| |  | |
Ed Riefenstahl, Facilitator, TAB Fort Worth
|  |
|
| | TAB Fort Worth Anniversaries | |
Oct./Nov. Anniv.
Marc Johnson
Darlene Ryan | |
|
| | Hear How We Help Our Members |  | |
|
| | Quick Tips | Use Employee Downtime Wisely
During down times, I have found that rather than lay off a valued employee, it is a good opportunity to have them perform those tasks that ultimately result in increased sales or improved operations. Process development and documentation are two tasks that often get pushed aside, but both can be assets to the business down the road. Plus, I don't have to find a replacement for the employee when business picks back up.
Lorri Cochrane
Certified Payroll and Tax Services
Bohemia, NY
Whenever we sign or renew a customer, I send an e-mail to my whole team sharing the good news. It lets them know they all contributed to that great result and helps add to their positive sense about the business.
Lee Cirillo
Fitness Together
Port Jefferson, NY
| |
|
| | Event Details |
----------------------------
Upcoming Events 10/22 - LInkedIn® Sales & Marketing Workshop Register11/3 - "Year-ending Tax Planning Strategies for the Small Business Owner" - Susan Roberts, CPA, Tax Partner, Sanford, Baumeister & Frazier, PLLC 11/12 TAB DFW Quarterly Business Improvement Workshop 12/1 - "Financial and Business Controls to Protect the Assets of the Small Business Owner" - Josh Agren and Karanae Barrey, CPA, Audit Managers, Whitley Penn, LLP | |
| |
|
| |
TAB Tips published in the Fort Worth Business Press | |
| |
|
| | Schedule a TAB Speaker for your Organization |
| |
|
| | TAB in The News | |
| |
|
|
 |
New Member Highlight
Reciprocated Feedback with TAB
Steve Denney, CEO, Web Active Directory, LLC |  Steve Denney joined TAB in order to receive unbiased, open, and honest feedback about his business in a trusted environment-- and to reciprocate.
Web Active Directory produces innovative identity management solutions to empower IT organizations to comprehensively manage their identity infrastructure using intuitive web-based and cloud environments. Web Active Directory has over 185 customers in 20 countries with over 200,000 users. Their customers include: Kellogg's, Tyco, Burberry, Timberland, Movado, Citrix, SEC, and Datadomain. Web Active Directory's web-based products include an Active Directory® search, update, self-service password reset, and provisioning solution.
"The implementation of PeoplePassword was a great success for us. The number of help-desk calls we receive due to password-related issues has dropped significantly. During the implementation process of PeoplePassword, the team at Web Active Directory was very helpful and perceptive to our institution's specific needs." - Matt Gutides, IT Project Manager, Hodges University |
 |
|
Q/A The Workplace Doctor™
Networking |
 |
Networking occurs at a planned event or gathering like a TAB Fort Worth Business Bites Lunch 'N Learn, an event with the primary goal of educating; and sharing information and resources in a semi-social setting.
I invited a friend and entrepreneur to a recent Business Bites. Not only did she appreciate the speaker's timely information, she followed up with the speaker about contracting him. From another new contact, she gained a referral, and hired the referral for her new business. Her net is working, and to make the most of your networking, remember to:
1. Arrive early with plenty of business cards and introduce yourself. 2. No need to hard sell yourself or your company in social and semi-informal/relaxed network settings. 3. Remember names and make notes and follow up promptly with any promises.
Copyright 2010, Dr. Connie Sitterly, "The Workplace Doctor™" President, Sittcom, Inc., Management Training Specialists. Connie is an international speaker, trainer, executive coach, author, management consultant. You may reach her by phone 817.737.2893, Connie's email / Visit Connie's website |
|
|
Communication
Get Off the Public Relations Emotional Roller Coaster |
Public relations is an emotional roller coaster ride for many businesses. Profits dip and the C-Suite throws up its arms like a middle-aged man in the front seat of a tiny car hurling down the track of a thrill-seeking amusement park attraction.
Keep these tips in mind when reviewing your company's strategy:
- Public relations is a long-term commitment. Formulate a 12- month plan, review it quarterly and make adjustments accordingly.
- The abstract is more concrete now than ever before. Your public relations efforts can be tracked.
