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Archive for the ‘Social Web’ Category

As I expect you know, volunteer work can strengthen community bonds as well as assisting the poor. Traditionally, however, freeing up the time to volunteer often squanders some of that very same free time. Let’s not forget that you’ll have more fun volunteering when your colleagues are getting involved right along with you.

Companies like Adaptive Marketing LLC, a Connecticut-based firm whose shopping programs, like SavingsAce, help to enrich consumers, are making themselves points of organization which co-ordinate volunteer activity and help their employees find the time to pitch in.

Initiatives like these used to be rare occasions — but today that can be seen as a bare minimum. The employees of Adaptive Marketing are frequently given the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of community initiatives requiring greater and lesser amounts of effort. Once all the pertinent information — time, date, location, details, et cetera — had been announced in advance it has become very simple for staff to work out the exact amount of time they could give and what they’d be doing as they did so. Naturally, it’s important to let volunteers choose activities that fit their interests. Employees of Adaptive Marketing choose from among many local activities. Previous and current projects have seen improvements made in a wide assortment of areas including aid and assistance for children and young adults, environmental programs, and events related to performance art. This provides Adaptive Marketing volunteers with opportunities to use their time as efficiently as possible and have fun joining in the process. Normally, when businesses encourage their staffers help at local schools or homeless shelters, it tends to be in support of an individual event or a regular undertaking. Employees may well say they have no time to give, but even they can often free up the hours to lend a hand with an event requiring merely a single day. It’s hardly a new practice for companies to assist the people living near their premises. Adaptive Marketing like many other companies sponsors volunteer activities to support the people of its home town and to generate goodwill within the local community through its members of staff activities. What volunteer activities are sure to do is provide your workforce with a good feeling about themselves, creating a motivated firm.

When Henry Kravis and George Roberts launched Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) in the mid-seventies with the help of the First Chicago Corporation, their specialty was in highly leveraged transactions. However, hoping to make their portfolio of companies more environmentally aware, KKR have founded a unique green proposal which has transformed the way businesses and environmental activists work. Environmentally sound business processes went mainstream a year ago when Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co’s Henry Kravis and the non-profit Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) merged. The coalition wanted to oppose many all important issues hurting the ecology of the earth, for instance hazardous chemical use, toxic chemicals, unbounded consumption of water resources, and toxic waste.

In order to implement this, they use eco-efficiency, this calls for techniques like increasing the durability of products, reducing the waste of resources, and improving fuel economy through vehicle fleet maintenance. Although the project was an enormous success, no-one recognized how fantastic the effects were until Ken Mehlman, the head of the project and global public affairs, examined the figures for the first 12 months.

Ken Mehlman found out that the project wasn’t simply helping to conserve the environment, but it was also saving firms a great deal of money, and therefore the program was almost an immediate hit. These days, KKR and Ken Mehlman have succeeded in getting well-nigh every associated organization engaged in eco-efficiency. Seeing that this group of companies has a value of nearly one hundred billion dollars, you may be sure this was no easy feat. Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co with the EDF in association with Ken Mehlman have also expanded the original program. For example, Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co got together with the EDF’s Climate Corps Program that instructs students studying for a Master’s in Business Administration how to introduce financially strong, green practices.

KKR and Ken Mehlman have been creating analytic tools and other applicable systems that evaluate and manage resources. Tools such as these let a business see how green they are and identify any practices that might need improving.

Henry Kravis, the KKR, and the Environmental Defense Fund are genuine innovators when it comes ecologically sound business practices. So, to summarize, these systems have made ecologically friendly business practice not only viable, but commercially desirable, and their radical ideas are setting a new standard in the business world of today.

Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) was founded by Henry Kravis and his business partner George Roberts in the 1970’s with the help of the First Chicago Corporation. Recently they have set up a remarkable project that concentrates not just on maximum profit margins, but in addition on the ecological impact of the companies they control.

When Henry Kravis from KKR and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) got together just a year ago green issues in the business world became a hot topic. They was forged to fight many crucial issues damaging the ecology of the earth, including hazardous chemical use, water pollution, ecologically unsustainable water consumption, and hazardous waste. To implement these goals, they employ eco-efficiency; this uses techniques like waste reduction, reducing the intensity of materials, and optimizing data centers for efficiency. The project was successful, nevertheless the management didn’t see the range of the program’s benefits until the head of the Green Portfolio Project and global public affairs, Ken Mehlman, reviewed the program when it had been functioning for a year. Ken Mehlman noticed that the Green Portfolio Project was not simply lessening environmental impact, but additionally it was helping to save business concerns a great deal of money. Virtually all of the firms held by Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co and Ken Mehlman at present actively participate in the Green Portfolio Project. However, with a 2009 portfolio with an estimated worth of $86,000,000,000, you may be certain this was not an easy achievement. KKR with the Environmental Defense Fund along with Ken Mehlman have also extended the original project. The Climate Corps Program founded by the Environmental Defense Fund is one of these, it promotes eco-efficient business principles to MBA interns.

