Saturday, April 29
Why You Should Podcast
From Sales & Marketing Management:
With podcasting the rage among consumers, it was only a matter of time before business-to-business marketers caught up. And they have with a vengeance, as more and more of them are targeting prospects and clients with podcasts. Here are reasons you should institute a podcast:
1. Speech Is Louder Than Print
Far more captivating than whitepapers or newsletters, podcasts are a more effective way to capture an audience, experts say, with content that's much more alive than words on paper. The dialogue of a podcast can strike tones of emphasis that print simply can't achieve.
2. Convenience for Customers
Clients can listen to podcasts at their convenience by downloading them to portable devices. That means your marketing message can literally be in their pocket—in or out of the office—which is less invasive and more considerate of their limited time. And it pushes your message farther, because they can carry the message with them, listen to it repeatedly, or share it with others.
3. Easier on You
Podcasts are far easier to set up and change than a Web site, offering sales managers a much easier way to alter and distribute new marketing and sales messages week after week.
With podcasting the rage among consumers, it was only a matter of time before business-to-business marketers caught up. And they have with a vengeance, as more and more of them are targeting prospects and clients with podcasts. Here are reasons you should institute a podcast:
1. Speech Is Louder Than Print
Far more captivating than whitepapers or newsletters, podcasts are a more effective way to capture an audience, experts say, with content that's much more alive than words on paper. The dialogue of a podcast can strike tones of emphasis that print simply can't achieve.
2. Convenience for Customers
Clients can listen to podcasts at their convenience by downloading them to portable devices. That means your marketing message can literally be in their pocket—in or out of the office—which is less invasive and more considerate of their limited time. And it pushes your message farther, because they can carry the message with them, listen to it repeatedly, or share it with others.
3. Easier on You
Podcasts are far easier to set up and change than a Web site, offering sales managers a much easier way to alter and distribute new marketing and sales messages week after week.
Friday, April 21
The REAL value of smart HR
Just found this gem - more relevant today than ever. I'm planning on integrating this research into my May 9 speech at Philadelphia SHRM. I hope you'll join me. Event details here.
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From www.watsonwyatt.com
WASHINGTON, D.C., January 30, 2003 - Companies with superior human capital practices can create more than double the shareholder value than companies with average human capital practices, according to Watson Wyatt's Human Capital Index® (HCI) studies in Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America. The findings provide the first-ever documentation that the strong link between human capital practices and shareholder value creation stretches across several continents.
The HCI studies of companies in Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America report on the impact of human capital practices on business performance. Their combined database includes more than 2,000 major companies globally and tracks shareholder performance from 1994 to 2002.
"While each regional study carries some cultural differences, the results demonstrate that great HR practices can be a true competitive advantage," said J.P. Orbeta, global director of Watson Wyatt's Human Capital practice. "Now we have seen that superior human capital practices prevail, regardless of economic conditions or geographic location."
The Watson Wyatt HCI "Global Truths"
The studies report that companies have better total returns to shareholders (TRS) or growth in shareholder value if they have the following superior human capital practices:
Clear Rewards and Accountability - a 16.5 to 21.5 percent increase is associated with practices such as broad-based stock ownership, paying above the market and effective performance management.
Excellence in Recruitment and Retention - a 5.4 to 14.6 percent increase is associated with practices such as an effective recruiting process, a positive employer brand and focus on key skills retention.
A Collegial, Flexible Workplace - a 9.0 to 21.5 percent increase is associated with practices such as employee input into how the work gets done, higher trust in senior management and a lack of workplace hierarchy.
Communications Integrity - a 2.6 to 7.1 percent increase is associated with practices such as effective use of employee surveys, sharing of strategy and financial data with employees and employee input into decision-making.
"Though the actual results vary by location, the three HCI reports show precisely which HR practices impact the bottom line," said Orbeta. "Great people management travels well. And it is a true source of competitive advantage."
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From www.watsonwyatt.com
WASHINGTON, D.C., January 30, 2003 - Companies with superior human capital practices can create more than double the shareholder value than companies with average human capital practices, according to Watson Wyatt's Human Capital Index® (HCI) studies in Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America. The findings provide the first-ever documentation that the strong link between human capital practices and shareholder value creation stretches across several continents.
The HCI studies of companies in Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America report on the impact of human capital practices on business performance. Their combined database includes more than 2,000 major companies globally and tracks shareholder performance from 1994 to 2002.
