ASR Blog

The Relationship Between the Manager and Employees

I recently came across a survey that reported U.S. employees have the most positive opinions and friendliest relationships with their managers. So good job employers!

According to the international ''Employees Assess Their Manager'' survey from Chicago-based SSP-BPI Group, 86 percent of U.S. employees reported a good opinion of their immediate supervisor. The study also had employees describe their relationship with their immediate supervisors and 62 percent of U.S. employees said it was ''friendly,'' while 33 percent said ''purely professional.'' The U.K., Germany and Switzerland also reported similar results, while other European countries, including France, reported more distant relationships with their managers.

The working relationships between supervisors and employees are different in each country and the responses of U.S. employees, who gave their supervisors the highest ratings of any of the 10 countries in the survey, show that professional skills and personal friendliness go hand-in-hand. When asked if their supervisor was ''competent,'' 90 percent said yes, while 90 percent said yes to ''friendly,'' 87 percent to ''talented,'' 87 percent ''honest,'' and 83 percent ''open to feedback.''

''As U.S. companies are becoming more global, it's important for leaders to understand how employees around the world view their managers and what they expect from them,'' said Juan Luis Goujon, CEO of SSP-BPI Group. ''According to the survey, the U.S. has a competitive advantage when it comes to employees feeling positive about their supervisors. This is particularly important because companies today require employees to be more engaged in order to achieve business results. Most U.S. supervisors appear to be providing a good work environment and direction, but employees still want greater recognition and support.''

You can see more results from the survey, including more international findings, online. Are these results surprising to you? Have you worked in an international capacity and have you seen some of these results first-hand? Please share!

~Kimberly Maul

Rembrandt's PR and Writing Blog for Startup Success – Phone Pitching 101

The best way to get media coverage is to make some calls. But before you pick up the phone, be sure you are ready. I have said this before, but it is important. If you make a bad impression, you will have a very difficult time getting through to that reporter, writer or producer again.

With this in mind, here are three, basic tips to remember in your pitching efforts:

·        Research.

What are you going to say? Be sure you have done your research and know why your pitch is newsworthy, unique and important to each reporter you are going to contact. Write down key talking points in advance so you can easily access important information. Also prepare several story angles in case the reporter is not interested in your first pitch.

·        Practice.

If you are new to public relations, practice how you are going to give your pitch. Have a co-worker, friend or family member listen to your story angle and give a critique. This will uncover areas that need improvement and help build your confidence-level.

·        Be Succinct.

Media members are always on deadline and very busy. Keep your pitches short and succinct. Talk about the most unique, newsworthy items first. And if a reporter does not have time to talk to you, get off the phone. Or, if you need to leave a message, keep it short. Try to think how you would like to be treated if you were that person and act accordingly. After all, reporters are people too!

It can take some time to figure out your pitching style and what works best for you. Once you have made some calls and talked to reporters, it will get easier. Also, don’t worry if it takes some time to get through to larger media venues. Do the appropriate follow-up and keep a positive attitude. You may not be right for a current project, but that doesn’t mean the door is closed on future media opportunities.

If you'd like more information or need help with your publicity efforts, feel free to comment below or visit www.rembrandtwrites.com to get my monthly newsletter full of valuable PR tips. Thanks!

The Small Business Vote

This year is a crucial one for U.S. politics--and bringing small-business issues to the forefront of the elections. Inc.com has an article about a new joint campaign from the Smaller Manufacturers Council Business Councils and the National Small Business Association. The partnership, ''Small Business: 70 Million Strong…and Voting'' will focus more attention on the small business market and raise awareness of small-business issues.

Small businesses employ more than half of the U.S. private workforce and have generated 93.5 percent of the country's net new jobs over the past 15 years, Inc.com reported.

''We want to let people know that the small-business community is a force to be reckoned with,'' said Lee C. Taddonio, the president of SMC Business Councils, according to Inc.com.

~Kimberly Maul

Working Alone, Side by Side

For those remote-working entrepreneurs out there, toiling away in the home office or coffee shop can be, well, lonely.

But, see, this is why you struck out on your own. No more distractions, no more useless meetings, zero office politics. Yet, something is obviously missing. You sense it on those Thursday afternoons after working several days solid without human contact. And you sense it during those moments when you have a constructive question or an meaningful idea and you look up quickly to share it... but there's no one there.

