Category: Advertising & PR

A whiteboard provides a form of visual communication for many businesses from healthcare to technology, to manufacturing to marketing or education. A whiteboard is like a blank sheet of paper, only it is made out of metal and is an erasable board similar to a blackboard. Because it is used for information communication, one can say it is a form of documentation.

Uses

There are many uses of the whiteboard. It can be used for displaying

• project scheduling, task listing, check off lists,
• groupings, procedures, processes,
• mapping associations, diagramming, etc.

Advantages

A whiteboard has many advantages, which include ease of use, readability, be visually appealing, and the following benefits:

• Users can easily describe and walk viewers through each step of a process or procedure that has to be accomplished.
• Users can convey designs and prototypes more easily.
• Users can design new software and work out details while collaborating at the same time.
• Users can get inspired to generate more ideas and concepts, resolve issues, and map out plans.
• Users can provide story telling for deeper clarity of various theories and models, and much more.

Benefits

Users like it because during any meeting or presentation, the whiteboard can provide a lot of uses, such as:

• Helping viewers to be more organized by listing tasks.
• Allowing writing and rewriting, or adding and removing thoughts and ideas via a list, such as when trying to develop standards, new systems, or new strategies.
• Sharing information with everyone for easier reviewing in illustration form and which will in turn allow viewers to recall facts and information more easily as images and symbols can be used to enhance what is displayed.
• Allowing the numbering of events of a, for example, meeting or process and then circling and segmenting out small model cases to focus on to complete a task.
• Providing the ability to create charts such as flow and/or tree diagraming.
• Providing easier grouping of objects where associated items are combined and categorized.
• Creating a display of data bases and models of a system and how they are related.
• Allowing free-hand diagramming of related items, such as through the use of mapping
• Allowing the display of different ideas, questionable items, classification of systems, relations, processes, as well as timelines from beginning to end with all their critical paths.
• Providing the atmosphere for collaboration, viewing, thinking, and individuals contributing ideas, resulting in producing immediate feedback.
• Creating hierarchies for organizations and getting immediate reactions to what viewers see.
• Communicating a clear and understandable direction from what is pictured, or an analysis, or evaluation of what is on the board.

A whiteboard allows viewers to create a physical representation from all the information that has been written, created, or designed on the board. Viewers immediately see what the topic is and can quickly respond to the information. They provide immediate interaction among viewers. A whiteboard has many advantages and uses.

If you have anything to add to this post, please leave a comment. Thank you.

 

How much time do you spend each day communicating person to person? You may be solving a problem with a customer, leading your team on a project, holding a meeting, or discussing performance issues. I bet this is a huge part of your workday. Yet most of us give very little attention to what kind of communicators we are, or what habits we have built over time. Use these five suggestions to be sure your communication is clear and effective.

1. Make sure your nonverbals match your message. When all channels are tuned in to the same frequency, the message gets through more clearly. Whenever there is a mismatch, we tend to believe the nonverbal message. Often, our nonverbals are based on habit, and we may not even be aware of what messages we are sending. For example, if you have a serious message, but deliver it with a smile on your face, your listener is likely to discount your seriousness. Therefore, take time to be aware of your nonverbals, and decide whether they are helping or hindering your communication goals.
2. Eliminate barriers. Noisy rooms, distractions, or bad timing can cause your message to get lost. When you need to have a conversation, choose a good time for both parties, and find a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted. Whether you are having a social conversation or a serious business discussion, finding the right time and place can make all the difference.
3. Eliminate weakening words. Kind of, sort of, could, might, maybe, hopefully, I think, I guess—all of these weaken your message. Consider the difference between these two sentences:

“I was kind of hoping we could sort of discuss this and maybe come up with a solution that I guess we could both hopefully live with.”

OK, that is an exaggeration, but you can see how the actual message gets lost when you add too many qualifying words. Instead:

“Let’s discuss this issue and identify a mutually acceptable solution.”

You probably won’t get rid of every qualifying word or phrase, but cleaning out the excess will help you be a more direct, impactful communicator.

4. Eliminate vague words. A little, a lot, many, not too much, soon, as soon as possible—any of these words can easily be misinterpreted, leading to major misunderstandings. Edit your words so that your meaning is clear.

