When you optimize your web site you want to get ranked for the most competitive terms that you compete in. If I were going to really do this and do it well I would have a page that can be dedicated to ranking for any given keyword I wanted to “own”. If I was selling running shoes and wanted to rank well for Nike, I would have a page that presents my Nike offerings in a way that would propel it to the top of the search key words. You would want it to be structured so it would take in the benefits of internal links and spider captivating content! This if done for each of the major shoe companies, be it Nike, Adidas, Misuno, Asics, Brooks, Reebok, New Balance, Puma and make it so strong that each page grabs the hits!
Take a look at what you sell and ask yourself questions about it and discover ways you can divide up your product line to make product groupings just as strong as individual manufactures can be. Such as Marathon Running, Trail Running, Cross Country, Track Trainers, Racers, Spikes etc.
Then look at how customers actually find you. Spend some time doing key work searches, see where you rank, where your competition ranks. What shoppers see when they first find you and how you appear to them?
In structuring content with excellent search engine optimization practices you can have a strong foundation to jump up and over your competition where it counts,
Larson note: It use to be so each. Fix meta tag key words, fix the page title do a search engine submission every 15 or 30 days, list out 20, 40, 60 key works in different workings. Now, think again, landing pages, .pay for clicks, search terms, product or category pages all can propel you to what you need to happen on the web. The web is the (right now at least) the great equalizer to attract the customer. You are on a level playing field with the big guys. Yes they can shoot out more money but money on the web is not everything, in fact is, unless we are talking about things like pay for clicks, not much of an influence. There are great designers out there, but don’t go nuts with bad design, or they might find you but not stay.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Telesales & Target Marketing Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488larsonassoc1975@yahoo.comhttp://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
https://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
CD-Rom as a Tool in Your Next Mail Campaign
In a direct mail campaign the use of a CD-Rom can pound home your message like no other way can. Yet to maximize the value of this kind of promotion you need to ensure that the multimedia message you put on the CD or DVD be clear, persuasive and completely user friendly.
You will find heat many of the requirements for mailing a CD or DVD are the same as if you were mailing out a paper promo piece. The package design is important because it provides the framework that drives the recipient to open he package just like a paper piece but you need to get the recipient to open the package and pip it into the drive and take a look.
As your message and presentation unfolds the content are critical. You need to keep that person looking though the entire contents of the disk, not just the front page, or screen.
You need to keep the price frustration proof. The disc should run with all needed viewer programs included on the disc. Flash viewer, acrobat reader, mp3 viewer should all be resident on the disc. And make sure that any needed programs that need to be downloaded off your disc are installed with permission not automatically. Do not expect the person who gets your disc to need to down load a program off the web or buy an upgrade of an existing program. That will bring your view rate way way down.
And finally it is imperative to offer the target person some sort of an incentive. Not matter if it is a discount at your store or online, some valuable information or white paper, program demo, something! And again it needs to be seamless to make it easy for the person to get and do.
If you do put a well designed disc out there you will have good results (provided you get it into the hands of the right people (see earlier blog on having the correct list to send out to).
The programming of a disc will probably be more expensive that a paper only mailer but the pull and impact is only left to your imagination. Put your wings on and fly so that you have the kind of disc impact that makes people want to show your disc off to their friends.
Larson note: I have been active in disc production and programming for over 10 years. Full size, mini-rounds, hockey-rinks, rectangles, cut into different unique shapes, you name it I have done or seen it. Then to the programming side where with pdf’s, flash animation, video, and on and on. For mailers we have over 100 different designs we have dies of. If you can dream or conceive it on your mind you can indeed have it created. Want it call us today. We can make it happen.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Telesales & Target Marketing Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488larsonassoc1975@yahoo.comhttp://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
https://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
You will find heat many of the requirements for mailing a CD or DVD are the same as if you were mailing out a paper promo piece. The package design is important because it provides the framework that drives the recipient to open he package just like a paper piece but you need to get the recipient to open the package and pip it into the drive and take a look.
As your message and presentation unfolds the content are critical. You need to keep that person looking though the entire contents of the disk, not just the front page, or screen.
You need to keep the price frustration proof. The disc should run with all needed viewer programs included on the disc. Flash viewer, acrobat reader, mp3 viewer should all be resident on the disc. And make sure that any needed programs that need to be downloaded off your disc are installed with permission not automatically. Do not expect the person who gets your disc to need to down load a program off the web or buy an upgrade of an existing program. That will bring your view rate way way down.
And finally it is imperative to offer the target person some sort of an incentive. Not matter if it is a discount at your store or online, some valuable information or white paper, program demo, something! And again it needs to be seamless to make it easy for the person to get and do.
If you do put a well designed disc out there you will have good results (provided you get it into the hands of the right people (see earlier blog on having the correct list to send out to).
The programming of a disc will probably be more expensive that a paper only mailer but the pull and impact is only left to your imagination. Put your wings on and fly so that you have the kind of disc impact that makes people want to show your disc off to their friends.
Larson note: I have been active in disc production and programming for over 10 years. Full size, mini-rounds, hockey-rinks, rectangles, cut into different unique shapes, you name it I have done or seen it. Then to the programming side where with pdf’s, flash animation, video, and on and on. For mailers we have over 100 different designs we have dies of. If you can dream or conceive it on your mind you can indeed have it created. Want it call us today. We can make it happen.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Telesales & Target Marketing Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488larsonassoc1975@yahoo.comhttp://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
https://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
Monday, September 29, 2008
Trends in Loyalty Programs
70% Offer free enrolment to customers
15.5% Tier their fee structure and rewards program
73.7% Supermarkets and grocery stores with loyalty programs
64.7% Hotel and restaurant with loyalty programs
Source: Direct Marketing Association, June 2008 sample of 250 respondents
Larson note: Why should a person buy from you again (and again and again)? Are you that much better than the competition. We all may like to think we are but with all things being equal maybe a customer loyalty program could help. People love to be rewarded and not be taken for granted. You can never say think you enough
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Telesales & Target Marketing Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488larsonassoc1975@yahoo.comhttp://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
https://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
15.5% Tier their fee structure and rewards program
73.7% Supermarkets and grocery stores with loyalty programs
64.7% Hotel and restaurant with loyalty programs
Source: Direct Marketing Association, June 2008 sample of 250 respondents
Larson note: Why should a person buy from you again (and again and again)? Are you that much better than the competition. We all may like to think we are but with all things being equal maybe a customer loyalty program could help. People love to be rewarded and not be taken for granted. You can never say think you enough
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Telesales & Target Marketing Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488larsonassoc1975@yahoo.comhttp://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
https://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
The Week Ahead for September 29 – October 3
Monday: August Personal Income and Spending
Tuesday: September Consumer Confidence; July Case-Shiller home price index
Wednesday: September Institute for Supply Management index; September Vehicle Sales; August Construction Spending
Thursday: August Factory Orders; Weekly Initial Jobless Claims
Friday: September Employment Report; Institute for Supply Management Services Index
Larson note: Most of these reports have little meaning to us now with all that has happened in the last week. The only one to really watch is (in my opinion) The August Factory Orders, but everything will be up for grabs now. Keep in mind that the US Banking and Financial Instructions are basically sound and that it is only the “Fat Cat” Investment Banks that are dragging us all down. Your community banks are probably sitting just fine, thank you
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
https://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
Tuesday: September Consumer Confidence; July Case-Shiller home price index
Wednesday: September Institute for Supply Management index; September Vehicle Sales; August Construction Spending
Thursday: August Factory Orders; Weekly Initial Jobless Claims
Friday: September Employment Report; Institute for Supply Management Services Index
Larson note: Most of these reports have little meaning to us now with all that has happened in the last week. The only one to really watch is (in my opinion) The August Factory Orders, but everything will be up for grabs now. Keep in mind that the US Banking and Financial Instructions are basically sound and that it is only the “Fat Cat” Investment Banks that are dragging us all down. Your community banks are probably sitting just fine, thank you
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
https://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
Friday, September 26, 2008
Graco moves into Social Marketing for brand success
If you’re a parent and a bloger you can play a major role in Graco’s new integrated marketing campaign that is being rolled out THIS week. I told you the big guys were coming to Social Media Marketing and now they are here!
