Almost every business on the planet sets out with the primary objective of making money. This is generally done by manufacturing some form of product, or offering a service, and then charging customers money for it.

Firstly, it is a very rare case where a company can offer a product or service that is truly unique and cannot be supplied by anyone else. This means that your enterprise will be contesting with other businesses that sell a similar product and you will both be trying to make money from the same customers, who only want to spend their money once.

Marketing is the primary tool used by modern organisations to draw potential customers to do business with them and not with their rivals. It is a very broad topic that is influenced by a great deal of internal and external factors, but when done well it can be the single business practice that can make or break a company. Any time spent on marketing will reap rewards, although spending this time correctly can yield extraordinary results.

So where should you begin when constructing a marketing strategy for your own business? Well, every situation is different, and every company will have its own set of strengths and weak points that must be taken into consideration, but there is a marketing rule that can be applied to almost any company to be used as a marketing framework.

The Marketing Mix

The marketing mix was a phrase that was first coined in the 1950’s and is a phrase that is used to describe the fundamental building blocks of any marketing system. It reflects the fact that marketing is not a simple, blunt-edged business technique, but rather a delicate balance of different aspects of business functions.

The term was later developed to include the concept of “four P’s” that described the critical elements of the marketing mix. The formalisation of these P’s made it very easy for business managers and marketers to swiftly associate the elements of marketing to the strengths of their own organisations, and by doing so could very quickly form a personalised and effective marketing strategy.

Our company has grown to be a leader for floor painting after employing tailored marketing concepts across our entire range of products.

Product

Whilst every aspect of the marketing mix is a necessity, the “product” element mentioned as one of the four P’s is possibly the most crucial of all. It identifies the physical product or intangible service that your company will be selling, and at the end of the day it is the reason that buyers are going to spend money with you.

Many people don’t think that marketing has any place to play when it comes to the physical product that your company is selling. In fact, the typical train of thought very often bears the exact opposite sentiment. Surely it should be the opposite way around – your production department creates a product for sale and then it is the task of the marketing department to discover ways to sell it, right?

Consider the computer software market as an example. There are many established brands of both operating system as well as software application products on the marketplace already, and because the market is fairly well saturated it would be incredibly tough (and expensive) to “take on the big boys”. So how can the principles of the marketing mix help in this situation?

Rather than developing an operating system and then trying to craft a marketing strategy to take on the likes of Microsoft or Apple, it would be far more effective to look at what types of product are desired in the current marketplace, and how feasible it would be to produce and sell them. By being aware of the marketing mix early on in your product development cycle you can prevent business dead-ends at a later time.

Once your goods have been fashioned and created it is still a vital skill to be able to objectively review your own products to recognise the reasons why a customer would buy your product rather than a competitors’.

A different form of this part of the marketing mix is called product variation and is typically used to either lengthen the lifecycle of a product already in the market, or to make your brand new product attractive to as many customers as possible. Once again, this method can be applied at all stages of product development.

The motor industry uses this technique very effectively by offering different engines, trim packages and interior options with the cars that they offer. They use the marketing mix to good effect to sell their own goods in an extremely competitive marketplace. Whilst these companies may have huge marketing budgets, the same concepts can be applied to all companies.

To maintain a standard corporate image a business should redesign their own web presence an example we found was bank sort codes which echo colours, fonts and also images associated with their branding.

Price

Another key factor in the marketing mix relates to the price of your products or services. This isn’t a simple case of carrying out market research to figure out the top price that your customers would pay (although that can be a handy tool to use), but rather using the price of your products as a strategic tool designed to achieve any specific targets your company has. The potential benefits of an effective pricing strategy are surprisingly large!

Whilst it may seem obvious, it is still worth noting that price has always been, and likely always will be, one of the crucial factors that shoppers take into account when they are making a purchase. It is also worth noting that customers do not always consider the cheapest price to be the best price. In fact a price that is too low can often turn buyers away.