Unclear:

“I would like you to clean up that report a little, and get it back to me as soon as possible.”

Much more clear and effective:

“Please make the changes we discussed, and email the expense report to me by 4:30 tomorrow.”

5. Check for understanding. You thought you were clear, but did your message get through? Before you end the conversation, check to be sure. It is a great practice to ask the other person what they heard, or to summarize your conversation, or recap what actions each of you will take as a result of the conversation. And take time to capture your own version of the conversation. Even a short statement such as, “I’m glad we could clear up this issue.” or “I will be waiting to see your final report.” summarizes your understanding of the conversation and what it means.

Communication is never perfect, but by following these guidelines you will have a great start to being a clearer, more effective communicator.

How do you provide educational content? How do you know if it is valid and usable? The answer is by providing good communication.

How do you do that? What if there was, e.g., some technical knowledge that needed to be shared? Communicating and delivering that information can be challenging. Many learners attend networking sessions, seminars, etc. to gain the knowledge they need. But if you are within a company getting ready to show a new product, how do you begin?

Be proactive – be proactive to save time and effort by communicating to all stakeholders through a learning/teaching event.

Take the initiative – set up the learning/teaching for sharing the information, and actively seek others to assist in creating the session and to provide more ideas and feedback

Be creative – create a brand focused on the, e.g., particular product. When describing the event, mention the brand – make it consistent and apply it to as many examples as possible.

For the event:

• Engage attendees by asking questions within the screen content to lead them to what they need to know; make it different and engaging. Also, be enthusiastic when speaking.
• Provide incentives at the end of short blurbs, chapters, or content. For the handout or manual, include encouragement along the side bar, or display it in blue at the end of the content and say, e.g., ‘Yay that was awesome – you just finished learning how to xxxxx..using…’.
• Use gaming activities to stay connected to the audience. To encourage attendees, create and include a puzzle or mini quiz to see if they grasp the main objective of the session. Another idea is to display a graph and have them try to find the focal point within the graph.
• Give attendees what they want and need, i.e., make it relevant, but also make sure it makes sense to them.
• Show simulations or transform the learning session into a story.

To prove that knowledge was transferred:

• Have attendees work with someone within a group setting. Let one person create a scenario and have the other one come up with a solution using the new product and discuss the results.
• Create teams and have them set up mini teaching sessions of the subject and see if the rest of the audience understands and enjoys it. Some may develop a video instead or a play, or maybe some will simply set up an email distribution for knowledge sharing. Have attendees decide which was the more practical solution or audience capturing interaction, memorable skit, or best game or user experience.

There are many ways in which to communicate knowledge. Any comments or criticisms received provide feedback and analytics to see if the knowledge was absorbed. This in turn will help in deciding which was the best method and/or alternative method for communicating educational content to a user. As an added note, don’t forget to look at which is the easiest to implement and which is most cost effective.

If you have had experience in this field or wish to add information, please leave a comment. Thank you.

How often have you heard the following phrases?

No problem

I can’t do that

You’ll have to

I’m not going to discuss that

I’m not going to take up your time

I’m not going to go into detail

That will never work

It’s a good idea, but

It is so easy to fall into the habit of using negative expressions, or to say what you aren’t going to do. The problem is people would rather hear positives, and even remember them better. Using positive expressions helps you to be seen as a team player, a problem-solver, a go-to person. So let’s try turning these expressions into something more positive.

Better:

My pleasure, or you’re welcome

What I can do is, or let’s see what we can do

Would you, or would you mind

Here is what I can say

I will make this brief

I will provide a brief overview, or I will stay high-level

Let’s see how we can make this work

It’s a good idea, and…

Next time you hear one of these or other negative expressions, see if you can discover a more positive way to say it. And then try using positive expressions as often as you can.

The previous content (Tips For A Business Plan – Part 1) defined and showed the relevancy of a Business Plan. But how will we build the plan. The Business Plan needs to show the worth and importance of a proposal, detail how the task will be accomplished, and include tasks, i.e., a migration, purchasing new equipment, or hiring consultants. Most importantly, it will also specify time and expenses and the benefits and risks involved.

