As of right now, they have 16 bottles to choose from as well as five different gift baskets. The bottles range in price from $27 to $2682 and the gift baskets from $104 to $324. The selection isn’t overwhelming, which we take a good thing. They’ve already items that are sure to make appropriate and well received gifts. If you’re unsure of what to pick or would like something you don’t see on the site, Champagne Gift Express will happily help you with your order on the phone.

Shipping is available to all US states, with options for next day and second day shipping as well as international shipping options.

We’re always happy to see a New York business launch especially one that provides a useful, smart service like this one. Check out the site and keep it in mind for your holiday and corporate gift gifting:
http://www.champagnegiftexpress.com

On October 2nd, The Bohemian National Hall hosted several business and medical leaders for an event about their experiences in Brno, Czech Republic. Brno, pronounced Bur-no, is located in South Moravia and is the second largest city in the country. The largest city is Prague the country’s capital. The opening day of the Brno Days event concentrated on the cultural contribution of the Villa Tugendhat and its distinct architectural influences. The last day focused on the myriad business opportunities available to potential investors. During the first two presentations, many speakers highlighted Brno’s burgeoning medical research industry. The remaining presentations emphasized the other business prospects in different fields ranging from architecture to information technology. The presenters avidly supported the city and recognized that Brno was a major factor in their companies’ successes. Each speaker endorsed Brno’s government support, central location, quality universities, and talented citizens.

The morning section of Brno Days 2 began with an introduction and an admirable attempt at speaking Czech by Frank Casale, the founder and the CEO of The Outsourcing Institute. His opening comments spoke to the realities of globalization and the increased demand for outsourcing. Casale stated that companies are looking for places other than India and China to find a higher skilled workforce. Brno, he argued, is the location for “outsourcing 2.0.” He contended that the key factor in deciding on a location to do business is the people. He continued by saying Brno’s citizens are skilled, well educated, and take pride in their work. Casale stressed Brno’s infrastructure and local government support of investment which would present more opportunities.

Brno in a Nutshell with 5 Reasons to Invest

Jan Fried, a Director of East Coast Operations at CzechInvest, gave a presentation on Brno that painted a basic economic picture of the city. He provided a quick overview of Czech history. Czechoslovakia formed in October 1918 after World War I and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. During World War II, the country was invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany then controlled by the Soviets during the Cold War. The peaceful Velvet Revolution occurred in 1989 and Czechoslovakia was reformed into a parliamentary republic. Czechoslovakia. In 1993, the country split into the Czech Republic and the Republic of Slovakia. In 1999, the Czech Republic became part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and in May of 2004 the country become a member of the European Union (EU). The country is roughly the size of New York State and has about 10 million citizens. The official language is Czech and the currency is the Czech koruna (CZK).

Fried also provided important economic statistics: unemployment at 8.6%, GDP growth at 1.7%, and annual inflation at 1.9%. Despite these figures, South Moravia attracted the most foreign investment. He explained that the region has over 80,000 students and graduates over 18,000 a year. South Moravia is ranked second and above the Czech average for R&D expenditures. Fried highlighted Brno’s strategic location as “Central Europe’s Most Central City.” There are four main rail lines and several international roads and country highways leading to and from the city. The city is a close proximity to Bratislava, Budapest, Krakow, Munich, Prague, and Vienna. Brno’s international airport services flights to many locations including multiple weekly flights to London, Milan, Moscow, Rome, and Eindhoven.

Fried concluded his presentation by describing the benefits of Brno. He stated that the corporate income tax is 19% and that the S&P rating in August 2011 is AA- or stable. There are EU funds available called OPEI up to 60% of eligible costs for wages and long-term assets can be provided. The Czech Republic also grants up to $75 million in strategic investment and provides transfer of a land at a discount with corporate tax reliefs for up to 10 years. The state also provides several different types of grants including job creation, training, and retraining. Brno is ranked 5th in British investment journal fDi’s Top 10 Eastern European Cities Foreign direct investments Strategy. In 2011, the New York Times named South Moravia “one of Central Europe’s fastest-growing regions.” Fried provided five reasons to invest: geographic location, well educated and skilled work force, favorable labor costs, proven R&D capabilities, and an attractive investment climate. He explained that the industries with investment priority in Brno are: advanced automotive, aerospace, business support services, CleanTech, electrical engineering and electronics, high-tech mechanical engineering, IT and software development, life sciences, and nanotechnology. Fried provided a comprehensive background on Brno with everything a prospective investor would need to know about the city.

