Newsletter

Getting Ready for the Holiday—at Work
Considering the holiday season a time when business should be put on hold is missing a great opportunity to connect with your prospects. True, people are overextended financially and cranky. But, miraculously, the spirit of the season seems to make people more open to try new things. So, instead of resigning yourself to wait until next year to redouble your efforts to get new clients, ask yourself instead how you can use this unique time of the year to get creative about communicating about your business.
Work in a seasonal theme.
What about your business is seasonal? If it's nutrition, talk up a fresh angle on how to eat nutritiously during the holidays. CPA? Focus on important end-of-the-year planning. Attorney? Send a holiday greeting with 3 important legal matters that should be attended to the first of the year. Ask yourself - what do people need from me during the holidays? Do they need more balance, a time to relax, a plan for how they're going to do something better in the coming year? New year planning and balance are great themes that can be carried across many different businesses.
Put together an end-of-the-year and "What's Coming Up" report. Even as people are frazzled and engaged in other things, they are filled with the expectation of what next year will bring. Why not tell them how they'll benefit from your work?
Tie a promotion in to New Year's Resolutions. New Year's Resolutions can be a great way to make your service real and immediate to your prospects. Ask yourself - what do people resolve to do that I can help with? Weight loss and self image? Financial security? Better relationships? Considering these and other broad categories of the kinds of resolutions people make, get creative about what kinds of tips, services and programs you can offer to help people meet their goals.
Time-sensitive Offers. People respond to deadlines and the end of the year is an ideal time to build those into your service. The end of the year is a natural time to communicate to your prospects: prices are going up next year on everything, especially freight, so now is the time to order.
With a shift of focus, you can consider the holidays a wonderful time to build new relationships and breathe fresh ideas into your business. One last important tip: Don't overdo it! Remember, while you can build your business even through the holidays, it's good to tap into the spirit and focus on family and friends. When you do, the rest will come naturally.

Computer Tip

Question: What can I check to see if I really should get a new computer?
Answer: First of all, as we all know, technology is changing everyday. It's not always pertinent that you go along with all those changes, but here are some reasons why you may want to:
1.) Your processor speed is less than 1.0 GHz. Most programs and other applications that you may put on your computer require a lot more power than 1 GHz can give them. If you don't have a fast enough processing speed, your computer will run very slow. You can check your processor speed by going to Start, Control Panel, System.
2.) Your computer has less than 256 MB of memory. (Again, go to Start, Control Panel, System to check). You really want at least 1 GB of RAM memory for your computer to run well.
3.) You're using a Windows version that is 98 or older. These older operating systems lack a lot of the features every computer should have these days, including security features and updates that are required to keep your computer running properly. This same thing applies if you're using a Mac version that is older than OS X.
4.) Your computer has no USB ports. Nowadays, most keyboards, mice, printers, etc. require USB ports. So, if you don't have any, you're going to have trouble if something breaks.
Alright, those are just a few things you should look into if you're wondering about buying a new computer or not.

You can reach us by e-mail at perstaff@stargate.net or call us at
724-942-5860 with any ideas or comments.
We would love to hear from you!