Web Ad Revenue Surges in 2010

Web Ad Revenue Surges in 2010eMarketer forecast sees an uptick of 13.9% to $25.8 billion
Dec 6, 2010 - Mike Shields

The recession is starting to fade from memory, in the online ad world at least.

Online advertising revenue will surge by 13.9 percent to $25.8 billion in 2010 in the U.S., according to the latest forecast from industry researcher eMarketer. That’s at least the third time that eMarketer has revised its 2010 spending estimates upward. A year ago the company predicted 5.5 percent growth this year. By May of this year that estimate had swelled to 11 percent.

The next several years should be robust for the online ad space as well, according to eMarketer. Next year, spending will climb by 10.5 percent—and in fact the researcher foresees double-digit spending growth in every year through 2014 with revenue netting out at $40.5 billion.

It appears that the Web’s relatively low cost compared to other media, coupled with its reputation for trackability may be propelling more dollars to the medium during the prolonged downturn.

According to eMarketer analyst David Hallerman, “It may seem ironic, but marketers’ economic concerns are leading them to spend more for online advertising.”

Donald Robichaud
FloodLight – Build Your Business
Kelowna / Ottawa / Toronto
Email
1-888-768-9415
http://www.floodlightconsulting.com/
http://donaldrobichaud.blogspot.com/

EU launches Google investigation after complaints

(Reuters) - EU regulators opened a formal investigation into Google on Tuesday, putting pressure on the world's top Internet search engine to offer concessions to settle antitrust complaints and avert a lengthy battle like Microsoft.

The move by the European Commission came more than nine months after British price comparison site Foundem and French legal search engine ejustice.fr alleged Google's search algorithm demoted their sites in Web search results because they were rivals.

Microsoft-owned Ciao, from Bing, also filed a complaint with the European Commission about Google's standard terms and conditions.

"The (European) Commission will investigate whether Google has abused a dominant market position in online search by allegedly lowering the ranking of unpaid search results of competing services," the EU executive said in a statement.

But Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said it was premature to say there was a problem with Google's business practices.

"I want to be very clear that this does not mean that there is definitely a problem -- it is far too early to say that," he told a European Parliamentary hearing.

Google said it would cooperate with the regulator.

"There is always going to be room for improvement, so we will be working with the Commission to address any concerns," a Google spokesman said.

The company defended its formula for ranking websites and said it had stopped using exclusive contracts almost two years ago.

"We built Google for users, not websites, and the nature of ranking is that some websites will be unhappy with where they rank," the spokesman said.

"Those sites have complained and even sued us over the years, but in all cases there were compelling reasons why their sites were ranked poorly by our algorithms."

The Commission said it would also look into allegations that Google sets exclusivity obligations on advertising partners, preventing them from placing certain types of competing ads on their websites, as well as on computer and software vendors, with the aim of shutting out competing search tools.

It would also investigate suspected restrictions on the portability of online advertising campaign data to competing online advertising platforms.
In January, Microsoft ended a decade-long battle with the Commission by agreeing to give European consumers better access to rival Internet browsers in its Windows operating system.
It has been fined a total 1.68 billion euros ($2.4 billion) for antitrust infringements in Europe.

The Commission can fine companies up to 10 percent of their global turnover for breaching EU rules. It has slapped a record 1.06 billion euros in fine on Intel in the past for abuse of market dominance.

(Editing by Rex Merrifield and David Hulmes)

Push or Pull Marketing Strategies which is right for you?

With the acceleration of the internet as a major marketing tool many clients are looking at their marketing budgets and doing an evaluation of their marketing expenditures.

In a perfect world you may want push out to certain markets while pulling in others.

When you think of push and pull marketing, think of it in terms of a person either getting "pulled" in to see what the seller has to offer or the seller "pushes" out what he has to sell to the buyer.

Let’s review the concept of push and pull marketing:

What is pull marketing?

Pull marketing is where you develop advertising and promotional strategies that are meant to entice the prospect to buy your product or service.

Some classic examples are "half off!" or "bring in this coupon to save 25%" or "buy one get one free" or creating a blog with free information. Give away an eBook to access to an email address or speaking at an event. With pull marketing, you are creating urgency or creating a sense of increased time limited value so that the customer will come into your store to buy now.

So what are the pull marketing tactics you can employ to achieve this?

Blogging – blogging is one of the best marketing avenues at your disposal. Not only does it provide you with a way of increasing your brand exposure and trust but it also allows you to connect more deeply with your audience.

Social Media Marketing – social media allows you to engage with others online. It is the sharing of content, opinion and insight with the folks within your online following and friends. Twitter is an example of a social media service that relies on pull marketing extensively. People follow the conversations that interest them.

Build Community – build a sense of community around your business and people will return. Give people the opportunity to communicate with other like minded individuals and they will return to your business to do so – and indeed identify you as a leader in your industry.

Email Newsletters – offering additional information by way of an email newsletter is another great way to provide value to customers. It is a great way to educate your clients on the services that you offer and helps you stand out from the crowd.