The Euro Zone Crisis, the Global Financial Crisis, and Brno

Ludek Niedermayer, a Director at Deloitte Czech Republic and former Vice-Governor of the Czech National Bank, provided a general overview of Europe and its economic standing. Niedermayer claimed that there are three weak points to the European Union: 1) weak fiscal policy, 2) slow growth, and 3) overarching financial market regulations. Even with these issues, Niedermayer believes that the EU’s single market and the Euro work relatively well. He claimed that before the Euro Zone crisis, the EU was doing well because of pro-business policies and slow growth. The Global Financial Crisis has caused many governments in the EU to implement austerity policies in the hopes of eliminating their debt at the cost of economic growth. EU countries that are in the Euro Zone, like the Czech Republic, are still affected and have also implemented similar policies. This has caused a slowing of economic growth throughout Europe even having some economics dipping back into a recession. Despite some of these issues, political leaders in Europe feel that it is imperative to balance their budgets in order to move forward.

However, at Brno Days Niedermayer asked that “no one write Europe off yet.” Central Europe, he argued, is still highly competitive. The European governments, like that of the Czech Republic, have pro-business policies, good governance, and reliable infrastructure. On a recent interview with Bloomberg Radio, Niedermayer stated that the Czech financial sector “is one of the strongest sectors in the [Czech] economy.” The main problem the Czech Republic faces is slow economic growth which has led to a recession for the last three quarters. He states the three main weaknesses are: “low quality public policies, low efficiency of the public sector, and the unpredictable way of doing fiscal consolidation.” Weak domestic demand has been a result of these policies. Czech exports have had slow growth because 80% of exports are bought by EU countries. The short term outlook for the Czech economy in the near future is not favorable, but there are signs of improvement.

Niedermayer argued that the Czech Republic is stable, with a low level of private and public debt. The quality of labor is high for the cost and provides qualified personnel for different fields including R&D. He believes there will be progress in Europe and is optimistic that a solution will be made. Recent news states that “[the Czech] koruna has strengthened 0.4 percent to the euro.” Moody’s Investors Service stated that this progress is due to the Czech trade surplus and budget deficit cuts that have reinforced confidence in Czech bonds. The koruna has the third best performance in recent months for the major emerging markets. Although the news seems poor in the short term, the long term economic growth of the Czech Republic and Brno appears to be improving.

Brno is Endorsed by Business Leaders

Remon L. Vos, the co-founder and CEO of CTP, was also a presenter at Brno Days supporting the city. CTP constructs and supervises business properties in Central Europe. The company has doubled in size in five years. In Brno, CTP has built Spielberk Office Centre that holds over 400 clients. Vos attributes much of his success to the city and agreed with the other presenters that the education, location, focus on R&D, and high quality of life were great reasons to work in Brno. Through his amicable demeanor, Vos provided many insights on prospects in Brno and the Euro Zone Crisis. He admitted that the situation in Europe “was not good” and still “has room to improve.” However, the “Czech Republic is [still] strong” and still “has many opportunities.” Vos said businesses needed to move quickly to snatch up these prospects and need to be gutsier when looking for a location to establish their offices. He suggested that companies “move their manufacturing and R&D into one building” so both departments can communicate better and more efficiently. He advocates that companies “stick with it [and] follow this story” of Brno’s “high end activity.” Brno will have “long-term development” and will be a major center in about “10 years’ proof.”

Vos offered Honeywell as proof of a forward thinking company establishing itself in Brno and generating success. Jaroslav Dolezal, Honeywell’s National Executive in the Czech Republic and Brno Days speaker, confirmed that their excellent workforce and advanced manufacturing was essential to their achievements. In the last five years, Honeywell in Brno has been recognized as a main hub of innovation. Dolezal added that the jobs in Brno were not being taken away or stolen from other places. Brno, he argued, was a great location to build long term relationships and establishing offices that provided American and European companies the opportunity to service and access the Central European markets. Similarly, Ricardo Adame, from AVG, endorsed Spielberk Office Centre and Brno as profitable locations for businesses. His presentation demonstrated AVG’s successes in cybersecurity and protection software. AVG was founded in Brno and after 22 years was admitted to the New York Stock Exchange. He attributed this success to the employees and praised their innovation, talent, and education. Each of these companies’ accomplishments demonstrates the ample opportunities within Brno. They also exemplify the potential achievements of any company with the correct foresight to establish themselves in the developing city.