The New York Times last week profiled groups of entrepreneurs (mostly Web designers, writers, bloggers, etc.) who are having it both ways with "coworking" spaces. These are not large, alienated, library-like situations, but more like communal spaces where people can work from their laptops with the benefit of having like-minded people around them doing the same thing (much like San Francisco's Hat Factory, pictured above). While quiet is maintained for focus, ideas can be thrown around and skills can be shared when needed. And, of course, there is enough productive energy around the table to keep the mood busy and focused.

Now, this kind of arrangement might not be for everyone. Some people cannot work, for instance, unless Travis Tritt or Rush (or both!) are blasting from across the room. And others are not good sharers of space. Ahem. But, for a good majority, this could be ideal: Complete independence without alienation.

Now, the only challenge is finding a space and a group of like-minded people to work with. Shouldn't be that hard.

How to Do Niche Marketing via Google AdWords

Last week, I published an article about marketing to minority audiences. Often ignored by mainstream marketers, they're an increasingly important, increasingly powerful segment of consumers. Not only to big guys like Coke and Microsoft, but also to small businesses like you and me.

One of the most fundamental pieces of advice that I encountered about reaching minorities is to find them where they already are. It does you no good, for instance, to craft an ad for African-American men if you're going to run it in a magazine that targets white women.

Here's the thing, though: Many of the smallest small businesses — including mine — don't have the budgets to run either mainstream or minority ads in newspapers, in magazines or on cable TV. We've got to reach our customers as efficiently and as inexpensively as possible. Often, that means advertising online via search engines and affiliate networks, where customers often are nameless and faceless.

I wondered if it was possible to really target a single group of customers, such as minorities, online — to give anonymous Internet users who are clicking your pay-per-click ads a tangible demographic identity. To find out, I engaged Kim Malone Scott, director of online sales and operations for Google's AdSense.

Here's what Kim told me about using Google AdWords to reach niche customers:

Q: The Internet is a big place, full of lots of people. Is it possible to reach a targeted, niche audience online?

Google's advertising offerings provide advertisers the ability to meet every marketing objective. Although Google's Content Network can reach about 70 percent of all Internet users, it is also possible to target and reach a narrow niche audience by location or demographic.

Q: Why might I want to reach that niche audience to begin with?

One of the first pieces of advice we give to small business advertisers is to know your audience. By taking a good look at the products and services you’re selling and the customers who are buying them, you can translate that knowledge into effective and targeted advertising.

It really goes beyond niche demographics being an attractive advertising target; it’s about niche demographics being the right audience for the goods and services that a business is trying to sell. If a small business determines that a minority is buying the products they sell, then that minority becomes an attractive and important advertising target for that business. Google can help that business reach that particular demographic.

Q: Ok, so niche demographics are obviously an attractive target. Now, how does one reach them with their AdWords campaign?

Google offers its AdWords advertisers that are opted into the Google Content Network the ability to reach niche audiences online with placement targeting. Placement targeting lets advertisers choose individual sites in the Google Content Network where they’d like their ads to appear. When advertisers create a placement-targeted campaign, they can choose the demographic site selection option. This option enables advertisers to find and run their ads on Web sites with the right audience for their AdWords campaigns. Advertisers submit demographic preferences and create a list of sites that they think may be popular with that demographic audience. A feature called the Placement Tool then automatically returns a list of available sites from Google’s Content Network whose audience tends to match the demographic description an advertiser selected. For instance, if an advertiser is selling ethnic beauty products, they may ask the Placement Tool to look for sites that are popular with minority women.

Like using AdWords for search, small business advertisers can spend as little or as much as they would like for placement-targeted campaigns. They can choose either cost-per-click (CPC) or cost-per-thousand impressions (CPM) pricing.

Q: If I decide to advertise within Google's Content Network, what common mistakes should I avoid making?

Small business advertisers who create AdWords campaigns, but don’t measure their effectiveness, are making a mistake. After a campaign goes live, advertisers should measure its results regularly. They should keep a close watch on their account statistics, review their Web logs and use conversion tracking software (available for free through some advertising programs). With that data, advertisers should continually review what they’ve set up, keeping in mind that there’s always room for improvement and that the online advertising environment is dynamic. Advertisers shouldn’t be afraid to make changes and try new things.

Rembrandt's PR and Writing Blog for Startup Success – The Silent Killer

Toxic people and situations may be killing your career. Without knowing it, daily PR activities and deadlines can affect your emotions and productivity. Plus, you may not deal with the most positive people on a daily basis.

