . I like that.
7. Here’s a credit card and the keys to my new car — GO CRAZY.
6. What do you mean you wanna play football? Figure skating not good enough for you, son?
5. Your Mother and I are going away for the weekend … you might want to consider throwing a party.
4. Well, I don’t know what’s wrong with your car. Probably one of those doo-hickey thingies — you know — that makes it run or something. Just have it towed to a mechanic and pay whatever he asks.
3. No son of mine is going to live under this roof without an earring — now quit your belly-aching, and let’s go to the mall.
2. Whaddya wanna go and get a job for? I make plenty of money for you to spend.
1. Father’s Day? aahh — don’t worry about that — it’s no big deal.
June 16th, 2010
Looking for easy ways to boost sales and increase your bottom line this summer? In part 1 of this series, we looked at ways to use fire sales to increase business. In this installment, we’ll explore how to effectively use contests to grow your bottom line.
There are several different ways you can use contests to temporarily boost sales, so be sure to read all of these to see which offer the best fit for your business.
1. Sales Contests
Your sales force can be your greatest asset. However, if your sales folks know that a slow season is coming up (or is underway), they are far less motivated to perform at their usual peak. This is when a contest can really come in handy. You can offer weekly, monthly, or seasonal incentives to motivate your sales team to maximize each customer interaction, and to find new ways to sell during a slow season.
2. Consumer Contests
Engage your customers by finding ways for them to interact with your brand. Thanks to the popularity of social media networks and tools like Twitter, it’s easy (and practically free) to launch and promote a consumer contest. You can create a contest around most anything: name our newsletter, name our new mascot, create our logo, recipe contest, invent our next product, tell-a-friend, pick the charity who deserves 10% of our next promotion, etc. People love to share their opinions and to get involved.
3. Employee Contests
These differ from sales contests in that most sales people are paid on commission and therefore motivated by their own bottom line. Employees may certainly be money-motivated, but they also appreciate recognition and acknowledgement, which is why employee contests can also be effective. Additionally, non-sales employees have a different perspective than sales reps, and may therefore create more creative and unique suggestions for problem-solving and growth. If you launch an employee contest, be sure to incentivize those employees so that they are motivated to participate to the best of their ability. What they come up with just might surprise you.
Be sure to come back next time for the final installment of this 3-part series. In the meantime, if you need a rental projector, visit us at projector123.com for all your rental projector needs. Click here to get started.
June 14th, 2010
You’ve persisted and persisted to finally get some quality face time with the physician and his staff, and you’ve scheduled a time and date to present your information. Now how can you ensure the best possible turnout at your event? Try these handy tips on for size.
 1. Be different
Odds are, dozens of drug reps are stalking the hallways, competing for physician face time. Booking the same-old same-old is not the way to ensure a good turnout at your presentation. While it may be helpful to find out what the staff likes (in terms of gadgets, giveaways or catering), don’t be afraid to stand out and be different — it’s sure to get you noticed by the physician and his staff.
2. Solicit staff involvement
Whenever possible talk to the staff ahead of time to drum up interest in your presentation. Offer a gift or incentive in exchange for some assistance from the staff secretary or office manager, who may also be able to garner interest from potential participants. Write hand-written thank you notes (not emails!) to everyone who assists — this personal touch is a long-lost secret of great business.
3. Be flexible
The physician’s schedule is largely unpredictable, so it pays to be flexible and considerate when emergencies and unplanned schedule changes arise. Be gracious and accommodating whenever you can and look for win-win solutions if the doc’s schedule gets unruly.
4. Incentivize thoughtfully
Some pharmaceutical gadgets and gifts make no sense whatsoever — stress balls bearing the name of sedatives, for example. Be thoughtful and considerate and try to find out what the doc wants or needs so you can offer something that makes sense and will be used.
If you use these 4 guidelines, you’re sure to have an excellent turnout at your next pharmaceutical presentation. Got more ideas? Post a comment here and share your knowledge.
And when you’re ready to rent an LCD projector for your presentation, click here to discover how easy it is to rent from Projector123.com.
June 11th, 2010
In the prior two segments, we looked at fire sales and contests as viable ways to boost sales during the slow months of summer (or any other time of year). In this final piece, we’ll explore a third powerful way to increase revenue: creative promotions.
Get Creative…Get Paid
Sizzling promos are welcome any time of year, regardless of the current state of the economy. People love to find a deal, scoop up a bargain, and feel as though they’ve really scored a win. But because buyers are constantly bombarded with marketing messages, it pays to truly get creative by inventing promos that pop.
Ultimately, your main goal should be to give folks a reason to buy right now. There are many ways to do this, including:
1 – fear of loss – would include verbiage such as: “for a limited time.” “a limited number,” “only __ remaining,” etc. The idea is that if they don’t act now, they’re going to miss out.
2 – buy in bulk – prepaid packages, two-for-one or BOGO deals, discounts on gift cards, annual passes, etc. The idea is to make it wildly appealing for them to spend more now, because what they get will either last longer or include a lot more perks.
3 – bring a friend – friend flies free, payments or incentives for referrals, buy now and your friend pays nothing, sign up 2 friends and you’re free for life, etc. These tactics rely on the power of peer persuasion, as well as social proof.
Whenever you are preselling packages, be sure to consider the long-term and medium-term ramifications of your current actions. For example, if you presell packages now that customers have six months to use, keep in mind that your immediate cash flow will rise, but you may not be able to run a similar promotion for six months if your capacity can’t handle the increase in customers (and at that point, you’re working and paying your staff for money that’s already been collected and possibly spent).
Got your own ideas for boosting business during slow periods? Post a comment and share with us.
And remember, when you need to rent a projector, whether it’s for an employee contest, to draw more attention to your business, or to award as a prize to the winning sales rep, the clear choice is Projector123.com. Click here to get started.
June 9th, 2010
Do your sales cool off during the hot summer months? If so, you’re not alone. Most businesses find they experience a “slow season” each year but here are our hottest tips for boosting sales during your slower months (whether they happen to occur in the summer or not!)
Heat things up with a fire sale
The term “fire sale” usually refers to an emergency clearance sale at deeply discounted prices. Originally, a fire sale referred to the sale of merchandise that had been damaged by fire or that could no longer be stored because the storage facility had been destroyed (which meant an immediate sale was necessary).
Today, fire sales are common for boosting overall sales during a spending slump, or for liquidating inventory to make way for new product and stock. You can create your own fire sale to attract buyers into your business, boost overall sales, and clear out older merchandise that isn’t moving.
You could put certain items on sale as “loss leaders,” meaning you sell a few items at a loss in order to get buying customers into your store or onto your website. Grocery stores and discount department stores use this promotional practice quite a bit. In many cases, buyers will buy additional items that may or may not be on sale (especially when combined shipping costs are low).
Holding a fire sale doesn’t always mean taking a loss. For example, if you host an online store, you can have a fire sale on shipping (free shipping for all orders over $10, for example). Though you’ll take a small loss on the shipping costs, the sale will encourage more people to make purchases, so your overall volume and revenue will increase.
Another alternative might include purchasing a discounted product to offer as a fire sale item to your customers. There are many ways to incorporate this pricing strategy.
In the next installment, we’ll explore the use of contests to boost sales during a slow season. In the meantime, remember to visit http://Projector123.com whenever you need a rental projector for your business or personal use. Weekend rentals start as low at just $99.
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