Archive for the ‘Business’ Category
Five Ways Small Cap Companies Can Attract Big Investors
If you work for a publicly traded company, there are simple yet effective steps you and your investor relations director can take now to dramatically increase your company’s exposure and attractiveness to investors thus bolstering share value and shareholder support. These are simple, yet proven strategies for gaining and maintaining a loyal and ever-increasing investor following. Read ‘em and reap.
[1] Stay One Step Ahead of your Investors – Provide accurate and timely information about your Company
How do most investors tell a good stock from a bad one? They don’t…it tells them. It tells them by its trading activity, volume, chart history, etc. But most importantly, it tells them at the click of a button: “View Latest Headlines”.
In fact, do that right now. Go online (where most investors conduct their due diligence and make their trading decisions) and view your company’s last five press releases just as an average investor would. Based on what you see, is your company’s stock a buy?
If you recently repainted the building; that’s great! Brag about it at the next office party. But if your company just signed a multi-million dollar global distribution deal— spend the few hundred dollars on the press release. Better yet…try dividing that one big PR into three or four smaller PR’s. When it comes to substantive positive news, quantity is better than quality, also known as the Shotgun Effect. When the news is not particularly flattering or general housekeeping stuff, the reverse is true; keep those announcements few and far between if possible.
Also keep your company’s website current. Be sure all recent press releases are reflected on your company’s website and the information is updated quarterly. If your company is not growing or changing enough quarter by quarter, somebody is not doing their job. (For help with your website IR section or shareholder awareness campaigns, try contacting the people at www.EvergreenMarketingInc.com.
[2] The Whispers of Happy Shareholders can be Deafening
Word of mouth is still the best advertising there is. If you get the chance to speak directly to any of your shareholders try asking them how they first heard about your company. The answer will most likely be, “from a fellow investor”. There are people out there right now who know enough about your company to recommend it to everyone they know….or not. They’re called shareholders. The key is keeping that army of voices well supplied with a steady stream of good news to spread.
Remember, your shareholders can promote and discuss your company and its investment potential in ways and places that you legally cannot. In this Internet / information age, you, as an executive of a publicly traded company, are one of the few who do not have total freedom of speech. Those shareholders are your not-so-silent majority out there for (or against) you on the World Wide Web, 24/7 in places you probably don’t even know exist.
If you really want shareholders to get excited enough about your company to tell everyone they know about it, try getting one of them on the phone sometime or sending a personal email; even if it’s just to say hello and thank them for their support. Speaking directly to the CEO of a company they own stock in is like talking to the Governor to some investors. I’ve seen it. More importantly, I’ve heard about it.
[3] The Hungry Cat Makes the Best Hunter
If a tree falls in the woods and there’s no one there to hear it, does it still make a sound? Who cares! But if your company releases positive news and there’s no one there to hear it, someone will care; your shareholders.
Nothing discourages current shareholders (as well as potential future ones) more than seeing a stock end the session with little or no increase in share price or volume on a day when positive news is released. Sure, the wire services are global, but more than likely, it will only be your existing shareholders who will be watching for and (hopefully) reading your company’s press releases.
As we discussed earlier, the best way to attract future shareholders is by utilizing current shareholders to help do the “hunting”. Think about this; if every one of your shareholders fully understood and believed that if there were twice as many of them, the share price might be twice the price it is now. You must keep your army of shareholders constantly growing if for no other reason than the fact that all of your current shareholders will eventually sell your stock and move on…it’s only a question of when.
[4] Get Organized. Get Ready. Get Going!
All eyes in the room are on you. “Okay Boss, what’s the plan?” And then you answer….
Your corporate plan to increase shareholder support and awareness is like a roadmap that details the fastest and shortest route to your destination. Planning the trip is the easy part. Getting everyone else on board for the ride may take some work. That “work” starts with everyone knowing what their specific duties are and the most effective way of carrying them out.
This leads us to; “Get Going!” Activity creates productivity and productivity creates new shareholders, as well as helps keep existing ones. You should put together a 30 to 60 day calendar that outlines your shareholder awareness program. You should be able to identify specific developments that should take place during each week.
In the beginning, be sure to avoid the getting ready to get ready trap. Once you have the bulk of your operation and team in place, get them started. Don’t get too discouraged if your early results are less than hoped for. This type of undertaking is more like running a marathon than a sprint. It may take a few small steps at first to get your operation up and running for the long haul.
[5] You Cannot Expect What You Are Not Willing to Inspect
Delegation does not equal leadership. You need to stay updated from those actually implementing your shareholder awareness and support programs. What they do right and what they do wrong will determine the success of your program. Your management (and inspection) of the program and those implementing it are key factors in achieving your goals.