Take a moment to think about your overall health. If you are feeling sluggish and dread going to work each day, it’s time to make a change. Here are a few tips to help you get back on track and feel more energized.

1. Surround yourself with positive people.

If you are around constant complainers, this will start to wear on your overall health and well-being. Look for successful people who radiate confidence and lead happy and fulfilling lives. Try to spend more time with these kinds of co-workers, friends and family members. And whenever possible, make an effort to limit your contact with negative people.

“Surround yourself with people who take their work seriously, but not themselves, those who work hard and play hard!” Colin Powell

2. Be thankful.

Sometimes it can be extremely difficult to be in a good mood and think pleasant thoughts. When this happens, try to focus on all the things you are thankful for. Make a quick mental list of your favorite things in life and why you are grateful for them. Then, make a fresh start and try to be positive for the rest of the day. This may seem like a waste of time, but it works. You’ll be surprised at how your attitude will change.

"The Oprah Winfrey Show – The Secret"

3. Take a break from the news.

Although it’s important to know what is going on in the world, news reports are not usually packed with positive stories. When the work day is over, turn the news off and listen to your favorite music, get some exercise, or watch your favorite television program. This will give your mind and body a stress-break and help revive your mental attitude. 

Notes on The Power of Positive Thinking

4. Think about where you are going.

The PR world is so fast-paced that you may not have time to think about long-term career goals. Do yourself a favor and “stop and smell the roses.” If you are just running around meeting deadlines, dealing with negative clients, working with micro-managers, and just trying to earn a paycheck, it’s time to stop for a moment - Is this really a stepping stone to bigger and better things?

You will be much happier if you think about your career goals and know your specific action-plan to reach those goals. Of course it’s important to pay your dues, but be sure you are paying them at the right time and place in order to see future results.

Career Advice: Monster.com
Goal Setting Guide

It may not seem possible, but just by reviewing your environment and making simple changes, you can be more productive, have a better mental attitude and reach your career goals faster.

Obviously, these are just a few suggestions. Do you have any additional tips you’d like to share for increasing energy, productivity and overall well-being? If so, please provide your comments below, or feel free to contact me via my site www.rembrandtwrites.com. I’d love to hear from you!

Rembrandt's PR and Writing Blog for Startup Success – PR and Marketing Work Together

Yesterday, I spoke to Daniel Gaugler, marketing manager of PrintingForLess.com (PFL), an award-winning business based in Livingston, Montana that provides high-quality, online commercial printing.

Since PFL is one of the fastest growing private companies in the country, I asked Daniel for his input on how marketing and PR efforts work together to increase customers, growth and overall business success.

Here’s what Daniel had to say:

In your opinion, what is the difference between marketing and public relations?
Public relations is just one part of marketing, as marketing is made up of many things. PR is the process of actively managing the communications of your organization by telling the story your potential customers want to hear.

How do marketing and public relations activities work together to help small businesses succeed?
Your PR efforts should be centered on getting the right message to the people you care about; your potential prospects, customers and investors. Your PR and marketing messages should both be telling the same story to this audience. By integrating your PR efforts with your marketing efforts you will be able to increase both the frequency, reach and effectiveness of your marketing spend.

How have you combined marketing and public relations efforts to help with PFL's fast growth?
At PFL, we use our publicity on our website as a third-party validation to reduce the fear or uncertainty customers might have when making a large purchase online. We also use our media mentions as a sales tool and in our advertising efforts.

One of the added benefits of our public-relations efforts has been the ability to recruit top talent from across the country, which is always important in a fast growing company.

Do you think it is important to pursue both marketing and publicity activities in order to increase sales cost-effectively?
PR can be a very cost-effective form of marketing when it’s integrated with your overall marketing plan. Getting your story heard can help you reach potential customers and add credibility to your brand.

What tips can you offer entrepreneurs to help increase profits by using a combination of PR and marketing efforts?
Make sure you’re telling the right story. Not the story you want to hear, but the one that matters to your customers. Be genuine in your messaging, you can't fake it.

Thanks for your insights Daniel!

What are your thoughts on how PR works with marketing? Please feel free to share your comments below. And if you'd like more information about PR and marketing, please visit www.rembrandtwrites.com to get my monthly newsletter full of valuable PR tips. Thanks!

