PDCA Online News & Articles - Articles - Business Management

E-Marketing

no@spam.com (From DECO Magazine) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:30:00 CDT

From man’s earliest drawings of deer hunts on cave walls, we have told stories to enlarge our circle of friends, to tell others “I exist.” Some experts see the internet as carrying on the tradition of oral communication – or, as that sixties song described it, the grapevine. Lance Strate, a Fordham University communications professor points out, “we evolved with speech, we didn’t evolve with writing.”

Construction Industry Guidelines: Help Make a Project Run Smoothly

no@spam.com (From DECO Magazine) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:00:00 CDT

One of the best tools construction companies have at their disposal uses bytes, not bits. Best of all, this tool is free and available on the Internet for viewing or download (www. constructionguidelines.org). “Guidelines for a Successful Construction Project” is a comprehensive digital collection of guidelines and forms that provide contractors with critical insights on safety, cooperation and coordination among different parties at all stages of construction.

Can Pay-Per-Click Marketing Help Grow my Business in 2008?

no@spam.com (From DECO Magazine) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:00:00 CDT

Many PDCA-members have found a way to significantly increase the amount of business they get from the Web: Pay-Per-Click marketing. In fact, for some, Pay-Per-Click marketing (or PPC) is a key to staying competitive in today’s marketplace.

Are You Searching For Excellence?

no@spam.com (From DECO Magazine) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:30:00 CDT

When asked to write an article on excellence for this publication, I immediately thought of Tom Peters’ best selling work of 1982 “In Search of Excellence.” It’s hard for me to believe it’s been 25 years since my dad presented this book to me, an aspiring young sales rep, telling me, “You need to read this...this guy Peters really gets it!” Well, it’s 2007, and while many of us continue to strive for excellence, it seems few actually achieve it. Or do we?

Planning For a Changing Economy

no@spam.com (From DECO Magazine) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:30:00 CDT

All indicators are pointing to a slowing economy. Business owners need to see these reports as a leading indicator of where their business may be heading.

Marketing: The Spice For Success

no@spam.com (From DECO Magazine) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:00:00 CDT

Bruce Watson and Tom Reber established Jalapeno Paint Werx four years ago in a Chicago suburb, after each had run their own contracting businesses for a combination of more than 20 years. They figured they could be more successful together than separate. So far, they are right.

Marketing Is Not for Dummies

no@spam.com (From DECO Magazine) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:30:00 CDT

You are an accomplished professional painter. You run your business, pay your bills on time, and satisfy your customers. So why does the “M” word—marketing—make you so commitment-phobic?

Market Diversification as a Strategy for Success

no@spam.com (From DECO Magazine) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:00:00 CDT

AS a young girl, I remember waking up at a friend’s slumber party, and her mom announcing that she was taking us to McDonald’s for breakfast. What a novel idea! The year was 1977, and McDonald’s had just launched their full breakfast menu in the United States. Ten years later, one-fourth of all breakfasts were eaten at McDonald’s.

How to Know if You Have an Effective Sales Process

no@spam.com (From DECO Magazine) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:30:00 CDT

If your organization is on track to meet your sales plan, your new business pipeline is full of qualified prospects, and you aren’t waiting on answers to bids and proposals… then you don’t need to read any further. However, if your business situation is less optimistic, it’s probably time to examine your sales process.

Growing In A Niche

no@spam.com (From DECO Magazine) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:00:00 CDT

Why do eucalypts survive when lesser trees turn up their leaves and die? One secret of their success is the ability to push their roots into any nook or cranny— any niche in the rock—and tap into nutrients that other trees fail to find. Painting contractors can learn a lot from eucalypt trees. The business environment that many painting contractors operate in can change like the weather and often is as unforgiving as the Australian sun. Even so, your business can thrive even in the toughest of times if you find a niche market, sink down your roots, and tap into customers that less astute contractors have failed to connect with.