"While each regional study carries some cultural differences, the results demonstrate that great HR practices can be a true competitive advantage," said J.P. Orbeta, global director of Watson Wyatt's Human Capital practice. "Now we have seen that superior human capital practices prevail, regardless of economic conditions or geographic location."
The Watson Wyatt HCI "Global Truths"
The studies report that companies have better total returns to shareholders (TRS) or growth in shareholder value if they have the following superior human capital practices:
Clear Rewards and Accountability - a 16.5 to 21.5 percent increase is associated with practices such as broad-based stock ownership, paying above the market and effective performance management.
Excellence in Recruitment and Retention - a 5.4 to 14.6 percent increase is associated with practices such as an effective recruiting process, a positive employer brand and focus on key skills retention.
A Collegial, Flexible Workplace - a 9.0 to 21.5 percent increase is associated with practices such as employee input into how the work gets done, higher trust in senior management and a lack of workplace hierarchy.
Communications Integrity - a 2.6 to 7.1 percent increase is associated with practices such as effective use of employee surveys, sharing of strategy and financial data with employees and employee input into decision-making.
"Though the actual results vary by location, the three HCI reports show precisely which HR practices impact the bottom line," said Orbeta. "Great people management travels well. And it is a true source of competitive advantage."
Tuesday, April 4
The ultimate spam email
Friends:
I've been online since the era of 300-baud modems, CompuServe, and QLink (remember that one?). I've waded through literally hundreds of thousands of emails, and many of those were spam.
My mailbox is filled daily with spam that's trying to fake me out, paypal me, Ebay me, credit card suspend me, improve my sex life, verify my accounts, save me money on vacations, refill my toner, enlarge my manhood, my breasts, and anything else they can think of enlarging, shrink my gut, slim my thighs, and otherwise shave pounds off my anatomy, sell me my sought-after Ph.D. for as little as $295, and ask for my personal help straightening out the finances of various cabinet heads in Zaire, Zambia, Mozambique, and many other third-world countries containing the letter "z."
I've come to appreciate the art and science and creativity of spam. I appreciate it's spirit of twisted entrepreneurship-meets-desperation-meets-stupidity-meets-opportunity-meets-PT Barnum-meets-trial-error-experimentation-and-success.
But this one beats them all. Just brilliant. Pure and simple. Read its elegance. Admire its non-chalance. Observe it's helpful tone. Notice it's come-hither urls. It even managed to land in my main inbox, not my bulk folder. Spam doesn't get much more elegant than this:
From: "Barbara Carey"
To: Undisclosed-Recipient@,
Subject: server down
Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2006 14:36:55 -0700
My server has been down for the past 5 days. If you have sent me an email on my barbarac@akasha-group.com address please resend it. Also, check out our new site www.vendPINK.com
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Barbara Carey
President
Akasha Group
tel: 925. 254. 0921
fax: 925. 254. 4810
www.thecareyformula.com
www.vendPINK.com
www.dittie.com
www.hairagami.com
www.richstachowski.com
I've been online since the era of 300-baud modems, CompuServe, and QLink (remember that one?). I've waded through literally hundreds of thousands of emails, and many of those were spam.
My mailbox is filled daily with spam that's trying to fake me out, paypal me, Ebay me, credit card suspend me, improve my sex life, verify my accounts, save me money on vacations, refill my toner, enlarge my manhood, my breasts, and anything else they can think of enlarging, shrink my gut, slim my thighs, and otherwise shave pounds off my anatomy, sell me my sought-after Ph.D. for as little as $295, and ask for my personal help straightening out the finances of various cabinet heads in Zaire, Zambia, Mozambique, and many other third-world countries containing the letter "z."
I've come to appreciate the art and science and creativity of spam. I appreciate it's spirit of twisted entrepreneurship-meets-desperation-meets-stupidity-meets-opportunity-meets-PT Barnum-meets-trial-error-experimentation-and-success.
But this one beats them all. Just brilliant. Pure and simple. Read its elegance. Admire its non-chalance. Observe it's helpful tone. Notice it's come-hither urls. It even managed to land in my main inbox, not my bulk folder. Spam doesn't get much more elegant than this:
From: "Barbara Carey"
To: Undisclosed-Recipient@,
Subject: server down
Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2006 14:36:55 -0700
My server has been down for the past 5 days. If you have sent me an email on my barbarac@akasha-group.com address please resend it. Also, check out our new site www.vendPINK.com
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Barbara Carey
President
Akasha Group
tel: 925. 254. 0921
fax: 925. 254. 4810
www.thecareyformula.com
www.vendPINK.com
www.dittie.com
www.hairagami.com
www.richstachowski.com
