BUSINESS POWER NETWORK

INCORPORATING A BUSINESS ENTERPRISE: Methods of Conducting Business

2011-07-06T01:31:00.000-07:00

Legal Framework for Business Activities
Methods of Conducting Business
All business enterprises must be registered with the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (Registrar of Companies). A foreign investor wishing to set up business operation in Nigeria should take all steps necessary to obtain local incorporation of the Nigerian branch or subsidiary. Business activities may be undertaken in Nigeria as a :
(i) Private or Public limited liability company;
(ii) Unlimited liability company;
(iii) Company limited by guarantee;
(iv) Foreign Company (branch or subsidiary of foreign company)
(v) Partnership/Firm;
(vi) Sole Proprietorship;
(vii) Incorporated trustees;
(viii) Representative office;
INCORPORATING A BUSINESS ENTERPRISE: The Companies & Allied Matters Act
Legal Framework for Business Activities
The Companies and Allied Matters Act and Incorporation Procedures
The Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990 (the Companies Act) is the principal law regulating the incorporation of businesses. The administration of the Companies Act is under-taken by the CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) and its functions include:
(i) the regulation and supervision of the formation, incorporation, registration, management and winding up of companies.
(ii) the maintenance of a Companies Registry;
(iii) the conduct of investigation into the affairs of any company in the interest of share-holders and the public.
Minimum Share Capital and Disclosures in Memorandum of
Association
The minimum authorised share capital is N10,000 in the case of private companies or N500,000 in the case of public companies. The Memorandum of Association must state inter-alia that the subscribers “shall take amongst them a total number of shares of a value not less than 25 per cent of the authorised capital and that each subscriber shall write opposite his name the number of shares he takes.” The law permits and acknowledges the roles of attorneys and other relevant professionals in facilitating business transactions provided, of course, that this “agency arrangement is disclosed".
Membership of the Company - Prohibition of Trusts
The Companies Act prohibits “notice of any trust, express, implied or constructive” and such shall not be entered on the register of members or be receivable by the CAC.
Shares -
All categories of company shares to carry one vote. Shares with “weighted” voting right are prohibited. All shares (i.e. whether ordinary or preferential) issued by a company must carry one vote in respect of each share.
Consequently, preference shareholders are entitled to receive notices and attend all general meetings of the company and may speak and vote on any resolution before the meeting.
Disclosures To Be Published In Company Correspondence and
Business Premises
Every company is obliged to disclose on its letterhead papers used in correspondence, the following particulars:
(i) Name of the company/enterprise;
(ii) Address;
(iii) Registration/Incorporation Number;
(iv) Names of Directors and Alternate
Directors (if any)
In addition, the law requires companies/enterprises to ensure that the Certificate of Registration be displayed in conspicuous positions at their principal and branch offices.
INCORPORATING A BUSINESS ENTERPRISE: Operations of Foreign Companies in Nigeria
Legal Framework for Business Activities
Operations of Foreign Companies in Nigeria
A non-Nigerian may invest and participate in the operation of any enterprise in Nigeria. However, a foreign company wishing to set up business operations in Nigeria should take all steps necessary to obtain local incorporation of the Nigerian branch or subsidiary as a separate entity in Nigeria for that purpose. Until so incorpo-rated, the foreign company may not carry on business in Nigeria or exercise any of the powers of a registered company.
The foreign investor may incorporate a Nigerian branch or subsidiary by giving a power of attorney to a qualified solicitor in Nigeria for this purpose. The incorporation documents in this instance would disclose that the solicitor is merely acting as an “agent” of a “principal” whose name(s) should also appear in the document. The power of attorney should be designed to lapse and the appointed solicitor ceases to function upon the conclusion of all registration formalities.
The locally incorporated branch or subsidiary company must then apply to the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) for Business Permit and other requisite permits and licences.
Exemption to the General Rule
Where exemption from local incorporation is desired, a foreign company may apply in accor-dance with Section 56 of the Companies Act, to the National Council of Ministers for exemption from incorporating a local subsidiary if such foreign company belongs to one of the following categories:
(a) “foreign companies invited to Nigeria by or with the approval of the Federal Government of Nigeria to execute any specified individual project;
(b) foreign companies which are in Nigeria for the execution of a specific individual loan project on behalf of a donor country or international organisation;
(c) foreign government-owned companies engaged solely in export promotion activities; and
(d) engineering consultants and technical experts engaged on any individual specialist project under contract with any of the governments in the Federation or any of their agencies or with any other body or person, where such contract has been approved by the Federal Government.”
The application for exemption from disclosing certain details about the applicant is to be made to the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF). If successful, the request of the applicant is granted upon such terms and conditions as the National Council of Ministers may think fit.
Representative Offices
Foreign companies may set up representative offices in Nigeria. A representative office however, cannot engage in business or conclude contracts or open or negotiate any letters of credit. It can only serve as a promotional and liaison office, and its local operational expenses have to be inflowed from the foreign company. A representative office has to be registered with the CAC.
LABOUR, HEALTH, TRADE & ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS: Factories Act
Factories Act
This Nigerian law makes general and special provisions for the health, safety and welfare of persons employed in places statutorily defined as “factories” and for which a certificate of registration is required by law. It makes general provisions as to the standards of cleanliness, crowding, ventilation, lighting, drainage of floors, and sanitary conveniences: e.g. all factories must have potable water and washing facilities.
In respect of safety, there are general provisions as to the securing, fixing, usage, maintenance and storage of prime movers, transmission machinery, other machinery, unfenced machinery, dangerous liquids, automated machines, hoists and lifts, chains, ropes and lifting tackle, cranes and other lifting machines, steam boilers, steam receivers containers, and air receivers. There are in addition to these, standards set for the training and supervision of inexperienced workers, safe access to any work place, prevention of fire and safety arrangements in case of fire and first aid boxes.
Also, the law provides that adequate arrangements should be made for the removal of dust or fumes from factories, provision of goggles to protect the eyes in certain processes and the prevention of eating and drinking in places where poisonous or injurious substances give rise to dust or fumes.
It is mandatory that all accidents and industrial diseases be notified to the nearest inspector of factories and be investigated; it is prohibited for the occupier of a factory to make any deductions from the wages of any employee in respect of anything to be done or provided in pursuance of the Factories Act.
Workmen's Compensation Act
The laws provide for the payment of compensation to workmen for injuries suffered in the course of their employment.
LABOUR, HEALTH, TRADE & ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS: National Minimum Wage
National Minimum Wage
Due to inflationary factors, further wage increases have been recommended, and minimum wage have been reviewed upward as an incentive to the workers as announced by the Federal Government during the celebration of workers day in May 2010. An employer, defined as someone employing 50 or more persons, is required to pay the minimum wage, defined as the total emolument payable to a worker.
All employers and trade unions in both the public and private sectors of the economy are permitted to make adjustments to total remuneration packages through the process of collective bargaining. The remuneration agreed requires the approval of the Federal Minister of Employment, Labour and Productivity. Approval will be given where the increases are moderate, non-inflationary and affordable. The agreed and approved remuneration will apply from the first day of the calendar month that follows such agreement. Back-dating of increments is not permitted.
LABOR, HEALTH, TRADE & ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS: Regulatory Bodies
Regulatory Bodies
Standards Organisation of Nigeria
The Nigerian Standards Organisation Act, 1971, established as an integral part of the Federal Ministry of Industries, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, to carry out among other things, the following functions:-
- to designate, establish and approve standards in respect of meterology, materials, commodities, structures and processes for the certification of products in commerce and industry throughout Nigeria;
- to provide necessary measures for quality control of raw materials and products in conformity with the standards specifications;
- to compile Nigerian standards specifications;
- to ensure compliance with designated standards;
- to establish a quality assurance system including certification of factories, products and laboratories;
- to develop methods for testing of materials, supplies and equipment items purchased for use by public and private establishments;
- to undertake preparation and distribution of standards samples;
- to establish and maintain laboratories necessary for the performance of its functions.
On the payment of a nominal fee it is possible to obtain from the offices of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria the prescribed standards for a number of products.
National Agency for Food And Drug Administration and Control
NAFDAC was established in 1993 with functions to regulate and control the importation, exportation, manufacturing, advertisement, distribution, sale and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals.
Drugs and Related Products
No drug product, cosmetic or medical device shall be manufactured, imported, exported, advertised, sold or distributed in Nigeria unless it has been registered in accordance with the provisions of and regulations made under a 1993 Act.
Environmental Impact Regulation
Similar to what obtains in several other convention countries, environmental protection is accorded a lot of prominence in Nigeria. The Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) is charged with overall responsibility for monitoring, supervising and coordinating Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
A comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment procedure for Nigeria, as well as EIA guidelines for various industrial sectors has been compiled.
LABOUR, HEALTH, TRADE & ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS: Trade Malpractices Decree
Trade Malpractices Decree 1992
This Law creates certain offences relating to trade malpractices and sets up a Special Trade Malpractices Investigation Panel to investigate such offences. The law provides against any person who:
- falsely labels, packages, sells, offers for sale or advertises any product so as to mislead as to its quality, character, brand, name, value, composition, merit or safety; or
- for the purpose of sale, contract or other dealing, uses or intends to use any weight, measure or number which is false or unjust; or
- sells any product by weight, measure or number and delivers to the purchaser a less weight, measure or number than is purported to be sold,
- advertises or invites subscription for any product or project which does not exist.
LABOR, HEALTH, TRADE & ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS: Consumer Protection Council
Consumer Protection Council
A Consumer Protection Council has been established in Nigeria with the objectives to:-
- provide speedy redress to consumer complaints through negotiations, mediation and conciliation;
- seek ways and means of removing from the market hazardous products and cause offenders to replace such products with safer and more appropriate alternatives;
- publish from time to time a list of products whose consumption and sale have been banned, withdrawn, restricted, or not approved by the Nigerian government or foreign governments;
- cause an offending company, firm, trade association or individual to protect, compensate, provide relief and safeguards to injured consumers or communities from adverse effects of technologies that are inherently harmful, violent or highly hazardous;
- organise and undertake campaigns and other forms of activities as will lead to increased public consumer awareness;
- encourage trade, industry and professional associations to develop and enforce in their various field quality standards designed to safeguard the interests of consumers;
- encourage the formation of voluntary consumer groups or associations for consumers’ well being.
In the exercise of its functions, the Council is empowered to:
- apply to court to prevent the circulation of any product which constitutes an imminent public hazard;
- compel a manufacturer to certify that all safety standards are met in their products
FOREIGN INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS AND PROTECTIONS: Foreign Investment Requirements
Principal Laws on Foreign Investments
The principal laws regulating foreign investments are, the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission Decree No.16 of 1995 and the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Decree No.17 of 1995.
Deregulation of Equity Structure in Nigeria Enterprises
Effectively, the Nigerian Enterprises promotion (Repeal) Decree No. 7 of 1995 has abolished any restrictions, in respect of the limits of foreign shareholding, in Nigeria registered/domiciled enterprises.
The only enterprises which are still exempted from free and unrestrained foreign participation are those involved in:
- Production of arms and ammunition;
- production of and dealing in narcotic drugs and psycothropic substances;
The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission Decree No. 16, 1995 (NIPC Decree)
This decree established the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) as the successor to Industrial Development Coordination Committee (IDCC)
Functions and Powers
The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) is an Agency of the Federal Government with perpetual succession and a common seal which is specially established, among other things, to:
(a) co-ordinate, monitor, encourage and provide necessary assistance and guidance for the establishment and operation of enterprises in Nigeria;
(b) initiate and support measures which shall enhance the investment climate in Nigeria for both Nigerian and non-Nigerian investors;
(c) promote investments in and outside Nigeria through effective promotional means;
(d) collect, collate, analyse and disseminate information about investment oppor-tunities and sources of investment capital and advise on request, the availability, chance or suitability of partners in joint-venture projects;
(e) register and keep records of all enterprises to which the NIPC Decree legislation applies;
(f) identify specific projects and invite interested investors for participation in those projects;
(g) initiate, organise and participate in promotional activities such as exhibitions, conferences and seminars for the stimu-lation of investments;
(h) maintain liaison between investors and Ministries, government departments and agencies, institutional lenders and other authorities concerned with investments;
(i) provide and disseminate up-to-date information on incentives available to investors;
(j) assist incoming and existing investors by providing support services;
(k) evaluate the impact of the Commission in investment in Nigeria and recommend appropriate remedies and additional incentives;
(l) advise the Federal Government on policy matters, including fiscal measures designed to promote the industrialisation of Nigeria or the general development of the economy; and
(m) perform such other functions as are supple mentary or incidental to the attainment of the objectives of NIPC Decree.
Provisions Relating to Investments
Notable amongst the provisions relating to investments are the following:
- A non-Nigerian may invest and participate in the operation of any enterprise in Nigeria;
- An enterprise in which foreign partici-pation is permitted, shall after its incor-poration or registration, be registered with the NIPC.
- A foreign enterprise may buy the shares of any Nigerian enterprise in any convertible foreign currency.
A foreign investor in an approved enterprise is guaranteed unconditional transferability of funds through an authorised dealer, in freely convertible currency of:
(a) dividends or profit (net of taxes) attributable to the investment;
(b) payments in respect of loan servicing where a foreign loan has been obtained; and
(c) the remittance of proceeds (net of all taxes) and other obligations in the event of sale or liquidation of the enterprise or any interest attributable to the investment.
Priority Areas of Investment
The NIPC issues guidelines and procedures which specify priority areas of investment and prescribed incentives and benefits which are in conformity with Government policy.
Incentives For Special Investment
For the purpose of promoting identified strategic or major investment, the NIPC may in consultation with appropriate Government agencies, negotiate specific incentive packages for the promotion of investment
FOREIGN INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS AND PROTECTIONS: Investment Protection Assurance
Investment Protection Assurance
The NIPC Decree provides that:
(a) No enterprise shall be nationalised or expropriated by any Government of the Federation; and
(b) No person who owns, whether wholly or in part, the capital of any enterprise shall be compelled by law to surrender his interest in the capital to any other persons.
There will be no acquisition of an enterprise by the Federal Government unless the acquisition is in the national interest or for a public purpose under a law which makes provision for:
(a) payment of fair and adequate compen-sation; and
(b) a right of access to the courts for the determination of the investor’s interest of right and the amount of compensation to which he is entitled.
Compensation shall be paid without undue delay, and authorisation given for its repatriation in convertible currency where applicable.
Apart from the investment guarantee assurances of the NIPC Decree, countries are welcome to execute and enter into bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agree-ments (IPPA) with the Nigerian government.
FOREIGN INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS AND PROTECTIONS: Steps For Establishing New Companies
Checklist of Steps For Establishing New Companies in Nigeria with Foreign Shareholding
STAGE A
1. Establish partners/shareholders and their respective percentage shareholdings in the proposed company.
2. Establish name, initial authorised share capital and main objects of proposed company.
3. [EXCEPT in instances where the proposed company will be 100% owned by non-resident shareholders] - Prepare Joint-Venture Agreement between prospective shareholders. The Joint-Venture may specify; inter-alia, mode of subscription by parties, manner of Board Composition, mutually protective quorum for meetings, specific actions which would necessitate share-holders approval by special or other resolutions.
4. Prepare Memorandum and Articles of Association, incorporating the spirit and intents of the Joint-Venture Agreement.
5. Foreign Shareholder may grant a power of attorney to its Solicitors in Nigeria, enabling them to act as its Agents in executing incorporation and other statutory documents pending the grant of Business Permit (i.e. formal legal status for foreign branch/subsidiary operations) to the foreign shareholder.
6. Conduct a search as to the availability of the proposed company name and, if available, reserve the name with the CAC.
7. Effect payment of stamp duties, CAC filing fees and process and conclude registration of the company as a legal entity.
STAGE B
1. Obtain “Tax Clearance Certificate” for the newly registered company
2. Prepare Deeds of Sub-Lease/Assignment, as may be appropriate, to reflect firm commitment on the part of the newly registered company, to acquire business premises for its proposed operations.
STAGE C
1. Prepare and submit simultaneous applications to the NIPC (on the prescribed NIPC Application Form) for the following approvals:-
- Business Permit and Expatriate Quota;
- Pioneer Status and other incentives (where applicable)
2. The application to the NIPC should be accompanied with the following documents:-
- Copies of the duly completed NIPC Form;
- Copies of the treasury receipt for the
purchase of NIPC Form;
- Copies of the Certificate of Incorporation of the applicant company;
- Copies of the Tax Clearance Certificate of the applicant company;
- Copies of the Memorandum and Articles of Association;
- Copies of treasury receipt as evidence of payments of stamp duties on the authorised share capital of the company as at date of application;
- Copies of the Joint-Venture Agreement - UNLESS 100% foreign ownership is envisaged;
- Copies of feasibility Report and Project Implementation Programme of a company for its proposed business. It is advisable that quotations, letters of intent and other such documentations relating to industrial plant and machinery to be acquired by the company, be forwarded either as annexes or separately. In order to discourage the dissipation of administrative energy on speculative applications, the NIPC favours the applicant who has demonstrated positive intention to commence business as and when approvals are granted. Hence, the requests for evidence of acquisition of business premises and evidence of having sourced the plant and machinery to be utilised in the company’s business;
- Copies of Deed(s) of Sub-Lease/Agreement evidencing firm commitment to acquire requisite business premises for the company’s operation. By implication, the ultimate NIPC approvals do incorporate approvals of the industrial site locations indicated in the application;
- Copies of training programme or personnel policy of the company, incorporating management succession schedule for qualified Nigerians;
- Particulars of names, addresses, nationa-lities and occupations of the proposed directors of the company;
- Job title designations of expatriate quota positions required, and the academic and working experience required for the occupants of such positions. It is pertinent to note that expatriate quota on a “Permanent Until Reviewed” (PUR) status is only accorded to a Managing Director, where the non-resident shareholders own a majority of the company’s shares, and the authorised capital of the company is N5 million and above;
- Copies of information brochure on foreign shareholder (if available) as testimony of international expertise and credibility of the foreign partner in the proposed line of business.
STAGE D
1. Having obtained the requisite NIPC approvals and Business Permit Certificate, the non-resident shareholder must act with despatch to import its foreign equity holding in the company. To ensure prompt importation of the foreign equity components, the NIPC may grant Business Permit but defer approvals for Expatriate Quota and Pioneer Status and other applicable investment incentives, until evidence of capital importation is produced.
2. After obtaining Certificate of Capital Importation from the bank, the NIPC is to be notified of this fact with the supporting documentation, in order for it to resume processing of pending approvals that might have been deferred on such ground.
3. As soon as expatriate quota position are granted and the respective individuals to fill the quota positions are recruited, the company must embark on steps to obtain work permit and residency status for the expatriate employees and their accom-panying spouses and children (if any).
The Difference Between ‘BUSINESS PERMIT’ and ‘EXPATRIATE QUOTA’
Business permit, as the name connotes, is the permanent authorization for the local operation of businesses with foreign investments either as branch/subsidiary of a foreign company or otherwise.
Expatriate quota is the official permit to a company, conveying permission for the company to employ individual expatriates to specifically approved job designations, and also specifying the permissible duration of such employment. The expatriate quota forms the basis of work permits for expatriate individuals employed ( whose qualifications must fulfill the criteria established for the particular quota position). Expatriate quota positions are usually granted for 2-3 years subject to renewal, EXCEPT in cases where companies qualify for and are granted not more than one (1) “PUR” Quota ( i.e. Permanent Until
Reviewed) position.
The Current Regulation on The Appointment of Foreign Directors
The promoters of business ventures in Nigeria are free to appoint directors of their choice, either foreign or Nigerian, and the directors may be resident or non-resident. The application to the NIPC must reflect the names of the proposed Nigerian and foreign directors (with an indication of resident and non-resident directors). The Business Permit Certificate consequently issued following such application usually reflects the respective names of the proprietors of the company, as well as the directors representing each proprietor or co-proprietor.
Payments of foreign directors’ fees, are remittable in the same manner as dividends accruing to the foreign company. However, since such fees are taxed at source (5% as a withholding tax), each foreign director’s fees are remittable subject to satisfactory evidence that the taxable amounts on such fees have been paid.
Pioneer Status (Tax Holiday) Advantages to a Company
The Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) Act, Cap. 179 Laws of Nigeria, 1990, declares a number of industries as pioneer industries. Thus, any company whose products fall within the categorised industries could be conferred with Pioneer Status.
This designation is not necessarily a reflection that a company was pioneer per se in the industry, as several companies within the same pioneer industry classification could qualify for Pioneer Status. Where the activities of a company include the production of pioneer and non-pioneer products, the tax relief available on conferment of Pioneer Status would be restricted to income derived from pioneer products only. Under the current industrial policy, conferment of Pioneer Status accords a company relief from income tax liability for a period of up to 5 years (tax-holiday status).
Finally, it should be noted that even if a company’s activities and/or products are classified within pioneer industries, the grant of Pioneer Status is not automatic. The criteria for granting Pioneer Status are related and/or based on the following considerations:-
(i) the amount of underlying capital investment in a company (N5 million and above) must be verifiable by physical inspection and supported by a report of the Industrial Inspectorate Division of the Federal Ministry of Industries, before a Pioneer Certificate is granted.
(ii) the socio-economic advantages of a company’s activities to the Nigerian economy as set out in its Feasibility Study is also an important consideration.
Without prejudice to these conditions, NIPC is empowered to confer Pioneer Status and other investment incentives, in any other deserving
circumstance as the Council of NIPC may approve.