I’m sorry to say the bulk of investor relations duties are often viewed as a necessary evil. However, if you want your stock to reflect a strong market capitalization you need to be willing to go the extra mile. On behalf of your shareholders, take charge of your investor relations program then let everyone involved know exactly what is expected of them.
These simple yet effective steps will have a huge impact on how current shareholders as well as future investors view your efforts to gain their support by first supporting them. Leadership is easy….if you’re willing to assume it.
Data Entry Home Work
There are many programs offering data entry home work, which can create a nice income. More an more people are choosing to do this and it seems like the perfect fit for many who choose to do so. A quick search on what people are looking for I see searches on data entry from home work. Read the rest of this entry »
Will the Democrats be able to Reverse the Online Gambling Ban
Many people were hoping that if the Democrats won control of Congress they would reverse the online gambling ban, but experts doubt they will even try or that if they do that the will be successful.
Read the rest of this entry »
Does Every Business Need A Web Presence?
Many small businesses today are undecided whether or not they should have a website to allow customers to purchase products online or further advertise their services. After all, building a website takes both time and money and hiring someone else to do the job for you costs even more. Some business owners may even think that since their company only consists of an employee or two, they really have no need for an online presence. Still other companies may not even want to sell their products online. What one factor do all of these businesses have in common? Believe it or not, they can all benefit from having an online presence. Fortunately today there are web builder tools available that allow even those with little technical skills to design their own website. Best of all, these web builder tools are available at a cost that is affordable to anyone. With options like these, there really is no reason why you shouldn’t have a website to promote your business.
If you think your business is too small to need a website, think again. Even a small business run by just one person can benefit from an online presence. The more people you promote your products and services to, the more sales you are likely to make. Without a web presence, you are losing out on valuable customers. Just like large corporations,small businesses need customers in order to make a profit. If you don’t have a website, you are losing sales to other companies that offer a product similar to yours. Sure building a website will take some time but it will be well worth your effort. There are several small companies today that make the majority of their profits from online sales. Yoursmall business could very well be one of those companies in the future. Why not take the time today to see what types of web builder tools are available? Even though you don’t have to be a Webmaster to use these tools, you can still have a professional looking website that gives your company online credibility. How your site looks to the public is almost as important as the products you offer.
Even companies that do not wish to sell online or those that feel their products would be difficult to market online, can still benefit from using web builder tools to design their sight. First of all, there are not too many products today that aren’t being sold online. With the emergence of bidding sites such as Ebay, even larger items such as automobiles and real estate are being sold. Ecommerce in many cases has become the way to do business. By using web builder tools to design your own site, you can start cashing in on some of this online revenue.
Business owners who don’t wish to sell online may feel a website is a total waste of time and money. However, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. All businesses can benefit from online marketing even if they don’t sell online. By using web builder tools to design a professional looking site, you are making your available products or services known to the public. Just because customers cannot use their credit card to purchase online from your company, many will still be inclined to contact you if you present your products in a professional manner. By giving out your company contact info such as email, fax, phone number, and physical address, customers have a number of methods in which to contact you. It is always a good idea to list your street address even for customers who are located out of state or in a different country. When people see this it often makes them feel more secure about ordering from you. Once customers have contacted you about purchases, you can then make payment arrangements for products. You may wish to receive checks by mail or take their credit card information over the phone to process orders. Some customers may even be within driving distance of your business. By having a website designed with web builder tools, you have made your presence known to customers both in your area and across the country. No matter what your type of business, web builder tools can help youdesign a site that will increase customer revenue.
Using Directory Submissions To Build Inbound Links
There are literally 100’s of free directories out there that you can submit your website to, and build inbound, one way links to your website. But it really helps to follow several guidelines to get the most benefit from these free directories.
Rule #1: Read the rules
Most directories have a list of rules that your listing must comply with to be accepted. Some directories have a very particular set of specifications, and if your submitted listing does not meet them, it will be deleted without a second glance.
So it is in your best interest to read the rules. If a particular directory does not have a list of rules, you can probably use a set of rules such as:
1- Submit your homepage url only
2- No promotional language or keyword stuffing in the title & description
3- Submit to the deepest sub category possible
Rule #2: Anchor text
As with all inbound links, you want to strive to get your keywords in the anchor text of the links. With directories, you have an additional challenge, as many of them require that you use your official site name as your title. So you may have to compromise.
Rule #3: Vary your anchor text
Another general rule of link building that applies to directory submissions is to vary your anchor text a little so that the links do not look artificialto the search engines.
Rule #4: Use legitimate information
Submit your real name, email, etc when you submit your website. Your link is much more likely to be approved if you do. If possible, use an email address at the domain you are submitting. Many directories like this, as it indicates that you are the owner of the site.
Just follow these rules to build 100% free inbound links to your website with directory submissions. And of course, you can even start your own directory to build more back links, but that’s another story all-together.
