tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30303696625511065642024-03-19T00:38:56.901-07:00Diverse Business Blog"Where Preparation Meets Opportunity"diversebusinesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924558219662814798noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-78008470760393759362012-06-13T21:07:00.001-07:002012-06-13T21:07:41.929-07:00"Dream Big, Hire the Best" Keynote at the National Minority Supplier Dev...<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/imfVLdDXNOg?fs=1" width="459"></iframe><br />
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See www.PamPerryPRCoach.com too and join www.ChocolatePagesNetwork.com!Pam Perry, PR Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612573591768823922noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-57360443244984888912012-05-03T11:56:00.001-07:002012-05-03T11:59:38.135-07:00Josh Linkner speaking on Creativity in Detroit at MMPC2012<object height="315" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RVPhdAg_asg?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0">
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Josh Linkner is <i>The New York Times</i> Bestselling author of <i>Disciplined Dreaming: A Proven System to Drive Breakthrough Creativity</i>, named one of the top 10 business books of 2011. Josh is the CEO and Managing Partner of Detroit Venture Partners. Together with business partners <b>Earvin “Magic” Johnson and NBA team owner Dan Gilbert, Josh is actively rebuilding urban areas through technology and entrepreneurship. </b> Josh is also Adjunct Professor of Applied Creativity at the University of Michigan.<br />
<br />
<b>Josh is the Founder, Chairman and former CEO of ePrize, the largest interactive promotion agency in the world providing digital marketing services for 74 of the top 100 brands</b>.<br />
<br />
Prior to ePrize, Josh was the founder and CEO of three other successful technology companies. He has been honored as the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is a President Barack Obama Champion of Change award recipient. Josh is a regular columnist for <i>Fast Company</i> and <i>Inc. Magazine</i>, and his work has been featured in <i>The Wall Street Journal</i>, <i>Forbes</i>, <i>USA Today</i>, and <i>The New York Times</i>.<br />
<br />
Josh is also a Berklee-trained professional jazz guitarist performing regularly in jazz clubs throughout the United States.<br />
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<b>Most importantly, Josh is on a mission to make the world more creative.</b><br />
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</div>Pam Perry, PR Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612573591768823922noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-43131705372657877212012-05-03T07:03:00.001-07:002012-05-03T07:03:04.468-07:00Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council Provides Access to $17 Billion in Contracts and Job Growth at the 31st Annual Michigan Minority Procurement Conference and Opportunity Fair- May 2 - 3 conference will feature 325 exhibitors, up 45 percent within 2 years <br />
- Conference draws more than 1,500 attendees from a wide variety of industries <br />
- Professional development sessions available to corporations and minority businesses to help them reach their full potential<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Louis Green, President, CEO of the MMSDC</i></td></tr>
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<span class="xn-location">DETROIT, Mich.</span>, <span class="xn-chron">May 2, 2012</span>
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Michigan Minority Supplier Development
Council (MMSDC) will host its 31st Annual Michigan Minority Procurement
Conference and Opportunity Fair, the largest procurement opportunity
fair of its kind, at <span class="xn-location">Detroit</span>'s Cobo Center on <span class="xn-chron">May 2 - 3</span>.<br />
<br />
<b>The
conference's theme is "Striving for Excellence, Delivering Value." The
event will offer corporate buyers the opportunity to make connections
with the fastest growing segment of the economy. Minority suppliers can
reconnect with customers and potential customers; learn from
professional development experts, and showcase their products and
services. There is a tremendous business opportunity as buyers from
hundreds of major corporations will attend to seek out certified
Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) with whom to do business</b>.<br /><br />"We are proud that this event has directly generated more than <span class="xn-money">$1.2 billion</span> in business for our members in the past six years," said <b><span class="xn-person">Louis Green</span>,
President and CEO of the MMSDC. </b> "The 50 percent growth in exhibitors
that we have experienced this year is a testament to the value that our
members feel this conference brings to their bottom line." <br /><br />The
MMSDC is one of 37 regional councils affiliated with the National
Minority Supplier Development Council. MMSDC is a privately funded,
non-profit, corporate services organization that has provided unique
procurement opportunities to corporate members and certified MBEs for
over 30 years. MMSDC provides ongoing growth opportunities, financial
support, training and education for its membership. The organization is
nationally recognized for its work with major corporations to promote
minority business development and growth. <br />
<br />
The conference, sponsored by automotive supplier Takata, will feature 325 exhibitor booths. On <span class="xn-chron">May 2</span>,
the MMPC Professional Development University will offer 36 experts with
a full day of seminars designed to develop and grow participating
businesses. Speakers will include representatives from Chrysler,
General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Google, and DTE. The Opportunity
Fair, on <span class="xn-chron">May 3</span> is open to business owners for the nominal fee of <span class="xn-money">$50</span>. <br />
<br />
<b>About MMSDC </b><br />Founded in <span class="xn-location">Detroit</span>
in 1977, the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (formerly
known as the Michigan Minority Business Development Council) has more
than 1,200 certified minority businesses and over 300 corporate members
working to further its mission to certify minority businesses; provide
access to procurement opportunities; and develop capacity for minority
business development. MMSDC is a 501(c) (3) organization. Proceeds
from this event support MMSDC programs and services and are tax
deductible.<br />
The
MMSDC is nationally recognized for its work with major corporations to
promote minority business development and growth. MMSDC also operates
one the Detroit MBDA Business Center, funded by the U.S. Department of
Commerce. The Detroit MBDA center provides rapid growth-potential
minority businesses the "keys to entrepreneurial success" through access
to markets, capital and strategic consulting. Visit the MMSDC's web
site to learn more about these programs and services at <a href="http://www.minoritysupplier.org/" target="_blank">www.minoritysupplier.org</a>.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Follow MMSDC news and video on: </b>
<br />
MMSDC blog: <a href="http://www.diversebusiness.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://www.diversebusiness.blogspot.com/ </a><br />Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/diversebusiness" target="_blank">http://twitter.com/#!/diversebusiness</a> <br />FaceBook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/diversebusiness" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/diversebusiness</a> <br />Website: <a href="http://www.minoritysupplier.org/" target="_blank">www.minoritysupplier.org</a>Pam Perry, PR Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612573591768823922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-85648184389248113032012-03-08T14:06:00.001-08:002012-03-08T14:06:23.280-08:00So, you're in business BUT you're an Introvert. Now WHAT?<object width="526" height="374">
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Hear our podcasts: <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/diversebusiness">Diverse Business Show
</a>Pam Perry, PR Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612573591768823922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-78602505092555958862012-03-05T16:35:00.000-08:002012-03-05T16:36:04.026-08:00Crowfunding: How to get FREE money for your Projects<object height="315" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sHVBVAGUwCg?version=3&hl=en_US">
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<a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1481095124/kim-jordan-uncommon"><br /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1481095124/kim-jordan-uncommon">Crowdfunding </a>pulls together a group of people or community with the same vision towards a cause to raise fund for a project.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.clovis-town.com/files/2011/11/kickstarter_300x283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.clovis-town.com/files/2011/11/kickstarter_300x283.jpg" /></a>For example, you are starting a non-profit organization that aims to help stray dogs and cats then the better way to fund this project is by seeking support from animal lovers. It is best to come up with strategic plan template that explains the organization's mission and vision. It is also best to share your plans on how you are planning to use the money that will be raised. This way, people will be confident that their money is used for a good cause.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-weight: bold;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Here are 7 useful and effective crowdfunding tips:</span></div>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Identify your target audience -</span> the very first thing that you should do is to identify your target audience. It is very important to present your project to the right people. Animal lovers and vegetarians will surely support a project about cats and dogs and filmmakers and actors will support a project about helping movie crews and staff. In other words, you should know the people who will show interest in your project.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2. You should plan ahead of time -</span> it is very important to come up with concrete plan in advance. This way, you will be able to answer inquiries of people about your project.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Pitch your project with love and concern -</span> to be able to gain support for your project, you need to pitch it and you should show love and concern. People should feel the genuine love and care that you have for this cause. You will be able to gain more support when they feel the sincerity in your pitch. You may not be a great speaker but if you speak from your heart then everything will fall into place.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Improve your presence in <a href="http://www.facebook.com/diversebusiness">social media networks</a> -</span> you will be able to reach your target audience by improving your presence in different social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and tumblr. It is advisable to connect with them by posting stories, pictures and announcements. It would also be great to include your contact details so they can reach you for their support and donations.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Treat your crowdfunding like a campaign</span> - it would be best to treat your crowdfunding like a campaign wherein you need to get the approval of your target audience.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">6.<a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1481095124/kim-jordan-uncommon"> Tell a great story</a></span><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1481095124/kim-jordan-uncommon"> </a>- another effective crowdfunding tip that you could follow is telling a great story that will warm people's hearts. It is advisable to share to them some stories that you witnessed personally or probably the main reason why you supporting a particular cause.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">7. Show results </span>- it would be great to send updates to people who showed support for your project. You could send some pictures, thank you notes or video clips just to show gratitude to them.<br />
The tips mentioned in this article will help you raise funds for a project that you believe in. Therefore, if you are planning to start a project or a non-profit organization supporting a good cause then you should consider the tips discussed in this article.</div>
<div id="article-resource">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Mabel Miles likes to share information on <a href="http://www.crowdfundingformula.com/" target="_new">crowdfunding tips</a> and <a href="http://www.growthink.com/products/strategic-plan-template" target="_new">strategic plan template</a> as well as a host of additional services.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6915731</span></div>diversebusinesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924558219662814798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-62236915467774676522012-02-04T14:34:00.000-08:002012-02-04T14:34:03.979-08:00Keys To The Golden Door - 10 Steps to Success For Women and Minorities in Business<div id="article-content" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVpA2Pb7JJnrCvZVNlGu3Cs1-Fo9pAPwsmADO0NS1kvI03tg5Aok-S2G9F31jXFVDXX9oi414FEOnyJe34LPKDHeEODxgK3NCLQL02AEHfzMavUJKRg_r6uuMIR8Mi-29Ddi_j4cXE0Q/s1600/Rachel-Daniel_279081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVpA2Pb7JJnrCvZVNlGu3Cs1-Fo9pAPwsmADO0NS1kvI03tg5Aok-S2G9F31jXFVDXX9oi414FEOnyJe34LPKDHeEODxgK3NCLQL02AEHfzMavUJKRg_r6uuMIR8Mi-29Ddi_j4cXE0Q/s320/Rachel-Daniel_279081.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Researchers from the Atlanta business consultancy, The Hackett Group, surveyed 50 companies with median revenues of $7 billion and a median procurement spend of $3 billion (Wall Street Journal, August 2006). <b>They found that firms that 'focus heavily on supplier diversity' generate a 133 percent greater return on procurement investments than the typical business</b>.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> In these economic times, those numbers can not be ignored.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">News of the many positive results of supplier diversity programs boosts support for these initiatives. It can also provide more opportunities for minority- and women- owned businesses (M/WBEs).<br />
Starting with the supply chain, some organizations are establishing relationships in increasingly diverse markets and gaining a competitive advantage in the U.S. and globally.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How can M/WBEs leverage the growing number of opportunities available through corporate supplier diversity initiatives? How can they sustain business relationships leading to the long-term growth of their business?<br />
Here are 10 steps that are guaranteed to produce positive results:</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong>STEP I</strong><br />
<strong>Produce High Quality Products.</strong> It is not sufficient for your products to be good. Differentiation of your products and services based on the highest level of quality provides insulation from competitive rivalry, often based on price, and creates customer loyalty. Introduce the unique benefits of your products and services to your customers, highlighting the high quality solutions it offers to their problems.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">According to Paul Belliveau, Abbie Griffin, and Stephen Somermeyer, editors of The PDMA ToolBook for New Product Development, there's another way to differentiate your product or service in the marketplace while improving quality: learn from your customers how to innovate.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Nabisco was proactive in this regard. Its engineering group designed modifications to bakery cooking and packaging equipment that increased efficiency and that were not yet available from the equipment manufacturers. Nabisco then contracted with the equipment vendors to incorporate the modifications into prototypes for its use. Eventually, the vendors included many of the Nabisco innovations in their standard designs, which Nabisco would then purchase since the commercial equipment was less expensive than the prototypes.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Whatever your company provides, whether a product or a service, must be both excellent and relevant if it carries your business name.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong>STEP II</strong><br />
<strong>Price Competitively. </strong>Women and minorities in business must challenge the perception that supplier diversity initiatives are in direct conflict with the corporate need to manage cost. Make sure that your products are priced competitively. Always charge a fair price for your product.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It is also necessary for M/WBE's to consistently perform cost-benefit analyses comparing product sales and business relationships. Remember to include the long-term value of the relationship in your analysis. If you are diligent in identifying and providing the benefits your customers require, you will differentiate yourself from your competitors and avoid competing solely on price. Note that some banks communicate financial security, trust, and esteem while other banks bombard us with price-driven advertising. This kind of advertising always leads to commoditization of their products and competition exclusively on price.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Wal-Mart and others have a winning low-price strategy, but they have a well-designed supply chain structure that focuses on consistently reducing cost. If your company does not have the infrastructure or interest in competing on price alone, you need to determine and deliver on the quality and value your clients desire most.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong>STEP III</strong><br />
