Thamilselvan Subramaniam: Business

Happy to announce the launch our brand new blog for food lovers.

12/28/2016 11:18:00 PM

Business, Marketing, Social, Social Media

Evaluate Your Customer

10/20/2016 08:37:00 PM

When a customer walks into your office, don't sell them the first product that comes to mind. Sit them down and evaluate their needs, than sell them the products that meet their needs.

I once worked with a guy in the banking industry, who was one of the best at explaining the benefits and features of our products, the only problem was, he was spending so much of his time explaining, but never selling anything.

He never sold anything because he never took the time to get to know what his customer's needs were, therefore he was attempting to sell them things that they didn't really need.

Nobody will buy things that they don't need.

This is why it is so very important to evaluate your customer.

Start off by making your customer as comfortable as you possibly can, talk about non-business topics such as the weather, sports, or a current event.

Once you and your customer have built a good enough report, start to ask some questions so that you may evaluate your customer's needs.

You can begin by finding out why your customer came into see you in the first place. Find out what products they already have. Find out if they already deal with one of your competitors. If so, find out all you can about the products and services they have with your competitor, so that you may compare products and fee's. This is a perfect opportunity to let your customer know how much better your products and services are compared to your competitors.

Find out what it is they need and can afford, than sell them the products you believe to be ideal for their needs.

Once you have evaluated your customer, the chances of making a sale will be very good, because you will now be offering your customer something they need and can use, so they will most likely buy it.

The last thing a customer wants to hear about, is a bunch of stuff they don't need. They have a reason for coming into see you, so find out what that reason is and do all you can to satisfy their needs.

Don't waste your time trying to push off all of your products on them at once. This time can be better spent evaluating them.

Get to know your customer, evaluate their needs, than meet their needs with the appropriate products.

By evaluating your customer before you sell, you will find that the sales process will come much easier to you. Good luck.

Author Bio

Jay Conners has more than fifteen years of experience in the banking and Mortgage Industry, He is the owner of www.jconners.com, a mortgage resource site.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com

Blog, Business, Marketing, Social, Social Media

How To Attract Prospects To Your Business Magnetically ?

10/13/2016 12:33:00 PM

A magnet has the properties to attract certain metals, and a magnetic person has the qualities, talents, or skills to attract others in a magnetic like manner.

In the world of network marketing, how can someone acquire that type of personality, how can someone become a magnetic sponsor, and develop a large base of customers using magnetic like attributes?

Before I answer that question, read this quote:

"Nobody who bought a drill actually wanted a drill. They wanted a hole. Therefore, if you want to sell drills, you should advertise information about making holes - NOT information about drills!" - Perry Marshall

There is a lot of meaning behing this quote, but in a few words it contains the secret to becoming a highly successfull magnetic sponsor.

Would you rather spend $200 bucks on a drill, or first get free or inexpensive information to learn how to operate that drill properly and effectively? If you are like me, I am sure you would first learn more about how you can make a good hole with this tool before making that kind of purchase.

Would you rather buy from a salesperson who insists that his/her drill is the best tool for what you want to do? I wouldn't. Because I don't like to be sold, and I don't like people to pitch their sales number on me.

Would you rather buy from a person who gave you free information or inexpensive information on how to properly operate, and get the best results from that tool, and who did not try to pitch a drill on you?

Again, if you are like me, you would buy from a person who first took the time to educate you on how to make that hole proper. In your mind, this person is an expert in his/her field, he/she knows what he/she is talking about. So you sell yourself on buying that drill from him/her.

This is what many network marketers keep doing, they keep pitching their opportunities on their family, friends, relatives, and get all hyped up on the net, on their ads, and every one they encounter. But guess what? People do not care about your business opportunity, what they care about is a solution to their problems. In other words, you did not buy a business opportunity (drill) because you wanted one. You wanted a solution (hole) for more free time to spend with your family, be your own boss, earn a living online, or get rich, etc..

So, what you need to do instead of pitching your opportunity to your prospects, is to sell them inexpensive or give away free information that shows how to solve problems - how to drill that "hole."

If you can show them how to make that "hole", your prospects will come to the conclusion on their own without you pounding hard on them that they need a drill from you. Why? Because you gave them free knowledge or inexpensive information on how to accomplish their goal, and therefore earning their trust in you.

This is one of the main principles that will allow you to become magnetic and attract your prospects to come to you, instead of you chasing after them.

Author Bio

David Pineda is an active affiliate of Magnetic Sponsoring and of Turn Words Into Traffic. To request the complete free 10 day boot camp training course send an email to: networkmagnetism@sbcglobal.net or go to: www.davidhpineda.ws

Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com

Blog, Business, Marketing, Social, Social Media

What's In A Name? The Six Essential Elements You Need To Know

10/11/2016 03:44:00 AM

Selecting a name for your new business is not easy. A name does more than identify your company. It tells customers who you are, what you do, and more than a little about how you do it. Your name differentiates you from your peers, peaks customer interest, and invites further investigation -- if you do it right.

I didn't do it right. At least, not at first.

All entrepreneurs make mistakes, and I made one of my first ones right off the bat. Thrilled with the fledgling business I was starting, this precious enterprise so near and dear to my heart, I christened my company Diadem Communications. Diadem means crown-- a fitting name for what I felt was a
crowning achievement.

What does Diadem say to you? Does it evoke thoughts of me coming into your company, training your sales team to be the best booth staff ever, ensuring that every single trade show you attend turns out to be amazingly successful? Does it make me sound so good that you just can't wait to hire me?

No. It doesn't say that to me either. And even worse, it didn't say that to any of my potential customers. Going by name alone, no one would be able to determine the least bit of information about me, my company, or the services we offer. The name said nothing, and it did nothing for me.

The name had to go. More importantly, it had to be replaced by something effective. How do you come up with an effective name? Consider these six elements:

An Effective Name:

1. Tells Who You Are: Your name should reflect your identity. This is an essential aspect of branding. You'll be promoting this name, getting it in front of as many eyes as possible as often as possible. How do you want the public to think of you?