Their “Ready for the road ahead” campaign kicked off on September 8th with the launching of a web site by the same name in which they are aiming to help parents pick the right car seat for their children as well as addressing the needs of parents who travel with children. The site features a car seat selection tool and videos showing how to install the seats as well as offering other parenting tips.
Starting this week the site has been supported with more than 1 million emails, online ads, paid search and a partnership with family magazine Wondertime. There will also be an in store sweepstakes in Babies R Us stores through the end of September.
In addition Graco will be using Twitter through out the campaign to communicate daily with the online community about car eat safety and traveling tips.
Graco began this fully integrated marketing program because they cam to the (strange) conclusion that the sum of the parts to be greater then the whole. The additional outlay in spending for online is consistent with the companies other major channels.
The campaign is meant to mold parents into loyal customers for the entirety of the time their children need a car seat. Graco has done will with infant and toddler seats but was getting left in the dust in convertible seats (the seat category between infant and toddler).
One way the campaign is addressing loyalty is with the “Ready. Safe. Go” club, a loyalty program that offers additional tips on care seats and special offers from several other manufactures. In additional for every 10 people who join the club though the end of December, Graco will donate a car seat to a family in need. Nice play on being a good corporate citizen at the same time.
Graco has done some smaller initiatives in Business Social Media Marketing before this effort. One such effort was having a contest where parents could submit there child’s picture for being a Graco catalog. They received over 6,000 entries in this contest. Graco has also launched a corporate blog featuring employees sharing parenting experiences which receives thousands of UNIQUE visitors each month.
According to what I hear, this is only the start for Graco. There next step into social media marketing is a national Graco Nation Ambassador Program which will invite anyone who is a fan of Graco to become active in championing the brand
Larson note: I have been saying for the last 6 months the big guys are trying to figure out how to get a handle on Business Social Media Marketing. Have they? In some way shape or form, Graco might have a good model that lager companies can work into. It hits all the right buttons, locking in customers on multiple platforms and on multiple levels. Look it over, what can you use and what can’t you use in your own program?
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
Their “Ready for the road ahead” campaign kicked off on September 8th with the launching of a web site by the same name in which they are aiming to help parents pick the right car seat for their children as well as addressing the needs of parents who travel with children. The site features a car seat selection tool and videos showing how to install the seats as well as offering other parenting tips.
Starting this week the site has been supported with more than 1 million emails, online ads, paid search and a partnership with family magazine Wondertime. There will also be an in store sweepstakes in Babies R Us stores through the end of September.
In addition Graco will be using Twitter through out the campaign to communicate daily with the online community about car eat safety and traveling tips.
Graco began this fully integrated marketing program because they cam to the (strange) conclusion that the sum of the parts to be greater then the whole. The additional outlay in spending for online is consistent with the companies other major channels.
The campaign is meant to mold parents into loyal customers for the entirety of the time their children need a car seat. Graco has done will with infant and toddler seats but was getting left in the dust in convertible seats (the seat category between infant and toddler).
One way the campaign is addressing loyalty is with the “Ready. Safe. Go” club, a loyalty program that offers additional tips on care seats and special offers from several other manufactures. In additional for every 10 people who join the club though the end of December, Graco will donate a car seat to a family in need. Nice play on being a good corporate citizen at the same time.
Graco has done some smaller initiatives in Business Social Media Marketing before this effort. One such effort was having a contest where parents could submit there child’s picture for being a Graco catalog. They received over 6,000 entries in this contest. Graco has also launched a corporate blog featuring employees sharing parenting experiences which receives thousands of UNIQUE visitors each month.
According to what I hear, this is only the start for Graco. There next step into social media marketing is a national Graco Nation Ambassador Program which will invite anyone who is a fan of Graco to become active in championing the brand
Larson note: I have been saying for the last 6 months the big guys are trying to figure out how to get a handle on Business Social Media Marketing. Have they? In some way shape or form, Graco might have a good model that lager companies can work into. It hits all the right buttons, locking in customers on multiple platforms and on multiple levels. Look it over, what can you use and what can’t you use in your own program?
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
What’s 2 Little Degrees?
The Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), in collaboration with the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), the Edison Electric Institute, the U.S. Energy Association and North American Technician Excellence, have launched the 2 Degree Pledge initiative. The Pledge offers simple steps—installing a programmable thermostat, ensuring proper maintenance and a quality installation of heating and air conditioning equipment, and adjusting thermostats—all of which can help homeowners achieve lower energy bills through greater energy efficiency.
Because residential heating and cooling can account for up to 50% of total energy bills during the winter months, the 2 Degree Pledge calls on homeowners to contact a heating professional to have their heating system serviced and optimized for efficiency and comfort. AHRI says that central, forced-air systems that are improperly installed or maintained can be up to 50% less efficient than they should be. In fact, AHRI says that more than half of all heating systems in U.S. homes do not perform to their rated efficiency as a result of improper installation, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
To further save energy, the campaign encourages consumers to change filters, seal ducts and windows, and insulate walls. These steps, AHRI says, can result in savings of up to 20% on energy bills.
For more information, visit 2degreepledge.org.
Larson note: For years my office has had a programmable thermostat, and as you might have read in a earlier blog post this month, Larson’s is planning on going off grid in the “green” (wind and solar) production of our own electricity with the plan of becoming a reseller BACK to ComEd. I figure it is about time they start paying me instead of me paying them. We can make a difference in not only energy production but in our carbon footprint.
Not only will you be going green but you will save your business money and keep a safe energy source for your business.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
Because residential heating and cooling can account for up to 50% of total energy bills during the winter months, the 2 Degree Pledge calls on homeowners to contact a heating professional to have their heating system serviced and optimized for efficiency and comfort. AHRI says that central, forced-air systems that are improperly installed or maintained can be up to 50% less efficient than they should be. In fact, AHRI says that more than half of all heating systems in U.S. homes do not perform to their rated efficiency as a result of improper installation, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
To further save energy, the campaign encourages consumers to change filters, seal ducts and windows, and insulate walls. These steps, AHRI says, can result in savings of up to 20% on energy bills.
For more information, visit 2degreepledge.org.
Larson note: For years my office has had a programmable thermostat, and as you might have read in a earlier blog post this month, Larson’s is planning on going off grid in the “green” (wind and solar) production of our own electricity with the plan of becoming a reseller BACK to ComEd. I figure it is about time they start paying me instead of me paying them. We can make a difference in not only energy production but in our carbon footprint.
Not only will you be going green but you will save your business money and keep a safe energy source for your business.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Survey: Americans Can't Live Without Washers & DVRs
More than 80% of Americans say that they can't live without a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), according to a new survey of DVR owners commissioned by NDS, a provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV. A DVR or personal video recorder (PVR) lets you record TV shows in digital format to a disk drive within the TV set-top box. NDS technology allows satellite TV subscribers to pause live TV, record, play back, rewind and fast forward their TV programs for viewing when they choose.
Other than the washing machine (97% of respondents) and the microwave oven (86%), no other household item is deemed more essential than the DVR (62%) in today's U.S. homes. And when it comes to essential technology gadgets, the DVR (81%) is second only to the mobile phone (92%), as the item Americans cannot live without. Intriguingly, the vast majority of respondents would rather give up their landline phone, dishwasher, radio, hairdryer, and MP3 player than their DVR. The survey also reveals that owning a DVR can make for a happier, less stressful home life. About 81% of respondents with families believe that having a DVR has improved family life - allowing for more time to eat dinner together, fewer arguments over what to watch and more family time around the television.
Larson note: People love and need there household conveniences. Where do you fit in? If you don’t sell products can you sell to any appliance companies? Might be a good way to bunny hop into this market. People become dependent on their “toys”, we all do. Washers, yes, Dryers, yes. DVR and cable TV, mmmmmmmmm I got to wonder, but yes. Look around you and see where you fit into the “got to have” and toy market. Look at the different demographics and what those population segments use, “need” and got to have.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
Other than the washing machine (97% of respondents) and the microwave oven (86%), no other household item is deemed more essential than the DVR (62%) in today's U.S. homes. And when it comes to essential technology gadgets, the DVR (81%) is second only to the mobile phone (92%), as the item Americans cannot live without. Intriguingly, the vast majority of respondents would rather give up their landline phone, dishwasher, radio, hairdryer, and MP3 player than their DVR. The survey also reveals that owning a DVR can make for a happier, less stressful home life. About 81% of respondents with families believe that having a DVR has improved family life - allowing for more time to eat dinner together, fewer arguments over what to watch and more family time around the television.