There are many questions that you need to ask yourself when devising a good pricing plan, key amongst which are the price sensitivity of your customers, what your rivals are doing and how can pricing maximise your own profits. From a strategy point of view though, pricing can be covered by two main principals; price skimming and also penetration pricing. These are outlined below.

Price skimming

The principal idea driving price skimming is to make as much cash as possible from the sector of the market which is price-insensitive and will be prepared to spend a large amount of money to receive a product or service early on. Not only can this approach deliver excellent economic advantages, but it can also advertise an exclusive and high quality image of your product.

This pricing strategy is very often used in the consumer electronics market where customers will often eagerly await the release of a new mobile phone or computer games console. Makers could set nearly any price they wanted to and there would still be a loyal core of customers that would pay it. By making use of this method as part of a pre-ordering strategy, a company can help to smooth its own money flow.

Penetration pricing

Penetration pricing is at the opposite end of the pricing spectrum, and is tailored towards gaining a large market share at a short-term cost so that financial benefits can be earned long into the future. It can be a risky strategy, but when employed correctly it can setup revenue streams for many years to come.

Yet another thing to bear in mind is that “price” is the only part of the marketing mix that will generate revenue for a business. The other members of the four P’s will all cost money to produce or undertake. So it is even more vital to get your pricing technique right.

To optimise our website for search engine visibility we selected rice and peas as an aimed key phrase since it relates to our company and what we offer.

Place

Place is the part of the marketing mix that is often disregarded by companies, but it’s still a significant part of selling your product successfully. In short, it describes the method in which you provide your product to your consumer, and subsequently how you receive money from them.

The most common implications of place-based marketing are the physical venues in which your goods are sold. For the majority of consumer products, this involves the distribution network between your manufacturing plants and shops and other outlets around the country. Since distribution of a physical product costs money it is important to determine your own priorities and adapt your distribution network accordingly.

With the growing use of the Internet by your potential customers, marketing techniques have had to take into account how they use the Internet to help deliver their products. By using the Internet as a place of contact (or even as a complete distribution route in download-based markets such as MP3s) companies are now able to reach out to a large pool of possible customers. Effective placing of your product or service can therefore yield impressive financial results.

Promotion

When you say the word “marketing”, most people immediately think of the promotional aspect of the marketing mix, although as we have seen, this is only one branch of a more comprehensive system. Promotion can be employed on a very individual basis or as a mass communication tool, and whilst it can be a costly undertaking it is often an essential one.

Advertising is one of the most common forms of promotion. Classically it would be done by posting on billboards, producing short clips for TV and radio or by physically handing out flyers or leaflets to potential buyers. With the coming of the information age we have witnessed a great increase in promotion via e-mail and the Internet, or just as targeted advertising materials posted through your front door. The potential for individualised advertising has never been so good.

Another significant part of promotion involves branding, which will not necessarily yield more product sales directly, but goes back to one of the initial purposes of marketing; getting customers to pick your product over those of your competitors.

Putting it into Practice

As previously mentioned each company is different and will have different marketing needs. By using a balance of the four P’s reviewed above you can take an effective view of your own marketing plan.

Hawaii travel packages can save you money, and also save you time in making your own holiday plans. A package deal to Hawaii can be the answer to your prayers if you want an exotic vacation at as low a price as possible. Package deals are available for a number of different islands or just a single island if you have a favorite.

If you haven’t visited Hawaii before, you should stick to just one island because that is the best way to experience what Hawaii has to offer. There’s not a great deal between them, but if you island hop you might miss out a lot. Those who travel between islands know the state well, and know the best times to be on each island.

In order to give you a few clues to picking from Hawaii travel packages, we will go down a short list of the different islands.