For some, that means integrating your personal name into the name of your business. This is very common in some professions: legal, medical, and accounting leap to mind.

Others prefer a more descriptive name. One successful small baker runs her business under the name "The Cookie Lady" because that's how her first customers identified her. It's doubtful that most of the customers even know her first name (It's Pat) but everybody in her market knows "The Cookie Lady".

2. Tells What You Do: It's incredible how many company names give little, if any indication of what type of work the organization actually does. Take the following examples:

Smith and Sons
Hulbert Brothers
Only One

Can you tell me what any of these companies does? Of course you can't. They're relying on customers already knowing who they are (a tricky proposition for new businesses!) or by having their name found in 'context', such as a yellow pages or on-line business directory.

3. Tells How You Do It: Words are very powerful. By carefully selecting what words you use in your name, you can convey a great deal about your company's image. Consider the names of three different massage and bodywork centers:

Champlain Valley Therapeutic Massage
Clouds Above Massage
Speedy Spa

All three companies are providing the same service: massage therapy. Yet the first appears to favor a more medical approach, the second, a dreamy, luxury approach, and the third focuses on fast service.

4. Differentiates You From Your Peers: Your company name is the first opportunity to tell customers how you differ from the competition. This can be done by emphasizing what makes you unique, pinpointing what aspect of your products and services can't be found anywhere else -- or that you do better than anyone else.

Consider the massage therapy example we looked at in number three. Each organization clearly has a different focus and approach to their customer base. They're attracting different types of clients, who are seeking fundamentally different approaches. All of which is conveyed in less than five words.

5. Peaks Customer Interest: Creating customer interest is an art and a science. Think carefully about your target audience. What qualities of your services are of the greatest import to your customers? What kind of words are likely to appeal to them?

Emphasize the important qualities in your name. For example, busy homeowners are drawn to the inherent promise of speed offered by "Bob's Instant Plumbing" while a reader in search of a good mystery will gravitate toward "Crime Pays Books".

Word choice is also important. Two yarn shops can both specialize in specialty fibers, but the one who labels themselves "All Hemp All the Time" will draw in a decidedly different crowd than the one named "Natural Beauty: Organic Yarns".

6. Invites Further Investigation: Customers are funny creatures. What one group finds to be funny and engaging turns another group off. You want your name to be inviting and approachable -- as those qualities are perceived by your target audience.
The best example of this may be seen in the individual investor segment of the financial services industry. Charles Schwab has spent years cultivating a classic, formal image -- but now that the consumer base is changing from 'old people with money' to 'everyone with a 401K', Charles Schwab has launched the "Talk to Chuck" campaign in an effort to be more approachable.

Make sure your name doesn't intimidate customers away! Some industries are more formal than others, but adopt pretension at your peril.

After following a series of simple step-by-step instructions to match my corporate identity with my service offering, I came up with the quintessential name: The Trade Show Coach. This name instantly tells customers what I do - assist companies with trade shows - and a little of the manner in which I do it - coach, rather than dictate, direct, guide, or organize.

See the difference? So did the buying public, some of who quickly became my best customers. The same thing can happen for you -- if you pick the right name.

Author Bio

Written by Susan A. Friedmann,CSP, The Tradeshow Coach, Lake Placid, NY, author: "Meeting & Event Planning for Dummies," working with companies to improve their meeting and event success through coaching, consulting and training. For a free copy of "10 Common Mistakes Exhibitors Make", e-mail: article4@thetradeshowcoach.com; website: www.thetradeshowcoach.com

Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com

Business, Marketing, Social, Social Media

Management – Better Communication For Better Business, But How?

9/05/2016 07:28:00 PM

Management – Better Communication For Better Business, But How?

“We need to communicate better!” This is the most evident catch-all solution people offer to fix all kinds of problems in the workplace – from poor safety to a failing merger; from poor management to an unmotivated workforce. And it’s true. To help people perform better in any organisation at whatever they do everybody has to find ways to communicate more effectively.

However, there are three problems with the catchall “we-have-to-communicate-better”. Firstly, we don’t take time to pin down exactly what we mean by “more effective communication”. Secondly, the definite recommendations seem so simplistic and time-consuming that people don’t believe their value. Thirdly, the solutions seem so mundane – so non-sexy – that people don’t want to do them.

So here are twelve pinned-down suggestions. They don’t need great brainpower but in some instances they’ll take time to implement. They’ve been gleaned from practical efforts at helping colleagues improve their business performance. This means that if you don’t take steps to implement them yourself or delegate the implementation, there is nothing else. There are many other “effective communication tips”, but the twelve in this article have proved most powerful.

1. Scrap glossy corporate magazines.

They seem like a good idea and they look very professional but nobody reads them. I see them piled up in offices and factories and when I ask people if they read them the answer is always “no”. Instead, spend the time and money on smaller targeted ways of reaching specific audiences (customers, policy-makers and the public, for example) and telling them what you want them to know or do.

2. Make newsletters shorter, more direct and more frequent.

Quarterly, full color, sixteen-page newsletters are not being read. Remember, people don’t want to read anything work-related and the internet has now created a generation that cannot read long articles. People want relevant information quickly. Issue the newsletter monthly. Limit it to two sides of A4 with not more than two photographs. Use bullet points throughout and use a font no smaller than 12pt. The same goes for all kinds of reports. Encourage people to keep them as short as possible.

3. Scrap massive presentations to hundreds of employees.

The great big corporate presentation with microphones, triumphal music and vague “feel-good” or “wake-up call” speeches, are a waste of time and effort. People who attend enjoy the jaunt but invariably don’t know what they’re supposed to do afterwards. Rather, take the time to have ten separate smaller gatherings with detailed question and answer sessions. Progress is made when people can express their real concerns and large events intimidate most people – even senior people.
4. Reduce the display of statistics.

People want to know what the numbers mean for them and what they have to do about them. Encourage people in talks and reports to give only a summary of the numbers and to concentrate 70% of their communication on the implications. You’ll get some resistance because figuring out implications requires considerable thought!

