Visitors to your Website

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10 Tips to Get Repeat Visitors to your Website

http://perfectionistgal.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/website-traffic.jpgGetting traffic to your website is hard work and can be expensive. So it’s cost-effective to get repeat visitors not only first time visitors.
Getting repeat visitors is all about giving value to your visitors. You need to give them what they ask for, what they are searching for, and then dazzle them when they get to you. That way, they will come back for more time and again.
So how can you please your visitors so they return to your site?
Here are my top ten suggestions. Some of these overlap with how to encourage visitors to tell others about your site, so increasing your traffic that way too through viral networking.
1. Keep your site fresh.
Update the content on your frequently. Dormant sites are dropped by some search engines as well, which will reduce all your traffic anyhow.
2. Offer extra value to your visitors.
You can identify related complementary sites and put links to these additional products and services. Ask those sites to do the same for you.
It won’t necessarily increase your page rank but it does add value to your human visitors. You can also advertise books and videos that relate to your business and are not in competition with your own offers.
3. Encourage your visitors to subscribe to your site.
Offer a free report or video training or to get discounts and special offers. Place a link on your site to invite visitors to ‘opt in’ to get a monthly newsletter or valuable coupons.
4. Add a link to your primary page for a RSS feed or other social bookmarking links so they can get updates automatically. Suggest they ‘Add this site to your Favorites’.
5. Add a link ‘Recommend this site to a Friend’ so that the visitor can email your website link, with a prewritten title, “Thought you might be interested in this”, just by clicking on it.
This expands your traffic as others share your site info with their network of contacts.
6. Brand your website with a friendly, attractive scheme, so that visitors always recognise when they are on your site’s pages. Use a clear logo and consistent ‘look and feel’. Always include a ‘Contact Us’ link in your navigation bar.
http://blog.sitesubmiturl.com/wp-content/uploads/SEO-Tips-5-Effective-SEO-Tips-to-Increase-Your-Website-Rankings-and-Get-More-Traffic.jpg7. Create a ‘Terms and Conditions’ page that clearly defines your business principles. Have a privacy policy too, so visitors know what happens to their data on your site and that they are secure from spam when they opt-in.
8. Create a Frequently Asked Questions page which answers most of the concerns about your business, product or services that people generally ask.
This helps to allay the main doubts people have when they first visit your website.
9. Use clear titles and keywords and a clear navigation so that your visitors can find their way back to your site if they lose their bookmark.
10. Never spam a visitor, who has opted for newsletters with third party emails. If they decide to unsubscribe, make sure you honor their request and take them off your broadcast list and any autoresponder series.
They may still come back if they like your products and opt in again, perhaps if there’s a different offer from time to time.

 

Starting An Online Business

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Starting An Online Business, Success Or Failure, It’s Up To You!

  Did you know that 96% of all people Starting An Online Business will fail?  Why am I telling you this, because I want your online business to be one of the 4% who will succeed and beat the odds!  Many people will tell you how easy it is making money online; guess what it’s not that easy.  You have to work and work hard at it.  An online business startup takes work, time and dedication and should not be jumped into as the latest fad.  However once you start making money online you will never look back!

http://www.magicseven-getpaidtoday.com/online-money.jpgSo if you are thinking about starting a business online let’s take a look into the pros and cons of such a venture.  We’ll start with the cons first and work our way up to the pros.  I am not telling you this to scare you or steer you away from your dreams but a strong shot of honesty never hurt anyone.  When you begin your quest to making money online you will be known as a noob or newbie.  Don’t feel bad as all of us who have started a business online where in that very same boat.  However what you need to know is you are going to be preyed upon to buy every new making money online guide there is available. 
I believe most newbie’s will lose money before they make any from their online business.  If you just search online you will find so much more valuable material that is free about starting an online business and making money online in general.  With that being said there are many good quality products out there that will help you succeed, just don’t fall into the trap of buying everything that comes across your email.
Buying programs to help you with starting an online business can cut a lot of time out for you and your new business venture.  The important thing to do is to look for products that fit you, your work ethic and your business type.  Look for products that offer a money back guarantee for a minimum of 30 days.  This will tell you that the seller considers their product to be of a quality nature, or else they wouldn’t be willing to take the risk on the returns.
Now let’s talk about the pros of Making Money Online.  Starting an online business is so much cheaper than starting a typical brick and mortar business.  You can literally start making money online without a dime to your name, just try and do that in the real world.  As time goes on you will be able to reinvest that money and keep building a sustainable income. The worst that could happen is that you fail, trust me failing with an offline business is much more devastating emotionally and financially than failing at an online business startup.
Failure is an interesting word, it is perceived differently by people.  Some take it to heart and let it beat them down.  Others will take it as a positive and learn from it.  Thomas Edison was asked how he felt about failing 2000 times before creating the light bulb.  His answer “I didn’t fail 2000 times, I just found 2000 ways it doesn’t work”, now that is POWERFUL!
Just a piece of personal advice, if you want to succeed in making money you can.  Never let anyone and I mean anyone tell you that you can’t.  Run this business as if your life depended on it and you can have the life of your dreams.  A wise man once told me to do the things that you fear the most and the money will follow!

