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Articles by Amy Barnes

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21 articles by Amy Barnes · showing 21

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By Amy BarnesOct 31, 20081 topic

Small Business Profit Begins With Intelligent Pricing Strategy

What is the right price for your product or service? Most small business owners struggle with this question, because they confuse the cost of producing the product with the value it brings to the customer.nnWhen it comes to establishing a price for your goods or services, the value of your product has absolutely nothing to do with production cost. The value is based on how much you help clients save, increase, reduce or improve. If you can quantify these benefits, then you ha

Primary topic: Marketing Strategy

Marketing Strategy

729 views

By Amy BarnesOct 31, 20081 topic

If At First You Don't Succeed - Try, Try, Again.

When I was growing up my parents often encouraged me to try something more then once. One of the best lessons occurred when I tried to ride a bicycle. nn nnI was 9 when we moved to the suburbs. Coming from Brooklyn I had never ridden a bicycle. Unwilling to admit to my new friends I didn't' know how, I borrowed a bicycle, got on; rode, briefly and then I fell. nn nnOk, so I actually rode directly into a mailbox, suffering multiple minor scrapes and a huge blow to my ego. But

Primary topic: Business Networking

Business Networking

1,108 views

By Amy BarnesOct 22, 20081 topic

Creativity is a Round Process

In a world of fast change and fierce competition, the ability to find new and innovative solutions is necessary for your survival. Thinking power and creativity are your primary competitive advantages. Unlocking new ideas andnnmultiple possibilities begin with a "Round Process". Research - Originatenn- Unite-Nurture -DoIt!nnResearchnnTo produce creative output, you need creative input! Collecting a variety of information, without worrying how it fits, is the foundation of the

Primary topic: Marketing Strategy

Marketing Strategy

722 views

By Amy BarnesOct 20, 20081 topic

Winning Strategies From The World Of Tennis

What wins at Wimbledon wins at your local chamber. Watch a tennis match; world class or amateur, the basics are the same. In each case the goal is to make contact with the ball and knock it back over the net!nnIn tennis if the ball remains on one side of the net too long, there is a greater chance it will dribble off to the side and the opponent will score the point. In networking conversations, the same is true. The longer the ball is on your side of the court (the longer yo

Primary topic: Marketing Strategy

Marketing Strategy

727 views

By Amy BarnesSep 24, 20081 topic

Are You Linked In

As a confirmed networking junkie, I am always looking for my next fix. My new fix is LinkedIn. An on-line social network, Linkedin is often described as FaceBook for professionals.n nWith an emphasis on career history, educational background and association membership, Linkedin has millions of members, with thousands more joining each day.nnStart with your contacts.nnOnce you register (basic membership is free) you can invite people to LinkIn (connect to you through the onlin

Primary topic: Business Networking

Business Networking

766 views

By Amy BarnesSep 4, 20081 topic

Business Tools - Your Brochure

At some point, every small business creates a brochure, but it is often an exercise in futility. Whether you are creating the brochure yourself, or hiring someone to do it for you, be sure to ask the following questions before you get started!nHow will the brochure be used?nIs it used as part of an interactive sales process, sent as a follow-up to phone inquiries, as a leave behind after sales call or delivered with a formal proposal? The primary use is important as you decid

Primary topic: Marketing Strategy

Marketing Strategy

720 views

By Amy BarnesAug 13, 20081 topic

Company Newsletters

Company Newsletters - Are you thinking about starting a customer newsletter? If done well, newsletters are a great way to touch your customers and potential customers. Over time, your newsletter builds credibility. It helps create a sense of familiarity with your organization.n nThe following tips apply equally well to printed or electronic newsletters.n nCustomer Focused Communicationnn Think about your customer's issues, questions and interests. Focus on information is inte

Primary topic: Internet Marketing

Internet Marketing

843 views

By Amy BarnesAug 3, 20081 topic

Networking Basics

I really like networking, as a matter of fact I am a self-confessed Networking Junkie. I have learned however, not everyone enjoys it as much as I do. So if you are one of those people who would rather walk on burning coals then attend a networking event, here are a few tips to make it easier.nnnnCome Prepared!nnBring your business cards - This is the currency of a networking event. Just as you wouldnât go to a store without a wallet, or try to drive without your keys, donâ

Primary topic: Marketing Strategy

Marketing Strategy

720 views

By Amy BarnesAug 2, 20081 topic

Content Management Your Competitive Edge

nYou return home after a networking event and empty your pockets, putting the business cards you collected onto the desk.nnWhat comes next? If you are one of those people who organize them in neat piles, tied with a rubber band and a promise to get to them someday, just toss them in the trash! Why - because people have a short memory.nnBe honest, do you remember what you had for lunch three days ago? I bet you don't.nAnd yet the interaction you had with you lunch was signific

Primary topic: Marketing Strategy

Marketing Strategy

722 views

By Amy BarnesAug 2, 20081 topic

How To Save Green When Buying Blue

In the mid-Fifteenth Century, when Johann Guttenburg brought movable type printing to the western world I doubt he envisioned the industry he would create. Today, printing is a significant line item on every business budget. Invoices, contracts, business cards, letterhead, and brochures are all part of the day-to-day operations of every business.nnOften when the bill comes, it feels like you are carrying the whole $90 billion industry by yourself. There are, however, ways to

Primary topic: Marketing Strategy

Marketing Strategy

707 views

By Amy BarnesJul 15, 20081 topic

Lessons from the Kitchen

Years ago my mother told me the secret to making a great stew. I am not much of a cook, but her advice makes a lot of sense when you are trying to build a great company, product or brand:nn1. Use a variety of ingredients for distinctive taste. nn2. Be patient - Cook over a low heat, slowly to allow the flavors to build.nn3. Follow a recipe, but don't be afraid to adjust the seasonings to personal taste.nnUse Flavorful IngredientsnnStart with diversity. Recruit people with dif