5. Avoid power point and death by overheads.

Unfortunately, if you use power point your audience will first be on edge because the technology never works and second will switch off. People remember the gimmicks and the clip art, not what you’ve said. Stick to well prepared, relevant OHP slides. In a 25-minute talk you MUST limit the slides to five.
6. Don’t allow people to use meetings to transmit information.
Meetings take double the time they should because we sit passively listening to someone telling a story – albeit an important one. Use meetings to debate the issues and to make decisions. Find more effective ways to disseminate information. Insist that people circulate any kind of information (reports, accounts, plans and so on) in advance. Don’t allow people to read documents in the meeting if they haven’t done their homework.

7. Managers should tell people more of what’s happening.

Not sharing enough information is a major problem. Managers should tell people as much as possible, even if you think it is not relevant to them. For example, make available parts of the business plan. Let people know what’s going to happen three months from now. If you don’t know, say so. Naturally, commercial sensitivity must be respected. Some companies make available company profit and loss statements. However, here’s the trick. The information has to be very concise and accompanied by a clear explanation of what impact, if any, it will have on people. Similarly we should tell our peers in other departments what we are about to do. One department not telling the other what it is doing causes many mistakes.

8. Employees should tell managers more of what’s happening.

Employees are getting into difficulties because they’re not being honest in telling their supervisors or managers what’s really going on. Managers need this information to make necessary changes and as employees we just have to force ourselves to raise problems openly. We have to overcome our fear of upsetting the boss. However, here’s the trick. Managers need the information in a way that helps them. A quick scribbled note or heated telephone message is no good. State the problem clearly, offer some solutions and request what you want done. Similarly, we should tell our mates what we are about to do. Merely one person not telling another what he has just done or is about to can lead to serious and costly mistakes.

9. Respond as quickly as possible to any request.

The biggest complaint I hear from colleagues about poor communication is that people are slow to, or never, respond. People are submitting important requests they need to progress a job, never to hear a word in response. Acknowledge requests as soon as they are received. Thank people and explain what you will do with the request. Keep people informed frequently on progress and if the answer is “no” give reasons.
10. Consult more and have more informal talks.
We all know that fruitful business often gets done during breaks, meal times and recreational events rather than in the actual conferences or workshops themselves. So extend this to everyday practice. Talk with people not as an interrogating boss but as someone who wants to make things better. Ask people what they need to do an even better job. Ask them how to improve the meetings. Ask them what they think is hindering the department doing even better. Express your major current fear about the business and ask how they could alleviate this fear.

11. Control e-mailitis.

Technology has made us lazy. It’s so easy to send copies to everybody without thinking if they really need or want them. Minimize the number of copies. Try telephoning first. You can say so much more and get the context of things in a three-minute telephone call. Don’t assume people have received your e-mails. Ask them to respond or check by telephoning. Don’t use e-mails as weapons: “Oh but I e-mailed you last week so it’s your fault!”

12. Speak and write in plain English.

Use words people understand. Why use “axiomatic” when you can say “self-explanatory”. Be concise so that “at this moment in time” becomes “now” and “events that have happened in the past” becomes “past events”. In addition, say what you mean. The man’s health was affected by the weather doesn’t tell us much. We want to know how his health was affected.

By Robert Holiday (Human Resources Manager) Article Actually published at
http://businesstimezoneglobal.info/management-better-communication-for-better-business-but-how/

Blog, Business, Social Media

20 ideas to make money online

11/18/2015 10:03:00 PM

A cash cow for the enterprising, the Internet is littered with opportunities to make a fast buck. While it rarely qualifies as a solitary source of income, the Net can easily help you supplement it. However, the amount you earn depends on the time and effort invested. Go through these 20 options and find out which ones work for you.

Blogging
If you're a passionate closet writer who wants to be published but can't find a way to do so, make each keystroke your way to wealth by penning your own blog. Starting a blog doesn't require extensive technical skills but it's important that you have expertise in the field you are writing on. This will attract visitors to your site. Building a large following will enable you to earn profit by luring advertisers, writing paid reviews or getting commissions for promoting other people's products.

Paid Writing
If maintaining a blog is difficult for you but you still want to indulge your passion for writing, you can jot down articles for other blogs or sites such as Weblogs, Helium or PayPerPost. Writing an e-book can also be a good option. E-books are investment free, with no cost for printing and shipping. If you have a strong command over languages, you can become a copy editor, where Webmasters will pay you to read articles and correct grammatical errors, sentence fragments, etc.

e-tuitions/Webinars
The demand for tutors is high and growing. So, if you like helping others learn, e-teaching could be the earning ticket for you. All you need to become an online tutor is expertise in your subject and a few spare hours per week. TutorVista, e-tutor, SmartThinking and Tutor.com are some of the sites you can enroll with. If you gain a good reputation as a coach, you could even conduct Webinars-lectures or seminars transmitted over the Net. College and university students are willing to pay to gain entry to a well-respected Webinar.

Affilliate/Reseller
For those who have the knack of selling, one of the best ways to make money online is to become an affiliate/reseller. An affiliate is a person who gets a commission for selling every product that he promotes, whether on his Website or through any other avenue such as eBay. You don't have to own the product. You only need to sign up for an affiliate program with a company and start selling its products under your referral link. Firms such as Commission Junction or Click Bank have a large pool of products.

Buying/Selling domains
Buying and selling domain names is another way to make money from home and requires very little investment or time. You can buy domains at their registration prices or even cheaper and trade them at a profit. However, always research on sites such as sedo.co.uk, afternic.com, ebay.com or other domain auction sites to get an estimate of the hottest selling names. The best way to find good ones is to use terminated domain lists, which contain several expired names that are back in the pool.

Freelancing for Professionals
Freelancing is a great option for professionals who are experts in their respective trades and know how to ensure customer satisfaction. Various freelancing and project-oriented sites allow companies that need help to describe their projects. Freelancers and small businesses offer bids, ideas or proposals, from which the buyers can choose what they find most suitable. Websites such as Elance cover everything from programming and writing to data entry and design, while RentACoder focuses on software programming.

