Posts Tagged ‘client’
Chicago Wedding and Airport Limousine Service
Limo or limousine is one of the luxurious and elegant cars that have the expensive price. It will difficult for people who have limited budget to buy the car. Therefore, people can find the limo rental if they want to use the limo for their special occasion. It is not difficult to find the limo rental and people can easily shop around on the internet to find it. However, it is important to make a comparison about the rental charge because each of the rentals will offer the different charge. If you want to save more of your money, it is better for you to visit Americancoachlimousine.com. The website will be the best limo rental on the USA and guarantee offer the best service. You do not need to worry about limo that the website offers because the entire limo is in perfect condition.
The website has a lot of branch in the USA that is easy to reach. If you have the wedding ceremony in Chicago, you can contact the website to get Chicago wedding limousine service. You will get the best wedding moment that you will never forget and you can enjoy the wedding party with the best transportation. The website also offers the service for people who need to get the service for their guest. You can have the Chicago airport limousine service if you need to pick up your friend or important clients at the Chicago airport. The website will give the best service so that it guarantees tat your client will satisfy with your service. If you live at Naperville and want to get the limo service, you can easily contact Limo service Naperville.
You can contact the website for 24 hours every day to get the affordable price and the website also able to provide the driver if you need.
Ghostwriting: Your Questions Answered
Many people feel they have a story to tell or an experience to share. But time is precious and not everyone can make the words sing on the page. But there are people who can make the whole experience hassle-free. A ghostwriter will do all the work while you get all the credit. Some common questions about the ghostwriting process are answered below.
What does a ghostwriter do?
A ghostwriter edits, writes, collaborates, and researches on behalf of someone else who becomes their client. Many biographies of celebrities and television personalities have been ghostwritten.
Why do I need one?
Not everyone knows how to or has the time to turn an idea into a book. A ghostwriter is a professional who has the time to turn your thoughts into a polished manuscript.
How does ghostwriting work?
You give the ghostwriter your ideas; s/he tells your story. Most people provide notes, digital recordings or audio tapes. Some may even have drafts of chapters or the whole book and ideas about characters and dialogue. The more information and material you provide, the closer the final product will be to your original idea. The ghostwriter turns your idea into something that people will enjoy reading.
Will the ghostwriter steal my idea?
No, that wouldn’t be professional. Any ghostwriter who did that would soon be out of a job. A reputable ghostwriter will usually be happy to sign a non-disclosure or confidentiality agreement.
Who gets the credit for my finished book?
It’s your idea, so you take the credit. Many ghostwriters work behind the scenes. Of course, in some instances, you may want to share the credit – that’s why many biographies are credited like this: Major Celebrity with Ghostwriter or Major Celebrity as told to Ghostwriter. But you call the shots and can opt to take all the credit.
How much does ghostwriting cost?
Each job is unique and that makes it hard to give more than general guidelines. The length of time the project is likely to take and the amount of research the ghostwriter will be required to do will affect the final cost. Many ghostwriters will charge a small up front fee, followed by payments at each stage of completed work. Unless you’re a major celebrity with an iron-clad publishing contract already signed and sealed, a ghostwriter is unlikely to work for nothing.
What does a ghostwriter’s fee cover?
It covers writing, research and any communication, but not usually travel or accommodation.
How long will it take to ghostwrite my material?
That depends on the material. Anywhere from 2 to 6 months is average depending on the type of book and how much work you’ve already put in. A short article may only take hours while a longer research report may take a year. You’ll be able to discuss this once you’ve hired a ghostwriter.
What about publication?
Some ghostwriters help with publication as well, by sending query letters and so on. This will probably cost you extra. Other ghostwriters see the writing as their job and leave you to find your own publisher. Consider which option you prefer before signing the contract.
How do I know the ghostwriter is experienced?
Ghostwriters generally have to keep clients’ names confidential, but you can look at other examples of their writing. If you enjoy reading these, then chances are that others will enjoy reading your material too.
See you in print!
Sharon Hurley Hall is a freelance writer, ghostwriter and editor. Sharon worked in publishing for 18 years, writing articles and editing and designing books and magazines. She has also lectured on journalism. For more information or to contact Sharon, visit http://www.doublehdesign.com/
Competing With The Big Dogs
You run a small consultancy. You’re well qualified, experienced and dedicated. Yet you can’t get a meeting with the corporate decision-maker.
Your proposal was a work of art. You provided exactly what the client needed, plus a ton of added value. Yet the business went to a well-known firm offering a standard approach at twice the price.
You did a great job for the client, during which a whole lot of other needs surfaced. All are within your expertise, but you weren’t even asked to submit a proposal.
Any of these situations familiar to you? If so, what you’ve encountered is the power of a well-known brand name over rational choices based on factors like expertise, ability or value.
How Corporates Choose
When you sell to established businesses, especially large ones, you start off believing they’ll be more rational than the guy around the corner. You have what they want, you give great service and your price is highly competitive. At least they’ll listen to you.
Welcome to the real world of small consultancies. The Big Dogs mostly take emotional decisions based on fear and desire. Their “minders” — the people who control access to them — know this very well. That’s why they won’t let you through to talk to the boss.
What do these people fear? Looking foolish. What do they desire? Prestige. What do they dislike most? Uncertainty.
See It From Their Point of View
They’ll talk to the person from the big consulting group — even if he or she is far less qualified or competent than you are — because doing so meets all the requirements.
Working with a big consulting group seems safe. They have a reputation. Their powerful brand name implies an unwritten assurance of success. And if it does go wrong, they’ll take the blame, not the buyer. As they say, “Who ever got fired for buying IBM?”
They also convey prestige. The Big Dogs talk to each other and drop names into the conversation to shine in one another’s eyes. Will your name produce admiration — or a superior smile and “Who on earth are they?”
Action You CAN Take
You aren’t going to beat the big consultancies on ground favorable to them, so don’t bother trying. But they can be beaten, so long as you go where they’re weakest. And you always remember to see yourself from the buyer’s perspective.
Here are some possibilities:
1. Narrow your focus. The big guys of the profession do everything. Become known for doing just one thing to an exceptional level. Be the “go to” expert. Experts are often individuals. That’s what many of them are academics. And corporate Big Dogs seek them out because working with them also supplies prestige and removes fear. If your focus is really narrow, you’ll have zero competition. And you don’t have to be an expert to write the book. Writing it is how you become an expert. All you need at the start is determination and basic research skills.
2. Stress your credentials. Add to them all the time. Write THE book on your narrow focus or THE articles. You don’t need to be an expert to write the book. Doing it will make you the expert.
3. Seek publicity. Instead of trying to force your way into the executive suite, make them come to you. If you’re the person who writes those witty pieces in the local rag on that vital topic to them, they’ll rush to call you up.
4. Always focus on what’s in it for them. Provide free material. Produce a newsletter that ISN’T full of selling, but contains truly useful data.
Most small consultancies are afraid of giving away what they can see is valuable to clients. Here’s a secret. The more you give away, the more people will believe you have yet more they don’t know about yet. The seekers for free consulting aren’t the Big Dogs — who are always willing to pay for what’s useful to them, if only to stop you selling it to someone else — but morons at middle management level who want to pass it off as their own ideas.
Be Careful Where You Focus
Finally, think hard about what you choose as your consulting area. If you set out to provide a generic service in an area of consulting just about everyone says they can do, you’re laying yourself wide open to being run over by the big guys.
Where the competition is endless, buying from a well-known name seems a good way to avoid being taken in by some snake-oil salesman.
But everyone knows the big consultancies are jacks of all trades. If they want a real expert in a vital area, that isn’t where they look.
That’s your chance.
Adrian W. Savage writes for people who want help with the daily dilemmas they face at work. He has contributed more than 25 articles to leading British and American publications and has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and The Chicago Tribune.
Visit his blog on the ups and downs of business life.
The Magic of Hearing
I’m working on a coach training certification, and one of the “proficiencies” I’m expected to have mastered is “engages in provocative conversations.” Now, that really got me thinking. What’s a provocative conversation?
Well, the word “provocative” means that the conversation provokes something-hopefully a reaction from the client which helps take them to another level. The ideal response to the provocation is for the client to realize something they didn’t know or find a solution they didn’t have before the call.
When I think about what is required to reach that provocation, I see that the first thing is not just that I’m listening-I’m always listening. The first thing is that I’m HEARING what the client has to say. Because if I’m listening with one ear but thinking about my response with the other ear, so to speak, I’m not hearing, and if I’m not hearing, I’m not responding to my client, I’m reacting.
You can greatly increase the value of your conversations with clients, friends, family and probably even your dog by truly hearing what they’re saying-”I need your help with this. I’m not doing very well today. I’m hungry.”-that last being the dog.
Your coaching assignment for this week is to think very deeply about how you can hear more and just listen less-and then implement those thoughts into your daily life starting tomorrow. Think tonight, hear in the morning.
If you have any questions or comments about the magic of hearing, please feel free to drop me a line at mailto:angie@discoveringtruenorth.com. I always want to talk to people who’ve read my articles and discuss what you’ve gotten from my writing.
About The Author
Angie Dixon helps small business owners get their acts together. She is a personal development coach specializing in helping people integrate their home and work lives so they feel less stretched and more balanced. Get her FREE EBOOK on balance at http://www.discoveringtruenorth.com. For questions or to discover how coaching can change your life, contact Angie at mailto:angie@discoveringtruenorth.com.
You are free to use this article in ezines, web sites and print publications. If you do use it, please send a quick email to mailto:angie@discoveringtruenorth.com. Thank you.
Grab Your Share of Untold Amounts of Advertising Dollars
If you advertise in any way, the following information could show you how to find and utilize untold advertising dollars you may not be aware of.
In the mid 80’s I was an account executive for a radio station located in Santa Rosa, California. During that time I became very familiar with what is referred to as co-op advertising.
Co-op advertising is a great source of advertising dollars. And there is so much of it available to people, yet most people know very little, if anything, about co-op dollars.
Interestingly, I was one of the only reps at the station who made sure my clients knew about this benefit. The reason was simple, there was more work involved in getting my clients set up, and yet, there was financial gain for both my client and myself by taking time to help them stretch their marketing dollars.
Co-opting is where you put in money for advertising and the manufacturer of a product you sell also puts in money. Often it is as much as 50% of the campaign. It is a great way to stretch your advertising campaign and to beef up your campaign.
Unfortunately, even though the money is available if conditions are right, many people either aren’t aware of this or if they are they think it’s too much work to meet the criteria. Granted, in some cases it is, but often utilizing co-op money is a great way to stretch your marketing budget.
There are many co-op-advertising opportunities available if you plan to do advertising on the Internet. Not all are good investments though. Check opportunities out very carefully before making a final commitment.
Using co-op dollars is an excellent way to build a stronger relationship with your retail suppliers and to generate a lot more traffic in your store or on to your web site. If the overflow of business is handled correctly you will increase your sales and profits.
The great thing about using co-op dollars when you are dealing with standard media is that your account rep can handle the paperwork for you. Many retailers hesitate using the “hidden” dollars due to feeling intimidated by the paperwork, the unknown.
Not only can the rep help you with the paperwork, they can also help you to build the campaign. However, before you trust them completely, find out what their experience is, what successful campaigns they have spearheaded and get some references. Take the time to do some research upfront to save money over the long run.
The reality is, if they are professionals in the truest sense of the word, they will be more than willing to take much of the paperwork burden off of you by handling it. After all, the more value an account rep creates for their clients the greater chance for an ongoing business.
Co-op dollars are not limited to retail businesses. Often, there are hidden dollars for non-profits. There are city and state funds that are set aside to help various organizations increase their visibility and reach.
One nice thing about using co-op dollars from a large manufacturer is that brand names do attract customers to your business-that’s why you offer them. Advertising specific well known brands will increase your foot traffic. Harley Davidson has an amazing co-op program they offer to their retailers. It is a primary reason they have done so well. They encourage advertising based on specific guidelines.
It is to the advantage of an advertiser to utilize these dollars. Manufacturers in virtually every industry want to help with advertising costs. They are very aware that when you correctly advertise their brand name product you will probably sell more of it, thus increasing your orders.
The disadvantage of co-op advertising can be the restrictions set by the manufacturer. Often, they have such rigid guidelines about how to design the ad that you may lose all control of creative expression. For example, their logo may have to be positioned in an exact location in order for them to co-op the campaign.
If you are working with someone who claims to be an expert at advertising and they know nothing about co-op dollars they are not the expert they claim to be. Be aware.
Areas that you need to be educated on are program terms and reimbursement schedules. In some cases it can take months to receive reimbursement for a co-op campaign. In other cases, the company you are cooping with will send the money directly to the media source. Be sure to check this information out in order not to run into a cash flow problem.
Advantages of co-op advertising
- Extra money to advertise
- Account executive can do the paperwork
- More frequency
Disadvantages of co-op advertising
- Restrictions by manufacturer
- No guarantee it will work
- Limited creativity in ad copy
Before making a final decision, research your options on co-op advertising. You may be pleasantly surprised with what you discover.
Copyright: © 2004 by Kathleen Gage
Publishing Guidelines: You may publish my article in your newsletter, on your web site, or in your print publication provided you include the resource box at the end. Notification would be appreciated but is not required.
About The Author
Kathleen Gage is a business advisor, keynote speaker and trainer who helps others gain marketing dominance and visibility within their market. Get Gage’s FR*EE report “Learn How One Salt Lake City Based Business Consultant Made Over 100k from One Idea” by visiting www.kathleengage.com.