Larson note: People love and need there household conveniences. Where do you fit in? If you don’t sell products can you sell to any appliance companies? Might be a good way to bunny hop into this market. People become dependent on their “toys”, we all do. Washers, yes, Dryers, yes. DVR and cable TV, mmmmmmmmm I got to wonder, but yes. Look around you and see where you fit into the “got to have” and toy market. Look at the different demographics and what those population segments use, “need” and got to have.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Staff Motivation and Compensation
Businesses are realizing free tea and coffee are not enough to keep associates content and happy. Many are resorting to offering free gym memberships, food, unique bonuses and flexible working hours.
When staff is happy, they are highly motivated; their work is a lot more detailed, they are faster and more efficient.
Thus the traditional motivation style is going the way of the dinosaur and new approaches to motivation are coming into vogue.
To me it’s all about creating a culture or excitement which in return reflects back on the quality of the work performed.
To get staff passionate about a product or service, can be a challenge especially if they have worked for the company for any length of time.
Here at Larson’s we have put into place a green philosophy which allows worker freedom to do as they choose, with a flexible schedule to allow people the ability to work their “other” lives into their working lives.
Not all of us are “one” with our jobs.
Some take off work early on a Friday, start late on Monday because, it is can be hard to get back into things after the weekend or the company they are working for is not good on Monday mornings or Friday afternoons
Companies need to have a good culture, because potential employees no longer only look at the salary when deciding where to work.
Some people will accept a job paying $5000 less if they think the workplace will be a more enjoyable place to work.
There can be a little pressure to provide different kinds of benefits as more companies get innovative when it comes to their staffing and moral decisions
It has also helps a company attract employees who are looking for more of a work-life balance.
Keep in mind there still needs to be a formal application process and staff still needs to have to present a business case for their person flexible working hours. Yet, having the options in place allows people to be balanced and high spirited
You can put in place a parental leave policy. When the period is over they can come back to work as an already trained associate not a complete newbie.
You can put in place a personal emergency leave policy. This allows your people to be able to leave work suddenly to deal with family emergencies or take time off for appointments and make it up later.
Retaining staff is something all companies must do. Every winter we take a week off for training at some nice location. Last year Arizona in February. Training in the morning and “nothing” in the afternoon and nights.
When we bid on a project here at Larson’s we consult with the possible associates who will be working on the project. We get their opinions on it and what they feel is a fair compensation rate for the work for both Us (the company), them (the worker), and the client. In this way we formulate a win-win-win situation where everyone can come out a winner.
It is of course to keep an eye on what your industry pay scale is. You don’t want to under or overpaying (or do you) against your competition. Join a trade group to bet the best idea on compensation levels. Go to conventions and meetings and let them talk, not you.
We, I, want people to stay with us for a long long time. We're not the sort of company that hires and fires. I don’t want to have a revolving door policy or bury and slash. I hate to ask someone to leave, it is too gut wrenching.
Larson note: There are many ways to look at motivation and compensation as there are people. As long as you can formulate a policy that can be standard yet individualize and does not take advantage of the people and also does not allow for chronic abuse your on the right track.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
When staff is happy, they are highly motivated; their work is a lot more detailed, they are faster and more efficient.
Thus the traditional motivation style is going the way of the dinosaur and new approaches to motivation are coming into vogue.
To me it’s all about creating a culture or excitement which in return reflects back on the quality of the work performed.
To get staff passionate about a product or service, can be a challenge especially if they have worked for the company for any length of time.
Here at Larson’s we have put into place a green philosophy which allows worker freedom to do as they choose, with a flexible schedule to allow people the ability to work their “other” lives into their working lives.
Not all of us are “one” with our jobs.
Some take off work early on a Friday, start late on Monday because, it is can be hard to get back into things after the weekend or the company they are working for is not good on Monday mornings or Friday afternoons
Companies need to have a good culture, because potential employees no longer only look at the salary when deciding where to work.
Some people will accept a job paying $5000 less if they think the workplace will be a more enjoyable place to work.
There can be a little pressure to provide different kinds of benefits as more companies get innovative when it comes to their staffing and moral decisions
It has also helps a company attract employees who are looking for more of a work-life balance.
Keep in mind there still needs to be a formal application process and staff still needs to have to present a business case for their person flexible working hours. Yet, having the options in place allows people to be balanced and high spirited
You can put in place a parental leave policy. When the period is over they can come back to work as an already trained associate not a complete newbie.
You can put in place a personal emergency leave policy. This allows your people to be able to leave work suddenly to deal with family emergencies or take time off for appointments and make it up later.
Retaining staff is something all companies must do. Every winter we take a week off for training at some nice location. Last year Arizona in February. Training in the morning and “nothing” in the afternoon and nights.
When we bid on a project here at Larson’s we consult with the possible associates who will be working on the project. We get their opinions on it and what they feel is a fair compensation rate for the work for both Us (the company), them (the worker), and the client. In this way we formulate a win-win-win situation where everyone can come out a winner.
It is of course to keep an eye on what your industry pay scale is. You don’t want to under or overpaying (or do you) against your competition. Join a trade group to bet the best idea on compensation levels. Go to conventions and meetings and let them talk, not you.
We, I, want people to stay with us for a long long time. We're not the sort of company that hires and fires. I don’t want to have a revolving door policy or bury and slash. I hate to ask someone to leave, it is too gut wrenching.
Larson note: There are many ways to look at motivation and compensation as there are people. As long as you can formulate a policy that can be standard yet individualize and does not take advantage of the people and also does not allow for chronic abuse your on the right track.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
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Monday, September 22, 2008
Going Grid Free
Solar and wind energy devices are slowly coming down in price. Fossil fuel costs are on the rise. When will these cost changes intersect? Taking your home, office or factory off the grid and making it a green energy consuming facility maybe closer than you think.
I’m not talking ethanol, or Hydrogen but wind, sun, water. In my case wind and sun.
After decades of R&D and commercialization at all levels from big power utilities to home systems the costs of solar and wind have been pushed down and efficiencies have been dramatically improved. The price is still a little too high but for how long?
Renewed consumer and small business interest in alternative power is rising and rising as fast as fuel prices (don’t be fooled by the latest dip in gas prices the US still has not build a new refinery in the last 25 years [ethanol yes petro no]). The idea of going independent of the grid is not as far away as you might think. What makes it even better is that utility companies in many localities (like Chicago) are required to buy back your electricity surpluses.
In pricing out various systems I saw a drop in pricing from 3 years ago when I last priced out solar. At today’s pricing, going with only a solar unit it would take me 25 years to recoup my outlay for installing a system. It will take a technical breakthrough or a series of significant effiency improvements to make the price affordable to the masses. Photovoltaic (PV) cell optimization research and manufacturing efficiency efforts have been and will be continuous. These companies know a retail price point breakthrough could be worth billions.
Even know the PV market is a growing one. DuPont foresees a 30% PV growth annually in the next several years. The company supplies several key materials used in PV panels. Market researchers are keeping a sharp eye on the market and price points to put it all together. Research firm SBI said its solar power revenues in the United States exceeded $3.8 billion in 2007 and sees that tripling by 2012.
There were several obstacles that were keeping solar (and wind) from going mainstream and most of those have to do only with costs as well as necessary government backing. With the latest energy price rates the government is putting into place insensitive to provide uses of solar and wind energy tax credits and rebates on systems.
To date there is a system out there NOW produced my a group out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology lead by Professor Marc A Baldo that has produced a solar concentrator which can serve as a window. The solar cells are placed around the edges of a flat glass panel. The light hitting the window if focused into the cells and increases the electrical power obtained form each solar dell by a factor of over 40. The system is simple to manufacture, and the development team believes the technology could be implemented in as little as 3 years
Looking at wind, according to the U.S. Census, more than 17 million homes and businesses in America are located on land that is appropriate for a small wind system.