<strong>Delight your Customers.</strong> Great customer service is not enough. To differentiate your business, the next frontier of competitive advantage is the customer experience. For women and minorities in business, it is necessary to differentiate on product/service quality, price competitiveness and, most importantly, responsiveness and service. It is with service that many of the smaller M/WBE's have the advantage.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Remember to consistently treat each customer interaction as a precious resource. Again, businesses that will thrive in years to come are those that have a clear competitive advantage in the marketplace. Creating an organization that is truly focused on providing superb customer service is the very best way to develop that competitive advantage.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Be responsive. Come earlier. Stay later. Anticipate and solve problems for your customers before they occur. Send a thank you card. Remember birthdays. Apply these techniques to your business consistently, and you will begin to develop an emotional bond with your customers that will not only keep them coming back for more, but will also have them recommending you to their family, friends, and colleagues. Make it personal. In fact, it is personal: it's your business!</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b>STEP IV </b><strong>Build Capacity.</strong> When a large client makes a request that a smaller company cannot fulfill because of limited capacity it can be devastating to an existing business relationship. It can be ruinous to a relationship that has yet to be established. There are two ways to rapidly build capacity for woman and minority-owned small businesses: 1) hire more people to execute production; 2) create strategic alliances with companies that supply complementary goods.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">For specific project execution, a bias toward strategic alliances is recommended. Begin to look for companies with similar products or services and talk about the possibility of working together. It is not required that these are minority and/or women-owned companies. It is required that you have shared vision and, most importantly, shared values.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Strategic alliances can extend beyond promotions and single projects. They can include joint advertising, marketing exposure, special events, and employee programs that benefit both companies. As a result of a fully integrated approach, the overall value to the consumer increases significantly.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">In today's changing business world, using the strength of strategic partnerships to increase capacity, gain exposure, and penetrate new distribution channels is an exceptionally smart approach. So, ask questions. Study the work of potential partners. Once you find a partner who produces work you admire and who shares your values and commitment to service, cherish those relationships for years to come!</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong>STEP V</strong><br />
<strong>Define Your Niche.</strong> One of the most widely championed suggestions for small business owners of any ilk is, "focus on what you do well." As entrepreneurs, many minorities and women have a desire to be all things to all people. That's understandable. Sometimes projects that complement your niche pay the bills. However, these projects should be the exception, not the rule.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Creating a niche position in the market allows for good short-term prospects and the potential for long-term business beyond your initial position. It is an excellent tool to differentiate your business and protect your market space from competitive new entrants. A defined market position that targets a niche product or service presents a great opportunity to attract new customers or to offer your services in a new location.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Define what your company does better than any other in your industry, large or small. Find the market for your niche and become the very best.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b>W/MBEs that successfully embrace these business fundamentals have a pronounced impact on the economy. Consider the following:</b></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">- Women-owned firms are growing at a rate nearly twice the U.S. average, contributing $1.1 trillion in revenues to the economy and creating jobs for 7.2 million Americans.<br />
- U.S. companies owned by women provide more than 12 million jobs while Fortune 500s employ less than 11.7 million jobs and are shredding between 200,000 - 300,000 jobs per year.<br />
- The fastest growing segment of small business is African Americans, which experienced a 45% increase since 2002.<br />
- The fastest growth rate of all minority-owned business (African-American) is increasing faster than the national average of 10% per year.<br />
- The number of Latino-owned companies grew 31% between 1997 and 2002.<br />
- In 2002 there were nearly 1.6 million Latino-owned businesses producing nearly $222 billion in revenue.<br />
- The combined buying power of African American and Latino Americans today is more than $1.7 trillion. By 2010, each group independently is expected to reach a buying power of $1 trillion.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Sources: CNN Money, Center for Women's Business Research, Forrester Research, U.S. Census Bureau</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">This data clearly illustrates the tremendous net positive result on the economy when women and minorities in business are successful. For this reason, the consistent increase in supplier diversity programs in large U.S. firms is positive news. These companies are committed to maximize M/WBE participation by developing equally beneficial business relationships with minority and women entrepreneurs.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong>STEP VI </strong><br />
<strong>Manage your business relationships well.</strong> It has been said that great entrepreneurs are "married to their business." Of course, managing a company requires time, energy, and commitment. It is absolutely critical to maintain healthy (and profitable) relationships with all stakeholders. Here are the key relationships that successful entrepreneurs should nurture:<br />
- Customers<br />
- Employees<br />
- Vendors<br />
- Banker/Accountant/Lawyer<br />
- Mentors</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your customers are the critical stakeholders - they hold the most important key to business success; however, relationships with the employees and team members delivering your products and services are equally valuable. Vendors are also vital to the creation of great products and services. Of course, your banker, accountant, and lawyer help to determine sound financial and legal structure for the business. Lastly, it is crucial to have at least one business mentor and/or an advisory board to challenge business decisions and provide direction.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong>STEP VII</strong><br />
<strong>Create an impeccable feedback loop for stakeholders.</strong> Never underestimate the value of collecting, analyzing, and responding to the input received from customers and important stakeholders. Nothing can replace customers telling you how they like to be treated, what you are doing right, and what could be done better. But you won't learn anything if you don't ask. Remember, your customers don't expect perfection; they want a relentless pursuit of quality. Respond to their input by implementing relevant changes. If you really want to "wow" your customers, let them know that you heard them.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong>STEP VIII</strong><br />
<strong>Get certified.</strong> Another key competitive advantage is M/WBE certification. Nothing is more important than high quality products and service; however, if all things are equal, a certified M/WBE status could be your edge. Certification is available through a number of sources for both minority-owned and women-owned firms. These include the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and its 39 regional affiliate councils; the U.S. Small Business Administration 8(a) program and other federal and state government agencies; local (county and city) government agencies; the Women Business Owners Corporation; and the Women Business Enterprise National Council. It is well worth the investment to become certified by a nationally recognized body in order to increase credibility with large corporations and government entities.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong>STEP IX</strong><br />
<strong>Network. </strong>It works! The bottom line is that people do business with people they know and like. The brand "You" is important to your business success - your intelligence, honesty, relevance, and value to customer and community needs. Sharp entrepreneurs are keen political and civic participants, always willing to add value to community initiatives like economic development, workforce development, and education. Similar activities allow potential customers to get to know you as both a business owner and an asset to the community.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong>STEP X</strong><br />
<strong>Continuous improvement <em>is </em>your business strategy.</strong> It is absolutely necessary for firms to ensure quality in operations, in business practices, and as individuals. This is necessary to mitigate the challenge of competitors and to boost the sustainability of your business achievements. The continuous improvement philosophy allows firms to cultivate a process-oriented way of thinking and developing strategies, involving people at all levels of the organizational hierarchy (Imai 1986). In an environment of unremitting advancement, change becomes the norm and stagnation is recognized as the adversary of progress. Ultimately, personal and professional advancement emanates from the inside. It starts with the strengthening of the principles and values from an individual and institutional level.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">We welcome your feedback. Remember, these lasting and valuable principles provide insight into better business practices to all entrepreneurs.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Continued success to you and your business!</div></div><div id="article-resource" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;"><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><i>About the author: Rachel Y. Daniel is the CEO of Synergy Marketing Strategy & Research, Inc.. She completes her doctorate at Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management in May 2010. Her research interests include brand and organizational trust, and the impact of justice and fairness perceptions on trust.</i></div></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><i>Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Daniel" style="color: #1900ff;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Daniel</a></i></div>See webinars too: <a href="http://blip.tv/louisgreenmmsdc">http://blip.tv/louisgreenmmsdc</a><br />
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</span></span>Pam Perry, PR Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612573591768823922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-42358535231519828952012-01-23T14:53:00.000-08:002012-01-23T14:53:51.605-08:00Detroit, Michigan - Diverse Automotive Market Summary from RL Polk<div class="post-header" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><h2 style="color: #ee1b2e; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: inherit;"><a href="http://blog.polk.com/blog/blog-posts-by-marc-bland/detroit-michigan-diverse-automotive-market-summary" style="color: #ee1b2e; text-align: inherit; text-decoration: none;">Detroit, Michigan - Diverse Automotive Market Summary</a></h2><div class="post-header-meta" style="color: #63656a; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Source: <span class="post-header-author"><a href="http://blog.polk.com/blog/blog-posts-by-marc-bland" style="color: #ee1b2e; text-decoration: none;">Marc Bland</a>, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at RL Polk </span></div><div align="right" class="social" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="st_twitter" st_processed="yes" st_url="http://blog.polk.com/blog/blog-posts-by-marc-bland/detroit-michigan-diverse-automotive-market-summary"><span class="stButton" style="cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 11px; margin-left: 3px; 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text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://tobtr.com/s/2799669" target="_blank">http://tobtr.com/s/2799669</a> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Hear him on the Diverse Business show</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #63656a; font-size: 11px;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial;"><img align="right" alt="Top 10 Brands in Detroit (Based on Volume)" height="244" src="https://cdn2.content.compendiumblog.com/uploads/user/a33eed35-8a44-4da7-84c4-16f3751fe303/9855ee60-f764-43b4-84c4-40950ff36307/Image/5fc1fad7171278c8ca716b51ff30f322/20110822_detroit_mb_table02.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px;" title="Top 10 Brands in Detroit (Based on Volume)" width="289" /></span>To help automotive customers gain insight into the impact diverse market customers (African American, Asian, Hispanic) are having on the U.S. light vehicle industry, I will be publishing a set of blogs focused on the top 10 U.S. markets based on volume year-to-date (YTD) through June 2011. Although the top three markets are New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, respectively, I will start this series with a focus on the backyard of Polk's global headquarters - the Detroit DMA, also known as "Motown" or the "The Motor City."</span><br />
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<span style="color: #63656a; font-size: 11px;">Detroit ranks No. 6 overall in the U.S. based on new light vehicle sales YTD. The overall industry is up 17.5%, comparing 2011 June YTD vs. 2010 YTD sales. During the same period, Detroit's gain is approximately 10 percentage points below the national average at 7.3%. Detroit's share of national new vehicle sales is down .25 percentage points at 2.6%. Detroit's top 10 brand list is unique, as this will be one of the few major market top brand lists that does not include Toyota or its high volume Asian peers (Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia) in the top five. Domestic brands represent 90% of the Detroit list (see adjacent table).</span><br />
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<span style="color: #63656a; font-size: 11px;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial;"><img align="right" alt="Ethnic Share of Detroit DMA New Vehicle" height="266" src="https://cdn2.content.compendiumblog.com/uploads/user/a33eed35-8a44-4da7-84c4-16f3751fe303/9855ee60-f764-43b4-84c4-40950ff36307/Image/e8f0537c0ee1f71f686c4356ff58812d/20110822_mb_pie.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px;" title="Ethnic Share of Detroit DMA New Vehicle" width="293" /></span>In the media, it's often reported that Detroit is approximately 80% African American but as a native Detroiter, the report, if accurate, is for Detroit city proper. When you look at Detroit from a DMA perspective, one must also consider these suburban areas: Birmingham, Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, Novi, Dearborn, the Grosse Pointes and many more. From an automotive consumer standpoint, the Detroit DMA has the following ethnic mix: (AA = African American, AS = Asian, HS = Hispanic and OT = Non-AA, Non-AS, Non-HS).</span><br />
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<span style="color: #63656a; font-size: 11px;">From a brand perspective, Ford leads the way with one of three new vehicles. Two to watch are Chevrolet (+3.84%) and Buick (+1.64%), since both have strong share but more importantly have posted greater than a 1.5 percentage point share increases year-over-year.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #63656a; font-size: 11px;">So what are Detroiters driving? The following is a top five model list, based on volume purchased by each diverse market listed. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #63656a; font-size: 11px;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0.25em; margin-right: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em;"><img alt="Top 5 Rank by Diverse Market (Based on Volume)" height="205" src="https://cdn2.content.compendiumblog.com/uploads/user/a33eed35-8a44-4da7-84c4-16f3751fe303/9855ee60-f764-43b4-84c4-40950ff36307/Image/bdb9dac22d827463c053a5110d1e0243/20110822_detroit_mb03.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0.25em; margin-right: 0.25em; margin-top: 0.25em;" title="Top 5 Rank by Diverse Market (Based on Volume)" width="394" /></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #63656a; font-size: 11px;">Hands down, the "King of the Road" is the Ford Fusion in Detroit. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #63656a; font-size: 11px;">This vehicle is ranked No. 1 by every diverse group in Detroit. Congrats to Ford for holding down the top spot in the backyard of their world headquarters. Readers will also notice that only the Asian diverse group selected the high volume Camry and Honda CR-V in their top five.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #63656a; font-size: 11px;">This is the first diverse automotive market summary series, with the New York DMA on deck. I look forward to hearing your thoughts as I work to increase the automotive market knowledge of the auto public at large.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em> by Marc Bland<em>,</em> Product Strategist & Multicultural Marketing Lead, Polk Hear Marc ON THE SHOW: </em><a href="http://tobtr.com/s/2799669" target="_blank">http://tobtr.com/s/2799669</a></span></div><div style="color: #63656a; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em><br />