Advertising
You can sell space on your Website or blog for advertisements and you earn when these ads are clicked by visitors to your site. The sorting and placing of ads is free. The profitability of pay-per-click advertising depends on the traffic level of the Website and, most importantly, on the clickthrough rate and cost per click. Google AdSense is the most popular option, while others are BidVertiser, Text Link Ads and Blogads. Direct banner and RSS feed are some other forms of online advertising.

GPT Programme
GPT or Get-paid-to sites are becoming increasingly popular among teens. You get paid for signing up for free Websites, newsletters, playing games and filling out online surveys. These are suitable for people who don't have a skill set but want to earn extra money. Taking online surveys is simple- register with a few legitimate, paid survey sites and answer questions. The topics range from shopping to politics. This might not help you make a living, but you can earn good pocket money. Contests2win is one of the trusted GPT Websites.

Online Marketing
Once a Website is created and optimised for search engine (SEO), the SEM or Search Engine Marketing begins. A treasure trove lies hidden here. An SEO/SEM expert, who is responsible for marketing a Website, can promote it in various ways. These include article marketing, writing press releases, forum posting, blog posting, submitting your site to directories and search engines, social bookmarking, etc. Most companies don't do this in-house and pay you to conduct the SEM for them.

Making themes
As more and more people seek an online presence, the demand for Website templates and WordPress (Blog) themes will keep increasing. If you are good at Web designing and coding, you can earn a lot from designing Web themes. In this segment, there are mainstream Websites, such as TemplateMonster and ThemeForest, which act as a marketplace where you can sell your themes. Templates are sold and priced depending on the rights and features that are bundled with them.

Selling photos
If you enjoy photography and are good with a camera, you could be sitting on a huge reserve of revenue. There are people who will be interested in your collection of images. Nowadays, it's easy to take your photos to the public, providing a convenient way to build a secondary income stream. Many stock photo agencies, such as Fotolia, Dreamstime and Shutterstock, offer incentives for people to earn from their photos.

Support & service
Providing coding or fixing other Webmasters' issues is another great way to earn extra bucks. There are simple jobs ranging from adding a script to setting up sites, but knowledge of Web coding is essential. One can offer support for Web CMS (content management systems) like Drupal or Joomla. After you are comfortable with your own installation, you can help other people to set these up and configure them.

Stock/forex trading
Joining the stock/forex market may seem a bit risky. However, you can start small and continue researching till you gain experience in this area. Once you do, it will be easy to earn from exchanging foreign currencies and/or stocks. Their rates fluctuate depending on supply and demand, and economic and political influences in the world. The aim of any trader is to spot which currency/stock is likely to rise or fall in value against another. The more time you put in, the more you will earn.

Selling your own brand
If you have a flair for designing cool images, don't bother about creating your own inventory. As long as your design can be printed on a product, you can pocket some money. You can upload designs on various Websites such as CafePress, and if somebody orders these designs, the company will print them and distribute the products. It could be designs for T-shirts, hats, bags, books, posters, calendars, greeting cards, etc. You will receive a commission for each sale. Other such sites include Lulu and Zazzle.

Virtual Assistant
Small businesses always need help in running their processes, but may not be willing to hire a full-time employee. As a virtual assistant, you are expected to perform practically any administrative task that a traditional secretary or assistant would, such as make travel reservations, handle expense reimbursements or pay bills. You can do it from the comfort of your home, interacting with clients either online or by phone. Your expertise will decide how much moolah you rake in.

Inbound call centre
Many companies, who are facing space constraints, especially those in metro cities, prefer to hire workers outside their offices or outsource certain processes. You can set up an inbound call centre at home to handle such jobs. Research different companies that are outsourcing their work as they may have opportunities for inbound call centre agents. You can work for more than one company. This can be either a part-time or fulltime engagement, depending on your need.

You Tube
If there's a dramatic performer hidden inside you who craves applause and adulation, upload yourself on YouTube. You can be a filmmaker, musician or comedian who wants a wider audience. Your earnings will come from ads displayed on your video page. This process is similar to the pay-per-click advertising program common to other Websites and blogs. Sites such as Flixya and Mediaflix can be helpful in this regard.

Researching for others
Don't be morose if you can't write, design or code. Lack of talent cannot stop you from making money online. If you're willing to work hard for a few hours a week, you can take up simple research jobs for other people who don't have the time to do it themselves. You could search for opportunities in organisations that provide funding for research and offer to assist them through online investigation.

Building Applications
With smartphones gaining popularity, the demand for their applications, or apps as they are popularly known, has also shot up. There are over 3 million apps for the iPhone and over a million apps in Google's Android market. Most of these are selling like hot cakes. Developing and selling your own smartphone app is becoming a lucrative way to make money on the Internet. Apps cost virtually nothing to develop and entail no storage or shipping costs. So they enjoy the best profit margins.

Transcription
Medical transcription involves making written copies of oral material dictated by doctors or other medical experts. These may include history and physical reports, clinical notes, consultation notes, reports, letters, psychiatric evaluation and so on. The dictated material needs to be transcribed swiftly and accurately, which is the most challenging aspect of the job. To become a medical transcriptionist, you need to have a good knowledge of medical terminology and a high typing speed along with accuracy.

Article actually published in http://www.businesstoday.in by Harpreet Singh

Blog, Business, Social, Social Media

Google is making a giant change this week that could crush millions of small businesses

4/22/2015 08:33:00 PM

On Tuesday, April 21, Google is making a major update to its mobile search algorithm that will change the order in which websites are ranked when users search for something from their phone or tablet.

The algorithm will start favoring mobile-friendly websites (ones with large text, easy-to-click links, and that resize to fit whatever screen they're viewed on) and ranking them higher in search. Websites that aren't mobile-friendly will get demoted.

