Web logs, popularly known as blogs, have become one of the hottest communication tools on the Web. Offering the opportunity for anyone to create their own free Web site, encouraging opinions and interaction, blogs provide forums for individuals to create their own highly personal presentations to the Web audience, and for consortia of all types to experience the sort of online community feeling that was pioneered by early newsgroups and by the phenomenal success of AOL in the 1990s.
Blogs have reached into the corporate and government sectors as well. A prominent federal magazine suggests that some company employees spend more time blogging than on personal e-mail, an average of over an hour a day. What started out as an outlet for teenage expression and grassroots journalism has turned into a lucrative communications tool for small and large businesses alike.
General Motors’ Vice Chairman, Bob Lutz, turned to the company’s blog when rumors surfaced about the discontinuation of the Pontiac and Buick brands. It became a means for a direct response, a way to talk to their consumers unfiltered.
Other companies such as Sun Microsystems and Microsoft are also recognizing the impact of blogging in their relationships with their customers and employees. In an article dated June 5, 2005, The Washington Post proposed that there were more than 100 official corporate blogs in existence, with hundreds more on the horizon.
Although a major newspaper called blogging “ephemeral, fast-paced and scathingly opinionated,” blogs continue to grow steadily in the corporate world and companies are realizing their value.
Corporate Blogging
Internal Communication
Corporate Blogging refers to a company producing or supporting a blog that it uses to accomplish business objectives. A blog can serve many purposes in a corporate setting. Internally, a blog can be a forum for discussion about work-related issues.
The informal atmosphere is encouraging to internal corporate communication. From small-scale discussions to virtual “town meetings,” in which employees at all levels feel that they can be heard, blogs promote collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Blogging can help establish a company or employee as an expert in their field. By posting information about a certain topic, a person exhibits their knowledge of the subject matter, setting himself up as an authority. People will come to equate the site and the author with that topic. This reputation for subject mastery and expertise can boost your sales and consumer opinion.
A blog can be an interactive addition to an intranet or e-mail newsletters. Since automatic update notification is possible on blogs, people are more likely to stay on top of the latest postings.
Public Communication
Blogs can be used to communicate to prospects, clients, employees and the media. Press releases and project updates can be posted, as well as job opportunities or information that the company wants to distribute outside of the normal news channels.
A blog can strengthen the bonds between the company and its customers. When a company presents itself honestly and transparently, it not only builds trust, but instills loyalty as well. Customers are more likely to work with a company they feel they know better than another. Blogs allow for that informal communication. They create good word-of-mouth among customers who don’t read the trade magazines or business pages. The nature of a blog fosters that image of transparency and openness for a company. Most people prefer companies who are honest in their dealings and frank about their issues. As seen in the media with the Dan Rather case, a blog can illuminate the truth through encouraging people to share what they know.
Blogging also reflects forward thinking. By staying current with the technological trends, you give your company a fresh image.
A blog can serve as a recruiting method. Interested job seekers can examine the company by reading its blog.
When testing a new product or service, a blog is an excellent place to give more detailed instructions or receive feedback.
Although, comments can be negative. Not everyone will agree with what is said on a blog. Instead of preventing them, welcome the constructive criticism and edit comments only to remove profanity and personal attacks.
The Down Side
There are some drawbacks to blogging. It is not a magic solution to your business needs. Many people feel that blogging popularity is much like the Internet in the 90’s, a promise of money, but not necessarily delivery.
Blogging can lead to legal issues as well. Companies have real concerns about liability, exclusions and limitations, and indemnity. Although there are laws that protect against libel, misappropriations and other injuries suffered as a result of posts on the Web, companies can be held vicariously responsible for statements made by employees that are harmful to others.
In any medium where an employee is sharing information, there is the possibility of leaking trade secrets or financial information. Former Google employee Mark Jen was famously fired for gabbing about life at the company on his personal blog, not sanctioned by Google.
Like all essentially unfiltered communication, blogs can get personal. Many bloggers feel the need to discuss their personal lives as well as their professional ones. Companies must be careful not to stifle communications by keeping personal lives out of the workplace. By doing this, they risk closing down the lines of communication entirely.
Inevitably, a disgruntled employee may use this as an opportunity to badmouth the company. This is not limited to blogs, since an unhappy employee has a variety of mediums through which to vent his disapproval. Blogs just make it easy.
The content may not have enough substance to warrant or hold an audience. Some companies fill their blog with marketing fluff. People can see right through this and will most likely ignore the site. Blogs should be used for transparency, not shameless self-promotion.
Best Practices
Fine Print. Since there are so many legal issues surrounding blogs, it is imperative that the site has some sort of disclaimer and limitation of liability.
Know What You’re Doing. Senior management should be educated by the corporate communications and legal department about what blogs are and how they might affect business.
