The “McDonald’s-ization” of Education

McDonald’s is astoundingly successful at purveying inexpensive fast food of consistently high quality. They have achieved this primarily through standardization and quality control. If you purchase an “Egg McMuffin,” or a “Big Mac” at an outlet in Seattle, or Milwaukee, Chicago or Miami, it will be almost exactly the same.

Standardization is increasingly making in-roads into education. Once the realm of diversity (of opinion, thought, approach, teaching technique, classroom styles, etc.) and independence (academic freedom), the higher education classroom is being transformed into a “product” type delivery system. The “products” in this case are the concepts, lesson plans, group exercises, assignments, etc. – indeed, the education itself.

The intent of this transformation is to provide a “standard” high quality student classroom experience within disciplines, and across institutions. With the student being the customer (consumer) of the educational delivery system, we want to make sure he or she is getting the highest possible quality product, and the key to this is “quality control” and standardization.

Instead of the after-the-fact quality control offered through instructor “evaluations,” ” classroom observations,” and the like, the approach introduces a far more intrusive and directive model. Lesson Plans, indeed, entire courses and curricula are loaded into pre-packaged modules, on thumb drives (USB) or onto computers, or servers.

As in the fast food business, manufacturing, or other product producing sectors, the product creation and delivery process is developed to gain the efficiency and effectiveness obtained in industry.

JUST LIKE McDONALD’s

Just like McDonald’s where the customer can expect to enjoy a standard, high quality product, served in a clean, well-designed environment, the student consumer can expect convenient delivery of the educational product, for his consumption, and enjoyment – “satisfaction guaranteed.”

THE PROCESS

First, a product team is assembled. In this case it consists of academic experts, curriculum designers, course writers, technology experts, product representatives, trainers, content specialists, etc. The product development process is based on outcome objectives, i.e., “what do we want the student to know?,” “what should he learn during this course?” and “how do we measure that?” This “beginning at the end” philosophy is crucial. It keeps the spotlight on the product, promotes quality, and ultimately, “customer satisfaction.”

THE ENTERTAINMET COMPONENT

Gen Y students have different expectations from their predecessors, and are less likely to indulge obsolete or dated instructional methods and techniques. They demand to be engaged.

Instructors are partially selected on their ability to “entertain” as well as “inform.” They are expected to be animated, humorous, engaging, and entertaining. They are expected to convey knowledge in convenient, enjoyable, and satisfying, bites.

STEAMLINING THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS

The more standardized the process becomes, the less latitude for the educator, the more prescribed the content, exercises and learning activities are, the more the business managers of the career and “for profit” colleges like it. This concept may, however, benefit the student as it concentrates on a quality, standardized, classroom experience.

IT’S EASIER

Once the instructor has mastered the technology, the whole instructional process is easier under this model. Everything is pre-packaged. No messy development of lesson plans - they’re already done - and done well. No thinking about creative learning activities and approaches - they’re already there. You could almost do it in your sleep! (if it wasn’t for the requirement to be animated and entertaining.)

STUDENT NEEDS

Students in this new education model will be immersed in technology throughout their degree program. This is the world of today, and the future. They will participate and interact with SMARTboards, laptops, WiFi, simulations, business games, remote “clickers,” interactive learning, real-world relevant projects, presentations, etc. It’s designed to match their learning styles and attention spans It is preeminently designed to prepare them for their careers. Although many students are “comfortable” with technology, fewer are proficient, and fewer yet have an in-depth understanding. The curriculum should help them become more proficient and better prepared for the technology demands of the future business environment. The intensely technological nature of the classroom experience also addresses the various learning styles. The auditory learner will have voice, music, and noise. The visual learner will enjoy the videos, powerpoints, and other visuals. The kinesthetic learner will appreciate the hands on components, especially the SMARTboard.

Student satisfaction is, of course, a primary objective. Education, especially for-profit education, exists to serve the student, while running a business. And, through serving and satisfying the student, ultimately the student will stay in school, graduate, and learn valuable knowledge and skills in the process. These graduates will benefit the business community, and society at large. An advanced society like ours is critically dependent on an educated and productive populous.

EMPLOYER NEEDS

What do employers want and need? The link to employer requirements is a vital one. Businesses need educated workers. They require technologically adroit employees who can meet the demands of a rapidly changing technological environment and a highly competitive situation.

Ours is a productive society. Businesses spend billions of dollars training and re-training their employees. “Business Ready” graduates will be more productive from day one and employers will appreciate this.

HAS EDUCATION COME TO THIS?

Purists would argue that the more traditional approaches are preferable, and that academic freedom is being infringed upon. They would say that instructors should be hired based on their knowledge, quality of education, expertise, research history and contributions to their field. They would undoubtedly prefer to see pure “academicians” and “scholars” in the classroom. However, there is room for an interesting debate here. Is it about the instructor or the student? Obviously, we understand that it’s about both, but whose needs take precedence? The answer has to be – THE STUDENT! After all, the whole educational system is in place to meet the needs of the student, and ultimately, society.