</em></div></div>Pam Perry, PR Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612573591768823922noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-55003474691753054262012-01-10T10:09:00.000-08:002012-01-10T10:09:16.624-08:00Toyota Honored By National Minority Supplier Development Council<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div id="articleDateTitle"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tntribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Small_group_shot_JBW_Shigeki_Terashi_TEMA-1024x616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://www.tntribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Small_group_shot_JBW_Shigeki_Terashi_TEMA-1024x616.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h2>Toyota Honored By National Minority Supplier Development Council For Its Commitment With <a href="http://www.toyotasupplier.com/">Diverse Suppliers</a></h2></div><span style="font-size: small;"><em><strong>Toyota recognized as the 2011 Corporation of the Year for its $1 billion investment, development and advocacy in minority businesses across the United States</strong></em></span><div id="articleContent"><h6><div><span style="font-size: small;">Toyota was named the Corporation of the Year 2011 by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) for its continued commitment to minority suppliers and diverse communities. The award recognizes the company’s leadership around supplier diversity that impacts all areas of its business operations. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong></strong></em></div></h6><span> <div> </div><div>“Toyota is honored to receive this award from NMSDC for our efforts to support minority business inclusion and to partner with the organization for more than 20 years,” said Shigeki Terashi, president and COO of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. “Our company’s foundation – <b>The Toyota Way – is built on continuous improvement and respect for people and this award reinforces our desire to find ways to strengthen and improve our processes, especially through supplier diversity.”</b></div><div> </div><div>This is the second time Toyota was awarded this honor, selected by a NMSDC national committee comprised of minority business owners, for its commitment to maintaining a supplier base which reflects the diversity of its customers and the diversity of the team members who build and sell Toyota vehicles in North America.</div><div> </div><div>“This recognition is reserved for corporations that fully embrace the value that minority suppliers bring to the corporate supply chain,” said NMSDC President Joset Wright. “Toyota’s commitment to supplier diversity and minority supplier development is firmly embedded in the corporate culture. Its comprehensive, world-class supplier diversity process is worthy of replication.”</div><div> </div><div>Despite economic fluctuations in the automotive industry, Toyota has maintained its MBE supplier base, as well as a $1 billion commitment to partnering with minority-owned businesses.Through its operations, workforce and supply base, the company is dedicated to reflecting the many different cultures, backgrounds and outlooks of its customers and the communities in which they do business.</div><div> </div><div>“I take great pride in my more than 10 years business partnership with Toyota,” said Berto Guerra, chairman and CEO of Avanzar Interior Technologies. “Toyota has provided my company the support and opportunity to help ensure the growth vitality of my business and the community of San Antonio.”</div><div> </div><div>Over the past several years, Toyota has been recognized as a leader in diversity and inclusion through various awards from <a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/2009/04/10/auto-suppliers-get-government-help/">Black Enterprise</a>, DiversityInc, the Human Rights Campaign and Hispanic Business. Toyota was the co-winner of the Corporation of the Year award from the National Minority Supplier Development Council in 2004. The company has also been recognized as Corporation of the Year by the following NMSDC regional councils:</div><div> </div><ul><li>Tri-State Minority Supplier Development Council which includes Kentucky, Southeast Indiana and West Virginia (2005-2010)</li>
<li>South Central Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council (2007)</li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.minoritysupplier.org/">Michigan Minority Supplier Development Counci</a>l (2009); Co-Winner (2010)* </b></li>
<li>Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council (2010)</li>
</ul></span> </div><div class="articleContacts"><table><tbody>
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</tbody></table></div><div class="articleDisclaimer"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b><i><span>About</span></i></b><span> <b><i>Toyota</i></b></span></span></span> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span>Toyota</span><span> (NYSE:TM) established operations in North America in 1957 and currently operates 14 manufacturing plants, including one under construction in Mississippi. There are more than 1,800 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealerships in North America which sold more than 2 million vehicles in 2010. Toyota directly employs more than 35,000 in North America and its investment here is currently valued at more than $23 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design. Toyota’s annual purchasing of parts, materials, goods and services from North American suppliers totals nearly $25 billion. Toyota currently produces 12 vehicles in North America, including the Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Matrix, RAV4, Sienna, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra, Venza and the Lexus RX 350. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">For more information about Toyota, visit </span><a href="http://www.toyota.com/"><u><span style="color: purple; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">www.toyota.com</span></u></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> or </span><a href="http://www.toyotanewsroom.com/"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">www.toyotanewsroom.com</span></u></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><i><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">About The National Minority Supplier Development Council</span></span></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">The National Minority Supplier Development Council, one of the country's leading business membership organizations, provides a direct link between corporate America and </span><a href="http://www.nmsdcus.org/who_we_are/certification.html"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">minority-owned businesses</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">.<span> </span>It was chartered in 1972 to provide increased procurement and business opportunities for minority businesses of all sizes. </span><a href="http://www.nmsdc.org/"><span lang="ES-PR"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">www.nmsdc.org</span></u></span></a><span lang="ES-PR"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span><span lang="ES-PR"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> <b><br />
</b></span></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>*The Detroit-based <a href="http://www.mmbdc.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council</strong></a> (MMSDC) has among its members about 130 African American-owned automotive suppliers that gross more than $10 million a year. MMSDC president is Louis Green hosts bi-monthly webinars on Supplier Diversity. <a href="http://www.minoritysupplier.org/">www.MinoritySupplier.com </a></b><span><span lang="ES-PR"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></u></span></span></div></div><span class="smallfont"></span>Pam Perry, PR Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612573591768823922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-70859415510134804112012-01-04T15:18:00.000-08:002012-01-04T15:18:03.307-08:00STRATEGY: Diversity Wins #business<iframe width="480" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OY-t4b59XSg?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><b>Check out <span >Louis Green</span> on Facebook & Twitter, founder of the </b><div><b>Diverse Business show.<br />http://<a href="http://www.facebook.com/mrlouisgreen">www.facebook.com/mrlouisgreen</a><br />http://<a href="http://www.twitter.com/diversebusiness">www.twitter.com/diversebusiness</a></b></div>Pam Perry, PR Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612573591768823922noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-14481752469906362512012-01-03T18:56:00.000-08:002012-01-03T19:00:02.987-08:00Eric Ries, "The Lean Startup: Innovation Through Experimentation."Most startups fail. But many of those failures are preventable. <b>The Lean Startup</b> is a new approach being adopted across the globe, changing the way companies are built and new products are launched.<br />
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<b>Eric Ries</b> defines a startup as an organization dedicated to creating something new under conditions of extreme uncertainty. This is just as true for one person in a garage or a group of seasoned professionals in a Fortune 500 boardroom. What they have in common is a mission to penetrate that fog of uncertainty to discover a successful path to a sustainable business.<br />
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<b>The Lean Startup</b> approach fosters companies that are both more capital efficient and that leverage human creativity more effectively. Inspired by lessons from lean manufacturing, it relies on “validated learning,” rapid scientific experimentation, as well as a number of counter-intuitive practices that shorten product development cycles, measure actual progress without resorting to vanity metrics, and learn what customers really want. It enables a company to shift directions with agility, altering plans inch by inch, minute by minute.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=minismarkesol-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0307887898&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
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<b>Every so often a business book comes along that changes how we</b><br />
<b>think about innovation and entrepreneurship... The Lean Startup has</b><br />
<b>the chops to join this exalted company. <i>Financial Times</i></b><br />
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“The roadmap for innovation for the 21st century. The ideas in The Lean Startup will help create the next industrial revolution.” —Steve Blank, lecturer, Stanford University, U.C. Berkeley Haas Business School<br />
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"The key lesson of this book is that start-ups happen in the present—that messy place between the past and the future where nothing happens according to PowerPoint. Ries's ‘read and react’ approach to this sport, his relentless focus on validated learning, the never-ending anxiety of hovering between ‘persevere’ and ‘pivot’, all bear witness to his appreciation for the dynamics of entrepreneurship." —Geoffrey Moore, Author, Crossing the Chasm<br />
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"If you are an entrepreneur, read this book. If you are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur, read this book. If you are just curious about entrepreneurship, read this book. Starting Lean is today's best practice for innovators. Do yourself a favor and read this book." —Randy Komisar, founding director of TiVo and author of the bestselling The Monk and the Riddle<br />
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“How do you apply the 50 year old ideas of Lean to the fast-paced, high uncertainty world of Startups? This book provides a brilliant, well-documented, and practical answer. It is sure to become a management classic.” —Don Reinertsen, author of The Principles of Product Development Flow<br />
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“The Lean Startup is a foundational must-read for founders, enabling them to reduce product failures by bringing structure and science to what is usually informal and an art. It provides actionable ways to avoid product-learning mistakes, rigorously evaluate early signals from the market through validated learning, and decide whether to persevere or to pivot, all challenges that heighten the chance of entrepreneurial failure.” —Professor Noam Wasserman, Harvard Business School<br />
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“One of the best and most insightful new books on entrepreneurship and management I’ve ever read. Should be required reading not only for the entrepreneurs that I work with, but for my friends and colleagues in various industries who have inevitably grappled with many of the challenges that The Lean Startup addresses.” —Eugene J. Huang, Partner, True North Venture Partners<br />
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"What would happen if businesses were built from the ground up to learn what their customers really wanted? The Lean Startup is the foundation for reimagining almost everything about how work works. Don't let the word startup in the title confuse you. This is a cookbook for entrepreneurs in organizations of all sizes." —Roy Bahat, President, IGN Entertainment<br />
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“Every founding team should stop for 48 hours and read Lean Startup. Seriously stop and read this book now.” —Scott Case, CEO Startup America Partnership<br />
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“In business, a ‘lean’ enterprise is sustainable efficiency in action. Eric Ries’ revolutionary Lean Startup method will help bring your new business idea to an end result that is successful and sustainable. You’ll find innovative steps and strategies for creating and managing your own startup while learning from the real-life successes and collapses of others. This book is a must read for entrepreneurs who are truly ready to start something great!” —Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager® and The One Minute Entrepreneur<br />
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“Every entrepreneur responsible for innovation within their organization should read this book. It entertainingly and meticulously develops a rigorous science for the innovation process through the methodology of “lean thinking”. This methodology provides novel and powerful tools for companies to improve the speed and efficiency of their innovation processes through minimum viable products, validated learning, innovation accounting, and actionable metrics. These tools will help organizations large and small to sustain innovation by effectively leveraging the time, passion, and skill of their talent pools.” —Andrea Goldsmith, professor of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University, and cofounder of several startups<br />
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“Business is too important to be left to luck. Eric reveals the rigorous process that trumps luck in the invention of new products and new businesses. We've made this a centerpiece of how teams work in my company . . . it works! This book is the guided tour of the key innovative practices used inside Google, Toyota, and Facebook, that work in any business.” —Scott Cook, Founder and Chairman of the Executive Committee, Intuit<br />
<br />
<b>About the Author<br />
<br />