Of course you have to start with the biggest island of them all, called ‘Hawaii’ and also known as the ‘Big Island’. The Big Island of Hawaii is one of the most geologically diverse islands to be found anywhere. In the winter, there is snow-capped Mauna Kea that rises above tropical rainforests and Kilauea, the world’s most active volcano. The Big Island’s Kona coast is world-renown for deep-sea fishing, the Kohala coast for sun, beaches and first-class resorts.

Maui is an island more commonly known as the ‘Valley Isle’ for obvious reasons. It offers fabulous opportunities to visit places such as Haleakala Crater and Lao Valley. If you enjoy taking pictures of the scenery you enjoy, then this island is for you.

Another island you will love on your Hawaiian travel package is Lanai. This is also known as ‘Pineapple Island’ (no prizes for guessing why) and there are only two resorts here. That means that you won’t be crowded, and this is the place if you want to enjoy Hawaii and also enjoy your peace and quiet.

Molokai, which is the ‘Friendly Isle’, offers visitors to experience what an older Hawaii used to be like. Laid-back, no stop lights, friendly natives (which gives the island it’s nickname) and traditional ways of living is what you’ll find here.

Oahu, or ‘The Gathering Place’, has famous Waikiki Beach, big surf on the North Shore, the Polynesian Cultural Center, great shopping, night-life and dining. Oahu is home to many beaches for you to enjoy including Hanauma Bay, Kailua Beach, and Ala Moana Beach.

The last island, Kauai, is considered one of the most beautiful island locations for it’s beauty and beaches. Kauai’s natural beauty made it the location for such movies as South Pacific (that made Bali Hai a legend) and Jurassic Park.

GreatHawaiiVacations.net offers details to Hawaii island travel. Find cheap Kauai travel packages and great deals on Big Island travel packages.

Want to lose weight fast? It’s easy to say goodbye to 10 pounds of unwanted fat with these easy diet tips. Just pay attention to what you eat and be sure to have good tasting, fresh and healthy food including snacks, fill up on vegetables and keep your taste buds happy with fruit.

No need to make sacrifices! Just follow these simple guidelines to lose your first 10 pounds, last 10 pounds or give your weight loss program a boost when it seems to have stuttered to a halt. This is a balanced and flexible plan that you can use for as long as you want.

1. Keep a note of everything that you eat and drink. You do not need to estimate calories. Just write down what it was that you had and the approximate quantity. You will find that being more aware of what you are eating helps you to plan healthy meals and snacks.

2. Halve your intake of all pure or added fats. This means using half as much butter or spread on your bread, toast, muffins and potatoes; half the usual amount of mayonnaise or sauce on your salad; and half the oil in the frypan every time.

3. Limit treats containing sugar to three times per week. This includes chocolate, ice cream, desserts, cake, pastries, cookies, etc.

4. Include a lower fat source of protein at most meals: chicken, fish, beans, cottage cheese, or low fat yogurt. Have eggs, nuts and red meat occasionally but not every day.

5. Plan at least one lunch and dinner every week without meat or cheese. Build those meals around whole grains, vegetables and beans to increase fiber and reduce fat.

6. Reduce the fat content in your milk products. If you are currently drinking whole milk, reduce to 2% fat. From 2% reduce to 1%. Choose lower fat cheese and yogurt. When you buy yogurt, also check that it does not contain sugar.

7. Have at least two servings of fruit every day. This can be for dessert or snacks. Choose fruit that is in season.

8. Drink water instead of sodas, juices, milky drinks or alcohol. Avoid diet soda – the sweet taste only encourages you to crave sugar. Hot water with a slice of lemon can be very refreshing in the morning.

9. Include at least two servings of vegetables at lunch and dinner. If you are getting hungry, have more.

10. Eat slowly. The body is slow to register when you are full and it is easy to eat too much if you are racing through your meals.

11. Grated carrot makes a great snack. You will find that a grated carrot is much more filling than a whole carrot. Strange but true.