Public Speaking – being seen is a great way to increase your authority. This is where you want to be, as having knowledge initiates questions from the less knowledgeable – and this leads to business.

What is push marketing?

Push marketing is the practice of ‘pushing’ your product towards an audience that may or may not know about it. Traditional advertising leaflets that drop through your letterbox or sales letters, advertising on TV, Radio and newspapers or cold calls.

All of these are examples of push marketing. Think about the last time you received a leaflet in the post. Was it relevant to you? Did you keep it or throw it out? Push marketing only gets results if the timing is right, and if the product or service caters to recipients needs.

Examples of some push marketing tactics you could use to generate awareness of your product:

Paid Advertising - There are many types of paid advertising available and their goal is largely the same: to obtain traffic that will hopefully convert into customers or leads

Create and Maintain an Email List. You should always aim to build an email list for both potential buyers and existing customers. This allows you to push information out to your customers in a very cost-effective way to generate sales.

Joint Venture with other Businesses - This is a variation of paid advertising. Offer to pay partners a referral fee if they refer prospects to your business. Non-profit communities or online associations are a good place to set up referral networks.

When deciding whether to pull or push you should consider that "pull" marketing lets a company focus on the development of the brand. "Pull" marketing wants to create loyal supporters by setting a certain standard for their brand. While "push" marketing is more concerned with short-term results

Both push and pull marketing strategies work well to achieve specific goals. An experienced marketing professional can help you integrate both strategies in a long term marketing plan which will be an effective way to promote any business or website and Build Your Business.

Fore more information contact:

Donald Robichaud
FloodLight Consulting
Build Your Business
Email
250-768-9415
http://www.floodlightconsulting.com/
http://donaldrobichaud.blogspot.com/

OBRG Networking Event Thursday November 25th – Work Life Balance … Is it possible?

We have all heard it before is there such a thing as work life balance?

What simple things can you do to grow your business without leave a negative impact on your health?


Join us from The Okanagan Business Referral Group on Thursday November 25th to find out how to bring more balance in your life.

Hear from five speakers,

Dan Walker-Delisle Chiropractor from Creative Healing on how to make positive changes to improve your energy at work.
Roy Collins/Carmen Sprag from Total Office designing an office the has builds creativity and great work environment.

Ron Finch from Paradigm Health Clinic the benefits of good nutrition on your effectiveness in your life and business.

Chris Rowe of Kelowna Martial Arts on how to physical activity can minimize your stress and maximize performance in all areas your life.

Lyle Isenor from Russell & Associates: Health creating wellness through your employee benefits program.

Tickets are only 29 dollars each and include print material and appetizers, and time to network with other like minded business owners.

Our last event was sold out so please RSVP me back.

Location: Sandman Hotel and Conference Ctr. 2130 Harvey Avenue
Date: Thursday November 25th
Event Time: 2 to 4 pm
Networking: 4 to 5 pm

Complimentary Appetizers and Cash bar provided after the event

To purchase tickets contact:

Cathy Carolei
250-861-4222

carolei@shawcable.com

Partial proceeds from the event will be going to The Access to Employment Program. Check their website for more information here http://www.pimbc.ca/employ.html


Donald Robichaud
President
FloodLight Consulting - Build Your Business - 250-768-9415
http://www.floodlightconsulting.com/
http://donaldrobichaud.blogspot.com/

The Purple Pinkie Polio Campaign

Floodlight is a proud sponsor of Roy’s Shoes Purple Pinkie campaign.

KELOWNA, BC – October 21th 2010 ROY’S SHOES KELOWNA, a leader in quality and comfort family footwear, is proud to announce a partnership with Sunrise Rotary and the Rotoract Club of Kelowna to purple the pinkies of 3000 people in Kelowna. With a donation of $1 we hope to raise $3000 which will allow 5000 children to be vaccinated. When teams of volunteers are vaccinating the children of a village the tips of their little fingers are dipped in purple dye so that the team knows that they have been done.


Roy’s Shoes will also be exhibiting an iron lung used to help individuals with polio to breath.

A patient with polio may need to use an iron lung which when sealed provides an effectively oscillating atmospheric pressure so they can breathe.

After 20 years of hard work, Rotary and its partners like Roy’s Shoes are on the brink of eradicating this tenacious disease, but a strong push is needed now to root it out once and for all. It is a window of opportunity of historic proportions.

Your contribution will help Roy’s Shoes and Rotary raise $200 million to match $355 million in challenge grants received from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The resulting $555 million will directly support immunization campaigns in developing countries, where polio continues to infect and paralyze children, robbing them of their futures and compounding the hardships faced by their families.

As long as polio threatens even one child anywhere in the world, children everywhere remain at risk. The stakes are that high. This is important because there is no cure for Polio, only prevention. And when just one case of polio still exists, the whole world is in danger of being infected. It is an issue that affects us here in North America as the disease is only a short plane ride away and it could again become a huge problem like it was in the 1950's.