Business Cards Printing brings out Corporate Identity the Easy Way
Business cards significance in the business industry cannot be over emphasized. In fact, it is the foremost tool used by businessmen and other business enthusiasts for networking their products and services.
We cannot deny the blatant fact that competition nowadays is pretty stiff. Anyone who takes it for granted and not lift a finger to compete will be way left behind. This is the very reason why businessmen and their pools of marketing experts are planning a wise and easy strategy to capture their target market. They are poring over marketing tools and advertisements. They want to conquer the mass media. But what is the easiest way to reach the top? Is it worth spending a lot?
For big companies, spending a big sum is of no worry. Obviously, they have the finances. Networking and marketing are essential to them to keep the goodwill and corporate identity. However, to starting businesses and to those still struggling, networking and marketing slash the pocket. Thus, making known their corporate identity is taxing for them. They cannot subscribe to pompous ads. They cannot spend more than what they have thus, an inexpensive alternative must be sought. Good thing we have handy and effectivebusiness cards to back them up!
Business cards may seem so tiny but they have the influence to boost your business. They are not only effective but inexpensive as well. Compared to other networking and marketing tools, business cards are far more effectual and practical. Nevertheless, they must pass quality and meticulous planning, printing and distribution process so as to achieve their full potentials. Planning is the key factor why we have effectivebusiness cards. It is the initial phase where we get to conceptualize what we want to come up. Business cards printing is an essential phase in the undertaking. The design, colors, images and logo of business cards must instantly reflect the corporate identity of the business. The design and printing process must be of high-quality to have an excellent outcome. Bear in mind that catchy, meaty and functionalbusiness cards grab the thing that you desire most. Finally, business cards have to be delivered. But one common mistake interferes in the smooth-sailing process. This mistake must be avoided at all cost. And what is this big mistake? It is distribution to the wrong persons. Hence, givebusiness cards to your real business leads. Or else you will just be throwing away your hard-earned money!
Money Making Ideas That Work
It is important when beginning a new business, especially when looking at online businesses, with many opportunities for inexperienced operators, Read the rest of this entry »
MBA basics
The MBA is perhaps the most coveted course in today’s world. This course tops the list of courses almost in all the developed and developing countries across the globe. The enthusiasm for the course has brought in many small private institutes etc. to offer this course. However, only those students who have obtained the MBA degree from some recognized eminent university find the best of placements. So the institute or the university is the first factor for a successful career in this field. This article will educate you about the various issues like finance, strategy to study, interview etc. related to choosing MBA as a profession.
• In today’s competitive world there are no shortcuts. The student willing to take admission in one of the best institutes either in Asia or abroad, need to study hard and get the good grades. 3.0 to 4.0 are the minimum grades required at the undergraduate grade point average (GPA).
• Most of the MBA schools or colleges adjudicate the caliber of the student via the GMAT or The Graduate Management Admissions Test exam. This test is to estimate the individual’s knowledge of English, Math and Analytical writing skills. The verbal or English section comprises of 41 questions to be answered within 75 minutes. The questions like correcting the hidden grammatical mistakes etc. The Math section has 37 questions and same 75 minutes. Questions are on various mathematical topics like percentage, ratio and so forth. The writing analysis is based on writing two essays on different issues.
• The school and university depend on the grades that you get in the exam. Good grades will fetch you a deemed university while poor ones may not.
• MBA programs are full time and part time and within this program there are many choices. Like you can take up finance management, HR, etc. it is at the discretion of the student to decide which course to go for
• Once you have made a preference for the course, the time comes to look at the fee structure. Usually the MBA schools charge a high fee which is not within the reach of students. In this case they look for other financial aids. Many schools offer scholarships, grants etc. that can be looked up to. Else the loan facility is always available. The loan providing banks and companies also consider the grades and the institution that recommends the name of the student. The successful schools are known for producing productive students who can repay the loan conveniently with their salaries.
The FAFSA or the Free Application for Federal Students, loan offered by the federal government is doing remarkable job in this area. However, due to the popularity of the loan, the application should be sent as soon as possible.
• Many MBA schools ask for recommendation letters. This is in order to justify a student’s authenticity. In this case the letter should be taken by an honored and known authority whose recommendation lifts your name in the eyes of its seekers.
• The school life is followed by hunt for a job. If you have passed from a top most school, job is not an issue; still you need to be prepared to win your contenders. When going for an interview wear decent clothes that are not too jazzy and funky and colorful. Practice properly with a friend or family member before the day of interview. Don’t forget to take a copy of resume and cover letter along with your certificates. You need to be familiar with each and every word of your resume and cover letter. Don’t be nervous and maintain a calm composure. Try replying in a prudent manner to all their questions. Even if you make a mistake, don’t let it affect your rest of the answers and your attitude.
So go ahead and chase your dreams!