ERIC RIES is an entrepreneur and author of the popular blog Startup Lessons Learned. He co-founded and served as CTO of IMVU, his third startup, and has had plenty of startup failures along the way. He is a frequent speaker at business events, has advised a number of startups, large companies, and venture capital firms on business and product strategy, and is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Harvard Business School. His Lean Startup methodology has been written about in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Harvard Business Review, the Huffington Post, and many blogs. He lives in San Francisco.</b>Pam Perry, PR Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612573591768823922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-74989284158657894872011-12-21T20:48:00.000-08:002011-12-21T20:48:45.018-08:00The Business of Running a Business with Melinda Emerson, Small Biz Lady<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://thebrandnewmommy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/KTBwithBelt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://thebrandnewmommy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/KTBwithBelt.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>(<span style="color: red;">Melinda Emerson, </span>Karen Taylor Bass, James Andrews and Pam Perry #twitter buddies)</b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="352" id="flashObj" width="406"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=1306772331001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fvideo%2FBC1306772331001.html&playerID=21394222001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAABNaNQnk~,w9yktOTDkR2USwRJ7U1N5dkKqsypiT6V&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=1306772331001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fvideo%2FBC1306772331001.html&playerID=21394222001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAABNaNQnk~,w9yktOTDkR2USwRJ7U1N5dkKqsypiT6V&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="406" height="352" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" swLiveConnect="true" allowScriptAccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/smallbizlady"><b>Follow Melinda Emerson at @smallbizlady </b></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cgtalkradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/ken-harris-471-022511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://cgtalkradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/ken-harris-471-022511.jpg" width="471" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Ken Harris, former MMSDC VP, now President Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce</i></b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hear the Diverse Business show </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">with Melinda Emerson and Ken Harris </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.adobe.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" height="105" id="124654" name="124654" width="210"><param name="movie" value="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf?file=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogtalkradio.com%2Fdiversebusiness%2F2010%2F09%2F13%2Fthe-business-of-running-a-business-with-melinda-em%2Fplaylist.xml&autostart=false&bufferlength=5&volume=80&corner=rounded&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/flashplayercallback.aspx" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogtalkradio.com%2Fdiversebusiness%2F2010%2F09%2F13%2Fthe-business-of-running-a-business-with-melinda-em%2fplaylist.xml&autostart=false&shuffle=false&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/FlashPlayerCallback.aspx&width=210&height=105&volume=80&corner=rounded" width="210" height="105" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" wmode="transparent" menu="false" name="124654" id="124654" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object></div><div style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 220px;">Listen to <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/">internet radio</a> with <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/diversebusiness">Diverse Business</a> on Blog Talk Radio</div>Pam Perry, PR Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612573591768823922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-43856106130452109352011-12-05T16:11:00.000-08:002011-12-05T16:11:09.568-08:002011 Stars of Diversity Winners and Download the Program book<b>"Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure." - Napoleon Hill</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.minoritysupplier.net/awards/2011_awards_winners2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://www.minoritysupplier.net/awards/2011_awards_winners2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.minoritysupplier.net/awards/2011_awards_winners1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://www.minoritysupplier.net/awards/2011_awards_winners1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSPwN8oNsTo8flfPQX1Ihcz7X0vpKYqk_WkWmuJaZunLPpdPTjLsGCIYvF29A" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSPwN8oNsTo8flfPQX1Ihcz7X0vpKYqk_WkWmuJaZunLPpdPTjLsGCIYvF29A" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Ford won "Corporation of the Year" </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Pictured: Louis Green (left) and Ford Motor Company Staffers, Tony Brown </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; text-align: left;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; text-align: left;">Tony Brown</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px;">Since January 2009, MMSDC corporate members and certified minority businesses received tremendous opportunities and growth through our chairman of the board, Tony Brown.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Motor Company's Global Purchasing Vice President, Mr. Tony Brown. Through his leadership MMSDC has increased it footprint in the global economy and opened doors for even greater success in the future.</span><br style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">To celebrate this milestone, MMSDC will "Pay It Forward" by awarding scholarships of $2000 each to 10 minority disadvantaged students. This exciting program will assist students in Michigan to achieve their academic and professional goals</span></span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here is the program book, download it! <a href="http://www.minoritysupplier.net/awards/awards_book.pdf">http://www.minoritysupplier.net/awards/awards_book.pdf</a></span></b><br />
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</b>Pam Perry, PR Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612573591768823922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-80354059708121043942011-11-02T19:08:00.000-07:002011-11-02T19:08:51.678-07:00The 3s of Supplier Diversity #nmsdc2011<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://briantippens.com/conservative/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/iStock_000003767900Small-300x231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://briantippens.com/conservative/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/iStock_000003767900Small-300x231.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><i>Guest post by:</i><br />
<i>BRIAN TIPPENS | INNOVATION MATTERS</i><br />
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There is no global supplier diversity “cookie cutter-method” for implementation. It is a mistake for companies to believe they can be successful by simply adopting a “copy exactly” approach and transporting the companies’ U.S. supplier diversity tools, processes, and policies into non-U.S. locations. While some process and policy consistency is required, supplier diversity programs must be adapted to reflect the cultural and societal norms of the geographies in which they are implemented.<br />
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Despite these regional differences in implementation, the business case for global supplier diversity is consistent. I frequently discuss this business case in the context of what I refer to as “the three C’s” of supplier diversity:<br />
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<b>Compliance</b><br />
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In the United States, many companies’ supplier diversity programs are built around a compliance core. These programs are designed to help ensure that the company meets compliance requirements mandated by its public-sector customers. The U.S. federal government requires that any company that provides goods and services to it, above a certain mandated minimum level, meets aggressive goals of subcontracting spend with a list of enumerated categories of underrepresented small businesses. These categories include ethnic-minority-owned, woman-owned, and veteran-owned businesses.<br />
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These compliance requirements have become pervasive over the past 50 years as many states, municipalities, school districts, and other public sector entities have developed supplier diversity mandates that mirror or closely reflect the U.S. federal requirements. Even companies that don’t source directly to the public sector may be required to adhere to these types of requirements, if they source to other private sector companies which themselves are public sector suppliers and are required to “flow down” requirements.<br />
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With limited exceptions, outside of the United States there are no similar legislative mandates requiring that companies subcontract with diverse businesses. While no other countries have identical mandates to the United States for minority business inclusion, two countries have enacted their own legislative framework to ensure inclusion of minorities or disadvantaged people. First, there is the case of South Africa and their Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BEE) legislation. Second, more recently, is Australia, which has implemented requirements for including indigenous aboriginal-owned businesses in certain contracts. In addition, while visible minorities in Canada are not included in any government scheme for protected status, they do have a government set aside for Aboriginals based on self-certification. However, absent extensive compelling mandates, supplier diversity performance has been slow to expand outside of the United States.<br />
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Those companies that have chosen to expand their global supplier diversity programs outside of the United States for compliance reasons, have done so with an aim to:<br />
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Address existing or developing supplier diversity mandates that currently exist in regions where those companies do business outside of the United States (for example, to meet the requirements of Australia’s Indigenous Opportunities Program (IOP) or the South African Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment code requirements); or<br />
Remain “ahead of the legislative curve” by designing and implementing robust supplier diversity procurement policies ahead of government mandates in regions that appear to be evaluating the adoption of such mandates.<br />
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<b>Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)</b><br />
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These policies are seen to function as built-in, self-regulating mechanisms whereby businesses monitor and ensure active compliance with the spirit of the law, ethical standards, and international norms. Many companies position their supplier diversity programs as supporting CSR pillars, by:<br />
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Enhancing the company image and brand by demonstrating commitment to high ethical standard of inclusion<br />
Working to ensure that the diversity of the company’s supplier base reflects that of its employee base and customer mix<br />
Supporting the CSR requirements of its customer in the marketplace.<br />
These CSR drivers are not at all unique to U.S. supplier diversity programs. It can truly be said that, with these drivers in mind, …if ensuring an inclusive supply chain is ‘the right thing to do’ in the United States, it is ‘the right thing to do’ everywhere that the Company does business …<br />
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<b>Competitive Advantage</b><br />
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Among the most successful of U.S.-based supplier diversity programs are those hosted by companies that position the programs as a business imperative, a revenue enabler, a competitive advantage. Hewlett-Packard, for example, estimates in it’s Global Citizenship Report that in 2010 more than $10 billion -worth of business required the company to demonstrate its efforts in supplier diversity.<br />
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By working to meet contractual- and compliance-driven diversity subcontracting requirements of its customers, a company with a business-to-business (B2B) sales model can leverage its supplier diversity performance to win in the marketplace. Similarly, a company with a business-to-consumer (B2C) business model can weave its supplier diversity investments in diverse communities into its marketing and advertising and help it to create a competitive advantage across a diverse consumer base.<br />
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Collectively, these elements combine to form the business case—a set of compelling drivers for global supplier diversity expansion. Note that not every company will find each of the three important to the same degree, if at all.<br />
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Source: <a href="http://briantippens.com/?p=385">The 3 C’s of Supplier Diversity | Brian Tippens | Innovation Matters</a>Pam Perry, PR Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612573591768823922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-3379659791005797552011-10-14T13:59:00.000-07:002011-10-14T13:59:02.601-07:00"Detroit is the new Frontier!" Louis Green, President, Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="color: red;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="messageBody translationEligibleUserMessage" data-ft="{"type":3}">Where there is no struggle, there is no strength. --Oprah Winfrey</span></span></i></h6><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5krl5ZhmQQGsOR2R41O82DiA5osEHu9TwCioTW-bjyMNvi9JCvJyBrEpu9HBczjyvHMJxXDqUVXZGO7v0oAmRCZMzJUYAjioJLAqQABmCBfS6hIHtoAP2UndtwLY4tijFodwwLTAY20/s1600/louis+green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5krl5ZhmQQGsOR2R41O82DiA5osEHu9TwCioTW-bjyMNvi9JCvJyBrEpu9HBczjyvHMJxXDqUVXZGO7v0oAmRCZMzJUYAjioJLAqQABmCBfS6hIHtoAP2UndtwLY4tijFodwwLTAY20/s320/louis+green.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louis Green, Celebrity the Stars of Diversity Event 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="412" id="flashObj" width="486"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=1213218181001&playerID=47552131001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAACEbKtKE~,hMlwOmT8XTDQREoy7HraqM9iTdjQT71F&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=1213218181001&playerID=47552131001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAACEbKtKE~,hMlwOmT8XTDQREoy7HraqM9iTdjQT71F&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="486" height="412" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" swLiveConnect="true" allowScriptAccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object></div>Pam Perry, PR Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612573591768823922noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-62368831708661623922011-10-05T22:31:00.000-07:002011-10-05T22:42:51.318-07:00Diverse Business: Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dcZOhSjt5a4/To0-C2lp9sI/AAAAAAAAAJM/H72E-At8BgI/s1600/100_5676.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dcZOhSjt5a4/To0-C2lp9sI/AAAAAAAAAJM/H72E-At8BgI/s400/100_5676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660248525408696002" border="0" /></a><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BPxwppdRBbI?fs=1" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" width="459"></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council: 28th Annual Stars of Diversity Awards</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">October marks National Minority Business Month across the nation. In Detroit, the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">(MMSDC) gathers more than700 minority business owners and the nation's top corporate brass.</span><br /><br /><br /><br />This annual event which is held every year during Minority Business Month, "celebrates the stars of diversity. " The honorees are acknowledged for their work that made $12 billion in contract opportunities possible for the members of the <a href="http://www.mmbdc.com/">Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC).</a><br /><br />This Grammy-Style Awards Show and Strolling Dinner had Rhonda Walker, morning anchor on local NBC Affiliate (WDIV Detroit) as the Mistress of Ceremonies.<br /><br />"We were glad to highlight companies like SET Enterprise, who was recently featured in Black Enterprise, and won the Diamond Award because he goes out of his way to help other minority businesses," said Louis Green, President/CEO of MMSDC.<br /><br />Hear the podcast of Sid Taylor, the President of SET Enterprise, on the Diverse Business show: <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/diversebusiness/2011/09/19/sid-taylor-making-a-difference-in-business-and-real-life">http://www.blogtalkradio.com/diversebusiness/2011/09/19/ ...#</a><br /><br />This sold-out event celebrated the extraordinary achievements of those in the supplier diversity industry.<br /><br />Special Guests this year included: <span style="font-weight: bold;">City of Detroit Mayor, Dave Bing</span> and Tony Brown, MMSDC Chairman of the Board and Group Vice President, Global Purchasing, Ford Motor Company, and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/automotiveandenergysummit">Reverend Jesse Jackson, Rainbow PUSH.</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2011 Award Winners</span><br /><br />Corporation of the Year - OEM<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ford Motor Company </span> <br />Corporation of the Year - Professional<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kelly Services Inc.</span> <br /> <br />Corporation of the Year - Commercial Products<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Herman Miller Inc.</span><br /><br />Corporation of the Year - Manufacturing I<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Johnson Controls, Inc.</span><br /><br />Corporation of the Year - Finance & Insurance<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Auto Club Group (AAA Michigan)</span><br /><br />Corporation of the Year - Construction<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Walbridge</span><br /><br />Corporation of the Year - Consumer Products<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">DTE Energy</span><br />Corporation of the Year - Health Care<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Henry Ford Health System</span><br /><br />Corporation of the Year -Education and Govt Entities<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wayne State University</span><br /><br />Corporation of the Year - Information Technology<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">IBM Corporation</span><br /><br />Corporate Buyer of the Year - National<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jonathan Pratt - Jonhson Controls, Inc.</span><br /><br />Corporate Buyer of the Year - Local <br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Eric Newton - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan</span><br /><br /><br />Minority Business Advocate of the Year - National<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kevin Bell - Chrysler Group LLC</span><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHQZmHjpWSs/To0-_0D7EzI/AAAAAAAAAJY/7vhuk4n_kAE/s1600/100_5642.