Effective Strategy And Planning For Outdoor Advertisement

One method of outdoor advertisement that has been adopted by a number of companies due to its cost and effectiveness is the use of lighted signs. But the effectiveness of these lights will not be realized if certain factors are not taken into consideration while putting them up. Here is what to have in mind if you intend to use lighted channel letters or any other form of outdoor advertisement to draw attention to your business premises.

Maintain simplicity

Your channel letter signs need to be as simple as possible. With just a single glance, the viewers should be able to comprehend the kind of information you are trying to pass across. There should also be a good balance between the text and the images. Note that too many images or too much text might appear ugly and boring and fail to capture the attentions that you had intended it for.

 Proper choice of colors

The colors you choose should be the ones to promote your brands so that consumer can always remember your brand whenever their eyes land on those colors. An ideal lighted building letters made of bright, bold and brush colors that are able to catch the attention of those passing by and force them to read the writings. You should however take care not to use irritating colors as your aim is to create a good rapport with you potential customers or clients.

Graphics and photos

Any good ideal outdoor ad should have the appropriate graphics that will make the people figure out immediately what the ad is all about without having to read through the whole texts. Graphics are very powerful since people have the tendency to remember them longer than texts. Though using the ideal graphics might slightly increase the budget of your outdoor advertising in terms of the channel letter prices, it is likely to pay off in the long run.

Location

Having very beautiful and attractive lighted sign installed in your business premises is zero guarantees that it will get noticed if you don't position it in a good places. The signs need to be installed in strategic locations where they will receive maximum exposure to the passersby. They should not be overshadowed by anything and they should have clear line of sight from all directions as much as possible. 

Document Storage Is Must Be Safety For Your Business

The storage documentation that your company produces is extremely valuable for a number of reasons. Crucial company financial documents, employment letters and client files all fall under the confidential company documentation umbrella. Unfortunately, paper-based documentation can be under threat due to a variety of reasons such as fire, theft or natural disasters. Even if you store your documentation digitally, on an internal or external hard drive, it is important that you protect your company's information. To ensure the safety of your company's documentation, it is best to take on the services of a document storage company. Before you choose a storage company, there are a few factors to take into consideration:

 Storage Systems

A well-designed storage warehouse will have processes and systems in place to make your document storage as effortless as possible. It is crucial that there are not only efficient and comprehensive systems in place, but that you understand them and how they work. It does not really help to have your documentation stored safely if you cannot access them easily whenever need be. 

Depending on the size of your business, you may generate paperwork at a speedy rate and if your documentation is not stored in a logical system that you understand, it will hinder your ability to retrieve what you need when you need it. A well-designed storage system is quite a complex operation; hence you need to choose a company that specialists in document management. 

A good document management company will be able to explain their different storage options to you. In addition to this they should be able to suggest a solution that is best for your business's document storage requirements, be it tweaking the existing system or customizing a system to suit you.

If required, your document storage company should have an electronic document management system in place to conveniently scan and safe keep your business documents in order for you to access it off site electronically.

 Safe and Secure Storage

Safe and secure storage is crucial for all your documentation. Because your paper documents can be damaged by climatic conditions, fire or theft, you need adequate security against all these hazards. A document management company will have the safest facilities for document storage possible. This includes vault-type storage; climate controlled environments as well as excellent fire prevention and management facilities. Should you have scanned paperwork and are utilising digital storage systems, then the storage company will make sure that all your information is backed up and stored on secure servers.

Retrieval

Being able to access your documentation whenever necessary is vital. A well planned storage labelling system should be in place that gives you easy access to all your files irrespective of how many you have stored away. For example, even if your particular vault is lined with shelves containing rows upon rows of boxes, you should be able to find documents alphabetically, by year and by type. In addition to this, you should be able to access your documentation 24 hours a day, should there be any emergency requiring you to produce the relevant paperwork. 

As you can see, there are many benefits to secure document storage for your company. Not only will you have an organized system in place that you can utilize to find whatever you need, when you need it, but you will also have peace of mind that important business documents are well protected. The good thing about off site document storage is that even if your business premises get completely destroyed, at least all your paperwork will be safe. 

The Document Warehouse is known for providing effective document management systems. Since its conception in 1992, operating as an off site document storage and record management company in Johannesburg, the company has expanded to most cities in South Africa and around the world. The Document Warehouse employs hundreds of people and is constantly finding innovative document storage and management solutions. 

Top 5 Tips Marketing Communication

You've worked very hard to sustain your brand through the recent economic challenges, so perhaps now is the time to re-evaluate your situation, and focus on improving your marketing communications for the road ahead.

While competitors may be taking a breather, now may be the time for you to be aggressive and take a fresh look at your plans for the future, both short and long term. Here are five tips to keep in mind as you do so.

Knowledge Of Your Target Audience Trumps Opinion

Often, middle market brands believe they fully understand the wants and needs of their customers or constituents. However, consider employing market research to uncover their awareness of your brand, and how they really feel about you and your competition on various key attributes.

Doesn't investing in research make sense before you spend your limited marketing communication budget? The good news is that research might confirm what you already know; the better news is that you might learn something new about how your audience really feels, and then be able to employ communications to correct what's bothering them or highlight what's important.

Understanding - rather than guessing - the wants and needs of your customers and prospects (as well as, perhaps, your own employees) can go a long way toward improving your marketing ROI.

Marketing Communications Audits Provide Real Value

If you haven't recently (or ever) conducted a marketing communications audit, now is the ideal time to consider this tactic. Done properly, it will help you determine when, where and how to invest your time and money. At its core, you'll be able to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your existing program as a whole, as well as how effective each tactic is in communicating your objectives.