Do you or I have a good site? Siting a wind generator is extremely important to the performance of the machine. It is the difference between a machine that give you lots of energy and a garden sculpture. The ideal location for a wind turbine is 20 feet above any surrounding object within a 250 foot radius. This generally means your property should be at least one acre in size.
2. D you or I have the right wind source? Wind is the “fuel” for your wind generator. You should have at least a 9 MPH average wind speed at your location. Wind maps are available for many countries (Canada http://www.windatlas.ca/en/maps.php?field=E1&height=30 ) (Europe http://www.windatlas.dk/Europe/landmap.html ) and US states (http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/wind_maps.asp ) which will give you an idea of the wind resource at your house. Check out these maps and see if you have the right wind resource. You should live in a “Class One” or better site.
3. The next step is to determine if you have any local laws from a Home Owner’s Association or City or County that prohibits the use of towers. You should research: If you have a Home Owner’s Association read the guidelines relating to towers or tall structures. Contact your local County Planning and Zoning authority and ask about the use of towers and tall structures. Remember, the tower must be 20 feet above any surrounding object, if it is not, then performance will be lower.
4. By law, the local utility (company you pay your electrical bill to) must purchase any excess electricity from you. There are both utilities that encourage the use of wind systems and discourage it. Locate your electrical bill and then find the number for customer service. Ask them for a copy of the policy relating to “connecting a renewable energy system to the electrical grid”.
5. Finally – the best news of all. Many States ( http://www.dsireusa.org/ )offer various types of tax incentives and even rebates for your wind system.
If we combine this (solar) with wind generated generators it is possible a complete system could be build and installed for somewhere between about $15, 0000 to 25,000.
Larson note: One of my goals is to get each of our locations off the grid in 2.5 years. All things depending it is our desire to have at least one facility off by mid to the end of 2009 and as savings occur we fully expect to accelerate that pace though 2010 with each location allowing us the savings necessary to push this even faster. With this we will not have to worry about energy shortages and will be an even greener company that we are now.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
I’m not talking ethanol, or Hydrogen but wind, sun, water. In my case wind and sun.
After decades of R&D and commercialization at all levels from big power utilities to home systems the costs of solar and wind have been pushed down and efficiencies have been dramatically improved. The price is still a little too high but for how long?
Renewed consumer and small business interest in alternative power is rising and rising as fast as fuel prices (don’t be fooled by the latest dip in gas prices the US still has not build a new refinery in the last 25 years [ethanol yes petro no]). The idea of going independent of the grid is not as far away as you might think. What makes it even better is that utility companies in many localities (like Chicago) are required to buy back your electricity surpluses.
In pricing out various systems I saw a drop in pricing from 3 years ago when I last priced out solar. At today’s pricing, going with only a solar unit it would take me 25 years to recoup my outlay for installing a system. It will take a technical breakthrough or a series of significant effiency improvements to make the price affordable to the masses. Photovoltaic (PV) cell optimization research and manufacturing efficiency efforts have been and will be continuous. These companies know a retail price point breakthrough could be worth billions.
Even know the PV market is a growing one. DuPont foresees a 30% PV growth annually in the next several years. The company supplies several key materials used in PV panels. Market researchers are keeping a sharp eye on the market and price points to put it all together. Research firm SBI said its solar power revenues in the United States exceeded $3.8 billion in 2007 and sees that tripling by 2012.
There were several obstacles that were keeping solar (and wind) from going mainstream and most of those have to do only with costs as well as necessary government backing. With the latest energy price rates the government is putting into place insensitive to provide uses of solar and wind energy tax credits and rebates on systems.
To date there is a system out there NOW produced my a group out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology lead by Professor Marc A Baldo that has produced a solar concentrator which can serve as a window. The solar cells are placed around the edges of a flat glass panel. The light hitting the window if focused into the cells and increases the electrical power obtained form each solar dell by a factor of over 40. The system is simple to manufacture, and the development team believes the technology could be implemented in as little as 3 years
Looking at wind, according to the U.S. Census, more than 17 million homes and businesses in America are located on land that is appropriate for a small wind system.
Do you or I have a good site? Siting a wind generator is extremely important to the performance of the machine. It is the difference between a machine that give you lots of energy and a garden sculpture. The ideal location for a wind turbine is 20 feet above any surrounding object within a 250 foot radius. This generally means your property should be at least one acre in size.
2. D you or I have the right wind source? Wind is the “fuel” for your wind generator. You should have at least a 9 MPH average wind speed at your location. Wind maps are available for many countries (Canada http://www.windatlas.ca/en/maps.php?field=E1&height=30 ) (Europe http://www.windatlas.dk/Europe/landmap.html ) and US states (http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/wind_maps.asp ) which will give you an idea of the wind resource at your house. Check out these maps and see if you have the right wind resource. You should live in a “Class One” or better site.
3. The next step is to determine if you have any local laws from a Home Owner’s Association or City or County that prohibits the use of towers. You should research: If you have a Home Owner’s Association read the guidelines relating to towers or tall structures. Contact your local County Planning and Zoning authority and ask about the use of towers and tall structures. Remember, the tower must be 20 feet above any surrounding object, if it is not, then performance will be lower.
4. By law, the local utility (company you pay your electrical bill to) must purchase any excess electricity from you. There are both utilities that encourage the use of wind systems and discourage it. Locate your electrical bill and then find the number for customer service. Ask them for a copy of the policy relating to “connecting a renewable energy system to the electrical grid”.
5. Finally – the best news of all. Many States ( http://www.dsireusa.org/ )offer various types of tax incentives and even rebates for your wind system.
If we combine this (solar) with wind generated generators it is possible a complete system could be build and installed for somewhere between about $15, 0000 to 25,000.
Larson note: One of my goals is to get each of our locations off the grid in 2.5 years. All things depending it is our desire to have at least one facility off by mid to the end of 2009 and as savings occur we fully expect to accelerate that pace though 2010 with each location allowing us the savings necessary to push this even faster. With this we will not have to worry about energy shortages and will be an even greener company that we are now.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
Friday, September 19, 2008
Consumer Products Companies Lower Growth Targets
The uncertainty in the economy is forcing consumer products companies to lower their revenue growth targets for the upcoming 12 months to 3.2 percent in the second quarter from 5.7 percent in the prior quarter, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers' Consumer Products.
Despite the drop in growth targets, senior executives from the 59 large, consumer products businesses surveyed do not anticipate a drop in revenue contributions from international sales. The projected contribution from international sales for the next 12 months rose one point from the prior quarter to 26 percent, which represents a jump of seven points from a year ago, as the U.S. economy weakened. In the second quarter, 61 percent of consumer products companies increased sales abroad and only 6 percent reported a decline.
An Uncertain Outlook Optimism about the 12-month outlook for the U.S. economy remained low among senior executives of consumer products companies. Only 17 percent of respondents are optimistic about the U.S. economy versus 19 percent in the first quarter of 2008 and a steep decline from the 53 percent that were optimistic in the second quarter of 2007. Uncertainty about the world economy also increased for respondents selling abroad, with only 17 percent expressing optimism, down from 33 percent during the first quarter.
As I have been telling you, you should not find it surprising that major consumer products companies are focusing their efforts on international markets to boost sales, given the weak economy in the United States. Yet despite international markets continuing to show positive growth for consumer products companies, we are beginning to see optimism wane as the impact of the U.S. economy begins to influence international markets.
Barriers to Growth Nearly all consumer products companies are now feeling the impact of higher oil/energy prices, with 93 percent citing it as their major barrier to growth over the next 12 months, up from 79 percent in the first quarter of 2008. Concerns about oil/energy prices as a barrier to growth remain much higher among consumer products companies than among the all-industry consensus, where 71 percent were concerned. Consumer products executives also cited lack of demand, the monetary exchange rate (the falling U.S. dollar), and increasing concern about profitability as major barriers to growth during the next 12 months, which is consistent with what they have reported in the prior two quarters.