Check out The Jerusalem Declaration

2011-06-25T08:29:00.001-07:00

Check out The Jerusalem Declaration

Computers Don't Err: Saying the Obvious Truth Erroneously

2010-12-19T10:51:00.000-08:00

By Vitus Ejiogu

Computer is a machine which today has been seen from different points of view. The data processing personnel sees the computer as a data processing machine that receives data as input, stores, processes and gives out information at a very fantastic speed. In electronics, it is seen as a mechanical device that takes in data as input, stores, processes, retrieves and gives out a desired output at a very fast speed. The information technologist sees the computer as a data processor which manipulates data to provide useful information, while the computer scientist sees it as the combination of hardwares and softwares which work together to give desired output.
Apart from the above, computer has been known generally as a machine that performs tasks, such as calculations or electronic communication, under the control of a set of instructions called a program. Programs usually reside within the computer and are retrieved and processed by the computer's electronics. The program results are stored or routed to output devices, such as video display monitors or printers. Computers perform a wide variety of activities reliably, accurately, and quickly.
An ideal computer system is a collection of appropriate devices needed for meaningful manipulation of data. It is the combination of the different parts or various units of a computer to give a computer system. The parts include the inputs, processing output and storage unit. The absence of any of these units makes a computer system incomplete.
I acquired my first computer in 1998, even though it has been in use for some time. Till today so many people do not know what computers are and what they do. The PC Magazine once said that an illiterate is not only one who does not know how to read and write, but one who does not know how to operate a computer. It is still possible, of course, to get along nicely in the computer age knowing little more than how to spell the word. The aura of magic that still surrounds computers is largely a fabrication. They employ no gimmicks or witchcraft. They obey the same laws of physics and mechanics.
Computers help us to do our work better and faster, and they have better memories than human beings. It should be noted that computers are not only more accurate but are more reliable. The computer's chief virtue is not to think, as many people mistakenly believe, but to help man do his daily work better. As a product of human intelligence, the computer is manufactured as an aid or spur, to human intelligence.
In weather forecast and general education, the computer has become a useful instrument since it can be infinitely patient, consistent, explaining the same concept over and over, trying different words or examples, without making a slip. In judgment, a computer is objective in analyzing errors, and it has been proved uninfluenced in deciding which ideas need to be clarified.
It is erroneous however, to say that computers do not err. One computer expert once said that computers do not actually err; only the programmers do. The point is that nothing is perfect in itself. If a perfect God could create imperfect human beings, people who are prone to mistakes, computers which are works, designs and products of imperfect creatures can never be perfect! The computer's insatiable appetite for the kinds of tedium that make people climb walls, and the fact that it never turns up its nose at any kind of assignment no matter how weird, does not still make it perfect.
When computers first came, they did not come in the state which they are today. Computer was invented by a Whiteman but a Blackman of Igbo extraction added speed to it. Its invention opened the way to hundreds and thousands of applications yet undreamed of. The computer is not the machine to end all machines. Contrary to the image it inevitably projects, it is not a perfect machine. Computers are still blind to emotions, a situation which reminds us that the computer is only a tool and an invention of an imperfect man.

Vitus Ejiogu is a writer and publisher with the Fire-Brand Int"l Ministries, a media ministry that is based in Nigeria.
He is the editor of FOUNDATION SATELLITE magazine also published by the ministry. He pastors a Church in Bauchi and is married with two children.
You can reach him at: firebrandhq@yahoo.com or, 234 802 8181 829. Website: http://azepanig.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vitus_Ejiogu

NTA-TV College and Career Choice: The Most Important Thing To Consider

2010-12-19T10:48:00.000-08:00

By Vitus Ejiogu

I was part of the group that graced the Orientation Programme that was organized for the 2010/2011 academic year of diploma students at the NTA-Television College Jos, Nigeria. The Rector and the academic staff were all present as lectures criss-cross lectures with most speakers trying to outdo the others in oratorical prowess.
The topics ranged from issues that affect the school and students' lifestyles. It was discovered that many students in other institutions of learning, have left school ill-prepared for the demands which life will place upon them, but it was pointed out that in NTA-TV College, such things are adequately taken care of. The speakers took time out to educate the students on the advantages they have for choosing the school in the pursuance of their academic career. As we were made to know, it was hardly a place to be ignorant of the world of work or total unawareness of real potential, and inability to adjust to the world outside school.
The words of the speakers reminded me of some schools that do not have time to tackle the question of career education. The four outstanding Departments of the College: TV-Journalism, TV-Production, TV-Design and the TV-Engineering, helped to explain the unique nature of the school. When some schools have not yet started to think seriously about the methods which can help their students prepare for the decisions that will affect their lives as adult workers, the college adopted a mandate of building their students up in the skills not necessarily to "fix them up with a job" but to properly educate them and build them up as skills personnel. Apart from all the good things that were said, the most important thing in choosing a career was not missing in action.
While people think of occupation and location, it is necessary to point out the more important issue, which is one of character - the 'being' that under-guards 'doing'. This is the reason why the students were orientated in many areas like dressing, extra-curricular activities, conduct at school and in hostels, class attendance, behaviours during examinations, etc. In the book of Ephesians 4:1-16, the apostle Paul gave his support to this important issue by enjoining his hearers to walk worthy of their calling. When we are the right people for a job, we can be sure of greater results. The truth then remains that it is not what we do but who we are that is most important. Choosing a career is one thing that exposes us to so many things in life.
By way of definition, a career is a sequence of occupations, jobs and positions engaged in, or occupied, throughout the lifetime of a person. Psychologically, a career is a series of roles played by a person. Teaching can be taken as a career. Within the teaching profession, one can be the principal of a school, a school bursar, guidance officer, administrator or registrar, or even a technician producing teaching aids. Each of these is a job within the teaching profession. A career is quite different from an occupation because an occupation deals with a type of work or activity in which people engage themselves. It is also an activity that has a market value in which people are paid to engage. Examples include the work of politicians, physicians, philosophers, journalists, publishers, presidents, etc. A person may change his occupation more than once during his working life. I have come across many politicians that were teachers, doctors, lawyers, etc, before they assume their present status in politics. There are also journalists, publishers, or pharmacists, among the many politicians we see today.
In the other hand, a job is just a way of making a living, but in a career, you can feel that your abilities are being properly used. When you have knowledge of who you are and the many jobs available, you are well-equipped to choose a job.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vitus_Ejiogu