Conclusion

With the conclusion of the Brno Days event, the presentations succeeded in projecting an emerging city filled with many different prospects. A great number of people listened to the enthusiastic group of speakers describe the litany of available resources of Brno. The Brno Days presentations were organized by the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in New York, the American Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic and the Czech Center New York. Similar events included two previous regional events on the cities of Zlin and Ostrava. The Consulate also organizes economic presentations of leading Czech industries. Biotech, Clean Tech, and IT are just some of the sectors that coordinate with the Consulate. In an official statement published by the consulate, “The main goal of the conference was to strengthen existing ties with U.S. trade partners and to establish contacts with new investors. Among other speakers who presented were the representatives of the American companies and institutions already successfully operating in Brno, for example Mayo Clinic, IBM and Honeywell.” Both Consul General Martin Dvořák and the Deputy Consul Stanislav Beneš were gracious and friendly hosts and seemed pleased with the turnout of the event. Petr Bajer, from the Brno Regional Chamber of Commerce, added that they were ready to “serve US companies coming [a] long distance” and would be able to “offer more services” to prospective investors. In Bajer’s words, the presentations were “examples of success.”

The Brno Days presentations were successful in illustrating Brno as a city filled with educated, cultured, and innovative people. The event highlighted many businesses that attribute their successes to Brno’s citizens, education system, and central location. Many of the guests were intrigued or convinced by the presentations. One guest from an outsourcing company said that he had mostly worked in Poland, but now planned to visit Brno to possibly recommend it to his clients. However, some guests experienced disappointment about a lack of American businesses and participants whose insight would have been helpful. Also, some guests wanted to know about businesses in sectors other than architecture and medical research. Despite these comments, the presentations highlighted the best of the city and made people want to know more. David J.P. Meachin, Chairman and CEO of Cross Border, was a guest at the event and noted the large number of international speakers. He believed it spoke well of Brno and the presentations displayed a city where problems were solved. Essentially, Brno was a place where Americans can go to conduct business and prosper.

Past and Future Events

• Brno Jazz Festival: April 4 – 30, 2012
• Czech Center New York- Private Universe Film Club- October 15, 2012, 7:00PM
• Czech Center New York- Grayscale Imprints Exhibit- October 25, 2012 – January 15, 2013, 6:30PM – 8:30PM
• Czech Center New York- The Opportune Moment, 1855 European Book Club- October 30, 7:00PM
• Czech Center New York- Beyond Cage: Ostravasha Banda + Talujon Percussion Concert- October 30, 8:00PM

If you are interested in doing business in the Czech Republic check out these links:

• Consulate General of the Czech Republic in New York www.mzv.cz/newyork
• CzechInvest www.czechinvest.org/en
• Czech Accelerator Program en.czechaccelerator.cz/

After the first day’s cultural presentations on the Villa Tugendhat, the final day of the Brno Days presentations focused on the business opportunities of the city. Brno, pronounced Bur-no, is the second largest city in the Czech Republic and is located in the South Moravia Region. The Bohemian National Hall hosted several business and medical leaders for the event, which was divided into three presentations about their experiences in the Czech Republic. The major discussion for the morning portion of the event was about medical research and any business opportunities for companies connected to that field. Each presenter enthusiastically highlighted their personal connections and attributed many of their company’s achievements to the city. These individual connections, the city’s central location, and skilled labor exemplify the abundant opportunities in Brno.
 
 
 
 
 

Mayo Clinic, FNUSA-ICRC, and Brno

Dr. Virend Somers, from the Mayo Clinic, gave the keynote address for Day 2 of Brno Days. Dr. Somers spoke about the Mayo Clinic, which has a history of collaboration and cooperation with international doctors to exchange knowledge and techniques that improve patient care. This cooperation between the clinic and Czech doctors led to the creation of a strong relationship and eventually to the formation of the International Clinical Research Center (FNUSA-ICRC). The FNUSA-ICRC is the third international scientific research center along with the International Space Station (ISS) and European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). It will be a place where scientists and intellectuals from around the world can build mutual trust and support by learning from one another. It will be guided by the Mayo Clinic’s three major tenets: research, education, and clinical practice. Dr. Somers explained that Brno is the perfect spot to utilize the Czech work ethic and talent combined with the specialties and personnel from the clinic. He described the formation of these relationships as building a human bridge. Dr. Somers trusts that these interactions will lead to ground breaking research and improved care for many patients and Brno is at the heart of it.

Dr. Tomas Kara, the Chair of the ICRC at St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, also gave a presentation on medical research. He is a Brno resident and a local hero who saved the life of a drowning boy. Dr. Kara provided an in-depth look into the vision of the FNUSA-ICRC and some of the relationships it has already created. He described FNUSA-ICRC as the “next generation medical center” and will be completely state of the art. The center hopes to improve the time between research and advanced therapy, which will improve early detection and patient care. It will have four main departments: Cardiovascular Disease, Neurology, Integrated Research Platforms, and Centrum for R&D Support.

