Archive for Better Commerce
January 9, 2010 at 7:25 am · Filed under Better Commerce, Biz Ops
Building a multibillion-dollar business from scratch is no extraordinary feat. However, for private equity investment firm Platinum Equity, it would take just 12 years to hit this mark. Today, after 14 years in the buyout business, the global firm has accumulated annual revenue of $27.5 billion since 1995, making it one of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States.
Platinum Equity pursues the acquisition process through the M&A&O® (Mergers, Acquisitions, and Operations) scheme. It buys underperforming Fortune 1000 companies or non-core assets through expert M&A techniques and employs operational management to ensure the success of every financial acquisition made. Simply put, Platinum Equity guarantees value creation for every company it owns.
The M&A&O strategy is executed seamlessly by an expert team composed of 100 professionals who work alongside corporate sellers from the acquisition to the operation process. Platinum Equity now has a global portfolio of companies coming from a diverse range of markets — logistics, manufacturing and distribution, information technology, telecommunications, and metals services. To date, it has acquired more than 100 portfolio companies and maintains a workforce of over 45,000 employees all over the world. Platinum Equity has a world headquarters in Los Angeles, California and regional offices located in New York, London, and Boston.
September 21, 2009 at 8:18 am · Filed under Better Commerce, Biz Ops
Intelius, an intelligence and security broker based in Bellevue, Washington recognizes that whether in the personal or corporate sphere, poorly-made decisions give birth to negative consequences for yourself and your business. This is especially true when the success of your business endeavors, the security of your children, or your own personal happiness depends on the people you associate with. In social and professional capacities, different scenarios do arise and call for quick and quality decision-making. Examples may include: Am I hiring the most qualified employees? Do I know the nanny who is applying to take care of my child? Is he or she right for me? Is this neighborhood safe? Who are my children talking to on the Internet? Am I certain my credit cards are secure?
If left unchecked, decisions could result to heavy financial losses, not to mention the emotional turmoil they bring. Intelius mitigates the risk associated with poor decision-making by empowering consumers and businesses the ability to obtain reliable and accurate information about people. By delivering predictive intelligence, Intelius provides millions of Americans the basis for quality decisions, and ultimately security and peace of mind. Users may choose from a comprehensive suite of tools such as background checks, criminal checks, screening services, verification services, people searches, and identity theft prevention to address their unique security needs.
From an initial pool of 2.96 million customers that utilized its services in 2003, Intelius has grown to become the provider of choice for more than 8 million American consumers today. Its website is one of the Top 100 most frequented on the Internet, based on comScore/Media Metrix reports.
A growing number of Americans put their security and peace of mind on top of their priority lists. To address these needs, Intelius, led by its CEO Naveen Jain, arms them with a wide range of valuable and trusted solutions.
September 1, 2009 at 7:48 pm · Filed under Best Marketing, Better Commerce, Sales, Sales Hall
In essence affliliate marketing is very much like a consignment shop. Your internet site advertises merchandise for this, each purchase or enquiry pulls in money. There isn’t as much time required, fewer operating costs, it sells 24/7, and it is simple to master. To begin, you have to determine precisely what niche market best suits your interests. To achieve this, you need to find out solutions to problems a specific market segment is looking for, and then determine how you can assist them. One of the most efficient means to determine this speedily is to find specific highly specific words or phrases; there are fewer searches for these in general, even so they will convert far more. These crucial keywords can be rooted out by using Micro Niche Finder or an application like it. Data gathered from Micro Niche Finder or other applications and services compiles associated terminology in a comprehensive list allowing you to get a good listing in the search engines and generate a lot of of traffic.
Additional data is also available by Micro Niche Finder, for example how many searches every word or phrase gets, the exact number of other sites using the particular keyword or phrase, and how good the competition is. Lastly, the info created can help in getting associated domains, content for your web site, and identify desirable goods to market.