 

Optimize Your Website Yourself

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When To Optimize Your Website Yourself

Many webmasters, business owners and marketing folks are sometimes more concerned about saving money than making it. Ever heard the expression, Penny wise, pound foolish? Save a buck today, lose two or three tomorrow. That is what happens when you try to optimize your own website and do not know what you are doing. You are likely going to fail or you will not be patient long enough to wait for the results you hope to get.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41QpyrkF8lL._SL500_AA266_PIkin2,BottomRight,-16,34_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpgOften many times I have seen people that dont take the time to truly understand how search engine optimization works, try to rush it or have unrealistic expectations and then vow that SEO does not work. I can assure you that search engine optimization is one of the most cost effective and best return driven mediums to drive targeted visitors to your website. But is there a time when you can, and should, optimize your own website? Yes. There may be times when performing the SEO work on your site is to your advantage.
The obvious time to optimize your own website is when you have taken the time to learn it on your own and have ample time to perform the on site optimization and ongoing link building and reporting efforts. Youve studied it long enough and youve experimented enough with the tools that you can make it happen. Im not talking about having read one e-book written in 1995. Im talking about having actually tested some of the things that youve learned and you understand SEO well enough to employ its mysteries without giving up when things dont go right. Because, inevitably, your first efforts are going to appear to fail; they actually may be succeeding, but you just wont see the results for a while.
http://www.masternewmedia.org/images/how_to_make_your_website_faster_part_2_how_to_optimize_your_website_code_for_speed_avoid_dynamic_page_creation_id12686651.jpgBut is there ever a time when performing the SEO work on your site might be to your advantage even if you are not familiar enough with the principles at work? Maybe. Its OK to perform small tweaks to your websites SEO when youve gained enough knowledge to understand what those tweaks mean. For instance, if you see that a page is missing title attributes on its internal navigation links. If you understand the value of those attributes then you can add them to your links and be done.
Before you try to fix any optimization issues with your own site you should have it evaluated by a professional SEO firm and determine which tweaks you can do yourself and which ones you should pay a professional for. Its possible that hiring a professional SEO firm to handle the big issues with your site will also lead you to have that firm take care of the smaller issues at the same time. You may be able to handle those yourself, but since youve got the mechanic under the hood you can have him change the oil too.

Building your online business

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Building your online business 

Website design 

http://www.webnetinteractive.com/images/web_site_design_portfolio/wisconsin_website_design.jpg

Do it yourself - If you have coding skills, you can build an online store to look exactly the way you want. The built-in design tools of Evolve allow you to create dynamic and highly functional layouts. With total design flexibility, you can set up your own product templates for displaying products, use the preview mode to check your design, update changes instantly and much more.
You can also use Dreamweaver, Frontpage and other web authoring programs.
Prices start at £895 - see: pricing
Building your online businessWe do it for you - We design, build and publish an e-commerce site to suit your business requirements - this includes Evolve software, web design & build, uploading your products, order process, search engine optimisation, SAN hosting, B2B set up option, training and support.
This is a start-to-finish solution and lead time for completion is 5 to 7 weeks.
Prices start at £5k - see also: a complete solution

Adding your products

Enter products through the easy-to-use Evolve interface or upload your product content from a spreadsheet or CSV file. After this, uploading the spreadsheet to the server will become a straight forward routine.

Payment & shipping options

Orders placed on your website can be processed immediately by a payment gateway.
Alternatively, your customers can place orders on a secure server, using SSL encryption. Orders are stored in the Evolve database and email notifications are sent to you and the customer. You can customise the look of each screen and decide which payment options to give the customer. Shipping charges can be set up for different zones, based on weight, quantity of products and/or total order value.
Tax rates can be set up as required, as well as individual tax levels for separate products and rules for tax exemption for orders from outside the EU. Product prices can be displayed as exclusive or inclusive of tax and customer specific pricing and discounts can also be set up.

Promoting your business online

Optimising your site for search engines will increase your online sales. We will help you achieve top placement with search engines and make sure all your web pages are indexed.
Successful e-commerce is more than selling: securing repeat business is a must. For this purpose, Evolve has an array of tools to maximise sales and ensure client loyalty: email your customers - bulk or group; effective use of coupons and gift certificates; plug-in for affiliate programmes, site usage reports, tips to increase average order value, wish lists and much more.

Managing your customers and orders

With Evolve e-commerce, your customers place orders on a secure server, using SSL encryption. Orders are stored in the Evolve database and email notifications are sent to you and the customer. You can assign specific customers to login areas to give them discounts, check their purchase history and track the status of current orders. You can also set up different price bands for wholesale/trade and retail customers

 

Selling Your Used Car

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Selling Your Used Car

Selling a car in this day and age is not easy – in fact, it is extremely difficult more of the time, however there are some tips and tricks that you can implement that will help improve your car and certainly assist you with ensuring that your car goes up for sale.
http://www.visionale.net/wp-content/uploads/step-sell-car-parts.jpgOne thing that you need to make sure that you do is ensure your car is clean.  This is one of those things that are very, very important, as you want to make sure that any potential buyers looking at the car, see it is clean.  This might involve you taking it to a detailer, as that is one surefire way to make sure that it is absolutely clean.
Next, you want to make sure that you do some work on it and replace all of the fluids in it.  This is a great thing to put on the sign too, that you kept it up and that it is in fantastic working order. 

Disaster on the Road

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Drivers that spell disaster on the road

You might be very careful when driving but you just can not avoid an encounter with other motorists that can drive you mad.

http://www.nextnature.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/nextnature_disaster_530.jpgThere will be people who will have their blinkers on for several miles. There will be drivers who will overtake your vehicle, then slow down, and go fast, and slow down again. Drivers like these are really aggravating. Instinct will tell you that you want to let them know what is in your mind (or sometimes your hand). Before you do anything, think twice, not that they will do anything but they can be dangerous.
Telephone Game
What can be more dangerous on the road than someone busy chatting over the cellphone or even worse texting someone. As much as you are tempted to go fast and pass them, the recommended move will be to keep your distance. A big percentage of accidents on the road are due to drivers distracted in one form or another.
Late Blinker
You are about to take a right turn but decided to wait since a car is cruising down the road. You wait for a while. And waited for a bit more just to find out that when he is just about to turn, he flicks on his signal light and turns on the same street you are going to. If this happened to you most of the time, then you are making the right decision of waiting and respecting right of way.
Green for Go
http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Assets/OES/Cottontail+Creek+road.jpgYou might be wondering why there are people who respond to the green light really slow. Maybe the driver in front of you is distracted and all you can do is wait. Before you decide to zip around the vehicle and go on a feat of road rage, think twice. Give the driver a benefit of the doubt that maybe someone is blocking his way or someone might be crossing the road. What you can do is tap your horn a bit and wait if he will respond and go.
Big Cars and Ice
Some drivers of big vehicles just don’t get it. Their tires will still slip on ice and their 4×4 cannot do anything about it. If you see them going really fast on an icy road, keep your distance.

