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3 areas where small improvements can make a significant difference
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityAs we start to wrap up a challenging year, making any significant changes or improvements may be a bit too much to ask. However, there are several ways to make incremental improvements that lead to lasting impacts. We all want to see significant results from ministry efforts. We want to see more people coming to Christ, increased attendance at worship services (online and/or in-person), more volunteers serving consistently, etc. Those are worthwhile goals that would be wonderful to see happen. However, getting to that fruit typically doesn’t happen overnight. So, what can you do now to see that fruit later?
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Putting on the best virtual conference — Part 2: Learning to be more…
Linda Popky Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementThe recent virtual annual meeting for my association, the Society for the Advancement of Consulting, was a great success. We had 34 Zoom sessions and more than 50 speakers over a two-day period. More than three times the number of people attended as the previous in-person event. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Not everything was perfect, of course. But the event ran smoothly, even in spite of a few behind-the-scenes glitches. Here are our key learnings — of both what went well and areas for improvement.
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How web development and UX can improve ROI
Indiana Lee MarketingUser experience (UX) is all the rage these days — and with good reason. The $3.5 trillion e-commerce world is booming, and businesses small and large want to get in on the action. However, running an e-commerce storefront is a completely different animal from a brick-and-mortar operation, and the struggle to provide a good experience for your online customers can be profound. Before you lift a finger to improve your site’s user experience (UX), it’s important to sit down, weigh your options, and do the math. Only once all of this has been taken into account can you properly execute a UX strategy that addresses your users’ experience and your bottom line at the same time.
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The future of restaurants and restaurant marketing
Bambi Majumdar Food & BeverageAdaptability is truly a great human phenomenon. Perhaps that's why we emerge from the worst of times with new knowledge and ways to thrive. This is precisely what we see happening across industries, particularly in the food and beverage industry. Restaurant brands are evaluating their post-COVID-19 strategies. They have to devise ways to drive as much revenue as they can and satisfy new consumer expectations at the same time. They realize they have to adjust and adapt on the fly to deal with future changes.
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The most powerful weapon in all of selling
Hank Boyer Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementIt is the most powerful weapon of all and appropriate for any sales situation, any product or service, and any type of customer or prospect. And yet most sales professionals don’t use it enough. It works whether you are selling shoes or real estate, advertising or jet aircraft. It works whether you are selling retail, B2B, B2C, face-to-face, via virtual meeting, or over the phone. It doesn’t matter whether your products or services are priced at a few dollars or a few million dollars. The most powerful weapon in all of selling is this: asking effective questions whenever you speak with a prospect or customer.
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Putting on the best virtual conference — Part 1: A successful pandemic…
Linda Popky Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementApril seems like about a thousand years ago, but even back then, we realized the chances were slim to none that we’d be able to hold the 17th annual meeting of our association, the Society for the Advancement of Consulting, in New York City this fall as planned. We correctly surmised that there would be insurmountable issues, so we pivoted to producing an online meeting instead. We knew we’d miss the engagement and camaraderie of an in-person event, but we also realized we had new opportunities. How do you plan and pull off an outstanding online event? Here’s where to start.
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How construction can contribute to a recovering economy
Patrick Hogan Construction & Building MaterialsThe construction industry could be a means for the economy to recover after the outbreak of COVID-19, as history has shown that construction has been relied upon in the past to help improve the economy. The federal government has usually driven the upswing by increasing investments in building and infrastructure. Construction will also indirectly benefit local businesses when they supply food, shelter, raw materials, transport and other services to workers for the duration of the projects. To kick-start the economy and employment, sound principles and pledges are required.
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How to balance board and executive committee duties
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementThere should be trust between the board and its executive committee. An executive committee is a subgroup of the board, including the elected officers, immediate past president, and potentially other appointees. Bylaws grant authority for the executive committee to conduct business in between meetings of the board. It’s an efficient method for making decisions without the time and cost of convening the larger board. The bylaws and policies can limit authority of the committee; for example, indicating it cannot approve a budget, expend excess funds, nor address personnel changes.
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Key safety tips for real estate pros returning to the office during COVID-19
Sam Radbil Facilities & GroundsThe health of staff and clients is paramount for the real estate industry. Here are some key safety tips for real estate professionals who may be returning to the office. For example, though many real estate professionals, from attorneys to salespeople, determine their own schedules, it will be important to provide specific times that staff members can be in office to maintain social distancing and sanitizing schedules. Consider dividing the workforce into A and B groups.
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Infographic: What is Industry 4.0, and what are the technologies that power…
Maggie Kimberl ManufacturingA new Industrial Revolution is quietly changing the way products are made. By combining big data, machine learning, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), manufacturing companies can make immediate production changes based on real-time data intelligence. The Fourth Industrial Revolution, also known as Industry 4.0, will introduce better products to the market at a lower cost and in less time.
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