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHQZmHjpWSs/To0-_0D7EzI/AAAAAAAAAJY/7vhuk4n_kAE/s400/100_5642.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660249572702360370" border="0" /></a><br />Minority Business Advocate of the Year - Local<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Donna Strickland - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michiga</span>n<br /><br /><br />Diamond Award<br /><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/diversebusiness/2011/09/19/sid-taylor-making-a-difference-in-business-and-real-life"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sid E. Taylor - SET Enterprises</span></a><br /><br />Class I (Sales less than $1M)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Unique Expressions LLC</span><br /><br />Class II (Sales bet. $1M - $10M)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Powerlink Facilities Management Services</span><br /><br />Class III (Sales bet. $10M - $50M)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Epitec Group, Inc</span>.<br /><br />Class IV (Sales over $50M)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vision Information Technologies, Inc. (VisionIT)</span><br /><br />President's Award<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Burt Jordan, Ford Motor Company</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Chris Genteel, Google, Inc</span>.<br /><br />About MMSDC<br />MMSDC is a non-profit, 501c 3 organization. Founded in 1977, the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) has more than 1,200 certified minority businesses and over 300 corporate members working to further its mission to certify minority businesses; provide access to procurement opportunities; and develop capacity for minority business development. The MMSDC was recognized by the National Minority Supplier Development Council as "Council of the Year" for its work with major corporations to promote minority business development and growth.. For more information visit the MMSDC's website at <a href="http://www.minoritysupplier.org/">http://www.minoritysupplier.org</a>.diversebusinesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924558219662814798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-11620836595473792042011-09-26T15:57:00.000-07:002011-09-26T16:01:38.681-07:00Minority Supplier Development Week: Focusing on Economic Growth and Job Creation<div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal" id="yui_3_2_0_1_1317071172870155" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_688711659" style="color: blue;">(</a></b><b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/diversebusiness" style="color: blue;">MMSDC)</a> one of the winners of the $37 million Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge</b></span></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal" id="yui_3_2_0_1_1317071172870155" style="color: red; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">To spur Economic Growth and Job Creation in 20 Regions across the Country</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTaoj1hR1SpJV9uQGM9YB97arqxSbY3XNCNf99vWUo6_3hhkIvdog" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTaoj1hR1SpJV9uQGM9YB97arqxSbY3XNCNf99vWUo6_3hhkIvdog" /></a></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal" id="yui_3_2_0_1_1317071172870155" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal" id="yui_3_2_0_1_1317071172870155" style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b><i>“This cluster concept is so important… When you get a group of people together, and industries together, and institutions like universities together around particular industries, then the synergies that develop from all those different facets coming together can make the whole the greater than the sum of its parts.” </i><b><i>-President Barack Obama</i></b></div><br />
<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.minoritysupplier.org/">MichiganMinority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC)</a> is part of the Southeast Michigan cluster which has been awarded $2.1 million dollars through the federal Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge to create new jobs and technologies related to the rapidly emerging advanced energy storage system (AESS) industry cluster. </span><br />
<div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"> Advanced energy systems a<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3030369662551106564" name="_GoBack" rel="nofollow"></a>re critical to the future of the automotive industry, which is innovating rapidly around vehicle electrification and hybridization. The alternative energy economy also relies heavily on energy storage systems, like batteries and powertrains, to prolong the life of energy generated by solar and wind systems.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs29PhbEyINoqjq1mGCUr_kflNEF5iU4pTHZ8Y8lbgFp4sXZZvyvrDr5hyphenhyphenkLuIsgLv6LNaA51kdaFRQ9v6bU2Co-SxpE3NonFV2PI_Neb4RtOwLCyrQ5Oq8ZRxCn79pI4AHduBf68tVMk/s400/Green+car+192.183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs29PhbEyINoqjq1mGCUr_kflNEF5iU4pTHZ8Y8lbgFp4sXZZvyvrDr5hyphenhyphenkLuIsgLv6LNaA51kdaFRQ9v6bU2Co-SxpE3NonFV2PI_Neb4RtOwLCyrQ5Oq8ZRxCn79pI4AHduBf68tVMk/s400/Green+car+192.183.jpg" /></a></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"> “Our role here at the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council will be to focus on diversifying existing firms that are affected by the rapidly shifting automotive industry so they can create jobs now and long into the future, said <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/diversebusiness/2011/09/26/minority-business-month-preview-show-with-louis-green-mmsdchttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/diversebusiness/2011/09/26/minority-business-month-preview-show-with-louis-green-mmsdc">Louis Green, President/CEO of MMSDC</a>, which is located in Detroit.</span></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"> “We are excited to be assist the emerging majority create new jobs and technologies related to the rapidly emerging advanced energy storage system,” said Green. </span></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">The multi-agency grant comes from the Employment and Training Administration, the Economic Development Administration and the Small Business Administration. <b>The SBA’s grant of $150,000 will directly support the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council’s efforts to build diverse business opportunities for minority suppliers. </b></span></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">“We are making steady progress towards putting America back to work," said U.S. Secretary of Labor, Hilda Solis in a conference call with reporters. "The accelerator program uses federal dollars in a smarter way to build up regional economies."</span></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal" id="yui_3_2_0_1_1317071172870154"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1317071172870153" style="color: black;">The announcement of the award was made in Washington DC from: Acting U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Rebecca Blank; U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce, John Fernandez; and Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator, Karen Mills. </span></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">“SBA has a long history of support for regional clusters and the Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge is an important next step, said Karen Mills. </span></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"> “I am pleased that SBA is contributing funding to bring underserved small businesses into regional clusters across the country. By working with other federal agencies, we can link, leverage, and align our resources to give small businesses the tools they need to work together, grow and create jobs.”</span></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">The SBA is an organization that the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council works with to move the economy forward.</span></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal"> “It’s no secret that Michigan’s economy has been hit the hardest. So this two million dollar investment in jobs for the southeast Michigan region is just what is needed to ignite new industries and create new jobs, said Green, “and we are the ready to get to work.” </div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal"></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal"><b>For more information on the Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge, visit: <a href="http://www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/jobsandinnovationchallenge" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/jobsandinnovationchallenge</a>.</b><br />
</div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal"></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal">About the MMSDC:</div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal"><i>Founded in 1977, the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMBSC) has more than 1,300 certified minority businesses and over 300 corporate members working to further its mission to certify minority businesses; provide access to procurement opportunities; and develop capacity for minority business development. <br />
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The MMBDC was recognized by the National Minority Supplier Development Council as “Council of the Year” for its work with major corporations to promote minority business development and growth. MMSDC is a non-profit, 501c 3 organization. For more information visit the MMSDC’s website at (</i><a href="http://www.minoritysupplier.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>www.minoritysupplier.org</i></a><i>)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mcnitt.com/wp-site/wp-content/uploads/images/obama-economy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://mcnitt.com/wp-site/wp-content/uploads/images/obama-economy.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="yiv1960996479MsoNormal"></div><div><br />
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<div style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 220px;">Listen to <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/">internet radio</a> with <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/diversebusiness">Diverse Business</a> on Blog Talk Radio</div>Pam Perry, PR Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612573591768823922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-77593961855409070602011-09-06T21:10:00.000-07:002011-09-06T21:10:35.100-07:00Google Adwords explained: Video of Chris Genteel from Google (Ann Arbor)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5X8k8TFBc1x5LqTGmp5VMCx7sfZO2Sof0ZIxTgXvvlGtIxeJyZBTLJbBAhAGQPOirrGEiAU1R6bjSvmAMxELrzeVHTisLNItBR2n5v-RydoHzksv0-8hI7_Qyw0SatGpbHsFzbD58A8/s1600/Chrisg2_reasonably_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5X8k8TFBc1x5LqTGmp5VMCx7sfZO2Sof0ZIxTgXvvlGtIxeJyZBTLJbBAhAGQPOirrGEiAU1R6bjSvmAMxELrzeVHTisLNItBR2n5v-RydoHzksv0-8hI7_Qyw0SatGpbHsFzbD58A8/s1600/Chrisg2_reasonably_small.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxw1cBNQleY24MgoI2R-W7IXJotqX2YlwU1l-SByguCq2lpmSZH0OPlTMuSt2uUnaC-I55Fexsg-O0M6ZPRNQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><b>Google AdWords</b> is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Google">Google</a>'s main advertising product and main source of revenue. Google's total advertising revenues were <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollar" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="United States dollar">USD</a>$28 billion in 2010.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-financialtables_1-0" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AdWords#cite_note-financialtables-1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup> AdWords offers <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pay-per-click" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Pay-per-click">pay-per-click</a> (PPC) advertising, cost-per-thousand (CPM) advertising, and site-targeted advertising for text, banner, and rich-media ads. The AdWords program includes local, national, and international distribution. Google's text advertisements are short, consisting of one headline consisting of 25 characters and two additional text lines consisting of 35 characters each. Image ads can be one of several different <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interactive_Advertising_Bureau" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Interactive Advertising Bureau">Interactive Advertising Bureau</a>(IAB) standard sizes.</span><br />
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<h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: black; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0.17em; padding-top: 0.5em; width: auto;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Pay-Per-Click_advertisements_.28PPC.29">Pay-Per-Click advertisements (PPC)</span></h2><div style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">Advertisers select the words that should trigger their ads and the maximum amount they will pay per click. When a user searches on Google, ads (also known as creatives by Google) for relevant words are shown as "sponsored links" on the right side of the screen, and sometimes above the main search results. <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Click-through_rate" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Click-through rate">Click-through rates</a> (CTR) for the ads are about 8% for the first ad, 5% for the second one, and 2.5% for the third one. Search results can return from 0 to 12 ads.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">The ordering of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paid-for_listings" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Paid-for listings">paid-for listings</a> depends on other advertisers' bids (PPC) and the "quality score" of all ads shown for a given search. The quality score is calculated by historical click-through rates, relevance of an advertiser's ad text and keywords, an advertiser's account history, and other relevance factors as determined by Google. The quality score is also used by Google to set the minimum bids for an advertiser's keywords. The minimum bid takes into consideration the quality of the landing page as well, which includes the relevancy and originality of content, navigability, and transparency into the nature of the business. Though <b>Google</b> has released a list of full guidelines for sites, the precise formula and meaning of relevance and its definition is in part secret to Google and the parameters used can change dynamically.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">The auction mechanism that determines the order of the ads is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generalized_second-price_auction" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Generalized second-price auction">generalized second-price auction</a>. This is claimed to have the property that the participants <i>do not necessarily</i> fare best when they truthfully reveal any private information asked for by the auction mechanism (in this case, the value of the keyword to them, in the form of a "truthful" bid).</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;">source: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AdWords">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AdWords</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: black; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0.17em; padding-top: 0.5em; width: auto;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div></h2></span>Pam Perry, PR Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612573591768823922noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-78409461644777895932011-09-01T09:43:00.001-07:002011-09-01T09:55:46.189-07:00Content Strategy for the Web<div class="Amp_Commentary_Wrap"><div class="Amp_Post_Text"><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">What is the GAME CHANGER?</span> Content marketing! (and content curation). Not just buzz words but necessary in marketing and promoting any online business (or online business presence). Businesses and corporations today need to know about Content Development & Marketing, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Social Media Marketing (SMM).
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<br />Great book we recommend for clients: Accelerate! Grow Your Business Through the Convergence of Search, Social & Content Marketing.</p></div></div><div class=" ClipTheme newspaper"><div class="Amp_Content_Outer"><div class="Amp_Top_Wrap"><div class="Amp_Source_First"><span>Amplify’d from <a rel="clipsource" target="_blank" title="http://www.verticalmeasures.com/content-strategy/content-strategy-for-the-web/" href="http://www.verticalmeasures.com/content-strategy/content-strategy-for-the-web/">www.verticalmeasures.com</a></span></div></div><div class="Amp_Middle_Wrap"><blockquote class="Amp_Content_Item" cite="http://www.verticalmeasures.com/content-strategy/content-strategy-for-the-web/"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><div class="TxtCntnt"><div><div id="___plusone_0"></div></div>
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<br /><p><img style="width: 333px; height: 114px;" alt="Web Content Strategy" src="http://www.verticalmeasures.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Accelerate-Content-Strategy.jpg" title="Web Content Strategy" /></p>
<br /><p>You probably have a website. Has your philosophy for it evolved with the times? Contemporary websites offer more than just information about your company, contact information, and your product offerings. They now provide resources for solving customer problems, can be hubs for social activity, and, most importantly, are rich with fresh and engaging content that is regularly updated so that visitors will frequently return. Content strategy, then, begins with the question: What’s the point of your website?
