How To Manage Business

MSNBC w/ Cenk: Obama Talks Economy

Cenk Uygur (host of The Young Turks) filling in for Dylan Ratigan on MSNBC breaks down President Obama’s speech on the economy.

Dentists Feel Slow Economy, Brush Up on DIY Marketing Finds Egency Poll

Dentists Feel Slow Economy, Brush Up on DIY Marketing Finds Egency Poll

A dental office fixture – the business / recall card.

Thousand Oaks, CA (PRWEB) January 22, 2012

Dentists participating in an online poll conducted by Egency.com – a provider of direct marketing materials for professionals – say the current economy is affecting their marketing strategies as well as presenting other challenges.

“I think the biggest challenge facing individual dentists today is personal debt.” Sobering words from Keith Kano, DDS. Dr. Kano of Valley Hill Dental Group has been practicing for 15 years in Modesto, CA.

Slow economic conditions over the past few years have impacted Dr. Kano’s colleagues as well as his own practice. “There has been a decline [of patient visits] in the last 2-3 years due to people losing their jobs, so their dental needs are low on the priority list in comparison.”

That decline in patient visits has also meant a reduction of big budget marketing for some dentists. According to the poll, 70% of dentists who responded say “budget” is their main marketing concern, with another 30% admitting “not knowing where to start.” A Kansas-based dental office manager wrote-in: “Although we’re concerned with budget, we can’t stop marketing. We use a lot of recall cards – which we find on the web – and we do shop for quality cards that are professional.”

“I out-sourced a mid-sized marketing agency a few years ago, but now, I do it myself. Well, me and my office manager,” offered one Camarillo, CA dentist. He spoke to Egency on the condition of remaining anonymous, but had plenty to say. “Hell, I feel lucky to even have an office manager. It’s been a roller coaster ride over the past couple of years. I’m still here. Things are slow, but solid. Retention is my main focus. Keeping them coming back. Great customer service, old-fashion appointment cards I have printed out … and updating my own website.”

The growing trend toward do-it-yourself marketing among dentists and other professionals is also apparent in search engine queries. A look at Google search trends shows the phrase “diy [do-it-yourself] business cards” up almost 40% in October 2011 over October 2010, a possible sign of more professionals turning to template-based online tools and printing services over costly creative agencies.

“We just use word of mouth for our marketing, most of my friends do the same,” reveals Dr. Kano. “Mailers and other mass media ads attract all kinds of patients. Word of mouth generally attracts the kind of patients that we already have. Our practice is a boutique type practice. We engage and retain patients by providing exceptional service and quality.”

Other dental marketing professionals agree that retention is key. Steve Israel of Your Secret Weapon – Marketing and Communications, LLC in Toledo, OH, a firm that advises dental practices, says, “My practices are in touch with their current patients, as well as potential patients, regularly, and it’s really made a difference in their production. They’re the first to say, ‘What economic slowdown?’”

“I intend to keep doing as much myself as possible,” adds the Camarillo DDS. “Creating recall cards online is not difficult. And those cards go to my returning patients to keep them returning.”

Egency, based in Thousand Oaks, Calif., provides high-quality business cards and other direct marketing solutions for dentists, event planners, cosmetic surgeons, salon/spa professionals, realtors and other professions. Egency is a member of the AGFA Graphics family, an internationally renowned leader in the publishing and printing industries, with teams based in the U.S., and Belgium.

For more information, contact Egency Marketing @ (805) 277-6971.

# # #

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Kevin Beare & Co, a UK Accounting Firm, Are Proud to be a Platinum Sponsor of the UKTI ?Go UK?

Kevin Beare & Co, a UK Accounting Firm, Are Proud to be a Platinum Sponsor of the UKTI “Go UK”

Kevin Beare Platinum Sponsor

(PRWEB) January 24, 2012

Kevin Beare & Co, a UK accounting firm, are proud to be a platinum sponsor of the UKTI “Go UK” business plan competition open to Australian and New Zealand businesses with an interest in expansion to the UK.

The prizes: Four support packages worth A$ 25k each to help three (3) Australian and one (1) New Zealand business get started in the UK. These include:

1. Business registration and accounting support by, Kevin Beare & Co. UK Chartered Accountants

2. Business to business networking with Alan MacKelworth & Co Ltd who specialise in CEO to CEO introductions with key-customers, alliance partners & thought leaders

3. A return business class airfare to London with British Airways

So, Go UK provides the winning companies the opportunity to meet with potential business partners, gain client contacts & business networks. It provides company formation (Branch/Ltd) services, employee support, and ongoing UKTI support to expand to the UK, Europe and beyond.