At the start of the Business Plan

• Denote only the important ‘must have’ items to prove and validate a point.
• Create an outline and be sure to include key elements, e.g., the vision, resources, issues, marketing, and of course financing.
• Specify your timelines and critical points.
• Plan to break up the Business Plan into categories such as Introduction, Summary, Business description (Operations), Strategy and Risks, Recommendations, Research, Marketing plan, Problems and Resolution, Resources, Finance (Support), Costs, Benefits, and Time

Overview

• Create an introduction to the plan and be specific.
• Describe the purpose and reason (justification) behind this project, and its goals.

Summary

• Explain the circumstances that led to this new project.
• Provide a sentence or two on the business goals, funding, technology, or the intended audience of, e.g., a new product.
• Display an applicable prototype or describe it to show that the outcome is doable.

Structure

• The Business Plan is usually written using a logical format. Organize it first by presenting a brief introduction to the plan.
• Present it in a form for those who will make the decision to authorize it. Write for your audience and provide an outline.
• Use simple terms to describe the plan. If the document is of considerable length, indicate what sections should be read by which party.
• If a plan is complicated or includes a lot of scenarios, then the Technical Writer should develop business cases to help with explanations. The writer can also create training sessions with demonstrations or instruction videos. Content in some form, however, should still be written to reinforce what was presented.
• When there is too much information to present, break it down into charts, figures, and diagrams for easier understanding and analysis, and to also assist in explanations. For example, for a business process, create the business diagram and then break it down into logical detailed explanations or functionalities.
• Maintain continuity in explanations and format. If continuity within the content is not clear, then misunderstandings and wrong interpretations (with detrimental or chaotic outcomes) can occur within the organizations environment (business, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, etc.).
• To maintain the Business Plan continuity provide supporting material backing up your information and work on Identifying, assessing, and analysis of the plan.
• Provide guidelines and policies needed to maintain the plan.

For a Successful Business Plan

• Analyze it to ensure that all the necessary content has been included.
• Ensure that it is feasible and compliant within any restrictions.
• Always stay informed of any updates or changes within your organization or environment.
• Get it reviewed by others.
• Get it authorized if need be.
• Get the plan tested.

If you have other suggestions of what a Business Plan should contain, please leave a comment. Thank you

Today’s speakers need to do more than impart information to their listeners. With all the competition for attention, speakers like you know it is important to connect with and engage your audiences. That may be pretty easy to do with a small group or meeting, but how about when you are speaking at a forum, an all-hands meeting, or any time your audience is large?

To add engagement and connection during your next keynote, consider doing one or more of these:

1. Ask questions of your sponsor before you even accept the speaking assignment. Is it a good match for you? Do you have value to add for your listeners?
2. Talk to some of the audience members ahead of time to find out what they know and what they want to know about your topic.
3. Do an electronic survey of your audience if possible. Be sure your talk addresses their concerns; and let them know you heard their opinions.
4. Ask the audience to state their expectations early in the session or talk. They can pop up or discuss at tables. Make sure to request short responses.
5. Ask for a show of hands, or a vote. Getting the audience involved early is key, and raising their hands is usually pretty safe. I like to ask something that is easy to respond to first, and then ask them more sensitive questions.
6. Have people vote with their feet. That means they move to a certain part of the room to both show their opinions, and sometimes to have breakout discussions. It is also a visual way for you to get feedback, and the listeners get to move. It’s a win-win as long as you can maintain control and get them back in their seats when you need them to be.
7. Use 3×5 cards to have listeners write down their questions or opinions. You could have them give each other feedback or questions by writing on the cards. Or use different colored cards to note different opinions.
8. Meet and greet your audience. Set you your room before people arrive so you can attend to them as they walk in. Smile and say hello. If you have time walk around and chat with people. Maybe have a few questions in mind to ask them. Even if you don’t love small talk, this will pay dividends when you stand up to speak in front of your “new friends.”
9. Plan an “entry” activity, such as writing comments on a flip chart, making a name tent, or writing on a virtual whiteboard (during a webinar, for example.” Again, this early engagement sets the tone for what is to come.
10. Do quick introductions. I have found that even three minutes for people to introduce themselves at tables changes the energy level in a group significantly. This seems to make it easier for people to engage and share ideas and opinions.