Rising Costs and Prices Overall, both costs and prices rose sharply in the second quarter. Costs increased for 85 percent of consumer products companies and decreased for only 3 percent -- a net of 82 percent with higher costs, which is 18 points higher than the prior quarter. A net 63 percent of companies increased prices this quarter (70 percent raising prices and 7 percent lowering prices), jumping 14 points from the first quarter. These are the largest quarter-to-quarter increases in both costs and prices since the Consumer Products Barometer began three years ago.
''With the rise in commodity prices and the challenges raised with a weak economy, consumer products companies have to develop new strategies to remain successful,'' notes Lisa Feigen Dugal, North American retail and consumer industry advisory leader. “This could include rebalancing their product portfolios, resizing packaging, reformulating products and managing transportation costs as they try to reign in expenditures and curtail the necessity for price increases.''
Capital Investments Fewer consumer products businesses are planning major new investments of capital during the next 12 months, with only 37 percent reporting as such in the second quarter. This represents a drop of 8 points from 45 percent last quarter and notable decline of 14 points from the 51 percent reported in the second quarter of 2007.
Conversely, the mean investment of those companies that expect to spend more rose to 9.7 percent of total sales, the highest level reported in more than a year and much higher than the all-industry consensus of 8.1 percent reported in the second quarter of 2008.
New Markets More than two-thirds of consumer products companies plan to undertake a new business initiative in the upcoming 12 months (68 percent), up 16 points from the first quarter of 2008. Expansion into new markets abroad garnered the most interest, with 37 percent planning to undertake this initiative within the next 12 months. Plans for M&A activity rose to 32 percent from 28 percent in the prior quarter with the majority of those companies planning to purchase another business and only a small number planning an equity carve-out or spin-off.
Survey InformationPricewaterhouseCoopers' Consumer Products Barometer is a quarterly survey of top executives in 59 large, consumer products businesses (surveys conducted between May 12, 2008 and August 12, 2008) compared with the 129 large, multinational company consensus.
Profile of Consumer Product Barometer Demographics:
• Average No. of Employees: 6,365• Average Revenues: $3.35 billion• Average Enterprise Revenues: $10.09 billion• Market Capitalization: $11.46 billion
Larson note: Keep in mind that this survey is pre-financial market fallout and most companies are sitting scratching their heads looking for leadership form someone, anyone. Where are the leaders? Irene Becker where are you?
How long have I been tilling you to get involved with exporting companies? Another quick reminder, any company that has real cost saving ideas and products in energy and transpiration is worth hooking onto. Again a growth area.
Are you a sitter or a player? Forget the stock market and invest in YOU because you make a difference to you and your company
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
Despite the drop in growth targets, senior executives from the 59 large, consumer products businesses surveyed do not anticipate a drop in revenue contributions from international sales. The projected contribution from international sales for the next 12 months rose one point from the prior quarter to 26 percent, which represents a jump of seven points from a year ago, as the U.S. economy weakened. In the second quarter, 61 percent of consumer products companies increased sales abroad and only 6 percent reported a decline.
An Uncertain Outlook Optimism about the 12-month outlook for the U.S. economy remained low among senior executives of consumer products companies. Only 17 percent of respondents are optimistic about the U.S. economy versus 19 percent in the first quarter of 2008 and a steep decline from the 53 percent that were optimistic in the second quarter of 2007. Uncertainty about the world economy also increased for respondents selling abroad, with only 17 percent expressing optimism, down from 33 percent during the first quarter.
As I have been telling you, you should not find it surprising that major consumer products companies are focusing their efforts on international markets to boost sales, given the weak economy in the United States. Yet despite international markets continuing to show positive growth for consumer products companies, we are beginning to see optimism wane as the impact of the U.S. economy begins to influence international markets.
Barriers to Growth Nearly all consumer products companies are now feeling the impact of higher oil/energy prices, with 93 percent citing it as their major barrier to growth over the next 12 months, up from 79 percent in the first quarter of 2008. Concerns about oil/energy prices as a barrier to growth remain much higher among consumer products companies than among the all-industry consensus, where 71 percent were concerned. Consumer products executives also cited lack of demand, the monetary exchange rate (the falling U.S. dollar), and increasing concern about profitability as major barriers to growth during the next 12 months, which is consistent with what they have reported in the prior two quarters.
Rising Costs and Prices Overall, both costs and prices rose sharply in the second quarter. Costs increased for 85 percent of consumer products companies and decreased for only 3 percent -- a net of 82 percent with higher costs, which is 18 points higher than the prior quarter. A net 63 percent of companies increased prices this quarter (70 percent raising prices and 7 percent lowering prices), jumping 14 points from the first quarter. These are the largest quarter-to-quarter increases in both costs and prices since the Consumer Products Barometer began three years ago.
''With the rise in commodity prices and the challenges raised with a weak economy, consumer products companies have to develop new strategies to remain successful,'' notes Lisa Feigen Dugal, North American retail and consumer industry advisory leader. “This could include rebalancing their product portfolios, resizing packaging, reformulating products and managing transportation costs as they try to reign in expenditures and curtail the necessity for price increases.''
Capital Investments Fewer consumer products businesses are planning major new investments of capital during the next 12 months, with only 37 percent reporting as such in the second quarter. This represents a drop of 8 points from 45 percent last quarter and notable decline of 14 points from the 51 percent reported in the second quarter of 2007.
Conversely, the mean investment of those companies that expect to spend more rose to 9.7 percent of total sales, the highest level reported in more than a year and much higher than the all-industry consensus of 8.1 percent reported in the second quarter of 2008.
New Markets More than two-thirds of consumer products companies plan to undertake a new business initiative in the upcoming 12 months (68 percent), up 16 points from the first quarter of 2008. Expansion into new markets abroad garnered the most interest, with 37 percent planning to undertake this initiative within the next 12 months. Plans for M&A activity rose to 32 percent from 28 percent in the prior quarter with the majority of those companies planning to purchase another business and only a small number planning an equity carve-out or spin-off.
Survey InformationPricewaterhouseCoopers' Consumer Products Barometer is a quarterly survey of top executives in 59 large, consumer products businesses (surveys conducted between May 12, 2008 and August 12, 2008) compared with the 129 large, multinational company consensus.
Profile of Consumer Product Barometer Demographics:
• Average No. of Employees: 6,365• Average Revenues: $3.35 billion• Average Enterprise Revenues: $10.09 billion• Market Capitalization: $11.46 billion
Larson note: Keep in mind that this survey is pre-financial market fallout and most companies are sitting scratching their heads looking for leadership form someone, anyone. Where are the leaders? Irene Becker where are you?
How long have I been tilling you to get involved with exporting companies? Another quick reminder, any company that has real cost saving ideas and products in energy and transpiration is worth hooking onto. Again a growth area.
Are you a sitter or a player? Forget the stock market and invest in YOU because you make a difference to you and your company
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
Global competition puts U.S. manufacturers, employees, at odds
Todays cost of operating a manufacturing business in the U.S.-including employee compensation and benefits-is a topic that is flying around a lot and I’m sure next week when I attend two different trade shows I will be questioned about. Everyone is looking for the magic answer. At the same time, we are all trying to balance rising fuel, food, utility, education, housing and other living costs with incomes that have not kept pace.
The over all perception is that we not only are we working twice as hard just to try and break even, but we have had to cut back on things. There are larger differences between the haves and the have nots, between the suites and the blue collar, between the owners and the workers.Manufacturers/employers are struggling to balance the rising cost of employee benefits, material costs, and energy costs with slimmer profit margins caused by downward price pressures from global competitors paying lower wages and lower-or nonexistent-compensation, safety and environmental protection costs, and healthcare insurance costs.My fear is that global competition and over-bearing government regulation have depressed the wages of the lower and middle wage earners. It has also wiping out the ability of private companies to pay livable wages (whatever that is) fund pensions, provide fully paid health benefits and make an honest profit ... basically putting labor and business owners very much at odds with one another.The welfare of employees and employers is intertwined. A business' prosperity is dependent on the prosperity of consumers and taxpayers-and vice versa. After all The Economy really is just about people, isn't it?Is it possible for business owners and labor to join forces to fight the real culprits, such as poorly negotiated trade agreements that grossly favor developing nations over ours? On which other issues can both labor and business owners agree?
