Copyright 2006 Stephanie Graham
For many mortgage professionals, frequent travel is a way of life. A big concern of frequent travelers is how to remain productive without access to the normal resources. Sometimes, that first trip leaves you feeling like a fish out of water. Especially if you didn’t anticipate your customer’s needs. But with each new journey, you will learn more ways to function efficiently. With a little planning, you can make your time away transparent to those you communicate with daily. Here are a few tips to make it happen:
1. Make a list of the things that need to be accomplished before your departure. Rate locks, file submissions, or any other critical appointments should be handled before you leave.
2. Contact processors, loan officers, underwriters, and other individuals to let them know you’ll have limited availability from _____ to _______.
3. Sign-up for an e-fax or other electronic fax service that will allow you to view, send, and receive faxes over the Internet. This will allow you to function just as if you were in the office. 4. Make a resource list for the things you will need to do while away. Include phone and fax numbers, website addresses, access codes, and passwords. Store this data on your pc, phone, or both.
5. Make a copy or scan an image of documents you may wish to reference while away. This will allow you to stay on top of the most important issues.
6. Save important letters, forms, and files to a jump drive, a CD, or e-mail them to yourself so that you can access them as needed. Convert documents that you would normally fax to a PDF format so they can be e-mailed but not altered.
7. Check the quality of your cell and laptop batteries. Get new ones if you will be without access to electricity to recharge for long periods of time. Be sure to pack your chargers as well.
8. Add a wireless card to your laptop if it does not have one already. Although your hotel may have their own Internet café, these rooms are sometimes crowded or have limited hours of availability. If the hotel charges for linking to their wireless network, if may be cheaper to purchase a wireless connection card through your cellular service provider.
9. Pack an Ethernet cord and a phone cord. This will allow you to get online no matter what type of connectivity your hotel has. You can log on to AOL or some other network.
10. Take a phone card as a backup. It may come in handy in areas where your cell phone signal drops. Used in conjunction with a cell phone, you can eliminate hotel phone charges altogether.
11. Pack pain reliever, antacid, and cold medicine just in case. If you have to buy these things on the road, they’ll cost double what they normally do.
12. Download audio files to an Ipod, mp3, or CD. Music or motivational audios may be just what you need to balance your day. You can also listen to a replay of a training session.
13. During your trip, incorporate as many of your normal activities as possible. Continue to exercise. Drink plenty of water and eat right. Take your vitamins. Keep in contact with family and friends. Let them know what time to call you.
14. Plan your day before going to your daily meeting, training, or appointment. This will allow you to make the most of breaks, lunches, or other dead time.
15. Make use of the special features on your phone. Text messaging and Internet access can be a lifesaver when you’re on the road.
16. Get the scoop on your hotel’s amenities in advance. The last thing you want is to have trouble connecting with your customers and your team because of limited resources. Go online to the hotel’s corporate website for a virtual tour. You might also check out ratings and feedback on Hotels.com. Ask lots of questions.
17. Take along a healthy snack and a bottle of water or two. If you experience a flight delay or get stuck in rush hour traffic, you won’t be bothered by hunger or thirst.
18. Pack as light as possible. Pulling heavy luggage plus a laptop through the airport is no joke. Choose a jacket that will get you through the week. Bring a pair of dress shoes that go with everything and a pair of sneakers or sandals for down time. Your feet will thank you. Switch up your shirt/blouse with a basic pair of pants/skirt. Take travel size toiletries instead of full size ones to make more room in you luggage. And for the ladies: leave some of your hair artillery, fragrances, and makeup at home. This stuff alone can take up a full piece of luggage. You’ll look just as good with the bare essentials.
19. Initiate contact with your customers and team members early in the day while you’re away. This will allow you to deal with challenges or concerns at a time when it is convenient for you. Otherwise, you may find yourself bombarded with phone calls and emergencies that could have been avoided had you made contact earlier.
20. Be realistic. There is no way that everything is going to be perfect when you’re away. If it were, then no one would need you in the first place. Take care of the biggest priorities. Give training and guidance before you leave and then delegate as many projects as you can. Make a plan to take care of other things within the first few days of your return.