Engage. Connect. Listen. Make your next keynote presentation stand out from the crowd.

How do you communicate a business plan? First, what is a business plan? It is a document that outlines the steps for completing a future project, a restructuring of a company, a personal project, or any future change within an organization. It will show the strategy involved in, e.g., developing the outcome of a new idea or a new venture for a company or an individual. Some business plans take a short time to execute and some take a few years, depending on the proposal and design.

Depending on the situation, some or most plans have to be approved. To get it approved, we have to ensure that it is written well. Being able to make others understand the Business Plan is crucial. The Technical Writer has to be able to communicate and translate details from the, e.g., the current business background for business processes to a new and improved business model.

Why we need a Business Plan

• For Communication – It will help by communicating the direction taken to complete a proposal.
• For Organization – It will help by maintaining organization and by staying on schedule, especially through various business ups and downs. It will also help to keep track of events, trends, clients, investors, etc. – anything that will potentially alter the business goals of the plan.
• For Justification – It will help by justifying the value of the plan, by defining its goal, scope, and planned resources.
• For Proof – It will help by providing proof of the usefulness of the plan and the consequences if the plan is not approved

How to structure a Business Plan

• Organize it. Because the Business Plan is like a blueprint, and clearly defines the purpose and its strategy, it can almost be structured similarly to a Requirements Document (which provides the desired prerequisites of a project; stating its goals, resources, funding, and technology). The difference though, is that the Business Plan will include more detail on how it intends to build and complete the project. It will show how the end result will be accomplished and benefit the intended audience. It details and orchestrates the steps for ensuring how a project will be completed.
• Describe why the Business Plan was developed and what it will accomplish.
• Show proof that research was done and apply comparison purposes and show its positive results.
• Include facts and details so that, e.g., the plan defines a solution to a problem.

How do you begin to create your Business Plan?

• Collaborate with others. Meet with your stakeholders to gather useful background and include the material within the plan.
• Perform your interviewing and research. Investigate and interview all leads to create a structure that is understood and acceptable by the organization. In other words, the plan should fit into the company vision.
• Validate the plans business scope so that critical stages can be listed and prioritized. Note: Status reports can be checked (when necessary) for items, such as, whether or not there have been or will be issues during critical stages to affect the project.
• Plan to break up the document into categories such as Introduction, Summary, Business description (Operations), Strategy and Risks, Recommendations, Research, Marketing plan, Problems and Resolution, Resources, Finance (Support), Costs, Benefits, and Time.

Part 2 will describe how to design a Business Plan. If you have other suggestions of what a Business Plan is or should contain, please leave a comment. Thank you

Entrepreneurs, Solopreneurs, and Small Business Owners – Save Time and Money

Want to get the word out about your business and earn valuable backlinks at the same time?

After a deep dive into the world of online press releases, I have come up with a short list of the best online Press Release sites for entrepreneurs, solopreneurs and small businesses. Many hours of research have gone into whittling a long list down to these three. After using a wide array of press release services, I believe that these are solid, reputable choices. I have had good experience using them, and with good results.

The vast majority of online press release sites are not as professional as we wish, and most should be avoided so as not to embarrass your company.

However, these sites offer a choice of free and paid, with the free options being solid services that meet the basic needs of most small businesses. Especially attractive:

• They are relatively high Page Rank (PR). According to Google, “PageRank is what Google uses to determine the importance of a web page. It’s one of many factors used to determine which pages appear in search results.”

• They are “Do-Follow”, meaning a backlink from this domain (when they post it on their site) gives you “link juice” – or, ‘extra credit’ from Google and other search engines.

Getting all this in one press release service is a feat accomplished only after doing the extensive research which led me to these sites. So enjoy!

www.Newswire.com (PR 6) Syndication Service

Through a single page submission form you are able to input all of your press release information. Their editorial process is fast and you will receive notification within a few hours. If you are looking for additional distribution, you can try out the media outreach feature.