Time Line:

* Iron Lung and the Purple Pinkie Project will be at Roy’s Shoes October 25th to October 30th 2010

* Watch for Purple Pinkie Projects at UBCO, Okanagan College, London Drugs, Farmers Markets, and other locations across the Okanagan

* October 30, 2010 - Ramesh Ferris – Guess Speaker - A Canadian polio survivor and long distance cyclist Ramesh Ferris will speak at the Rotary Centre for the Arts in Kelowna. 7:00PM

* October 30, 2010 - Book Signing - Ramesh Ferris will be at Roy’s Shoes for book signing 11 to 2 pm

About ROY’S SHOES - For 37 years Roy’s Shoes Boot and Repair has offered great service, quality comfort shoes and shoe repair in Kelowna’s downtown core. Jim Belshaw bought Roy’s Shoes three years ago and is committed to his community and is a proud Rotarian.

Jim Belshaw is a huge supporter of Downtown Kelowna becoming a viable mixed use community that supports live, work and play opportunities for both residents and visitors. Jim donates through Roy’s Shoes a $1.00 of every shoe repair to his local and international community. To date last year his donations topped $7000.00.

FOR MORE INFO CONTACT:
Jim Belshaw -Roy’s Shoes Boots and Repair
250-763-5696
roysshoes@shaw.ca
http://www.roysshoes.com/

Social Media Marketing – Are you connected?

Whether your company is just starting out, starting to grow or already established, you need to continually evaluate the tools which will help build your business to the next stage. Social Media has shifted the way we talk to friends, family and our clients.

When evaluating your marketing dollars for 2011 you’ll want to ensure that 25 % of your marketing budget is directed to marketing yourself on the internet. If your target market is under 30 years old it may be as high as 50%.

If you follow this thought process you will definitely want to arm yourself with social media tools, that will play an important role in the development of your company’s marketing strategy and business development.

Getting the word out in today’s internet world is imperative and the marketing of you and your business will be given a big boost by social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Below is a quick overview for the big four of Social Media:

Facebook:
As of July 2010 Facebook has more than 500 million active users, which is about one person for every fourteen in the world. Users may create a personal profile, add other users as friends and exchange messages, including automatic notifications when they update their profile. Additionally, users may join common interest user groups, organized by workplace, school, or college, or other characteristics.

The benefits of Facebook - Facebook is an excellent social networking source. You can have a business profile page, and different groups. It also has a great event tool which allows you to invite people to your next party or business social event.

Twitter:

Twitter is a website which offers a social networking and micro blogging service, enabling its users to send and read other users' messages called tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the user's profile page.

The benefits of Twitter - Twitter has many uses for both personal and business use. It's a great way to keep in touch with your friends and quickly broadcast information about where you are and what you're up to. For example, "I'm downtown and aching for some sushi, anyone like to join me?" For business, Twitter can be used to broadcast your company's latest news and blog posts, interact with your customers, or to enable easy internal collaboration and group communication.

YouTube:

YouTube is a video-sharing website on which users can upload, share, and view videos. YouTube uses video technology to display a wide variety of user-generated video content, including movie clips, TV clips, and music videos, as well as amateur content such as video blogging and short original videos. Most of the content on YouTube has been uploaded by individuals, although media corporations including CBS, BBC, and others are using this medium as a marketing tool. YouTube is the second biggest search engine tool after Google.

The benefits of YouTube - With YouTube you can create your own customized channel or customer base. Whenever a video is added to a YouTube account, it leads to the creation of one profile channel by itself. Keen viewers usually form a part of this channel and may also take its subscription. One may also promote their websites further by sending newsletters through e-mails to these subscribers. In other words, it can aid in building your customer list.

LinkedIn:

LinkedIn is mainly used for professional networking. As of August 2010, LinkedIn had more than 75 million registered users, spanning more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. The site is available in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. The purpose of the site is to allow registered users to maintain a list of contact details of people they know and trust in business. The people in the list are called Connections. Users can invite anyone (whether a site user or not) to become a connection.

The benefits of LinkedIn:

For many professionals LinkedIn has become the social tool for professional networking on line. It’s a convenient way to stay connected to current colleagues and people who you’ve worked with in the past. It’s a great way to be connected with the owner’s and decision makers of the business world.

Social Media is a great way to share expertise with a target market of prospects and clients and to become a leader in your field. Build Your Business with Social Media and increase your market share with loyal followers.

Fore more information contact:

Donald Robichaud
FloodLight – Build Your Business
Kelowna / Ottawa / Toronto
Email
1-888-768-9415
http://www.floodlightconsulting.com/
http://donaldrobichaud.blogspot.com/

To blog or not to blog that is the question?

To blog or not to blog that is the question. In recent years Blogs have become an effective way of creating a dialog with your target market allowing businesses to market products and services to their clients.

Blogs allow your business to re purpose all relevant information that is subject oriented to your market and this sharing of information allows you to become the leaders in your field and utilize all the free internet tools made possible on Google to drive down traditional marketing costs.



Blogs allow you to:

•Humanize your company with corporate blogs. One or more employees, the CEO included, may blog. Corporate blogs require a level of transparency. As a result, corporate bloggers must have access to, and support from, senior management, PR, and legal depending on the business. A bike shop has greater freedom than a corporate banker.