The results of this type of audit will provide you with an actionable and coordinated road map of message delivery and spending allocation, across traditional and new media, events, content marketing, promotion and employee knowledge - and, like a financial audit, a tool for improving your profitability.

Promote Your Brand's Anniversary

If your brand has an anniversary milestone coming up in the next two years, start planning for it now. It presents a unique opportunity to create a significant, fully integrated 12 to 18 month program, allowing you to focus on and energize your various constituents in a way that can't be matched by your competitors. But recognize that, to be successful, you can't just develop a new anniversary logo or throw a celebratory party. Like any other marketing tool, it must be grounded in meaningful and consistent messages.

Your corporate past is often the best criterion for your customers, prospects, employees and other audiences to judge your future performance. And, your 10th or 35th anniversary can be used to tell your story as effectively as a traditional 50th or 75th milestone.

Be Neutral When Evaluating Traditional And New Media

Don't get caught up in all the excitement about the latest new media tactic you read about. New media does offer exciting potential and will continue to grow in importance. But don't forget to consider traditional media. You might be surprised to know that, despite the advertising windfall generated by the Olympics and political advertising in 2012, total U/S. advertising dollars increased by only 0.9 percent in 2013. And, according to Kantar Media:

While network television and local newspapers decreased by only 3.4 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively, between 2012 and 2013;
Cable television increased by 7.3 percent; consumer magazines increased by 2.6 percent; outdoor increased by 4.4 percent; free standing inserts increased by 3.4 percent; and, Spanish television increased by 2.9 percent.

Without question, digital media and content marketing increased dramatically during this time. However, you must remember that there are many options to consider. While efficiency is important, more important is maintaining your neutrality to understand and evaluate the relative effectiveness of each alternative in achieving your strategic goals.

Marketing Communications Consultants Add Value

Whether you're a B2B, B2C or nonprofit marketer, your own resources are probably already stretched to the limit. Unfortunately, you may not be able to allocate the physical or intellectual capital to the short or long term tasks at hand.

So don't go it alone. Consider partnering with established, senior level consultants to help you and your team develop, refine and implement your plans.  

Look for consultants who aren't selling one particular discipline or a boilerplate "one size fits all" solution.
Importantly, any consultant you consider should have extensive experience across industries and brands, both large and small. And be sure they're willing to "tell it like it is", so candor will flourish. Apolitical, fresh eyes can be an efficient use of your resources, and can provide objectivity to the decisions you need to make.

Improving marketing communications ROI is a constant challenge. It may seem like a daunting task but, as Mark Twain said, "The secret to getting ahead is getting started.

Your Fundraiser Setting a Goals

Host fundraisers in my forms in order to raise money for their cause. Fundraising committees often start a fundraiser by setting a goal. This goal is the way to keep track of how successful a fundraiser and to give the staff and donors the motivation to work together towards one common goal. There are many ways to keep track of a fundraisers progress whether it is a poster board or online.

Here are a few ideas to keep in mind during your fundraiser in relation to tracking your progress.

Make the Indicator, a Motivation

Post the goal everywhere! Make sure everyone knows what the final goal and make sure the progress is updated regularly. People will respond when they see a tangible number as a result of their work. For example, in the office your campaign is housed, post a board that resembles a thermometer and write your end goal at the top of the board then fill in how much money you raised on the thermometer. 

The picture does not have to be an actual thermometer, but these types of graphics are nicknamed fundraiser thermometers. Hang the board in an area that will be seen by every worker in the office several times a day. This will further motivate your staff to work harder to achieve their goal.

Post your goal and real-time progress on your company's website as well. This can be done by adding a graphic to your website that is able to be changed easily. This is an idea that should be explored at the very start of a fundraiser with your company's website designer so that it is designed and updated correctly and efficiency. Any time any one visits your site, they will be able to see that your company is organized, has a set goal, and is successfully working towards that goal. This may be what encourages a donor to get involved in your fundraising program.

The Logistics

In order to keep your progress accurate and as up to date as possible, work a schedule into the meeting at the end of the day to report the day's progress. If it is not possible to get everyone physically present to a meeting, have everyone in your staff submit a final report at the end of the day and make it a top priority for all of the information to be compiled and added to your fundraiser thermometer. To take it a step further, celebrate the progress that your staff has made. 

If progress is not coming at the rate needed, the fundraiser thermometer will help point this out. It is important to not let this discourage your staff but instead use it a motivating tool and work together during your meetings to find a solution that will pump up your thermometer.

No matter your fundraiser is going, keep in mind that hard work and dedication to your cause is always needed.

Healthcare Importance With Bill Protection Insurance

How will  you protect your current lifestyle and how will you pay your daily life bills?? Bill Protection Insurance is a simple answer to these questions. This cover plan protects your lifestyle and also offers you financial help in that critical condition. As it is a fact that unforeseen incidents can happen at anytime with anyone. So be prepared for those unforeseen circumstances with bill cover. This insurance plan provided by almost all the assurance provider companies. 

This assurance policy is also known as bill protect, bill protection, bill relief, bill insurance. Basically bill protection helps you when bills cannot be paid by you then this cover plan provides you a monthly benefit payment to cover your daily life bills such as water, electricity, phone, Internet, mortgage, rent, and others. 

So if you purchase this insurance policy you do not need to worry about bills when you are injured, sick or involuntarily unemployed. This cover plan provides you the freedom to focus on getting back on track in those difficult conditions and the bills never become a financial burden for you. Different assurance provider companies provide different benefits so it depends on you and your need that what plan will be best for you.

