Marketing, Web Marketing, Webmarketing Strategies, Webmarketing Tips | GordonWebbo.com

Tips on Doing Well in an Interview

Yours truly GordonWebbo today wants you to read the following article, courtesy of this site:

• Be prepared.  Go into your interview with some idea of the questions you are likely to be asked.  These are going to vary depending on the job for which you are interviewing.  In general, they will be probing questions, as  your potential employer wants to know as much about you and your qualifications before they consider hiring you.  Questions like “Why do you think you would be qualified for this job?” and “How would you handle a particular situation?” will almost certainly come up, so be prepared to answer them completely and effectively.
• Know your resume.  Although it might be tempting to overload your resume with every single job and activity you have done in the last ten years, sometimes less is more.  Don’t include anything on your resume that you’re not prepared to discuss at length.  If you put down that you were chef at a top restaurant, be prepared to explain to your interviewer your responsibilities, what restaurant you worked at, etc.  If you put something on your resume and then aren’t able to explain anything about it, you could quit easily lose the job, even if you’re qualified otherwise.  
• Dress appropriately.  If you’re going to be interviewing for a position, keep in mind that first impressions are crucial.  Don’t show up to the interview in cargo shorts and a cutoff T-Shirt.  Right away a potential employer will write you off as someone who isn’t taking this seriously and would probably not do well in the position they are offering.  In general, proper interview attire consists of the following:  a collared shirt (preferably a button-up, but a polo can also be acceptable,) dress pants (khakis or black dress pants,) and dress shoes.  A tie is optional.  
• Be well-groomed.  Presenting a well-kempt appearance is just as important as clothing.  The best suit in the world isn’t going to do you any good if your hair is greasy and uncombed and your fingernails are dirty.  Take a shower, comb/gel your hair, trip your nails, your beard, and any other grooming items that need attended to.  It could mean the difference between a job and the unemployment line.
• Be on time.  Nothing destroys a potential interview like lateness.  On the other hand, few things impress an employer more than punctuality.  In today’s economy, time equals money, so it’s always best to make absolutely certain that you show up to the interview on time.  In fact, I recommend showing up a few minutes early.  This will show your potential employer not only your ability to follow directions, but also indicate your seriousness about pursuing the position.  
• Stay cool and collected during the interview.  Although it can often be very intimidating to be so thoroughly questioned by someone, it’s vital to show poise throughout the whole process.  Answer all questions fully and completely.  If you need to, take a few minutes to think about the question before answering.  Sometimes it’s better to be silent and think of a really good answer, than to blurt out the first thing that comes to mind.

Follow these simple instructions, and in no time you’ll land your dream job.  Happy interviewing!

The Ins and Outs of Opening Your Own Lawn Care Business

Yours truly GordonWebbo today wants you to read the following article, courtesy of this site:

Your area may require you to register a new business and purchase a business license. Check the blue pages in your phone book under local government.  Check into this before you buy any equipment.

You may want to consider advertising your new business.  Some cities have a weekly free paper with services section.  

 The main piece of equipment you will need is a riding lawn mower. These are available in all price ranges, from $1000 and up. You can also find good used mowers for sale starting at about $500. However, your average riding mower is not made for commercial use. The type of mower you purchase at your local home  and garden store is made to be used maybe once a week, and will last many years with good care and maintenance . However, take that same mower and use it several times a day everyday and you will be lucky to get 1 or 2 years out of it. Also, the warranty on most riding mowers will not cover heavy duty use.  Another option would be a commercial mower. Some of these have a 1 or 2 year commercial warranty, but prices start at about $5000. If the price of a commercial mower is too prohibitive, start out with a cheaper $1500-2000 model. After your business takes off and you are making money, consider a more expensive commercial mower. 