Putting together a web site is the next step; but there are still important things to do. Having a strong performance on the search engines requires the optimization of your site. Applications such as SEO Elite will make this simpler. This application automatically analyzes the internet sites of your rivals and advises you exactly what you need to do to receive top spot in the search engine results. With applications such as SEO Elite, data provided by the software advises you on links, the most lucrative keywords, and even details on how to upload articles. In short, Seo Elite information is the same kind of data that an SEO professional might provide.
Once you have discovered what niche you want to concentrate on, have your product ads, and your site is completed, then all you need to do is forcefully expand your search engine rankings. Your profits will roll in regularly and question why you did not try affiliate marketing before!
July 26, 2009 at 8:12 pm · Filed under Best Marketing, Better Commerce, Sales, Sales Hall
In essence affliliate marketing is similar to e-bay. Your website pushes various good and services for this, every last purchase pulls in cash. There isn’t as much work required, fewer overheads, it sells whilst you rest, and it’s simple to master. The very first step you must take is to make a decision as to what merchandise or area best suits your life. To accomplish this, identify solutions to issues a specific set of customers are anticipating, and then determine the best solution. A great way of achieving this is to find specific sets of long tail keywords; generally people search for these less, nevertheless they convert far more into sales. If you’d like to find these lucrative words and phrases, use programs such as Micro Niche Finder. Data compiled by this computer program or other computer programs or computer software makes associated terms in a list giving worthwhile information to get a great listing in an internet search and generate site traffic. Additional data is available by the application, for example search frequency, just how many different sites use those keywords, and how good those websites are. Finally, Micro Niche Finder data will help you find appropriate domains, material for your internet site, and draw your attention to desirable merchandise to trade. Next you need to put together a web site; yet it will take a bit more than that. It is important to fine-tune your internet site for the search engines. Applications like SEO Elite should make this less complicated. Your rivals’ web sites are examined by Seo Elite information which then offers advice on how to increase search engine performance.
With applications such as SEO Elite, information provided by the software indicates where you should look for appropriate links, what words to concentrate on, and even an extensive listing of article submission internet sites to use. In short, the data obtained are the same sort of suggestions that a specialist in search engine optimization might give.
When you find your target market sector, have some product promotion, and your site is completed, then you are ready to get your internet site up in the search results. The profits will roll in regularly and you will wonder why you did not consider this before!
July 17, 2009 at 11:07 am · Filed under Better Commerce, Biz Ops
Intelius Incorporated is a pioneering information business firm that is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. It allows customers and companies to get information that enables them to perform intelligent everyday business choices. Due to Intellius‘ pioneering assistances, it earned recognition as the “Best New Company” at the 2006 American Business Awards, commonly known as the Stevie Awards.
Intelius Inc. has begun supplying consumers and businesses with web-based predictive intelligence since its establishment in January 2003. One of the many services it provides is the IDWatch. The service secures users from fraudulence and identity theft by utilizing a real-time notification system alerting consumers of doubtful transactions that involve their personal data.
The company’s chief executive officer, Naveen Jain, has stressed that Intelius‘ quality goods and services enables clients with data allowing them to make smart decisions. It comes as no surprise that the company has obtained about 4 million new clients, ever since it was founded. Intelius has also turned into a leading information-based company because of its unique products and market demand it has built.
Intellius was also recognized as one of the 100 most trafficked websites on the Internet, according to comScore/Media Metrix. The Puget Sound Business Journal named the company in its “Top 15 Corporate Philanthropists” list. Intelius was also included in the Inc. 500 company list and considered as one of Washington’s top Best Workplaces.
In addition, Intellius has extended its size as well as scope of employment screening capabilities as the company acquired Bothell, Washington’s IntelliSense Corporation. The company’s market share increased due to IntelliSense’s acquirement. The acquisition also became the most recent action by Intelius to fortify the employment screening business while expanding its set of employment screening solutions, fulfilling both small and large consumer demands.