You should go for an affordable insurance plan, there is no need to choose an expensive coverage plan. You can take help of the websites of the assurance provider companies, this will help you to choose a best and cheap bill protection insurance policy. You can also get free online bill protection quote from their online portals. The lump sum payment benefit is different of different assurance provider corporations. As it is true that life is not going according to our plan and no one can predict the future. So be prepared for the unforeseen accidental events with this great cover plan and enjoy your life and maintain your lifestyle without any worries.

Are you seriously injured or sick and not capable to work?? How will  you protect your current lifestyle and how will you pay your daily life bills?? Bill Protection Insurance is a simple answer to these questions. This cover plan protects your lifestyle and also offers you financial help in that critical condition. As it is a fact that unforeseen incidents can happen at anytime with anyone. So be prepared for those unforeseen circumstances with bill cover. 

This insurance plan provided by almost all the assurance provider companies. This assurance policy is also known as bill protect, bill protection, bill relief, bill insurance. Basically bill protection helps you when bills cannot be paid by you then this cover plan provides you a monthly benefit payment to cover your daily life bills such as water, electricity, phone, Internet, mortgage, rent, and others. So if you purchase this insurance policy you do not need to worry about bills when you are injured, sick or involuntarily unemployed. 

This cover plan provides you the freedom to focus on getting back on track in those difficult conditions and the bills never become a financial burden for you. Different assurance provider companies
provide different benefits so it depends on you and your need that what plan will be best for you.

You should go for an affordable insurance plan, there is no need to choose an expensive coverage plan. You can take help of the websites of the assurance provider companies, this will help you to choose a best and cheap bill protection insurance policy. You can also get free online bill protection quote from their online portals. The lump sum payment benefit is different of different assurance provider corporations. As it is true that life is not going according to our plan and no one can predict the future. So be prepared for the unforeseen accidental events with this great cover plan and enjoy your life and maintain your lifestyle without any worries.

Read the terms and conditions carefully before signing insurance bond, so you can know exactly when you will get benefits from the company. If you have any confusion in the policy bond ask the customer executive or call at their customer care, never sign a bond in confusion. Bill Protection Insurance is a type of financial safety cover policy which gives you financial security, so you can concentrate on how to get a job or fast recover from sickness or injury rather than how to pay your bills and secure life.

A Road Map Of Success Your Business Plan Mission and Vision

Everyone who runs an existing business or is in the process of starting up understands a sound business plan is the initial step for success. It will give a precise description of what the business will achieve, how it will be achieved, why and by whom.

Writing a business plan will help the entrepreneur organize his expectations for the business and develop a framework that will guide him in running the business.

Moreover, the business plan will become a relevant tool in making future decisions, especially those that will impact the business over the long period.

A business plan has several sections, however, when crafting your business plan, take time to define your mission and vision as well as your goals and objectives. These sections will clearly state the core of your existence and define what you want to accomplish and what your business actually stood for.

Before you can actually develop these sections, you need to identify your core values. Consider the stakeholders that your company is accountable.

The stakeholders may include the owner, employees, customers, suppliers, and investors. Your core values will be the foundation of your mission and vision as well as your goals and objectives.

Mission Statement

A mission is defined as an important purpose, accompanied by a strong conviction. Therefore, your mission statement must clearly state the purpose of your existence.

It must be about you and should create a connection with both the customers and the employees. Mention a specific goal that is tangible and should boost the value proposition of your business.

Often, generic, extremely long mission statements are confusing and may become useless. Brief and concise, single sentence mission statements are more preferred.

Vision Statement

Vision is defined as the anticipation for that which will come to be. Your vision statement must clearly impact how you envision your business.

It asserts your expectations; therefore, it should be an awesome, inspiring and hopeful statement of your commitment and dedication.

Make your vision statement detailed and compelling. It should point out why your company exists. It must also paint a clear picture of your intended outcome.

Vision statements that are generic or utterly unreasonable can become uninspiring and totally bland.

 Business Goals and Objectives

Simply put, your goals and objectives will help you figure out where you're going and help in executing or setting your vision and mission for your business.

Your business plan must clearly lay out, both your long-term and short-term goals. When setting your business goals and objective, it is important to make them SMART and logical.

This means that you need to make your goals Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic and with a Time Frame.

Goals are generally qualitative and tend to focus on achieving the general picture of the business intentions. Primarily, goals are centered on customer service, market positioning and business growth.

Objectives, on the other hand, are centered on the practical daily operations anchored in the quantitative measure of business figures such as the number of customers, costs, revenue and other product-related metrics.

Conclusion

Having a sound business plan is like having a road map when embarking on a road trip. A road map will guide the traveler in making decisions how to reach his destination and to make his travel itinerary.

In a similar fashion, a business plan encapsulates the very core of your company's existence, and will help you plan out and decide as you navigate your business and success.

Unlicensed Assistants Provide Help Every Department Direct Patient

Challenges currently facing the healthcare community in the United States is a shortage in the number of registered nurses and licensed physicians required in order to provide accessible medical care to the growing population. As demand for services increases, many industry experts predict that the rate at which advanced personnel are entering the workforce will not keep pace with the number of new patients seeking professional services. This trend is partly attributable to a generalized increase in the size of the population as well as the higher prevalence of chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. One approach that is being used to remedy this problem is the creation of more job opportunities for unlicensed personnel in all branches of the healthcare system. This has created a unique employment option for those who want to provide direct patient care, but who are uninterested in spending several years in college.

Unlicensed medical providers can be found working in just about every department that offers direct patient care to the public. These individuals have varying levels of competence and are assigned a variety of different titles based on the types of services they provide and the department in which they work. The most popular entry-level positions for those who are new to the healthcare environment include that of nursing assistant, home health aide, certified nurse aide, certified medication aide, and patient care technician. These employment opportunities generally require no college education, previous medical experience, or complex graduate training and certification. In most cases, employers who are looking to hire individuals for these openings will consider applicants who have either a high school diploma or GED. Although additional education does strengthen one's application, it is often not a requirement for employment for those working in
unregulated professions.