Other equipment you will need:

• Mulching blade kit for your riding mower. You don’t want to have to rake grass
• Push mower. Some homes have a fenced back yard that a riding mower will not have access to Get a 5 or 6 hp model with the larger wheels in the back and a mulching blade
• Gas string trimmer. Purchase the best one you can afford. While you’re at it get an extra spool of string
• Gas leaf blower to blow the grass off sidewalks, driveways, etc.
• Push broom
• Grass rake
• Gloves
• Dust masks
• Ear plugs
• Heavy duty shoes or boots
• Hat with a large brim
• Sun block
• Orange traffic cones, in case you have to park close to traffic
• Hedge trimmers, electric and hand operated
•  Pruners, short and long handled 

1. You will need a way to transport your equipment. If you have a pickup truck this is easy, just get yourself a set of ramps that will support the weight of  your heaviest mower. If you own a car, you will need a small open trailer will a built in ramp. You can purchase these at your local home improvement or farm store for about $1000 or less. You may want to go this route even if you own a pickup truck. The loading height will be much lower on a trailer than the bed of a truck. The ideal option would be a covered trailer with a built in ramp at the rear.  These are available for about $3000. That sounds like a lot of money but the cost is well worth it since your equipment will be under lock and key and out of the weather when not in use. You could also advertise your business and phone number on the side of the trailer.
2. The most challenging aspect of starting a new business is acquiring clients, but the nice thing about owning a mobile business is that you can go to the customer. You’d be surprised how much business you can get by just going door to door. If you do good work, word of mouth will spread quickly. You can also get unwanted clients from existing lawn businesses.  
3. If you are not afraid of a little hard word, this is a very rewarding field to get into.

You are your own boss and you can set your own hours and work days. You will get out your business whatever you put into it. Good luck!

Corporate Slaughter of Loyal Employees

Yours truly GordonWebbo today wants you to read the following article, courtesy of this site:

Corporate slaughter of loyal employees is a dramatic caption but when you’ve put your heart and hard work into a job for a number of years and suddenly found yourself out in the cold, wondering where your next mortgage payment will come from, it feels like a cold and brutal slaying of your means of survival.  Getting laid-off never feels good but the blow is doubly brutal when a corporation or small business ruthlessly gives its employees no warning of their impending dismissal. The justification of protecting the company from retaliation through worker’s compensation claims or sabotage might appear logical and a simple defensive maneuver on the part of a corporate team making those decisions and employing those tactics; however, the end does not justify the means.

I was recently told I was a valued and greatly respected employee.  I was given a raise, taken to lunch and told that, although things were tough recently, I did not need to worry because my work was superior and appreciated.  As I sat there and ate my corporate graced salad with the CFO looking me in the face, I heard the words, “you don’t have to worry unless things get drastic and we’ll let you know if that happens.”  A few months later the same corporate officer stopped me as I was about to clock out and said, “we are going to have you take on some more work and learn the tasks of the person we are sending out to another office.”  Two weeks later I was out on my ass, facing unemployment with no forewarning, stunned, in shock, and angrily feeling betrayed. 

Although an intelligent individual might be expected to embrace caution and even distrust in the current economic chaos of rising unemployment, bankruptcy, and foreclosures being broadcast day and night, a loyal and trusting personality is likely to believe in the security outlined in gold highlights even while the walls close in on shrinking profits.  Shame on me and shame on the deceivers who hire executive officers who cost the company a fortune in losses or run big charity events providing proceeds below the costs of the events, or act with cutthroat heartlessness while proclaiming themselves rescuers of stray or aged animals while their former employees go home and wonder how they will pay for their next meal or keep the electricity on.

There is something inhumane and abusive about big business when it comes to insuring its own survival at the expense of respect and honor.  Misleading employees by keeping its status a secret or outright lying about the anticipated future of employment and production is a foul tactic more suited to criminals justifying their crimes by blaming society for their actions.  It’s a fraudulent lie and indecent but few have ever believed that big business is humane or decent. However, most loyal, dedicated workers operate on exactly that premise and they are too often the first worker bees to be smashed in order to protect the hive and keep the fat queen bee bathed in honey.  The drones at multi levels are the forces that keep a company operating.  Even though the elite executives with their high-powered tasks of decision making and elevated responsibilities might actually be necessary to make it possible for the workers to busy themselves in the hive, they are also too often the source of the decline of profit and success in the business.  They are also more often the last to be dismissed or eliminated in the need to protect the status of the corporate entity regardless of their true level of positive contribution.