The Czech Republic has a history of medical innovation. Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics, lived in Brno. The city is also ranked 3rd in artificial heart production creating the longest survival in the EU of an artificial heart in a cow. At the core of these accomplishments are education and research. Both organizations, the Mayo Clinic and FNUSA-ICRC, have a commitment to education and provide several scientific training programs. These programs include: 1-3 year long-term program, 1-3 month short-term program, MSc. and PhD. study programs, and simulation-based education. Along with these programs, new projects are being planned, such as the development of the next generation left ventricle assist device. By January 2013, building will be completed for the St. Anne’s University Hospital in Brno. The project has been supported by the Czech Ministry of Health, the Structural Funds of the European Union, and several private and public businesses. Dr. Kara’s presentation illustrated a future of medicine being conceived in Brno. This is because of the top universities filled with talented, educated, and energetic students. It is also attributed to the many public and private sector partnerships, such as the FNUSA-ICRC, created within Brno.

Universities and Business Partnerships

Dr. Martin Bares spoke about the partnership between the FNUSA-ICRC and the Masaryk University (MU). He is the Executive Director of the Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC). CEITEC works with local universities and research institutes to create a center of prominent scientific research in central Europe. Along with MU, the other institutions that work with CEITEC are: Brno University of Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Institute of Physics of Materials of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, and the Veterinary Research Institute. In his speech, Dr. Bares endorsed MU’s central location, quality education, and dedicated student body. All these factors contribute to an educated labor force that produces quality work. Dr. Bares also admits that these factors are not unique to MU and can be said about the other five universities in the city. A third of the universities in Brno are science and technologies schools. These universities have generated fruitful relationships with business, medical, and technology centers, which provide training, internships, and experience. Dr. Bares stated that Brno’s universities have many benefits for investors. These include: a historical and central location; an international student body; an “authentic” education; and, finally, a world class culture with living traditions. These are all important factors that produce progress and build Brno into a modern intellectual and technological hub.

Martin Wagner from IBM said three important factors of business are great citizens, smart students, and a great environment. He believed “Brno has 125%” of these essential components. IBM’s offices in the Czech Republic are located in Prague, but Wagner spoke about IBM’s 84 year history in the country and advocated the Czech work ethic. Bradley J. Thies agreed with Wagner’s remarks and expanded on his company’s achievements in Brno. Thies is the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at FEI. The company produces electron microscopes that quickly gather data. FEI is a global company with a few offices in the United States and a major office in Brno. Since FEI opened an office in Brno in 1993, the company has done exceedingly well generating huge growth. In June, the company announced “nearly $400 million in cash and investments.” Thies explained that FEI’s Brno offices were an essential part of the company’s success. Brno provided qualified employees and a growing medical R&D sector and made it logical for FEI to establish its presence there.

Conclusion

The Brno Days presentations succeeded in projecting an emerging city filled with many different prospects. Many people listened to the enthusiastic group of speakers describe the litany of available resources. The event was organized by the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in New York, the American Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic and the Czech Center New York. Similar events included two previous regional presentations on the cities of Zlin and Ostrava. The Consulate also organizes economic presentations of leading Czech industries. Biotech, Clean Tech, and IT are just some of the sectors that coordinate with the Consulate.

Brno Days: Day 2 made evident that the city has a growing medical care and research sector supported financially by businesses, investors, and governments. Each speaker spoke to the intelligence and dedication of their staff and of the students from the local universities. The presence of the FNUSA-ICRC has established an international community in Brno that will ensure growth, discovery, and opportunity.

Future Events

• Bohemian National Hall- Orbis Pictus- Play Well Exhibit- June 26 – October 17, 2012, 6:30PM-8:30PM
• Brno Jazz Festival: April 4 – 30, 2012
• Czech Center New York- Private Universe Film Club- October 15, 2012, 7:00PM
• Czech Center New York- Grayscale Imprints Exhibit- October 25, 2012 – January 15, 2013, 6:30PM – 8:30PM
• Czech Center New York- The Opportune Moment, 1855 European Book Club- October 30, 7:00PM
• Czech Center New York- Beyond Cage: Ostravasha Banda + Talujon Percussion Concert- October 30, 8:00PM

On October 1st, the Bohemian National Hall hosted a two day event highlighting both the cultural and business successes of Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic. Brno, pronounced Bur-no, is located in the South Moravia Region. It is conveniently located in Central Europe and many other large cities are accessible from the Brno area. The first day concentrated on the cultural contributions of the city through the modern architectural style of functionalism and the famous Villa Tugendhat. The second day highlighted the business opportunities available throughout Brno by inviting many business leaders and professionals to discuss their positive experiences working in the city. The goal of the event was to attract investors to look at Brno as a center of culture, knowledge, and experience. The event was successful in presenting a dynamic and historical city filled with a young and vibrant workforce.

Brno Day 1 focused on the history behind Villa Tugendhat, its cultural contribution to functionalism, and the villa’s modern restoration. Presenters included Professor Vladimír Šlapeta, Faculty of Architecture of the Brno University of Technology; Iveta Cerna, Director of Villa Tugendhat; Tomas Rusin and Ivan Wahla, Co-founders of Atelier RAW and restoration architects on Villa Tugendhat; and David Židlický, freelance photographer. Following the presentations, the Bohemian National Hall opened its two week exhibit on Villa Tugendhat. It highlighted the history and the unique style of the villa by noting its important international style. The exhibit was introduced by Consul General Martin Dvorak; Marie Zezulkova, Head of Brno’s City Strategy Office; and Iveta Cerna. During the opening, Brno born, Jiri Levicek, a jazz pianist and composer, performed for the guests during a Czech buffet served with a variety of wines from the South Moravian Region. The day concluded with the international premiere of The Fate of Tugendhat documentary which provided a closer look at the villa, the Tugendhat family, and the restoration of the building.

Functionalism, Culture, and History

Villa Tugendhat was designed from 1928-1929 by the German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for the wealthy Tugendhat family. Grete and Fritz Tugendhat were a successful Jewish family who built their home facing the city center of Brno. Grete Tugendhat was an intelligent and educated socialite who wanted a house that was unique and modern. After an extensive search for architects, the family chose Van der Rohe. He was one of many functionalist architects designing buildings during the early 20th century.

Functionalism is a type of modern architecture that utilizes space and material in a practical way. The architect Louis Sullivan described the style by the catch phrase “form fits function.” In the mid 1920′s, Brno already had local architects design functionalist buildings such as Bohuslav Fuchs who designed the Zemanova Kavarna cafe and the Brno Exhibition Ground. However, the Tugendhats were impressed with Mies van der Rohe’s designs.

Villa Tugendhat is a truly unique and modern structure that was decades ahead of its time. It was the first residential structure to use a steel support system. The interior used an open-plan design and utilized the latest technology of the era. A machine system was created to retract the large windows in the living room and some of the chairs used in the villa are called Brno and Tugendhat chairs; these are just some of the examples of the advanced features of the home. The inside of the villa transitions seamlessly into the outside area to merge with the environment. Materials from around the world would be used in the construction and to design the interior and exterior of the home. Villa Tugendhat is one of Mies van Der Rohe’s masterworks which displays a clear example of functionalism and the modern architecture culture of Brno.

In 1930, Villa Tugendhat was completed, but the family was only able to enjoy their home for eight years. Fear of the growing Nazi threat led the Tugendhat family to leave for Switzerland. Eventually, the home would be occupied by several different groups including the Nazi Gestapo, the Soviet Army, and the Czech government. The villa gradually fell into disarray and in 2010 a restoration project began which was completed last March to its original specifications. In 1995, the villa’s cultural significance was recognized and it was declared a National Monument. In 2001, the site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. Today, Villa Tugendhat is open to the public and reservations must be made two months in advance.

Conclusion

The first day’s presentations were very successful with a large turnout for the panel, the exhibit, and the film. The guests consisted of a diverse group of people who were interested in Czech culture, the Czech Republic, modern architecture, or all three. The Brno Days presentations were organized by the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in New York, the American Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic and the Czech Center New York. This is not the first event that highlighted a Czech city. Two previous regional events of the cities of Zlin and Ostrava also promoted investment in the Czech Republic. The Consulate also organizes economic presentations of leading Czech industries. In New York, many of these companies are from the Biotech, Clean Tech, and IT sectors. The presentations showed a beautiful and architecturally unique city. The food was delicious and so was the wine. Brno is a must see business and vacation destination.

Future events

• Bohemian National Hall- Orbis Pictus- Play Well Exhibit- June 26 – October 17, 2012, 6:30PM-8:30PM
• Brno Jazz Festival: April 4 – 30, 2012
• Czech Center New York- Private Universe Film Club- October 15, 2012, 7:00PM
• Czech Center New York- Grayscale Imprints Exhibit- October 25, 2012 – January 15, 2013, 6:30PM – 8:30PM
• Czech Center New York- The Opportune Moment, 1855 European Book Club- October 30, 7:00PM
• Czech Center New York- Beyond Cage: Ostravasha Banda + Talujon Percussion Concert- October 30, 8:00PM

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More information on the event program:newyork.brno.cz

Or click here to view a PDF of the Online Invitation.

RSVP
Attendance is free of charge but your reservation is requested as places are limited. You can either confirm your attendance via e-mail (newyork@embassy.mzv.cz) or you can fill in the registration form on newyork.brno.cz/registration.

Presentation of the City of Brno will be held under the auspices of the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic, the Czech Ambassador to the U.S., the Mayor of the City of Brno, the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic and is organized in co-operation with the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in New York, the American Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic and the Czech Center New York.

Melea Seward, a good friend and social media guru, said something that really made me stop dead in my tracks.

She said “everyone is so worried about getting a million followers on Twitter, what about the people that are right around them? They get ignored.”

Melea’s right. It was an OMG moment.

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That sparked an idea. What if we could get a few people together to blog about each other’s businesses? What if by planting posts on high traffic websites about other people’s work and products, we created backlinks to their site?

What if we became advocates for one another?

That would create backlinks and elevate our brands in the mind of our audience. Since these are friends, they would know us really well. We’d be helping each other. We’d also be helping the world get to know these wonderful businesses hiding in the Bermuda Triangle of cyberspace.

All of us have people around us who already know us and believe in what we’re doing. When it comes to marketing tips for small businesses, the key to a successful blog party is to start with an audience that knows and trusts you.

Step 1: Write Down Your Inner Circle Network

Look at your network; family, friends, colleagues, college or school mates. Look at your suppliers, instructors, service providers. Now look at the key people in these categories who know you super well, love your products, talent or service. These might be the people in your first degree on LinkedIn.

Step 2: Identify Four People in Your Inner Circle in Non-Competing Businesses.

These are people who are trying to grow THEIR audience and need help too. They should be people who don’t compete directly with you or with one another. In order for this marketing tip for small businesses to work, it should be people who are comfortable with the web and basic social media.

Step 3: Choose a date and two hours when those four people and you are available to meet at a single location.

Step 4: At least a week before, the blog party host should create a program for the two hours.

First, you must have great munchies and great coffee present. It’s motivating and inspiring!

Step 5: The program should include: which websites will be promoted in the time you have together. The program should also include five high-value websites in the niche where the site owner wants his/ her URL to show up.

This directs the efforts of the other members. Check www.alexa.com to find sites in your niche that have great traffic. Also check to see if the sites are “no-follow”. It’s better to plant a brand on a “follow” site to start. My humble opinion.

Step 6: On the date set, be prepared to write at least two blog posts on high traffic sites for each of the other members. They in turn will do the same for you. Two hours is 120 minutes. If you’re posting 2 comments per other person (four), that’s a total of 8 comments in two hours.

That’s one comment every fifteen minutes. You can do that!

At the end of two hours, you’ll have 8 backlinks to your website. Isn’t that amazing! It might take you weeks to do that on your own otherwise.

Think about it. If you did this twice a month, you’d have sixteen backlinks a month. That’s 192 backlinks in a year. High quality backlinks from people who know how to speak about you. All these lovely things spoken about your business would be coming from third parties, not you. That matters.

The idea here is not to hype or hard sell. It’s to engage an audience with helpful ideas, products and services that can help them relieve pain or find their passion. Now, you’re not slogging it out on your own.

This is called leveraging relationships.

A Blog Party is a mini-swarm strategy.

It’s like crowd sourcing, except backwards!

Instead of “from many points to one point”.

It’s “from four points to many points.”

And the group you’re working with knows each other.

And trusts each other.

And wants to be incredibly helpful.

Marketing tips for small businesses is easy and fun if you know how. We have a lot more ideas for you, so stay tuned. We haven’t even hit our stride yet!
Dawn Fotopulos is the founder of BestSmallBizHelp.com, a certified Kauffman Fast Trac facilitator and a successful entrepreneur who has launched over 80 different businesses. Learn more about small business training and resources at bestsmallbizhelp.com.

As the economy slowly recovers, companies are beginning to hire again.  Unemployment is still high and many job applicants have been unemployed for many months. Since companies have not had robust hiring initiatives, their internal hiring skills may be a little “rusty” – not to mention new managers who may have not had thorough training or experience in hiring.  In this kind of environment, there’s plenty of opportunity for error and costly hiring mistakes.

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As companies begin taking applications and considering candidates, it’s time to assess your hiring processes and the managers using them.  And the most important component in any hiring process is the interviewer.There is no substitute for a skillful interviewer who understands your company’s culture and the human characteristics that the job requires…no substitute!