Individuals who work in generalized areas of practice are commonly expected to perform routine tasks under the direct supervision of a registered nurse who is responsible for determining the appropriateness of delegating activities to unlicensed personnel. Some of the most common tasks included in the assistant job description include vital sign collection, medical history documentation, monitoring for health status changes, assisting with feeding and walking, communicating with other members of the medical team, educating patients, and providing emotional support to those who are struggling to understand and accept their condition. Additional activities may be added based on the needs of the employer and the unique challenges encountered in a particular patient population. All technicians will be expected to be able to recognize when a patient requires advanced psychological support from a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Although most people enter the patient care technician profession as an entry-level employee, many choose to advance their career by completing the training and certification required to work in specialized fields such as surgery, dialysis, cardiology, or radiology. While these are not the only specialty fields available, they are some of the most popular. Because unlicensed assistants are expected to perform activities unique to their chosen specialty, they must complete training and certification programs that provide the knowledge and skills required to provide high quality and comprehensive care to patients who suffer from high risk and complicated conditions. Employers may also adopt their own competency standards based on the policies and procedures of the facility where the assistant has been hired. 

Unlicensed personnel are an integral part of the healthcare system and are a key factor in supporting an efficient and effective provision of care process. Industry organizations such as the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and the American Nurses Association have publicly supported the use of assistants and technicians in healthcare facilities and have created guidelines for how tasks should be delegated and how to determine the level of supervision required. Those who are thinking about pursuing this career path should become familiar with the requirements in their state before signing an employment process or enrolling in a local training program and satisfying career as a patient care technician. 

Three Effective Factors Of Successful Business

Many different things that can contribute to a business being successful. With the hundreds and thousands of businesses starting every day, it is very easy for your business to fly under the radar. Let's be honest, it is not easy growing a successful business, but if you use these three factors to your advantage then your business will stand out.

Originality:

Originality is one of the few things that can make your business unique. What makes your business different from the millions of others? If your business isn't original then you are serving no purpose to the market. Coming up with original ideas certainly takes some time, but in the long run it will be worth it.

As a business, you want to be able to offer your customers/viewers something that they can't get anywhere else. You can do this in several ways, but having an original business name and logo is very important. Your name and logo is the face of your company. It provides a label that sticks with your company forever. On top of an original name, original content/products are also important.

Visibility:

Without visibility your original business idea will go to waste, and we wouldn't want that to happen. Luckily, there are some relatively simple ways anyone can promote their business.

Website - A website is one of the most popular ways to promote a business. In fact, some businesses are run strictly through a website. When setting up a website you want to be sure that your content is easy to access and search engine friendly. You want your viewers to be able to find what they are looking for. Stick with a color scheme and let your originality shine through your webpages.

Social Media - Having a social media presence is very crucial in today's age. If you don't have social media accounts for your business, then you are missing out on thousands of potential customers. I would highly suggest at least making a Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ page for your business. They each have a purpose and there is no better way to reach out to large groups of people for free.

Location - If you happen to be opening a storefront business, then location is key. Cheaper isn't always better, especially if that cheap building is right dab in the middle of a dark run down street. Stick with a budget and find a location that will bring you traffic.

Consistency:

Last but not least is consistency. Consistency, consistency, and more consistency. Did I mention consistency? Once you have an original concept and visibility, consistency will keep your business alive. Keep your social media pages alive. Interact with your followers, and don't ignore any questions they may ask. If you are running an online business you also want to keep fresh content on your website. I suggest at least posting some new content each and every day. Quality always comes before quantity though, so be sure not to posts tons of useless content with ads in every other sentence. Nobody likes spam, well unless it comes in a can.

No business can thrive without: originality, visibility, and consistency. No matter what kind of business you may be running, putting these factors.

Advertising, Branding and Promotions With Using Roll Up Banner

The advertising, branding and promotions are like oxygen for any business. All companies leverage either one or a mix of display tools to generate awareness while participating in trade shows, seminars or exhibitions. One of the most popular options is the roll up banner stands, also known as retractable banner stands. 

Companies prefer them to other options due to their multiple advantages and helpful features. Simply put, these banners can be placed anywhere and the graphic or the message needs to be just pulled up and affixed. It normally comes in a compact carry case which has the stands, the banner and anything else needed to set it up. Let us focus on understanding the features that make them a prudent and popular choice for many companies.

Roll-up banner stands have the following advantages:

Set-up

Compact, lightweight and takes minutes to set up. What else would one need in a busy schedule of trade shows and exhibitions? You just need to choose the display location and the assembling and installing the retractable banners takes few minutes. You need to take the different parts from its case, affix the height of the stand, lock it on the spot and just pull up the banners. You are open for business now. Another factor which is very appealing is that anyone can do it, and you need not spend effort and extra money on appointing labor to set it up.

Portable

The design of roll-up display banner stand is very user-friendly. It is lightweight and compact so it is easy to carry it around, store anywhere and transporting it is no hassle at all. You can easily store it in its carry case which also acts like a storage case anywhere till your next exhibition. They are sleek and slender; hence very hassle free maintenance is required.

High return on investment

Easy to set up, portable, creative and durable-these qualities make the retractable roll up banner stands a good long-term investment for any business. Cost effective to maintain, create and operate makes them valuable assets. They last for many years to come, hence helping you cut down on additional operational expenses, leading to an increase in your promotional budget.