July 10, 2009 at 4:50 am · Filed under Better Commerce, Biz Ops
Parcel delivery in the UK is becoming an increasingly precarious. Royal Mail strikes are occurring more frequently, and horror stories of packages going missing regularly appear online. However, other options are available to the UK public and businesses looking for a parcel delivery service. Parcel delivery need not be a gamble, and there are some major benefits to using a courier service or a parcel delivery service.
Firstly, using a courier service can save you valuable time. You can order your parcel delivery online, pay for it and choose your timescale for pick-up and delivery of the parcel. A representative from the service will pick up your package, take it for delivery and it will be at its destination in the given time frame, which obviously depends on the size of the package. This eliminates several stages of standard delivery services, such as driving to a depot or post office and then sorting out weighing and payment. The process of simply completing the order online or over the phone is far more time efficient.
Courier services are generally reliable - without this, they wouldn’t have a business model. You can track the majority of your orders online and always have the back-up of calling the courier provider, citing your reference number and they will tell you where exactly your delivery is up to.
You will often find that using a courier service is comparable in price to using standard delivery, particularly for medium sized items. Whilst a package with standard delivery using Royal Mail can be priced on weight, it is more likely that a courier service will price it on size. So for bulky, light parcels, a courier service could even be less expensive.
The use of a courier service can be incredibly efficient. If cost, reliability and time are compared, overall a courier service will come out on top. So, with Royal Mail struggling to meet customer satisfaction, do private courier services have the edge at the moment in the parcel delivery market? This is something that time will only tell.
At the moment, the options for selecting a courier service are numerous. For short distances, bicycle couriers are the trend. For longer distances in the UK, van train and air courier services are all options. Which mode is used will depend on the speed you require the delivery of your package. For pan-European and International delivery, obviously air delivery is used.
May 4, 2009 at 7:04 am · Filed under Better Commerce, Biz Ops, House Of Travel
Working in Thailand as a foreigner normally means assuming an English teaching position. While there are well paid English teaching positions in universities like Thammasat or Chulalongkorn, the vast majority of such teaching positions offer little pay.
In fact, don’t expect a high salary for any job requiring skills, teaching or not. It does sound all bad, but actually if you aspire to live in Thailand for an extended period of time, such poorly paid jobs aren’t any trouble because the cost of living is very low in Thailand, the infrastructure is perhaps the best in South East Asia, it’s a safe country, and you can still rise up the career ladder because you can have a great work experience in Thailand.
But there is a hidden dilemma that only presents itself after some time: you’ve been living in Thailand for a few years, you’ve gained great work experience, your pay is low, but then again things are cheap in Thailand so that’s OK. BUT, here’s the rub : You’ve not been able to save much money while you’ve been living in Thailand. The cost of air tickets look ridiculously expensive compared to your salary. The price of things in your home country gets to scare you when you compare your Thai wage slip. This dilemma hits a lot of foreigners in Thailand a year or so after deciding to work there. Lasting future plans can often be put on hold because you don’t have the nest egg of money to put into action any long-term plan like buying a house, getting married, or even buying a car.
So when thinking about living in Thailand, also consider that you will find it incredibly difficult to save meaningful amounts of cash when considering the costs of your home country.
Even so, it’s not all about money is it? You can have a great time in Thailand, perhaps acquire the Thai language, make new friends, go travelling around the country in your freetime, and gain some worthwhile work experience.
So what kind of jobs can you find in Thailand? Looking at jobs-quality.com - a website listing jobs in and around the Bangkok and Chonburi areas of Thailand - they have listed HR job positions, Administration jobs in Thailand, sales executive jobs, safety officer jobs etc. Basically the types of positions you’d find in your home country. While most of these posts may be looking for a Thai speaker, you will still find English-speaking prerequisites within many multinational companies.
January 2, 2009 at 10:39 am · Filed under Better Commerce
Are you observing the market place trying to pin point the very best foreign currency exchange rates? The world of the internet is a fantastic place to have a look at what is on offer & pick up the finest offering. Then again, it’s not all about looking the optimum exchange rate - fees, commission and transfer costs might often all make an enticing exchange rate abruptly bad value.