About 60% of online traffic now comes from mobile and Google wants users to have a good experience whenever they click on a mobile link.
The company announced its impending changes back in February, giving webmasters nearly two months and plenty of information to make the changes necessary to keep their sites from disappearing from mobile search results. But the update is still expected to cause a major ranking shake-up. It has even been nicknamed "Mobile-geddon" because of how "apocalyptic" it could be for millions of websites, Itai Sadan, CEO of website building company Duda, told Business Insider "I think the people who are at risk are those who don't know about it," Sadan says. To him, that mostly means small businesses.
"Come April 21, a lot of small businesses are going to be really surprised that the number of visitors to their websites has dropped significantly. This is going to affect millions of sites on the web," he says.
Businesses that depend on people finding them through localized search - like, if someone typed "coffee shops in Sunnyside, Queens" into Google on their phone - could see a decrease in foot traffic as a result of this update, Sadan says. "Google has always been about relevancy, and content is king," he says. "But that's changing. Yes, they're saying content is still extremely important, but user experience is just as important. It's not sufficient to have all the right content - if people come to your site and the content is there but it's not readable, that's not good." It's not only small businesses that are going to be affected by mobile-geddon though. Marketing company Somo released a study last week that found that a bunch of big brands, like American Apparel, The Daily Mail, and Ryanair, will all get punished when the change takes place, unless they update their sites before Tuesday.

Article originally published at http://www.businessinsider.in by
JILLIAN D'ONFRO

Business, Marketing, Social, தமிழன்

பொசிஷனிங்: வேட்டியின் வெற்றி

3/31/2015 10:22:00 PM

1987. நாகராஜன் திருப்பூரிலிருந்து சென்னை வந்திருந்தார். அவரும், பத்து நண்பர்களும் ஒரு நட்சத்திர ஹோட்டலுக்குப் போனார்கள். வாயிற்காப்பாளர் அவர்களை நிறுத்தி னார்.

“நீங்கள் ஹோட்டலுக்குள் போக முடியாது.”

“ஏன்?”

“பான்ட் சட்டை போட்டவர்களை மட்டுமே அனுமதிக்கவேண்டும் என்பது எங்கள் ஹோட்டல் விதிமுறை.”

நாகராஜன் மட்டும் வேட்டி கட்டி யிருந்தார். மற்ற அனைவரும் பான்ட் சட்டைகளில். நண்பர் வரக்கூடாது என்றால், தாங்களும் அங்கே சாப்பிடப் போவதில்லை என்று முடிவு செய்தார்கள். தனக்காக ஒரு சுகானுபவத்தை அவர்கள் இழக்கவேண்டாம் என்று நாகராஜன் முடிவு செய்தார்.

“நீங்கள் உள்ளே போய்ச் சாப்பிட்டு விட்டு வாருங்கள். நான் வெளியே அந்த மரத்தடியில் காத்திருக்கிறேன்.”

நாகராஜன் வற்புறுத்தியதால், நண்பர்கள் அரைகுறை மனதுடன் ஹோட்டலுக்குள் போனார்கள். நாகராஜன் மரத்தடியில் உட்கார்ந்தார். மனம் கொந்தளிப்பில். “வேட்டிதான் தமிழ்நாட்டின் பாரம்பரிய உடையே? அந்த வேட்டி அணிந்தவன் தமிழ்நாட்டி லேயே இரண்டாம் தரக் குடிமகனா?”

நாகராஜனின் சோகம், நட்சத்திர ஹோட்டலுக்குள் போக முடியவில் லையே, நண்பர்களோடு ஜாலியாக உட் கார்ந்து, அரட்டை அடித்து, ருசித்துச் சாப்பிட முடியவில்லையே என்பது மட்டுமல்ல, இன்னும் ஆழமானது. ஏனென்றால், அவருக்கு வேட்டி ஒரு ஆடை மட்டுமல்ல, அவர் வாழ்வாதாரம்.

நாகராஜன் தன் 27 வருட வாழ்க்கை யைத் திரும்பிப் பார்த்தார். (அன்று கோவை மாவட்டத்தில் இருந்த) அவிநாசியில் விவசாயக் குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்தார். பள்ளிப் படிப்பை முடித்ததும், திருப்பூரில் இருந்த வேட்டிகள் தயாரிக் கும் கம்பெனியில் ஆந்திரப் பிரதேசத் துக்கான விற்பனைப் பிரதிநிதியாகச் சேர்ந்தார். சில ஆண்டுகள். வேட்டித் தயாரிப்பு, தரம், விலை, வாடிக்கையாளர் எதிர்பார்ப்புகள், போட்டியாளர் யுக்திகள் என அத்தனை நுணுக்கங்களையும் உள்வாங்கிக் கொண்டார்.

தரமில்லாத வேட்டிகள்

1983. தொழில் முனைவராகும் உத்வேகம். தெரிந்த தொழில் வேட்டிதானே? திருப்பூரில் ஒரு சிறிய அறையில் பயணம் தொடங்கியது. வேட்டித் தொழிலில் அவர் முதல் ஆளல்ல. ஆனால், நாகராஜன் கொண்டுவந்தது புதிய சிந்தனை. அன்றைய காலகட்டத்தில், மலிவான விலையில் வேட்டிகளை விற்றால்தான் மக்கள் வாங்குவார்கள் என்று தயாரிப்பாளர்கள் நினைத்தார்கள்.

விற்பனை விலை ஐம்பது ரூபாயைத் தாண்டக்கூடாது என்று தாங்களே முடிவு செய்தார்கள். நூல் விலையோ, தொழிலாளிகள் சம்பளமோ உயர்ந்தால், தரத்தில் கை வைத்தார்கள். இதனால், ஏராளமான வேட்டிகள் ஒரே மாதத்தில்கூடக் கிழிந்தன. தயாரிப்பாளர்களுக்கே தங்கள் பொருளில் நம்பிக்கையும், மதிப்பும் இருக்கவில்லை. ஆகவே, யாரும் தங்கள் வேட்டிகளுக்குப் பெயர் வைக்கவில்லை, வேட்டியில் பிராண்ட்களை உருவாக்கவில்லை.

இத்தகைய தயாரிப்பாளர்களால், வேட்டி என்பது மலிவு விலை உடை என்னும் அபிப்பிராயம் மக்கள் மனங்களில் ஆழமாகப் பதிந்துவிட்டது. வேட்டி கட்டுவதைத் தவிர்த்தார்கள். ஆங்கிலேயர் ஆட்சி இதற்குத் தூபமிட்டது. பான்ட் மதிப்புக்குரிய ஆடையானது.

