วันจันทร์ที่ 18 มกราคม พ.ศ. 2553

Web Conferencing Services - Types

You may already have recognized the need for web conferencing within your organization. You have heard all about the many benefits and have decided it is the way forward for your company. Now all you have to do is decide which type of web conferencing would best suit your company's needs.

A quick investigation into the types of web conferencing available will result in a myriad of information. For the uninitiated, unraveling what is available can be confusing and time-consuming.

Below you will find a quick guide to the types of web conferencing currently out there. Each organization will have its own individual requirements and it is important to be clear about what you hope to gain from web conferencing. For example, is it a fully interactive virtual meeting place that your organization needs, or do you require a document sharing system that will allow employees in different geographical locations to work together on projects? Once you understand how you want web conferencing to work for you, analyzing the types of web conferencing and how they could work for your organization will become much easier.

Web Meeting
With growths in international business and a growing trend towards home working, the need for a virtual meeting place is increasing. A web meeting is just what it says - a meeting that takes place over the Internet. This facility has the capabilities to hold real-time conversations and share documents. Web meetings can be fully interactive, allowing participants to converse in real time and for information to be exchanged between delegates.

Web meeting set-ups vary in terms of sophistication and a very rudimentary system can be set up using just a digital camera and a broadband connection.

The Webcast
As the name would suggest, a webcast is a type of broadcast similar in nature to a television broadcast except, of course, a webcast takes place over the Internet. The broadcasting nature of this facility means that there is little opportunity for the presenter and delegates to interact with each other and therefore its function is primarily as a presenting tool. The other main feature of a webcast is that it can be broadcast simultaneously to hundreds of recipients.

If your requirement is for a presenting tool that also offers the interactive features of a web meeting, then you should consider a webinar.

The Webinar
As the name suggests, the webinar is a facility that allows you to conduct a seminar over the web. Allowing a greater level of interaction than the webcast, a webinar enables the presenter to conduct question and answer-type sessions with delegates. However, you should remember that a webinar does not afford the same degree of interaction as a web meeting.

Other Uses For Web Conferencing

Online Presenting
Web conferencing can also be used for conduction online presentations. Online presenting is ideal for sales pitches, performance reporting or providing training for other members of your organization. Add on features include slide shows, web based conversing and audio/video streaming.

Online Collaboration
This is by far the most commonly used type of web conferencing and is the ideal solution for organizations who have multi-location sites yet require collaboration between their employees on projects and documents. Online collaboration has file sharing capabilities that updates changes and alterations to documents in real-time to avoid errors.


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วันเสาร์ที่ 16 มกราคม พ.ศ. 2553

Finding Your Niche: What do you want to be known for?

In my experience, there are two kinds of small business owners: one that knows whom their market niche is and utilize it, and another who tends to waiver or not want to set in stone their target market. With the latter group, I always probe for more information: Why dont you want to choose a specific target for your product/service? Time and time again, the response is the same I dont want to limit my profits by only catering to a few.

In all reality, youre not limiting any profits at all! When playing horseshoes, you have one horseshoe with one stake. Try playing horseshoes with 5 stakes and one LARGE horseshoe how successful do you think youll be then? My guess is not very. The same is true with marketing: the more stakes youre trying to ring the more difficult it is to accomplish that goal. By clarifying which stake youre going after, your success rate is going to be that much higher; and because youre targeting a specific group of people you can speak to them using their own words and make yourself an expert in their field!

Expertise = more business!

I know that personally, I would much rather do business with someone who caters directly to my needs. There are a million widgets out there; why would I buy a large red widget when I need a small green one? If Im aware of the small green ones, I would definitely buy one! The same goes for your product/service. The more you know about your market, the more people of that market are going to want to buy from you!

Determining your Niche

Where do I find my target market?

Take a good look at your services. What are your three favorite things in the array of services you sell, the ones that you enjoy most? List them on paper, define them clearly, and there you will find your starting point.


Who can use these services?

You need to figure out who can use ALL of these services. Not just one, but all three of the services you chose. No easy route here: answering small business owners just doesnt count (The Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov) estimated there were 23.7 million small businesses in 2003). There may very well be more than one group of people who can use your services; but you must approach these groups one at a time for the most success out of your marketing dollar. Once you find that specific group, narrow it down even further. For example, for many years I worked exclusively with bankruptcy attorneys, and was considered an expert (see that word again) in assisting with bankruptcies. My services were actively sought out (once the word was out about who I am and what I did) without me having to market extensively. Why? Because I was the one to go to regarding bankruptcy assistance. I even trained quite a few personnel in businesses I just didnt have time to assist. These people needed my services, and they needed my unique characteristics.

Who exactly are you speaking to?