Larson note: I sit back in my ivory tower sometimes wondering who our govenment is working for, us or some other country? I look at the bailouts wondering are we saving the workers or upper management (friends) who made the decisions to allow loans with no down payment? What about the small business owner who is the back bone of the economy who is getting clobbered. I look around, lestening to people who are making real cut backs in lifestyle. I see how the various govenemnts (Fed, state, county and local) only seek to perpetuate themselves though higher taxes taking spending money out of peoples hands and into a bluging buracratecy of waist. Free business to make the right choices and together in partnership with those that do the work life can and will get good.
Why have inquires to my company gone up 125% since last June? Easy, because we specialize for the most part in small (under 5 million a year) companies and because we can produce quality leads and customers for Good Companies who need a little help to be Great!
We sometimes don’t produce the way some people and companies hope we can and will for them. At the same time we have “fired” our relationships with companies we deem as not good companies (by our definition). In all our dealings it is win/win or nothing. So too should it be for management and workers, win/win all the time, every time!
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
The over all perception is that we not only are we working twice as hard just to try and break even, but we have had to cut back on things. There are larger differences between the haves and the have nots, between the suites and the blue collar, between the owners and the workers.Manufacturers/employers are struggling to balance the rising cost of employee benefits, material costs, and energy costs with slimmer profit margins caused by downward price pressures from global competitors paying lower wages and lower-or nonexistent-compensation, safety and environmental protection costs, and healthcare insurance costs.My fear is that global competition and over-bearing government regulation have depressed the wages of the lower and middle wage earners. It has also wiping out the ability of private companies to pay livable wages (whatever that is) fund pensions, provide fully paid health benefits and make an honest profit ... basically putting labor and business owners very much at odds with one another.The welfare of employees and employers is intertwined. A business' prosperity is dependent on the prosperity of consumers and taxpayers-and vice versa. After all The Economy really is just about people, isn't it?Is it possible for business owners and labor to join forces to fight the real culprits, such as poorly negotiated trade agreements that grossly favor developing nations over ours? On which other issues can both labor and business owners agree?
Larson note: I sit back in my ivory tower sometimes wondering who our govenment is working for, us or some other country? I look at the bailouts wondering are we saving the workers or upper management (friends) who made the decisions to allow loans with no down payment? What about the small business owner who is the back bone of the economy who is getting clobbered. I look around, lestening to people who are making real cut backs in lifestyle. I see how the various govenemnts (Fed, state, county and local) only seek to perpetuate themselves though higher taxes taking spending money out of peoples hands and into a bluging buracratecy of waist. Free business to make the right choices and together in partnership with those that do the work life can and will get good.
Why have inquires to my company gone up 125% since last June? Easy, because we specialize for the most part in small (under 5 million a year) companies and because we can produce quality leads and customers for Good Companies who need a little help to be Great!
We sometimes don’t produce the way some people and companies hope we can and will for them. At the same time we have “fired” our relationships with companies we deem as not good companies (by our definition). In all our dealings it is win/win or nothing. So too should it be for management and workers, win/win all the time, every time!
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
Thursday, September 18, 2008
On MSN yesterday about phones service
Don’t know if you caught this on MSN yesterday but
17% of homes are cell phone-only
Here's yet another statistic to worry AT&T investors. Nearly one-fifth of U.S. homes don't have a home phone line. The residents are exclusively using cell phones.
A big incentive to drop the home phone is savings. A Nielsen report says a single person will save $33 per month by doing so, and a couple with two cell phones saves $26 a month. I wonder how many home phones exist just to support home security systems? Sometimes those systems require a land line in the house.
AT&T gets about a third of its revenue from the home landline business. In its last earnings report, AT&T said its landline count dropped 2.6% in the last three months to 58.9 million -- a surprisingly fast decline.
AT&T shares are down more than 3% today to $28.85.
Larson note: My parents went cell phone only to save money and now I can call my father or mother when ever I need or want to. Wondering if Dan H., my AT&T sales rep reads my blogs. Dan if you read this can you get me a discount on my land lines?
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
17% of homes are cell phone-only
Here's yet another statistic to worry AT&T investors. Nearly one-fifth of U.S. homes don't have a home phone line. The residents are exclusively using cell phones.
A big incentive to drop the home phone is savings. A Nielsen report says a single person will save $33 per month by doing so, and a couple with two cell phones saves $26 a month. I wonder how many home phones exist just to support home security systems? Sometimes those systems require a land line in the house.
AT&T gets about a third of its revenue from the home landline business. In its last earnings report, AT&T said its landline count dropped 2.6% in the last three months to 58.9 million -- a surprisingly fast decline.
AT&T shares are down more than 3% today to $28.85.
Larson note: My parents went cell phone only to save money and now I can call my father or mother when ever I need or want to. Wondering if Dan H., my AT&T sales rep reads my blogs. Dan if you read this can you get me a discount on my land lines?
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
The Art of Making A Customer Satisfaction Survey
If you are looking to improve overall customer satisfaction and are looking at doing customer satisfaction surveys you need to ask hard pointed questions. If you survey your customers, what type of questions do you ask, how do you survey (phone, email regular mail) and what type of benchmark or scale do you use? Are there any resources out there that could assist us in setting our benchmark and formulating a process?
· Ask yourself, what do I really need to know from my customers? Consider that question from various staff and management positions within your company. What you may want to know could be different than what your sales rep wants to know or the production manager might wants in the way of customer feedback. Think about your competition: how does your company measure up? Good, bad indifferent? If not what does that competition do that makes them better? Ask your customers, within the survey, those questions that can help show how your company compares against the competition.
· If you're going to ask customers for feedback, make sure you're prepared to publish the results. Nothing could be more frustrating than to take the time to respond, and then never see the results. What you really want to tell your customers is, "thanks for taking the time to take our survey, here is what you said about our product/service and here is what we are going to do to make it better." That way they see what positive results their input made and that what they say is important to you
· Seriously consider having an "Expert" review the survey data, statistically analyze it and develop a complete and meaningful report for your staff and management within your company. This is not to say that you can't gain a lot of insight from evaluating the report results yourself. Remember, what you are really trying to determine is where you need to improve.
· If you don't have the research analyst resources, then carefully review the high and low range responses of your survey data. For example, if your quantitative data range is on a scale from 1-5, with five being the highest customer satisfaction, then look at all survey responses that indicated a one or a five, since those are likely to be accompanied by customer comments. Carefully review the comments. Are there consistent themes? Where might improvement be made? If they rated you a five in a given area consistently, then make sure you keep doing those customer service activities to assure you maintain that high level of satisfaction.
Research analysts suggest that any effort to tie each specific survey result back to the original service event is very valuable. I totally agree and it could then become a very effective training/coaching tool, as well, since the feedback could focus on specifics not imaginary events involved in the your company.
Larson note: If you’re brave enough and strong enough to accept constructive critisism a survey is a good way to get a report card on yourself. Don’t be shy about asking hard questions. That’s the way you learn. But you must send back a copy of synopsis of the survey or they might not ever do it again for you.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
· Ask yourself, what do I really need to know from my customers? Consider that question from various staff and management positions within your company. What you may want to know could be different than what your sales rep wants to know or the production manager might wants in the way of customer feedback. Think about your competition: how does your company measure up? Good, bad indifferent? If not what does that competition do that makes them better? Ask your customers, within the survey, those questions that can help show how your company compares against the competition.
· If you're going to ask customers for feedback, make sure you're prepared to publish the results. Nothing could be more frustrating than to take the time to respond, and then never see the results. What you really want to tell your customers is, "thanks for taking the time to take our survey, here is what you said about our product/service and here is what we are going to do to make it better." That way they see what positive results their input made and that what they say is important to you
· Seriously consider having an "Expert" review the survey data, statistically analyze it and develop a complete and meaningful report for your staff and management within your company. This is not to say that you can't gain a lot of insight from evaluating the report results yourself. Remember, what you are really trying to determine is where you need to improve.
