 May 3, 2013 |
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Click the Links Below to be Taken to that Discipline's Article(s)
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IS YOUR OFFICE READY?
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Reap the Benefits from National Advertising
 National advertising represents a significant business-building opportunity for every Comfort Keepers ® franchisee. Franchisees begin to recognize what this can mean to their businesses, they are starting to ask, " Is my office ready for more leads?" and, " Is my office ready to convert what may be a different type of lead driven by direct-to-consumer advertising?" After all, leads driven by advertising may be different from leads driven by referrals. These are very smart, and appropriate, questions, which is why, beginning with this week's Friday Flash, we will be running a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help franchisees prepare for national advertising. The questions will run the gamut and may potentially address every function in your office. So here is the first week's FAQ.
How should I reflect the monthly NBF payment on my P&L?
The monthly NBF payment is an Advertising Expense and should be reflected in account 631 in the standardized chart of accounts. It is NOT a component of your Cost of Goods.
How can I start to prepare my office staff to help ensure they are ready to convert phone leads into home visits? Start by contacting your Business Coach and ask him/her to mystery shop your office(s). This is the first step to ensure the phone is being answered 24/7 and, it will uncover coaching and educational opportunities for those in your office(s) that are answering the phone.
There are a number of training modules that are already created and available for franchisees and their staff members.
- Phone Skills 101 - Online modules are available through Silverchair and instructor led is available on Members.
- Phone Skills 102 - The instructor led module is available on Members.
The next step is to practice. Training is an important first step, but it is only through practice and feedback that people become better at the intake process.
Other questions related to National Branding? Contact your Business Coach.
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NATIONAL BRANDING
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NATIONAL BRANDING COMMITTEE
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Update on Reviewing RFPs
 The National Branding Committee's progress is good and on schedule. Over the past few weeks, over 50 organizations have been given the opportunity to submit responses to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for creative, media planning/buying, or call routing services. All organizations that intend to respond have communicated so, and the committee will begin to review the submitted responses as early as May 10, 2013. Through this exercise, the committee will distill down a list of finalist companies who will present in person to the committee June 4, 5, and 6. Once the final vendors are selected, the committee commences with the next step which includes development and purchase of a strategic media plan, creative development so we may implement the recommended media plan, and the detailed process of the call routing. The committee is also in the final stage of selecting the accounting firm that will manage the National Brand Fund. The committee agreed unanimously that the Fund should be managed independently and utilize an accounting organization that has no previous relationship with CKFI or any Comfort Keepers® franchisee.
Lastly, the committee will be reviewing the plan to build a separate area on the Members site where all information related to the National Brand Fund and the committee's work will be posted for franchisees access. We are all anxious to begin the creative process and move to the point where we are actually advertising Comfort Keepers. We will continue to provide the franchisee community updates, but in the meantime, please feel free to contact co-chairs Robert Myer at RobertMyer@ComfortKeepers.com or Jim Vercruyssen at JimVercruyssen@ComfortKeepers.com.
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MARKETING
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NEW WEBSITE... COMING THIS FALL!
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Communicating to Our National and Local Audiences
 After an extensive vetting process, we are pleased to introduce you to the vendor that will be building our next Comfort Keepers ® website- People To My Site ( http://www.peopletomysite.com/). We are working closely with them so that you will have a new website this Fall!
You may have met Jason, Sam or Cora at the LEAP Conference in Boca last month. But in case you didn't, let's learn a little more about our new vendor, People To My Site:
- Founded in 2002
- Design, Development, Digital Marketing Professionals
- Expertise with Digital Marketing Engines for Dealerships and Franchises
Some of the features of this new website include:
- Website Builder will take franchisees through a multiple-step web form to create their new website
- No need to "craft" your writing - Ability to upload your own photos in that same process - Each website will automatically be customized, eliminating duplicate content, including the title tags throughout the site for SEO - Stronger call to action, which is also customizable
- Ability to add your own widgets and code throughout
- Leads will be accessible from the dashboard
- Responsive design to display on mobile devices
- ... and much more!
We have been working with a franchisee steering committee throughout this process, and we'll continue to do so as we get further into development. Everyone involved has been excited, and very complimentary of the direction the new website is taking. Stay tuned for more information on the new face of ComfortKeepers.com in the weeks and months ahead |
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Register or Update to Win!
 Have you organized a Nourish Senior Life™ event scheduled for May or have updates to your March and April nutrition events? If so, let us know! By registering your event and updating us on the success that you had, you could win a $100 gift card and possibly an iPad mini! Register now for a chance to win for the March through May drawing. The registration and update forms are easy to fill out and will only take you a short amount of time. Registration and/or updates will earn you one entry each for a chance to win the gift card and iPad mini. Click here to Register or Update now!
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NEW HOLMES WEBSITE FOR COMFORT KEEPERS®
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Hurry! Training Webinars End May 10th
 Sign up now for a 30-minute training webinar to introduce you to the new Holmes Printing website for Comfort Keepers ®. Learn about the easy to use navigation and ordering process. The e-mails you received from Holmes over the last several weeks announced the changes to their website and included sign-up information for the webinars. Holmes will host the webinars through May 10th, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10 AM, EDT and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4 PM, EDT. To sign up go to: https://adobeformscentral.com/?f=CnICLbHLvKDYKqRWU7j%2ABA.
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OPERATIONS
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MEET GUARDIAN MEDICAL MONITORING
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The People and Power Behind SafetyChoice™
 Do you ever wonder who is behind the button when your clients call for help using Comfort Keepers ® SafetyChoice™ products? Guardian Medical Monitoring is on call 24/7 responding to each and every SafetyChoice client need. Here is a terrific video you can use to get to know our partners at Guardian Medical Monitoring. Why not download the file for your next team training? Click here for the Youtube link. Click here to download the video.
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HUMAN RESOURCES
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HOT TOPICS - OVERTIME AND BONUSES
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Employers Can Be Vulnerable to Significant Liability
Companies commonly use bonuses to encourage and reward employees for higher levels of productivity or quality of work. Or, a bonus may be unexpectedly provided after a company experiences a profitable season and management wishes to thank employees for their contributions. Yet, companies must be aware of the potential liability when bonuses are paid to non-exempt employees who are also earning overtime. Learn about how the requirements of the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) so you are in compliance. Click here to access HR Hot Topics.
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LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
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SAVE THE DATES APRIL 24 - 26, 2014
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We're Gathering in "the Mile High City" of Denver
Pencil in the dates April 24-26, 2014 so you can join us for Leadership Conference next year. We will gather in the heart of Denver, "the Mile High City," on the high plains at the base of the Rocky Mountains, at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. And we guarantee another LEAP forward with an informative, relevant agenda.
The Metro Denver area, with moderate temperatures, low levels of humidity and abundant sunshine, provides an ideal climate for year-round activities. In fact, the area has more annual days of sunshine than either San Diego or Miami Beach.
Perfectly located on a mile-long pedestrian promenade of outdoor bistros, microbreweries, shopping and entertainment, as well as being in the heart of Denver's financial and business districts, the Sheraton Denver Downtown is the perfect spot for our 2014 Leadership Conference. Hop on the free shuttle and you'll be whisked around the area which also includes some of Denver's top attractions: The Denver Performing Arts Complex, Colorado Convention Center and the City's major professional sports stadiums.
Any franchisees that are interested in joining the Conference Committee are welcome to email Joni Magnus-Ramsey (JoniMagnusRamsey@ComfortKeepers.com). The committee is co-chaired by Lisa Carson and Teresa Nix. Discussions and meetings will begin later this summer and we welcome anyone who would like to participate.
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