I sat at my desk eight hours a day or more, five days a week and watched a new manager charge personal expenses to corporate accounts, talk to fellow employees in the office in inappropriate fashion, ignore necessary tasks, disappear during the day, create his own working hours and basically lose the company thousands upon thousands of dollars.  Even in the middle of a recession and falling profits, it took the corporation over a year to dismiss the over-paid department manager.  This high level manager was given time and more time to prove himself, was provided with instruction, respect, conference meetings, new equipment, and finally warnings while the profit levels dropped in the entire company due to recession and the fruits of his high-paid labors.  On the other hand, hard working, intelligent and honest employees were dismissed with no forewarning and void of any word of apology, regret, or shame for the ruthlessness of their tactics. 

It’s a big business survival of the fittest but the fittest are not recognized as the loyal, hard working drones that keep the machines running, the phones answered, the accounts logged, or the office humming.  The fittest in corporate world equates to the highest title and the highest salary figure regardless of their skill or their contribution to the success of the company. The fittest are also likely to be the most manipulative, hard game-playing individuals who survive based not on their technical skill or dedication but on their ability to sell themselves, persuade belief in their importance, and in some cases even blackmail, prostitution of their morals, and ability to dramatize their presence while the genuine workers take real action and keep the business alive.

How many of us could tell this same story and are wondering what to do next?  There is a long wait ahead of many in the unemployment lines and regardless of the government speeches and hopes to revive the American economy, it will be the dedicated workers that make it possible for this nation to succeed and recover from the darkness of capitalism run amuck with greed and selfish disdain for the people who made their corporate castles possible.  Let us dance or pray in the meantime and find value in who we know ourselves to be regardless of the lack of acknowledgment or appreciation from big business.  The real workers will survive because they are self-schooled in plowing on and grinding away and in the end the survival will truly be of the fittest.

Other Articles by Susan Raines

Turning Fifty-The Quandaries of Aging Gracefully

Interracial Relationships: Black and White

Choose Your Dog With Care

The Power of a Well-Written Resume

Yours truly GordonWebbo today wants you to read the following article, courtesy of this site:

“Quality rather than quantity is the rule”, writes Tara West, of aussieresumes.com, in regards to the numerous resumes she reviews daily.  Many people at some stage will wonder why they were unsuccessful in their job search, or didn’t hear back from a prospective employer. Could it be that their resume was just too hard to read? Is there just not enough understanding in how to write a resume correctly; or rather is there a lack of education out there?

Either way as a recruitment specialist, and having been in the industry for fifteen years, it always surprises me at the amount of resumes that come across my desk and end up in the unsuccessful pile, simply because they are too lengthy, too confusing, or are written back to front. This piece of paper is GOLD; it’s your secret to gaining that illusive interview, better still the job of your dreams. Spelling errors, résumés longer than 4 pages, employment dates not in reverse chronological order, no dates or job titles, and irrelevant information, are just some of the obvious ways not to get the job. 

Prospective employers around the world, large or small, receive hundreds of resumes daily most of which end up in the bin, or should I say the unsuccessful pile! It is a huge job screening and individually acknowledging applicants, and these organisations or the manager with the vacancy simply cannot manually read or acknowledge each and every resume, therefore there is usually a gatekeeper of some sort. Either someone within the Human Resources department who has no experience in the field that requires the new person, or there is some sort of applicant-tracking software in place. “These days there is a plethora of applicant tracking systems available” says Caitrin O’Sullivan, public relations coordinator at iCIMS, a leading organization in providing software as a service. So, how do job seekers ensure their resume makes it through these gatekeepers and into the hands of the right person and in the yes pile? “Lay out really is open to debate but the best advice I’ve heard is Keep it simple”, writes Kate Southam, Editor of careerone.com.au. Make it easy for the employer to read, preferably 11 point Times New Roman or Arial, and remember quality not quantity is always far more attractive!