· If you don't have the research analyst resources, then carefully review the high and low range responses of your survey data. For example, if your quantitative data range is on a scale from 1-5, with five being the highest customer satisfaction, then look at all survey responses that indicated a one or a five, since those are likely to be accompanied by customer comments. Carefully review the comments. Are there consistent themes? Where might improvement be made? If they rated you a five in a given area consistently, then make sure you keep doing those customer service activities to assure you maintain that high level of satisfaction.
Research analysts suggest that any effort to tie each specific survey result back to the original service event is very valuable. I totally agree and it could then become a very effective training/coaching tool, as well, since the feedback could focus on specifics not imaginary events involved in the your company.
Larson note: If you’re brave enough and strong enough to accept constructive critisism a survey is a good way to get a report card on yourself. Don’t be shy about asking hard questions. That’s the way you learn. But you must send back a copy of synopsis of the survey or they might not ever do it again for you.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
Is Audience or Offer More Important?
In any marketing attack there are two big issues that can divine success, it the target audience more important or is the message paramount?
Now me, I’m an audience kind of guy. Give me a target that fits the company and its product or service line and bingo I believe we are on our way.
Others believe that the audience will self-select itself based on the offer and how enticing it is. They believe a good offer will turn a loser into a winner.
Time and time again I have seen that if you cast pearls to swine it is waited and money goes down the drain, but give me a bucket of rhinestones and give me a list of country western fans and I’ll make a killing. But if you have buckets of money to spend and don’t mind throwing mud against the wall to see how much sticks go for the message over the list and be happy with low percentage rates but lots of hits.
I would always spend more of your budget on a great list, take more time to refine the list and tailor the message to your strengths rather than your offer to the list you are able to find. If you are sure your message is reaching people who find you and your company relevant you and they will come out winners. Win-Win!
Telesales, direct mail, e-mail, texting, ads, pr, radio, TV makes no difference, if you can reach the right people it all works. If done right your audience will believe the materials were planned for them and them alone. You will engage your target because you are just what they want and need.
There are different ratios but I believe the ration that flows though my company is 75-20-5, 75% on the target audinace, 20% on the crafting of the message and offer and only 5% on the creativeness of the pieces. Sorry all you creative out there but this is not pre-mid 80’s, pre desktop when quality was quality, when graphic artists did not have to use all the latest little tools that Quark or Adobe put out in there latest revision..
If you are spending your budget and not getting the results you think you should be getting, don’t look at your creative, don’t look at your message or offer look specifically at your target audience and see if you can narrow it down tighter and more specifically.
Larson note: The world of lists, names, offers, premiums, messages, you have to find a way to cut though the clutter. Pick your tools and to, be it list or message.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
Now me, I’m an audience kind of guy. Give me a target that fits the company and its product or service line and bingo I believe we are on our way.
Others believe that the audience will self-select itself based on the offer and how enticing it is. They believe a good offer will turn a loser into a winner.
Time and time again I have seen that if you cast pearls to swine it is waited and money goes down the drain, but give me a bucket of rhinestones and give me a list of country western fans and I’ll make a killing. But if you have buckets of money to spend and don’t mind throwing mud against the wall to see how much sticks go for the message over the list and be happy with low percentage rates but lots of hits.
I would always spend more of your budget on a great list, take more time to refine the list and tailor the message to your strengths rather than your offer to the list you are able to find. If you are sure your message is reaching people who find you and your company relevant you and they will come out winners. Win-Win!
Telesales, direct mail, e-mail, texting, ads, pr, radio, TV makes no difference, if you can reach the right people it all works. If done right your audience will believe the materials were planned for them and them alone. You will engage your target because you are just what they want and need.
There are different ratios but I believe the ration that flows though my company is 75-20-5, 75% on the target audinace, 20% on the crafting of the message and offer and only 5% on the creativeness of the pieces. Sorry all you creative out there but this is not pre-mid 80’s, pre desktop when quality was quality, when graphic artists did not have to use all the latest little tools that Quark or Adobe put out in there latest revision..
If you are spending your budget and not getting the results you think you should be getting, don’t look at your creative, don’t look at your message or offer look specifically at your target audience and see if you can narrow it down tighter and more specifically.
Larson note: The world of lists, names, offers, premiums, messages, you have to find a way to cut though the clutter. Pick your tools and to, be it list or message.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Marketers Use of Emerging Channels
Here are the marketing channels the major interactive marketers are using as well as us here at Larson’s. Where do you stack up?
E-mail: less than 1 year- 6% / Greater than 1 year – 90% / not using but plan to – 4% / will not use – 1% / Larson’s – long time user (over 9 years)
Search: less than1 year- 14% / Greater than 1 year – 71% / not using but plan to – 9% / Will not use – 6% / Larson’s – Planning stages
Video: less than1 year-20% / Greater than 1 year – 45% / Not using but plan to – 19% / Will not use – 16% / Larson’s – Planning stages
Podcast: less than1 year-19% / Greater than 1 year – 30% / not using but plan to – 28% / Will not use – 24% / Larson’s – NO plans
Blogs: less than1 year-21% / Greater than 1 year – 27% / Not using but plan to – 31% / Will not use – 21% / Larson’s – less than 1 year
Social Networks: less than1 year- 21% / Greater than 1 year – 19% / Not using but plan to – 36% / Will not use – 23% / Larson’s – Less than 1 year
User generated content: less than 1 year- 17% / Greater than 1 year – 23% / not using but plan to – 32% / will not use – 28% / Larson’s – No plans
Widgets: less than 1 year- 17% / Greater than 1 year – 12% / Not using but plan to – 34% / Will not use – 37% / Larson’s – Planning stages once new web site is built
Mobile: less than1 year- 12% / Greater than 1 year – 16% / Not using but plan to – 15% / Will not use – 67% / Larson’s – NO plans to date as mobile user demographics to date does not hit companies target audience.
Source: Forrester Research: Sample of about 300 interactive marketers
Larson note: So where do you fit in or where do you want to fit in. If you’re reading this you already have some sort of a stake in interactive marketing. Do you go farther in or back away? Personally you have better be there and out there running hard to keep the playing field level over the big guys.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
E-mail: less than 1 year- 6% / Greater than 1 year – 90% / not using but plan to – 4% / will not use – 1% / Larson’s – long time user (over 9 years)
Search: less than1 year- 14% / Greater than 1 year – 71% / not using but plan to – 9% / Will not use – 6% / Larson’s – Planning stages
Video: less than1 year-20% / Greater than 1 year – 45% / Not using but plan to – 19% / Will not use – 16% / Larson’s – Planning stages
Podcast: less than1 year-19% / Greater than 1 year – 30% / not using but plan to – 28% / Will not use – 24% / Larson’s – NO plans
Blogs: less than1 year-21% / Greater than 1 year – 27% / Not using but plan to – 31% / Will not use – 21% / Larson’s – less than 1 year
Social Networks: less than1 year- 21% / Greater than 1 year – 19% / Not using but plan to – 36% / Will not use – 23% / Larson’s – Less than 1 year
User generated content: less than 1 year- 17% / Greater than 1 year – 23% / not using but plan to – 32% / will not use – 28% / Larson’s – No plans
Widgets: less than 1 year- 17% / Greater than 1 year – 12% / Not using but plan to – 34% / Will not use – 37% / Larson’s – Planning stages once new web site is built
Mobile: less than1 year- 12% / Greater than 1 year – 16% / Not using but plan to – 15% / Will not use – 67% / Larson’s – NO plans to date as mobile user demographics to date does not hit companies target audience.
Source: Forrester Research: Sample of about 300 interactive marketers
Larson note: So where do you fit in or where do you want to fit in. If you’re reading this you already have some sort of a stake in interactive marketing. Do you go farther in or back away? Personally you have better be there and out there running hard to keep the playing field level over the big guys.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
Marketing Into Students Mobile Preferences
If you want to attack students you need to go where they are and how they want to be approached. Yes a new trick for an old dog (me).