When you plan your business trip well, you will feel far less pressure and frustration. It allows you to focus on the real purpose of your trip. You might even have the opportunity to get the rest and relaxation you find difficult to squeeze in at home. So, don’t fret about your next trip. Think more about how it will enhance your business and rejuvenate your mind and body. Happy traveling!
20 Tips for Being Productive While Traveling
Avoid Being Vague
We are bombarded with thousands of marketing messages daily…on television and the radio, on the internet, in magazines and newspapers, on billboards and other signs, and even at the bottoms and on the backs of receipts. The world is, indeed, a very noisy place. And in order to get heard, we need our marketing messages to be clear and concise.
A vague message is one that isn't easily understood - it doesn't speak to a potential customer or client. To be successful in business, our messages must clearly target a specific audience, explaining to them the features and benefits of our product or service. We need to get the public involved and interested enough to want to have further conversations with us. Only then do we have the entrée for beginning to develop a relationship with them, the first step in the selling process.
How can we ensure that our messages are all that they can be?
1. Define your target market. One of the best ways to create a clear output is to start with clear inputs. When it comes to anything you do for your business, you need to be very clear on your target market. Who do you want to reach with your marketing efforts? Define them as clearly as possible. Are they male or female? What are their ages, their occupations, and their lifestyles? Why would they want to do business with you? The more clear you are about who you want to work with, the more clear you will be when crafting your marketing messages.
2. Market narrowly, but deliver broadly. Your marketing message should be carefully focused to cater specifically to the needs and wants of your target market. One might think you'd be passing up opportunities for more customers or clients. The reality is that more people will be attracted to you if you position yourself as a specialist rather than a generalist. Folks associate a higher degree of expertise with a specialist, and, more than likely, you'll be able to charge premium prices to reflect this marketing position. Once you've gotten their attention you can market many things to them (delivery broadly).
3. Talk about the customer, not yourself. Your marketing message should speak to the prospect, their particular needs and wants. What problems can you solve for the customer? Make a list of the top 10 problems that you solve for others. These should be the substance and focus of every conversation that you have. Avoid talking about yourself. People are interested in what you can do for them - sometimes even more than the specifics of the product or service that you offer. Your prospects needs and your solutions should be the focus of all of your marketing materials.
4. Explain the benefits. Not only should you explain the benefits of your product or service, but you should be able to explain the benefits of working with you. Features are defined as the distinctive characteristics of a product's use or design. A benefit, on the other hand, is how the feature will add value to the prospect's life. Carefully define your features and benefits. At the same time, what are the benefits of working with you? Do you provide 24-hour turnaround? Do you return emails and phone calls promptly? Do you offer a free introductory consultation? Do you provide additional value to your customers - extra reports, information or discounts on future purchases? People buy benefits, not features. What's in it for them? Let them know!
5. Know your products and services. There is a lot to know when it comes to your products and services. The more articulate you are in explaining their features and benefits, the higher your chances of closing a sale. For each product or service you offer, make sure you can clearly articulate the features, the benefits, and the specific client need that is addressed. Word this information in language that prospects can clearly understand - that relates to who they are as a target market. Drafting a simple one-page summary of these details can help you to get clear on what matters most.
6. Keep it simple. The best messages are those that are simply said. People understand simple. The more complex the explanation, the higher the risk you run that you'll “lose them along the way.” Again, refer back to the one page summary of your client needs, as well as product or service features and benefits. Provide information that is easy to understand. Don't give more information until the client asks for the information. Always let the prospect guide the conversation.
7. Use a tagline. A tagline is a slogan or phrase that conveys something about a feature or benefit of something you offer. For example, the tagline for Chase Manhattan bank is “The Right Relationship is Everything”. This slogan clearly communicates that one of the features of working with them is relationship - not just any relationship - but the right relationship. Another example of a tagline is Alicia Smith: The DISC Ninja. The DISC Ninja implies skill, precision, and performance. What type of tagline can best describe you and your business?
8. Consult your R & D team. To create on-target marketing messages, run them by your friends, family, and colleagues before you release them to the world. Creating your own R & D team is a great way to experiment or to try out your ideas in a low-risk environment. Probably one of the best things to do is to get feedback from your current customers. They can tell you first hand what works and why. Never pass up an opportunity to get feedback, as it will help you to fine-tune your marketing message.