Instructors with real-world, practical experience and without techno-phobia will be more adaptable to this new format, and perhaps better equipped to relate to the student.

THE BOTTOM LINE

In education there is always room for a broad range of opinions and approaches. Let’s try this new one. It works in business - why not education? This is probably why Career Colleges are embracing the approach much more readily than their mainstream counterparts. The “for-profit” Career Colleges are definitely the forefront of this initiative, and “early adopters.”

We all know that “quality ” is an issue in education. Graduates with virtually identical credentials can have vastly different skills, knowledge, and abilities. This is, and always has been a concern. This standardized, quality-assured model addresses that issue.

Sure, this educational model is controversial, as it should be! But the end result may very well be that students have a reasonably similar experience, learn comparable skills, and become better “fits” within the business world. Employers can be better assured and confident that graduates have the knowledge and skill base they require to be successful contributors. They will probably, at some point, wish to be full participants in the curriculum development process. In the globally competitive market, this might just be what is needed.

When we’re teaching Business we must be business-minded. Let’s transfer those “best practices” from the business world to academia, keep our students involved, and better prepare them for their future careers. And, the lessons to be learned from places like McDonald’s may be more applicable to education than we might have ever imagined.

Copyright ©, 2009, Dr. Ben A. Carlsen, MBA. All Rights Reserved Worldwide for all Media. You may reprint this article in your ezine, newsletter, newspaper, magazine, website, etc. as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, leave my name and bio box intact, and you follow all of the EzineArticles Terms of Service for Publishers.

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90 Minute CEO: Creating The Perfect Home Base Business Office

Building Your Home Office

Now that you have all of that business stuff out the way, it’s time for you to create the space for which your million dollar deals will be made. Again, you don’t need to rent some fancy smancy space in a luxury building in order to have a top notch technologically efficient work space. Moreover, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to create your new at home work space. You will be surprised, but many of the items on our list can be found at wholesale stores, pawn shops, garage sales, barter and trade sites such as Craigslist and eBay. Don’t fall into the trap like so many starting a business going out and getting items that are brand new and shiny. Because people today are so quick to dispose and get rid of things for the newest and hottest items, there’s a lot of serviceable equipment ready for use for your home based business.

Here is a list of twenty one items that you absolutely need to create and efficient home office space that works. I call these items the OFFICE TOOLS FOR SUCCESS:

OFFICE TOOLS FOR SUCCESS:

Computer Equipment
Telephone
Laser Printer
Fax Machine
Internet Connection
File Cabinet
Desk
Chair
Stapler
Stationary and Supplies
Clock
Calendar
Stacking Trays
E-mail Address Account
Home Business License (if applicable)
Identify Where To Get Help
Business Cards
Paper Clips
Shredder
Surge Protector
Standard Desktop Supplies

Computer Equipment

Nowadays, you can get an affordable workable computer that will allow you to access the internet and create word based documents for less than $300.00. It doesn’t matter if it’s a desktop or laptop as long as it’s a computer. Again, you don’t have to spend a ton to get it done. So if you don’t have a computer, don’t make that huge investment right now. If you can’t afford to purchase a computer right now, there are several local and national retail rental chains that will rent you a computer for a nominal weekly, bi-weekly or monthly charge. Now some people may have a hang up about renting from these places because the charges overtime can get outrageous. However, you’re in business now. This means that your expenses can be written off on your taxes. If you need a computer, consider this as a viable option.

Internet Connection

You can’t do any type of business today without having access to the internet. Anyone that tells you otherwise, is absolutely crazy. If it’s happening today, it’s happening on the net. Therefore, you are going to want to ad with that computer of yours an internet connection. Now there are a variety of ways to get an internet connection today. So depending on whether you opt for a laptop computer or traditional desktop, the type of internet connection will be determined by the equipment you opt for. Believe it or not, there are some places that still use dial up. I would strongly suggest that you seek out an option other than dial up as it’s simply impossible to get anything done these days on the net with it. You will need to do some research in your area and based on availability make some decisions as to which internet connection is right for you.

E-mail Account

If you don’t already have an e-mail account with your own personal e-mail address and online in-box, shame on you! If you’re going to do business of any kind on the web, you are going to need an e-mail address. Therefore, we recommend visiting one of the many sites online that offer free e-mail addresses and establishing an account.

Desk

Now if you going to have a computer with internet, you’re going to need something to set that computer on. Therefore, you’re going to need to put a desk of some sort in your workspace. Again, you don’t need to spend a lot of money for a desk. A great source for a computer desk is most definitely Craigslist. You may also want to consider checking the local goodwill, Salvation Army, or thrift store. If you have the resources to purchase a computer desk, my only advice would be to purchase one that’s ergonomically correct; one that fits to your specific height.

Chair

In that same vane, you also want to locate a comfortable chair to use in your workspace. I find that I cannot function at my optimal performance when I am uncomfortable. Subsequently, if my rump is unhappy, it reflects in my work. Now because a good chair is important, I would recommend purchasing one from one of the local or national office store chains. You can get a very comfortable office chair (self assembly) for around $50.00.