- Schedule time periods on your calendar when you only focus on public relations. Protect this time.
You don't have to go it alone. If you can't afford to bring someone in house, find yourself a PR pro for hire.
|
|
|
Becoming the Educator | |
Last year, in light of the turmoil from the weakening economy, we recalibrated our brand and refocused our marketing. We now strive to be the "educator" in our industry, offering business insight and market education that brings superior value to our clients.
Our educational efforts recognize the new way our clients think, the new challenges they face and the new way they behave. This education-based approach to marketing positions us as the industry experts. It keeps the prospect's attention long enough so they can better understand us and feel confident retaining our services. As a result, we've added more clients this year than ever before. People trust those who educate.
Christopher Dieringer, National Administration Inc., Appleton, WI |
|
| TAB Fort Worth company - named to prestigious list |
 Inc. Magazine's 500 I 5000 list showcases the nation's fastest-growing private companies, measured by revenue growth from 2006 through 2009. The following TAB Fort Worth company has been included in Inc. Magazine's recent listing: B2B CFO®, the nation's largest provider of CFO services to small businesses - rank #84 in its industry - 184% growth |
|
|
Outsourcing COBRA Administration | |
In some cases outsourcing may be a cost-effective solution. For example, companies with small HR staffs should consider outsourcing the administration of their COBRA obligations. Firms that provide outsourcing perform a variety of functions including: initial COBRA notice to new hires; notification of rights to terminated employees; and collection of premiums for those who elect.
Administering COBRA can be confusing and time-consuming, especially with recent changes due to health care reform, government subsidies and individual states extending rights to coverage.
Robert Nuzzi, Risk Management, Hauppauge, NY
|
|
|
Making Bonuses Count | |
Bonuses are a great way to motivate employees to go above and beyond to help your business grow. However, if your bonus program delivers less than 10% of an individual's salary potential, it will not really motivate behavior change that is impactful. The potential earnings from a bonus has to be great enough that the employee is willing to do what it takes to earn it.
John Hart, DDL Inc., Eden Prairie, MN |
|
|
Proactive Sales Efforts | |
If you want to increase revenues, it's helpful to understand your customers' buying habits. For example, if certain customers contact you at the end of the year wanting to make last minute purchases for budget or tax purposes, you may find that it is too late to accommodate them.
To avoid this situation, you should review previous year-end sales. By sending out a preemptive letter reminding these customers of lead times and the value of planning for these types of purchases, you won't miss out on some potentially large sales.
Ted Engler, WorkSafe Products, Inc., St. Louis, MO |
|
|
Training Event for Sales, Marketing and Non-Sales Professionals | |
Capital One Bank's Sundance Square Branch in downtown Fort Worth will be hosting a training event for Sales, Marketing and Non-Sales professionals. Strategic Sales Solutions, a Fort Worth-based consulting firm, will conduct the training sessions.
TAB members receive a 30% discount ( contact Cheryl). Four training sessions are scheduled on Fridays from 9 AM to 4 PM. Lunch provided by Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. For more details and registration information, CLICK HERE. 100% money-back guarantee. If you are not completely satisfied with the service, simply notify Strategic Sales Solutions within 90 days. |
|
| Using Yelp to Promote Your Business | |
Yelp (www.yelp.com) is a review website where consumers can rate businesses they have patronized. It's really good for services, restaurants and the like. As a business owner, you should sign up for a free Yelp account, and then ask some of your happy customers to put reviews or testimonials on the site.
Ideally, these will be customers who have used Yelp to rate other businesses as this gives their review more credibility. In addition to potential customers reading about your business on Yelp, the reviews will show up in a Google search.
Michael Herring, Best Skins Ever, Arvada, CO |
| LinkedIn® Sales & Marketing Workshop | |
LinkedIn® Sales & Marketing - October 22, 2010 - Richardson, TX
Register |
ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVE BOARD®
The Alternative Board® is comprised of members who are business owners, CEOs or presidents who run businesses in non-competing fields. During a TAB Board meeting, you receive the benefit of the collective experience of the board members, who offer practical solutions to your problems-not theories.
You can learn more about TAB, which has been helping business owners succeed since 1990, by visiting TheAlternativeBoard.com |
|