9. Provide clear and clean information. It should go without saying that you should provide clear, easy-to-understand information. This applies to everything from your business card to your website. Make sure you include your complete contact information on everything, including your email signature. Provide FAQ or Frequently Asked Question sections in brochures, on your website or on other marketing materials. Make sure that you make it as easy as possible for people to contact you and to do business with you. If they need to search for how to contact you, they may very well search someone else out. Along with the times and days you do business, include your business, cellular, and fax numbers, as well as your website and email addresses. Include instructions on how to return or receive a refund on an item. Clear and concise is the name of the game.
10. Understand the customer. Prospects, and even your current customers, are focused on one thing and one thing only; what's in it for them. For the most part, they aren't really interested in you or your product or service. They are interested in benefits. How can you solve their pain? How can you resolve their issues? If you keep this in mind, this will help you to create marketing messages that are focused and really hit their mark.
© Copyright 2004 by Alicia Smith
Being Competitive in a Global Market
The challenges of today's global marketplace are forcing companies to look at doing things differently in order to get that extra edge over their competition.
According to Makino, a global provider of advanced machining technology, companies doing things the same way they have been doing them for the last 10 to 15 years are probably in a "recurring uniform trap," or "RUT," while the global market is passing them by.
Why do something differently? Productivity is a big reason. A 21st century equation explains what productivity requirements will be for the future; the concept
being half the number of people, making twice as much money, but doing three times the amount of work.
In manufacturing, this concept is coming true today. Companies are looking under every rock for opportunities to improve productivity, increase efficiency and lower costs.
In many machine shops, machining centers sit idle while manual work is still being performed. By doing things this way, the companies are not getting the most out of their machine nor their personnel investment.
In today's competitive environment, companies must identify if they are stuck in a RUT. In order to improve, they must be willing to step outside their comfort zones and create solutions.
Culture change takes place gradually, and everyone, especially the people who are out on the floor, must first have a high level of confidence that new technology will work and work reliably before they embrace it. Reliable, high-performance machines not only produce results but also eliminate your business RUT.
Avoid being scammed by survey sites
There are lots of paid survey sites out there, most of them out to get your hard earned money. But like everything there are some exceptions. I myself have been tricked more than once. Is everyone out there really willing to give you cash and free merchandise for your opinion? The answer is NO. But there are a few out there that are for real.
In this article I will try to clear up the mystery surrounding “paid surveys”.
While some people may find it hard to believe, it’s absolutely true that companies are willing to pay you to take surveys. Why? Simple there interested on what you have to say.
A paid survey, are a serious of questions that are presented to individuals to get their opinions on a product, this product may already exist or might be a new product the company surveying is planning on launching. Their purpose might be also just to improve their current product or to make changes due to the fact that its not performing like they planned.
How does it work?
Its actually very simple you just need to join a market research panel. The more panels you join the more paid surveys you will get. The good news is that there are real survey sites out there that can provide you with this opportunity; the bad news is that for every legit survey site out there are at least 20 more that are out there just to get your money.
Be careful before joining one of this paid survey sites out there. You should really do your research before you join one of these companies. Make sure to read testimonials, read their FAQ and make sure they are the right pages to join.
How much can I make?
The potential is up to you there are companies out there that will pay you anywhere between $1 to $75 for 12 minute online survey, and there also some companies that will pay you with gift certificates or products. Take into account there is no limit on the amount of paid surveys you can take so the possibilities are endless.
How am I Paid?
Normally they pay by mail with a company check. But there are also some that will do direct deposit, or online gift certificates.
Are these paid survey sites worth the money?
Yes, in my opinion they are very worth the money. They establish relationships with hundreds of survey companies; they usually carry the best opportunities out there.
In conclusion
Its very important to do all your research and find out all that you can regarding paid surveys, you can definitely make some good money online. Good luck!!
this article was created by Alan B owner of Paid surveys
Being An Executive Is Not Just A Look.