Here are a few tips on layout. The first page of your resume usually is your employment summary, a snapshot of who you are and what you have been doing for the past ten years. Realistically ten years is far enough for you to go back, unless it is truly relevant to the position vacant.  Name, address, phone number, mobile, email (make sure it’s professional, not sexysally@), DOB (up to the person), education, and qualifications. Towards the bottom of the first page you can include a brief career summary, if you’re not fresh out of school, job title, employer name and dates is all that is needed. If you are a school leaver it might be good to include a career objective instead.

The next three to four pages, four maximum, is an expansion of your employment summary using bullet points and key words relevant to the position.  This is another important point, customize your resume, make sure you have read the job description and you have put the skills that are most pertinent at the top. Dates from start to end, company name and your position title, followed by bullet points of your key reasonability’s. Unless the job specifies “no experience necessary” then try only to apply for jobs that you are qualified for, or have relevant experience in. Having proven ability within the position advertised immensely increases your chances of making it into the yes pile, maybe even accepted for an interview. Keep this section clear and concise try to fill or explain certain gaps, “Employers and recruiters don’t like mysteries so if you have been out of the workforce it is better to try and explain the gap in your resume.” Says Kate Southam, Editor of careerone.com.au.

Finally the last page is for referees and their work phone numbers, preferably not a mobile, as it’ll only annoy them if you catch them in the middle of something un-work related. And if necessary, or relevant to the job, your hobbies and interests, sometimes this can go against you though so be careful. Make sure your referee is someone you have worked directly for, i.e. a manager or supervisor; they need to match with your employment history, where you have worked. And be sure the referee is aware they are down as a referee; they don’t want any surprises either.  

You can do this! It is worth the time invested initially, once you have written your resume in the correct format the rest is reasonably easy. Now, all that is required is to customize your resume according to each position you apply for, this won’t take nearly as much time as it did to put your whole resume together. Just a few, nips, and tucks here and there. You will be amazed at how powerful your well-written resume is, and how it really can assist in your job search. Good Luck!!

Is Microsoft Stealing Employees From Apple?

Yours truly GordonWebbo today wants you to read the following article, courtesy of this site:

We all know that Microsoft has been stealing some of Apple’s retailing techniques, but did you know that Microsoft is also trying to swipe off Apple employees? They promise a higher salary and they are even willing to pay for the moving costs if needed.

Apple’s Genius Bar

Out of the many business techniques that Microsoft has copied, one is for emulating Apple’s “Genius Bar“, now calling it a “Guru Bar“. The Genius Bar is in available any Apple Retail Store, and is for when you need technical support for your Apple Products such as Macs, and iPods from experts.

The similarities to Apple’s product stores don’t just end with its Genius Bar. Back in July, Microsoft described the interior of its stores, which include Windows,  Smartphone, and Office sections along the walls. In the center, there will be tables with products on them that are labeled Learn, Connect and Info – very alike to the Apple’s stores.

These may be dangerous moves for Microsoft, but it also could be totally worth it for the software giant.

Effective Tips for Buying Stocks

Yours truly GordonWebbo today wants you to read the following article, courtesy of this site:

The rule of thumb is you should have six months of living expenses saved up for an emergency and this scenario disqualifies most individuals. Therefore, you might  ask what are some other alternatives?  I have listed some tips that you might consider if you have accepted the fact that nothing is guaranteed in the stock market, it consists of nothing but risk.

You will need to open an account with an online stock broker, I use Ameritrade and have been very happy with their service. However, you have a multitude  of brokers to chose from so that is up to you. Most online accounts require that you have a minimum of $2,000.00 to open an account before you can begin trading. All the paperwork for opening up an account is very simple and easy to understand.

Now that you have that out of the way your next step is to select the stock you would like to purchase.  Perhaps, you haven’t a clue of what to buy and don’t know how to get started. If this applies to you,  I would suggest you start  with a company that you do business with on a daily basis such as; McDonald’s,  Walmart, Target and Lowes. These are companies that you are familiar with and for the most part we all hope they are companies that are going to be around for years to come. Therefore, making our first investment somewhat safe but still realizing we are taking risk.