நாகராஜன் வித்தியாசமாகச் சிந்தித்தார். பொங்கல், புதுவருடம், தீபாவளி போன்ற பண்டிகைகளுக்கு மட்டுமே நாம் புத்தாடைகள் வாங்குகிறோம். ஒரு வருடம் உழைக்கிற தரமான வேட்டிகளைத் தந்தால் மக்கள் வாங்குவார்கள். பெரும் பாலானோருக்கு விலையைவிடத் தரம்தான் முக்கியம் என்று நினைத்தார்.

வேட்டியில் பிராண்ட்

எல்லோரும் ஐம்பது ரூபாய்க்கு வேட்டிகள் விற்றுக்கொண்டிருந்தபோது, ராம்ராஜ் பிராண்ட் வேட்டிகள் மார்க்கெட்டுக்கு வந்தன, 125 ரூபாய் விலையில். நூல், நெய்தது ஆகிய அத்தனை அம்சங்களிலும் உயர்தரம். தினப்படி உடுத்தினாலும், வருடம் தாண்டி உழைத்தது. மலிவான வேட்டிகளையே விற்றுப் பழகிய கடைக்காரர்கள், “யானை விலை” ராம்ராஜ் வேட்டிகளை ஸ்டாக் செய்யவே முதலில் தயக்கம் காட்டினார்கள்.

ஆனால், வாங்கிக் கட்டிப் பழகியவர்கள் ராம்ராஜ் வேட்டிகள் மட்டுமே வேண்டும் என்று கேட்க ஆரம்பித்தார்கள். நான்கே ஆண்டுகளில், ராம்ராஜ் என்றால் தரமான வேட்டிகள் என்னும் பொசிஷனிங்கை நாகராஜன் உருவாக்கிவிட்டார்.

மாபெரும் சாதனை செய்துவிட்டோம் என்னும் பெருமிதத்தில் இருந்த நாகராஜனுக்கு இந்த நட்சத்திர ஹோட்டல் அனுபவம் பேரதிர்ச்சி. மனதுக்குள் போராட்டம். ஒரு மனம் சொன்னது, “நீ வெற்றிகரமான பிசினஸ் நடத்துகிறாய், பணம் பண்ணுகிறாய். ஆனால், நீ தயாரிக்கும் வேட்டி, சமுதாயத்தில் மதிப்பு இல்லாத உடை. உன் பாதையை மாற்று. திருப்பூரில் எல்லோரும் செய்வதுபோல் பின்னலாடைகள் தொழிலில் இறங்கு. ஏற்றுமதி செய். டாலர்கள் கொட்டும்.”

இன்னொரு மனம் சொன்னது, “நம் நாட்டின் பாரம்பரிய உடை வேட்டி. காலக்கோளாறுகளால் அதன் மதிப்பை மக்கள் மறந்துவிட்டார்கள். வேட்டித் தொழிலிலிருந்து நீ வெளியேறினால், அது நம் பாரம்பரியத்துக்குச் செய்யும் துரோகம், சவாலைச் சந்திக்கும் துணிச்சல் இல்லாமல் ஓடிப்போகும் கோழைத்தனம்..”

போதிமரம்...

சில மணி நேரங்கள். நண்பர்கள் சாப்பாட்டை முடித்து வந்தார்கள். “பாவம், பசியோடு இருக்கிறாய். வா, பக்கத்தில் இன்னொரு ஹோட்டலுக்குப் போகலாம்” என்றார்கள். “இல்லை, வேண்டாம். என் வயிறும், மனமும் நிறைந்த திருப்தியில் இருக்கிறேன்” என்று தெளிவோடு, உறுதியோடு நாகராஜன் சொன்னார். தான் உட்கார்ந்திருந்த ஆலமரத்தை நன்றியோடு பார்த்தார். அது ஆலமரமல்ல, அவருக்கு ஒரு போதிமரம்!

நாகராஜனுக்கு இப்போது ஒரு வெறி, வேகம். பணம் பண்ண வேண்டும் என்னும் குறிக்கோள் மட்டுமே இருந்தால், வேகம் இருக்கும். அதையும் தாண்டி, நாம் சமுதாயத்தில் மனமாற்றம் கொண்டுவரப் போகிறோம், இழந்த பாரம்பரியப் பெருமையை மீட்கப்போகிறோம் என்னும் லட்சியம் உந்தும்போது ஆயிரம் யானை பலம் வரும். நாகராஜனுக்கு வந்தது.

விளம்பரத்தில் வித்தியாசம்

வேட்டி கட்டுவதால், தனக்கும், பிறருக் கும் ஏற்பட்ட, ஏற்படும் அனுபவங்களை, அவமானங்களை மனதில் பட்டியலிட் டார். இந்த எதிர்மறைச் சம்பவங்களைத் தலைகீழாகத் திருப்பிப்போட்டு, மக்கள் மனங்களில் வேட்டி பற்றிய பாசிட்டிவ் அபிப்பிராயங்களை ஏற்படுத்தும் உற்சாக டானிக் ஆக்கினார்.

ஆரம்பமாயின தொலைக்காட்சி விளம்பரங்கள். ஆடம்பரமான நட்சத்திர ஹோட்டல். சொகுசுக் கார் ஒன்று வந்து நிற்கிறது. கம்பீரமான ஒருவர் தும்பைப் பூ வெள்ளை வேட்டியும், வெள்ளைச் சட்டையும் அணிந்து இறங்குகிறார். அவர் தோற்றத்தைப் பார்த்து, செக்யூரிட்டி தன்னை அறியாமலே பணிவோடு கதவைத் திறக்கிறார். கம்பெனி போர்ட் மீட்டிங். நம்ம ஆள் வந்தவுடன், எல்லோரும் எழுந்துநின்று வரவேற்கிறார்கள்.