Igbo: The Making of A Great Nation

2010-12-19T10:40:00.001-08:00

By Vitus Ejiogu –
You may not know who the Igbo people are, but what I have found among them shows a people who are highly committed in changing the course of history. A brief story of the Igbo people will help you know who they are, and why they are one of the most respected and highly regarded people of Nigeria. The earliest records on the Igbo are to be found in Igbo-Ukwu Archeological artifacts dated 9th Century.
The bronze head and other objects found in the excavations indicate indigenous technology of highly developed nature. They had an early knowledge of complex metallurgy and weaving of complex clothes which remains today as “Akwete”. Experts learn and match their weaving with partial success and acknowledge with admiration the achievements of the Igbo in these directions. There is also an early knowledge of iron smelting and foundry to be seen in guns, swords, etc., from Awka, Abiriba and other areas in Igbo land. This knowledge, experts say, can only be compared to that of the northern part of Nigeria i.e. the NOK CULTURE in the Plateau.
The history of the Igbo after the 9th Century to the late 19th century, the era of European colonialism, is scanty and highly speculative because of lack of records. The much that could be known is that yam, indigenous yam cultivation, is believed to have been achieved first in Nigeria and probably West Africa by the Igbo. It is therefore not surprising that yam has a special place in Igbo culture. The “IRI JI” or “IWA JI” which is a very important cultural event in Igbo land may have been derived early as a way of celebrating this major agricultural breakthrough. Pottery culture also had early records in Igbo land and is dated earlier than 9th century.
Politically and culturally, Igbo are republicans and organization of communities was done in small village units. Governance was by elders – gerontocracy, in some ways highly democratic, although the advent of slave trade destroyed a lot of this culture. The Igbo suffered a great deal from the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The enterprising young adults were carted away. The specialists bronze metallurgists, iron smelters, and manufacturers, the business elite from Arochukwu, the big farmers of Ezza and the neighbourhoods were prey to the slaves, and their enslavement cost the Igbo a great deal and truncated their society and the rule by elders (gerontocracy). Adventurers, the dreg of society and mercenary soldiers had a hey-day and their actions devastated Igboland.
The Igbo were involved in the quest for independence of Nigeria and their illustrious son, Zik of Africa (Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe) left a record that will be difficult to beat. However, the “Owelle of Onitsha” (as he is known globally) is no more; there are other prominent anti-colonialist fighters in the Nigerian scene with new English coinages like juggernauts, men of timber and caliber, etc. The most characteristic ability of the Igbo is his adaptability. He is enterprising, hard working and individualistic.
Nigeria, and indeed the whole world, without the Igbo can never be complete. The Igboman is there in the remotest village contributing his quota to the economic development of Nigeria, Africa and the whole world. The Igbo are true Nigerians who constantly pray that never again will brothers be locked in senseless wars. They have actually tested themselves and know their own weaknesses and strengths and hopefully have learned from their past mistakes. The Igbo are a dynamic people. It is to be noted here that for Nigeria to develop into a world power, or move forward from her present quagmire, the contributions of the Igbo is a must, otherwise the follies of the rest of the other tribes that constitute Nigeria may continue unchecked to the detriment of the whole people.
The Igboman is the pride of Nigeria. His talents are formidable; his contributions all encompassing. The rich culture heritage of the Igbo contributes in making them great. The recognition of titled men like NZE, OGBUEFI, OGBUAGU, etc., is among the prominent cultural heritage of the Igboman. It is recognition for tremendous ability and achievement. It confers one with a pride of place when discussions and decisions in community are being taken. The Igbo is presently made up of five States: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. Though the Aniomas of Delta State, the Igbo people in Rivers and Cross Rivers States are among the stocks of the one and indivisible Igbo community, no matter the variants in their culture.
However, the “IRI JI” or “IWA JI” is a common reoccurring decimal that you will find in all Igbo states and culture. The NRI even till now are still believed to hold the link in the evolution of Igbo Culture. When we talk about the Igbo, we talk about industry, development, unity, peace and progress. It will be an exciting experience to have a handshake with an Igboman one day. When next you are in Nigeria, Africa, make sure you don’t leave until you have stepped into the African Heartland: Igboland, the emerging great nation!
Vitus Ejiogu is a writer and publisher with the Fire-Brand Int”l Ministries, a media ministry that is based in Nigeria.

Amazon

2010-11-26T13:09:00.001-08:00

START MAKING MONEY FAST!

2010-11-23T10:01:00.000-08:00

GET YOURSELF A PERSONAL WEBSITE OR E-MAIL ADDRESS AND STOP BEING USED TO ENRICH OTHERS.

Yeah! What I'm saying in simple terms is that it is TIME FOR YOU TO OWN A WEBSITE! Why give free publicity to Yahoo! Hotmail or Gmail? I mean, it's not in your nature to look out of your depth - awkward! You have served your undeserved masters for too long, NOW is your turn to rule your world!!!

Let the world KNOW YOU BY YOUR OWN NAME through the PalmGate Global Personal E-mail and Website Promo Package.

We make it easier for you to create your own e-mail address and personal Website. It could be for your School, Business, Ministry (Church), Organization or other Religious bodies. It is easy, cheap (affordable) and exciting. It's wonderful to be addressed by your own NAME such as you@yourname.com. We are here to serve you. Always contact us at:

PalmGate Global Ventures Inc, C35 Kobi Street, P.O. Box 1867, Bauchi 74001
Bauchi State - Nigeria. Tel: 0802 818 1829. E-mail: info@firebrandhq.com
Websites: www.firebrandhq.com, www.palmgates.com

Read Quality Articles Here

2010-11-16T09:56:00.000-08:00

Read and Sign Up to A High-Profile Author Here

"As long as people Eat, I’m in business"

2010-08-13T13:33:00.000-07:00

Business PlanFarmers Are Rich

This content is provided by Enterprise Development Services

Cynthiapic1.jpg Honeysuckles Ptl Ventures

Cynthia Mosunmola Umoru is a happy entrepreneur who pitched her tent in a "non-white collar business venture" - an Agricultural Business Enterprise she christened Honeysuckles PTL.

She recently received the prestigious plaque of the Business Owner of the Year at The Future Awards 2009.

She was a Goldman Sachs Scholar - the United States and world's most powerful Investment Bank's initiative to empower 10,000 Women across the globe in collaboration with Enterprise Development Services of Pan African University, Nigeria.

A DECISIVE BEGINNING

Her educational background was a twist. She had intended to study Medicine, and actually started it at Bayero University Kano; but had to relocate back to Lagos following riots and crises in the North and never returned. She alternatively settled in for Zoology at Lagos State University.

Cynthia says she registered the company in September 2004, but she had started Honeysuckles on a small scale from her undergraduate days in the University where she was initially supplying meat products to choice fast food outlets in Lagos.

She describes Honeysuckles as an agricultural business enterprise that has identified an uncharted niche and is poised to bridge the gap in quality productions, quality packaging and an effective delivery process of agric food products to the community.

TARGET MARKET

Her target market comprises people (obviously everyone) who eat meat products from beef to chicken to turkey (all manner of birds), cat fish, snails, shrimps, prawns and so on. The value proposition to this is that delivery is made as it is desired i.e. fresh, frozen or processed.

On how they handle volume and manage several farm outlets, Cynthia says, "we actually do have a few (poultry, ponds, cribs and the likes); but basically we're much more in alliance with contract farmers where we do have terms for mutual agreements as well as benefits, to cater for our enormous demand and volume orders."

In Her Own Words:

BUSINESS OWNER OF THE YEAR (THE FUTURE AWARDS, 2009):

From Recognition to Relevance - Sharpening the Saw!

I must say that the award has further launched me out to give more to the society. I've come to understand that this business is more than my making - and I think I'll rather regard it as a calling.

Much more than focus now is relevance, now placed on a higher pedestal to add value to our product lines so that they appeal to anybody, from the governor's wife to the president's daughter and to the man next door or on the streets.

I have come to realise that the strength of our organisation lies in relationship management rather than just bluntly marketing. We'd go an extra mile to do what our customers actually want. This has therefore prompted us to consider the establishment of Chain Retail Stores where we could engage in Virtual Marketing and Physical Sales Marketing to further track the needs of our amiable customers.

THINKING OUT OF THE BOX:

The Global Economic Meltdown

Hmmn! I'd rather say I'm happy with the recession because it makes people think out of the rigid box.

While I understand that SMEs are the backbone of any economy; I'm aware that the rippling effect of the meltdown is just imminently going to affect every business venture however insignificant. From the mere fact that lending across financial institutions is now low; buying power ultimately also drops; volume sales are therefore impacted.

This has caused us to think out of the box and shift our focus from large volume buyers to individual/retail dependants. But what's ultimately important is that we ensure we're meeting needs as we're supposed to equally meeting wants!

And as long as the global economic meltdown persists, I'd rather believe that, for as long as man lives, man eats, and as long as people eat, I'm in business!

Published by

BottomLINE1.jpg
Enterprise Development Services

Adapted From: SME Toolkit www.smetoolkit.org

E-Commerce

2010-08-13T13:23:00.001-07:00

Tweet It!Twellow NowTweet It!

Provided by My Own Business, Content Partner for the SME Toolkit

E-Commerce Overview
- What is E-Commerce?
- Is an E-Commerce website right for your business?
Setting Up a Website
- Registering your domain name
- Finding a host
- Setting up and maintaining your own server
- Hosting services
- Building your website
- Hiring a professional website developer
- Designing your own website
Tips For Developing a Successful Site
- Make your site easy to use
- Provide useful content
- Encourage customer feedback
- Develop a mailing list
Online Marketing and Promotion
- Advertising online
- Search engines
- Use key words - meta tags
- Submit your site
- Check your positioning regularly
- E-Bay
SESSION 9 Business Plan
SESSION 9 Quiz

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E-Commerce Overview

What is E-Commerce?
E-commerce is the sale of products and services over the Internet. It is the fastest growing segment of our economy. It allows even the smallest business to reach a global audience with its product or message with minimal cost. Currently, there are more than 250 million people using the Internet internationally.
Sixty-nine percent of the online population has made at least one purchase in the last 90 days. Analysts project online sales of ₦3.2 trillion by the year 2004. The Internet user average household income is ₦59,000, making this a very attractive demographic for your business to target.

Is an E-Commerce Website Right For Your Business?

Testimonial

Brian Kerns
Computer Programmer, Web Developer/Designer

"A project must be able to carry talent and time at least for the cost of the time."

Transcription - html

Probably. Much depends on the nature of your business. If you own a small independent bookstore, is there a good chance that you can get rich selling your books online? Probably not. Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble have established their hold over this market, and their sheer size, name recognition and the relationship of trust they have with their customers allows them to dominate this market with good pricing (due to economies of scale) and remarkable customer loyalty.
However, if you own a local bookstore, there are several ways to reach new customers, get them to know you better and have them keep coming back for more. You might want to offer notices of special promotions or readings by authors. Trust will become the cornerstone of building your e-business. As Warren Buffett has said, "If you don't know jewelry, know your jeweler."
A website doesn't need to exist solely to sell your product online. It can serve a number of roles. It could supplement the sales of your already established retail store. If you sell a unique product, such as wheat grass or gourmet chocolates, you might find success reaching others around the country (or the world, for that matter) who do not have access to these products in their own towns.
Using the Internet for conducting e-commerce will not assure you of being able to compete favorably with large established competitors. They already have the inventory, delivery and marketing systems in place and they can deliver the groceries as cheap (or more cheaply) than you can. Yet, the beauty of the Internet is that it provides a global audience of potential customers and it never closes.
Your customers will have access to information about your business 24 hours a day. How many times have you wanted information about a store, looked them up in the Yellow Pages, given them a call on Sunday morning and found that they were closed? Sure, most companies have a recorded message that will say that they are closed and will give you their hours of operation.
But it is much better to not only have information about your store hours available to your potential customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but also about your entire product line. You can add pictures and maybe even video. And your customer will even be able to buy from you 24 hours a day. So, your website address should be promoted everywhere including your stationery, sales forms and advertisements.
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Setting Up a Website

Registering Your Domain Name

Each website has its own unique name, such as Amazon.com or Pets.com. This is your "Domain Name." It is a unique name that identifies you to all of the other computers on the Internet. You must register your website's name through something called the Internic so that the other computers on the Internet will know you exist. Once you've registered, people who type www.yourcompanyname.com into their browsers will be taken directly to your website.
There are now a number of companies that will assist you with registering your website's name, including Network Solutions, Register.com, worldwidedomains.com, domainit.com and many others. But remember, because most of the common and obvious names have already been taken (over 20 million names have been registered), you'll want to use a utility called "Whois" to find out whether the name you have in mind has already been snapped up. Register.com has a "Whois" look-up box on their site just for this purpose.
While there are other extensions beyond ".com," it is the easiest to remember. Some extensions such as ".org" are meant for non-profit institutions, and "edu" and ".gov" for education and government institutions respectively. Other less widely known extensions include ".ro," ".gs," ".cc," and ".vg." These are often international extensions. While it might be possible to register mufflershop.cc (mufflershop.com was registered in August of 1999), people will have a harder time remembering your website's address. If they just type mufflershop into their browser, they'll probably be taken to your competitor's ".com" site instead of yours.
Try first to find an easy-to-remember ".com" name for your site. Once you've successfully registered your domain name, it's yours to keep. It currently costs about ₦35 per year to have your name registered, usually with a two year minimum.
Keep in mind that your company name, trademarks, logos and artwork used on your site will require appropriate trademark and copyright protection under intellectual property laws. Your lawyer should be consulted on this issue in order to avoid unpleasant surprises (for example, the possibility of being advised that your company slogan belongs to someone else.)