My next suggestion would be  to take your $2,000.00 dollars that you opened your account with  and divide it three ways and allocate  $600.00 each for the three stocks that you wish to purchase.  With this amount of money you are going to be purchasing only a few shares but that is fine because you are doing something that you have never done before and you need to learn how to crawl before you walk.

Now that you have purchased your stocks,  plan on holding them for several years and as time goes by they should increase in value. However,  from time to time when you have some extra money you might want to purchase more shares of  the stocks you are holding in your portfolio or purchase other companies.

Buying stocks can be very rewarding and can certainly help you reach your financial goals. Just remember, you are investing and you can’t  invest with scared money. It must be money that you can afford to toss out the window.

Tips for Writing a Successful Business Message

Yours truly GordonWebbo today wants you to read the following article, courtesy of this site:

The three-step writing process is the essential structure for every quality business communication. It’s a simple, straightforward method of planning, writing and completing your message that maximizes the time spent on your correspondence, by you and your recipients. Following this development process will ensure you’re creating the most efficient, effective message you can deliver. When you are ready to begin the process, try to divide your time between the three steps so you use about half your time on planning, one-fourth for writing, and the remaining one-fourth for completing final revisions. As you practice using this method, it will become more and more automatic, and eventually it will become a natural process for creating every new business message.

Planning is the first step, and includes four tasks: The first is to analyze your situation, by defining your purpose in general and specific terms, and then create a profile of your audience. What will they be looking to you for? Can you deliver it? Will anything change as a result of your message? Is your purpose realistic, and the timing appropriate? The second task involves gathering information, utilizing informal methods like asking for others’ viewpoints, seeking out related surveys and reports, and requesting input from members of your audience. You must ensure the content of your message is accurate, ethical and complete. Whether your message will be delivered in person or in writing, what will your audience need to remember? Be sure to articulate it clearly.

Selecting your delivery medium is your third task, and it’s vital that you make an appropriate choice, as a successful impact on your audience depends on it. Oral, written, visual and electronic media all offer distinct advantages and disadvantages you must weigh, when considering the makeup of your audience. Next you will organize your communication, taking care to strongly position your main idea, decide whether your approach will be direct or indirect, depending upon your audience’s expected reaction, and then proceed to outline your overall content. To do this, start by stating your main idea, strengthen it with your major points, and then provide strong supportive evidence. Some commonly used outlining approaches include alphanumeric, decimal and organization chart outlines. It’s not necessary to utilize a complicated or confusing method to outline your message. Use a system that helps you to expand your thought process comfortably, so you can address all the information you identified in your original analysis.

Then it’s time to write your message, by putting yourself in your recipients’ shoes, and drafting a communication that honestly, ethically and sensitively conveys what they need to understand. Emphasize a positive attitude as often as possible, and avoid using language that places blame or is biased against any members of your audience. When you feel as though you’ve completely addressed all the necessary elements of your main point, then just stop, and walk away. Leave your communication alone for a day or so, and then return with fresh eyes to complete it. Now you can make any revisions necessary to alter the message length, re-emphasize your main idea, better illustrate your supporting points, and correct errors. That’s all there is to it! You’ve succeeded in creating a concise, audience-focused message. You are now ready to deliver it through the most appropriate channel, knowing you have done your best to create a quality business communication.

An Informed Approach to Small Business Website Privacy and Security

Yours truly GordonWebbo today wants you to read the following article, courtesy of this site:

Like any other small business owner overseeing the development of a new retail Website, you have a responsibility to properly address the privacy and security threats your new online venture poses to you and your clients. Although a prolific number of current government, corporate and private sites may suggest that privacy and security are no longer critical issues to consider when launching a retail Website, the fact is that just the opposite is true.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center logged 206,884 Web-based crimes in 2007 alone, resulting in losses estimated at nearly $240 million. While the evolution of more sophisticated online privacy and security solutions has closed many of the loopholes in the Internet’s rapidly evolving communication and transactional gateways, there is no sign that these crimes will abate. Your attention to overseeing the implementation of some specific online privacy and security measures can ensure a greatly-reduced chance of such crimes against your online platform, your business, and your customers.