Entries are now open for Go UK participants to submit their business plan online with close of entries on Friday 17 February 2012.

The finalists will be announced at the end of February 2012 and the winners and final prizes will be awarded at a cocktail reception in March in the following locations:

Sydney (covering all NSW, ACT and WA entrants);

Melbourne (covering all VIC, SA and TAS entrants); and

Brisbane (covering all QLD and NT entrants).

Auckland (covering New Zealand).

We have put together a page on our website noting the key points involved when creating a UK business plan.

For more information about Go UK and to enter the competition, please click UK in Australia website.

For New Zealand entries, please click UK in New Zealand website.

Editors Note:

Kevin Beare & Co. is a UK accounting firm that prefers to work with overseas companies operating in the UK. Initially, they form the appropriate legal entity and arrange the relevant fiscal registrations, which includes VAT. They provide ongoing support with fully outsourced accounting, including payroll for the UK hires, expenses processing, preparing monthly/quarterly management accounts, and making any necessary payments. It also includes preparing and submitting quarterly VAT returns.

AMaC Limited work closely with their clients executive teams to deliver B2B Executive to Executive introductions in the UK and beyond. They help build robust relationships with their peers in key-customers, alliance partners, thought leaders, emerging markets and new geography and innovative suppliers.

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the government department that helps UK based companies succeed in the global economy. They also help overseas companies by providing advice and practical assistance and are acknowledged as Europe’s best authority to aid global business. UKTI offers expertise and contacts through its extensive network of specialists in the UK, and in British embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world. They provide companies with the tools they require to be competitive on the world stage, maximising resources and saving time and money.

British Airways has worldwide route network that covers more than 150 destinations in 75 countries. In more than 90 years, the airline has carried more than 1.2 billion customers on its extensive network, and is recognised as one of the world’s elite carriers. British Airways has been flying to Australia for over 75 years and currently operates two flights daily between Australia and the UK via Bangkok and Singapore.

###

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

What to Avoid in Printing Business Cards

Article by Chelsea Nicole

A good and thoroughly designed business card is a very powerful and very effective business marketing tool nowadays. It usually becomes more of a pleasure when a client or customer compliments you and especially your business when it comes to the design of your business cards. On the other hand, handing out your business card to a client or customer can be your biggest problem especially if it is not professionally good looking. To help you get rid of this problem, you need to get to know the elements that you must integrate during the designing and creation process and which to avoid. Below are some of the mistakes that most people do when designing and printing their business cards.

* The very first mistake that you must avoid is using poor quality or unreliable materials or paper stocks. Do not hunt what you cannot kill is a saying that you can incorporate with this matter. If you do not have the resources to create a quality and effective business card, it is better that you should not get into this process at all rather than making unreliable and cheap quality business cards. Getting your business cards printed on a low quality paper will only give you and especially your business a negative image, so it’s better to avoid creating a business card if you can’t create it professionally.

* Another mistake that you should always avoid when it comes to printing your business cards are placing in it lots of unnecessary detail. Overloading your business cards with unwanted images and text is a common mistake that you should always avoid. Your business cards should always be simple yet effective and attractive. Your business cards should always show your business motive and intentions clearly and effectively and it should also keep up with your business’ integrity and professionalism. Anything that you add to your business card especially those unwanted ones can make your card look cluttered and unprofessional.

* Creating mysterious business cards is another mistake that you should always avoid for you to have a good and effective business card. It is some point true that a mysterious business card design can intrigue your clients and customers, but this will only make them spend a long time trying to catch up on the main motive behind your business cards, which is one thing that you cannot afford to have, and you definitely do not want. So, it is always best to keep your business cards as simple as possible. Your business cards should always have or should always be able to tell all your clients and customers about you and your business from the first time they see it.

* Wrong size of business cards is another mistake that you should avoid. Your business card printing should always be 3.5 by 2 inches which is considered as the standard size. There are times when business cards that are bit smaller than the usual ones can be very handy, but that is exceptional. Most of the time, your clients and customers need business cards to be of standard size for them to have an easier time storing them. This is because a business card that is different from the standard ones usually look amusing, but when it comes to storing these kinds of cards, most of your clients and customers can experience difficulties.

About the Author

Visit this site to know more about business cards and business card printing