 

Car Insurance for Your Business

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Why Use Company Car Insurance for Your Business

http://www.motorinsurances.info/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Tips_Special.jpgInterested in buying a policy for your company car? If you have just started your own business you probably already know about all of the multitudes of expenses that you’re in for during the first year. Even seasoned business owners may benefit from using company car insurance for business.

Find free online car insurance quotes with just your zip code now!
Many new business owners watch the funds rapidly decline and begin to panic. Their first thought is to start cutting corners where they can. One might even consider cutting down on company car insurance. This could be a very costly mistake.

Questions about Company Car Insurance

What if there was an accident that totaled your business car? Would you be able to replace it out of pocket? Few small businesses can afford to give away that much capital at once. There are many types of business vehicles that you might use in a day’s time, depending on your industry; and as many types of commercial car insurance to cover them.
If you are a repair man you may use your company van to transport all your tools and necessary equipment to a new location. If you deal with some big clients you may well have a limo as a company car in order to transport them around. Perhaps you just run around town from time to time to meet with clients in your office vehicle. Whatever your business is, most business owners will need a reliable and well insured vehicle for professional use.

Does Company Car Insurance Really Save You Money?

One good reason to get company car insurance or a business auto policy is the fact that it can save you money! We’re not just talking about covered claims. Insurance on the car can be counted as a business expense on your taxes. Getting a break on your taxes, even a small one, can be very important to a new and emerging business.
http://carinsurancetipsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/insurance-4.jpgMaintenance to the car and even the gas you use for business reasons can also be deducted as business expenses from your company’s taxes. Even that oil change you just had done can be written off! Just remember to keep good records of your mileage and car expenses just in case the IRS ever comes knocking wanting to see your receipts. Various rules and regulations apply, so always be sure you understand the ins and outs before making any tax deductions.
If you are looking for more ways to save on company car insurance, be sure those employees you hire have squeaky clean driving records. You will be paying for their coverage, which is partly based on their personal auto history. Make sure your employees are very responsible. If they get into an accident while driving the company car, the company insurance rates will go up, not just their private rates.
This fact can actually cause some employees to drive with less caution than they would take with their own car. Accidents do happen, but carelessness or reckless driving can be avoided by educating your employees on proper company vehicle care and defensive driving. Be sure to keep track of each employee’s vehicle mishaps. Some insurance companies will give you a discount if your drivers attend a defensive driving course.

The Online Search for Company Car Insurance

There are plenty of discounts you can inquire about. If you are insuring a high number of vehicles, you can ask about fleet insurance which will give you discounts for multiple cars. If the car is driven less than 10,000 miles a year, you can also inquire about low mileage discounts.
The key to finding the right business car insurance for you at the right price is to make sure you are getting all the coverage that you need—no more and no less. Perhaps liability coverage will be enough for your car, and you can drop full coverage. Perhaps a smaller insurable amount will suit you. A good way to save is to shop for new policies online. Getting price quotes through comparison shopping has helped some reduce their rates by hundreds of dollars a year.
The Internet makes the process easy these days. Instead of spending the entire day on the phone getting rates from multiple companies, with a few clicks of your mouse, you can have a number of quotes from different companies in a few minutes. Remember not only to look at the dollar signs but to also read the fine print of each contract so that you can understand exactly what the policy covers and what it doesn’t. Online quotes are just previews of the real contract, which will be mailed to you or signed in an office.
Running your own company is a big responsibility. Ensure that your company vehicle, be it one car or an entire fleet, is properly insured. Why not search for company car insurance quotes right now by entering your zip code and using our online comparison tool?

 

Business Use of Car

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Business Use of Car

http://0.tqn.com/d/womeninbusiness/1/0/R/2/-/-/traffic.jpgIf you use your car in your job or business and you use it only for that purpose, you may deduct its entire cost of operation (subject to limits discussed later). However, if you use the car for both business and personal purposes, you may deduct only the cost of its business use.
You can generally figure the amount of your deductible car expense using one of two methods: the standard mileage rate method or the actual expense method. If you qualify to use both methods, before choosing a method, you may want to figure your deduction both ways to see which gives you a larger deduction. Please refer to Publication 463, Travel, Entertainment, Gift and Car Expenses, for the current standard mileage rate. If you use the standard mileage rate, you can add to your deduction any parking fees and tolls incurred for business purposes.
To use the standard mileage rate, you must own or lease the car; the car must not be used to transport persons or property for compensation or hire, for example as a taxi; you must not operate five or more cars at the same time, as in a fleet operation; you must not have claimed a depreciation deduction using the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) on the car in an earlier year (including any additional first-year depreciation or "bonus depreciation" or any method other than straight-line for its estimated useful life; you must not have claimed a Section 179 deduction or the special depreciation allowance on the car; and you must not have claimed actual expenses after 1997 for a car you leased. You cannot use the standard mileage rate if you are a rural mail carrier who received a "qualified reimbursement".
Further, to use the standard mileage rate for a car you own, you must choose to use it in the first year the car is available for use in your business. Then, in later years, you can choose to use the standard mileage rate or actual expenses.
However, for a car you lease, you must use the standard mileage rate method for the entire lease period (including renewals).
To use the actual expense method, you must determine what it actually costs to operate the car for the portion of the overall use of the car that is business use. Include gas, oil, repairs, tires, insurance, registration fees, licenses, and depreciation (or lease payments) attributable to the portion of the total miles driven that are business miles.
Other car expenses for parking fees and tolls attributable to business use are separately deductible, whether you use the standard mileage rate or actual expenses.
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Generally, the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System is the only depreciation method that can be used by car owners to depreciate any car placed in service after 1986. However, if you used the standard mileage rate in the year you place the car in service, and change to the actual expense method in a later year and before your car is fully depreciated, you must use straight-line depreciation over the estimated remaining useful life of the car. There are limits on how much depreciation you can deduct. For additional information on the depreciation limits, please refer to Topic 704. Publication 463, Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car Expenses, explains the depreciation limits, and it discusses special rules applicable to leased cars.
The law requires that you substantiate your expenses by adequate records or by sufficient evidence to support your own statement. For further information on record keeping, refer to Topic 305.
If you are an employee whose deductible business expenses are fully reimbursed under an accountable plan, i.e., a plan that meets the 3 accountable plan requirements, the reimbursements should not be included in your wages on your Form W-2 (PDF), and you should not deduct the expenses.
If your employer uses a non-accountable plan to reimburse you for the expenses, the reimbursements are includable in your wages. Your employer will combine the amount of any reimbursement or other expense allowance paid to you under a non-accountable plan with your wages, salary, or other compensation and report the total on your Form W-2. Your employee business expenses may be deductible as an itemized deduction. For a definition of Accountable and Non-Accountable plans, refer to Publication 463 and Topic 514.
Generally, if you are an employee, to deduct your car expenses including expenses that exceed reimbursement under an accountable plan, you must complete Form 2106 (PDF) or Form 2106-EZ (PDF) and itemize your deductions on Form 1040, Schedule A. Your expenses will be subject to the 2% of adjusted gross income limit. Refer to Topic 508 for information on the 2% limit. If you are self-employed, car expenses are deductible on Form 1040, Schedule C (PDF) or Form 1040, Schedule C-EZ (PDF), or on Form 1040, Schedule F (PDF) if you are a farmer.