Furthermore, Ken Mehlman has been in close collaboration with Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co to produce a package of systems that companies can employ to evaluate and manage resources. This type of data is important as businesses may without very much effort evaluate all of their everyday activities and find out precisely how they can improve while at the same time letting staff to see their environmental impact. Henry Kravis, the KKR, and the Environmental Defense Fund really are pioneers in the business community. These developments have made going green less problematic for companies in every sector and established that making profits need not entail the hefty price of damaging the environment.

Most of us remember the commercial that said, “I told two friends, and they told two friends, and so on, and so on, and…”, well you get the picture. This commercial, which represented Breck Hair Shampoo, ran so many times that even I remember who the commercial represented.

The reason I mention this particular commercial is not because of the number of times it was aired but rather because of the message it was sending. This company knew the importance of potential clients hearing something about their product or service that impressed someone else.

It’s called Word of Mouth and it can make or break the success of almost every aspect of our lives, especially our business lives. In our personal lives, if we like something, we will talk positively about it to others. This, in turn, will show them that this is something good and that they should check it out.

It could be anything from a favourite plant that flowers throughout the growing season, to a fabulous doctor who has the bedside manner of an angel. If we are happy about something, we will likely talk about it to others.

In our business lives, positive word of mouth generates referrals and referrals generate business. So, word of mouth is one of the most important marketing tools that can contribute to our success. What could be better than a customer mentioning how pleased they were with a service you provided to others who may need this service? Free advertising… that’s what word of mouth is.

Not only do we love to be the recipient of positive word of mouth, we should also realize that others are in the same boat as us and rely on word of mouth to help them succeed as well. So, if you like something, be sure to tell others about it, especially if they are in need of something you had a great experience with.

For example, for months I have been trying to find a backup software to use on my new computer. I tried several and was not impressed with how they performed or the extent of their customer service. It would sometimes take over a week to get a response. Well, I finally came across this little, cheapy program that said it would do what I wanted it to do. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try. And… I was very happy with the outcome. At one point I had problems and in one afternoon, after several emails back and forth with the author of the software, I was up and running again… no problem. This tiny little company impressed me so much that I have recommended his software to as many people as possible…including you. Check out the Backup Assistant at http://www.graffman.net.

Word of mouth is also known as a verbal testimonial. The words of praise literally come right from the horse’s mouth. It’s a very powerful recommendation to physically hear someone bestowing the virtues of a certain product or service, or the company behind this great find.

Vocalizing your satisfaction is not the only way to get the word out. With so many people using the Internet to find information, why not include your recommendations on your website. Having a Resources page on your website is a great way to let others know of different things that you would recommend.

Word of mouth can also be in the form of a written testimonial and can benefit both the company that gave you that great service and the recipient. Many companies like to present testimonials for others to see. And, why shouldn’t they? It’s a great way to show people how much others have liked their service. The benefit to you is that each time you say something nice about their service, they may in turn publicize your testimonial on their literature or website. And, they will usually include your name and your company. There you have it… your company’s name is in front of the eyes of potential clients, just because you took the time to say a few nice words about something else.

Now, let’s flip the coin here for a moment. We’ve mentioned about the benefits of positive word of mouth. But, what about the pitfalls of negative word of mouth? If someone spreads the word that your service is fabulous, new business will come your way. However, if you provide a service or product that someone is not happy with, they will either never recommend you or they will tell three times as many people about the negativities they have experienced. Providing an exceptional service or product, coupled with “beyond the call of duty” customer service, can have a positive effect on your business. But, not providing what you customers deserve can bring down the curtain faster than you can blink.

For example, I recently had a run in with a supplier who I would never recommend to anyone, not even my fiercest competitor. This company took over 3 months to provide me with the product I needed. Each time I called their office, I would either get an answering machine and have to wait days to get a reply or I would get the old ” it will be ready by Friday” response. I was not impressed! In fact, when I did finally get the finished product, I was not at all happy with it. Oh, and I never even got an apology for the delay or the discount I requested because of my displeasure. In short, they seemed to not want my business now or in the future. I think I’ll comply.

Word of mouth is very powerful, both positively and negatively. Of course, we should always strive to gain positive referrals… that’s my goal. It can have a tremendous impact on our success. So… get out there and tell two friends about this article… and so on!

About The Author

Janice Byer is a certified Master Virtual Assistant and owner of Docu-Type Administrative & Web Design Services (http://www.docutype.net). See this and other articles on her website.

jbyer@docutype.net