When I think of an executive I think of powerful looking man in a sharp suit making large business deals with international big-wigs. I think of bank accounts in the Carribean and 2nd homes in Italy. I think about the dark limousines and the power ties and golfing with the president or a powerful person in Congress. I think of Martini’s and big cigars and lawyers and secret memos.
Why do I think all these things about being an executive? Well the movies of course and why not believe the movies? They are real right? Well as usual that statement couldn’t be further from the truth. Being an executive involves way more than all of this and often doesn’t involve those things mentioned above. So what does being an executive really involve? Well I want to talk about that and do some realistic guessing (I have never been one myself) about what it takes to be an executive.
The life of an executive is actually a life that is filled with sacrifice. Often times people have sacrificed many, many hours working hard in a cubicle, burning the midnight oil just to get ahead in the rat race. Once they are ahead there work doesn’t slow down it is increased because you are constantly on the go in order to maintain you place of power.
Power is an interesting word too. You have power as an executive but it is the power to move a company in the right direction. You don’t really have the power to move the company in the wrong direction as an executive because as soon as the boat begins to lean the board of directors or whatever you want to call the governing body of a company will be on your heels hounding you until you either get the company going back in the right direction or resign.
The vacations in the Caribbean and the golf outings with important people are kind of misleading as well because you are not doing those things as often as a normal employee may have the opportunity because you don’t have time. You are such a slave to work as an executive that vacations and time spent with family are wishful thinking.
It is these two last things that are perhaps the biggest argument against becoming a big-shot executive in a large company. That is being a slave to your watch/day planner and being a stranger to your family. Life after all isn’t worth living if you can’t enjoy the fruit of your labor and form meaningful relationships with people that love you.
Are You A Wimp? Why Being Bold Pays Off In Self Storage Marketing
Copyright 2006 Derek Naylor
Are you making wimpy offers?
In my last article, I discussed offers and their importance in life and self storage marketing. As a self-storage operator, you are making the offer to relieve locals of their cluttered home or yard. You offer a safe place to store valuable belongings. You offer them the option of parking their shiny new car in the garage, and so on.
There are really 2 types of offers that are relevant to self storage marketing or marketing in general:
1. Your Value Offering and, 2. Your Action Offer.
Your value offering is simply what value you offer to the marketplace. By far, this is your most important offer. After all, without one you won’t be in business for long. Your value offering is something that should always be reviewed and improved.
Many people get caught up in marketing tricks and techniques and they forget all about creating an irresistible offer that the marketplace will gladly pay hard earned dollars for.
Enough on that for now…
The second type of offer is your action offer. This is the call to action in your marketing materials. This is the offer that causes most business owners to whimper in fear.
Some of the most “positive thinking” business owners I’ve worked with instantly transform from bold, assertive, confident characters into pessimistic children when it comes time to creating a good, risk reversing call to action for their marketing materials.
Here’s the deal:
Even if you have a brilliant value offering, there’s probably somebody down the street (especially in self storage) who has something almost as good, just as good, or better. Without a good action offer you’re almost back at square one in the consumers mind.
Here’s the deal #2:
Most people are lazy procrastinators who need a really good excuse to get off the sofa. Your action offer must be strong enough to entice them to organize their garage, closets, yard, office, etc. In self storage, this is especially relevant since nobody likes moving.
Here’s the deal #3:
There’s risk in taking action. Not always financial risk, but there’s always a risk that we will find displeasure in our experiences…even in self storage. The more your action offering reduces or reverses risk, the more people you’ll get to take action and rent your space.
Examples of good action offers in self storage marketing include:
• One month free rent • ½ month free rent with free packing supplies • One month free rent with free use of moving truck • First months rent goes to favorite charity • Any combination of the above or other risk reducing offers
While it might seem like you’re giving away too much, consider the lifetime value of each customer. Also consider the fact that full monthly rent for a space without a tenant puts absolutely NOTHING in your bank account.
Some of the world’s most successful direct marketers, who earn 7, 8 and even 9 figure annual incomes, consider breaking even on the first sale perfectly okay. Smart marketers realize that the “back end” is where the money is made. In self storage, your back end is future rent, tenant insurance, locks, packing supplies, etc.
The job of external marketing is to acquire a customer. If that means you must give up a month of rent to do so, by all means do it!