Multi-purpose

One of the most attractive features of the roll-up banner stands is the fact that they are multipurpose in deployment. Versatile, they can be used for external and internal events very easily. They are creative and are popular at trade shows, exhibitions, conferences, sidewalks, malls, sales etc.

Variety of options

Roll-up Banner Stands Suppliers can provide you with multiple options in terms of sizes and various materials for the retractable banners like vinyl, cloth or canvas. This gives you the flexibility to experiment with creative designs and the banners can be custom made to sync in with your message and promotional activity.

Simple and comprehensive

Stretch Roller Banner Stands are simple and uncomplicated options to display your message or branding.

Available For Best Accounting Service

Challenging world of accounting means that you are like an ant to the world of giants. Sure, you got your degree but every clear minded individual knows that it is the real world where you grow and develop your skills, knowledge and expertise. The same logic applies to accounting when it comes to managing your books, writing off pay cheques, balancing spreadsheets and recording multiple transactions. If you have no backhand or preliminary knowledge or something, you may not even last a day in the professional field.

That is why for your accounting convenience, we have prepared a list of the best accounting services tips that will you get started on the right track:

Basics of bookkeeping

Not so confident about taking up the task for bookkeeping, then you could always ask a business friend or an actual bookkeeper. However, in case of an emergency or sickness, it is imperative that you brush up on your best accounting services basics for it may save your life when you least expect it.

Making a petty cash fund

Small expenses or even unexpected ones are avoidable with this best accounting service tip. They are small because they do not necessarily require the need to write off any cheques or the use of credit cards. That includes buying pens, staples or cleaning supplies. You should document every purchase that is made with fund and replenish when required. Keep in mind to do some extra counting in order to ensure that the amounts are balanced out on both ends.

Make it simple

This best accounting service tip shows that you must keep your record keeping methods simple and to the point. As your work with your industry you will be able to learn, adapt and develop experience that will help construct exceptional best accounting services. Taking on the situation head on without a base or a plan is simply betting all your chips in one go and failing.

Traditional and contemporary bookkeeping methods

Managing your books using a pencil may be years out of style but it still works. Electronic bookkeeping is fast but at times without the human element of revision, can draw out some nasty results such as inaccurate balance sheets and more. Using a paper assures more credibility about the accuracy of your results.

What you need to do proposal or grant application?

The planning to hire a proposal writer to create your next proposal or grant application? As is true with any writing project, hiring a professional writer can save you a lot of time and stress. However, working with a pro still requires your input and organizational skills. To be sure that your proposal project will progress as efficiently as possible, you should consider the following questions before you interview a professional writer for the job.

All too often someone is tasked with writing a business proposal with an extremely tight deadline and their first thought is to hire someone to write it for them. Most of these cases result in the proposal writer rejecting them as a client because they are not prepared with the information that the writer would need to complete the project. These fast turnaround proposals more often than not require you to write it yourself - and this is where a pre-designed proposal writing package such as a proposal kit will help you get it done faster.

What is Your Goal?

Are you responding to an RFP and have to submit a PDF in a certain format? Do you want a beautiful printed proposal to present at a board meeting? Be sure you can tell the writer the deadline and the final format and describe the audience who will read the proposal.

What Do You Expect the Proposal Writer to Do?

This might seem self-evident - of course you want that person to write your proposal. But do you also expect the writer to lay out the pages and produce the final PDF or printed document? Do you expect the writer to create graphs or charts or other visual pieces? Do you want the writer to create an appealing cover? Do you expect the writer to manage the review process and consider comments from others?

How Much Are You Willing to Pay?

Writers come with differing levels of experience and expertise. You could always take the cheapest route and hire your cousin John who has written research papers in college, but odds are that he will create many more drafts and take much longer than an experienced proposal writer.

With a professional writer, you may be able to negotiate a flat rate for your proposal or a Not-to-Exceed rate, but in that case, the writer is likely to insist on a contract that spells out the terms of the job, and if you change anything or don't fulfill your responsibilities in a timely fashion, the writer may insist on renegotiating the contract. Most experienced writers expect to be paid by the hour. Writers who work in highly specialized fields may command a high hourly rate of pay, but odds are that they will save you time during the course of the project. If you expect the writer to manage the whole project, you should expect to pay a higher rate.

What Does the Writer Have to Work With?

In other words, where is all the information that needs to go into the proposal? Do you already have documents and digitized visual elements that can be included or that the writer can use as reference material? Or is the information that will go into the proposal all contained in the brains or laptops of various individuals, such as marketers or managers? If that's the case, the writer will need to schedule interviews with all the people who have the data needed for the proposal.

Do you have an example of a proposal your organization has submitted in the past that the writer can use for reference? In the best case scenario, you should be able to hand the write an outline for the proposal along with a sample proposal and a list of computer files containing the information needed to fill in the outline. At the very least, you should be ready to hand the writer a list of important points that must be covered in the proposal, as well as the names of people to interview to get all the needed information.

You also need to consider tools - does the writer need a desk and computer at your place of business? How about software? Do you have specific templates or proposal software that you want the writer to use? Starting off with a specialized package like a proposal kit can make the writing much more efficient because they contain instructions, examples, and sample proposals. A proposal kit will also help guarantee that the writer produces organized and professional-looking pages and an accurate table of contents.

What is the Schedule?

The time needed to create a proposal depends on how complex the proposal is, how many people need to participate, and how organized everyone is.

Things to consider for the schedule are:

Research time
First draft writing time
First draft review time
Second draft and incorporating comments
Final review
Changes from final review
Final proofread of all pages
Production of PDF and/or printed proposal

If the writer starts with the needed information in hand, the research time will be negligible. If the writer must collect all the data from multiple individuals, the research process will obviously take a while. If you have handed the writer an outline for your proposal, that will make writing the first draft more efficient than if the writer needs to "wing it." Here again, a pre-designed proposal kit can help with ideas and examples about the best organization for successful proposals.