TIGHT BUDGET SHOPPING

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TIGHT BUDGET SHOPPING TIPS 

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/5803580/2/istockphoto_5803580-on-a-tight-budget.jpgFashion's a breeze when you've got money to blow. But getting that fresh-from-the-runway look gets tricky when you're short on cash. Here's how to look good for less in a material world:
Redefine the word sale
Sounds basic, but to really save a bundle on clothes you have to be willing to pass up enticing promotions (15% off; free shipping; gift with purchase) and hold out for the hard-core sales (40% off is good; 50% and up will land you a buy for almost what it cost the retailer).
Don't stop buying
Counterintuitive? Well, think about dieting and how you pass on sweets and carbs until you binge. Scary, but it can happen with pent-up shopping desires, too (and credit card debt racked up in a binge will end up costing you a fortune). Satiate the fashion lover in you with a very small treat: you set the amount and frequency ($10 a month for new earrings, etc.) Pay with cash.
Shop in season
Sure, stuff is cheaper when bought at the end of the season or even out of season. And that's fine if you're just looking for any old thing to wear. But if you love fashion (and you do, or you wouldn't be here), you should shop as close to the season as possible.


Otherwise you'll just waste your money on trends that will be out of style by the time the next year rolls around.
Swap with pals
Friends that wear your size (and share your taste) are a gold mine. You can even go large scale and organize a swap meet where everyone can switch shoes, clothes, etc.
Get rid of your inner snob
Scour second-hand and discount stores. Buy basics from the warehouse where you buy your paper towels in bulk. If vintage is your thing, haunt flea markets and garage sales.
Become a do-it-yourself whiz
Learn to whip together a new outfit on the sewing machine or simply turn old jeans into a new skirt. Recycling is an easy update: a ruffle on last year's skirt, a bow at the ankle of three-year-old strappy sandals.

Business casual' causes confusion

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Business casual' causes confusion

