Tom Fuszard – Page 44 – Tom Fuszard's Business Builder

Good signage is important for health of your business

February 2, 2016September 14, 2011 by Tom Fuszard

To most people, a sign is just a sign. But signs serve important functions in any business, and should be given careful consideration.

The most important reason, of course, is to aid in locating your firm. Business signage also plays a role in your branding efforts, as well as to announce Grand Openings, regular sales, and, yes, even going-out-of-business sales.

Chad Schultz, President of Innovative Signs in Waukesha, Wis., offers a number of tips for successful signage. If the sign is to be attached to your building, consider the sight lines and the amount of space you have to work with. You may need to move the sign to another part of your building or adjust the type size and colors. Make sure you account for any electrical needs, he says.

Informational signs must get their point across in just a handful of words. You have only two or three seconds to grab viewers’ attention and to engage them, Schultz says. Use large and legible type, and avoid fancy font styles.

Create a successful webinar

February 2, 2016September 13, 2011 by Tom Fuszard

Webinars have fast become a popular form of presenting. They are relatively inexpensive to host – even free, with the right platform – and let you reach out to the world from the comfort of your home or office.

Those with limited public speaking experience.sometimes find hosting a webinar intimidating, even frightening. It shouldn’t be. In fact, you’ll find it a fun exercise once you start hosting your own webinars. These tips will help ensure your webinars are successful.

1. Treat it like any other presentation. A webinar is essentially a seminar given remotely. The biggest difference (which can work in your favor; more on that later) is that your audience isn’t right in front of you. Even so, you must follow the same steps you take for a standard presentation. They include:

Compliment vs. Complement

February 2, 2016September 12, 2011 by Tom Fuszard

When used as a verb, compliment means to offer commendation or praise. The coach complimented the team for its efforts. As an adjective, compliment refers to something provided at no cost. Each case of wine includes a complimentary set of glasses. Complement means to augment a process or complete a group. The beige carpet … Read more

A successful business requires strong organizational skills, branding efforts

February 2, 2016September 10, 2011 by Tom Fuszard

Running a business is no easy task. Owners wonder how they will juggle all the duties and still run a profitable business. That’s understandable, says Christine McMahon, a performance trainer, business coach, and consultant. A lot hinges on being organized and disciplined, McMahon says. And a big part of that discipline involves organizing your time.

McMahon, president of Christine McMahon & Associates LLC, in Milwaukee, says that business owners must first determine which tasks are essential. “Define what’s negotiable; what you can give up and what you are not willing to give up,” she says. “What is on your docket today is most important.”

Be committed to the project. Don’t let interruptions (noise, phone calls, and such) distract you. Also, be willing to share the workload. Don’t try to dabble in all facets of your business. While that helps you stay abreast of the various functions, it’s simply not possible to do everything well. Outsourcing some tasks, such as bookkeeping, may prove beneficial, she says.

How to be a good manager

February 2, 2016September 5, 2011 by Tom Fuszard

Good management goes beyond just making the monthly numbers. Organizations are run by people, so it’s your people skills that help determine whether you are a good manager and good leader.

Whole course are taught on this subject. I can only scratch the surface here. As one who spent many years in the “trenches” (that is, as a junior employee), I have a pretty good perspective on the qualities that make a good manager.

Most of these are common sense, but all deserve to be reviewed on occasion. Managers, like everyone else, slip into a groove at times. That’s when leadership consistency slides, and productivity drops along with morale. Review this list several times in the coming days. Do you find yourself violating any of these principles? Make the necessary changes. Your team and organization will be the better for it.