Create Blogging Policies. A company should have a list of policies regarding blogging to ensure that trade secrets are kept secret and personal lives do not become public. Policies may include keeping financial information from being posted, as well as severe consequences for anyone using the blog for negative publicity.
Avoid the Marketing Blog. Making your blog into a blatant marketing campaign is a bad idea. Customers are looking for real answers and honest opinions. They will pick up on insincerity instantly.
Keep It Fresh. Make content relevant and timely. Update the blog as often as possible with the most worthwhile news. This will encourage people to come back.
Reinforce the Company’s Core Values. Then, make sure the content fits these values and supports the business strategy.
Encourage employees to use it, but remind them of the ramifications of their actions.
Free versus Paid Products
When creating a blog, there are hundreds of services and software from which to choose. The first decision to make is whether to go with a free service or pay for one.
For paid services, the cost varies depending on the features used. The basic hosting fee for a domain is anywhere from $5 to $15 a month. The domain name will need to be registered yearly, which can cost $5 to $35. This does not include the software, which may also have to be purchased.
While free services offer the basic necessities of blogging, paid services are usually more desirable since they have more to offer.
With a free service, the company offers a free site, but it may contain advertisements to offset the cost of maintenance. A paid site will not have any advertisements.
Most free services have a variety of templates to choose from for the look of the site, but paid services offer highly customizable designs.
In addition to the basic functions, paid blogs offer the ability to upload photos and images and tailor links on the site. They also offer better security and allow the creator to censor or control comments. Paid sites normally lead to a higher search engine ranking. They enable the creator to configure search output and there are fewer restrictions placed on paid sites.
Paid news aggregators will often keep a list of recently updated blogs and will rank them, showing new sites and newly added photo albums.
For a simple blog, any free service will do, but to get a truly customized and highly functioning product, it will take paying something for it.
RSS Feeds
With the rising popularity of blogs, it has become increasingly time-consuming to keep track of ones that are of interest. No one has time to check each and every favorite blog every day to search for new content. RSS feeds have become the solution.
RSS feeds are small XML files that contain a headline, date/time and description and link to information published on a blog. When used along with a feed reader, or news aggregator, they give an update on the newest content that has been added to a blogging site to a subscribed user.
RSS was developed in several different versions, each with a different meaning. RSS can stand for Really Simple Syndication, Rich Site Summary or RDF Site Summary, depending on the version used. All versions do the same thing, though. They provide a summary of information. They send a blog’s highlights to subscribers instantly upon publication. RSS feeds save the user from having to visit the site for updates.
To receive RSS feed, a user must have a feed reader, also commonly referred to as a news aggregator. This can be software, a Web-based service, extension or built into a browser. It essentially takes the XML code and translates it into readable information. When the “update” button on the feed reader is clicked, it searches all of the subscribed sites’ RSS feed for new information.
Having a RSS feed greatly increases the traffic to a blogging site because it provides an easy way to keep an audience abreast of the latest developments. Once someone is a subscriber, he will continue to be involved in the site. RSS also makes it easier for someone to add a site as a link onto their own site.
Blogging inherently encourages communication and the transfer of ideas. Blogging lets businesses extend their reach and strengthen consumer loyalty, as well as get people talking about their product. It’s a matter of perception, encouraging integrity and strengthening relationships in the corporate world. Blogging has become the trademark of forward thinking companies willing to suffer a few stings in order to get to the benefits it has to offer.
Kari White is a Content Developer for Brook Group, LTD, a Web development firm near Washington, DC. For more information about Web marketing, visit Brook Group’s Resources page.
If you are in need of obtaining additional money quickly, then your main choices are using a credit card or obtaining a personal loan from a bank, building society or from a specialist loan company. For short term borrowing credit cards can be useful, but for longer term borrowing a loan may seem to be the best option. Whenever you take out a loan or credit agreement, your prospective lender will assess your personal circumstances and decide whether to offer to lend you the funds you require subject to its repayment with added interest being paid.
Depending on the result of a financial health check (completed by the lender), you may be offered, on average, up to £15,000 to be paid back over a period of between 6 months to 10 years. The actual amount that you can borrow and the interest rate charged will depend on factors such as your past credit record, amount requested, duration of loan, purpose of the loan, whether the amount borrowed is secured or unsecured, and acceptance of various terms and conditions applied by the lender.
What is the difference between a secured and an unsecured loan?
An unsecured loan is where the loan repayments are not tied to any additional guarantee except the loan agreement. Should you default on payments you could damage your credit rating or become blacklisted which may lead to future difficulties in taking out a new credit card, a mortgage, additional loans, or obtaining interest-free deals in shops.