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<br /><p>Many business owners think that the purpose of their website is self-evident, that the questions “Why do you have a website?” and “Why do you produce web content?” are rhetorical ones that don’t need answering. I think just the opposite. Businesses must answer these questions first and foremost.</p>
<br /><h2>What Do You Want To Accomplish?</h2>
<br /><p>When our clients come to us for help with their content strategy, we ask them right off the bat what they want to accomplish. Sometimes, our clients don’t have the best answer. They tell us things like, “We know that content is king, so we need to add more content.” Or, “Our competitors are putting some really great things on the web so we need to too.” While both answers contain truth, they miss the mark when it comes to the strategy. We tell our clients that the question is actually quite simple, but the answer is not. Organizations should develop a content strategy because:</p>
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<br /><li>Web content provides the customer with clean, logical access to products and services and should funnel them to the site’s conversion pages.</li>
<br /><li>Web content provides information that answers some of the toughest problems customers face.</li>
<br /><li>Web content positions the organization as the trusted expert in its industry.</li>
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<br /><p>Notice that the purpose of your web content centers on the customer’s experience. Just like keyword research attempts to identify what your customers are searching for in your industry, your website can provide the answer to those searches. A smart content strategy begins with understanding what the customer <em>needs</em> rather than what you want to offer them.</p>
<br /><p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.verticalmeasures.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/VM-Chain-01-Strategy.jpg"><img alt="Content Strategy" src="http://www.verticalmeasures.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/VM-Chain-01-Strategy.jpg" title="Content Strategy" height="356" width="335" /></a></p>
<br /><h2>Measurable Objectives</h2>
<br /><p>In order for your content to deliver, you need a strategy with specific objectives that guides your content creation. By implementing measurable goals, you will be able to assess the success of your various projects and discover what’s working for you and what’s not. You need to consider the measurable objectives that will drive your content development.</p>
<br /><p>The objectives for your content apply both at the macro level for your whole content enterprise, and at the micro level for each individual piece of content. Your content will be working for you when it:</p>
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<br /><li>Develops and increases your brand awareness</li>
<br /><li>Generates traffic to your site and garners new customer leads or sales</li>
<br /><li>Enhances your online reputation</li>
<br /><li>Encourages natural links and optimizes your search engine rankings</li>
<br /><li>Increases your competitive advantage</li>
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<br /><p>When you produce any single piece of content, it should accomplish one or more of these goals, and the sum total of all your content should accomplish all of them. An investment in a content marketing strategy is largely a matter of time and effort, and you want to be sure that every minute you devote to creating content yields a product that works to your advantage. By basing your content creation on your main objectives, your content development campaign will be much more efficient, maximizing the return on your investment.</p>
<br /><p>Keep your objectives at the forefront of every piece of content that you develop. Before you create new content, hold it up against your objectives and ask:</p>
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<br /><li>Will this content position my company as a thought leader?</li>
<br /><li>Does it help solve my market’s challenges?</li>
<br /><li>Will it generate qualified traffic to my site?</li>
<br /><li>Is this content better or different than what my competitors are offering?</li>
<br /></ul>Begin by taking a step back and looking at your overall content portfolio. Determine if you’ve created content that fulfills these objectives in one way or another. Are there any holes? Have you neglected any particular objective? For example, has it been a while since you’ve tended to your product pages?
<br /><p>Your objectives will guide you, not only as you create new content but also as you evaluate the current content you have. It’s critical that each piece of content works toward your objectives. Let’s go through each one of the objectives in detail to understand how they work in your strategy.</p>
<br /><h2>Create Mindshare and Branding</h2><span style="font-weight: bold;">How do you want your customers — and the world, for that matter — to perceive you? On a philosophical level, your branding lives in the content. </span><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/mindshare.html">BusinessDictionary.com defines mindshare</a> as the “Informal measure of the amount of talk, mention, or reference an idea, firm, or product generates in public or media.” For your content marketing strategy, you need to get people talking, mentioning or referencing, linking to and especially sharing your branded content. As your brand consistently provides valuable information to your customers and potential customers, you will increase your mindshare.
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<br /><p>Informal measure of the amount of talk, mention, or reference an idea, firm, or product generates in public or media.</p>
<br /></blockquote><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/increasing-your-mind-share-shareable-platforms-107659">Increasing mindshare</a> is all about distribution and promotion of your web pages. By consistently generating shareable content and ensuring that you distribute it through multiple channels and promote it throughout your network, your voice and your brand will make up an ever-increasing part of the conversation about your industry. The more you promote and distribute your content, the more you will boost your mindshare online, while at the same time strengthening the message that your brand is the expert solutions provider for your industry.
<br /><h2>Generate Traffic, Leads and Sales</h2>
<br /><p>Certainly, increasing traffic is important for your site; however, unless you have advertisements on your site, and you’re getting paid for page views, you won’t get much out of increased traffic apart from reinforcing brand recognition. The ultimate goal for increasing traffic is to increase conversion and generate sales for your business. Your content should always work to funnel the traffic that you’re getting to your conversion pages.</p>
<br /><p>Ultimately, your content will only add value to your business when it’s relevant, timely, and engaging. Content that fails in this regard won’t have a chance at going viral in social media channels, and rather than gaining valuable traffic will instead lead to high bounce rates. On the other hand, when you generate engaging content, you will find <a rel="nofollow" href="http://searchengineland.com/two-simple-rules-for-fixing-high-bounce-rate-pages-35125">bounce rates drop</a> and conversion rates go up; you’ll see your content take off in social media.</p>
<br /><p>You can objectively measure traffic increases and conversion rates. That makes this objective a great one for your strategy, not only as you develop your content but also as you measure its success. When you see positive results, you can rest assured that your other goals for your content — the ones that are harder to measure — are reaping the benefits, too. That is, if you see increased traffic to your site and an increased rate of conversion when that traffic lands there, then your brand is strengthened, your mindshare has increased.</p>
<br /><h2>Proactively Manage Your Online Reputation</h2>
<br /><p>The mantra for reputation management is simple: Don’t wait for a problem to develop. Proactive reputation management ensures that the organization’s own content fills the search engine results page when that organization’s name or key people get searched. By ensuring that the organization’s content is visible, it becomes much harder for negative content to rise up to the page one search results. Most searches generally don’t go past page one of the search engine results page. Organizations (even individuals) that want to manage their reputation ought to focus on keeping page one filled with quality content that reinforces a positive brand image. When customers search for your brand, they should find nothing but positive information about your firm, and a smart content strategy ensures that they will.</p>
<br /><p>In order for your organization or you as an individual to achieve this, your content should be distributed through a number of channels. Through social media, businesses can communicate to their customers and manage the communication that flows to the customer. Social media sites typically allow you to create your own profile page. Profiles on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are great examples of starting points for developing a social media platform. If your industry has any industry-specific social media sites, these are certainly places to have a profile, as well.</p>
<br /><p>The same content strategy is true for the reputation of your brand as well as key executives within your organization. Take me, Arnie Kuenn, for example. A <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&biw=1680&bih=846&q=arnie+kuenn">search for my name</a> returns with a variety of content — nearly all the content on this page is content that I have developed and promoted, which is exactly how it should be.</p>
<br /><h2>Content for Search Engine Rankings</h2>
<br /><p>Any set of objectives for a content strategy would be incomplete if it ignored search engine optimization (SEO). Without considering SEO at the development stage, the possibilities for your content are diminished.</p>
<br /><p>Content development and search engine optimization go hand in hand. On-page SEO is about assuring that each content page has the nuts and bolts in place so that the content will have the best chance for ranking highly in search. This means that your content needs to get plenty of links, and that onsite <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.verticalmeasures.com/resources/seo-best-practices-guide/">SEO best practices (free guide)</a> – including titles, optimized metadata, and assurance that the pages don’t have excessive load time – need to be taken care of. As the content is developed, keeping these SEO factors in mind will ensure that it goes live in the best condition to improve your search engine rankings.</p><em><strong>Note:</strong> the above is excerpted from my book <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.verticalmeasures.com/accelerate/"><strong>Accelerate!</strong> Grow Your Business Through the Convergence of Search, Social & Content Marketing</a>. It is a 250 page, step-by-step guide that any organization can follow to kick their content marketing strategy into high gear. <a rel="nofollow" href="http://amzn.com/1456479997" title="Accelerate Book on Amazon">Buy your copy today</a>!</em></div></td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote><div class="Amp_Content_Hr"></div><blockquote class="Amp_Content_Item" cite="http://www.verticalmeasures.com/content-strategy/content-strategy-for-the-web/"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><span class="Amp_Source_Button"><a rel="clipsource" target="_blank" title="http://www.verticalmeasures.com/content-strategy/content-strategy-for-the-web/" href="http://www.verticalmeasures.com/content-strategy/content-strategy-for-the-web/">Read more at www.verticalmeasures.com</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote></div><div class="Amp_Bottom_Wrap"> </div></div></div><div style="font-weight: bold;" class="Amp_Link">See this Amp at <a href="http://amplify.com/u/a1ca52">http://amplify.com/u/a1ca52</a></div>
<br />diversebusinesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924558219662814798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-44587311732687543312011-08-28T17:10:00.001-07:002011-08-28T17:12:45.535-07:00Louis Green: Eleanor Josaitis Unsung Hero Award<div class="Amp_Commentary_Wrap"><div class="Amp_Post_Text"><p>It's a good thing that the Detroit Free Press prints "good" news once in a while! This was an excellent front page story about Louis Green winning the "Eleanor Josaitis Unsung Hero Award" and his commitment to increasing diverse business across the state.
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<br />"The thing I like most is we get to make a connection with talented business owners and help them make their dream a reality," said Louis Green.
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<br />Congrats to Mr. Louis Green, President/CEO of Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council.</p></div></div><div class=" ClipTheme newspaper"><div class="Amp_Content_Outer"><div class="Amp_Top_Wrap"><div class="Amp_Source_First"><span>Amplify’d from <a rel="clipsource" target="_blank" title="http://www.freep.com/article/20110828/NEWS05/108280480/Louis-Green-Eleanor-Josaitis-Unsung-Hero-Award" href="http://www.freep.com/article/20110828/NEWS05/108280480/Louis-Green-Eleanor-Josaitis-Unsung-Hero-Award">www.freep.com</a></span></div></div><div class="Amp_Middle_Wrap"><blockquote class="Amp_Content_Item" cite="http://www.freep.com/article/20110828/NEWS05/108280480/Louis-Green-Eleanor-Josaitis-Unsung-Hero-Award"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><div class="TxtCntnt">
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<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span></div><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Louis Green, president and CEO of the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council, stands in a skywalk to the Fisher Building in Detroit. Colleagues praise his ability to stay focused and flexible. / PATRICIA BECK/Detroit Free Press</span></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote><div class="Amp_Content_Hr"></div><blockquote class="Amp_Content_Item" cite="http://www.freep.com/article/20110828/NEWS05/108280480/Louis-Green-Eleanor-Josaitis-Unsung-Hero-Award"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><div class="TxtCntnt"><p>Louis Green was one in a group of 12 children who lived in a south-central Los Angeles neighborhood during the rise of gang violence.</p><p>"Out of them, there are seven who are dead, two sentenced to life in jail, one serving 86 years, and I don't know where one is," Green said.</p><p>But Green, president and CEO of the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council, said the tough circumstances of his childhood allowed him to excel.</p><p>"It drives me all the time," he said.</p><p>That drive has helped him change lives by getting corporations throughout the state and minority business leaders to work together.</p><p>It's also one of the reasons Green was selected to receive the Eleanor Josaitis Unsung Hero Award.</p><h3>Off to Ohio</h3>
<br /><p>Green, 50, escaped the streets of Los Angeles when he accepted a full scholarship to Oberlin College in Ohio. There, he received bachelor's degrees in political science and communications.</p><p>Green later attended the University of Michigan, where he received a master's degree in public policy.</p><p>From there, Green worked in the state economic development office under then-Gov. Jim Blanchard and was hired as an economic adviser for then-Gov. John Engler.</p><p>Green has been a chief deputy director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, served as a national director of supplier diversity at NBC TV and was on New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's minority business team.</p><p>Six years ago, Green joined the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council. In the past four years, it has twice won the Council of the Year award.</p><p>The privately funded nonprofit is one of 37 Minority Supplier Development affiliates in the country. The organization offers programs and services for its corporate members and minority-owned business owners, as well as networking opportunities.</p><p>Each year, the 1,500-member organization facilitates more than $16 billion in purchases from minority businesses.</p><p>"The thing I like most is we get to make a connection with talented business owners and help them make their dream a reality," Green said.</p><h3>Focused and flexible</h3>
<br /><p>Mable Jones, public affairs director for AAA Michigan, said she nominated Green for the award because of his ability to stay focused and flexible, come up with strategic plans and advocate for the membership.</p><p>"Mr. Green works with our program, and I got to observe his behavior and I was very impressed," said Jones, who also nominated him last year.</p><p>Jones said Green offers encouragement and often works quietly behind the scenes. "He knows how to work cooperatively," she said.</p><p>Green acknowledged he believes in working behind the scenes to make things happen. He said he thinks the connections in his organization happen because he and his staff try to reach out to the members and corporations.</p><p>Helen Ford, director of supplier diversity with AAA Michigan, said Green's ability and dedication to connecting members and corporations from the eastern and western parts of the state makes him essential to building economic growth.</p><p>Last year, the council was part of a group that put on a job fair for 5,000 people. And although that's not what the organization typically does, Green said the event helped build more connections.</p><p>"I never believe in staying in my lane," Green said.</p></div><span class="Amp_Source_Button"><a rel="clipsource" target="_blank" title="http://www.freep.com/article/20110828/NEWS05/108280480/Louis-Green-Eleanor-Josaitis-Unsung-Hero-Award" href="http://www.freep.com/article/20110828/NEWS05/108280480/Louis-Green-Eleanor-Josaitis-Unsung-Hero-Award">Read more at www.freep.com</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote></div><div class="Amp_Bottom_Wrap"> </div></div></div><div class="Amp_Link">See this Amp at <a href="http://amplify.com/u/a1c1dn">http://amplify.com/u/a1c1dn</a></div>
<br />diversebusinesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924558219662814798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-33284602687492453412011-08-25T12:53:00.000-07:002011-08-25T15:15:35.873-07:00Supplier diversity Programs assist in finding & getting diversified suppliers<div id="article-body"><div id="article-content"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0BQKr_myJ3K-rYKEPmd4H62kAZAkHs0PG9ES4uf7nf4EbjCwcYmtxM3sLyWUHY-89PSg7YX6ZbuGAHy8mQUqt4LLdkx3lbMDK_rjZOG1CPdcXUVmPEzZXDL0h01H6QlzvMvoE4A8IZc/s1600/MMSDC+Header.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0BQKr_myJ3K-rYKEPmd4H62kAZAkHs0PG9ES4uf7nf4EbjCwcYmtxM3sLyWUHY-89PSg7YX6ZbuGAHy8mQUqt4LLdkx3lbMDK_rjZOG1CPdcXUVmPEzZXDL0h01H6QlzvMvoE4A8IZc/s320/MMSDC+Header.JPG" border="0" height="67" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /><span style="font-size:large;">Corporate diversity programs can be a good technique to obtain contracts from the Fortune 500 companies. The majority of corporate giants contain a diversity division and they exist to help your small business.</span>
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<br />Corporate diversity departments assist in finding and getting diversified suppliers outside of the corporation. They are going to help your small business in getting work from the company. Realize that these companies don't operate the same as the government's minority programs. They most likely will not have contracts just for a minority certified business. Although, a few times they may have government specifications in their contracts to use minority businesses. However, these opportunities are regularly managed in the different divisions within the same corporation. So, they may request a list of minority vendors from the diversity department or they may look for the right vendors on their own.