http://images.usatoday.com/money/_photos/2007/07/10/casual-inappropriatex.jpgJennifer Cohen thought she had a good understanding of her company's policy allowing business casual attire.
So the 24-year-old was stunned when an older colleague pulled her aside to tell her she was dressing inappropriately by donning Bermuda shorts, sleeveless tops and capris.
"Each generation seems to have a different idea of what is acceptable in the workplace, and in this situation I was highly offended," says Cohen, who works at a marketing firm in Philadelphia. "I was actually not allowed to attend a meeting because my attire was deemed 'inappropriate.' People my age are taught to express themselves, and saying something negative about someone's fashion is saying something negative about them."
TELL US: Are flip-flops appropriate business casual attire?
Business casual has become a staple of the office, but more companies are trying to enforce rules that set at least a minimum standard of dress, and an increasing number also are enforcing more formal attire — especially at meetings or on days when clients may visit the office. And as summer heats up and fashion trends become even more laid back, employers are wrestling with how to adopt dress-code policies that encourage both productivity and professionalism.
There is little question that business casual, largely popularized by the dot-com craze in Silicon Valley, has permeated the workplace, with six in 10 employers allowing a dress-down day at least once a week, according to a 2006 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management.
But a backlash is brewing: The number of employers allowing casual dress days every day has plunged from 53% in 2002 to a new low of 38%.
The reason for the return to more dressed-up attire is, in part, because of the confusion generated by business casual standards. Should flip-flops be allowed? What about tennis shoes, jeans and shorts? Sleeveless dresses? T-shirts? Younger employees are more likely to push the envelope, rankling more veteran generations who have long worked in offices where ties and skirts were expected no matter the day of the week. Many employers resent becoming fashion police.
Casual Fridays get out of hand
http://images.usatoday.com/money/_photos/2007/07/10/casual-appropriatex.jpg"It started with casual Fridays and got out of hand," says June Webb, in Alexandria, Va., a fashion consultant. "Now companies are starting to clamp down a little bit. They've found women have a tendency to show off too much skin, and men tend to show up in clothes that are wrinkled and not ironed."
Despite the push toward a more dressed-up workplace, employer policies still run the gamut. Some are gussying up. Consider marketing firm McGrath/Power in Santa Clara, Calif. Because they're based in the heart of Silicon Valley, they used to allow shorts, T-shirts and baseball caps. But now they require a more businesslike attire, with business casual including slacks and skirts. Still, there have been situations where employees have been asked to take off a baseball cap, leave on a sweater or not wear something again. With the third warning, employees are sent home to change.
"The pendulum has swung," says CEO Jonathan Bloom. "We went through a too-casual period. … In the aftermath of the dot-com bubble, we tightened things up a little. When we were very casual, the quality of the work wasn't as good."
Others are getting strict. In Auburn, N.Y., the city manager made headlines in April when he banned most city employees from wearing jeans on Fridays, a day that had long been reserved for casual attire. His office did not return calls seeking comment.
Some companies, such as IBM, have thrown out dress codes altogether. Once known as a traditional company of button-down shirts, cuff links and pinstriped suits, today it's a much more anything-goes approach.
"As society has changed, so has IBM," says Donna Riley, a human resources vice president at IBM. "We do have a Birkenstock crowd in some of our locations. Many years ago, it was a suit and tie for men and skirt, dress and stockings for women. (Today's policy) says we trust our employees to use good judgment."
In an IBM research lab in San Jose, Calif., Dan Gruhl, 35, a researcher who works in text analytics, typically shows up in flip-flops and shorts. He owns only two button-down shirts.
"Having a relaxed environment encourages you to think more openly," Gruhl says. "Dress is part of a much larger culture. It really encourages camaraderie."
General Motors, where suits were once expected, now is also much more casual. While business casual is considered appropriate during the workweek, employees representing GM to customers, suppliers and visitors are expected to dress consistently with the norms and expectations of the meeting or event, officials say. Business casual does not include apparel such as athletic shoes, jeans, shorts, tank tops or sweatshirts.
Procter & Gamble also allows employees to dress more casually than in previous generations. Ford Motor has a casual business dress code, which is more laid back than 15 or 20 years ago.
"We ask them to use good judgment," says Marcey Evans, a Ford spokeswoman.
The mishmash of conflicting policies has created general confusion and a host of fashion faux pas. Fifty-five percent of employees consider tank tops and exposed undergarments the season's top work-wear mishap, according to an April survey by Monster, an online career and recruitment resource. Nearly 30% cited flip-flops, while just 8% were put off by Hawaiian-print shirts. The online poll got more than 18,000 responses.
It's enough to baffle executives like Suzie Boland, president of RFB Communications Group in Tampa.
"I saw something new (recently). It was an invitation to an evening business reception that said the dress was 'dressy business casual,' " Boland says in an e-mail. "I give up: What in the name of heaven is that?"
Making rules more clear
What some employers are doing to make rules clear:
•Five Point Capital, a San Diego-based equipment-leasing specialist, allows jeans with no rips or holes on Fridays for operations and support departments. No T-shirts, tank tops or exposed thong undergarments are allowed. The company asks that no body parts from the shoulders to the knees be seen, except for arms. The goal is to keep cleavage and belly views at a minimum.
http://www.dartfashionschool.com/images/trendsmain/new%20dress.jpg•At Texas A&M University, the interim president in May sent out a note to more than 10,000 faculty and staff establishing a new summer dress code in an effort to make employees comfortable while the school tries to reduce costs by keeping building thermostats turned to 75 degrees. "Examples for men are golf or polo shirts and khaki pants, and capri pants and summer sweaters for women," the memo says. Fridays are designated school spirit days, when employees are encouraged to wear clothes with Texas A&M or department logos.
•The National Basketball Association has adopted an off-court dress code for players. It requires them to adhere to a business-casual dress policy that includes a long- or short-sleeved dress shirt and/or a sweater, dress slacks, khakis or dress jeans. Appropriate shoes and socks, including dress shoes, dress boots or other presentable shoes, but not including sneakers, sandals, flip-flops or work boots. Sunglasses are not allowed indoors, and NBA players can't wear chains or medallions when on team or league business.
Legal issues can arise
When it comes to dress policies, there are legal issues, too. Employers who enforce dress codes on women but not men risk sexual discrimination claims, and companies also can get in trouble for taking some steps, such as banning styles that are worn as part of religious beliefs.
Some have been sued over policies, such as dress codes requiring Muslim female employees to remove headscarves. In June, a Phoenix jury awarded $287,000 to a Somali employee who had worked at Alamo Car Rental. The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says the company engaged in religious discrimination for firing her for wearing the scarf during Ramadan.
But employers can legally enforce dress requirements as long as they are not discriminatory, and courts have given employers leeway. Harrah's Casino in Reno requires women to wear makeup. Bartender Darlene Jespersen sued the company, saying the policy discriminated against women. In April 2006, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a lower-court ruling that it was not unlawful gender-based discrimination for an employer to dismiss a female bartender for not complying with dress and grooming standards.
Greater leeway is also creating increasing havoc for job interviewees, who are finding the traditional suit may make them seem too stodgy in a more laid-back workplace atmosphere.
How employees look can affect how they're perceived: Thirty-six percent of respondents said those who dress casually are perceived as more creative, yet 49% said they run the risk of being taken less seriously, according to a 2006 survey by online job service TheLadders.com. The survey was conducted in August 2006 and included 2,243 executives.
But dress is also about personal statement and comfort, and that's why some employees such as Jennifer Cohen, the marketing employee in Philadelphia, bristles at policies and attitudes that she believes stifles self-expression.
"I can't say I don't push the envelope a little if I'm not going to see clients everyday," she says. "When you're comfortable, you don't worry. You focus on your work."