A secured loan is one where you provide collateral which will guarantee the repayment of the loan should you find yourself in unexpected difficulties. This type of loan is usually secured against your house, which means that if you cannot meet the loan repayment schedule, you may be required to sell your house in order to pay back the money borrowed. Secured loans are generally seen as less of a risk by lenders, as they are likely more to recover their money if things go wrong. This means that the amount that can be borrowed is usually higher, and the rates offered are often much better than would be obtained on an unsecured loan.
An important point to note is that rates can vary considerably. On a £5000 unsecured loan repaid over two years without any adverse credit history, financial comparison site Moneynet ( http://www.moneynet.co.uk/loans/index.shtml ) provided results varying from an annual percentage rate (APR) of 5.5% to 15.9% which would make a difference of £525.36 over the life of the loan. Don’t just take the first loan you see.
Another factor to bear in mind when looking for any financial product is to ensure you are comparing like-with-like. Different lenders calculate the annual percentage rate (APR) in different ways. Don’t simply look at the monthly interest rates - these are frequently lower than the annual rate and can make you think you have got a much better deal than you have in reality.
Remember to check all the details and small print of a loan before taking out any type of financial agreement to ensure you understand what is required of you and that the loan meets your requirements. Bear in mind that in general, the shorter the repayment period of a loan, the less interest that you will be required to pay. However according to IntelligentFinance ( http://www.if.com/loan/loan_home.asp ), over a third of the UK adult population are unaware that 75% of personal loan providers levy penalties on borrowers who want to repay their debt early. This could prove to be an expensive surprise and IF estimates that it is currently costing consumers about £336m a year.
Should you get rejected for a loan at a bank or building society, it is useful to know that they are obliged to explain the reasons for doing so. Any time that you are rejected you should also run a check on your credit history to make sure no mistakes have been made, and you can request that a notification of correction is made to prevent the same thing occurring in the future.
The most important things to do when looking for a loan are to:
* decide on your loan requirements
* compare as many of the products being offered as possible
* read the small print
* choose whether you are happy with the terms being offered
* ensure you can meet the repayments
* only make one application at a time.
Useful resources:
BBC credit scoring links ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/moneybox/4315456.stm )
Moneynet loan comparisons ( http://www.moneynet.co.uk/loans/index.shtml )
Disclaimer:
All information contained in this article, is for general information purposes only and should not be construed as advice under the Financial Services Act 1986.
You are strongly advised to take appropriate professional and legal advice before entering into any binding contracts.
Richard lives in Edinburgh, occasionally writing for the personal finance blog Cashzilla ( cashzilla.blogspot.com/ ), and listens to music no one else likes.
“Nothing is more practical than for people to deepen themselves. The more you understand the human condition the more effective you are as a businessperson. Human depth makes business sense.”
- From Leadership: The Inner Side of Greatness
by Peter Koestenbaum
A philosopher, a behind the scenes sage for CEOs at some of the world’s largest companies, Peter Koestenbaum poses the truly big questions. How do we act when the risks seem overwhelming? What does it mean to be a successful human being?
According to Koestenbaum the central leadership quality is the ability to manage polarity. We want to live, yet we must die? How can I devote myself to both family and career? Am I a boss or a friend? Every business interaction is a form of confrontation - a clash of priorities, a struggle of dignities, a battle of beliefs. Koestenbaum links the deep insights of philosophy with immediate, bottom- line business issues to break through “stuck points” and do better business.
You may be wondering why CEO’s of top companies are even remotely concerned with deep philosophical issues. These leaders understand that their success in business is based in their continued personal growth and expansion. Every business person committed to success will reach a point when they need to confront the “deep” questions. So what about you? Do you put aside time each week to devote to your personal growth and development? What keeps you on the edge of your business and life? It may be reading, attending a workshop, a teleclass, conference, lunch with people who love to explore the “deep” questions or working with a coach or a combination of the above that keeps you living on the edge. Whatever it is, make sure you include it in your life. This week, schedule something when you can dedicate yourself to doing what a leader does - thinking planning, strategizing creating.
Ruth Zanes has been a Business, Career and Personal Success Coach since 1985. Her broad range of experience prior to coaching includes consultant, business ownership and corporate executive for some of the world’s largest corporations. Contact Ruth at: http://www.unlimitedresourcesinc.com
1. Clearly separate your work area from your bedroom.
It will be ideal if you have an extra room in your house or den to turn into a study. However, having this luxury may not always be the case. You may find that you’re short on space. You become tempted to use your dressing table or even your bed to put your laptop on. Avoid this temptation or you’ll find yourself lounging in bed instead! Also, if you’re going to be spending hours working, it’s just not healthy to be cooped up in your bedroom all day long.