Every proposal needs at least one review and one final proofread. For a very simple proposal, this might take only an hour or two. But if your project is complicated and has many sections, you probably have a whole list of reviewers whom you want to approve the proposal, and a review could take days or even weeks. Complex proposals may require several review cycles. Be sure to inform all reviewers about the date on which they will receive the draft proposal and the date you need all comments back from them. You might find it efficient to break the proposal into parts so that the expert for one part can review that section while the writer progresses on other sections. 

In any case, after each review is handed in, you need to allow time for the writer to consider and incorporate comments before circulating the next draft. When all reviewers are satisfied, then it's time for a final proofread before creating the PDF or proposal you will hand off to your client or grant committee. The final proofreader should be someone other than the proposal writer.

To sum up, the more organized you are before you hire a proposal writer, the faster the writing project will go. When you have answers to all the questions posed above, you should have no difficulty hiring a writer and efficiently managing your proposal project.

Building Information Modelling 3D (BIM) Real Needs

The concept of building information modelling (BIM) has received universal acceptance from the building services, structural engineering and architectural fraternity mainly due to its need for lean construction and also its cross-disciplinary usability. 3D BIM modeling has existed for a number of years now and the industry is aggressively adapting itself to embrace the new work flows of the BIM process; however, there is still a lack of clarity amongst the owners (the clients) as to what exactly they can achieve from these models, what they need to achieve and how they can make optimum use of this concept.

This article seeks to explore some beliefs related to the use of BIM and sheds light on when it should be used and to what extent. For the sake of clarity, it is important to know the difference between non-BIM 3D CAD models and a parametric BIM models.

3D CAD models are virtual representations of a facility that provide only visual details. Applications such as AutoCAD Architecture and AutoCAD MEP are used to create 3D CAD models that can be used for design, development, construction and pre-fabrication. On the other hand, BIM models are intelligent models embedded with parametric details that are extremely important for design, development, construction, pre-fabrication, assembly, analysing energy performance and facility management of the built environment. For BIM projects, the details can be effectively shared between different project stakeholders: facility owners, designers/architects, MEP (M&E) engineers, fabricators, consultants and contractors. Revit Architecture and Revit MEP are applications used for BIM modelling whilst Navisworks is employed to detect clashes between different system models. 

One of the most crucial aspects that helps decide whether BIM is actually required or not is gaining an in-depth understanding of the model's purpose. More often than not, there is so much difference between client's 'stated' needs and his/her 'real' needs. In a lot of cases, clients state that they require a BIM model but actually what they require is a smart clash-free 3D model which can be used to extract respective construction drawings. In such scenarios, AutoCAD MEP or AutoCAD Architecture could easily be used to provide a 3D model that meets this need. Alternatively, a BIM software tool could be used to provide a 3D model without providing additional elements such as data rich 'information'.

In other cases, a BIM model may actually be the basis to plan, design, construct, and manage a particular facility. These scenarios require multidisciplinary project stakeholders to access the BIM model at different stages in the project life cycle. As a result, the most important factor that dictates the success of any project employing BIM is the richness of 'information' embedded into the models.

 So, depending on the project's scope, a full-fledged BIM model may contain valuable information, such as dimensions of building elements, quantity take-off data, material requirements, time scheduling, costing, prefabrication data, activity simulation, and energy performance. Other important factors that contribute to success of BIM include the data-sharing and interoperability standards to allow smooth multidisciplinary collaboration between key disciplines.

Irrespective of whether the client actually requires BIM or non-BIM CAD model, the BIM wave that has spread across the AEC industry has forced the agenda to adopt a more progressive approach to planning, designing and coordinating models and drawings. 

The industry continues to transition from non-BIM 2D approaches to collaborative BIM work flows and 3D CAD work flows and even that is a huge shift for the industry. This change is more often than not influenced by the demand side i.e. the clients.

Today Business And New Economic Conditions

I discussed a new economic reality and what companies can do to preserve jobs in a down economy. As I continue addressing this issue with former CEOs, I find myself peeling the subject in layers as though peeling an onion.

As I have stated in the past, it is easy to layoff people or close manufacturing plants when the economy slows. It seems our business schools have not considered another possibility and we are perpetually stuck with laying people off to preserve profits.

At the same time, when you examine closely, you see this method is extremely unprofitable. Why? When you layoff a percentage of people to save a million dollars, for example, you don't openly discuss the repercussions. If your enterprise is to remain a going concern, you will eventually have to hire people to fill those vacant positions. When you rehire, you have to factor in the associated costs to fill the position. You have to advertise for the positions. 

You interview candidates which is time and then you train those people. The real dollar costs could be $3 million on a $1 million savings. That does not factor the intangible costs of lower quality customer experience that tarnishes your brand because former employees may have had better knowledge of customers' needs. As the layoff strategy incurs costs greater than the savings, it makes sense for many leaders to orchestrate financial engineering to hide the backlash of the unprofitable layoff strategy.

As an alternative strategy, consider the horse and buggy industry. As the proliferation of automobiles continued in the late 1800s, those horse and buggy companies changed their model. They started manufacturing cars. In this example, the move was reactionary. As technology and outsourcing continue to encroach on today's industries, a proactive plan is needed.

In another example, with the expansion of the digital age, paper manufacturers may be squeezed. Instead of shutting down plants, transform plants or look for new business abroad. As people use less paper and third world countries increase prosperity, new needs will arise. Furthermore, the global population continues to grow. Therefore, one opportunity for a paper mill is to transform the facility in whole or part from paper for newspapers and periodicals to toilet paper. This is an area technology cannot easily replace. In fact, with an increase in population and more countries participating in global commerce, this commodity will experience increased demand.