Listen, I’m not saying to give away the farm here. In fact, I’ll be the first to advise you to give away the least amount possible to acquire a customer. But, if the arithmetic works out, giving away a month of rent, even two months of rent to acquire a customer will put way more money in your bank account than not having any renters because you’re too scared or proud to give a decent offer.
Remember the article I wrote about the car dealerships and their differences in offers? I highly suggest going back and reading that again while we’re on the subject of powerful offers.
Take 2-3 hours, ASAP, and nail your value and action offerings to the ground.
First identify what they are. Then get creative and come up with as many ideas as possible to improve them and make each one irresistible…
From there creating marketing materials will be 100 times easier.
In our next message we’ll discuss market crushing innovations that make your value offering even better.
Being Competitive in a GM
The challenges of today's global marketplace are forcing companies to look at doing things differently in order to get that extra edge over their competition.
According to Makino, a global provider of advanced machining technology, companies doing things the same way they have been doing them for the last 10 to 15 years are probably in a "recurring uniform trap," or "RUT," while the global market is passing them by.
Why do something differently? Productivity is a big reason. A 21st century equation explains what productivity requirements will be for the future; the concept
being half the number of people, making twice as much money, but doing three times the amount of work.
In manufacturing, this concept is coming true today. Companies are looking under every rock for opportunities to improve productivity, increase efficiency and lower costs.
In many machine shops, machining centers sit idle while manual work is still being performed. By doing things this way, the companies are not getting the most out of their machine nor their personnel investment.
In today's competitive environment, companies must identify if they are stuck in a RUT. In order to improve, they must be willing to step outside their comfort zones and create solutions.
Culture change takes place gradually, and everyone, especially the people who are out on the floor, must first have a high level of confidence that new technology will work and work reliably before they embrace it. Reliable, high-performance machines not only produce results but also eliminate your business RUT.
The Dangers of Being Exposed to Cigar Smoke
We have all heard about the dangers of inhaling second hand smoke. Many people wonder if the dangers of inhaling cigar smoke are just as dangerous, or more. Unfortunately, it appears that being exposed to secondhand smoke from a lit cigar can be just as dangerous—or more—than regular cigarette smoke.
All secondhand smoke emitted by tobacco products are classified as environmental tobacco smoke. Environmental tobacco smoke refers to all the secondhand smoke released from tobacco products that are lit, such as cigars or cigarettes. Research indicates that the smoke from cigars and cigarettes releases many of the same types of irritants. Both cigar and cigarette environmental tobacco smoke contain nicotine, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and ammonia. The environmental tobacco smoke from cigars and cigarettes also releases well-known carcinogens such as vinyl chlorine, benzene, arsenic, hydrocarbons, and nitrosamines. Cigars, because of their size, usually release more environmental tobacco smoke than cigarettes. Being around cigar smoke, then, can pose more of a health threat than inhaling secondhand smoke from a lit cigarette.
Even though both cigars and cigarettes release similarly toxic environmental tobacco smoke, there are some key differences between the two. These differences are related to the very different ways that cigars and cigarettes are manufactured. The production of cigars consists of a long process of fermentation and aging. During the production and fermentation process, large amounts of carcinogens are produced. Once a cigar has been fermented and aged, they are wrapped in a nonporous wrapper that keeps the cigar from burning too quickly. The fermentation process and nonporous wrapper both contribute to the high concentrations of carcinogens in the smoke of al it cigar. When a cigar is lit, the carcinogenic compounds produced during the fermentation process are released. The nonporous wrapper also contributes to an unclean burn that is high in carcinogens.
Another reason why cigars produce greater amounts of carcinogens is in their girth and length. Cigars are simply bigger than cigarettes. Their size allows them to release much more smoke, and in turn, much higher concentrations of toxins and irritants. Also, cigars are designed to be smoked much more slowly than regular cigarettes, and cigar smokers are encouraged to take their time and enjoy the relaxing experience. This results in longer smoke times, and obviously, the creation of much more smoke. It is advised for all non-smokers to avoid areas where cigars are being smoked. If you smoke cigars, make sure to do so in a well-ventilated area.