அடுத்து, ஹோட்டலில் ஒரு இசைக் கச்சேரி நடந்துகொண்டிருக்கிறது. மனத்தை ஒருமுகப்படுத்திப் பாடும் அந்தக் கலைஞரின் கவனம் இந்த வி.ஐ.பி யைப் பார்த்ததும் சிதறுகிறது. வணங்குகிறார். வெளியே யானை சல்யூட் அடிக்கிறது. விளம்பரத்தின் பின்னணியில் “அணிந்தாலே கம்பீரம், எப்போதும் முதலிடம், செல்வாக்கு, மரியாதை, அந்தஸ்தும் வழங்குதே, ராம்ராஜ் வேட்டிகளுக்கு சல்யூட்” என்னும் பாடல் வரிகள்.

சாதனையாளரின் ஆடை

வேட்டிகள் இரண்டாம் தர உடைகள் என்னும் எண்ணத்தை உடைத்தெறிந்து, அவை சாதனையாளர்களின் ஆடைகள் என்னும் பொசிஷனிங்கை இந்த விளம்பரங்கள் உருவாக்கின.

ராம்ராஜ் தங்கள் வாடிக்கையாளர்கள் எண்ணிக்கையைப் புதுமைத் தயாரிப்பு கள் மூலமாக விரிவாக்கிக்கொண்டே யிருக்கிறார்கள். பஞ்சகச்சம், கோவில் வேட்டிகள், திருமண வேட்டிகள், அலுவலக வேட்டிகள், ஓய்வுநேர வேட்டி கள், விழாக்கால வேட்டிகள், அரசியல் வேட்டிகள், ஒரு வயதுக் குழந்தையும் உடுத்தும் வேட்டிகள், வெல்க்ரோ இணைத்த இளைய தலைமுறையினர் வேட்டிகள், இஸ்லாமிய சகோதரர் களுக்கான தொழுகை வேட்டிகள், ஹஜ் பயண வேட்டிகள், நறுமணம் கொண்ட வேட்டிகள், கறை படாத வேட்டிகள், இரவு உடை வேட்டிகள், குழந்தைகளுக்குத் தூளி கட்டும் வேட்டிகள் எனப் பதினைந்து வகைகள். இவற்றுள் ஜரிகை, கரை, நிறம் ஆகிய மாறுபாடுகளால், மொத்தம் 2500 வேட்டி ரகங்கள். இப்போது, இவற்றோடு, சட்டைகள், உள்ளாடைகள் ஆகியவையும் மக்கள் மனங்களில் முத்திரை பதித்து வருகின்றன.

வயதானவர்கள், இளைஞர்கள், குழந்தைகள் எனப் பல பகுதியினரையும் கவர்வதால், வெவ்வேறு விதமான விளம்பர யுக்திகளை ராம்ராஜ் கையாள்கிறார்கள் - குழந்தைகள், பெற்றோர்கள் கவனத்தைக் கவர, தொலைக்காட்சியில் குட்டி சுட்டீஸ் நிகழ்ச்சி, இளைஞர்களை ஈர்க்க, மாடலாகக் கிரிக்கெட் வீரர் அஷ்வின் ரவிச்சந்திரன்.

வேட்டிக்கு கவுரவம்

ராம்ராஜ் வேட்டிகள், சட்டைகள் பிரபல ஜவுளிக்கடைகள், சொந்த ஷோரூம்கள், இணையதளம் மூலமாக வாடிக்கையாளர்களைச் சென்று சேருகின்றன. விற்பனை பல நூறு கோடிகளைத் தாண்டி, இந்த வருடம் ஆயிரம் கோடிகளைத் தொடவிருக்கிறது. மாபெரும் சாதனைகள். ஆனால், நாகராஜன் இவை அனைத்தையும்விட மகத்தானதாக நினைப்பது எதைத் தெரியுமா?

தமிழக அரசு, தமிழகத்தின் கிளப்கள், பொழுதுபோக்கு இடங்கள், நிறுவனங்கள் ஆகியவை வேட்டி கட்டி வருவோருக்கு அனுமதி மறுத்தால், அது குற்றம் என்னும் சட்டத்தை 2014 இல் அமலாக்கியிருக்கிறது. தமிழகத்தின் பாரம்பரியப் பெருமையை மீட்கும் இந்தச் சட்டம், ஒரு கலாசார மாற்றம், மக்களின் மனமாற்றம். இதை நிஜமாக்கியவர் நாகராஜன்தானே?

- எஸ். எல்.வி. மூர்த்தி

This article originally published at http://tamil.thehindu.com

Business, Marketing, Social Media

15 ways you're probably misusing social media

2/27/2015 10:16:00 PM

Facebook was founded in 2004, Twitter in 2006. Even Instagram's been around for almost five years. So you can't say this stuff is new anymore.
For some strange reason, however, more marketers and brands than not are still struggling to make heads or tails of social media. Whether they're surprisingly misinformed or just plain lost, they're wasting their time and missing the boat. They're failing to take advantage of what may just be the biggest revolution in communications since the printing press.
To say that's unfortunate would be an understatement.
After all, done right, social media marketing can be a big game changer. It can be an incredibly effective way to attract the attention of your target audience, engage with them, and curry their favor. Far too many go into it without doing their homework, though, their false assumptions and inexperience undermining any chance they have for a successful social media program.
Are you making these same mistakes? Are you doing it all wrong despite your very best intentions? You most certainly are if anything that follows sounds even remotely familiar.

1. You don't have a plan.

The last thing you want to do is overlook the first thing you should do. Take pause before launch to map out the route you're going to take on social media. Identify your target audience. Research the competition. Determine your objectives. Choose your tools. Develop your content. Then act accordingly. Eat. Sleep. Tweet. Repeat.

2. You're working alone.

While no one is saying you can't be a hit as a solo act on social media, your chances of success are much greater if you belong to a team. There are only so many hats one person can wear well. Strategic direction. Writing. Design. Marketing. Branding. PR. Web development. Analytics. You name it. You'll make a much bigger impact if you divide and conquer.

3. You're not a writer.

Of course, you're not writing the great American novel. Far from it. But the importance of quality content can't be emphasized enough. Even in 140 characters or less, punctuation, grammar, and word play reign supreme. Think like a good journalist or copywriter. Better yet, hire one.