Dress For Success Work Wardrobe

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Dress For Success The Perfect Work Wardrobe

 

http://www.stilorama.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/the-perfect-work-wardrobe.jpgStart 2010 on a successful stylish note and make the most of this season’s sales by investing in a brand new work wardrobe.  Stilorama’s Fashion Director Hala Di-Maio shows you how to dress for success she says “the key to dressing for work is to avoid conventional boring styles and dull dark colours.  Customise your wardrobe according to your body shape and choose a colour palette suitable for your skin tone, age and mood; mix greys and black with brighter colours.  Keep your makeup basic and simple and above all remember that your work wardrobe is your image to the outside world so make sure you keep it updated.”  For more advice on what to wear for work, or if you are returning to work after a long break and need help in finding the right clothes, contact one of


Dress for Work Success

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Dress for Work Success: 

A Business Casual Dress Code

http://media.washtimes.com/media/community/uploads/Dress_for_Success_Use_in_Teaser.JPGYour Company's objective in establishing a business casual dress code, is to allow our employees to work comfortably in the workplace. Yet, we still need our employees to project a professional image for our customers, potential employees, and community visitors. Business casual dress is the standard for this dress code.
Because all casual clothing is not suitable for the office, these guidelines will help you determine what is appropriate to wear to work. Clothing that works well for the beach, yard work, dance clubs, exercise sessions, and sports contests may not be appropriate for a professional appearance at work.
Clothing that reveals too much cleavage, your back, your chest, your feet, your stomach or your underwear is not appropriate for a place of business, even in a business casual setting.
Even in a business casual work environment, clothing should be pressed and never wrinkled. Torn, dirty, or frayed clothing is unacceptable. All seams must be finished. Any clothing that has words, terms, or pictures that may be offensive to other employees is unacceptable. Clothing that has the company logo is encouraged. Sports team, university, and fashion brand names on clothing are generally acceptable.
Certain days can be declared dress down days, generally Fridays. On these days, jeans and other more casual clothing, although never clothing potentially offensive to others, are allowed.

Guide to Business Casual Dressing for Work

This is a general overview of appropriate business casual attire. Items that are not appropriate for the office are listed, too. Neither list is all-inclusive and both are open to change. The lists tell you what is generally acceptable as business casual attire and what is generally not acceptable as business casual attire.
No dress code can cover all contingencies so employees must exert a certain amount of judgment in their choice of clothing to wear to work. If you experience uncertainty about acceptable, professional business causal attire for work, please ask your supervisor or your Human Resources staff.

Slacks, Pants, and Suit Pants

Slacks that are similar to Dockers and other makers of cotton or synthetic material pants, wool pants, flannel pants,dressy capris, and nice looking dress synthetic pants are acceptable. Inappropriate slacks or pants include jeans, sweatpants, exercise pants, Bermuda shorts, short shorts, shorts, bib overalls, leggings, and any spandex or other form-fitting pants such as people wear for biking.

Skirts, Dresses, and Skirted Suits

http://www.csmonitor.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/images/0504-econdress/7834678-1-eng-US/0504-EconDress_full_600.jpg Casual dresses and skirts, and skirts that are split at or below the knee are acceptable. Dress and skirt length should be at a length at which you can sit comfortably in public. Short, tight skirts that ride halfway up the thigh are inappropriate for work. Mini-skirts, skorts, sun dresses, beach dresses, and spaghetti-strap dresses are inappropriate for the office.



Shirts, Tops, Blouses, and Jackets

Casual shirts, dress shirts, sweaters, tops, golf-type shirts, and turtlenecks are acceptable attire for work. Most suit jackets or sport jackets are also acceptable attire for the office, if they violate none of the listed guidelines. Inappropriate attire for work includes tank tops; midriff tops; shirts with potentially offensive words, terms, logos, pictures, cartoons, or slogans; halter-tops; tops with bare shoulders; sweatshirts, and t-shirts unless worn under another blouse, shirt, jacket, or dress.

Shoes and Footwear

Conservative athletic or walking shoes, loafers, clogs, sneakers, boots, flats, dress heels, and leather deck-type shoes are acceptable for work. Wearing no stockings is acceptable in warm weather. Flashy athletic shoes, thongs, flip-flops, slippers, and any shoe with an open toe are not acceptable in the office. Closed toe and closed heel shoes are required in the manufacturing operation area.

Jewelry, Makeup, Perfume, and Cologne

Should be in good taste, with limited visible body piercing. Remember, that some employees are allergic to the chemicals in perfumes and make-up, so wear these substances with restraint.

Hats and Head Covering

Hats are not appropriate in the office. Head Covers that are required for religious purposes or to honor cultural tradition are allowed.

Conclusion

If clothing fails to meet these standards, as determined by the employee’s supervisor and Human Resources staff, the employee will be asked not to wear the inappropriate item to work again. If the problem persists, the employee may be sent home to change clothes and will receive a verbal warning for the first offense. All other policies about personal time use will apply. Progressive disciplinary action will be applied if dress code violations continue.

Attacking Business Debt

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Attacking Business Debt

 http://www.merchantaccountguide.com/merchant-account-news/images/not-my-debt.jpgIt’s natural to feel a certain measure of despair when your business goes into debt, but if you use it as an opportunity to reevaluate your core assumptions and strategies, then this can also be time to initiate necessary changes and make your business stronger.

Not sure where to begin? Consider some of the following recommendations.

Take your business plan out of mothballs

Intractable debt could be the result of a problematic business plan — one that was either too ambitious, no longer applies, or that simply needs to be adjusted at the edges.
“This is the number one issue for small businesses,” says Jim Harris, President of Seneca Financial Group, an investment bank that helps small, distressed companies with financial restructuring. Harris’ first piece of advice to debt-riddled businesses is “to take a very hard look at your business plan and develop a set of realistic expectations for the coming twelve months.”
Identify superfluous assets
Make a list of your every business asset, including office equipment and supplies. “If you can’t quickly describe what the value of a particular asset is — today — get rid of it,” advises Harris. While this may sound drastic, selling off assets is a great way to increase immediate access to cash.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should discard equipment that you can’t sell. If you have an old computer, for instance, it will be of more value on a desktop than in a dumpster. The point is to find expendable assets that can improve your cash flow.
Don’t hold onto inventory out of stubbornness
While enumerating needless assets, you may find you’re reluctant to sell inventory. Since you’ll likely get less for inventory than what you paid for it, this is understandable.
Nevertheless, Jim Harris urges businesses to “get rid of it and turn it into cash.” At least, he explains, “that cash can be used to pay down debt which is probably accruing interest at a much higher rate than you’re ever going to get out of inventory.”
Naturally, the size of the loss you can absorb depends on how bad your debt is. If you’re going to take a very big hit by selling your inventory, weigh that loss against the cost of the interest on your debt.
Evaluate equipment
If, in the process of taking stock of your assets, you decide to keep a piece of equipment, make sure it’s in good condition. This way, says Barbara Weltman, author of J.K. Lasser’s New Rules for Small Business Taxes, you won’t court further debt if you need to replace equipment that’s vital to your business.
Ultimately, prolonging the life of your office equipment is a good business practice that can help you stave of debt in the future. For instance, you can upgrade your computer’s memory instead of buying a new machine.
If looking to refinance, first check your credit report
Whenever you apply for a loan, your credit report is evaluated and scored by the loan provider. If your creditworthiness is determined to be low, you’re in for an uphill battle so check your credit history first.
Refinance
Businesses in distress should consider the Small Business Administration (SBA) as a refinancing source. According to Jim Harris, their loan rates and terms will very likely be more favorable than what you’ll find at a bank.
As a general rule, however, Jim Harris reminds businesses to borrow money to grow their business, not to pay off debt.
http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/rha/lowres/rhan120l.jpgMaster your cash flow
An important part of conquering debt is getting a very clear idea of your cash inflows and obligations. Simply put, says Jim Harris, if your sources of cash are less than your expenses, you need to cut your expenses back or talk to your creditors about working out an installment plan.