Newswire Free and Paid Account Comparison – starter packages

• Get your press release published on 7000+News and Media Outlets.
• Your story is syndicated to a wide range of business, financial and news outlets to increase your presence online and in search.
• In the body of the press release, you may insert 3 links maximum. This is a real boon, because most other free press release site only allow links in the body if you use their paid version.
• If you have any questions you can contact them via phone (800-713-7278) or their helpdesk service.

Briefingwire.com (PR4) http://www.briefingwire.com/ Online Press Release Service

BriefingWire.com is a simple, effective and FREE service. Your press releases will show up in search if you use specific keywords in the title, subtitle, and repeatedly in the body of the press release.

Free Press Release Features:

• Immediate Publication: Your press will be live the moment you submit it.
• Dedicated URL: Your press release gets a dedicated URL
• (e.g. http://www.briefingwire.com/pr/your-pr).
• 1 Backlink: You are allowed one backlink in the Author Details box of your press release.
• Distribution: They distribute your press release to all major Search Engines and RSS Feed Aggregators.

Breifingwire.com Free and Paid Membership comparison – two options only

How long does it take to publish a press release?

Publication is immediate. Your press release is live the moment you press the submit button. You do have the option of editing or deleting a press release after you publish it.

Where does the press release go?

Your press release is distributed globally to many major information hubs including Google, Yahoo and Bing. There are many other distribution sites as well but those are the most prominent. The goal is to make it easier for people to find your press release… to make you searchable.

You can also:

• Edit Your Press Release After You’ve Submitted and Published It
• Remove or Delete a Press Release

www.OnlinePRNews.com (PR 4) Online Press Release Service

Online PR News offers affordable multimedia press releases that achieve high search engine visibility — putting your message in front of the right people at exactly the right time. They’ve combined all of the features that internet marketers, business owners, and journalists have asked for in an online press release distribution site.

OnlinePRNews.com Free and Paid Options Comparison – starter packages

If your free release does not show up as approved after 24 hours, review their press release submission guidelines. With the FREE option, you may include a maximum of 2 links in the body.

Press Releases Published on Online PR News Must:

1. Have a legitimate news angle (announcing something new and/or timely)
2. Contain proper attribution
3. Be news from the company actually submitting the news
4. Have an objective tone — not be written in casual first person language (I, we, you, etc)
5. Not contain overt sales language (Are YOU looking for ways to make money online??” “Buy now!!!”)
6. Not be from a site that offers adult products and services, escort services, illegal products and services, scams and pyramid schemes, or iPhone unlocking products
7. Not advertise products that promote the use of any Google product including YouTube, Blogger, or Orkut
8. Not be a duplicate of a previously submitted press release
9. Not contain excessive links
10. Contain a valid email and phone number
11. Be at least 250 words

Online PR News Customer Service – Contact them by email via contact form or call 888-451-4213

I hope this information saves you much time and money. Happy PR!

For more resources, see the Free Management Library topic: Marketing and Social Media.

.. _____ ..

About Lisa M. Chapman:

Lisa Chapman helps company leaders define, plan and achieve their goals, both online and offline. After 25+ years as an entrepreneur, she is now a business and marketing consultant, business planning consultant and social media consultant. Online, she works with clients to establish and enhance their online brand, attract their target market, engage them in meaningful social media conversations, and convert online traffic into revenues. Email: Lisa (at) LisaChapman (dot) com. Her book, The WebPowered Entrepreneur – A Step-by-Step Guide is available at:

• Amazon.com
• Barnes & Noble

You know how full every minute of your day is. Packed with meetings, phone conversations, travel, family commitments, e-mail. It goes on and on. But if we let our busy lives get in the way of good listening, there is a steep price to pay. That price includes losses in efficiency, effectiveness, and even in relationships. We make mistakes, we forget what was said, we miss nuances in the conversation. Not good.

We owe it to ourselves and all those we care about at home and at work, to slow down, pay attention, and do the hard but rewarding work of listening.

This week, check your listening habits.