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<br />Supplier diversity programs will not have the ability to take you to the Chairman of the Board in a person's initial visit. Yet, upon developing a partnership they might be able to get you an appointment with a department VP or some other decision maker. These diversity departments are fantastic at providing an introduction to somebody that has purchasing power. This can be significantly better than looking for the appropriate individual from the outside of the company. These programs are an excellent source of insider tips too.
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<br />An important component to getting corporate contracts is the follow-up. Following the first appointment mail a note or a card saying you appreciated the time and consideration. After that, begin seeking for reasons to stay in contact. As with all marketing endeavors, your goal is to be kept in their thoughts. They will be busy with other vendors but your goal will to be their favorite. The next step is then to begin relationships with other departments in the company.
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<br /></div><div id="article-resource"><span style="font-size:xx-small;">Learn more about <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Corporate-Diversity-Programs" target="_new">corporate diversity programs</a>. A person can find information about a niche business too, like <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Native-American-Business" target="_new">Native American business</a>. Visit the links to find out more.</span></div><span style="font-size:xx-small;">Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Darryl_Noble">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darryl_Noble</a></span> </div><div style="overflow: hidden;"><span style="font-size:130%;">
<br />==> Watch recent Supplier Diversity webinar by Steve Larson, here==> </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://a3.video3.blip.tv/0280008566499/Louisgreenmmsdc-201108161206WEBINAR_SupplierDiversityBestPracticesELearni682.wmv?brs=128&bri=4.8">http://a3.video3.blip.tv/0280008566499/Louisgreenmmsdc-201108161206WEBINAR_SupplierDiversityBestPracticesELearni682.wmv?brs=128&bri=4.8</a>
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<br /></div>Pam Perry, PR Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612573591768823922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-49608262409754598482011-08-20T18:56:00.000-07:002011-08-20T18:56:20.562-07:00BBWO 50 Fabulous Women Entrepreneurs<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ePzZAbyy8PM?fs=1" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" width="425"></iframe>Pam Perry, PR Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612573591768823922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-23861088384507293212011-08-04T20:26:00.000-07:002011-08-04T20:26:11.275-07:00Google explains marketing tools to Mich. businesses<section> <time datetime="2011-08-04" pubdate="pubdate"> </time> <h1 class="post-title" id=""><a href="http://diversebusinessoppty.posterous.com/google-explains-marketing-tools-to-mich-busin">Google explains marketing tools to Mich. businesses</a></h1></section> <div class="inner"> <br />
<h1><div class="posterousGalleryMainDiv p_embed p_image_embed" data-posterous-file-list="%5B%7B%22large%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fposterous.com%2Fgetfile%2Ffiles.posterous.com%2Ftemp-2011-08-04%2FclCbbucerreHhqskeCzajyHltGxJEfiDyIjFfbDpyFvtJlesBiBlAacritDd%2Fdetroit_news.com_logo.jpg%22%2C%22originalWidth%22%3A%22222%22%2C%22largeWidth%22%3A%22222%22%2C%22thumb%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fposterous.com%2Fgetfile%2Ffiles.posterous.com%2Ftemp-2011-08-04%2FclCbbucerreHhqskeCzajyHltGxJEfiDyIjFfbDpyFvtJlesBiBlAacritDd%2Fdetroit_news.com_logo.jpg.thumb.jpg%22%2C%22originalHeight%22%3A%2263%22%2C%22largeHeight%22%3A%2263%22%2C%22thumbWidth%22%3A%2236%22%2C%22height%22%3A%2263%22%2C%22main%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fposterous.com%2Fgetfile%2Ffiles.posterous.com%2Ftemp-2011-08-04%2FclCbbucerreHhqskeCzajyHltGxJEfiDyIjFfbDpyFvtJlesBiBlAacritDd%2Fdetroit_news.com_logo.jpg.scaled500.jpg%22%2C%22thumbHeight%22%3A%2236%22%2C%22originalSize%22%3A%223%22%2C%22original%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fposterous.com%2Fgetfile%2Ffiles.posterous.com%2Ftemp-2011-08-04%2FclCbbucerreHhqskeCzajyHltGxJEfiDyIjFfbDpyFvtJlesBiBlAacritDd%2Fdetroit_news.com_logo.jpg%22%2C%22width%22%3A%22222%22%7D%5D" data-posterous-image-gallery-initialized="true" data-posterous-image-gallery="true" data-posterous-options="%7B%22zipFile%22%3Anull%2C%22zipFileSize%22%3Anull%2C%22external_url%22%3Anull%2C%22showDownload%22%3Atrue%2C%22url_slug%22%3A%22google-explains-marketing-tools-to-mich-busin%22%7D"> <img alt="Detroit_news" height="63" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-08-04/clCbbucerreHhqskeCzajyHltGxJEfiDyIjFfbDpyFvtJlesBiBlAacritDd/detroit_news.com_logo.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="222" /> </div></h1><h4 style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">By Jaclyn Trop/ The Detroit News <a href="http://diversebusinessoppty.posterous.com/google-explains-marketing-tools-to-mich-busin">August 4, 2011</a></h4><em>Detroit</em> — Google Inc. Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt spoke here Thursday with Michigan businesses to explain how they can use Google's marketing tools to level the playing field and make money from their entrepreneurial visions.<br />
The Internet is vital to growing business in an age of increasingly specialized, global markets, Schmidt told the group, which included representatives from Belle Tire Inc., Okemos-based software company TechSmith Corp., Ann Arbor-based global transportation firm Con-way Inc. and Ideal Group Inc., which hosted the event at its Detroit headquarters.<br />
While it's never been easier to create new businesses, he said, it's also never been harder to beat competitors.<br />
"Your economic solution is solved by the fact that the Internet exists," said Schmidt, who served as Google's CEO for 10 years before stepping down this spring. "It's easy to criticize the Internet because it's not perfect, but you want to think about what life would be like without it."<br />
<strong>Google's paid advertising program Google AdWords has helped local businesses get ahead in an increasingly competitive market "where a penny one way or the other puts you out of the game," said Louis Green, president of Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council. </strong><br />
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<div class="posterousGalleryMainDiv p_embed p_image_embed" data-posterous-file-list="%5B%7B%22large%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fposterous.com%2Fgetfile%2Ffiles.posterous.com%2Ftemp-2011-08-04%2FCkxvwFFrDcAhqfFtgrGCreskpcAzivodypBceubtjFsnniDgaEyofbxdkAom%2Flouisgreen.JPG.scaled1000.jpg%22%2C%22originalWidth%22%3A%22541%22%2C%22largeWidth%22%3A%22541%22%2C%22thumb%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fposterous.com%2Fgetfile%2Ffiles.posterous.com%2Ftemp-2011-08-04%2FCkxvwFFrDcAhqfFtgrGCreskpcAzivodypBceubtjFsnniDgaEyofbxdkAom%2Flouisgreen.JPG.thumb.jpg%22%2C%22originalHeight%22%3A%22806%22%2C%22largeHeight%22%3A%22806%22%2C%22thumbWidth%22%3A%2236%22%2C%22height%22%3A%22745%22%2C%22main%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fposterous.com%2Fgetfile%2Ffiles.posterous.com%2Ftemp-2011-08-04%2FCkxvwFFrDcAhqfFtgrGCreskpcAzivodypBceubtjFsnniDgaEyofbxdkAom%2Flouisgreen.JPG.scaled500.jpg%22%2C%22thumbHeight%22%3A%2236%22%2C%22originalSize%22%3A%2241%22%2C%22original%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fposterous.com%2Fgetfile%2Ffiles.posterous.com%2Ftemp-2011-08-04%2FCkxvwFFrDcAhqfFtgrGCreskpcAzivodypBceubtjFsnniDgaEyofbxdkAom%2Flouisgreen.JPG%22%2C%22width%22%3A%22500%22%7D%5D" data-posterous-image-gallery-initialized="true" data-posterous-image-gallery="true" data-posterous-options="%7B%22zipFile%22%3Anull%2C%22zipFileSize%22%3Anull%2C%22external_url%22%3Anull%2C%22showDownload%22%3Atrue%2C%22url_slug%22%3A%22google-explains-marketing-tools-to-mich-busin%22%7D"><a class="posterousGalleryMainlink" href="http://diversebusinessoppty.posterous.com/google-explains-marketing-tools-to-mich-busin#"><img height="320" id="mainImage" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-08-04/CkxvwFFrDcAhqfFtgrGCreskpcAzivodypBceubtjFsnniDgaEyofbxdkAom/louisgreen.JPG.scaled500.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><strong> </strong> <strong>Free Internet tools are the "great equalizer," Green said. "A small firm looks just like a large firm."</strong><br />
Google's targeted advertising tools helped generate $1.3 billion in economic activity for more than 43,000 Michigan businesses and nonprofits last year, a 40 percent surge from 2009, Google said.<br />
The Mountain View, Calif.-based media conglomerate is trying to make further inroads against traditional advertising by noting its search tools can help businesses reach new customers and thrive online for a fraction of the cost of traditional marketing.<br />
<em><a href="mailto:jtrop@detnews.com">jtrop@detnews.com</a></em><br />
<em>(313) 222-2575</em><br />
<i><br />
From The Detroit News: <a href="http://detnews.com/article/20110804/BIZ/108040481/Google-explains-marketing-tools-to-Mich.-businesses#ixzz1U7X4Y6kr"><span style="color: #003399;">http://detnews.com/article/20110804/BIZ/108040481/Google-explains-marketing-tools-to-Mich.-businesses#ixzz1U7X4Y6kr</span></a></i><br />
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</div>Pam Perry, PR Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612573591768823922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-54864646777880233812011-07-27T11:02:00.000-07:002011-08-25T15:10:03.236-07:00Supplier Diversity Best Practices & Summit: Grand Rapids<b>Supplier Diversity best practices</b>
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<br />Many companies have Supplier Diversity programs. These programs, also referred to as minority owned business enterprise or MBE programs are intended to help large corporations do business with small companies owned by African, Hispanic, and Asian Americans. <b>The effectiveness of Supplier Diversity programs varies widely, depending on whether the company wants to use theirs as a strategic means to lower their bottom line costs and improve profitability, or only as a public relations vehicle.</b>
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<br /><span style="font-size:large;">Here are some of the characteristics of the best practices for Supplier Diversity programs:</span>
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<br /><ul><li>Clearly documented commitment from the company's CEO</li>
<br /><li>Specific annual goals for purchasing from minority owned businesses</li>
<br /><li>Attainment of the goals tied to the compensation and performance plans of senior management</li>
<br /><li>Inclusion of Supplier Diversity in a strategic plan for diversity</li>
<br /><li>Head of the Supplier Diversity program is at the senior management level or above, and has control over corporate purchasing</li>
<br /><li>Consideration of minority owned businesses included as a formal part of the contracting procurement process</li>
<br /><li>Second-tier subcontracting to minority owned businesses also included as part of that process and written into the prime supplier's contract</li>
<br /><li>A comprehensive database of minority owned businesses that is actively maintained and integrated into the purchasing process</li>
<br /><li>Purchasing system that tracks supplier diversity performance and can target specific contracts for additional focus, outreach, or consideration</li>
<br /><li>Visibility on the company's Internet website, including program details, contacts, and list of products and services purchased</li>
<br /><li>Strategic partnerships with ethnic chambers, publishers, and other organizations that can assist in outreach</li>
<br /></ul><i><span style="font-size:xx-small;">source: ht<a href="tp://www.diversestrategies.com/Supplier_diversity_best_practices.htm">tp://www.diversestrategies.com/Supplier_diversity_best_practices.htm</a></span></i>
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<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.tr3.com/mmbdc/images/SD_2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img style="width: 322px; height: 206px;" src="http://www.tr3.com/mmbdc/images/SD_2011.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:large;"> Ticket Information: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size:large;"><a href="http://supplierdiversitysummit.eventbrite.com/">http://supplierdiversitysummit.eventbrite.com/</a></span></div>
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<br />Event Details<div class="panel_body notranslate"><span class="description"> </span>
<br /><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="description"><span style=" ;font-family:Consolas;font-size:small;color:black;" ><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The Supplier Diversity Summit is West Michigan's premier business </span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">development and networking event for minority business enterprises (MBEs); and is the place for large and small businesses, federal, state, and local governments, and other buying entities to meet, connect, and build relationships among certified minority-owned firms. Our 2011 theme, "Diversity's Global Reach," highlights the need for businesses to be globally savvy and able to offer global solutions to customers.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="description">
<br /></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="description"><span style=" ;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:black;" >The Summit features dynamic presentations including a minority business panel showcasing their international success stories, and is open to people with an interest in, and concern for building our economy and society through inclusion. We invite you to register and attend this important conference.</span></span></div><b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:small;">Join us August 10-11, 2011 in Grand Rapids, Michigan </span></span></b><span class="description">
<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </div></span><a href="http://supplierdiversitysummit.eventbrite.com/">http://supplierdiversitysummit.eventbrite.com/</a>
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<br />Pam Perry, PR Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612573591768823922noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-50000645470830797802011-06-25T23:55:00.000-07:002011-06-25T23:55:30.946-07:00Is Social Media Really Worth the Time?<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14pt;">Case studies for considering social media by Tiffany Odutoye</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">If you still haven’t jumped into the social media bandwagon, which of these is your excuse? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">You don’t know much about the power of social media?<br />
You are much too busy with other stuff? Or </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">You have NO idea of what to do and where to start?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
Whatever your problem, we have compiled a few case studies for considering social media. We hope this will show you what you are missing if you are not into social media marketing, right now and here.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Case study #1: Make YOUR brand of coffee from Starbucks:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In March, 2009 Starbucks celebrated the first birthday of <a href="http://mystarbucksidea.com/">mystarbucksidea.com</a>, their first ever and wildly successful blog. Look at the amazing numbers they generated from this new venture.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 22.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">3 million+ unique visitors (as of Nov, 2008)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 22.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">70,000 ideas (as of March, 2009)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 22.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">2 million+ comments (as of Jan, 2009)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://twitter.com/Starbucks">Starbucks has a profile</a> on Twitter with an unbelievable following of over 120,000 people! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">All this is less than a year! Which paid ad campaign can bring you this kind of publicity?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Mystarbucksidea simply asks people what their mega Starbucks idea is. Starbucks coffee cubes? A customer card? Online coffee orders? Wikis? Whatever it is, just let ‘em know. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The user has to register to post ideas. The company keeps track of these ideas. There’s a voting facility and people can track the status of their ideas. The best ideas get implemented. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">This is the perfect example of the power of democracy in business. Mystarbucks is the personification of the company’s insistence that the perfect cup of coffee is all about *YOU*. This platform is the company’s way of telling its customers that it cares about offering people <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the kind of coffee experience they want</i>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The success of their blog has several lessons for social media enthusiasts. Starbucks was able to make Starbucksidea something a lot more than a fancy suggestion box. They do this by:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 22.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Taking action: By allowing users to see the status of their ideas and informing them of the ideas that are being implemented, the company is following through with its promises. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 22.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Exciting users constantly: User interest is constantly piqued through discussions, Twitter posts and ads placed in stores. Thus, they maintain a constant buzz.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 22.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Preparing a comprehensive social media strategy: Starbucks unleashed several social media strategies, like their highly popular <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2J8KJDsqqY">video at YouTube</a> to encourage people to vote on Nov 4th. This gives them the right public image. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Important lesson:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 22.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">People like to do business with people they ‘like’. ‘Knowing’ is not enough any more. <br />
Heightened likeability = more sales. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Case Study #2: “Execute on Extraordinary Experiences Everyday!” </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">This is the mantra of the <a href="http://www.freshbooks.com/blog/2009/04/21/freshbooks-as-a-social-media-case-study/">FreshBooks community</a>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">FreshBooks started their online invoicing project in 2004. As of April 2009, more than 800,000 people use FreshBooks to receive, send, print and pay invoices. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">According to Mike McDerment, the CEO of FreshBooks, a fantastic product and a great customer community has helped FreshBooks maintain its rapid growth even in the face of the economic downturn. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Execute:<br />
FreshBooks believes in ‘Executing’ fresh ideas so that people KNOW that things are getting done, and that their think tank is delivering real- time, tangible results.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Extraordinary:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The ‘Extraordinary’ experience is exceeding the expectations of customers in numerous little ways. One such step is the company taking their <a href="http://www.freshbooks.com/blog/2007/09/12/freshbooks-customer-service-now-with-mango-salad/">customers to dinner</a>. Another example is how the company has a real person responding to enquiries from their website. Not something you’d normally expect. Customers are happy to connect with the people they are buying from. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Experience:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">FreshBooks offers their customers the ultimate ‘Experience’ when using their services. So, their software and their service personnel are friendly, helpful faces that relate with consumers on a personal level. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Everyday:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Finally, the company recreates these refreshing experiences ‘Everyday’ – a simple strategy that keeps customers happy everyday and every time they call.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">FreshBooks has been using a number of social media tools to extend their community. It has a <a href="http://twitter.com/freshbooks">good online following</a> at Twitter. This is the place where the company seeks to hold contests, follow up with customer service. Ultimately, their forums, blog and Twitter allow the company to convey the company’s message that “the currency of our business is relationships”. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">What a powerful way of putting it into perspective! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Important Lesson:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 22.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">When customers enjoy a positive experience each time they come to you, they endorse you automatically. Your customer base expands on autopilot. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Case Study #3: What women want</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">When they were thinking of launching a service for working mothers and mothers who wanted to return to the work force, Bradi Nathan and Terry Starr decided to get the answers from the mothers themselves. They conducted a survey on Facebook, asking their friends to forward it to more friends. This was how <a href="http://myworkbutterfly.com/">MyWorkButterfly</a> or as they like to call it ‘Facebook for Moms’ was born. The website was launched in January 2009 - only 4 months ago, and they already claim to have more than 2,000 members and 40,000+ hits every month! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Not bad for a maiden venture. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Important Lesson:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 22.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The best way to know what your customers want is to ask them; the best way to cultivate your customers is to deliver it to them!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Some of the important lessons that we can learn from case studies like these are:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 22.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Social media opens the door to a huge and expanding marketplace.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 22.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Social media is the best way to take your brand/product to your customers</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 22.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Social media allows you to open the doors to meaningful, two-way communication</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">A well built social network is an excellent channel for business and brand promotion. That is why so many people are obsessed with the idea of growing their social network. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">However, planning and strategizing is as important to social media as it is to traditional marketing. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 22.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Social media is effective only if it is targeted and constructive, so you must have an action plan before you dive into it</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 22.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Different combinations of tools work for different businesses. Choose yours wisely</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 22.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Consistency is key</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 22.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Transparency is a must</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 22.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Take meaningful, follow up action so that visitors are motivated to respond to your call of action</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 4.5pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">As an enthusiastic entrepreneur puts it, “it might look as if we’re wasting time chatting up strangers on Facebook and Twitter. But, all the while, we are developing precious contacts, and you never know which one of these contacts, or all of them, opens the doors to business opportunities.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 4.5pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, if you are not making use of social media to connect with your community, you are forfeiting an important marketing strategy. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 4.5pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 4.5pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Resource Box:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 4.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://mashable.com/2009/04/28/grow-social-network/">12 inspiring social media success stories</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 4.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://socialtnt.com/2008/11/20/three-killer-social-media-case-studies-from-smc-san-francisco/">3 killer social media case studies</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 4.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://www.beingpeterkim.com/2008/09/ive-been-thinki.html">Social media marketing examples</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="FreeForm" style="mso-outline-level: 1;"><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Arial Italic"; font-size: 13pt;">AUTHOR:</span></div><div class="FreeForm"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://api.ning.com/files/0GbUimmdWwRN8PDssu4MFuAM-s3ulD4UmEDPLQuW2YaMeqK*W6vFRXr5mNYCwZwZYCrD0dBAC5nfZJXpz9X9l85acMlC71sh/TiffanyOdutoye1web.jpg?width=183&height=183&crop=1%3A1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://api.ning.com/files/0GbUimmdWwRN8PDssu4MFuAM-s3ulD4UmEDPLQuW2YaMeqK*W6vFRXr5mNYCwZwZYCrD0dBAC5nfZJXpz9X9l85acMlC71sh/TiffanyOdutoye1web.jpg?width=183&height=183&crop=1%3A1" /></a></div><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Arial Italic"; font-size: 13pt;">Tiffany Odutoye, Expert Idea Generator, Virtual Business Owner, Speaker and Coach with a passion for Social Media. </span></div><div class="FreeForm"><br />
</div><div class="FreeForm"><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Arial Italic"; font-size: 13pt;">Publisher of the book: "Now What Do I Do-An Entrepreneur's Guide to Getting to the Next Step with Social Media" - Learn more at <a href="http://www.talksocialnetworking.com/"><span style="color: #000099;">http://www.talksocialnetworking.com</span></a> <a href="http://www.virtualpartner.biz/"><span style="color: #000099;">http://www.virtualpartner.biz</span></a> and <a href="http://www.nowwhatdoido.info/">http://www.nowwhatdoido.info</a>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><b>HEAR TIFFANY ODUTOYE ON THE DIVERSE BUSINESS SHOW</b><br />
<div class="FreeForm"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase='http://download.adobe.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0' width='210' height='105' name="124654" id="124654"><param name="movie" value="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf?file=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogtalkradio.com%2Fdiversebusiness%2F2011%2F06%2F20%2Fentrepreneurs-journey-in-social-media-with-tiffany-odutoye%2Fplaylist.xml&autostart=false&bufferlength=5&volume=80&corner=rounded&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/flashplayercallback.aspx" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogtalkradio.com%2Fdiversebusiness%2F2011%2F06%2F20%2Fentrepreneurs-journey-in-social-media-with-tiffany-odutoye%2fplaylist.xml&autostart=false&shuffle=false&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/FlashPlayerCallback.aspx&width=210&height=105&volume=80&corner=rounded" width="210" height="105" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" wmode="transparent" menu="false" name="124654" id="124654" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object><div style="font-size: 10px;text-align: center; width:220px;">Listen to <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com">internet radio</a> with <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/diversebusiness">Diverse Business</a> on Blog Talk Radio</div></div>Pam Perry, PR Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612573591768823922noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030369662551106564.post-23862928398653689102011-06-17T23:56:00.000-07:002011-06-17T23:56:29.877-07:00Black Business Conference Featuring Keynote Speaker George Fraser & Mayor Dave Bing<span style="font-size: large;"><b>FREE Business Event. Thursday, June 23</b></span><br />
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<tr> <td style="padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><img border="0" height="125" id="_x0000_i1039" src="http://www.michiganblackchamber.com/eflyer/mbcc-eflyer_15.jpg" width="400" /> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.michiganblackchamber.com/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-large;"><span>www.MichiganBlackChamber.com</span></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-large;"><span>(313) 971-6511 </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div></td></tr>
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</tbody></table>Pam Perry, PR Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612573591768823922noreply@blogger.com1