 However, this should not be a reactionary strategy like the horse and buggy companies. To thrive as your current industry dies, you should have your employees participate in this strategy. Have production look at the necessary equipment to make the change.

Sales and marketing should be researching new markets in the US and abroad. They should be talking to current and prospective customers as well as distributors and suppliers. In addition, it may be worthwhile to invest in training for key personnel in the targeted commodity.

If  leadership takes on the mindset that they are constantly training employees to mitigate the risks of a dying or transforming industry, they will have to think about training staff and management to perform in new territory. Even if your industry is bulletproof, it would be wise to use this strategy to navigate through recessions. That way you are less likely to fall into the cycle of laying people off and later filling the position with someone else. There are always new opportunities that can be exploited when faced with chaos. 

Difficult to Selection of Training Institutes

Famous and running a company can be a tough job at times for individuals. To ease this problem what one can do is to look for options to solving them. One such problem solving method is the imparting of knowledge to the employees and making them ready to face challenges at work. There are many institutions which offer such services to the companies. Making the selection of such training institutions must be done judiciously to get the best people to teach the students.

There are many institutions which offer such safety training services to the people. When you are making the selection of the institute, check for the reputation of the institute. This is important as or else you will be wasting the money on a not so good institute. They also will not be able to teach the students well. Hence one can check with the older clients and also online for reports on the services that they offer to the people. This will enrich their knowledge considerably.

The next thing to check in institutes which offers inspection services to the people is for the people who will be imparting the education. This is of prime interest as they must have a good idea of what they will be teaching so that they will be enriching the knowledge of the students. 

One can check the website of the company and also the credentials of the people teaching there. This will enable them the company owners to understand whether they will be getting the right amount of training from the people.

Another factor to keep in mind is the fact what charge the institute will be taking from the people. This is also of much importance. The institute must be contacted beforehand to know about the charges. The company which will be employing the institute must bear in mind the fact or else they may be facing problem in future. They can also check with a few other companies to understand this issue in a better manner. This is important as this will also decide the company expenditure. Hence understanding such issues beforehand is a good idea for most individuals.

One must also check for the fact whether the training modules have been updated by the training institute. The recent trends must b incorporated in the study modules so as to give the people the best of knowledge. The company must be checked to see whether they keep on updating the contents of the modules with the passing of time. This will help the students to get updated knowledge.

Therefore these are some of the basic things to keep in mind while making the selection of the institutes. that will be offering training services to the people and choice.

Importance Of Having Vision And Mission In Your Business Goals

You have growth in some new task you have recently taken on, it is important to have a vision of not only what the outcome will look like, but also the methods and means you are going to employ to get there.

It might not be good enough to just say you have a vision of having a house that is paid off. Instead you need to be specific to mention exactly what that house is going to look like.

Does if have a wooden door, or a prefabricated plastic one?

Do the windows have internal blinds, or are you going to have them totally clear.

The more specific you can be in your vision, the clearer your path will be in order to achieve it.

If you are looking to build a business that remains your own compared to having multiple employees, or virtual ones for that matter, you need to be able to manage your time in addition the expenses required to do this.

Items that should be considered to get you on the right path to your ideal business might include you coming up with an overview of what your ideal day might look like.

If you can visualize what you would be doing from the time you get up until the time you went to bed again, you are going to become more focused on having that daily experience happen in reality.

Now keep in mind even in the ideal situation there will always be bumps in the road so the more flexible you are and willing to get back up with failure, the more likely you are to reach that vision of the successful life you want to lead.

People and businesses who lack a vision may continue to make sales and seem successful, though they might not ever grow beyond the scope of what is a possibility. Instead of being a million dollar a month company, perhaps they only are making 50 thousand dollars.

I know many people would love to make 50 grand a month, though with the proper vision and taking action, or implementing specific tasks, this can be scaled over time.

Everyone has a different vision and if you are working with a team, it is important to come up with a vision that best suites the needs and desires of all parties involved.

Be confident in what you want and visualize yourself while keeping an abundance mindset. You can always revise as you act and new challenges come your way, though the more you focus on what you had planned from the beginning, the more likely you are to achieve it.

5 Key With Successful Incentive Travel Program

Although we have written volumes about the value of travel incentives, it is important to remember how many business objectives and return on investment initiatives are actually achieved when these programs are implemented correctly. Incentive travel is vital to maximizing relationships and profitability with your three key audiences: customers, channel sales affiliates, and employees. Increased customer loyalty, higher sales revenues and reduced employee turnover are the three prominent goals that travel incentives can achieve for you.

Executing a successful program however is extremely difficult. Melissa Van Dyke, President of the Incentive Research Foundation, has drawn on 20 years of expertise and feedback from industry executives to compile five keys to success for incentive travel programs in a recent issue of The Meeting Magazines.

1. Communication is key

When asked about what could lead a program to fail, the most common response was substandard communication efforts. This has been our experience as well. Too often marketing the program effectively and allocating a proper budget to do so takes a low priority in the overall travel incentive program budget. Poor timing, an already stretched budget and mundane emails to promote a program are all recipes for disaster. Many companies incorrectly expect a few text-heavy emails devoid of enthusiasm or exciting imagery to suffice.
 

Communication must be a top priority, not an afterthought, to properly motivate and achieve incremental performance and participant buy in. Understanding the exact steps the participants must take to receive the trip, their progress and standings in relation to others and how close they are to ultimately winning the prize need to be clearly communicated as the program progresses. Crystal clear communication is only the beginning however.

These communication pieces must also be inspiring and eye-catching. The communication channels must vary to catch the attention of even the most mobile sales person. The majority of the world has an attention deficit disorder in this age of instant gratification, social media and information overload. It is imperative to break through with compelling graphics, crafty language, strategic deployment and proper communication medium selection.

 

2. Visible management is a must

Management must ensure that their best producers feel like their efforts are recognized, appreciated, and valued. Top performers don't typically expect or crave a formal award ceremony, but they are appreciative when managers show up on site at events and interact with them in meaningful ways.

3. Culture is crucial

The program should be a direct reflection of your corporate culture. Just as the branding and marketing collateral of your company should fit the values of your organization, so should the incentive travel programs. A young, conservative company's trip should differ greatly from that of a conservative firm comprised of older individuals.

4. Fairness is fundamental

To properly motivate participants, rules should be easy to understand and perceived as fair. The way the brain processes perceived unfairness is similar to the way it reacts to a threat to one's life. Your contest should be challenging, yet fair and clearly communicated.

5. Lead with location

The biggest draw of your incentive travel program will be the location, plain and simple. Selecting a destination that resonates with your target audience is crucial. Emphasizing the great qualities of your destination should be obvious, but many fail to realize that this is aspect of the trip that speaks to participants the loudest. While management speaks in dollars and cents, participants have their eyes on the prize and respond to visual imagery and descriptive language about the destination.

Does your current incentive travel program address all five keys to success adequately? Do you see room to improve?

Don't have a program in place but are thinking of implementing one? Does your company possess the resources to address all 5 keys in-house.

Jobs and AC/DC Have in Common?

Do Steve jobs and Ac/Dc. The rock band AC/DC was formed in 1973 sold over 200 million albums. "Back in Black," released in 1980, sold over 50 million copies, second only to "Thriller." 40 years later, spectators from North & South America, Europe, Asia and Africa still flood to their concerts. In 2011, during their latest world tour, close to 200,000 spectators attended a series of 3 concerts in River Plate, Argentina. We are in 2014, the members of the band are in their late fifties, early sixties. They are still rocking. What is their secret?

Steve Jobs created Apple in 1976, co-invented the first personal computer selling over 210 million units. He then went on inventing and selling 350 million iPods, 200 million iPhones, and 100 million iPads. In the process, he also revolutionized the music industry with iTunes. Close to 40 years later, even though Steve Jobs is not among us any longer, Apple is still rocking. What was his secret?

The secret is that both AC/DC and Steve Jobs shared the same philosophy...

1. They both had a clear understanding of what their company/band was about.
2. They both had a clear understanding of their "niche" and never compromised.
3. They both sold an "experience," not a product.
4. They both were the master at creating a strategy that was perceived positively.

"AC/DC and Steve Jobs realized long before "Social Media" existed, that to have sustainable success in whatever industry you are, you must sell more than just innovative quality products. They understood that they had to connect their brand with their customers, at an emotional level. That their ability to build personal relationships would be the deciding factor."

The "Social Media" revolution gives you the opportunity to apply the same principles to your business, emotionalizing your brand building personal relationships with your ecosystem.

- The name is "Emotional Branding"
- The key is "Content Marketing"
- The tools are "Social Media" platforms
- The beauty of it, is that it is "Affordable"

Consumers of all types, in all industries, are people who want to feel "Positive Emotions" before anything else. Your branding strategy must be designed to create a personal dialog with them.

"Branding is not about market share, it is about mind & emotions share."

Four Trends in Architectural Design

Pays to know what people are currently after. There are a lot of new trends taking place and you can encompass them within your own designs. Finding an architect that is familiar with these trends and that have embraced them in their own designs can help you dramatically to ensure you are satisfied with the ultimate design created for you.

 
Large Open Spaces

When you are looking at a new design, you want to take into consideration the amount of space that you have in a room or lobby. Large open spaces are highly desirable because it allows people to sit back and relax. Whether you are designing a home and you wish for a large living room or you are designing a business with a large lobby, consider the space that you can create both vertically and horizontally. Vaulted ceilings and rooms with a higher square footage can be achieved through your architectural designs.

Easy Access

The days of putting 42 inch upper cabinets in the kitchen are over. People want to obtain easier access to the things that are in their home and in their business. This is a trend that has become very popular and is seen around the globe. While some European companies have focused on easy access for years, many Americans are just realizing the importance of such designs - and they are being seen in more design magazines than ever before.

Convertible Space

It is impossible to know what you will need down the road. When you create an architectural design for yourself, think about how you can convert the space into another room down the line. For example, you may be able to create a unique design that allows you to split the space in half, creating two rooms if you need to do so at some point in the future.

Many hotels are using convertible space within their hotel rooms. This allows people in business to convert the hotel into more of a bedroom/office space when they are going to be spending more than a few days in town. Regardless of what your design is going to be used for, you can talk to an architect about having some kind of convertible space in place.

Eco-Friendly Materials

One architectural design trend that has been in place for several years now is the use of Eco-friendly materials. This is a trend that is not likely to go anywhere because people are becoming more aware of the environment and how they can make an impact. Sustainable and biodegradable materials can be used within your design, reducing the number of natural resources used.

Steel can be incorporated within the design, allowing you to use one of the most recycled products on the planet. You can also use a variety of other products that will last for decades, ensuring that you do not have to replace them frequently.

When you know the trends in architectural design, you can be sure your building is stunning and highly desirable by consumers and those who are looking to buy it in the future.

At Duane Bradshaw Architects, Houston every architectural design project begins with an idea, a concept. Whether we're designing a church, a home addition, a new parking garage or data center.