Managers seem to be always looking for the hiring panacea… the pre-employment test, the latest hiring process fad, the web based application center, or the high priced recruiting firm… but nothing can replace the benefits of a good interviewer. Companies would be well advised to not spend a penny on hiring aids until they have established the internal competency of effective interviewing. To avoid terrible and costly hiring mistakes, the hiring process must be staffed by managers who know what they’re doing… managers who know how to conduct effective interviews.

Good hiring decisions depend on open candid discussion, relevant facts, and accurate information. Getting those facts isn’t easy. It takes skill. Organizations that hire well create an environment that facilitates open conversation between job candidates and interviewers. Their hiring process fosters a sense of trust and security and the candid flow of information.

Excellent interviewers have the skill of discernment. They can separate “fact from fantasy”. Discernment is a “trainable” skill, and managers can be taught to     improve their “judgment calls”. Good judgment depends upon the interviewer’s attitude and skills that set the stage for successful interviews.  These include…

• Planning – Never “wing it”, or depend upon “pet theories” in an interview.  Good interviewers are prepared.  They know what they’re looking for, and questions to ask to get the information they need.
• Instincts – Experienced interviewers trust their instincts. If candidates’ answers defy their personal sense of logic, they follow up for more information.
• Inconsistencies – Conflicting answers are taken very seriously. A candidate should never be hired if inconsistencies cannot be reconciled.
• Motives for job change – Changing jobs is a significant life changing event.  Understanding why a candidate changed jobs, and how the candidate made the decision to change reveals a lot about the factors that motivate him.
• Behavioral interviewing – Understanding the human behaviors that a job requires, and having the ability to identify whether the candidate has exhibited those behaviors in the past, is the most important interviewing skill.  Good interviewers have “mastered the art” of behavioral interviewing.

There are no shortcuts to good hiring practices. Interviewing is the most important component of any hiring process.  Effective interviewers are your best firewall and protection from costly and often tragic hiring mistakes.

About the Author: Bill Miller, President of Performance Leadership, LLC, has a unique blend of practical management experience and creative talent. His experience spans a 35 year career with Cintas Corporation. Bill was Vice President of Cintas’ Great Lakes Region operations before returning to the Cincinnati headquarters to lead the company’s Management Training and Development programs.  He helped the company build one of the most successful management teams in the country.

Bill is now focusing on helping other companies develop effective management teams through improved leadership and people skills and effective hiring systems.  He has initiated new approaches to solving old problems in the area of employee health care costs.

wmiller@performanceleadershipllc.com
http://www.performanceleadershipllc.com

When you come across the phrase the art of the soft sell, you might focus your attention on the word “soft.”  You might not even do this consciously; many salespeople don’t.

And based on this unconscious focusing, you may lead yourself to believe that the difference between conventional selling and “soft” selling is…well, that you just do the lattersofter.

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That is, that you do what you’ve always done, but you sayplease a bit more, or you say it’s really up to you, I’m not here to pressure you, I care more about you than the sale…and other things that, when we write them here in black and white, reveal themselves — perhaps a bit embarrassingly — to be what they are: “injected” politeness within a conventional sales approach.  It’s similar to how aggressive, direct-speech people come across when they first try to be “more diplomatic.”  Instead of telling you that you’re a total idiot, they say: please let me say that you’re a total idiot.

Not very diplomatic, is it?

Nor is the above-described approach to soft-selling very soft.  The reason?  It’s all about that unconscious focusing.  It’s on the wrong word.

The word to care about here is art; because soft selling really is an art!  Just as how you are allowed to look at art and derive your own, personal meaning — the artist EMPOWERS you to do that — true soft selling also has to follow the same path.  It has to EMPOWER prospects to build their own meaning, to assess their own value, and to determine — on their own — if you’re selling the solution that they want.

Naturally, you can — and should – assist prospects on their journey of meaning-making.  Just as painters don’t offer you a blank painting and say: go ahead and paint whatever you want, I’m easy, you have a variety of tools and techniques at your disposal to usher your prospect towards a favorable destination (a.k.a. doing business with you).  These tools and techniques include:

• free, unbiased articles, newsletters, white papers, and other information sources that help your prospect become a better buyer (even if they don’t buy from you)
• providing a free assessment or evaluation that will be valuable to your prospect even if they decide to do business elsewhere (or perhaps not at all)
• paying careful attention to your prospect, and accurately interpreting non-verbal “busy signals” so you know to back off before they ask you to give them more time
• while promoting the benefits of your solution, honestly and openly share the limitations too; your prospect KNOWS that limitations exist — fill in the blanks with reality, instead of leaving it up to your prospect’s (potentially pessimistic) imagination
• ensure that your prospect “saves face” – don’t position your selling effort so that your prospect feels “stupid” or “unclear” if they don’t do business with you right now

Remember, the key word in the art of soft-selling is the word art, and art is, by its very nature, EMPOWERING.  As a “soft seller,” you must truly empower your prospect.  Anything less isn’t merely not soft selling, but worse, it’s not artistic.