File Cabinet

Now that we have our desk and chair in place, we are going to need a file cabinet. Now you are probably saying, why do I need a file cabinet? Well, even though most people today store files in a computer, there are some files that you want to store the old fashion way. For example, tax documents you must hold on to for seven years. Your corporate documents, customer applications and other records, you may not necessarily want to house these on your computer. Having a file cabinet with a lock on it means that you have ensured the safety of these records, making sure they are available when needed.

Telephone

Now that are computer, desk, chair and file cabinet have been put in place. It’s time for us to add some additional hardware to the mix. The first piece of hardware that we want to add to the mix is the telephone. If you are creating an office space in your home, you definitely want to install a separate phone line dedicated specifically for doing business. I recommend doing this for a couple of reasons. Number one, it eliminates the confusion of business calls being missed because someone else is using the primary house phone. Number two and probably the most important reason, you are in business now. So at tax time, you want to be able to write off as many as your business expenses as possible. When the phone is listed in your business name, there is no difficulty at for this information to be reported to the I.R.S. I would also recommend this same course of action for your cell phone account.

Fax Machine

If you are going to have a business line installed in your home, it only makes since to have a dedicated fax line installed. Though many computers now have fax software, there are many computers that don’t. Therefore, having a fax machine ensures that you are able to get information to whomever whenever regardless of which device there using. Finally, this is an item that I would by new. You can by an inexpensive fax machine for less than $80.00.

Laser Printer

This is another item that I would purchase brand new. Typically, you can get a base model for under $140.00. If you are just getting started in business, I would go straight for the base model laser printer and stay away from the color based printer models. I recommend this because the color cartridges are costly and it’s not a wise expense to incur when starting a new business. If you need color copies, visit one of the local copying stores and have your documents copied.

Time Management Devices

Many business deals are won and lost as a result of bad time management. Time management is the act or process of exercising conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities, especially to increase efficiency or productivity. Time management may be aided by a range of skills, tools, and techniques used to manage time when accomplishing specific tasks, projects and goals. This set encompasses a wide scope of activities, and these include planning, allocating, setting goals, delegation, analysis of time spent, monitoring, organizing, scheduling, and prioritizing. A time management system is a designed combination of processes, tools, techniques, and methods. Usually time management is a necessity in any project development as it determines the project completion time and scope.

Clock (Wall or Desktop)

Your investment in a good wall clock and/or desk clock will help aide you in meeting those benchmarks and time sensitive deadlines often critical to your business.

Calendar (Wall or Desktop)

Likewise, a calendar is a necessary tool in your time management system. A calendar allows you to keep visual track of various important dates and times which are critical to your business. Nowadays, cell phones are sold with software applications that allow you to enter important dates and times into your cell phones calendar. However, if you don’t have this application on your cell phone or if you do not have a cell phone, a good pocket calendar from the dollar store will work just fine.

Surge Protector

Now that the basics of our home office are in place, it’s time to complete are office with a few essential pieces of support equipment and materials, the first of which is a quality surge protector. A surge protector (or surge suppressor) is an appliance designed to protect electrical devices from voltage spikes. A surge protector attempts to regulate the voltage supplied to an electric device by either blocking or by shorting to ground voltages above a safe threshold. If you do not currently own a surge protector, THIS IS A TOOL THAT YOU CANNOT BE WITHOUT. Your investment in your computer, fax, laser printer and other electrical devices is at risk without it. Typically, you can find an inexpensive surge protector at your local office supply store for under $40.00.

Paper Shredder

A paper shredder is a mechanical device used to cut paper into strips or fine particles. Government organizations, businesses, and private individuals use shredders to destroy private, confidential, or otherwise sensitive documents. Privacy experts often recommend that individuals shred bills, tax documents, credit card and bank account statements, and other items which could be used by thieves to commit fraud or identity theft. Like the surge protector, you can find an inexpensive paper shredder at your local office supply store for under $40.00.

Standard Desktop Supplies

The remaining items that round out our essential pieces of support equipment and materials list are pretty much self explanatory:

Business Cards
Business Letterhead Stationary
Document Highlighters
Ink Pens
Paper Clips
Pencils
Paper (laser, copier and fax)
Stamps and envelopes for sending out invoices
Stapler
Stationery and supplies – envelopes
Stacking Trays

If you are thinking of becoming a CEO of your own business, make it your business to have all the necessary tools of the trade.