•Build business or brand by connecting with consumers. Both small businesses and major corporations can use blogs to build closer relationships with their customers by posting relevant information that speaks to the needs of their clients

•Gather market intelligence. Blogs allow you to monitor the public buzz to determine how your brand and close competitors are faring. Knowing where, why, and how you’re being trashed (or praised) in a public forum allows you to respond appropriately.

•Engage bloggers by commenting on key business topics. Reading blogs related to your product or company to understand the blogger’s perspective and audience trends will allow you to strategically respond to postings to initiate dialogue. More genuine that a PR pitch, this approach can also help correct misinformation

A blog allows you to educate, support all your products, speak to your past, present and future clients and stay top of mind for your services while helping you to Build Your Business.

Please contact us at 250.768.9415 or email us ( Click Here ) for more information on how we can help you "Build Your Business"!

Donald Robichaud
FloodLight – Build Your Business
Kelowna / Ottawa / Toronto
Email
1-888-768-9415
http://www.floodlightconsulting.com/
http://donaldrobichaud.blogspot.com/

Soles for Souls - That's a Wrap!!!

Soles 4 Souls Canada from Jerry Mason on Vimeo.

Donald Robichaud President FloodLight Consulting - Build Your Business - 250-768-9415 http://www.floodlightconsulting.com/
http://donaldrobichaud.blogspot.com/

Are you and Expert?

The first half of 2010 is almost over and we are approaching the summer months.

This is a great time to access the first half of the year and review your business goals for the year. Are you on track? If not, Why? What do you need to do to ensure success for the balance of 2010 and the start of 2011?

I’ve had many discussions with Start Ups, Entrepreneurs and mid size businesses just like you who are struggling to find new leads, close sales and market their business.

When I ask if they’re experts in their field, I get all types of odd answers from, No!!!!!! To, well I don't have a university degree or even worse I don’t know.

If you’re not an expert in your field and fully confident of your products and service your potential customers will sense your weakness and not be moved to desire your services.

Many businesses are held back because key people in the organization lack the proper skill set to either manage their business effectively or they lack the skills to utilize new technologies like the internet to leverage their business.

To be a successful business today you need to continue the learning process and learn new skills. You are the key to your success. You need to have an open mind and become and expert in your field and the only way to do this is to continue learning.

To do this you must take stock of your business:

1. Write down the top ten must improve areas of your business for 2010

2. Now divide the top ten in to the following areas of Sales, Marketing and Business Operation.

3. You will notice that one area will become painfully obvious

4. Now go buy a couple of books to read in that obvious area. (Possibly Marketing)

5. Monday to Friday get up early every morning or shut off the TV early at night and read every day for one hour.

Five days a week for one hour. Take notes of the things you like and implement as soon as possible.

5 hours x 26 weeks = 180 hours dedicated to learning.

To really achieve any goal or to learn a new skill that is worthwhile, we need to discipline ourselves to keep it on track until it’s accomplished. There are several ways to effectively track your goals.

• Keep a list and review your goals regularly, preferably daily

• Break down a goal into actionable steps

• Break down a goal into quantifiable results

• Track a goal by the amount of time you spend on it

The investment in learning will pay multiple dividends for the balance of 2010 leading into 2011 and help you to “Build your Business”


Donald Robichaud is the President of FloodLight Consulting and can be reached at 250-768-9415


Donald Robichaud President
FloodLight Consulting - Build Your Business - 250-768-9415
http://www.floodlightconsulting.com/
http://donaldrobichaud.blogspot.com/

The Learning Process

In the last few weeks I have been involved with the Training of many employees throughout the Kelowna region.

In one session we were doing sales training with the emphasis on accessing the customers’ needs and in the other session employees were improving their Microsoft excel skills.

In both classes the feedback was very positive and many expressed how confident they felt once the session was over and they had started to utilise their new skills.

In one situation the salesman was able to re-engage a national account, once thought lost and due to the sales training they have put this 250 thousand dollar project back on the rails to success.

In business we sometimes look at training as a cost to the employer rather than the benefits of the training and how it will enhance our performance as a company and return on Investment. (ROI)

In fact many businesses have no problem dropping $1000.00 to $5000.00 dollars a month or more on advertising with little results when all they really had to do was pare down their advertising by 20% and funnel the dollars into the betterment of their employees and improving company efficiency.

The results are ever lasting and generally the employee will be very thankful for the opportunity to enhance their skill set.

Fifteen years ago I was that employee looking for an opportunity to improve my lot in life. My employer invested in training for myself and others. At the age of 39 I embarked on a learning curve that has lead me to the present position as president of Floodlight.

It was not easy, but as I learned more I was able to move myself up the corporate ladder until such time I decided to begin my own company.

I am forever grateful for the opportunity that was given me to improve my skill set which allowed me to take better care of my family and my clients.

Learning new skills and enhancing old ones is the best way to improve your employees self esteem with the quickest rate of return.

Take a look at your present advertising and marketing budgets then funnel some dollars in to your greatest area of return, your employees.

Who knows, that salesman in cubicle number three may just be your next vice president and help you Build Your Business.