According to Student Monitor, a college market research company 9 out of 10 incoming students own some sort of a mobile devise and more then 50% of them say texting is their main source of communicating. Not this old goat here, you text my phone (see previous blog post) and I’ll have your hide. The College Demographic is a digital society and has grown up with the internet. They live and breathe this technology while I struggle to make it all work.
A company called Hyperfactory has conducted mobile campaigns for several companies such as a frozen pizza company. But remember this is a group of people that gets bombed with texts. I know how many my kids send and receive and it is staggering how that much information can go back and forth. And you as a company looking to get noticed have to cut though all this clutter with out getting deleted. (yes I have ideas for companies in this area).
Another hot area is finding events for students and a company by the name of MTVU and its Campus Daily Guides which is a web resource allow both businesses and students running events to promote themselves to local campuses. MTVU and Zvents (which is a local search and ad network have developed sites for 25 US campuses and together these companies are working on a mobile application which campus guides would be able to interact with smartphones, allowing students the ability to get alerts on things like parties and events they are interested in.
Test messaging is also an effective way to reach students with coupon or promotional offers.
Larson note: different marketing storks for different demographic ages. Ok so I warned you not to text my phone, but I did not say don’t text my son’s or daughter’s phones. Yet don’t go creasy. If your initial message does not have a good message or bite to it you will be sent to the delete file faster than you could ever imagine. These mobile devices are getter cluttered and filled up and if you think your ad message is more important that my son’s girlfriend’s text to him you have to be creasy. College students use mobile devices as probably the major form of communication. You need to integrate into an event or something beyond simple advertising to catch their attention. You can also use texting but have a tickler of a coupon, a sweepstake or some promotion offer. I know I have watched my daughters fingers fly over those keys.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
According to Student Monitor, a college market research company 9 out of 10 incoming students own some sort of a mobile devise and more then 50% of them say texting is their main source of communicating. Not this old goat here, you text my phone (see previous blog post) and I’ll have your hide. The College Demographic is a digital society and has grown up with the internet. They live and breathe this technology while I struggle to make it all work.
A company called Hyperfactory has conducted mobile campaigns for several companies such as a frozen pizza company. But remember this is a group of people that gets bombed with texts. I know how many my kids send and receive and it is staggering how that much information can go back and forth. And you as a company looking to get noticed have to cut though all this clutter with out getting deleted. (yes I have ideas for companies in this area).
Another hot area is finding events for students and a company by the name of MTVU and its Campus Daily Guides which is a web resource allow both businesses and students running events to promote themselves to local campuses. MTVU and Zvents (which is a local search and ad network have developed sites for 25 US campuses and together these companies are working on a mobile application which campus guides would be able to interact with smartphones, allowing students the ability to get alerts on things like parties and events they are interested in.
Test messaging is also an effective way to reach students with coupon or promotional offers.
Larson note: different marketing storks for different demographic ages. Ok so I warned you not to text my phone, but I did not say don’t text my son’s or daughter’s phones. Yet don’t go creasy. If your initial message does not have a good message or bite to it you will be sent to the delete file faster than you could ever imagine. These mobile devices are getter cluttered and filled up and if you think your ad message is more important that my son’s girlfriend’s text to him you have to be creasy. College students use mobile devices as probably the major form of communication. You need to integrate into an event or something beyond simple advertising to catch their attention. You can also use texting but have a tickler of a coupon, a sweepstake or some promotion offer. I know I have watched my daughters fingers fly over those keys.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
How to start and measure B2B Social Media Marketing
So the question was posed to me: How did I start a B2B social Media Marketing Campaign and how in the world can you measure something so illusive?
The whole goal in B2B Social Media and a marketing campaign is to learn and understand and utilize Web 2.0 technologies and to build excitement about a business, your business!
You can use B2B SM to build an audience, a following of ideas and thoughts that will be interested in what you do at your company or what you sell. That being said, B2B SM is very different from traditional push marketing and advertising. When a group, any group of people come together on a network such as a ning.com group or inMyspace, Facebook groups or blocks of people come together and it happens very quickly. I mean every time you blink a new group seems to have formed. Seriously! People signing up to receive e-mail, post thoughts and ideas, becoming a fan, telling friends, it happens, why shouldn’t happen to you?
Your company can be elevated by the positive impact of B2B SM. People trust brands and companies that they recognize or their friends recommend.
As for tracking; you can count blog posts, web site hits and click thoughts, new “friends” and members to your (if you have one) B2B Networking Group. And of course the place that really matters, your bottom line and new sales.
Larson note: Jump in and get wet now before the waters get full. Make mistakes in learning how to use this quickly changing technology and phenomena. Right now no one knows want is good and what isn’t. What works and what doesn’t. Go for it; make your mistakes while things are new and forgiving. In a year, the standards will be set and you will not have the same freedoms to expand and explore B2B SM
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
The whole goal in B2B Social Media and a marketing campaign is to learn and understand and utilize Web 2.0 technologies and to build excitement about a business, your business!
You can use B2B SM to build an audience, a following of ideas and thoughts that will be interested in what you do at your company or what you sell. That being said, B2B SM is very different from traditional push marketing and advertising. When a group, any group of people come together on a network such as a ning.com group or inMyspace, Facebook groups or blocks of people come together and it happens very quickly. I mean every time you blink a new group seems to have formed. Seriously! People signing up to receive e-mail, post thoughts and ideas, becoming a fan, telling friends, it happens, why shouldn’t happen to you?
Your company can be elevated by the positive impact of B2B SM. People trust brands and companies that they recognize or their friends recommend.
As for tracking; you can count blog posts, web site hits and click thoughts, new “friends” and members to your (if you have one) B2B Networking Group. And of course the place that really matters, your bottom line and new sales.
Larson note: Jump in and get wet now before the waters get full. Make mistakes in learning how to use this quickly changing technology and phenomena. Right now no one knows want is good and what isn’t. What works and what doesn’t. Go for it; make your mistakes while things are new and forgiving. In a year, the standards will be set and you will not have the same freedoms to expand and explore B2B SM
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
Larson and Associates Blog
Welcome to Larson and Associates blog
Let your passion be your guide to your dreams and your success!
Howard Larson
Larson and Associates
Telesales and Target Marketing Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better847-991-0488
guerrilla marketing and advertising techniques for our clients to achieve consistent and desired growth.Our speciality is New Account Acquisition.
This is telesales and guerrilla marketing put together. It is not advertising, not marketing, not telemarketing, not a manufactures rep service, but a new way for you to gain new accounts and grow your business.
Awards and Honors:
1981 PIA Merit Award 3rd place1988
Helen Cody Baker Award 1st Place1988
Chicago Excellence In Typography Award1989
Sales Profesionals International - Club Service Award - Bronze Award1993
Sales Profesionals International - Club Service Award -Bronze Award2003
Graphic Design USA 1st place2006
Black MBA Assoication Media Award 1st placeListed in:
Marquis Who’s Who In Advertising
Who’s Who in America
Who's Who in the World
Contact Howard at
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
larsonassoc1975@gmail.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://pacerrunners.ning.com/
http://www.sta.rtup.biz/profile/HowardLarson
http://businessiibusiness.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
Let your passion be your guide to your dreams and your success!
Howard Larson
Larson and Associates
Telesales and Target Marketing Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better847-991-0488
guerrilla marketing and advertising techniques for our clients to achieve consistent and desired growth.Our speciality is New Account Acquisition.
This is telesales and guerrilla marketing put together. It is not advertising, not marketing, not telemarketing, not a manufactures rep service, but a new way for you to gain new accounts and grow your business.
Awards and Honors:
1981 PIA Merit Award 3rd place1988
Helen Cody Baker Award 1st Place1988
Chicago Excellence In Typography Award1989
Sales Profesionals International - Club Service Award - Bronze Award1993
Sales Profesionals International - Club Service Award -Bronze Award2003
Graphic Design USA 1st place2006
Black MBA Assoication Media Award 1st placeListed in:
Marquis Who’s Who In Advertising
Who’s Who in America
Who's Who in the World
Contact Howard at
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
larsonassoc1975@gmail.com
http://geocities.com/larsonassoc1978
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://pacerrunners.ning.com/
http://www.sta.rtup.biz/profile/HowardLarson
http://businessiibusiness.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
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