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Home Based Business Advice – Servant Leadership

So, you’re thinking about starting a home based business. That’s good. One of the things you will need to consider is your attitude toward the people you are serving with that home based business. It seems to me that the attitude of the world has become very selfish and self centered. It’s all about me, me, me, and how much and what do I need to do to win. Look what has become of the world in recent years with that prevailing attitude. Massive greed has catapulted the U.S. and many other countries into a recession that lingers, many people out of work, and a housing market that is just abysmal.Let me suggest a different way to approach your life and your home based business. Servant leadership is based on core values and actions taken for the betterment of the ones you serve. The goal is to help those that you are serving to grow. Integrity, trust, honesty, fairness are all core values that embody servant leadership. In order to provide this service to others in your home based business you must first be sure of whom you are and that you want to serve. Success on many levels is achieved through servant leadership.Instead of it being all about you, change your attitude to one of helping those that you serve. Caring about your clients or other business associates not only on a business level but on a personal level develops trust. Robert Greenleaf has said, “Trust is first. Nothing will move until trust is firm.” This is true in life and in business. Develop trust with those that you interact with and then your business will move forward. Care about their needs and wants. In the servant leader, serving comes first.Financial success will come when people realize that your philosophy is one of caring and serving others. You will be appreciated and loved for your service. You will be seen as a leader. Others will see you as a person they want to follow because you see clearly where you want to go and who you want to be. This clarity will not only bring you personal success and peace, but financial successes as more and more people begin to follow you.How do you win as a servant leader? You win by watching those that you serve achieve the success they deserve under your tutelage. As they grow and learn, you grow and learn. Their success is your success. The more people that see that success, the more will want to follow. The more that follow brings more personal and financial success to you. Servant leadership is in the spirit of caring and helping others.Servant leadership is an expression of your being. It is who you are. You do it because it is the right and good thing to do. Give from your heart. This is not to be confused with doing it because you expect something back. Do the right thing and help others because you care. The universe will respond to your service.As a home based business owner it is your responsibility to serve and lead others. Know that it will not always be a smooth ride and respond in a caring way. Know that there will be challenges to overcome but stay the course. Know your core values and who you want to be. Know that you will be rewarded many times over by helping in other people’s success.

Finding The Best Home Based Businesses for Women

Finding the best home based businesses for women could be one of the biggest boons for those who are trying to juggle all the aspects of their lives in this modern world. There are many women who love their corporate life, and enjoy going into that sphere, but more women are also opting to return to the home. In a recent CBS sampling done by author Linda Hirshman, she found that “Eighty-five percent of the women” were staying home either part-time or full-time. Even more surprising was the percentage of increase in the number of stay-at-home moms in less than 10 years, a whopping 15%! With the escalating number of business opportunities to be found on the Internet, this number is bound to continue to climb every year.There are so many advantages to finding the best home based businesses for women, whether they be moms, or unmarried, or grandmas. In ever accelerating numbers, women of every age and every educational background are searching for ways to not only stay home for the kids sake, or because of health issues, or just because they want to, but also because they want to be their Own Boss. Women’s salaries have yet to reach parity with those of men; there are exceptions, but they are few in number. However, in the world of Home Based Businesses, it’s often the women who earn much more than the men. Often the woman in the home will be earning more than her husband, and it is at that point that he, too, might begin to take a look at the opportunity to leave the work-a-day world.When searching for the best home based businesses for women, it is important to keep in mind the many “traps” out there; those businesses which are out for your money, giving almost nothing in return; or if they do give something, it might have minimal value, or none at all. There are many “diamonds” amongst the stones, and with some careful research, they can be found. Another trap could be a business which says it is environmentally conscious, yet with further investigation, many of the ingredients, whether hidden or on the label, are harmful to pets, children, and the elderly. “Green” business is all the rage now, and many are looking to cash in for the short term; it’s the “green” businesses which have been doing their part for decades, and which have the research to prove it, that are the ones to go with. One other “trap” to beware of is a business which is based on a passing fad; when the fad disappears, so does the business, and all the hard work one has put into it.Finding the best home based businesses for women will have many solutions, so look to those things about which you are most passionate. Take into consideration your interests, and the hobbies which you most enjoy; then find the business which will complement what brings the most joy to your life. One of the best parts of having an at home business is that you are doing something you really love, you are doing it for yourself and your family, and when you find the right business, you will most likely be doing it every day for the rest of your life.