You must do some research (yes, the dreaded r word) to figure out the demographics/psychographics of your ideal client. Who are they? Where do they live? How much money do they make annually? Where do they shop? What do they do in their spare time? Where do they congregate? The list goes on and on. You need to know as much about the specific types of people to whom youre marketing. An easy and cost-effective method on the internet is finding discussion groups directed at those people, and listening very carefully. Knowing the exact demographics just isnt enough you must get into their heads and find out what makes them tick. When you know what makes them tick, you know how to speak to them; therefore, making it a lot easier to position yourself as an expert.

Market research doesnt have to be costly or difficult; use your imagination to find where your ideal client congregates and the websites/books they visit/read, and youll get a good starting point. Seek out people individually, and probe their needs. They will tell you what you want to hear regarding this, and more often then not, they will also direct you to places to find more information. Get an insider in the industry, and use them to their fullest potential.

What makes you different?

Now is the time to take a look at your competition for this niche. What services are you offering that differ from the services of your competition? What characteristics are they looking for in you? Do you need to be professional, but upbeat and personal? Do they need someone who specializes in their business with a focus in marketing or project management? This is the time to make yourself shine! You need to stand out from the competition, and add your own personal flare. You need to know what makes you different and highlight it every chance you get! This not only helps define your market, but this is another way your customer will actively seek you when they are in need.

Marking your Territory

Once youve figured out this vital information about your ideal client, you can begin actively marketing and advertising your services. You will know to whom you are speaking, so make sure that you are always speaking to them! This is the time for you to announce to your market who you are and what you do! Add it in any signature line you can make, in any direct or email marketing pieces, brochures, articles, letters, everywhere you can! Make sure your networking groups know who you are targeting: they will be another tool to use to your advantage. Be the expert you are: show it to all. Niche marketing is not only a powerful tool, but a very BIG rule in my book. Combined with your branding techniques, this will give your marketing the most bang for your buck. And dont worry: You can always choose a new niche!


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วันเสาร์ที่ 2 มกราคม พ.ศ. 2553

Real Estate, How Much Should I Pay For This House?

We probably answer this question for someone a couple times every week. The problem is that they dont have a good formula for determining the most they can pay and still make a profit so theyre scared to make any offer. Heres what we use for single family homes:

The (MAO) Maximum Allowable Offer is calculated by first determining what the house will be worth after renovation - the ARV (After Repaired Value); less the rehab dollars required; less the Buy/Sell/Hold (B/S/H) costs; less profit margins.

MAO = ARV Rehab B/S/H Profit

So lets break that down a little further. To determine the ARV, study comparable sales data. Comparable sales are those properties which sold in the last 6 months to 1 year, and within to 1 mile from the subject house. But other factors must be considered as well. The more characteristics between the properties that are similar, the more valid the data. Make sure that the house itself is similar in square footage, bedrooms and baths, age, style, and architecture. Dont worry about condition except as it will affect the amount of rehab dollars required. Next, look at the neighborhood and the individual street. Do they look the same? Or is the comparable property on a beautiful street while the subject property is on a street riddled with empty littered lots and boarded up houses? The point is to view the potential investment as your end homeowner occupant will. If they could buy your completed investment on the bad street, or a house on the beautiful street either for $150,000 which would they choose? The other house of course. Which means your house is not worth the same it must sell for less to attract a buyer.

Rehab dollars differ from renovator to renovator depending whether they do the work themselves, or use cheap subs, or use an expensive general contractor. The scope of the work should be the same it is whatever is required to make the investment look like the comparable houses (unless the plan is to sell well under market value). We do not attempt to obtain all of the various contractor bids when we are making offers. All the real deals would be sold before wed ever have an offer together! Instead weve developed ranges of rehab dollars based on the overall condition of the home. Is it an exact science? No, but neither are the bids there will always be something missed. So why not work with a guide that is probably 90% accurate and allows for quick offers?

Buy/Sell/Hold costs include expenses such as appraisals, attorney fees, title search & title insurance, loan origination fees, debt service, utilities, insurance, taxes, real estate commissions, and closing fees paid on behalf of the end buyer. Again, these costs vary depending on each investors individual situation. In the Atlanta area, 15% of the ARV seems to be a good average allocation for B/S/H costs. If you are the renovator, calculate your specific B/S/H costs, then utilize that percentage for future offers.

Profit margins are the fun part of the equation. How much do you want to make? If youre wholesaling the property, you also want to consider how much you should leave in the deal for the investor buyer to make the deal attractive.

Thats it. Thats how you calculate the most youll pay for a property. But thats not what you SHOULD pay. It is the maximum youll pay. It is the deal-breaker. You will not pay one penny over the MAO. Your negotiations should lead you as far below the MAO as possible. The difference in amounts is additional profit in your pocket. What you SHOULD pay is the minimum price below the MAO that the seller will accept.

We call this the MIN-O.

Have a rich week,

Lou


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