Finding a Host

During an earlier My Own Business session you learned about location and leasing space for your business. Similarly, your online business will need to reside somewhere as well. Your choice will depend on a number of factors. You may choose to buy (by having your own network server) or lease (by having your site hosted by a web-hosting service).

Setting Up and Maintaining Your Own Server

Setting up your own server is analogous to owning your own store. You set up and maintain the computer (server) that people on the Internet connect to when they visit your site. Having your own server is almost a necessity if you will be using large databases for your inventory and customer tracking, as well as for more advanced programming features. This approach requires a significant amount of technical knowledge and expertise. Buying and setting up your own server will also be more costly in the short run. The server needs to be up and running and connected to the Internet 24 hours a day. If it goes down, your website is no longer accessible to the web surfing public.
You will also want to have a high-speed connection to the Internet, which can cost several hundred nairas or more per month, to assure fast access to your site when the traffic is heaviest. You may remember when Victoria's Secret had a fashion show during the Superbowl. Tens of thousands of earnest football-loving lingerie shoppers flooded the site, bringing it to a near stand-still.
More recently, weddingchannel.com promoted a tie-in with the soap opera All My Children. Viewers were encouraged to log into the site and vote for which dress one of the lead characters should wear for her wedding. The response was so great that the site crashed due to too many users trying to access the site simultaneously. The size and speed of your servers must be adequate to meet the demands of your most successful days, or your potential shoppers will be turned away.

Hosting Services

A simpler solution for businesses that do not want to get into the technical burdens of hosting their own site is to have the website hosted by a web hosting service. Using a web hosting service is analogous to leasing real estate for your store. For a monthly fee ranging from ₦10-₦200 per month for small to moderate sized businesses, the web host handles the technical details of server maintenance, and you are free to spend your time developing content for your website.
Hosting services can also provide "user statistics," which track the number of visitors to your site. Depending on the size and complexity of your site, using a hosting service is often a more cost effective solution for most small businesses. Resources such as "thelist.com" and "Cnet.com" offers a list of hosting services you can compare and contrast.

Building Your Website

Your company will need to decide whether to hire a professional web developer to create your website or to produce your own site "in-house." Both choices come with costs and benefits.

Hiring a professional website developer:

Before hiring a web developer, it's important to do your homework. What is the purpose of your site? Is it to serve as an online brochure of your products, or do you plan to actually sell your product or services over the Internet? What is your budget? Who will be responsible for ongoing maintenance of the site? Who will provide the art and content for the site? Who will own the copyrights for these materials? Will the developer be responsible for both design and marketing of your website?
Once you are able to answer these questions, begin interviewing site developers. Be sure to look at other websites they've created and ask for references from other clients with whom they've worked. Ask those references about their experience with your potential developer. Did they deliver the product in a timely manner at the quoted price? Did they listen effectively and present a product that matched the company's vision?
Once you've identified your developer, get a written contract that specifies the responsibilities of that developer, the timelines for project completion and a complete budget for the total project. This should include arrangements for ongoing maintenance of the site.
Contracting out your website offers several advantages. A professional developer has the technical knowledge to create a site that works with all browsers and should be fluent with the current technologies -- whether it's Flash animation, Javascript enabled tools, streaming audio and video -- and online commerce solutions. Investing in a professional developer will allow you to spend more time on creating a successful business and less time learning the new trade of being your own website developer.

Designing your own website

Despite the advantages of using an outside contractor, many businesses choose to create their own websites. If you or one of your employees has a strong interest in computers and website design, this can be a more affordable solution. Your web design should not incorporate unusual or unique fonts. It is better to stay with standard and widely used fonts that can easily be printed or saved to a file.
Tools such as Microsoft Frontpage and Macromedia's Dreamweaver allow you to create websites without any (or much) prior knowledge of HTML. These "what you see is what you get" editors are similar to programs such as Microsoft Word in that you insert text and graphics onto your page and specify the appropriate links. The program then generates the HTML code for you. Pre-defined templates give a consistent look and feel to your entire site and built-in tools allow you to globally change navigational links throughout your site.
While these programs have improved significantly in recent years, they still are not a perfect substitute for the hand-coded sites created by a professional web developer. Advanced features, such as interactive forms and e-commerce capabilities, are difficult to implement. And every hour spent trouble-shooting problems with your website is time spent away from running your business.
If your business's budget does not allow you to hire a professional and you have a real desire to learn how to create your own site, spend some time with some of the many online tutorials on creating your own site. Just remember: your customers will be turned off by a site that appears amateur. Your credibility is at stake, and if your site is difficult to navigate, has broken links or images or out-of-date content, you will not engender trust with your customers.
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Tips For Developing a Successful Site

Make your site easy to use. While it might be tempting to have a cutting edge website with all of the bells and whistles - don't forget the basics. You will fail if a visitor can't navigate successfully through your site. Provide clear, easy to understand navigational tools on each page of your site. Don't rely on graphical buttons for your links. Not all web surfers have graphic capable browsers, and some surfers intentionally turn their graphics off to speed download times. Provide text links.
Provide Useful Content. Don't Just Sell! These days, it's not enough to have a website that lists your products and provides a shopping cart for purchases. If you want your visitors to return, you'll want to provide meaningful content. If you sell ski equipment, your site could post local ski conditions, articles about the latest ski fashion trends, resort reviews or any other information that would give visitors a reason to want to return for more. A CPA's site could publish tax tips and offer links to IRS forms. A catering service could offer articles on how to host a successful party.
Encourage customer feedback via online forms and email. Ask your customers what they want. Did they find what they were looking for? How could your site be more useful or easier to use? Listen to your customers' frustrations and gripes. They'll tell you what you're doing right and what you're doing wrong.
Develop a Mailing List. Most consumers hate getting junk email, also called "spam." A far more appealing strategy is to develop a mailing list. Invite your customers to "opt in" to receive a newsletter or notices of specials running at your business. Make this information relevant and useful for your customer. Provide a "coupon" that will give them a discount on their next purchase. And, always give the recipient an easy means to "opt out" of receiving future emails.
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Online Marketing and Promotion

Advertising Online

If you build it will they come? Not necessarily. Once you have established an online presence, your next task will be drawing traffic to your site. Remember, you are a needle in a haystack competing against millions of other websites. How will your customers find you? There are a number of strategies for getting potential buyers to visit your site.

Search Engines

You are probably familiar with Yahoo. It is not really a search engine. It is a directory, which is a vast collection of websites listed on the Internet. Each submitted site is viewed and approved by one of Yahoo's editors. Listing your site on Yahoo is free, but not guaranteed. Your site must meet a level of professional standards, not have broken links or images and offer something unique for Yahoo's visitors.
Not all websites who request a listing on Yahoo are successful. Read their submission guidelines carefully before attempting to list your site.
Yahoo is just one of many search tools on the Internet. Your site should be registered with all of the major search engines and directories. These sites include, but are not limited to:

AOL Search
AltaVista
Ask Jeeves
Direct Hit
Excite
FAST Search
Go / Infoseek
Google
HotBot

LookSmart
Lycos
MSN Search
Netscape Search
Northern Light
Snap
WebCrawler
Yahoo

Registering your site is usually free, although it is now possible to receive better placement on many search engines by paying a substantial fee. Unless you have a large marketing budget, this is not feasible for most new online businesses. Instead, simply go to the search engine and look for the link that says "Submit a URL" or "Submit a site."
There are services available on the Internet that charge a fee to register your site with hundreds of search engines. This is generally not necessary because site registration, while time consuming, is not particularly difficult.
By scouring the Internet 24 hours a day, the search engines catalogue the vast number of pages on the Web, creating indexes based on the content of your site. However, there are things you must do to make your website "search engine friendly."
Before submitting your site to the search engines, you'll want to add meta tags within the tags of your html documents. Meta-tags are a list of keywords that users will be most likely to type into a search engine when searching for your product or service. Many search engines will index your site based on these keywords, as well as the content of the text within your site.
A sample meta-tag for a designer clothing store might be:

The meta Description tag should provide a single sentence that accurately describes your online business or service. This description is often displayed by the search engine below your URL when your site is listed in the search results.
For example, a Description meta-tag for a discount designer clothing store might be:

Be sure to check your search engine positioning regularly by typing in your targeted keywords into all of the search engines. Examine the statistic logs of your website to find which search engines are driving traffic to your site and which keywords are most frequently used to find your site.

Targeted Email

Email allows you to communicate directly to your customers. It is also one of the most abused forms of online advertising on the Internet. Nobody enjoys receiving unsolicited email touting a business or service. While it is possible to purchase huge mailing lists of email addresses that can be used for marketing your product, you are likely to turn off large numbers of potential customers by engaging in this practice.
Instead, opt-in mailing lists are now the preferred method of establishing email lists of customers who are genuinely interested in your product or service. Give customers the option of signing up for the opportunity to receive periodic emailing of future promotions and information.
Consider creating an online newsletter - something that does more than just tout your products. Make it informative, useful and worth reading. For example, if your online store sells tropical fish, write a short article detailing useful aquarium maintenance tips. Include relevant links to your site within the email itself, encouraging readers to find more information by clicking on the appropriate links.
Consider providing time-limited online "coupons" that can be redeemed at your site. Barnes and Noble has effectively used this strategy to reward frequent buyers at their online store.
Finally, remember that each email should also contain instructions for how the recipient can be removed from the email list.

eBay

The largest of the online auction houses, eBay can provide a means of both selling your product and driving additional traffic to your online store. Selling products on eBay is a terrific way to find customers who have a genuine interest in your product. Within the product description of each item you list for auction, be sure to provide links to your website, informing auction visitors that more products are available at your website.

Banner Ads

Banner ads are by far the most common form of online advertising on the Internet. These are the flashy rectangular advertisements you see at the top and sides of most commercial and many amateur websites. DoubleClick and LinkExchange are the largest distributors of online banner advertising. Banner ads provide a means of reaching thousands of potential customers with your marketing campaigns.
The effectiveness of these campaigns is often measured by calculating the "click-throughs" rate. This rate is the percentage of times an ad is clicked on, based on the number of times it's viewed. If a banner ad is seen by 200 site visitors and 10 of them actually click on the ad, the banner ad has a click-though rate of 5%. The click-through rate, however, does not tell the whole story.
To accurately determine the effectiveness of your ads, you'll need to know which click-through resulted in actual purchases from your site. This is now possible with the marketing tools provided by the major online marketing distributors mentioned above. By analyzing this data, you will be able to better tailor your marketing campaigns to effectively reach your best potential customers.
To use your marketing nairas most effectively, be sure that your advertisements are aimed at sites catering to your targeted demographic. If you sell fine china, you will probably be disappointed with an ad campaign displayed on a youth-oriented website. Consider exchanging banner ads with other sites that complement your product or service. The online seller of aquarium equipment would find substantially higher click-through rates by advertising on websites related to tropical fish.
Placing banner advertisements on your website can provide a means of generating additional revenue for your site. The sponsor will pay you for each visitor who clicks on the ad, although this is usually just pennies per click. If traffic to your site is high, these pennies can begin to add up.
There are also disadvantages to placing advertisements on your site. Banner ads tend to be large and result in longer download time for your pages. Customers who would rather see the content on your site are forced to wait longer for pages to load. This increases the likelihood that they will shop elsewhere. The ads also are not usually aesthetically pleasing and can distract from the content on your site.
And finally, remember that each time your visitor does click on an ad placed on your site, he will be taken away from your site. Unless you have a contract with the sponsor that states otherwise, you should set the ad to spawn a new browser window when the ad is clicked. That way, when the user closes the new browser window, he/she will be back at your site when the new window is closed.
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Business Plan for Session 9: E-Commerce

We heartily recommend that you download the individual business plan template for this session Business Plan Template Document 9 and complete it now.

Section 9: E-Commerce

MS Word

Instructions on filling in the business plan template:

Section 1-12: All

MS Word

Each box has a permanent title in CAPITAL LETTERS
Below each title is a sentence starting with an "Insert here..." sentence. This will suggest information to insert. The boxes will enlarge as you take up more room so use all the space you need.
After completing each box, delete the "Insert here" sentence, which will leave only the permanent title of the box and the information you have filled in.