One particularly alarming risk to the privacy and security of your Website is the theft or malicious use of private data, like business and customer financial and credit card information. You should ensure that sensitive business and customer data is never stored on the Website itself, where it could be extracted if the site is hacked by an unauthorized individual. As the owner of a retail Website, you are responsible for protecting any identifiable information that could lead to the identity theft of a customer’s information. Small business sites are often prime targets for hackers, because they lack an IT department, security officer or strong infrastructure to monitor unscrupulous activity. To guard against this type of intrusion, be sure your Internet customer Solutions Provider (ISP) programs your site to encrypt all sensitive, customer-submitted data. The SSL (secure socket layer) certificate issued for your site will ensure that this security precaution has been taken.

If you intend to transact credit card business on your Website, it is extremely important that the site complies with the Payment Card Industry’s data security standards. The PCI Security Standards Council was formed in 2006 by representatives from the world’s largest credit card companies, and it sets required security standards for all Website businesses that transact major credit card business. The Council provides all the necessary guidelines for your site’s user authentication, firewall and antivirus protection, data encryption, programming maintenance and vulnerability testing. You can obtain a list of PCI-approved Internet Service Providers by contacting VISA’s merchant services department. Your service provider shares responsibility, along with you and your merchant services provider, to PCI-certify your Website, before you can accept and process Internet credit card transactions.

Another threat involves the tremendous amount of malware proliferating on the Web today. Malware, or malicious ware, includes files, codes and content that can attack and infect a computer or server’s programs. There are hundreds of different viruses circulating at any given time, including file and boot sectors infectors, macros, worms, hoaxes, Trojan Horses, spyware, and many others. Malware programs can gain entry to your Website, computer, or server through an e-mail attachment, a single interactive Website visit, an Internet download, or by opening an unsecured e-mail message.  While anti-virus software is recommended to notify you of any infections, there are a few additional actions you take on your own, to avoid the hassle, and potential embarrassment, of a malware infestation on your Website or computer.

First, when preparing to download any file or program, be sure you recognize the site and data you are downloading, before you do it. Do not automatically download virus protection scans or software, just because you received a pop-up message instructing you to do so. Some of today’s most virulent malware is included in some of these downloads. Next, avoid utilizing shareware at all, if possible. This software also often harbors hidden viruses and other malware. Finally, make a habit of never opening unknown e-mails or e-mail attachments, and don’t click on suspicious pop-up windows, for the same reason. Delete these instead of taking a chance of malware-infecting your Website, computer or server.

Customers want to feel safe about disclosing confidential financial information in the course of any online transaction. Website owners that collect private customer information have a responsibility to publish detailed, factual privacy notices wherever data is requested on their sites. A Privacy Notice details exactly how all customer information is collected, as well as how customers can opt out of future communications from your business. Your privacy notice is a legal contract with your customers, and should be stated as a very accurate account of how you protect their personal information.

In addition, consider registering with a privacy certification organization like TRUSTe®, which can guide you in the creation and use of appropriate online customer privacy and security policies.  businesses that participate in these practices post the privacy organizations’ seals of approval on their Websites, which customers recognize as indicative of the trust they can place in the safety of transactions conducted on these sites.

You can safely conduct an Internet retail business, as long as appropriate safety precautions, like those mentioned in this essay, are always undertaken, to ensure the privacy and security of your Website, your company, and your clients. The best defense against online crime is an educated, enlightened understanding of potential threats, and a solid plan for risk avoidance and prevention. There is no need to endure a Website business learning curve that involves hacking, theft, viruses or the aftermath of other malicious activity. A commitment to integrate many, if not all of the privacy and security measures mentioned here, as well as installation of adequate firewall protection and the Internet payment gateway mentioned earlier, can ensure a smooth, worry-free launch of your retail platform, and ongoing success in the expansion of your small business venture.

The Evolution of Social Media

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Managing Social Media Marketing Sites

Yours truly GordonWebbo today wants you to read the following article, courtesy of this site: