Actual for You - Business

Plastic Fundraising Cards: Powerful and Profitable
Plastic fundraising cards are proving to be very effective with many different types of businesses and organizations. These wallet-sized wonders are being created as a tool to raise money for charitable organizations, in addition to the flexibility of producing cards for gift, loyalty and membership marketing purposes.Plastic fundraising cards usually include a variety of discounts that are accepted through the participation of local, regional and national merchants in your target marketing area. A typical plastic fundraising card could retail for $10 and offer unlimited usage of special offers. In addition, special one-time or limited time offers can be provided by the merchant through the card. This type of offer frequently covers half the purchase price of the product or service.Some of the mor

ceived the concept of a branded community in the light of the fact that small businesses are often being judged against larger brands. Unlike large corporations, small businesses do not have the financial resources to carry out strong marketing activities. Hence, most of these businesses often seem to approach the route of ‘brand imitation’. This is usually in the form of using names or marks which are similar to the already well known brands or an incorporation of some well known signs in their own brand names. In my article “Counterfeit Branding – Representing True Gl
Medical Billing - Troubleshooting Barcoding
In this installment of medical billing, we're going to examine some common problems that you may run into with one of the more common add-ons to a medical billing package, barcoding. We'll not only examine the problems but give possible causes and solutions to them. Of course each case may be different.One of the most common problems you will run into with barcoding when you're trying to scan or enter a new barcode is that the barcode doesn't take. In the case of trying to enter the barcode, the keys don't seem to be typing anything. In the case of trying to scan a barcode into the system, the scanner doesn't seem to be picking anything up. What should happen is that as you scan the barcode, the barcode itself should appear in the barcode text box and the system should beep. Instead, nothing happen
It has been often noted than small businesses are the driving force behind the large number of innovations that contribute to growth of a national economy through employment creation, investments and export. But the fact that they don’t have the money or the bandwidth to carry out strong marketing programmes has always kept them in the dark corner of an economic society. Comprising nearly two thirds of the enterprises in India, small businesses have never been given the opportunity to come into the limelight. As India becomes the playground for the world, these small businesses across various industries now seem to be ignored much more than ever before. Suddenly with the liberalisation of trade and the opening up of our economy we all seem to have started talking the ‘brand language’. The Guccis and the Sonys of the world is all what we hear and read across the media. Why don’t we talk about the millions of small businesses that form the backbone of the bustling Indian economy? Is it because they are still considered as back-end workhorses, manufacturing goods cheaply for the large corporations or is it because they have not been able to establish a brand presence on their own?
In a situation like this, the only way in which smaller businesses can scale up and face the growing challenges in the market today is by coming together in the form of what I call as a ‘branded community’.
Professor Al Muniz has been documenting hundreds of examples of brand communities, from rock bands (Tom Petty and Lifehouse), TV shows (Star Trek and Xena Warrior Princess), cars (Ford Broncos and Saab) and artists (Van Gogh and Jackson Pollock) to authors (Shakespeare and Jack Kerouac), computers (Apple Macintosh), movies (Star Wars) and beverages (Coca-Cola), in order to study the phenomenon. However, his study is about understanding branded communities from a consumers’ perspective rather than that of a seller or a manufacturer. In this article, I aim to throw some light on the later by discussing how small businesses operating in the same industry, manufacturing and selling similar products can come together and form an alliance to ultimately brand themselves as a community. This will not only develop a strong reputational value but also maximise their returns and enhance profitability.
I conceived the concept of a branded community in the light of the fact that small businesses are often being judged against larger brands. Unlike large corporations, small businesses do not have the financial resources to carry out strong marketing activities. Hence, most of these businesses often seem to approach the route of ‘brand imitation’. This is usually in the form of using names or marks which are similar to the already well known brands or an incorporation of some well known signs in their own brand names. In my article “Counterfeit Branding – Representing True Glo
Risk Management News
Risk management is the act or practice of controlling risk. Most businesses re very interested in understanding the ways to control risk. This has created a secondary industry focused on mitigating risk and providing management information that allows business to gain from the knowledge of others who are successful in mitigating risk. As a result there are many trade journals dedicated to risk management information and news. In a constantly changing business environment such news is critical to many companies in taking action to prevent future losses.This process includes identifying and tracking risk areas, developing risk mitigation plans, monitoring risks and performing risk assessments to determine how risks have changed. Depending on the types of risk involved, it can be further split up into op
s industries now seem to be ignored much more than ever before. Suddenly with the liberalisation of trade and the opening up of our economy we all seem to have started talking the ‘brand language’. The Guccis and the Sonys of the world is all what we hear and read across the media. Why don’t we talk about the millions of small businesses that form the backbone of the bustling Indian economy? Is it because they are still considered as back-end workhorses, manufacturing goods cheaply for the large corporations or is it because they have not been able to establish a brand presence on their own?
In a situation like this, the only way in which smaller businesses can scale up and face the growing challenges in the market today is by coming together in the form of what I call as a ‘branded community’.
Professor Al Muniz has been documenting hundreds of examples of brand communities, from rock bands (Tom Petty and Lifehouse), TV shows (Star Trek and Xena Warrior Princess), cars (Ford Broncos and Saab) and artists (Van Gogh and Jackson Pollock) to authors (Shakespeare and Jack Kerouac), computers (Apple Macintosh), movies (Star Wars) and beverages (Coca-Cola), in order to study the phenomenon. However, his study is about understanding branded communities from a consumers’ perspective rather than that of a seller or a manufacturer. In this article, I aim to throw some light on the later by discussing how small businesses operating in the same industry, manufacturing and selling similar products can come together and form an alliance to ultimately brand themselves as a community. This will not only develop a strong reputational value but also maximise their returns and enhance profitability.
I conceived the concept of a branded community in the light of the fact that small businesses are often being judged against larger brands. Unlike large corporations, small businesses do not have the financial resources to carry out strong marketing activities. Hence, most of these businesses often seem to approach the route of ‘brand imitation’. This is usually in the form of using names or marks which are similar to the already well known brands or an incorporation of some well known signs in their own brand names. In my article “Counterfeit Branding – Representing True Gl
How To Write Better Ad-Copy
Nearly 30 years ago, I was a guest panelist at a seminar about “Writing for Profit.” -- All day long,the speakers had told the attendees all about how to submit their written works to editors and publishers ... what to expect in a publisher’s contract ... how to prepare a writer’s proposal ... primarily focusing on how to “sell” what the attendees had written.At the end of the seminar, a panel of five “successful writers” ... including me ... was introduced, with a list of each writer’s works and their individual accomplishments given.The first few questions from the audience were nothing more than a rehash of some of the information provided during the day. Then, a young man stood-up in the back and said ...“All day long, you’ve been telling us how to sell our written works - but - how d
n their own?
In a situation like this, the only way in which smaller businesses can scale up and face the growing challenges in the market today is by coming together in the form of what I call as a ‘branded community’.
Professor Al Muniz has been documenting hundreds of examples of brand communities, from rock bands (Tom Petty and Lifehouse), TV shows (Star Trek and Xena Warrior Princess), cars (Ford Broncos and Saab) and artists (Van Gogh and Jackson Pollock) to authors (Shakespeare and Jack Kerouac), computers (Apple Macintosh), movies (Star Wars) and beverages (Coca-Cola), in order to study the phenomenon. However, his study is about understanding branded communities from a consumers’ perspective rather than that of a seller or a manufacturer. In this article, I aim to throw some light on the later by discussing how small businesses operating in the same industry, manufacturing and selling similar products can come together and form an alliance to ultimately brand themselves as a community. This will not only develop a strong reputational value but also maximise their returns and enhance profitability.
I conceived the concept of a branded community in the light of the fact that small businesses are often being judged against larger brands. Unlike large corporations, small businesses do not have the financial resources to carry out strong marketing activities. Hence, most of these businesses often seem to approach the route of ‘brand imitation’. This is usually in the form of using names or marks which are similar to the already well known brands or an incorporation of some well known signs in their own brand names. In my article “Counterfeit Branding – Representing True Gl
Gold Metal Detectors
Gold metal detectors are used to find small and large gold nuggets. Small and slightly small gold nuggets can be detected at medium depths. Large gold nuggets are the most difficult to search and locate. Gold metal detectors have ground balance modes for alkali soils and black sands for smooth operation. The maximum sensitivity of a gold detector helps to locate small gold bits at greater depths. It can operate with ideal frequencies for locating gold nuggets. The search coil used in gold metal detectors is water proof. Additional features of gold metal detectors are meter display, manual group balancing adjustment and discrimination adjustment. These supplementary features vary with the technology used in each type.Gold metal detectors are generally based on digital technology. They have automatic and m
Star Wars) and beverages (Coca-Cola), in order to study the phenomenon. However, his study is about understanding branded communities from a consumers’ perspective rather than that of a seller or a manufacturer. In this article, I aim to throw some light on the later by discussing how small businesses operating in the same industry, manufacturing and selling similar products can come together and form an alliance to ultimately brand themselves as a community. This will not only develop a strong reputational value but also maximise their returns and enhance profitability.
I conceived the concept of a branded community in the light of the fact that small businesses are often being judged against larger brands. Unlike large corporations, small businesses do not have the financial resources to carry out strong marketing activities. Hence, most of these businesses often seem to approach the route of ‘brand imitation’. This is usually in the form of using names or marks which are similar to the already well known brands or an incorporation of some well known signs in their own brand names. In my article “Counterfeit Branding – Representing True Gl
Plastic Pen Collections
Some people collect stamps, others show off their shot glasses from around the world. There are a few people that enjoy collecting plastic pens of all types. A few collectors even have websites that show off their plastic pen collections. Just a few collections are outlined below.Suzanne’s Pen Collection, Alabama. Well over a thousand pens, this collection is primarily made up of printed plastic pens, mostly ballpoint. She is particularly fond of plastic pens that advertise a particular business, event or place. Her favorites aren’t ballpoints at all but felt tip and gel plastic pens.Stephen’s Pen Collection, Rhode Island. Steve prefers plastic pens with animal logos and themes. This fourteen year old has been collecting animal pens since before he began kindergarten. Eventually, Steve would like
ceived the concept of a branded community in the light of the fact that small businesses are often being judged against larger brands. Unlike large corporations, small businesses do not have the financial resources to carry out strong marketing activities. Hence, most of these businesses often seem to approach the route of ‘brand imitation’. This is usually in the form of using names or marks which are similar to the already well known brands or an incorporation of some well known signs in their own brand names. In my article “Counterfeit Branding – Representing True Globalisation”, I have referred to the counterfeit market in India which is estimated to be worth more than $2billion and is almost growing at a rate of over 20% per annum. A majority of this counterfeit market comprises of those small businesses that produce quality products but are unable to brand and market themselves on their own. However, before we start labelling such businesses as ‘cheaters’ or ‘counterfeiters’ it is important to understand the reasons why most small players resort to such activities. I don’t deny that there must be a portion of this community which resorts to such activities only because they can make some big bucks, but by and large small businesses are usually victims of the market forces and lack of financial resources. Hence, resorting to counterfeiting seems the only hope of survival. If these small players can be given the right guidance to understand how to create and develop their own brands, my guess is that over a period of time the value of the counterfeit market in India would go down by a half.
So what’s stopping marketing and brand experts to help small businesses establish innovative and commercially viable brand names for their products and services? Is it because experts either don’t want to waste their time working with smaller companies or is it because there is no attractive financial return at the end of a consulting project? Well, whatever the reason I’ll leave it for the marketing experts to decide for themselves. The point I am trying to make here is that if small businesses in India can be educated about the importance of brand and image building in enhancing competitiveness, be introduced to strategies for developing brand names and be provided with an opportunity to learn from those who have been successful in this aspect, we might well find some of these small businesses churning our global brands much faster than the large established organisations in the market.
A branded community can be defined as a “group of specialised non-geographically bound manufacturers which share a strong sense of unity and a common vision for establishing a robust brand presence in the market”. Each and every member of the community at first must believe that creating a strong brand is the only way in which it can compete with the big daddys in the market. Having s

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