Primary topic: Business Networking

Business Networking

829 views

By Amy BarnesJul 12, 20081 topic

Cherries And Other Marketing Tips

Sometimes our best lessons come from children.nI was about three years old when my dad and I walked into a bakery. As he placed his order, I stared into the glass display case with all the pastries. As he was finishing his order, he glanced down, and asked, "Lanie, do you want one?"n"Yes, daddy," I replied enthusiastically.nThe woman behind the counter handed me a round pastry, with whipped cream, and a cherry on the very top. I immediately ate the cherry. As we turned to lea

Primary topic: Business Networking

Business Networking

894 views

By Amy BarnesJul 12, 20081 topic

Who Are Your Secretaries

Who Are Your SecretariesnOne of my favorite examples of marketing persistence is the story of the scientists at the 3M Company who found a use for an adhesive which didn't stick. Originally developed in 1968, by Dr. Spencer Silver, no one saw any use for the product.nA few years later, another scientist, Art Fry developed applications to use the adhesive on bookmarks. Despite discouraging feedback from the marketing department and his peers, he believed in the potential of th

Primary topic: Business Networking

Business Networking

1,079 views

By Amy BarnesJul 7, 20081 topic

No More Cold Calls

nNot too long ago, I met with a friend who had just started a new job as a salesman. In the course of the conversation, he told me his new boss wanted him to make 100 cold calls a week. I didnât know what to say. I doubt I have made that many cold calls in my entire career! nnHe continued to talk about the calls, and how his boss believed if he made the 100 calls he would be able to have about twenty viable conversations, set five appointments and make one sale. He asked me

Primary topic: Marketing Strategy

Marketing Strategy

845 views

By Amy BarnesJul 3, 20081 topic

It is All About The Numbers Your Closing Rate

It is All About the Numbers Â¡V Your Closing RatenThere is a popular misconception, held primarily by the financial managers, accountants and bookkeepers of the world, that marketing professionals can not add. They believe marketers simply treat numbers as graphic elements, selecting a number which looks pretty, with no basis in fact. nBut the truth Â¡K Good marketing is all about the numbers. If you develop marketing without paying attention to the numbers what you end up wi

Primary topic: Marketing Strategy

Marketing Strategy

1,202 views

By Amy BarnesMay 12, 20081 topic

Street Marketing

Growing up in NY the highest compliment you could pay someone, was to say they were âStreet Smartâ. This indicated the individual knew how to get things done, with a commons sense no nonsense approach to life. This same common sense approach is what makes Street Marketing, ideal for the small business owner looking to create a big impression on a limited budget.nStreet Marketing is built on the same foundation as traditional marketing; clear goals, concise description of

Primary topic: Marketing Strategy

Marketing Strategy

811 views

By Amy BarnesDec 4, 20061 topic

Leaving Voice-Mail Messages That Get Returned

Have you been playing âphone tag?â You know the routine: you call and leave a message, the other party returns your call and leaves you a message, and on and on. By the time you actually speak with the person you were trying to reach, youâve left two or three messages.nnDonât despair! Use each message to give the listener another opportunity to see that you are the trusted advisor that he/she wants on his side.nnWith those recorded messages, the party on the other lin

Primary topic: Communication Skills and Training

Communication Skills and Training

1,965 views

By Amy BarnesOct 31, 20061 topic

Healing Families of Divorce: Top Ten Ways To Stop The Conflict And Put Your Children First

1. Put your children first.nnYour child is not a confidant. Your child is not a friend. You are the adult and your child needs to be a child. Your child is NOT responsible for you. Children of single parents tend to grow up way too fast. Remember your child is a child. Do you know your child's feelings, friends, fears and dreams?nn2. Acknowledge the marriage is over and move on.nnJoin a divorce recovery support group and do your part in the work of healing from divorce. Time

Primary topic: Divorce

2,715 views

By Amy BarnesOct 31, 20061 topic

Creativity is a Round Process

In a world of fast change and fierce competition, the ability to find new and innovative solutions is necessary for your survival. Thinking power and creativity are your primary competitive advantages. Unlocking new ideas, and multiple possibilities begins with a "Round Process".nnResearchnnTo produce creative output, you need creative input! Collecting a variety of information, without worrying how it fits, is the foundation of the research phase.nn-Explore your environment

Primary topic: Creativity

1,005 views

By Amy BarnesOct 10, 20061 topic

Change - It Is Like Riding a Bicycle

Successful companies know change is a necessity. The challenge is continually encouraging, creating, and implementing worthwhile changes to make a difference for the business. Helping your team learn to accept and even embrace change is similar to learning to ride a bicycle.nnStart with ExcitementnnYoung children can hardly wait for their first Hot Wheels or tricycle. Their expectation is palpable. They want to ride, ride, and ride some more.nnA business should generate that

Primary topic: Career Development

Career Development

1,177 views

By Amy BarnesOct 10, 20061 topic

Healing From Divorce: Heal Your Heart

During my divorce I was involved in a car accident. Fortunately no one was injured. The only other accident I have ever been involved in was shortly before my wedding. We are all more likely to have accidents, to be sick or to have other negative events happen to us during a divorce or shortly after the death of a spouse. I can just hear what you are thinking. Haven’t I already got enough bad stuff in my life right now? I don’t need anything else going wrong.nnBre

Primary topic: Trust

1,872 views

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