Don’t forget working capital

If you work out a repayment plan with your lenders, don’t forget to factor in your business’ need for working capital. The sooner you bring this up with your lenders, the better.
Treat trade suppliers well
For Jim Harris, this means not financing your business by inordinately delaying payment to suppliers. This is a risky financing method. If you abuse the relationship with your trade suppliers, they may stop doing business with you.

What to consider if you work with a bank on your debts

If you decide to extend an existing loan with a bank, think twice before signing on for increased collateralization, Jim Harris cautions. Securing a loan with this kind of personal guarantee obviously has its risks. Even so, many small businesses are surprised to discover that their personal assets will actually be put on the chopping block if things go badly. In other words, do a gut check and ask yourself just how much faith you have in your business plan.
Another path you can take with your bank lender is to perform a liquidation analysis. A liquidation analysis will indicate how much money your business will need in order to stay open. It also will demonstrate to the bank that your business is worth more open than closed. Once you’ve made your case, you should then be ready to propose a payment plan.

Business Plan

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Do you write a Business Plan only to get funding for your startup?

In such cases is it important to write a Business Plan?
Importance of a Business PlanYes, it very much is! A business plan is prepared not only for getting venture capital or funding. It has lot more to it. It is for the entrepreneur himself and his team more than for any one else.
Advantages of writing a business plan for the startup team are:

It will force you to think at granular level from start to end.

However well you may have planned the project in your mind, the process of writing it in black and white triggers new thoughts and forces you to analyze lot more than you would normally do.

It will let you come up with concrete vision and realistic end goals

With all the new thoughts and analysis that trigger with writing a business plan, more often than not, the vision and end goals will change that will have solid foundation and reasoning [^] of their own. The chances of success improve drastically as the project is now based on deeper analysis and more realistic end goals.

it will provide you with clarity of timelines.

We are living in an age where time is of most essence, especially if you are planning an online venture. How many times has it happened that due to delay in launching a project, someone else has launched a very similar venture? Although, this can happen anytime, writing a business plan will give you clearer idea about effort, resources and timelines required thereby reducing the risk to a large extent.

It will give you better idea about feasibility of project

Writing the business plan is a grueling process that forces you to think clearly about how all aspects of your business will come together. Some of the assumptions that you have at the start may not hold true by the time you finish writing the business plan. This provides better insights on potential pitfalls and thereby the project feasibility.

A Business plan makes you feel more confident

This according to me is very important. When decisions are taken based on concrete analysis and reasoning, it makes you feel completely confident of what you are doing and  it plays a major role in the success of your venture.
Although, the business plan needs to be updated based on changing circumstances, preparing it before starting your project has many advantages that are important for the success of your project.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this. 

 

Local holiday shoppers

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Local holiday shoppers undeterred by rain [San Jose Mercury News, Calif.]


Dec. 21--Weekend rains didn't seem to deter holiday shoppers, according to a cross section of South Bay retailers who reported a steady stream of sales on the last Saturday and Sunday before Christmas.
"I was a little bit worried about the rain," admitted Eric Hager, manager at Palo Alto Sport Shop & Toy World. "It was bad weather, but after a little bit of rain, most people get used to it and go out and shop anyway. Definitely having only five days left before Christmas trumps the rain."
http://www.treehugger.com/big-social-holiday-market-1.JPGSurveys released this week suggest that holiday sales nationwide are slightly improved over last year, although specific figures for the weekend were not yet available. But unscientific spot checks at local malls and shopping districts found that many retailers were pleased with Saturday and Sunday's results.
"It was absolutely insane and lots of fun," said Stuart Kuramoto, manager of the Disney Store at San Jose's Oakridge mall. "I know when I went out to my car there were people lined up waiting to get a space."
Kuramoto was one of several local retailers who said their stores were busier than a year ago. "I think people are more optimistic about things," he said.
A survey released by MasterCard found that nationwide sales of clothing, jewelry and consumer electronics products were higher during the first half of December than in the same period a year earlier, with online sales up 13.5 percent from last year. Sales of electronics were lagging
behind other categories, showing an increase of less than 1 percent, compared with nearly 9 percent for men's and women's apparel.
More people are using smartphones and other mobile devices to shop online, according to PayPal, which reported a 279 percent increase in mobile transactions over the weekend, compared with a year ago.
Local merchants still said they saw many customers in person. "People braved the elements and came in. We had a nice flow of customers on both days," said Janice Benjamin, owner of the Indian Store, which sells Native American jewelry and art in Los Gatos.
Managers at local malls reported that parking lots and food courts were crowded over the weekend.
"It was packed. Parking was a disaster, but once people got inside, things were great," said a sales associate named Sue, who did not want to give her last name, at the Hallmark store inside San Jose's Eastridge mall.
Despite intermittent showers on both days, shoppers also patronized traditional downtown retail districts that don't have the covered parking offered by shopping malls.
http://www.mysouthwestga.com/uploadedImages/wfxl/News/Stories/smallbiz.jpg?w=440&h=330&aspect=nostretch"Each weekend as we get closer to the holidays has been busier and busier," said Robyn Levine, owner of Details Clothing, a boutique on Lincoln Avenue in San Jose's Willow Glen neighborhood.
Even so, she said, "I'm not going to say it's the same as five years ago. It's a new normal, because of the economy."
Hager, the Palo Alto toy store manager, added that this week's sales will be crucial.
"The story of Christmas 2010 hasn't quite been written yet," he said. "The last four days of shopping are important. But it looks like we'll have a decent season."

Corporate fraud set to rise

Corporate fraud set to rise as recession sets in

http://citiluxe.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/corporate-fraud.jpgFraud is set to rise over the next two years as the economic climate worsens, accounting firm KPMG has warned.

The firm’s “Fraud Barometer” found that 239 cases of serious fraud, totaling £1.1bn, came to court in the UK last year. This is the second highest level recorded since the barometer began 21 years ago, only eclipsed in 1995 following the recession of the early 1990s.

The financial services saw the highest volume of fraudulent activity last year with 63 cases, totaling £388m. In comparison there were only 36 cases in 2007 which, at £37m, signals a ten-fold increase in one year. As the recession bites the rise is predicted to continue, with both an increase in fraudulent activity and more fraud coming to light.

Fraud investigation partner at KPMG Forensic, Hitesh Patel, said: “These figures are bad enough in themselves, but I fear the trend for the next couple of years will be even worse. As the global economic downturn takes hold and organisations look ever more closely at their operations it is very likely that more fraud will come to light so that the real impact of the credit crunch on fraud is yet to be fully felt. Already though, the signs are there - globally in the last twelve months alone at least three alleged multi-billion pound frauds have been uncovered. ”

As vast numbers of companies head for insolvency managers, who are likely to find themselves under huge pressure, may be tempted to “massage” figures. Mr Patel explained that the current economic situation “leads ordinarily honest people to commit fraud out of desperation”. This may go some way towards explaining why the value of fraud for which managers, employees and customers were prosecuted in 2008 was three-times that of the previous year.

And KPMG warns that the actual figures may be much higher then their report indicates. Fraud cases due to come to court and evidence of fraudulent activity yet to emerge will inevitably plump up the current figures. It anticipates that the sorts of large fraud witnessed in the 1990s recession, such as pyramid schemes, will be uncovered during the current recession. Much of the fraud which will make up the final figure is, according to KPMG, yet to be committed.
 

Business Crime

 Business Crime

British Chamber of Commerce research published in April 2004 found that crime costs each UK business more than £8,000 per year.                                                                                                                                       
Crime against businesses affects not only the employer and employees who depend on the business for their livelihood, but also the consumer in terms of the increased costs that are inevitably passed on as a result of crime. In addition, crime against business can have damaging consequences for local communities and disadvantaged areas in particular, by acting as a barrier to business growth.                                            
The local picture                                     
Information on business crime in the city is available here.                                            
What we’re doing                                        
Work in Brighton & Hove to tackle business crime involves a range of partners across the city:                                                                                                                                          
  • The police work in partnership with the Brighton & Hove Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP). Members of the BCRP are able to share information on and monitor known offenders
  • The BCRP operate a 'yellow card scheme' in response to anti-social behaviour in the vicinity of business premises who are part of the NightSafe scheme and if necessary exclude these individuals from all BCRP premises on a "barred from one barred from all" principle. Two yellow cards lead to an exclusion notice. 
  • The BCRP provides photographs of known and excluded offenders and this information used in conjunction with a radio network.  
  • The police carry out intelligence-led operations to bring offenders to justice  
  • Police Crime Prevention Officers available to help businesses improve their security 
A few examples of other partnership initiatives being run are available in the following table:                                                                                                      
Business Crime Reduction Initiatives             
Identified Problem Initiative       Details      
The need to be able to send out crime warnings and appeals for information to a wide range of businesses Use of Brighton & Hove business directory
Directory holds 2,500 local businesses operating in the city                                                                                                 
Use to send crime warning and appeals for information to specific businesses, eg. antique dealers, builders merchants                                                                                                
Local businesses not knowing how secure their business premises Business security quiz combined with police security visit to businesses Developed and placed on Sussex Police website http://www.sussex.police.uk/ Advertised to thousands of local businesses                                                                                               
Offer of free security survey by crime prevention officers                                                                                               
Local businesses not displaying any crime prevention signage Free Business signage offer Campaign offering a variety of security of signage ran to local business. Over 250 businesses took up offer. ‘CCTV in operation’, ‘No money left overnight’ ‘Staff only beyond this point’ etc
                            
Business crime prevention                                          
Brighton & Hove Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) works with businesses, Sussex Police, Brighton & Hove City Council, the Partnership Community Safety Team and other city centre agencies and organisations to reduce crime against businesses.  For more information, visit the BCRP website.                                         
Reporting and getting assistance                                                                       
What should you do if your business is affected by crime?                                  
http://cms.strategiclegaladvisor.rroom.net/uploads/images/website/Business%20crime%20cropped.JPGBusinesses can fall victim to a wide variety of crimes including fraud, robbery, criminal damage, shoplifting and theft by employees. Sussex Police have specialist officers that can help you. Contact Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999. In an emergency always dial 999.                                                                                                                                          
Contrary to popular perception, crime against business is not a victimless crime                         
It affects not only the employer and employees who depend on the business for their livelihood, but also the consumer in terms of the increased costs that are inevitably passed on as a result of crime.                         
Crime against business can also have damaging consequences for local communities, and disadvantaged areas in particular, by acting as a barrier to business growth.                         
Reducing the risk of crimes against your business will help to support its long-term success. Security and crime prevention should be integral to any business plan, not just a reaction after the event.
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