1. Put aside distractions. In order to really listen, you must put aside other work, turn away from the screen, and focus on the speaker. It is too easy to keep looking at your work, especially when the person is on the phone. But it is pretty obvious when someone is not listening. Listening is a skill that requires your full attention. Try it and see what a difference focus makes.
2. Focus on the entire message. Pay attention to what is being said, not on your response to it. Tune in to body language, tone of voice, facial expressions, absorbing the whole message. Watch for conflicting body language, such as a frown, folded arms over chest, or a subtle shaking of the head while saying “yes.” Non-verbals can account for as much as 55% of the message, so pay close attention to the entire message, not just the words.
3. Show that you are listening. Avoid looking around or fidgeting. Make steady eye contact, nod, and use neutral acknowledgements such as “uh-huh” or “go on.” Separate listening from responding: don’t jump in immediately with your own opinion, your story, or your advice. Listen first.
4. Adjust to the style of the other person. If they are interested in the emotional context, don’t keep asking about facts. If they are very fact-oriented, shift your listening to the rational. If they want details, focus more on details. If they want to talk big picture, let them know you see it, then ask about feelings or for further facts. Matching their style is a hallmark of good listening.
5. Check back. Ask if you are hearing them correctly. Don’t make assumptions or jump to conclusions based on partial hearing. Even if you are under pressure or tight on time, maybe especially then, slow down, breathe, and focus on hearing and paraphrasing what you are hearing. If you just can’t focus at that moment, say so, and ask to connect at another time.
6. Eliminate sound clutter. If your phone is getting a bad signal, ask to call back. If you are in a noisy place, or rushing to catch a plane, and you can’t hear what is being said, there is no way you can listen effectively. Ask to reschedule, or get yourself to a quieter place where you can hear and concentrate.

Great leaders and great communicators have a striking ability to listen well. It takes work and mental focus that you sometimes feel short on, but it is so worth it. Super listening pays dividends in better productivity and helps build better relationships. What could be more important?

Communicating electronically is widely used for businesses, education, heath, and individuals. All businesses big or small use mobile, networking, or virtual devices to communicate. It is one of our most important and popular tools. We use our smart phones, tablets, or any other devices every second of every day. We use these devices at work, at home, while shopping or on a trip, while waiting, etc. We need these devices to be informed of different events surrounding us. Whether it’s to be notified of emails, status reports from work or a sale at a store, getting a coupon, these devices help to keep us informed and keep us on our toes. For monitoring our health, these devices, e.g., tell us when to stand up and stretch, or provide health records when needed. Communicating electronically keeps us up-to-date on all matters through internet access to data.

Benefits of communicating electronically for the individual.

• Education – helps us to instruct individuals. Educational websites and educational publishing is now easily accomplished. Also, training mediums through videos and interactive learning is easily accessible and can be used at an individual’s own pace.
• Knowledge management – helps us to manage and share content and also provides information services through channels such as content management systems. Knowledge is easily shared and maintained electronically.
• Notifications – helps us to communicate easier through text and voice activated messages. It is no longer necessary to know how to type nor write if, e.g., all you need is your voice to speak into a smart phones to communicate messages.
• Traveling – helps us to travel more easily through the aid of GPS systems or smart cars.
• Health – helps us to stay healthier by letting us use healthcare apps and medical devices to monitor patient care and share information on our health. We can electronically access and share our health records when needed, know how far we’ve walked, display our pulse rate, etc.
• Organization – helps us to remain organized and on schedule through various business applications and can even help us keep track of items, devices, people, notes, pets, etc.
• Tasks – helps us remember scheduled appointments and tasks that need to be taken care of.
• Contacts – helps us to maintain communication with our favorite people (clients, friends, family, Drs., etc.).
• Entertainment – helps us to access and provide easier recreation, such as movies, shows, games, etc. It also helps us to easily take photos and to share them to whomever we want.

Benefits of communicating electronically for businesses.

• Keeps businesses up-to-date on all matters such as statuses, gathering data, brainstorming, solving problems, trends, new procedures, etc.
• Provides easier collaboration and engagement by helping us to maintain our global contacts trough telecommunications, video conferencing, etc.
• Provides easier marketing to new and current clients through digital advertising.
• Keeps businesses up-to-date on business matters through video and audio conferences.
• Eases maintenance and viewing of data.
• Eases assistance and productivity capabilities by providing support anytime and anywhere.

If you have more ideas or thoughts about communicating using electronic devices, please leave a comment.