Best Rated Home Based Businesses – Things to Consider

So you have made the decision that you want to start a home based business. You are not alone as thousands of entrepreneurial minded individuals have traveled down this same road in recent years. But making the decision is only the first step in a difficult process. Unfortunately, much of the information that you will need to be successful was not taught to you in school and without it, you may have some difficulty. The good news is that there are sources and mentors out there that can direct you, and the cost is far less than a college degree. In a recent article that I read online, I found a list of the best rated home based businesses. Interestingly enough, most of them required specific skills that the majority of people do not have, and the article failed to mention an absolute essential: marketing ability. Without this, your home based business is probably doomed to fail. We’ll address it later in this article.First, here are some of the best rated home based businesses (or at least some of the most common):Cosmetic Sales
Online Retail Store
Multi-level Marketing
Medical Transcriptionist
Website Design
Resume Writing
Administrative/Secretarial WorkAs you can quickly see, you will need to have a specific skill set in order to do any of these. But even if you already have the ability, you will need to find ways of getting your name, website, and info out to a large number of people if you truly want to become profitable. The interesting aspect of this, however, is that so many people fair to consider their marketing plan until it is almost too late. By then, they are most often broke, discouraged, and ready to start looking for a regular “job”. Trust me that if your marketing plan includes paying out hundreds of dollars every month to a company that promises they’ll get you to page one of Google, you might already be on your way down a treacherous road with no pot of gold at the end.Now I will let you in on a big secret; one that can earn you financial freedom if you embrace it. If you are reading this article, it is a given that you are looking for a home based business and you probably are smart enough to realize that there are thousands, if not even millions, of people worldwide wanting the same thing. Can you now think of one thing that they ALL need but very few of them actually have? Hint: I already told you the answer. Go ahead, say it out loud. “They need marketing education!” Excellent, that’s the ticket.So, it goes without saying what the #1 best rated home based business really should be- educating others on how to effectively market their product or service. When your business is providing this to other businesses, then not only are you helping yourself, you are helping a countless number of others realize their dream. Now that’s a win-win and something that is truly recession-proof. Hey, we already know that you will probably need to develop some new skills in order to be successful, so why not develop abilities that everyone needs and very few actually possess. How do you do that? You need to find a mentor. There are companies out there that will teach you everything you need to know. They will train you, answer questions, and guide you. In fact, you can learn from people who have already achieved a level of success. You can leverage the information you learn to develop your own company while you help others to become more profitable at the same time. Over time, you can employ this knowledge with any traditional or home based business that you undertake, assuring yourself that any venture will become more profitable and stable. You will need to budget for this training, as it will not be free, but its value is immeasurable. As I always say, “If you think education is expensive, then try ignorance.” I have seen way too many home based businesses fail. Don’t become a statistic. Some mentoring companies, such as the one I belong to, will also allow you to take them for a test drive and get a feel for what they offer. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and get on the phone and talk to a company representative. This type of networking relationship could catapult you to financial freedom. It’s never to late or too soon to begin. Carpe Diem!

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How To Spot A Legit Home Based Business That Can Change Your Life

Society is definitely in a period of transformation and change. Many traditional institutions and ways of living are becoming obsolete as people are gradually becoming part of a vast new digital world. Competition for employment has become increasingly difficult as companies downsize and continue to put profits ahead of people in an effort to stay ahead. This has led to the rise of the home based business opportunity as an alternative strategy for many individuals. However, how do you spot the best digital home based business? How do you tell the difference between a real business and a pipe dream? Here are three fundamental questions that can help you make that analysis:1. Does the company have a good track record and reputation?This is probably the single most important question to ask, and also the best way to separate opportunities that are best left by the wayside. Thankfully, it is usually a very easy question to answer. The nearly ubiquitous presence of the Internet in our lives has made it difficult for a company to get by with shoddy practices without leaving a paper trail. Do your research and you will be able to locate the best digital home based business opportunity for your circumstances.2. How does the compensation plan pay out?The next most important aspect to understand about legit home based business is how their compensation plan is structured and pays out. This is how you will actually receive your revenue, and it is important to understand the intricacies of the program if you are interested in maximizing your income. The various mechanisms used can vary widely between network marketing opportunities, so all we can really say is to research the ones you are interested in carefully.3. What training and support are available?The final determination in separating legit home based business from less desirable organizations is the scope and scale of the training and support they offer. This is basically common sense; do they set people up to succeed, or are they more interested in sucking fees out of people than actually building an organization that will succeed and grow strong in the long term? Identifying the companies which offer the strongest training and support is a great way to identify the best digital home based business opportunity for your personal needs.Doing some research and investigation into these three questions is a great basis from which to start when trying to identify whether any given opportunity is a legit home based business, or something not worth investing your time in. You will find that the three qualities which definite the best digital home business opportunity are a great online track record, a clear and generous compensation plan, and a robust training and support program.

10 Good Reasons Why Small Enterprises (Small Businesses) Fail

You’ll agree with me that there are so many small businesses which have contributed a lot to the growth of economy. They have created employment opportunities for many families although some remain to be small throughout their operational life.It is obvious that those who are starting new ventures have objectives to achieve. And to mention each business has got its own objectives to achieve such as maximization of profits and sales, minimize costs, maintain a certain level of production and labor force etc.Failing of a business opportunity is what an entrepreneur won’t want to happen. Inasmuch as we agree with the fact that there are firms which have succeeded, we should also accept the fact that a good number of them have failed even before two years lapse after they commence business.If aspiring entrepreneurs addressed the reasons why small businesses fail, then they will not fall to be victims of the same causes of failure. This is because they’ll be in a position to identify these causes and fix them before it’s too late.Now you may be asking yourself as to why some businesses remain to be small throughout their operational life despite some of them making profits or are capable of growing.4 Reasons Why Small Business Remain to be Small1.) The owners of these businesses prefer not to expand their businesses. Some sole proprietors do not want to be bothered with the challenges of managing a big business. They don’t want to employ people to assist them in running their businesses but instead they prefer to be assisted by their family members.2.) The nature of the product/service the business is involved in doesn’t allow expansion. There are people offering products/services which make it difficult for their business to grow.3.) Lack of capital for expansion. There are small businesses which are viable and have the potential of growing but they lack enough capital. Such businesses have the challenge of securing funds from financial institutions. Lack of capital plays a negative role in hindering the growth of small businesses.4.) Very low demand. If the business has a very low demand for its product or service, then at the end of the fiscal financial year/trading period the business won’t realize profits, and if it does, it’s very low, therefore the chances of it expanding are very minimal. Just to mention, realization of inadequate profits as a result of very low demand hinders the growth of small businesses.However, there must be a starting point and as such, every business starts as a small entity and it gradually grows to a medium entity and eventually it becomes a big business entity which is either a private limited company or a public limited company. Note that a partnership business can also grow to become a big business.Reasons Why Small Businesses Fail1.) Wrong Reasons For Commencing Business: People who start a business for wrong reasons haven’t succeeded. Just because another person is making high profits in a certain line of business doesn’t mean that you will also make the same amounts of profits as him/her if you start the same business.2.) Poor Business Management: When there is poor management of the business it becomes difficult for such a business to succeed in its operations. Finance, marketing, purchasing and selling, planning, hiring and managing employees is what most new business owners fail to execute effectively thus making their small businesses to fail.3.) Lack of Commitment: Starting a business requires someone who is committed in ensuring that it succeeds. Neglecting the business will cause the business to fail. Many small businesses have failed because the owners didn’t take their time in monitoring performance and in marketing them. Some business owners leave their businesses to be managed on their behalf by incompetent people who lack book keeping knowledge and the knowledge of managing a business.4.) Lack of Finances: Small businesses have failed because of lack of adequate finances. Some of the owners underestimated the amount of capital required and as a result of this underestimation some ended up running out of operating capital thus ending the operation of their businesses.There are those who have no reserves which has led them not to be able to take care of loses and disasters when they occur thus making them to quit business.5.) Over-Expansion of the Business: This has led to failure of many small businesses. This happens when there is borrowing of too much money beyond what the business requires so as to expand the business. Moving to markets that are not profitable is also over expansion of the small businesses.An ideal expansion is the one that is driven by customers due to their high demand for the products and services which leads to high sales thus the business experiences good cash flow.6.) Location: The place where the business is located is critical in determining its success. Small businesses have failed because of them being located in areas that are not ideal for business. They should be located in areas that are accessible, populated with people and has demand for their products and services.7.) Personal Use of Business Money: This is the biggest challenge facing many small business owners. They withdraw money meant to operate their businesses to meet their personal wants and needs. If they continue to withdraw money from their businesses without returning it, their businesses will eventually run out of finances therefore forcing them to end the operations of their businesses.8.) Lack of Delegation: Small enterprises have failed due to owners not delegating some of the duties to their employees. They think that if they delegate them, then their employees will not perform these duties as they would personally perform them. When such owners fall sick or are away from their businesses, then the operations of some tasks will be paralyzed till they resume to work.9.) Not Diversifying: Small enterprises which have only one product/service to offer are prone to fail easily compared to those that have a variety of products/services.10.) Procrastination and Poor Time Management: Postponements of tasks which the small business owners feel to be unpleasant to perform has made the small businesses to fail. An example of such tasks include following debtors to pay their debts (debt collection).Time management remains to be a challenge for many people who own small businesses. If important tasks like delivering products to customers, purchasing stock etc are not handled in the appropriate time, then the business will lose its customers.The above are not all the reasons why small businesses fail, there are more reasons.

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Being Consistent In Marketing Your Recruitment Business

Marketing is very important in recruitment because it can spell the success of your recruitment business. Clients and candidates need to be constantly drawn to your business and this can only be done through consistent effective marketing. However, marketing is one essential activity that is often neglected in favor of other tasks that will close the next deal or fill the next placement. After initial marketing efforts and clients start coming in, sometimes recruiters get the illusion that they are ‘good’ until one day they see that there isn’t much work going around anymore. Below are a few ways to ensure that you will have a constant flow of leads and your recruiters will always have work to hit those billings.

Have A Marketing Plan

Do you have a marketing plan or did your initial marketing activities just work by chance? Well, if your initial marketing efforts worked the first time, then by all means continue what you are doing. However, your initial success in marketing does not take away the fact that you need a plan. You should know your objectives on why you are marketing so you can direct your recruitment business and you can measure the results of your efforts. In other words, you have to know why you are doing what you are doing to know how you are doing. Makes sense? It should!

Are you marketing to build your recruitment company brand? Are you marketing to get more clients? Are you marketing to find more candidates? Are you marketing a specific niche sector? Are you marketing to expand? What are your goals? By when are you expecting to achieve these goals? – These are only some of the questions that you should ask yourself when you create your marketing plan. If you feel that you are only guessing then you may need a recruitment marketing consultant to help create a plan specifically for you to help you achieve your goals.

Incorporate A Marketing Schedule In Your Calendar

Regardless of how much work you have, you should put in ample time for marketing your recruitment business. Consult your marketing plan and make sure you block time for your planned marketing efforts. Stick to your schedule and never forego marketing for your other tasks. It’s all about consistency. If you want work coming in constantly then you should market consistently. A marketing plan is useless if you will not follow through on it.

Consider Getting Help

If you find yourself swamped with work, you can employ the services of a recruitment marketing professional to implement your marketing plan on a regular and consistent basis. This way you can do what you are competent at and marketing your recruitment business will be in the hands of someone whose expertise will help your business in ways that you never thought was possible. Consistency in marketing is key and it is not something that should be pushed aside or forgotten if you want your recruitment business to prosper.

Benefits Of PPC Advertising For Online Business

Are you wondering about the benefits of PPC advertising? There are several ways that PPC advertising can be helpful in making money online.

Due to the growing importance of online advertising, the Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising networks are growing in number. Google AdWords is the most popular Pay Per Click program both for advertisers and affiliates.

Yahoo Marketing provides a good alternative to Google and it can be lower in cost depending on the niche your business is in. Bing is owned by Microsoft.

PayPerClickAcademy offers a deep look into Pay Per Click advertising. They provide help in finding affiliate offers to promote as well as good introduction to Pay Per Click advertising for beginners.

Let’s look a little more into detail at PPC advertising.

Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising pays the publishers when the visitors click on the ads. On the other hand, the advertisers benefit from it when they make a sale.

Therefore, for both the publishers and the advertisers, the PPC ads are a major source of online income. The visitors and the advertising networks also form a very important part of the PPC advertising world. Advertising cannot be placed without the advertising networks and it cannot be seen without real visitors.

Benefits of Pay Per Click Ads

The publisher is paid per click when the visitors click on the ads that are published on their website or blog. One may have just one blog or several blogs for placing the ads.

The advertisers look for a genuine website where their ads will be displayed. Due to this, the PPC advertising networks form a platform between the advertisers and publishers so that all can do business online.

1. For Publishers: Pay Per Click is a beneficial way of earning money because the visitors click on the ads seeking information. More traffic results in more income from the ads. Also, the cost per click varies as per the keywords and the website with high quality content earns a good income for the publisher.

2. For Advertisers: Advertisers always need to promote their products on a related website so that their products reach worldwide. That results in more sales making more profit for them. The cost of the advertising is not that high because the advertisers can easily make a profit when their products are sold.

3. For Advertising Networks: Advertising networks benefit from their business because they get good income from the advertisers.

Moreover, they can earn more from various other advertising on their websites. In short, the advertising networks also have a website that becomes a very important platform for online advertising.

4. For Visitors: Those who click on the PPC ads are forwarded to the website where they can buy the genuine products.

Some websites sell quality products and some websites are just for advertising to gain popularity. Finally, the visitor benefits after buying the product in the comfort of their home.

Online Business While We Sleep

Altogether, when we see the world of Internet marketing, it is completely surviving on the basis of online advertising. No matter what, new websites are being created by the publishers so that the PPC advertising makes a good income for them even while they sleep.

The publishers place the ads on their blogs only once and the advertisers create the adverts only once. They both can relax and benefit even while they are fast asleep.

The online advertising has many benefits; however, it also needs great consistency. A publisher remains consistent while creating a blog and the advertiser remains consistent until the profit is made. Overall the benefits of the PPC advertising are incredible for everyone at all levels.

The Finer Points of Internet Auctions

WHAT IS A PENNY AUCTION?

Penny auctions have exploded in popularity with the massive growth of the internet. However, few people know the true origins of penny auctions.Beginnings actually stretch back to the Great Depression. Those were hard times for everyone, but even harder for farmers. Farmers struggled to bring in steady income because of droughts and crops not selling as well as they had previously. As a result, the banks would foreclose on the farmers who couldn’t keep up with their mortgage payments.

The banks weren’t satisfied with just repossessing the house, they wanted to raise as much capital as possible, so they resorted to selling off the possessions of the owners of the repossessed houses. There was not much the farmers could do about it so they began bidding ridiculously low prices, pennies, on the items while threatening others who dared to bid higher than a few pennies.

The auctions of today hardly resemble their tremulous beginnings. Being part of a penny auction today is exhilarating, fun, and addictive. It combines the selling format of auctioning with a little bit of chance factored in.Auctions are a game of strategy but also a game of luck.

The premise behind penny auctions is giving people the chance to win an item at a drastically reduced price.Auctions make that possible by spreading out the cost of the product among multiple bidders. In order for a person to take part in an auction, they must pay a set price for each bid. For example, if a person wanted to bid on a fifty dollar Amazon gift card then he would spend a dollar for each time a bid placed. If he ended up winning the gift card, then he would only have spent a few dollars for a fifty dollar gift card. Usually penny auctions sell bids in packages.

HOW PENNY AUCTIONS WORK!