4. You're spread too thin.

While it's good to be in more places than one on social media, don't get carried away with the notion. It's better to be active on one or two channels than to be conspicuous in your inconsistency on a handful. Don't try to be all things to all people. Fish where the fish are. Strike a happy medium between quality and quantity.

5. You're a one-trick pony.

Of course, what might be even worse than being all over the place is being painfully predictable. Putting out the same kind of content in the same place day after day is of little interest to those on the receiving end. It's boring. It's monotonous. It's an easy way to lose an audience.

6. You're not posting in real-time.

One of the biggest distinguishing characteristics of social media is its real-time nature, the fact that it makes it possible for users to connect with one another instantaneously. Canned content written and scheduled in advance will only get you so far. You'll have greater influence on your constituency if you share extemporaneous news and commentary on at least an occasional basis.

7. You're not being yourself.

Don't try to fake it till you make it. Keep it real from the get-go. Transparency and authenticity are not an option on social media. Offer your opinions, not just the facts. Win friends and influence people with refreshing candor. Mean what you say and say what you mean. Put a face on your brand every step of the way.

8. You're not listening.

Don't be the account that only talks about itself. Don't be a self-centered know-it-all. Pay attention to what others are saying not just about you and your brand, but about their own products and services, too. Mine the media for knowledge and expertise as much as mentions, questions, criticism, and praise. Thank people for sharing your content and don't forget to return the favor.

9. You're erratic.

Whatever you're doing on social media, do it on a regular basis. Disappear for even just a few days and you'll be testing the loyalty of those who follow you. Your content stream should serve as a virtual extension of you and your brand, leaving an indelibly consistent, not scattershot, impression on your audience.

10. You're careless.

Written communication is far more informal than it was back in the day. But that doesn't excuse you from making typos or blatant grammatical mistakes. Some colloquialism and slang is called for on social media. But so is some measure of decorum and professionalism.

11. You're no fun.

A good sense of humor goes a long way on social media. Accounts that are spirited, playful, irreverent, and even mischievous (in a good-natured way) tend to be popular. Don't hesitate to share a few laughs with your followers and fans. Social media works best for brands that take their products and services, not themselves, seriously.

12. You're as bland as milk toast.

It's much better to be safe than sorry on social media, but that doesn't mean you can't go out on a limb once in a while and express your creativity. Be colorful, not controversial. Bold, not brash. Avoid arguments at all costs and always take the high road. But show you have more than just a pulse, show you have a personality.

13. You're not sharing any pictures.

It's no secret that visual content on social media commands attention. It really doesn't matter what kind, either. Stock images. Candid shots. Video. Instagram. Vine. Complement your words with pictures in any way, shape, or form and stand out amid the clutter.

14. You're not paying to play.

You may have the most compelling content imaginable, but you still may not be seen by enough people on social media. Organic reach is down. Attention spans are short. The best laid plans can easily go astray without putting at least a small budget behind your efforts.

15. You're ignoring the numbers.

Branding is important, but like any other form of marketing, social media marketing is all about the results. Establish your goals and develop a methodology for measuring your performance. As Stephen Covey wrote in his book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, "Begin with the end in mind."

Courtesy : Bob Cargill

This article originally published at ClickZ

Keywords:

Social Media |Socialmediatoday | Socialmedian | Social Media Icons |Social Media Week |Social Media Sites

Blog, Business, Social, Social Media

Self-Appraisal..............!

1/26/2015 09:49:00 PM

Business

5 Unforgettable Leadership Qualities for Successful Entrepreneurs

10/07/2014 08:41:00 AM

Entrepreneurs are a different breed of leader. Renegades, rebels, world changers, innovators, black sheep, risk takers, workaholics -- these are just a few of the names we are called by both those who love us, and those who don’t understand us.

One thing successful entrepreneurial leaders have in common is a high degree of emotional intelligence, or the capacity to be aware of, control and express our emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships fairly and empathetically. It can be argued that emotional intelligence (EQ) is more important to your happiness, health and success over your intellect (IQ).

The following is my personal list of the five pillars of leadership for entrepreneurs, which is probably quite different than you would expect. As you grow your business and make your mark on the world in your own unique way, I think you will find it useful to keep these qualities top-of-mind when defining your own leadership identity. These pillars are fundamental and unforgettable for success.

1. Responsibility: If it is to be it’s up to me.

Personally, I like to look for a “win-win” scenario in every situation, no matter what. In order to create this win-win, especially in challenging interactions, I always remind myself to come from a place of respect and love. It doesn’t matter what frame of mind the other party is in, I get to choose my actions and reactions.

Mother Teresa exemplified this sort of leadership responsibility and captured it eloquently in this quote written on the wall in her home for children in Calcutta:

“People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.”

2. Possibility: 100 percent is possible 100 percent of the time.

You will be tempted to say no to opportunities you don’t want to pass up when you are feeling overwhelmed. You are the master of your emotions and your reactions and when you come from a mindset of being unstoppable, you will find a way to make it all happen.

This is the hustle, the difference between being the best you can be and half-assing it. If you want to say yes to an opportunity but feel you have too much on your plate, don’t doubt, just take action and find the support you need to make it happen. Leave everything on the field, every day.

3. Integrity: My vision and my commitments dictate my ways of being and my actions.

We are defined by our vision and our commitments (our word). When you revisit your goals, mission statement and vision daily you will be in alignment with your highest potential more often. Naturally, there will be days when circumstances get the best of you or throw you off track, but if you stay attuned to your vision you will rise above the petty details time and time again.

4. Urgency: I live as if my life and the lives of others depend on it.

This is a precious life. Every second wasted will never come back.

When I wake up I am thankful for another day to experience it and to share my gifts. When you go all out and share your passion with others, what distinguishes a leader from the average person is the sense of urgency to do everything we can with this one day, this one hour. You may not have tomorrow so you need to take action now.

5. Risk: Learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable.

The only way you become an entrepreneur is to take a risk. You risk your time, safety, money, security, reputation and so much more. So what? Let fear be your compass. Follow it all the way through to the end and see to it that your business and your life are nothing short of extraordinary.

Article by Lewis Howes

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