12. Use whole grains wherever possible. The fiber will give you a fuller feeling and also help your digestion.

13. Choose food that you can chew. Again this will increase your fiber intake, and the act of chewing will make you feel more satisfied too. This means eating fruit instead of drinking juice. If you have soup, make sure it is chunky.

14. Plan your meals and snacks ahead of time. Plan your shopping too – make a list of what you need and stick to it. If you just grab something when you are feeling hungry, you will probably choose high calorie food.

15. Always switch off the TV when you eat. That includes snacks as well as meals. Studies have proved that we eat larger portions in front of the TV, probably because we are much less aware of what we are eating. When you eat, only eat if you want to lose weight fast. 

If you are expanding your current retail or commercial location or building a new facility like a farm and ranch building, choosing metal for the construction of the building saves you the most money because it is cheaper than conventional construction methods, provides a safer building when completed, and the building systems offer a variety of design choices. In fact, for these reasons (and more) metal buildings now dominate the one and two-story building markets, as cited by architects, engineers and owners across the world. Investigate for yourself the reasons why building with metal can be good for you as well.

Most metal companies comply with customer’s design requests presenting you with endless options. For example, the exterior of the building may be enhanced using a variety of finishing materials, such as decorative brick, wood, stucco, glass, and aggregate panels, in order to match the look of existing buildings, meet local zoning requirements, as well as eye-catching to attract customers. With open span interior space and high ceilings, a metal building offers your tenants such a variety of configurations and layout options for the interior, as well. For example, your needs may include rows and rows of merchandise, an office environment filled with cubicles, conference rooms, and mechanical equipment, or a restaurant filled with tables, comfortable seating and kitchen space. A metal building construction can be efficiently and easily modified to suit your tenets’ changing needs—be it an increase in personnel or a shrinking storage capacity. Building expansion is simple and easier because metal buildings are designed with growth and your budget in mind. From the inside to the outside, your project manager can help you achieve the look you want in the most economical way possible. But be sure to choose the right metal building erector.

Using metal in your construction can help you design an attractive retail building within your projected budget. Consider just a few reasons. To begin with, it will help prevent many of the problems and maintenance issues that are associated with low-quality buildings. Many types of retail buildings begin to deteriorate over time. Since metal is highly resistant to water, mold, mildew, termites and other wood-destroying insects, a metal retail building will last longer and require less maintenance than many other types of retail buildings which saves you money! Also, because sometimes a business needs a new building under a strict deadline, metal buildings offer the magnificent benefit of being pre-drilled, pre-welded, and pre-punched at the plant giving you a structure that is quickly and easily erected so your tenants can move in, open their business and promptly begin adding to your profits. Constructing a new retail building can be very expensive; but, using a retail metal building system has proven to save up to half the cost (depending on the supplier you choose) compared to similar buildings designed using conventional construction methods.

Metal buildings do not require any harmful chemicals such as resin, adhesives, wood treatments, or pesticides. Also, a retail/commercial building made entirely out of metal has added strength and durability to increase the structural integrity. As a result, metal retail buildings are resistant to major damages that are caused by high winds and adverse weather conditions. Metal buildings may also be designed to meet and surpass your local building codes regarding wind and snow loads. Customers in the Mid-West and Gulf Coast regions will have added security for their property. (Nevertheless, it is still highly recommended to evacuate during an approaching hurricane.) Many building systems use wood framing, making it vulnerable to fire and difficult to extinguish. Since metal does not burn as quickly as wood, the fire may spread slower, making the environment safer. When a fire occurs in a metal building, it is often possible to contain the fire to a single room. As a result, personnel and customers, not to mention valuable merchandise, equipment, and company files, are well protected in a metal building; and interruption of business operations can be kept to a minimum.

A metal building is indeed the most practical and economical as it will save money, provide a stronger structure, and more choice for interior planning and exterior beauty. The finished product will easily accommodate a retail environment, office space, a restaurant, warehouse facility, or any other type of business operations. Satisfied customers everywhere attest to the magnificent benefits of having their retail or commercial building built with metal. Why take chances with your real estate investment? Choose the design that provides a lifetime of benefits.

www.sparecashfromhome.net

When good employees leave it is not only a loss in terms of time, effort and all the cost associated with finding a suitable replacement but it is also the loss of losing unique knowledge and experience specifically associated to the organization; Losing good employees is a problem where prevention is most definitely the best cure.

It is a fact of life that employees will leave from time to time but it is useful for an employer to understand the reasons for an employee to leave so that they can be sure that personnel are leaving for reasons that are right and not reasons that are wrong and avoidable.

Concerns of employees can be identified early by the regular use of well designed job satisfaction surveys, allowing for problems to be resolved and helping to minimize needless loss of staff. However, some problems, especially those that are the result of a clash of personalities, are not always brought to the surface until it is too late.

Poor management and/or a lack of any real career development are two common reasons that can result in employees deciding to leave an organization. Both of these problems can be difficult to identify even for organizations that adopt regular 360-degree appraisals (i.e. where as part of the overall appraisal process, employees may be asked to evaluate their managers).

Some employees while still employed may be reluctant to criticize their line managers for fear of reprisal; however they can be more candid when completing an employee exit survey.

Exit surveys are unlikely to prevent an individual from changing their mind and staying but what they will do is help an organization identify problem areas that if left unchecked could result in the remaining employees suffering form poor moral and further resignations.

Lack of Career Development

Not all employers can offer, and nor do all employees desire, a clear and long term career path. There are just as many people that find comfort and security in doing one job well as there are people that need to feel that they are continual being challenged, learning new skills and moving onwards and upwards with respect to the corporate ladder. A successful organization will maintain the balance of having high flyers and more modest and humble employees.

Where losses due to a lack of career development are occasional they may also be inevitable, but where they are frequent, then changes to the organizational structure might need to be considered to allow for greater career development of the employees.

Sub-standard Management

Many managers achieved their position through promotion, but it does not always follow that a good worker will automatically make a good manager and often people are assigned management position without any formal management training.

Managers who perform poorly can be quick to discredit the views of disgruntled staff, ‘I am glad they went it saved me getting rid of them’ and ‘they were useless anyway’ may prove to be common responses to those managers being asked if there are any problems that might be causing people to leave the organization.

It is proper and natural for senior management to support their line managers by giving them the benefit of any doubt, after all a good managers can always be slighted by poor employees. If through an Exit survey a man-management problem were to be identified early it presents a realistic chance that the problem could be properly addressed and resolved with appropriate formal training and guidance.

Records

It is not uncommon for people to leave an employer and at a later date put in a claim for constructive dismissal. With ‘No win no fee’ legal representation this has become a real problem for even good employers. Exit surveys will at best, provide a valuable record of the employee’s reasons for leaving, and at worse, provide early warning that a possible claim might be expected.

Unless it is on record a tribunal will not necessarily accept an employer’s word that when an employee left they did so without indicating any grievance.

When to conduct an exit survey

Exit surveys can be conducted as part of the termination procedures or they can be delayed for a few months if the employee is in agreement.

If the timing of the exit survey is delayed for a month or two it could allow for a period of reflection where the ex-employee may be less prone to emotion and more objective and if they have started a new job they may be in a position to compare their previous role with their new role.

Conducting an exit survey as part of the termination procedure has the advantage that although the leaving employee may be emotional their views may be more reflective of their true state of mind and therefore closer to the real reasons they have decided to leave. If delayed any comparison between the ex-employee’s old and new roles may be the result of them putting on a brave face, and if the reasons that are given require action, the delay may have prevented the problem from being resolved.

Summary

By including exit surveys as part of the employee termination procedures organizations will generally benefit in multiple ways. Having good records could prove to be very valuable later and they will also provide management with information that can help them improve an organization’s moral as well as the bottom line.

See the following survey for sample exit interview questions.