We suggest that you fill in each section of the business plan
as you proceed through the course.

The template for all sessions 1-12 can also be downloaded into your computer as a single document.
Include sufficient research findings and background materials. Make it interesting up by the use of background data, your biography, charts, demographics and research data. When your business plan is completed, print off and assemble the 12 sections.
Many other business plan formats are available in libraries, bookstores and software.
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SESSION 9 Quiz: E-Commerce

Proceed to Session 10: Buying a Business or Franchise

Online Marketing Checklists

2010-08-13T13:18:00.000-07:00

Dig It Here!

Provided by Solutions Consultant and BizMantra
In some ways, a company’s website functions as an extension of the outlet also functioning as an additional location. Whatever the purpose and objective, the website only becomes an effective tool depending upon the effort dedicated towards it. The content needs to be constantly updated, any inquiries need to be responded quickly and most importantly, for the website to be successful, it needs to be marketed to the customers and potential customers To help you make your website a success, the list below outlines some of the best marketing practices. Review the list and check all that apply to your operations. Work toward implementing each idea that’s relevant to your situation.

The Company’s URL (website address) appears on the front door and/or front window.
The Company’s URL appears on the cash register receipt.
The Company’s URL appears on bags.
The Company’s URL appears on bookmarks.
The Company’s URL appears on your printed and/or electronic newsletter.
The Company’s URL appears on gift cards and/or gift card backers.
The Company’s URL appears on store letterhead, business cards, and in your email signature.
The Company’s voice mail/answering machine promotes the website, telling customers you are open 24-hours a day at www.yourwebaddress.com
Staff meetings to review the website are periodically held.
Each member of the staff is familiar with the website content; you have asked for their feedback.
Customer email addresses are collected in-store and online, and you expressly ask for your customers’ permission to communicate with them.
An email newsletter, including links to your website, is periodically distributed to your customers.
The store and the website are cross-promoted, with in-store displays of online promotions.
Website sales and buyer reports are routinely reviewed and analyzed.
Website traffic reports are routinely reviewed and analyzed.

Get Ready to Sell Online

2010-08-13T13:06:00.000-07:00

Netlog

Adapted from content excerpted from the American Express® OPEN Small Business Network
The Internet is a great promotional vehicle, research tool, and communication channel for connecting with clients and customers. But in today's marketplace small businesses are discovering that the real payoff of an online presence is electronic commerce: using the Web to sell your small business' products and services. Selling online reduces your business expenses, provides added convenience for your customers and opens the door to a global market for your products and services.
If you want to succeed as an online merchant you have to understand where your products fit within the competitive landscape and be clear about your online sales objectives. In addition, you need to know how to reach your virtual customers and how to meet their needs. Ask yourself the following five questions to start your journey to selling online.

Will my product or service work online?

Not every product lends itself to e-commerce. The items that tend to generate the greatest revenue are commodity consumer products (such as books, CDs, or videos), technology products (computers and software), and hard-to-find products or those with a highly specialized audience (rare coins, specialized craft supplies, regional/gourmet foods, or collectibles, for example). As a rule, if a product sells well through a catalog or other direct channels, it can be promoted on the Web.
Before you take the online plunge, be sure to analyze the competition carefully. If your product is already being sold by a large online competitor, you may have trouble generating profits through your site. Instead, focus your efforts on a specialized niche. For example, if you run a small bookstore, your online competitors would be giants Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. If you market your site as the premier resource for children's books, or better yet, children's picture books, you may be able to generate more sales.
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What role will my site play in my overall sales strategy?

Before you begin executing your site, consider exactly what you'd like to accomplish through e-commerce. Will the Web be your primary sales vehicle or will it be a way to supplement your existing revenues? This will help you shape the content of your site and may also guide decisions about site location, product selection, payment and order processing. Take the time to put together a plan of execution that addresses not only your goals for taking your business online, but also financial assumptions, challenges and concerns. This document will help to ensure that your investment in Web commerce pays off.
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What features and information should I include on my site?

When designing your site's content, consider the type of information your buyers will require before they purchase. Take a look at e-commerce URLs that you admire and dislike. Chances are you'll find some common threads among the good sites. The graphics will most likely be clean and relevant; they will download quickly; navigation will be well thought out; and the steps for ordering will be clearly outlined. You might also want to review your competitors' sites, as well as high-revenue sites that are unrelated to your business, to get ideas for your site's content and features. Analyzing these sites' sales messages, promotions and guarantees will give you a sense of how they encourage visitors to buy.
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What is the best venue for my product?

The location of your virtual storefront is just as important as a traditional store's location. You'll need to decide if you want to set up your Web site as part of an online mall, or if you'd like your site to exist independent of other vendors. Online malls -- sites that rent out space to merchants who reside at the mall's URL - have not been nearly as successful as many had hoped. Specialty malls -- sites that offer products and services related to a particular theme such as golf or boating -- have proved better able to meet consumer demand for selection, speed, and convenience. Setting up an independent site will give you the greatest control over the operation and promotion, but also requires the most work. You will need to determine where the buyers are, design ways to reach them, and manage ordering and fulfillment.
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How will I collect money from my Web sales?

To succeed online, it's essential to make it easy for your customers to pay you. Credit and charge cards are the most common solution. This requires you to set up a merchant account, or, if you already have merchant status, receive authorization to accept charges over the Internet.
Although online payment is convenient for both merchant and customer, some of your consumers may not currently feel comfortable ordering online. For these clients, offer toll-free phone ordering, fax ordering and a mail order option.
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Give Consumers Confidence in Your Site

2010-08-13T13:05:00.000-07:00

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Adapted from content excerpted from the American Express® OPEN Small Business Network

While online shopping is definitely on the rise, many people remain wary of e-commerce. Their fear centers on the transmittal of personal and financial information over the Internet and the perceived risk of releasing sensitive data to unscrupulous eyes. Unsolicited e-mail campaigns, rumors of hacker break-ins and media coverage of unethical Web commerce practices further intimidate would-be-customers.
Understanding and addressing customer concerns about online buying are critical to your small business' success selling on the Web. Here are some steps you can take to encourage customers to give online buying a try:

Address security issues directly

Include a statement on your Web site that informs buyers about your policies. Two elements are important to this statement: what security you have in place to protect transmitted data and what you will and will not do with buyer information. Most customers feel more comfortable buying from someone who agrees not to release their contact information or buying patterns to outside parties.

Guarantee your security

Demonstrate your confidence in e-commerce. Consider guaranteeing payment. This will encourage buyers to trust your system. Accepting responsibility for this payment will also allow you to remove one of the most common barriers to shopping online - perceived financial risk.

State your security record

Most customers are surprised to learn how infrequently security breaches occur. If your site has never had one, say so. For example, Web bookseller Amazon.com clearly states that none of its 3 million customers have reported fraudulent use of a credit card resulting from purchases made at its site.

Flaunt your protection procedures

If you take extra steps to ensure buyer information is protected, let visitors know. For example, if your secure service provider makes a weekly effort to break into its own system, just to reinforce security, state this fact on your site. You may also want to mention the technology you have in place by name. Many consumers are familiar with Secure Socket Layer (SSL), Secure Electronic Transaction Protocol (SET), and digital signature certificates that help authenticate the identity of all parties involved in a transaction.

Seek out approval from consumer organizations

Certain organizations offer seals of approval for online shops that meet their standards for conducting business. Displaying one of these marks on your site accomplishes two things: it alerts consumers that you are a legitimate business and it serves as a virtual beware-of-dog sign for would-be-hackers.

Use statistics

Round up some numbers that testify to the safety of online purchasing. You can find these statistics within the Web sites of research organizations such as Gartner Group and Forrester Research, as well as within sites devoted to computer industry news such as ZDNet. You may not want to clutter your home page, so consider providing a link to another page within your site that houses these statistics.

Provide alternatives

Some consumers will never agree to transmit personal information across the Internet regardless of what assurances you supply. To capture these customers, offer alternative methods for buying your business' product and services once they have learned about your offerings and your company online. One page of your Web site can direct them to fax, phone, or mail for order fulfillment.

Common Web Site Misconceptions

2010-08-13T13:00:00.000-07:00

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Adapted from content excerpted from the American Express® OPEN Small Business Network
There is a lot of misinformation out there about Web site marketing. Many small businesses find it difficult to separate hype from reality. The key is to determine if the Web is right for you, and then use the right methods to exploit its marketing power. Below are some common misconceptions about the World Wide Web, along with some tips on how you can make your online marketing program a success.

Misconception 1: Every small business needs to have a Web site

While many small businesses can benefit from developing and maintaining their own Web sites, it's important to realize that this form of marketing is not for everyone. You need to consider using a Web site if:

Your customers are online.
If your customers base buy products or get information via the Web, then you need to be there. If, on the other hand, they get most of their information from other sources (whether the Yellow Pages, newspapers and magazines, trade shows, or other marketing vehicles), then you might want to concentrate your efforts in these areas.
You want to reach a national or international customer base efficiently.
The Web is not a form of "local" marketing. By its very nature it has a broad reach, so you need to be prepared to take advantage of that. For example, a home contractor based in suburban New York may not be able to reap the full benefits of a Web site because it serves a very targeted audience. A candy distributor that offered national shipping would be in a better position to take advantage of the Web's broad reach.
A Web site supports your marketing objectives and your budget.
Your Web site needs to be part of a fully integrated marketing plan and budget. It's important to have a consistent message in all the tools you use.
The Web can take the place of, or be more efficient than, other marketing options
The Web can give your customers immediate access to information that it might take them days or weeks to get otherwise. For instance, a commercial photographer who put his portfolio on the Web can direct potential clients to his site, instead of incurring the expense of sending his portfolio for every job.
You're committed to your site
A Web site requires constant attention. Are you willing to keep it fresh? Can you commit to adding new content every month? Do you have the time and budget to support it properly? If you're not willing to do this yourself, you need to hire someone to do it for you. Otherwise, your Web efforts will be wasted.

Misconception 2: A Web site automatically levels the playing field between my small business and my larger competitors

Yes, a professional looking Web site can make your small business look larger than it is. But without an effective plan and effective implementation, your Web site can actually make you look less professional than you are, and put you at a competitive disadvantage.

Use the Web to show off your expertise. By giving away your knowledge, you can position yourself as an expert and attract customers and interest them in your products or services.

One way to make yourself appear larger than you are is to have your own domain name. A Web address of "www.yourcompanyname.com" is much easier to find and presents a more professional image than using a sub-address of your Internet Service Provider or online service (www.yourISP.com/~yourcompany). The cost to register your domain is minimal, and many ISPs will host your site under that name for a small monthly fee. Talk to your ISP about how to do this.

Another trap to look out for is using technology for technology's sake. Using bells and whistles just because they seem "cool" can actually work against you. Here's an example: the home page of a consulting firm features a popular "counter" that informs you how many visitors have come to the page. Unfortunately, it announces the site's low traffic, and therefore causes you to question whether the information you're receiving is accurate or compelling. Without the counter, you might have read the content without considering this.

Misconception 3: Put up a Web site and people will come flocking to your company

Don't expect people to find your Web site on their own. You need to encourage traffic through active promotion both on the Internet and in your traditional marketing materials. Here are some common methods:

Register your Web site with all the major search engines like Google, Yahoo!, and Bing. There are a number of services that will register your URL with multiple engines and directories for a small fee -- a popular one is Submit Express. Be aware, however, that while these services will get your site listed, you will lose control over how you want your site described.
Exchange links or banner ads with non-competitors who have complementary services or products. Send an email to the Webmaster at the site you want to link with, and offer a reciprocal linking arrangement. Be sure to stress the mutual benefits of creating this link in your note. Services such as Link Exchange let you swap links with other businesses, giving you free banner advertising directly proportional to how much you put on your Web site.
Be sure to support your URL throughout your marketing literature. Put your Web site address in all your ads, in your product brochures, and on your business cards and letterhead. Include it in the signature file for your emails, so customers can automatically jump from your message to your Web site.

Get Better Customer Input

2010-08-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

Adapted from content excerpted from the American Express® OPEN Small Business Network

Surveys are an excellent way to find out how your customers feel about a new product, service, location, store policy or virtually anything that's important to your business. A survey will tell you what your customers expect of you and your company, and clarify how well you are performing in their eyes.

If executed properly, you can achieve impressive results without spending a lot of money. Customer service experts estimate it can cost between ₦3,000 - ₦5,000 to sample a representative segment of your customers.

The tips below can help you create an effective survey:

Start with clear objectives

A strong survey has a clear goal or focus. (i.e. to find out how customers feel about a proposed new location or store layout; get response to a new product or service; learn why once loyal customers are now shopping elsewhere). Take time up front to know why you're surveying your customers, and you will get results that will help you make your business more effective.

Give customers a compelling incentive for responding

Ron Zemke, author of "Coaching Knock Your Socks Off Service" (Amacom) suggests including discount coupons for certain products or services with the survey. Or, if customers return the survey in person by a certain date, they're entitled to a 10 percent discount. This can be particularly useful if you're using your survey to prospect for new customers. It might also be as simple as a sentence at the top of the survey indicating that you are using the input to evaluate current policies/products and create new ones -- customers like to feel like they can have an impact on your company.

Ask questions that are important to customers

Customers aren't concerned with issues that do not pertain to them (i.e. hiring, promotion or store policies, outreach programs, etc.). Make sure that each question is important to your customers' needs, not your internal management. Plus, remember that a successful survey arouses excitement and is fun to fill out. Don't put yourself in a position of wasting your customers' time.