In this sad period of world-wide financial fluctuation you really need to work with a firm that you can completely trust - to not only get you the very best exchange rate attainable at the sad time but additionally to furnish you with assistance and helpful advice. Foreign Currency Direct has been recognised in such well thought of news-papers as The Sunday sad era and The Observer as a leading brand with whom to do business with when you are purchasing foreign currency. Hence, you know you will be working with a honest, professional & greatly thought of company.
Trading in foreign currency will often be a hard area of business - the rates regularly change, hence, if you do not appreciate up-to-date access to the most recently updated info and expert knowledge you will often wind up forfeiting a whole lot of currency. Foreign Currency Direct are experts when it comes to working with exchange rates - in business ever since the year two thousand Foreign Currency Direct has moved from strength to strength.
Foreign Currency Directs exchange rates are calculated on live, second by second interbank’ prices (the price at which one particular bank sells to the other) that are quoted in real time, meaning that they are more competitive than those offered by less specialised banks and building societies. Foreign Currency Direct are a great resource if you’re looking to trade in foreign currencies.
The only thing you really should do is register your account at Foreign Currency Direct and you can start trading currency - you will get exchange rate quotations by telephone, if you accept the offer you shall receive an email, fax or postal conformation of the contract.
June 16, 2008 at 2:34 am · Filed under Better Commerce
Many organizations tackle to the issue of customer service by exhorting their employees to speak with a smile. Be polite. Never lose your cool. But isn’t that a little like closing the barn door after the horses have gotten out? Good customer service should be about a good customer experience with your product. This begins with the relationship your company cultivates with a customer.
This relationship will be tested by the entire process of the buyer seller relationship.
1. The images and promises of the marketing campaign
People begin to form opinions of your company and products from the messages they receive before they even purchase your product. Often, they receive these images before they have even thought of buying. Will your images match the experience?
2. The ease of ordering/purchasing the product
Once someone has decided to purchase your products or services, how easy do you make it for them to do so. Is there someone to answer the phones or will they get a voice mail message? Actually, many companies lose sales in this way. Some people, who want to act now, will simply hang up and go on to the next company that will answer their call. Also, many leads are not followed up A message is left but no one gets back.
When the buyer does reach you, are your systems in place to make the purchasing process as simple as possible? Buyers want to feel that they’ve made the right decision in choosing your product. By creating an easy process for ordering, you help them feel confident in their decision.
3. How well does the product live up to the expectations of the marketing?
Your customer now has your product in his possession. Will it live up to any hype used in the marketing campaign? Or will there be a letdown when the actual product does not match the expectations? Marketing is a powerful force. It will create expectations that must be fulfilled by the product. When it doesn’t, it can create customer satisfaction problems. Make sure your product matches expectations.
4. How well will the product live up to the expectations of the customer?
In addition to the marketing message, a customer usually forms his own expectations based on past experiences with similar products, observations and conversations with others. Will this add to the experience or create a letdown? Product must match expectations or exceed them. Anything less will create a potential customer service problem.
5. When something goes wrong, how is it fixed?
Do you acknowledge that problems can happen? Have you decided how to satisfy customers? Have you looked at the financial ramifications of your solutions? Better yet, look at the product itself. If you find many customers with similar products, perhaps it is most appropriate to address weaknesses in the product itself.
6. What are the procedures?
Even with the best of products, problems can occur. It’s best to address these issues beforehand. Decide what processes will be used to satisfy your customers. Think about replacement - and its cost, discounts, etc. If you are going to replace a product, how quickly can you get it to someone? As a replacement, it must take precedence over new orders. Customers will tell more people when they’ve had a bad experience then when they’ve had a good experience. Solving customer problems not only affects that specific customer but many other people as well.
7. Can your organization be easily reached or is the process frustration to most?
Everyone has frustrating stories to tell about voice prompts that go nowhere. They don’t cover your problem and they continually loop back into the system without a way to speak to a live operator. Make it easy for people to speak with someone. Test your systems thoroughly. Automation can be a great help and a cost saver for organizations but it must be used judiciously.