The main foundation of penny auctions is the pay-per-bid format. It is the key that allows bidders to win items at the fraction of their retail value and allows the auction owners to keep their site profitable. Most y auction sites run on the same premise: people pay a set amount for each bid, whenever a person places a bid within the closing seconds of the auction time will be added, the last person left with a unique bid after the clocks runs out will win the item. There are a large variety of items that can be won, but they tend to be popular electronics or gift cards to popular stores.

There are two types of auctions: lowest unique bid auction and highest unique bid auction. Lowest unique auction sounds confusing but it is actually quite simple. A unique bid is when only one person has a bid at a certain price. Bids usually start at one penny, a bidder can then place a bid at two pennies. Until another bidder places a higher bid, the most recent bidder will be the lowest unique bid because that was the only bid at two cents and nobody bid higher. However, penny auctions generally don’t stop at one penny. It is not uncommon to find auctions that end up at a couple hundred dollars based on the popularity of the item being auctioned. However, the same principles apply for those auctions. Highest unique bid auctions follow the more traditional auction format such as eBay. The person with the highest bid at the end of the auction wins the item.

Auction site owners turn a profit by selling bids. Say twenty people are bidding on a ten dollar gift card at one dollar per bid, at the end of the auction if there were twenty bids placed in total then the site owner would have made twenty dollars with a ten dollar profit.Auctions do seem like a win-win situation:The site owner makes money while the bidder gets an item for dirt cheap. However, not everyone wins in penny auctions. The people who paid one dollar each bid but left with nothing to show for their investments will not be so happy.

HOW TO WIN!

Penny auction has a lot of chance mixed into it, but one can incorporate strategy that will help raise the chances of winning. Playing smart can make all the difference between gambling and auctioning.

The first crucial tip to winning penny auctions is to know how to manage your bids. Your goal should be to win as much as possible without spending a ton of money buying bids. Managing your bids means that you should already know how much you are willing to risk in order to win an item. The amount of capital you are willing to risk will determine how many bids you can use. Once you know how many bids you have to spend on an item, then you will be better able to manage how and when you place a bid. That will keep you from blowing away all of your bids in the first few seconds of the auction.

The next tip is to practice time management. When fighting in the trenches of penny auctions, you have two enemies: other bidders and time. Knowing when to bid is a must if you want to have success. Placing a bid when there is a lot of time left on the clock is never a good idea. You have to remember that the key to winning a penny auction is being the last one standing when the clock runs out and that each bid increases the amount of time left. It would be a good practice to wait until the last few minutes of the auction before you begin to bid.

The final tip for successful auctioning is to keep your emotions under control.Auctions have a lot of similarities to gambling, and just like gambling, your spending can get out of control. If you keep your emotions level, it will keep you from making rash decisions and blowing loads of cash. Keep your mind clear so that you can gage the behavior of the other bidders and outsmart them.

HOW TO AVOID SCAM SITES!

Penny auctions are a great addition to the web whether you want to win an item that otherwise you wouldn’t be able to afford or if you simply enjoy the thrill that comes with bidding in auctions. Unfortunately, scam sites have tarnished the reputation of the legitimate penny auction sites. However, there are ways that you can protect yourself from scamers and enjoy your auctioning without having to worry about losing your money due to dishonesty.

Checking the reputation of the auction site before you start spending your hard earned money is always a good idea. Chances are other people have tried the site before you and some of them have left reviews. The reviews are your way to gage whether a auction site is trustworthy or not. If a site is getting overwhelmingly negative reviews, then that is a clear indication that you should steer your business elsewhere.

Another tool you can use to protect yourself is checking the Alexia ranks of the auction sites. Alexia rank will give a solid view of how much traffic the auction is getting. If you see a huge difference in the amount of traffic Alexia is projecting and the amount of active bidders on the site, then warning signals should be ringing in your head. Some auction sites have been known to set up robots that automatically bid on projects in order to keep the auction going and inflate the price. That is known as shill bidding. You can sniff out those sites by comparing the traffic the site should be getting to the amount of users using this site.

CONCLUSION!

New legislation may come out later down the road that will officially make penny auctions gambling, but until then, it is a fun, exciting auction that allows one to win the item they’ve always wanted but couldn’t afford.Auctions are also quite lucrative for the site owners because of the pay-per-bid strategy they’ve incorporated. Penny auctions had humble beginnings with farmers who just wanted to get back at the banks who kicked them out of their house. More recently, auctions have enjoyed an explosion in popularity with the rise of the internet.

There are two main formats fora auctions, lowest and highest unique auction, however they both run on the same premise where the last unique bid wins the item. Winning a penny auction will require a certain amount of mental tactic and a bit of luck. However, you can increase your odds of winning by practicing certain techniques such as managing your bids wisely, learning how to work with the time, and keeping a level head and your emotions under control. When you combine those three strategies to your bidding plan, you will find that you win a lot more often.

It is important that you do your due diligence to protect yourself when participating in auctions. Not every auction is run by honest and trustworthy people. There are people out there who just want to take your money. You can protect yourself by ensuring that you only bid on sites that already have a very positive reputation from real users.

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