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Archive for October, 2011

Make The Most of a Media Opp!

Posted by Kiara Boake 0 Comment Oct 26, 2011

A television appearance. A radio interview. A magazine article or a mention in a popular blog. Every business owner understands the value of positive media coverage. There’s no better way to build your brand. Media coverage is significantly more credible than paid advertising because the content is developed by an unbiased, third-party source. That’s why companies spend a lot of time and effort trying to capture the media’s attention.

What would you do if the Today show called?  Would you be ready?  You certainly don’t want to blow your opportunity.  A mishandled interview can damage your company’s brand. The key car

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Tags: Media, Media Opp

Popular La Zona Rosa may be up for sale

Posted by Jasmine Serle 0 Comment Oct 25, 2011

AUSTIN (KXAN) – One of the city’s most famous live music venues could be going away soon.

La Zona Rosa is showing up on real estate websites, and the pitch on a flier posted by the company Retail Solutions calls it a prime retail location.

It also includes an artist rendering that looks much different than the current site, including a glass-boxed second level.

La Zona Rosa has been a music venue for decades.

So far, KXAN News has not been able to reach the owners or Retail Solutions for comment on the potential sale.

However, when KXAN News went to La Zona, a worker there said the business had been sold.

Tags: La Zona, La Zona Rosa, Rosa, Zona Rosa

Whirlpool says it’ll cut 5,000 jobs

Posted by Luke Dadson 0 Comment Oct 24, 2011

Appliance maker Whirlpool Corp. plans to cut 5,000 jobs, about 10 percent of its workforce in North America and Europe, as it faces soft demand and higher costs for materials.

The worlds biggest appliance maker also on Friday cut its 2011 earnings outlook drastically and reported third-quarter results that missed expectations, hurt by higher costs and a slowdown in emerging markets.

The Benton Harbor-based Whirlpools third-quarter net income more than doubled to $177 million, or $2.27 per share, from $79 million, or $1.02 per share.

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Tags: Jobs

Recruiting and Hiring: 6 Creative Strategies

Posted by Kiara Boake 0 Comment Oct 23, 2011

Do you consider small business hiring to be an important element in your success? Most small businesses have 10 or fewer employees, but the right employee in a management or strategist position can grow your company into one that needs dozens of employees.

Alas, finding and hiring the perfect candidate can be challenging. If you do not have a human resources department who helps with the hiring process, you are on your own. Take advantage of these key strategies that can be beneficial when it comes to getting that perfect fit within your company.

  1. Look at Past Candidates

    Remember when you told previous potential hires that you would “keep their resume on file?” Why not hold up to that statement? Loo

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Tags: Hiring, Hiring Creative

Get Your Support Team Holiday-Ready

Posted by Jasmine Serle 0 Comment Oct 22, 2011

With the holiday season coming up faster than a speeding reindeer, it’s important to be prepared. In no other area is this more crucial than your customer service. 

Staff it Up!

Take it into Overtime

Jose Escobar, Customer Support Specialist:Consider extending your support hours. Anything from an extra hour every night, or a weekend morning. This extra time can help with answering emails, returning voicemails, or tracking down a shipment. You can even boast about your holiday “extended service hours” in your offers, coupons and e-mail marketing messages!Maintain Motivation

Kristen Hayer, Director of Sales & Support:It’s easy for staff to lose focus during the holiday season. Ke

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Tech companies dominate list of world’s most valuable brands

Posted by Luke Dadson 0 Comment Oct 13, 2011

Businesses must learn to adapt to new economic environments and must roll out products as quickly as possible in order to make their brands more valuable, according to the latest Interbrand Best Global Brands Report, which says Coca-Cola, IBM and Google are some of the world’s most valuable brands. 

The tech sector continued to dominate, with Apple’s value rising by 58% during the past year, Google up 27% and Intel increasing by 10%.

Interbrand chief executive Damian Borchok told SmartCompany technology brands are beginning to emerge as some of the world’s leading company names as the industry continues to perform above and beyond the rest of the global economy.

“Technology brands are certainly beginning to dominate,” he says.

“I think every 30 years there is a particular industry that comes of age and right now I believe we’re in the tech space.

“Years ago it was automotive and steel production, and we’re seeing technology now with names like Google and Amazon enjoying substantial growth. Apple in particular

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Tags: Brands