Donald Robichaud is the President of FloodLight Consulting

and can be reached at 1-888-768-9415 or at 250-768-9415

Donald Robichaud
President FloodLight Consulting - Build Your Business - 250-768-9415 http://www.floodlightconsulting.com/
http://donaldrobichaud.blogspot.com/

Selling Breakthroughs - August 19th 2010 - Kelowna Sales Training

Selling Breakthroughs - August 19th 2010 - Kelowna Sales Training
20 spots available / 13 left
Call today -250-768-9415 to book your spot!!!

Total cost - Selling Breakthroughs - $495.00

Sign up before August 1st 2010 and receive!!
One hour Sales Training on: How do people buy? (Value $150.00)

Keep your customers satisfied to create lasting relationships.

The secret to making a successful sale is knowing what, why, how and when your audience wants to buy. Learn the processes and stages of both buyer and seller simultaneously to understand how to apply sales skills and behaviors that accurately match the buyer's state and motivations. Understand how to use your expertise confidently to positively influence outcomes and meet both the buyer's and your own requirements. A sale isn't over until your client knows that the solution to their business problem is you and your product or service.

This course will help you:

• Accurately assess customer needs and establish needs awareness
• Present solutions based upon priority and big picture needs, not products or services
• Use the buyer's motivations for increased focus and creating opportunities
• Communicate as a problem-solver and a trusted partner
• Develop professional, long-lasting business-to-business relationships

Who should Attend:

Anyone involved in the selling process.

Format:

• A highly-interactive 1-day workshop.

Tools Provided:

• A Comprehensive Learning Guide
• A pre- and post-workshop skills assessment 
• Half hour with our sales professional one month after training

Detailed Synopsis: Selling Breakthroughs

The Selling Breakthroughs workshop. will give you the skills needed to transform selling products, services or ideas into selling “business solutions” are essential for salespeople at all levels.

The program will broaden your understanding and develop your selling skills to uncover the underlying business need, create a desire to act on solving the business problem or to take advantage of a business opportunity, make clientcentered sales presentations, gain commitment, and enhance the relationship by ensuring client satisfaction.

The program provides practical planning tools and processes, with case studies and practice sessions to learn and enhance your selling skills.

Unit 1 An Overview of the Selling – Buying Process:
In this overview unit we examine the process and stages that a buyer moves through in any buying situation. This enables us to appreciate the skills and behaviors required by the salesperson to support the buyer throughout the process.

Unit 2 Need: Establishing buyers’ needs and need awareness:
The foundation of any sale and worthwhile relationship requires a clear understanding of the buyer’s real needs – their situation, problems and opportunities. In this unit you will learn the importance of first impressions, and how to use appropriate selling and interpersonal behaviors to achieve strong and positive relationships. You will enhance your questioning skills to obtain appropriate facts and information, and to get confirmation, agreement and commitment.

Unit 3 Priority: Activating needs to priority:
This stage is the vital link between establishing needs and presenting a solution. We explore general and specific buying motives, and identify and establish the individual motivations and drives of our buyers. You will learn specific questioning skills that focus the buyer on their real situation, and help them clarify those needs that are priorities for them. You will become comfortable challenging the status quo.

Unit 4 Solution: Presenting a business case solution:
This Unit is designed to move you towards mastery of presenting a business case that meets the buyer’s specific product and service needs, demonstrates value, and is based on positive relationships. You will further enhance your questioning and listening skills. You will learn how to prepare generic and client specific product and service analyses, based on a complete understanding of features, advantages, benefits and end results. You will prepare a value-based solution, with a documented valueadded package, that effectively differentiates your solution. You will learn how to deal with various forms of resistance, including “price” issues, and positively sell on value and
relationship factors.

Unit 5 Implement: Closing and implementing:
Through an understanding of buying signals, stress and risk assessment, and closing techniques, you will learn how to support the buyer to implement their solution choice. Preparation of a checklist and plan will ensure both parties commit to and complete full implementation.

Unit 6 Relationship: Cementing the relationship and managing expectations:
This unit looks at our customers in terms of importance and worth to help us better allocate our time. Development of an expectation feedback system helps us monitor and evaluate results against expectations. Proactive follow-up will ensure an ongoing relationship based on trust and credibility.

Total cost - Selling Breakthroughs - $495.00

For more information and to see how Priority Management can help you work smarter, call:

Donald Robichaud
FloodLight Consulting - Build Your Business
250-768-9415
http://www.floodlightconsulting.com/
http://donaldrobichaud.blogspot.com/

Soles4Souls Canada - 25,000 Shoes 25 Days

I’m proud to announce that FloodLight Consulting will be supporting Roy’s Shoes as they raise 25,000 shoes in 25 days. This is a worthy cause and I recommend all clients and friends to clean out your closets and help Roy’s , changing the world, one pair at a time.

February 24th to Saturday March 20th

Our goal is to collect 25,000 pairs of shoes in 25 days.

Local Okanagan social agencies as example; The Food Bank Store, Kelowna Gospel Mission, Now Canada, Kelowna’s Women’s Shelter etc. will all be offered footwear for their clients.

The remaining shoes will be shipped to the Soles4Souls distribution Center in Nevada where they will be sorted and shipped to where needed. Presently they have committed over 1 million pairs to Haiti.

Drop off locations

All Capri Insurance Locations: Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna, Pentiction
Roy’s Shoes
Ramada Hotel Kelowna
Capital News
Astral Media - Sun Fm - 1150 Radio - Silk FM
Best Western Vernon Lodge
Penticton Lake Side Resort
OK Pizza
Wickerland Patio and Home
Spy vs Spy - The Spy Store

A $5.00 donation buys 2 pairs of NEW SANDALS

WE NEED YOU TO CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSETS
Estimates are that every person has 3 or 4 pairs at least in their closet that are not worn any more but still in good shape. We ask that you clean out your closets but convince your friends, neighbors and relatives to do the same. We ask that the shoes have no holes in the soles and in decent shape. All footwear including sandals and boots are accepted and needed.

It is also the GREEN thing to do. There are tons of discarded footwear in the landfills that when break down the toxic glue that holds our shoes together can leak into our water supply and atmosphere.

For more information call Jim Belshaw Roy’s Shoes
1627 Ellis St. Kelowna PBC 250-763-5696 cell 250-870-1191

Jim Belshaw
Roy’s Shoes Boots and Repair
1627 Ellis Street, Kelowna, V1Y2A8
250-763-5696
roysshoes@shaw.ca
http://www.roysshoes.com/
http://www.soles4soulscanada.com/

or

Donald Robichaud
President
FloodLight Consulting - Build Your Business - 250-768-9415
http://www.floodlightconsulting.com/
http://donaldrobichaud.blogspot.com/

Up sell to greater sales!!

Would you like fries with your Order?

In this economy it’s important to add additional sales to your order without coming across as pushy. Every day sales teams are leaving out sales that customers would have willingly purchased with you.
In most organizations the salesman is so happy to make the initial sale that they actually forget or refuse to offer accessories items that will compliment the original purchase.

I learned a long time ago never assume that the person I was selling to was in the same monetary position as me. Sometimes we assume that because we are tight for money others are too, or we read about a recession and expect that everyone has tightened their purse strings. Not so!!

Every Product sold has an accessory item that will enhance the purchase. When buying a suit I am always offered or shown the appropriate shirt, ties, belts and socks that match the original sale. In the shoe business it’s the purse that matches the shoes or the polish that will help with the upkeep. In selling websites the up sell is the hosting package or the yearly SEO package that comes with the site or the newsletter attachment to market the products on the site.

When was the last time you bought just a hamburger? ” Would you like fries with your order? “, has become the staple of the fast-food industry.

Why up selling is so profitable?
The best part of up selling is that it’s practically effortless. Since it’s done after the customer has decided to go ahead with a major purchase, the hard part of the sales conversation has already been done. You’ve already established rapport, identified the customer’s needs, summarized, presented benefits, asked for the order and handled objections. Up selling is just presenting the information in a “by-the-way” fashion.

One of the most effective up selling techniques is getting the customer to use the product in your location. A hairdresser for example, might put hair gel in the customer’s hand and show them how to apply it themselves. By showing the client how to get the salon look at home, they create a value-added up sell.

At the retail level, it’s a good idea to group related and similar products then offer the add on at a package price. If someone is getting a haircut and you talk to them about shampoo and conditioners, it only makes sense to show them a package deal that groups hair products at a package price.

What to Offer?

Think about your business. What else can you offer customers or clients while they're making their first transaction with you?

Can you offer:
• A discount on a related product or service?
• A volume discount if they buy more now?
• A special priced combination package including the initial product or service?
• Extended warranties or support packages
• Additional cables, batteries, cleaning products, etc……..
Your offer should include preferential special pricing. Most customers will accept the up selling offer when it's a good value and the customer feels they are saving money.

The profit from the up selling portion often exceeds the profit on the initial product or service, because there are no additional expenses involved. The customer is already in the store and you have a captured audience.

Offer an incentive program to your sales team for up selling a specific line of accessories.

The Challenge

This week choose an accessory item in your business and offer it to every customer for the next month. You will add additional sales to your bottom line and increase your profit. Not everyone will buy, but if you don’t ask you’ll never make the sale.

If every day you service 10 clients and 3 buy a $25.00 dollar up sell accessory item, you will have an additional $75 dollars in the till. Now multiply $75 x 30 days in the month and you have now increased your totals sales for the month by $2250.00

Would you like fries with that order?

If you're not making up selling offers to every new customer or client, start doing it now. It's an easy way to boost your profits and Build Your Business.


Donald Robichaud
President
FloodLight Consulting - Build Your Business - 250-768-9415
http://www.floodlightconsulting.com/
http://donaldrobichaud.blogspot.com/

Important Stimulus Funding Announcement for Kelowna Small Businesses

Important Funding Announcement for Kelowna Small Businesses:

FloodLight Consulting is an eligible trainer for the Workplace Training for Innovation Program and offers courses priced from $400 to $1500 per employee depending upon the program and material costs.

Workplace Training for Innovation Pilot Program

The Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development has established a new program initiative, Workplace Training for Innovation Program, through the Strategic Training and Transition Fund. The program is designed to provide eligible employers with funding for employee training in order to:

• Improve productivity
• Support the introduction of new technology, machinery/equipment or work processes
• Enhance international competitiveness
• Introduce innovative training and workplace strategies to increase the long term competitiveness of the organization and its workforce.

Both businesses and not-for-profit employers may be eligible to receive funding. Eligible employers must be:

• Small organizations (less than 50 employees)
• In good standing with the BC Corporate Registry
• In existence for one year or more

How will this benefit my small business?

This limited time program can provide your business or organization with full $$ funding for employee training in order to improve productivity; introduce new technologies or work processes, enhance your competitiveness and/or increase the long term competitiveness of your organization and its workforce.

To pay for training, you can receive:

• up to $1500 per employee to a maximum of $5000
• Funding for Sales Training, Marketing, Branding and Business Development Training Programs in Kelowna

In addition, organizations must certify that they would not undertake the training without financial assistance from the Province. Complete eligibility criteria are contained in the application form and program guidelines. Organizations may apply for funding by submitting a completed application for funding form to Chemistry Consulting Group Inc. at the address listed on the form. Faxed and emailed applications will not be accepted. An application is not a guarantee of funding. Applications will be processed on a first-come/first-serve basis, subject to availability of funding. Applications will be accepted until January 31, 2011, subject to availability of funding.

Related Documents

• The Application for Funding Form [PDF]
• Program Guidelines booklet [PDF]
• Program Infosheet [PDF]

FloodLight Consulting has eligible training programs for this funding and offers course ranging from $400 to $1500 per employee depending upon the program and material costs.

If you need to discuss your funding Training Requirements give us a call for a free one hour consultation.

Donald Robichaud
President
FloodLight – Build Your Business - Kelowna
250-768-9415
http://www.floodlightconsulting.com/
http://donaldrobichaud.blogspot.com/




Donald Robichaud
President
FloodLight Consulting - Build Your Business - 250-768-9415
http://www.floodlightconsulting.com/
http://donaldrobichaud.blogspot.com/

Do you have a sales process ?

I was recently approached by a company to assist them with their sales process. In the interview I uncovered that they were struggling with sales because they did not have a sales process defined.

This company had one of the three owners dedicated to sales. The owner had sales experience, but was way over his head with this specific product and service.

Every company needs to have a developed sales process and apply the sales process to every sale. In thirty years of sales and marketing I have only run into a handful of people who are natural sales people. These gods of sales have a sales system in place.

Even the Sham Wow guy on TV has a system and recently he used the same system to sell the Slap Chop!!!

Sales people are more productive when following a specific sales process that details the steps along the way. This will allow them to process the prospect into a lead and then a sale.

As a company you should define your company's sales process based on best practices within your team, your industry and your target market. Below you will find a sales process that can be applied to most products and services.

The Sales Process - The process for converting prospects into leads and leads into customers is much like playing a hockey game. You need a plan and set plays to move the puck up the ice. Not practicing and staying within a game plan can result in a waste of time and effort.

Engage. - This is the first milestone in the sales process and usually happens when a potential client makes an inquiry into your product, or service and this will allow you to introduce yourselves, your company, your offering and uncover their general need. This is your lead.

Qualify. - Once you've engaged the potential client and determined they fit your overall target profile, you need to qualify the lead further to make sure it's a "fit" with your company and what you offer.

Assess. - Once you have qualified the lead you must assess the opportunity before expending the resources to develop a quote or proposal. Ask yourself: What are the specifics of their needs? What is the main decision-making factor? What is their budget? Do they understand your value proposition? Are they looking at the competition?

Proposal. - You've assessed the opportunity to the level required during the assess stage, and now it's time to move into the proposal stage. Make sure your proposal process is appropriate for the buying cycle. Include validation of your services, testimonials, all terms, as well as credit, inside the proposal to avoid slowing down the sales process.

Close. - At this phase of the sales process, you must close and overcome any possible objections, negotiate terms, and close the deal.

SALE! - Hopefully at this point, you've done such a good job of managing your sales process that you have moved your lead to a sale. If at any time the sale fails you must analyze and refine for the next time.

This is an overview of the typical sales process and it is imperative that no short cuts are taken. Failure to follow your sales plan will lead to lost sales.

Having a company sales process will allow you to process sales more effectively and help you to ‘Build Your Business’.

Donald Robichaud is the President of the FloodLight Consulting team and can be reached at:

FloodLight Consulting - Build Your Business
250-768-9415
http://www.floodlightconsulting.com/
http://donaldrobichaud.blogspot.com/

Are you eligible for Government funded training?

Important Announcement to Kelowna Small Businesses:

FloodLight Consulting is an eligible trainer for the Workplace Training for Innovation Program and offers courses priced from $400 to $1500 per employee depending upon the program and material costs.

Workplace Training for Innovation Pilot Program

The Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development has established a new program initiative, Workplace Training for Innovation Program, through the Strategic Training and Transition Fund. The program is designed to provide eligible employers with funding for employee training in order to:

• Improve productivity
• Support the introduction of new technology, machinery/equipment or work processes
• Enhance international competitiveness
• Introduce innovative training and workplace strategies to increase the long term competiveness of the organization and its workforce.

Both businesses and not-for-profit employers may be eligible to receive funding. Eligible employers must be:

• Small organizations (less than 50 employees)
• In good standing with the BC Corporate Registry
• In existence for one year or more

How will this benefit my small business?

This limited time program can provide your business or organization with full $$ funding for employee training in order to improve productivity; introduce new technologies or work processes, enhance your competitiveness and/or increase the long term competitiveness of your organization and its workforce.

To pay for training, you can receive:

• up to $1500 per employee to a maximum of $5000
• Sales, Marketing, Branding and Business Development Training Programs in Kelowna

In addition, organizations must certify that they would not undertake the training without financial assistance from the Province. Complete eligibility criteria are contained in the application form and program guidelines. Organizations may apply for funding by submitting a completed application for funding form to Chemistry Consulting Group Inc. at the address listed on the form. Faxed and emailed applications will not be accepted. An application is not a guarantee of funding. Applications will be processed on a first-come/first-serve basis, subject to availability of funding. Applications will be accepted until January 31, 2011, subject to availability of funding.

Related Documents

• The Application for Funding Form [PDF]
• Program Guidelines booklet [PDF]
• Program Infosheet [PDF]

FloodLight Consulting is an eligible training program for this funding and offers course pricing ranging from $400 to $1500 per employee depending upon the program and material costs.

If you need to discuss your Training Requirments give us a call for a free one hour consultation.

Donald Robichaud
President
FloodLight – Build Your Business
250-768-9415
http://www.floodlightconsulting.com/
http://donaldrobichaud.blogspot.com/

8 FREE ways to Build your Business

There are a number of methods that you can use to build your business. Many of these methods may already be in use but they are rarely used as part of a total marketing system so they are not used consistently.

When you begin using any marketing strategy as part of a system, then it becomes a positive source for the growth of your business.

Most businesses have methods of marketing; however, most do not pay close attention to the results and frequency of implementation. The key to remember is that when something is part of a system, then it is repetitive therefore multiplying the effectiveness and guaranteeing significantly better results.

The best way to implement your marketing strategy is to use this guide and make sure that you answer the questions that are part of each concept.

The goal of you answering the questions is simple. If you take the time to answer the question, even if it is just in your head, you will take yourself to a higher level of awareness of how you are working in your business.

MARKETING WEAPONS

1. Business Cards – Your business card should have key contact information and must be distributed to everyone you meet. The goal of giving your card to everyone is placing you in the subconscious mind of everyone you meet.
Q: Do you give your card to everyone you meet or just people that ask you about your business?

2. Ask For Referrals – Everyone you develop rapport with both inside and outside your business should know what you do and be able to refer someone to you. The best way to get a referral is to give one first. It will pay major dividends for you.
Q: How many people you know who are in business that would appreciate a referral? What goes around comes around!!!

3. Have a Clearly Defined Message – Make sure that everything you do has a message about who you are and/or what you do. Hone your Elevator Pitch!!
Q: What is your message? What do you specialise in? Who is your target market and what are your services? What problems do you solve?

4. Voice Mail Marketing – Make sure your voice mail has special marketing statements. It is very important to place some type of reminder for the listener to ask you about something specific about you or your products.  An example of a voice mail marketing system is at the end of your greeting, you add the statement “Don’t forget to ask me about….!”
Q: How do I get people to ask me about my competitive advantage?

5. E-mail Marketing – This is very similar to voice mail marketing. Every e-mail you send must have as part of your signature, a special offer or a marketing message!
Q: What does your e-mail signature look like?

6. Testimonials – It is a must for you to get testimonials from your clients and referral sources. Your website and marketing material should contain a customer quote. These quotes give customers sub-conscious references to your services and the quality of them.
Q: How many testimonials do you have and are they from different types of sources so you can attach them to the appropriate marketing piece?

7) Community Involvement – Get involved with your community and increase your exposure. Individuals that participate in community activities tend to be compelled to want to help other members of the activity because of the common bond that is shared.
Q: What organization could you join that would surround you with the type of people that either could use your services or refer you to people that could benefit from your services while simultaneously giving something valuable back to your community?

8). Accessibility – Make sure you are easily reachable. Make clear to your clients the best way to reach you along with the best times to reach you. Add on your voice mail message specific times that you will be returning phone calls so clients know when to expect to hear back from you. When you return clients messages when you say you will, your credibility grows and so do the quality of your referrals.
Q: How much time do you need to answer your messages and when would be the best time of the day to answer your messages and return client calls? Do this daily.

Implement each one of these simple marketing weapons and “Build Your Business” in 2010.

Donald Robichaud
President
FloodLight Consulting - Build Your Business - 250-768-9415
http://www.floodlightconsulting.com/
http://donaldrobichaud.blogspot.com/