And crimes against art are hardly forgivable, in galleries or sales efforts alike.

CBS runs a series called Undercover Boss. While a little too melodramatic for my tastes, the moral of the story is germane for every business owner and for everyone responsible for sales and marketing.

In case you haven’t seen Undercover Boss, the premise is that a boss, CEO, or president of a business goes undercover to work alongside his employees. He sees what they see… and experiences first hand what it’s like to work in the trenches.

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Obviously, the boss sees things from a very different perspective. At the end, the boss is humbled, everyone hugs and cries, and a few employees are singled out and rewarded financially.

As business owners –– and as those responsible for sales and marketing –– it is equally as important for us to go undercover as a prospect to our own business or organization.
So what if you could disguise yourself as a prospect and come in contact with your business or organization for the first time, what would your experience be?

Or better yet, on a continuum from great to poor with “barely acceptable” in the middle, how would your business score when it comes to attracting your attention in the first place, greeting you properly, making you feel important, educating you, listening and understanding what you as a prospect wants and needs, and so on?

How would your business score on the sales presentation? And most importantly, would you buy… would you become a customer or client as a result of their efforts?

Marketing and the sales process are not stand-alone activities. Each, individually, is a process. Combined they are a process. And every process can be improved.

Knowing that, the key to bringing about significant, across-the-board improvements starts when you take a good, hard look at every aspect of your marketing and sales process and, of course, when you are willing to make those changes or improvements to the process.

While the producers at Undercover Boss might not choose to feature you in one of their upcoming episodes, you can create your own episode by putting yourself in the shoes of your prospects and clients.

By doing so, you could go a long way toward improving your sales process, streamlining it, shortening it, and making it more efficient and efficient… to the end that you see a better outcome (defined as more sales and profits).

GIL EFFRON is an experienced business advisor and marketing strategist. As founder and CEO of New York City-based Strategies For Growth, he works with established businesses as well as startups to help them avoid critical mistakes and maximize opportunities.

Gil also heads Strategies For Growth’s 10-Day Marketing Makeover initiative. This program is designed to help owners of small to medium-sized businesses increase sales and profitability by streamlining and shortening their sales process and installing the most appropriate and effective marketing to support that sales process.

Read more articles by Gil at www.gileffron.com

Brooklyn Community Services (BCS) awarded its 2010 “Partner in Industry Award” to Tanner Bolt & Nut Corp, a local Brooklyn business.

BCS recognized Tanner for its onsite job training of adults with disabilities. In 2010, Tanner worked with Brooklyn Unlimited to setup a “workstation” (training site) within its 25,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Brooklyn. 14 adults with disabilities have since trained and worked at Tanner’s workstation where they assembled nuts and bolts, packed shipments, and helped with other warehouse tasks. More than half have gone on to successful job placements.

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Although the concept — employing disabled adults for tasks critical to Tanner’s business — may seem unorthodox to some, Jeffrey Tannenbaum, owner of Tanner Bolt & Nut, and Peter Dixon, Operations Manager, jumped on the opportunity as soon as it was presented to them.

Michael Rosenthal, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, introduced the idea to Tanner, and within six weeks Mr. Tannenbaum and Mr. Dixon had a workstation up and running.

When asked about his company’s involvement with the program, Mr. Tannenbaum says, “They are a tremendous benefit to our business, I’m very proud.” Mr. Dixon elaborated further saying “As a local Brooklyn business since 1979, this type of community involvement makes the company’s entrepreneurial struggles worth it.”

Founded in 1979, Tanner Bolt & Nut Corp. is a leading supplier of fasteners and industrial supplies. Tanner occupies 25,000 square feet of office and warehouse space in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. Visit Tanner online at http://www.tannerbolt.com.

Founded in 1866, Brooklyn Community Services is a not-for-profit, non-sectarian, community-based social services agency. BCS’s more than 300 volunteers served over 11,000 people last year alone. Learn more about BCS’s diverse array of social services, including vocational training, job placement, social & mental support, and more, by visiting http://www.bbcs.org/.

If your company is interested in training or hiring disabled adults and would like more information on this program, contact Brooklyn Unlimited (http://www.brooklynunlimited.org/).