8. Can the customer service rep actually help?
Customer services reps must be empowered to solve problems. They must be able to do more than empathize and smile. Nothing is more frustration than a nice customer service rep that is unable to resolve your problem. Give your staff the appropriate information and training. Let them have responsibility and accountability for their actions. Employees tend to rise to the level that is expected of them.
Good customer service requires an ongoing examination of methods. The questions discussed above will start the thought process necessary to truly deliver world class service.
Jo Ann Kirby is president of KRG Communications Group. She has 20 years experience in sales, cusotmer service, telephone sales, management with an extensive background in training and development. Her background also includes extensive b2b telesales management experience. Jo Ann has been published in The Toastmaster, NAPPS Network and Commerce magazines. More can be found at http://www.krgcommunications.com
May 13, 2008 at 1:10 pm · Filed under Better Commerce
Have you ever talked to a service provider and thought they were wrong for you? Then you talked to your colleague and they raved about them. So you went down the path of hiring them and found them to be the “service provider from hell”. This is not an unfamiliar scenario.
Business styles vary from company to company and within the company, from person to person. We tend to check out our friends before we let them into our circle. However, we rarely spend time on checking out our service providers to that degree. This is especially true of entrepreneurs. They rely heavily on referrals. In fact, referrals from trusted colleagues are often taken as gospel truth. Most entrepreneurs learn their lessons the hard way.
So how do we check out our service providers so there are no problems down the road? Let’s analyse this with a case study. Recently, Vintage Company (not its real name) was considered to do a website for an entrepreneur. Initial calls to the company were met with no calls back. Therefore, the company was eliminated as a possibility for business. This was a great move. However, as time passed, a respected source referred the company in glowing terms. Considering the opinion of the source to be highly reliable, the company was hired to design the website
Initial discussions went well and the company was hired with a deposit. From then on the attitude of the designer went sour and there were second thoughts with firing the designer in mind. However, this must have been sensed because the designer changed her tone in phone conversations to be more amiable and eager to work to satisfy. As time passed, however, the designer was unfortunately consistently argumentative and defensive. How does a customer communicate difficulties if all they are met with are “I know more than you on this and that’s the way it goes”? The job was finished up and account settled if only to get rid of this hellish nightmare from the world of the entrepreneur struggling with other issues at the time. The website was completed in Flash so no search engine could find it. When queried about this, the designer did not respond.
How do we not repeat such an episode? Intuition must be listened to at all times. It supersedes referrals. Don’t allow the cerebral part of you to get in the way. It is true that business decisions have to be based on data. If your intuition tells you something, then feel it out and go with it. It is making you aware of data that you are forgetting.
Get to know your service provider at different times of the day and be relentless. Talk to at least 5 people they have recently served. Do not stop at one customer. Make time to contact many more.
Don’t try to get even with unfortunate circumstances. This is bad for you. The yoga of business dictates detachment and takes the event as a learning experience. We are here to learn, even through our business decisions. We must take the lessons learnt and move on to spending our energy on more positive activities. If your personality is different from your service provider and you need to work closely with them, you are in for a bad surprise. Try to talk about business philosophies when you are interviewing them. Different business styles are what usually ruin the experience. Perhaps this is true for both parties, however, it is the one that is paying that hurts more because of the monetary loss.
Yoga is not just for the body. It is a body-mind-spirit experience. Learn to make decisions with your whole being. Try to understand that, even in a business world, it is ultimately the personalities that get together. For more information on yoga and its relevance to everyday life, look at: www.getshanti.com
Listed in Who’s Who in the World, a yoga instructor and expert in East Indian Philosophy, Siva has spent the past 20 years evolving as a yoga instructor and personal trainer with a keen interest in training the complete being, rather than just the physical body. She is a Can-Fit-Pro certified personal trainer and holds advanced degrees in engineering. Siva is an accomplished athlete who has run the Toronto Marathon as she balanced a busy life in the corporate engineering world.
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