2. Find a location where you can shut out all outside distractions, when necessary.
Don’t expect to work effectively with children near your work area, especially if they’re young and keep interrupting your ability to work. You will need some childcare help if this is the case. Also, it’s best not to allow your children to play in your office so that they will not use it as a playroom when you’re not there.
3. Have a work or time schedule.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of not having a time schedule and working all morning, day and night. By doing so, you run the risk of putting a strain on your relationships. Make it a point to take plenty of breaks. Set aside time for your family and friends. And have your meals with them.
4. Don’t let housework distract you from getting your work done.
On the other hand, you may find yourself distracted by the endless household chores that you need to get done. Work out a plan with your partner or spouse. Engaging a housekeeper to help out is another possibility.
5. Don’t munch on junk food as you work.
This is a sure way to put on weight. If you must, stock your
refrigerator with healthy snacks like fruits, salads and low fat yoghurts. In addition, avoid having the snacks at your desk. Take a break.
6. Treat your home business like a real business.
“If you’re at home, you must not be working.” That’s what your
friends and relatives think. So they will end up stopping by,
sipping tea and talking all afternoon. How do you deal with this misconception?
Have separate phone lines for your business and home, for example. Answer only your business line during your regular business hours. Let your non-business callers know that you’re busy and that you will call them later. The more that you treat your home based business like a real one, the more respect everyone else will for your home based business.
7. Do some offline marketing as well.
Other than promoting your business online, you can also undertake some offline promotion. Here are some examples of what you can do: distribute business cards, advertise on magazines, tell your friends about what you are doing, submit articles about your business to the newspapers.
8. Allocate time to organize your work area every week.
It’s easy to mix up the pile of paper that is meant for your business and those that are meant for your home. Set up proper files and storage area for your business. Mark the files clearly. And set aside time for arranging and sorting out your paperwork at least once a week.
9. Minimise your taxes
One of the greatest benefits of having and registering your own
business is that you are legally entitled to deduct many business expenses from your earned income, thus reducing your income taxes. So keep proper records for all your business expenses. However, bear in mind, what you incur on your personal and family expenses, cannot be written off. It is best to check out your local tax laws as to what is allowable business expenses and what is not.
10. Manage your cashflows.
It is always prudent to work out an expense budget and determine the investment amount of your business. Expenses can overrun quite easily. Afterall, doesn’t the latest upgrade in computer software or office equipment sound tempting? Decide carefully where to spend your hard earned money when you have to. Finally, do your best to hold the line on expenses that will drain your financial reserves and those that generate little or no revenue.
Evelyn Lim is an Online Business Entrepreneur. She publishes a free newsletter “Mapping You to Success” for aspiring e-biz owners. The aim of her publication is to equip readers with
skills to acquire multiple sources of online income. To subscribe, please visit http://www.e-BizMap.com
Residential hot water is a significant energy consumer for most
households. In fact, hot water is sometimes the largest single
energy cost. Using solar energy to provide at least some of the
hot water in your household can result in significant savings.
There are several ways that solar energy can be integrated into
a hot water system. Although solar boilers can be used on their
own, they are most often used in conjunction with traditional
water heaters which are powered by gas or electricity. In this
kind of system, the water heated with solar energy can be used
on its own (if it is hot enough) or as preheated water for the
traditional water heater.
Solar boilers can be used in any type of climate but are most
practical in areas which don’t have freezing weather during the
wintertime. Solar hot water systems in colder climates can use
indirect heating systems which do not expose the water to the
freezing temperatures. Instead, a fluid that resists freezing
circulates through the solar panels and is used to heat the
water. Southern climates can use direct heating systems where
the water itself passes through the solar panels installed on
the roof.
There are two basic types of solar hot water systems — active
and passive. Passive systems rely on gravity and the natural
flow of water from hot to cold. They are simple systems and
require very little maintenance. They are durable and
long-lasting. You can easely build simple systems yourself all
you will need are parts that you can find in any hardware store.
Active systems make use of pumps to circulate the water. In some
systems, the pumps can be powered with solar energy; otherwise
they must be connected to the household electrical supply. In
both systems a storage tank is needed to hold the heated water.
On hot days with plenty of direct sunlight solar systems can
heat water with surprising efficiency. During this kind of
weather, there may be no need to use electricity or gas as a
backup. When the weather is colder, the solar heaters can
preheat the water which passes into the traditional water
heater. This preheated water requires much less energy to bring
to proper temperatures which can result in significant savings
on your energy bills.
As with all alternative energy systems there is a lot of room
for your own imagination if you like that. If you don’t you
don’t and just use the technology, but for those who like to
play around with technology like myself these systems offer a
myriad of possibilities to think about.
For example, a stirling engine converts changes in temperature
into mechanical motion, for example to generate electricity.
Mmm, that’s a nice thought. A change in temperature is something
this system will provide, but it will also heat your water. A
double benefit?