Keep the survey brief

Ideally, it should contain 10-12 questions neatly spaced on one page.

Use a confidential self-mailer to generate higher response rates

The easier it is for people to respond, the higher the response rate will be. Self-mailers are highly recommended because they require less paper and postage. Next best is including an addressed pre-stamped envelope. ( It's presumptuous to expect respondents to use their own postage.) Also, stressing the survey's confidentiality increases your chances of getting honest answers.

Ask compelling easy-to-answer questions

Keep questions direct, simple and brief. Scaled questions (strongly agree, moderately agree, disagree, don't care) and yes/no questions are the easiest to answer. Long, wordy multi-part questions should be avoided. An example of a good question: How well do you feel your accountant meets your tax needs? The answer would be on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent).

Encourage customers to give their opinions

With every question, enclose a "Comments" line, encouraging respondents to express opinions -- both positive and negative. Many service businesses, for example, have been successful with questions such as, "If this were your business, what would you do differently?" If respondents feel strongly about the issue, pro or con, there's an excellent chance they'll answer it.

Test survey before mailing it

Andy Mosko, managing principal of Organizational Research Forum, Inc., Vernon Hills, IL, a company that specializes in designing customer surveys, advises testing a survey before mailing it. "Try it out on a few good customers," he says. "You'll be pleasantly surprised to discover it can be improved."

Focus your surveys on your best customers

These are the people whose opinions you value most. You don't have to mail a lot of surveys to get valuable information. If you have 2,000 valuable customers, for example, consider sampling 500. A 50 percent return (250 respondents) is considered excellent; 30 percent (150 respondents) is considered good and 10 percent (50) is dismal. If the lion's share of your business comes from only 8 or 10 customers (as may be the case with a small service business), design your survey with their needs in mind.

Preview survey with postcard arousing curiosity

A brief attention-commanding announcement should be delivered a week before the survey is officially sent. It's an opportunity to highlight the benefits (premium, discount or special money-saving coupon) of filling out the survey and sending it back promptly.

Providing Superior Customer Service

2010-08-13T12:53:00.000-07:00

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Adapted from content excerpted from the American Express® OPEN Small Business Network
You can use customer service as a powerful way to set yourself apart from your competition. Its one of the strengths a small business has, and by emphasizing customer service, you can compete with larger companies who may offer more variety, lower prices, and other perks you can't afford. But many small businesses fall short in the customer service category. Why? Ignorance is one reason. There simply are not a lot of examples of good customer service on which to model your company.

To make sure your business' customer service is top notch, find out what your competition is doing and then copy and exceed it. Read books or listen to audiotapes by people who have studied customer service-driven companies such as Neiman Marcus and see what lessons you can learn from these giants. Successful entrepreneurs are always looking for ways to improve all aspects of their business.
In the meantime, here are five maxims to help make sure you leverage your small business status to provide the best customer service possible.

1) Apologize, Don't Debate

If a customer has a problem, apologize and fix the problem. Make sure to let customers vent their grievances, even if you are tempted to interrupt and correct them. Then give them a refund, new item, or whatever will fix the problem. Debating or haggling over a refund creates ill will. Repair mistakes immediately. Keep in mind that a complaint about your company is an opportunity to turn the situation around and create a loyal customer. Obviously, there will be some customer requests that are too outrageous to comply with. If that's the case, do your best to offer a moderate, appealing alternative.

2) Feedback Keeps You Focused

Ask your customers to rate your service on a regular basis. This can be done via a short questionnaire included with every product sold or mailed to key clients. Keep the questionnaire short so that it is not a burden for customers to complete, and make sure they know they can decline to participate. Always let customers know the purpose of the survey is to serve them better. If they fill out the survey and have no problems, it is a reminder of what good service you offer. If issues do arise, they can be addressed.

3) Stay Flexible

You must be flexible when it comes to your customers and clients. This means doing a project for a client in a pinch, having an early morning meeting even if you like to sleep in, and meeting on Saturday even if you usually reserve your weekends for yourself.

Flexibility can also mean getting information for your client, even though it may not be in your area of expertise. Say, for example, you're catering a wedding and your client needs information on Irish wedding customs. It's just as easy to make a call to your local library and fax the information to your client as it is to say "I don't know anything about that." And making that extra effort will ultimately pay off with a very satisfied customer.

4) Always Say "Yes"

This doesn't mean giving up your personal will to your customers but it does mean finding a way to help customers with their requests. If you run a gift business you might wrap a present for an important client, even if you don't usually provide gift wrapping. You might stay up late to finish a project if a client suddenly has a deadline moved up, or travel in a snow storm to meet a client even if it means an unpleasant trip for you. Always saying yes, means the words "that isn't possible" should be forbidden from use in your business. You cannot afford to use them. If this sounds expensive and inconvenient, it is, but it is less expensive than losing a customer and having to spend money and time landing a new one.

5) Under Promise, Over Deliver

Make your customers believe they are important to you by always appearing to go the extra mile. Build a little cushion into a deadline and deliver early. Estimate that a job will cost more than you think, and bring it in lower.

Many small businesses make the mistake of reversing this maxim - over promising and under delivering. This is a true recipe for disaster. You may get the business, but your level of service will make it difficult to compete. If 24-hour turnaround is excellent service in your industry, don't promise it in 12 just because the customer requests it.

Common Startup Mistakes

2010-08-13T12:48:00.000-07:00

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Adapted from content excerpted from the American Express® OPEN Small Business Network
For most people, starting a business is an exciting time during which they are invigorated by the possibility of success and the fun of tackling new challenges. It is also a time to make lots of mistakes!
Many of the mistakes entrepreneurs make during the start-up phase can be avoided. One of the best ways to steer clear of foibles is to talk to established business owners about what they learned during the process. Ask your attorney or accountant for referrals to business owners who have relevant experience and attend trade association meetings and talk to people in the industry you are entering.
No matter how much research and preparation you do, you will make mistakes when you start a business, but the common errors listed here may help you avoid a few.
Common mistakes include:

Incorporating too quickly

The first step for many people when they launch a business is to file with the state office of incorporation. While incorporating is an appropriate step for many businesses, it pays to wait until your business idea is well formed before taking the plunge. The reason: the concept of your business and therefore the name is likely to change during the first few months of operation.

Not researching the market

A frequently overlooked component of business start up is determining whether the target market for your product or service will buy from you. The best way to derive the answer to this question is to ask them. Arrange to speak to as many of your potential customers as possible. Questions to ask include: Would you buy my product or service? Where do you currently obtain this product or service? How much would you be willing to pay for it? What do you like/dislike about your current provider? Where would you look for this product or service when you need it?

Wanting to over-use an attorney

Attorneys' hourly fees add up extremely quickly and newly-minted business owners are often shocked by their first few legal bills. The temptation when you start is to involve your attorney in all aspects of your business for counsel and drafting of documents. Many business owners quickly learn that it pays to do your own research, draft your own documents, and call on the expertise of your attorney to refine your work.

Spending too much money on office space and decorations

A nice office and great computer equipment make many entrepreneurs feel as though their dream of entrepreneurism is coming true. While one of the pleasures of launching a business is setting up an office that you are proud of, expensive trappings have put many businesses out of business before they got off the ground.

Choosing a Board of Directors

2010-08-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

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Adapted from content excerpted from the American Express® OPEN Small Business Network

If you have chosen to organize your company as a corporation, you are legally required to have a board of directors. Whereas your management (i.e. CEO and president) oversees the daily decision making of your company, your board guides the overall direction of your company.
The size of the board you must have varies by state, but the number of directors on the board cannot exceed the number of corporate shareholders, and in many states a board must be comprised of no fewer than three people. The CEO and president of a small business report to the board of directors, who can, in some cases, vote them out of the company or override their decisions. In many cases, however, the president or CEO owns a bulk of the company's stock, limiting the power of the board to override their decisions.
Large, public companies pay directors for their membership, but small companies are more likely to provide board members with an interest in the company or just a free lunch or dinner when the board meets.
When you are creating a board of directors, you must decide on an "inside" or "outside" board. An inside board is comprised of friends, family, and contacts you trust, and is what most small business owners form first. An outside board is made up of people you recruit based on their skills because you need them to expand your business. If your company is looking for an acquisition, or thinking about an Initial Public Offering (IPO), you may need talent that you can only get from an outside board of directors.
If your business is not incorporated, you may want to form a board of advisors. An advisory board is more informal than a board of directors in that it generally does not have regular meetings, and even in larger companies advisory board members are often not compensated for their services. An advisory board is also not usually authorized to oust a CEO and is created primarily to provide business advice to a company.

Tips on putting together a board of directors

Create a board that complements existing management
Look for people who bring new areas of expertise to your company. For example, if you own a small technology company but don't have any marketing background, search for board members who can provide the marketing experience you need.
Chart your management needs
Create a chart to determine the kind of talent needed to move your company ahead. List the skills your management possesses. You can then make a list of the skills sets you need to acquire and the people who possess those skills.
Use a headhunter
Some executive recruitment companies specialize in recruiting directors and management professionals/executives. For a fee they will locate board of director candidates for you. If you choose this route, keep in mind that the search firm must have a good understanding of you, your company, and the talents you seek in order to be able to recruit effectively for you.
Use your network of colleagues and friends
A well-rounded board of directors can be formed from your former school mates, vendors, professional service providers and social acquaintances. Make a list of candidates from this field and then vigorously scrutinize the list to ensure you are choosing the right talent for your company, not just people you like.
Keep board size manageable
The smaller your board, the more efficiently it is likely to operate. Unlike large companies that recruit high-profile board members to enhance corporate image, the board of a small company is usually a working board. The exception to this rule is if your small company is going public and needs a larger board to guide you through the process.
Make sure the CEO contacts board prospects
Once you have identified board member prospects, the CEO should call those individuals. If you are the CEO, you should explain who you are, provide details of the corporation, how the individual's name came to your attention, and state that you would like to have an appointment to talk about possible participation on the board.
Look for people who know how to raise capital
Even if your company does not need to raise capital now, it most likely will at some stage. Board members who have a strong financial background and knowledge of how to raise money are always an asset.

Deciding on a Business

2010-08-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

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Provided by My Own Business, Content Partner for the SME Toolkit

Characteristics of a Successful Entrepreneur
Step-by-Step Approach
- Decide if you really want to be in business
- Decide what business and where
- Decide whether to start full-time or moonlight
Selection Strategy
Things to Watch Out For
Required Activities
- Comparative Evaluation
- How to Evaluate a Specific Business you have in Mind
- "For" and "Against" List
- Get Completely Qualified
Decision Time
SESSION 1 Quiz

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Characteristics of a Successful Entrepreneur

Testimonial

Collette Paul
STM Media Inc. Publisher of Trade Magazines

"Be able to sustain a financial commitment to whatever business you start."

Transcription - html

Guts: Guts means you must have an entrepreneurial instinct, which is an overwhelming desire to have your own business. You must have the guts and dedication to be completely devoted to your goal. Incidentally, devotion to your goal is much more likely if you have a love for your intended business. Life is too short to start a business that doesn't give you satisfaction and joy. And, through good times and bad times, you will stick with something you love. Brains: While appropriate educational credentials are important, entrepreneurial "brains" means more than scholastic achievements. To become a successful entrepreneur, you must have a working knowledge about the business you plan to start before you start it. Common sense combined with appropriate experience is the necessary brainpower. Prudence, follow through and attention to detail are very important.
Capital: You will need seed money of your own plus sufficient cash to maintain a positive cash flow for at least the first year. In a future session you will learn how to forecast future cash requirements through cash flow control. Many businesses can be started on a very small scale with a small investment. Then, as the business grows and you gain experience, cash flow from your business can be used for growth. In some cases you don't need starting capital to hire other people because you might start by doing everything yourself. The "do it yourself" start is a good way to learn everything about your business and also makes you better qualified to delegate work to others later on. You can control your risk by placing a limit on how much you invest in your business.

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Step-by-Step Approach

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Elaine Mitchell
Specialized Veterinarian

"Hiring good staff members who also share the same philosophy has been very important."

Transcription - html

Decide if you really want to be in business:

You will be putting some (not all, hopefully) of your net worth at risk. You will run the risk of becoming eccentric, meaning creating a life that is out of balance, with working hours taking away from other family or pleasurable activities. There may be levels of stress you have not experienced as an employee.

Decide what business and where:

Once you have decided you have the characteristics of a successful entrepreneur and that you definitely want to be in business, then you must decide which business is best for you and where to locate that business. Selection strategy is covered later on in this Session.

Decide whether to start full-time or moonlight:

There are some interesting advantages and some pitfalls in starting as a moonlight business. (That is, a business you start in your off hours while still working at your current job.) More often than not, the advantages of starting as a moonlighter outweigh the risks:

You avoid burning your bridges of earnings, including retirement, health and fringe benefits and vacations.
Your full-time job won't suffer if you maintain certain conflict of interest disciplines, including compartmentalizing your job and business into completely separate worlds.
You can avoid conflict of interest with your job by choosing a business that is appropriate for moonlighting, such as: single products, real estate, specialized food, e-commerce, direct marketing or family-run operations.
There are great advantages for operating a family business. The family can run the business while you are at work. You have a built-in organizational structure. You can teach your kids the benefits of being in business.

But there are also some pitfalls to consider in starting a moonlight business:

There is a temptation to spend time at your job working on your moonlight business. That is unfair to your employer and should not be done under any circumstances. (You may need a family member or some trusted person to cover emergencies when you are at your job.)
Another problem may be competing with your employer, which, again, is not right. Think of how you would feel or handle this employee if you were the boss.
Any kind of conflict with your regular work can jeopardize your job and your moonlight business.
Overwork and mental and physical exhaustion can also become a very real problem for moonlight entrepreneurs.

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Selection Strategy

Testimonial

Millard MacAdam
Pro Active Leadership

"As the saying goes, fail to plan and you are planning to fail."

Transcription - html

Selecting the wrong business is the most frequent mistake that start-up entrepreneurs make. Here is a checklist to help you select a successful one:

Take your time and wait for the business that is just right for you. You will not be penalized for missing opportunities. The selection process takes a lot of planning and your experience and complete knowledge is vital for your success.
Don't tackle businesses that may be too challenging. It is better to identify a one-foot hurdle than try to jump a seven-footer.
Try to identify a business that has long-term economic potential. Follow Wayne Gretzky's advice, "Go to where the puck is going, not to where it is."
A big mistake can be an error of omission. This means you may fail to see an opportunity that is right in front of you.
Look for a business that will grow in today's and tomorrow's markets. Many small retail stores are no longer in business because huge stores such as Wal-Mart and Home Depot provide more choices to the customer and often at a cheaper price.
Follow the advice of Warren Buffett, Chairman of Berkshire-Hathaway Inc. and the most successful business picker in American history: Mr. Buffett looks for businesses that focus on a "consumer monopoly" with pricing power and long-term predictable growth prospects. Examples include: See's Candy's, Coca-Cola and Gillette Razors. Can you copycat this philosophy in a small way?
Businesses to avoid are "commodity" businesses where you must compete entirely on price and in which you must have the lowest cost to survive. As Mr. Buffett has said, "In a commodity type business you're only as smart as your dumbest competitor."
Most service businesses have pricing power.
Should you bet on a business you don't know when you can bet on a business you do know?
If you intend to manufacture a product, consider the pros and cons of contracting out production to a low-cost supplier. In other words, operate a "hollow corporation." A "hollow corporation" is a company that subcontracts manufacturing and packaging.

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Things to Watch Out For:

Testimonial

Sophia Garcia
A-Z Glass Company

"To get ahead in this business you do everything to get the job."

Transcription - html

Impatience
Do not let overconfidence short-circuit you from analyzing your selection of businesses carefully. You must not fear of hearing the negative aspects; it is much better to be aware of them and face them early on.
Be realistic. Do not become lured by high rewards. They will come if you choose the right business and if you understand every aspect of the business before you open its doors.

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Required Activities

It is worth repeating again: The most common mistake and the most costly one is not picking the right business to begin with. This is the time for soul searching.

IF YOU HAVE NOT DECIDED ON A BUSINESS, DO THIS:

On the top of a blank sheet of paper, write an activity you like to do (make this the heading). Do a separate page for each activity or interest you have.
On those same sheets list as many businesses you can think of that are related to that activity.
On the same sheets list all the products or services you can think of that are related to that activity. Use your imagination and think of every possible product or service you could do.
Make a list of businesses that do better in bad times (one may be appropriate for you). Some examples might be pawnshops, auto repairs and fabric stores.

EXAMPLE

Let's assume you end up with three potential businesses: towing service, selling used cars and auto repairs. You can now make a comparative evaluation using the following check-list (or better still your own checklist) with a 1-10 scoring system:

Objective	Towing Service	Selling Used Cars	Auto Repair

Can I do what I love to do?	6	3	10
Will I fill an expanding need?	8	5	10
Can I specialize?	7	8	10
Can I learn it and test it first?	9	8	9

This kind of analysis can help you gain objectivity in selecting your business.

How to Evaluate a Specific Business you have in mind.

Here are some questions to help clarify your thoughts:

Is it something I will enjoy doing?
My favorite activities are: __________________________
I like to serve people by: ________________________________
Will it serve an expanding need for which there is no close substitute?
Can I be so good at a specialized, targeted need that customers will think there is no close substitute?
Can I handle the capital requirements?
Can I learn the business by working for someone else first?
Could I operate as a hollow corporation, without a factory and with a minimum number of employees? ("Hollow corporation" refers to a business where everything is "outsourced," meaning you would subcontract manufacturing and packaging to outside sources. )
Is this a product or service that I can test first?
Should I consider a partner who has complementary skills to mine or who could help finance the business?

Once you have decided what business you want to start, do this:

Make a "for" and "against" list regarding characteristics of the business. On a blank piece of paper, draw a vertical line down the middle of the page and list on one side all the "for's" and on the other all the "against's." Sometimes this will help clarify your thinking.
Write down the names of at least five successful businesses in your chosen field. Analyze what these five businesses have in common and make a list of reasons that make them successful.
Talk to several people in your intended business. Don't be afraid of the negative aspects of your intended business. Instead, seek out the pitfalls: better now than after you open your doors. Take notes if possible. Write down the information as soon as you can.
Analyze the competition that are not doing well and write down the reasons.

Get Completely Qualified

Before you start, get completely qualified:

The best way to become qualified is to go to work for someone in the same business.
Attend all classes you can on the subjects you need, for example: accounting, computer and selling.
Read all the appropriate "how-to" books you can.
Don't be afraid to ask questions or seek help from the most successful people in your intended business.

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Decision Time:
What could you sell or what services could you perform that would make money and you would enjoy?
To complete this session you should have decided on a business or at least selected a business you think would be best for you. To get the most benefit out of the next eleven sessions you should have a definite plan in mind. Session Two will show you how to prepare your business plan.
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SESSION 1 Quiz: DECIDE ON A BUSINESS

Let's say that you are looking for some overall guidelines for picking a business. Which one of the following answers would be a good decision?
1. You have the choice between taking on a business that would be a huge challenge to make successful and one that would be a no-brainer for you to accomplish. You would go for the challenging one.
2. Realizing that you're not getting any younger and this is going to be a big step, it would be better to jump right in and get something started and see what happens.
3. If you had the choice between getting into a business in which you already have experience and one that would be a fresh start in an entirely new field, you would go for the fresh start.
4. You'd take your sweet time to seek out that one great opportunity.
5. If your heart is really set on opening a toy store in a strip shopping center, you would go for it no matter what.

Proceed to Session 2: The Business Plan

How Do I Come Up With a Winning Business Idea?

2010-08-13T12:29:00.000-07:00

Adapted from content excerpted from the American Express® OPEN Small Business Network

Developing a business idea is a matter of creating a vision, leveraging your strengths and determining what the market needs. These three steps should get you started.

* Create a vision
* Determine what you're good at and what you like to do
* Figure out what the market needs

Create a vision

Close your eyes for a few minutes and conjure up a detailed image of what you want your life to look like in 5 years. Be as specific as possible.

* Where do you live?
* How do you spend your days?
* What kind of work do you do?
* Do you work alone or with other people?
* Who are you surrounded by?
* What do you do when you aren't working?

Don't limit yourself to these questions; create a vivid vision of yourself, touching on things that are important to you. These are all personal issues that will impact the type of business you pursue - being a city or country person; wanting to travel or sit at your computer; liking to meet people or work on the phone. This activity will help you create a foundation for choosing a business, making business decisions, and setting clear goals.

It is best to do this exercise with someone else and share your vision. If you can't, write it down to make your vision more concrete.

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Determine what you're good at and what you like to do

It's often useful to look inside yourself to figure out what you like and dislike, and where your talents lie. It's one thing to come up with a winning business idea. It's another to come up with one that fits your skill set and interests you. Your business has to keep you excited so you can thrive over the long haul.

One of the best ways to do this is to make three separate lists:

List 1: What you're good at
Everyone is good at something and many skills can be the foundation for a business. You might be naturally organized or have a knack for fixing things. You may be so used to your skills that they don't immediately come to mind, so assemble this list by observing yourself for a few weeks with an eye out for your aptitudes and by asking people who know you well for their impressions of what you excel at.

List 2: Skills you've acquired over the years
Whether or not you've worked in a conventional environment, you no doubt have accumulated many. Write down all the work responsibilities you've had; think about the varied tasks you know how to complete. Make sure this list is complete -- there should be at least 10 distinct items.

List 3: Things you like to do
List the things you enjoy doing. This may not be as easy as it sounds. This list should be at least 10 items long. Stretch beyond your hobbies and interests that spring to mind immediately. If you're stymied, ask people who have known you for a long time -- particularly people who knew you as a kid -- what they have seen you doing when you're happiest.

Keep these three lists in an accessible place (for instance on your desk) for several weeks, and every time an idea comes to you, jot it down in the proper category. Ask people who know you well for their input or to help you jog your memory.

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Figure out what the market needs

So far, you've been looking inward to come up with your business idea. Now its time to look outward to discover an unfilled need that you can meet with your product or service.

There are plenty of "Top 10" or "Hot New" business lists out there. These may stimulate some ideas, but the best business ideas will come from you and will be based on who you are and what the market is looking for. So while you're doing your soul searching and list making, put up your antenna and look out for business opportunities.

The attached worksheet is designed to help you come up with ideas. Don't be afraid to be outlandish and don't be discouraged if your first few ideas are flawed. Put them aside and keep working.

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Copyright © 1995-2010, American Express Company. All Rights Reserved.
Featured Items

* How Do I Come Up With a Winning Business Idea?
* Effective Competitive Analysis
* The Business Plan
* Checklist for Starting a New Business
* Checklist for Assessing Personal Strengths & Weaknesses

Related Information

* Common Startup Mistakes
* Set Goals for Your Business
* Creating an Effective Business Plan
* Sample Business Plans
* Business Selection Checklist
* The Business Plan
* Expanding and Handling Problems

Your Rescue Mission Business

2010-02-11T10:23:00.000-08:00

People who live in Colorado know what it means to climb mountains. On summer weekends, people troop out in casual hikers who have no idea of what they are doing. In sandals, shorts, and T-shirts, carrying a single container of water, they start up a trial at mid-morning. They have no map, no compass, and no rain gear.

Stories of tourists rescued from certain death after wandering off a trial, are told all the time. Regardless of the circumstances, Alpine Rescue always responds to a hapless tourist, “Well, since you ignored the rules of the wilderness, you’ll just have to bear the consequences”. Their mission is rescue. They pursue every needy hiker, no matter how undeserving.

The central goal of this blog is one of rescue. We’ll be pointing out in this blog that since no man is an island, and needs the help of another to succeed, all we can do just like a stranded hiker, is to call for help whenever the need arises.

Are you in need of help? Are you looking for where to find the help you need to start, grow or progress your business? This blog seeks after and responds to every plea for help. This is a blog in the rescue business. Join us!

Hot Niche Starving Crowd Wants To Learn Home Staging-Very Low Refunds

2010-02-10T11:04:00.000-08:00

Hot Untapped Niche--Starving CROWD--Profitable, Under-Served Niche. Home Staging Training Program Is Easy To Sell - Great Niche Topic For Squidoo, Hubpages, Blogs, Etc. This Business Is Hot & Women Want To Be Home Stagers! Virtually Zero Refunds!

Follow link to participate: http://9a2edrkg25ph6r7zp6i76ncsbk.hop.clickbank.net/

Right Information for Website Users

2010-02-10T08:37:00.000-08:00

Right Information for Website Users
I read from the book of books – the Bible one day where apostle Paul was addressing the Thessalonian people saying, “I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

People who have been airborne know the importance of announcements. Flight attendants are very careful while making series of step-by-step announcements to explain every situation on ground. Right information relieves fear and puts the passengers on alert.

Addressing a group of fearful Christians in Thessalonica, who believed that their believing loved ones who had died were gone forever and would miss out when Christ comes again, Paul comforted them that there is no cause for alarm. His words were intended to soften their fears by giving them the right information.

Right information is what has kept me to online business till this moment. If you have the right information, you are a winner already. Through right information, I was able to learn that death is not a period, it’s only a comma.

I built and hosted my first website in the year 2001 but could not succeed due to lack of adequate information. Not having the right information brought everything I ever put together on the web to a total mess. There was no further hope of going forward, but I kept moving, researching, spending money on any kind of information I come across, hoping that one day, the sun might shine on my way to success. However, a very important information I discovered recently, catapulted me to a height I never imagined as far as web-hosting and management is concerned.

This blog is solely dedicated to YOU, I mean Y-O-U, who have been searching for the right information as long as online business is concerned. This site will play host to a lot of vital information that are needed to take you to the height you desire to be. Always visit us here and learn the A-B-C of online business. This is a promise that must be fulfilled – always keep in touch!!!

Ten Sales Boosters Strategic Plan

2009-07-04T12:25:00.000-07:00

Sagging sales are frustrating. Life can be injected into them by simply following the Ten Sales Booster Strategic Plan as outlined below.

In a time like this, when the whole world is experiencing economic hardship, it is not surprising that you are losing your edge. Most of your products and services are attracting less attention from people. Fewer customers come in. What then can you do to boost sales? I have come up with the following to help ease out the trouble on your side and boost up your sales again.

1. Consider Making a Change. Change the way your place of business looks and feels. Display your products in a creative way. Repaint the walls. Move the shelves. Redesign your website and make it look better. Make small changes on a monthly basis, and other changes - for example, attractive displays - according to the season. Bigger changes such as remodeling your facilities can be done every few years because they cost more. The key is that changes, however small or big, will attract attention and possible new customers.

2. Check Your Stock. What kinds of titles do you have? Poor titles make poor sales. Build your business on good sellers that fit your mission and market, are well-crafted, well-designed, and priced right. They may sell slowly, but they bring in revenue year after year.

3. Know Your Customers. Who buys your products? Is it parents buying for their children? Is it pastors? The urban middle class? Youth? Market research can take many forms. Some are more elaborate but also more expensive. Others are simple, costing virtually nothing. You will serve your customers better if you know who they are and try to communicate with them. Online business executives can join forum online forums to know what people talk about. Give your website a new look, attach a form for your visitors to fill for onward contact.

4. Boost Your Staff. When things are not going well, check the work of your staff. Do they make customers feel welcome? Do they go out of their way to make customers happy? Do they love your products/services? Do they have selling skills and talent? Have they ever been to a short course or workshop on marketing strategies? Give your staff a boost.

5. Get Involved With The Community. Identify a concern that you are able to address. Perhaps you can team up with educators to promote your products/services in local areas or join some hosts of Internet communities. Whatever community activity you undertake, it should increase the exposure and appreciation of your company and its products.

6. Say "Yes" To Your Company Vision. Improve your social relations. Take a survey of the organizations and some key individuals in your area. Design a strategy. Plan some visits with the people in this group – especially their leaders. Show them samples of your stock. Invite them to your premises. Offer help. Look at these organizations and individuals as a key channel to potential customers. Getting into these organizations and winning over these individuals will give you a unique chance to show what you have to offer.

7. Go Mobile. If customers are not coming to you, go to them. A man I knew had more sales on crowded trains than many stationery sellers did on a regular basis. Sell your products/services at Churches, at conferences, on the streets. While this strategy will give a boost to your sales, it requires closer administration. There are many details: Getting the appropriate licenses, recruiting salespeople, and developing an accounting system. Online marketers can as well learn to drive more visitors to their sites - having more visitors means that 5 out of 20 visitors may become your customer.

8. Make the Headlines. Print and electronic media are often looking for new and unusual items that will attract their audience. Invite a celebrity or a political figure to say something about the value of your products. Get a popular marketer to speak on a theme of interest to the media. Newspaper, radio, and television personnel are generally willing to cooperate with people doing something good. Advertise your website by creating links to other popular sites.

9. Start a Newsletter. Improve communication with your customers. Announce new products/services. Publish comments from influential figures and from customers. Describe how you are improving your services. Include human interest stories. Keep your overall expenses to a minimum.

10. Give Choices To Your Customers. I remember two marketers who displayed a limited number of products. The first had a wide variety of books covering national politics, regional economics, Christian living and Computer Softwares, while the other displayed music and entertainment products. The latter was always crowded with enthusiastic customers while the former was virtually empty, and from what I gathered, the former was forced to close down. Declining sales indicate that something is running low in the life of your company. You need some boosters.

Crisis: A Time To Plan And Grow

2009-07-04T12:03:00.000-07:00

What do you do, or plan to do when you hit the bottom line in business? A lot of people may back out, others may commit suicide, but the bottom line remains the best time of planning for the wise…

Economic recession is hitting the world hard. In the heat of this problem, a lot of decisions, planning and measures are being initiated and undertaken by various arms of government and individual groups. Almost everybody is working towards a constant and an unabridged progress and better living, yet a new idea comes into place with the belief that a coin will not properly answer its name without the two sides of it – front and back.

To say the least, everything in life has two sides - the good and the bad side. Picture yourself in the place of a car owner. You just discover that your being in this position is having a comfortable way to get around (good) and having some extra costs (bad). Having more than one car means a lot of pleasure (good) and as well many distractions (bad); yet not having a car means fewer expenses, but more time and energy are required to go from one place to another. Being a business owner is a thing of joy that brings honor, but it also has a great responsibility. An employee has less responsibility, but lacks the power to make things happen. Name anything - we can always find two sides, two different perspectives for it.

That does not mean that the good and the bad sides are always well-balanced. One is usually stronger than the other, and that helps us to make decisions and focus our energy and efforts. Our perceptions of which side is strongest may vary, depending on our values, knowledge, emotions, awareness of the environment, and more.

Like everything else, crises have their good and bad sides. Most often, the bad side is painfully obvious, and the good side is hard to find. When we face a crisis, we may fear the worst and even panic; we might complain, saying that it is not fair; or we might fight to learn from the situation and overcome it. But whichever side you may face, always remember that the two sides in life are what bring out our real stuff. You may be facing a situation as hard as a stone, yet the way you face it, brings out your real self. Let me explain, a stone is a stumbling block and the inattentive person trips over it and gets hurt, yet it is a projectile to the brute – a very good weapon.

An entrepreneur sees a stone as a useful material – he builds with it. It’s a playmate to the children – they jump over it and stone carvers fashion them into beautiful statutes. The two sides are there, but it’s left for the person, the individual to make a choice – either to stumble over the stone and get hurt, or benefit from the stone and grow thereafter.

It is common to hear - especially from those who are not experiencing our headaches - that a crisis is a time to search for opportunities to grow. But it is not easy to feel that way while you have bills to pay, a market to serve, a board to report to, and so many other responsibilities, which always multiply in difficult times.

I once heard that a crisis is diving into a pool - when you do not know how to swim. Maybe there is no one around who can toss a life preserver your way. You keep going down and down. You see the bottom of the pool coming towards you. If you do not panic, when you get to the deepest place, you can push with your feet against the floor and get out of the water to breathe again. From this, you will learn a lesson for the rest of your life. You will avoid diving into a pool before learning how to swim.

But, if for some reason you do fall into another pool, you will remember that you cannot panic to find your way out. When I am in the deepest part of a crisis, I am that much closer to the floor, where I can push to get out of that situation. Ever since I learned this tactics, when I face a crisis I begin to look for opportunities.

However, when you remember that God is faithful, and understand that a temptation is a crisis, then God will prove to you that He will not let you face any crisis beyond what you can bear. Maybe He will send you a life preserver - or remind you to push when you are at the bottom of the pool.

Believe it, every economic crisis on your way in life, though with its attendant global problems, has within it a sign of a good thing to come ahead, and also a reminder that you need to approach life with a new perspective. My prayer is that this economic storm will pass over us for good; and with you and me in this generation; the world has no bigger problems than we can put heads together and solve. With proper planning, we will overcome the crisis, improve the operation of world economy, and grow in the service of God and humanity.

THE HARD TRUTH MARKETERS WON’T TELL YOU

2009-05-01T04:34:00.000-07:00

Are you in business? I want to authoritatively reveal to you a hard truth that marketers will never tell you if you must succeed in business. That truth is centred on the Supreme Being - GOD. Do you believe in GOD?

Well, it is good you do, because without your believing in Him, the truth remains that He exists! Okay, if He exists, then what? In business God has the Power and the Influence over every Successful Businesses. As a matter of fact, I don't think any marketer would bother telling you about Him. Why? Because they are being too careful not to mix business with religion. I've a feeling they would be embarrassed if someone saw their students carrying Bible to the lecture room and commented: "Eh, what do we have here: a church or what?"

I don't know that for sure. But no matter what, I think every marketer is missing a huge opportunity to make greater impact on their clients/customers. The power and the influence of God in making any business where He is honored to grow and prosper is undeniable.

So it is a monumental mistake, in my carefully considered opinion, for any business, not least Internet/Online Marketing, to ignore this vital area of study. The Living God is the only One that can guarantee enduring success in business. Master Jesus said, "I am the Vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing" [John 15:5].

When an entrepreneur abides in God, and God's words abide in the entrepreneur, he can be rest assured that he will enjoy all the following benefits and more:

Salvation: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" [John 3:16].

Healing: "...if thou will diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee" [Exodus 15:26].

Bring forth fruits: "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His flaw doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in season; his leaf also shall not wither; and I whatsoever he doeth shall prosper" [Psalm 1:1-3].

Steady supply: "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" - [Philippians4:19].

Protection: "There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone" [Psalm 91:10-12].

Increase: "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase" [1 Corinthians 3:6] that He may establish His covenant which he swore unto thy fathers, as it is this day" [Deuteronomy 8: 18].

Sorrow-free riches: "The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it" [Proverbs 10:22].

Good success: "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" [Joshua 1:8].

Yes, God does all these things and more. I know it and you should know it too. I'm a living proof! I've irrefutable evidence to prove it. And on the pages of this blog, you will discover what the Lord had done [and is doing] for me. For me to be alive and my business to be where it is today is the grace of God. Just as Master Jesus said, without my Father in heaven, I could of my own do nothing.

Each time the enemy came like the flood to overflow and wash me and my business away, the Spirit of the Lord was always showing up to deliver me by lifting a standard against him. Really, I think every business owner, and all marketers all over the world, should consider inculcating in their clients/customers the study of the part that God plays in the sustenance of business. The magnitude of the role God plays in business from start-up to maturity is so enormous than for it to go without acknowledgment. As the Psalmist say, "all glory must be unto God".

There this other thing I would like to inform you about. The thing is called: experience. The only place you can acquire experience is in the marketplace. That is where you can lay your hands on the original one. No amount of case studies can replace the practical, hands-on experience you'll get from the marketplace.

So let me sound a note of warning to you as you read this message. Bear it in mind that, like the tons of case studies that you will be loaded with, it's not meant to take the place of practical experience. I'm saying this here just to prepare your mind for the type of things you might encounter when you announce your arrival in the marketplace and take your position in any of the market segments.

As you will discover, your own experience might be totally different from mine. It doesn't really matter. What is most important is that you already know what lies ahead of you and you're prepared for it. It's not going to be a tea party. Be absolutely sure of that. So brace up yourself for hard work.

Now, every business owner and marketer is concerned with the word: HARDWORK. Well, that is good, but that without God is true FAILURE!

Hosted By

Rhema

2009-03-26T15:41:00.000-07:00

Boost it up on time, don't delay!

Be in charge.

Create Awareness.

ENJOY!

Business Power Network

2009-03-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

Friend,
Whatever business you may have chosen to do, let me remind you that prayer is very important and necessary.

When you pray, you conquer and obtain. Success has a lot of brothers and sisters, only poverty is an orphan. To succeed and live successful, you need to PRAY HARD. Almost all the great achievers I have ever known in this world never joked with prayer.

Prayer is your KEY to success!

Business Power Network

2009-03-26T14:55:00.000-07:00

In business, patience and steadfastness matter a lot. Be patient in all your doing; be steadfast, one day the reward of hardwork shall come your way.

I'm in business to make a mark. Many people before me tried and failed but here I am pushing ahead. If I can do that, you too can. Don't mind all the stories here and there, only listen to your heart as you plan to be your own boss, work as a partner to someone.

The sky is not your limit, heaven is. Duc in altum - Aim at the highest!

Business Power Network

2009-03-26T14:49:00.000-07:00

It may please you, sure team work is gain. Let's join hands together and build a peaceful, success-oriented environment.

Always call on us whenever in NEED!

Business Power Network

2009-03-26T14:34:00.000-07:00

Today’s decision …

I want to welcome you to my blog site made possible by www.blogspot.com, and I want to use this wonderful opportunity to let you to into certain facts about decision.

You know that people take decisions every day, some are good while some are bad. Some choices we make in life equally affect us one way or another.

You may take it or leave it your decision rules your life. You are whosoever you have decided to be like.

Well, there are things your decision cannot change or affect. Whatever be your decision, you still realize that people are born into the world, others are leaving the world by dying, flowers bloom, birds sing, rivers run, fish swim, mountains stand, eagles fly, the sun shines, trees sway, crops grow, and so on. In this case, your dreams and decisions are not meant to alter the order – they are to compliment it.

The life you live now started by someone having a dream. The dream he had graduated into taking a decision and contract was reached your mother became pregnant and a baby-YOU was born. Then you grow, and as a result caught the bug - the dream bug of cause!

As a businessman, I want to ask you a question. Why are you in business? Are you in business because you were sacked or retrenched in a former place of work? Are you in business because you want to be your own boss?

Friend, what is your driving force - fame and popularity, family identity, pressure to make money? Whatever it is, you must remember that a strong and faithful decision matters a lot. Let me quickly remind you here that no matter your decision, the business world has taken an ugly shape that makes it highly unpredictable. The business world is a world of intricate deception, cruelty, sweet talkers, unrighteous diplomacy, self-abuse, compromise, frustration, risks and demonic manipulations.

It degenerated to a point where those ahead would not like the ones behind to cross over. To go into business and succeed, consider the following points:

(1) Take Initiative – the power of decision does not depend on others but on you.

(2) Persist - Your decision must be supported by repeated or different actions to overcome in obstacle.

(3) Seek Information – maintain the ability to seek information on clients, suppliers, available markets and competitors.

(4) Excel - Always posses the ability to do things that meet or exceed existing standard of excellence. Improve on your past performances.

(5) Be Sound - Develop and use logical step-by-step plan to reach goals. Always evaluate alternative ways of doing things.

(6) Be Confident - Have a strong belief in your ability and express confidence in your ability to complete a difficult task or meet a challenge. Be confident that you will succeed at whatever you try to do, no matter how difficult.

(7) Be Faithful – Try to always engage yourself in situations that have a high-risk as opposed to taking a preference for situation involving moderate risk.

(8) Be Persuasive - Always try to influence and persuade others. Use personal contacts to accomplish your own objectives.

(9) Be Committed - Be faithful to your business.

(10) Set A Goal - setting a standard for yourself will be a good thing to do. It pays to do so. Just try it!