The 20 Best Resources for Minority-Owned Businesses

In an article published today, titled "Be a Minority Mogul," I wrote about the challenges facing minority-owned businesses, as well as the solutions that are open to them. What I didn't mention, however, was the extraordinary wealth of resources that are available to minority business owners. There's a ba-jillion of them out there, and they're extremely, extremely valuable.

"It's easier now than ever before to start a minority-owned business, because you can really find the support you need," Elizabeth Wilson from the Association for Enterprise Opportunity told me.

Indeed, the country is home to dozens of associations and organizations that are committed to minority business development, growth and success. They offer not just support, but also education, financing and advocacy. They're indispensable.

If you're starting a minority-owned business, don't do it alone; the richest resources are there for your taking. Here are 20 of the very best:

• Accion USA
• Asian Women in Business
• Empower Me!
• Hispanic Business Women's Alliance
• Initiative for a Competitive Inner City
• Latin Business Association
• Minority Business Development Agency
• Minority Business Network
• Minority Business Enterprise Legal Defense and Education Fund
• National Association of Asian American Professionals
• National Black Chamber of Commerce
• National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development
• National Hispanic Business Association
• National Minority Business Council
• National Minority Supplier Development Council
• Native American Marketing and Development Corporation
• New America Alliance
• Small Business Administration
• United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• United States Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce

eBay Sellers Strike, eBay Yawns

Right now, in case you didn't know it, eBay businesses across the country are on strike.

Back in January John Donahue, who will become the online auction giant's CEO in May, announced changes to the fee structure for those who sell goods on the site (reported here a few weeks ago). While listing costs will be decreased, the fee percentage taken from the final sale will be increased. This means that bigger ticket items will have bigger slices taken out. But that's not all. eBay will also withhold some PayPal payments to sellers for up to 21 days and prevent sellers from leaving negative feedback about buyers.

For some eBay buyers, this is unacceptable.

In a Seattle Times article, Valerie Lennert of Anaheim, Calif.--who quit her job as a social worker in January to open an eBay business--said, "They're literally gutting the entire system we're familiar with." Seen by many as leading the charge against eBay, Lennert posted a video on YouTube calling for a week-long strike. More than 36,000 people watched it last week (see the video here).

Speaking with CNNMoney, she said the video is "a rallying cry for other sellers.... It was another way of letting people know that they were not alone. My inbox is overflowing with people that are ticked off."

Does eBay care, though? When asked about the strike, eBay spokesman Usher Lieberman said, "We've had hundreds of threats in the past, and they don't seem to have had much impact."

And as for the fiery response to the feedback change, Lieberman's response seems equally glib: "Feedback draws a lot of passion from our community. It's one of our great innovations, so it's going to elicit a lot of input."

Will the strike have an impact on eBay's bottom line? And will the eBay community define eBay's direction or the company itself. Only time will tell.

Rembrandt's PR and Writing Blog for Startup Success – Beat the Winter Doldrums

If you are stuck inside waiting for the sun to shine, please do not let it get to you. Instead, this is a great time to plan your PR activities for the warmer months ahead, and get some of your more detailed projects out of the way.

Here are three things to focus on now:

• Plan for holiday opportunities.
  
  Do you have any publicity plans for graduation and wedding season? How about Mother's Day, Father's Day, Easter, and even July 4th? If you haven't already done so, think of ways your products and services fit into these occasions. Then, develop some good story ideas for targeted media members. After all, these dates will be here before you know it, and savvy publicists are ready and waiting for these opportunities.
  
  
• Review your action plan.
  
  How are things going with your current PR activities? Take a look at what is working and what isn’t. If you are having trouble getting media placements, it’s time to develop new story-angles pertinent to current news, industry events, case studies, and other interesting topics. Really think about your messaging and why targeted reporters will be interested in what you have to say.
  
  
• Make some calls.
  
  Once you conduct your research and create some new pitches for the press, pick up the phone. If you are stuck in the office due to bad weather, maybe you’ll have a better chance of getting through to others who are in the same situation. Who knows? You may get through to that hard-to-reach producer and start a valuable working-relationship for years to come.

Take advantage of these colder months. Plan now so you are ready when the warmer weather finally arrives. And if all else fails, try a screensaver of a tropical destination. That way, you just may feel a little closer to the beach while you try to get some work done!

If you'd like more information or have tips for others, feel free to comment below or visit www.rembrandtwrites.com to get my monthly newsletter full of valuable PR tips. Thanks!